Liz Lawler
Three Stars
Alex Taylor is someone that if they were real you would probably feel intimidated by. She is a doctor working successfully at the A&E of a hospital near Bath, UK. She is a licensed helicopter pilot. She is tall, slim and very attractive and has the dashing veterinarian boyfriend to go with it. She would be a total nightmare if it weren’t for the fact someone has taken her hostage and is threatening all manner of mischief medically speaking as she lies naked, tied to a steel trolley in an operating room. Beside her is a man claiming to be The Doctor and he is threatening her real harm if she doesn’t behave in the manner he expects. Her helplessness and fear simply leaps off the page.
But somehow she is allowed her freedom and they find her unconscious under a tree in the hospital grounds and in the emergency room as a patient herself, claiming that she has been raped and tortured. Medical examination would conclude otherwise. Did she dream it all? Because it felt pretty real to her. Alex soon gathers negative attention from both hospital staff and police to herself by insisting on her story being real, although they tell her repeatedly that she is suffering a delusion and she should get some professional help. Alex starts to wonder about her own mental well-being herself, until The Doctors next victim comes into the emergency room, suffering horrific injuries. Alex is one of the doctors attempting to save the life of the young woman and hears her say the same statement that Alex herself had said when she was brought into the A&E. And then another odd situation occurs and involves Alex. Things begin to happen around her that make no sense to her, things that people around her are able to explain away despite her fears and life becomes something of a nightmare for Alex.
It’s really good. The suspense, the red herrings, the police investigation; it’s all really good. You know that something is going on that just isn’t right, but until the killer twist is revealed, you have no idea of what is going on or who is behind all the attacks. The Doctor will scare the bejebbies out of you with what he is capable of. Lawler has written a menacing book in which who dunnit is superbly played out. It is fast paced and keeps you guessing all the way. This is a mind twist from the very start. It’s scary pretty much from the opening pages and the twists and missteps of all involved are intriguing and at times frightening until you read the last page. Well worth the read.
Mummah Bookworm 