BLOG TOUR: Primary Obsessions - Charles Demers

 

The endearing and unflappable Dr. Annick Boudreau regularly confronts a myriad of mental health issues in her psychiatric practice at the West Coast Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Clinic. But even Annick is stunned when Sanjay, a young patient who suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is arrested for the brutal murder of his roommate.

While Sanjay is tortured by repeated violent thoughts, he is horrified by them and Annick is convinced that he would never enact one of them in real life. But the police and prosecutor are convinced that they have caught the perpetrator and aren't interested in looking very hard. Unable to talk to the authorities because of doctor-patient confidentiality, Annick feels compelled to investigate on her own, whatever the risks.

Primary Obsessions is the first book in a series of mysteries starring Dr. Annick Boudreau and involving themes of mental health. Author (and longtime CBT patient) Charles Demers deftly reveals a particular aspect of psychiatric practice in each book, illuminating shadowy subject matter with masterful sensitivity and sharp wit. Primary Obsessions is an engrossing page-turner and a refreshing reboot of the sleuth genre.

What did I think?

A quick read at just under 200 pages, Primary Obsessions is a great start to a series that gives us a glimpse into a psychiatric practice in Vancouver.  Dr Annick Boudreau really cares about her patients and she definitely goes the extra mile for them, making her a fabulous protagonist and one that I would like to read more about.

The story is a murder mystery but the book also explores the subject of mental health and in doing so, removes the stigma of mental illness as we see the person behind the condition.  When they are called out to a murder scene, the police think they have got their man but Annick is confident that her patient Sanjay is innocent and she will fight to prove it.

I really enjoyed this book; it helped me to understand more about mental health in an entertaining and sensitive way.  Charles Demers should be applauded for that alone, but the novel is also brilliantly written with a gripping plot and a well-developed protagonist.  The only slight niggle I have is that now and again there are some French phrases in the prose which, although it makes it authentic, could be difficult for readers without a basic knowledge of French to understand. 

Gripping and entertaining, Primary Obsessions is a brilliant start to a new series.  Charles Demers has done a wonderful job of putting mental health under the microscope and shows us that it's nothing like what you see on the outside.  I can't wait to read more in the series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Double - Ann Gosslin

 

Following a violent outburst at an awards ceremony, Vidor Kiraly, a prize-winning neuroscientist and Cambridge don, is sent to an isolated psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps.

When the clinic’s director, Anton Gessen, tries in vain to unearth the missing pieces of Vidor’s life, he suspects his reluctant patient is not who he appears to be. After one of the patients at the clinic goes missing, Gessen has reason to doubt Vidor’s self-proclaimed innocence. But what is he hiding, and who might be next?

What did I think?

The Double is a very unusual psychological thriller, focussing more on the psychological aspect of the workings of the brain rather than fast-paced thrills.  Although the pacing is rather slow it was nice to just to relax in the stunning virtual environment of the Swiss Alps and immerse myself in the soothing and mesmeric writing of Ann Gosslin.  

Vidor Kiraly is a very interesting main character and I suspected from the very first chapter that there was more to him than meets the eye.  He may seem confident but underneath he is clearly insecure and seeking validation; and that's not all that is lurking beneath the surface.  After having some kind of psychotic break, Vidor is sent to a psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps to be assessed by Dr Anton Gessen.

I really enjoyed Dr Gessen's sessions with Vidor.  Dr Gessen is like a detective wearing kid gloves, gently probing Vidor's mind to try to ascertain whether diminished responsibility is a valid claim for Vidor's violence.  I found the use of aroma to evoke memories really interesting; it's so true that a smell from your past can transport you through time and space to a forgotten place.

Dr Gessen and Vidor prove worthy adversaries as one tries to uncover the truth and the other tries to remain one step ahead.  Tension and suspense mounts like snow falling flake by flake on the Alps and an ominous feeling descended over me in the latter half of the book as the pacing picked up speed.  

Atmospheric and mesmerising, The Double is a literary study of the mind and all its foibles.  It may be a slow burner but it constantly simmers and boils with the underlying threat of explosion.  I enjoyed it but it's perhaps a book that will appeal more to the discerning reader who likes to explore the intricate workings of the human mind.  

Many thanks to Legend Press for sending me an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: This I Would Kill For - Anne Buist

Natalie King has been hired to do a psychiatric evaluation for the children’s court. A custody dispute. Not her usual territory. A distraught mother Jenna needs help maintaining custody of her children, claiming her former partner Malik has been abusing one of the children. He claims she’s crazy and compulsive. 

But what if all the claims are true, or none? And how does she work out where her concerns for the child slide into her growing obsession with her own lost father? With all the public interest, social media trolling and intense media speculation, Natalie finds herself struggling to view the case impartially.

More urgently: with both parents saying they’re desperate to keep their daughter safe—what if one of them is desperate enough to kill?

Against the backdrop of the Royal Commission into Child Abuse, Anne Buist brings us the third instalment in the Natalie King series. Buist takes a routine psychiatric evaluation and develops it into an insightful look into the intricacies and agendas within custody battles. Dealing with the continuing themes of mental illness and family dynamics, this crime thriller is not one to miss.

What did I think?

This I Would Kill For is a relatively quick read as the story runs along at a surprisingly fast pace and I found myself jumping to my own conclusions.  I was actually surprised to find that this is number 3 in a series, as it most definitely reads very well as a standalone; I certainly didn't experience any detrimental effect from not having read the earlier two books.  In fact I felt intrigued enough by the main character of Natalie King to want to read the previous books, so that's always a good sign when a reader jumps in mid-series.

Dr Natalie King is called in as an expert witness in a custody case.  Jenna and Malik are fighting over custody of their children but that isn't the whole story: 3 year old Chris is Malik's son with Jenna but 8 year old Chelsea is not his biological daughter and Jenna is accusing Malik of abusing Chelsea.  Natalie must find out whether there is any truth to the accusation and then decide where the children will be safe.  As Natalie spends time with the family, she uncovers one secret after another and her decision on the children's safety is not one to be made lightly.  Is Malik guilty of abusing Chelsea?  Why would Jenna lie about such a terrible thing?  Natalie King will find out!

You can tell that Anne Buist knows the field of psychiatry inside out as we are given a glimpse behind the closed door of the consulting room.  I loved reading about the way that Dr King manages to coax information out of her patient and I found the thought processes behind her observations fascinating.  As much as the science is based on fact, there is a very good story playing out; one which is very true to life and unfortunately happens all too often in real life.

I really enjoyed This I Would Kill For and, as much as I guessed some of the plot, I found my virtual visit to the psychiatrist's chair absolutely fascinating.  I have already decided that I want to read the earlier books to find out more about Natalie King's character as Natalie is struggling with her own psychological demons.  I think Natalie is a really strong, fresh and funky character and I look forward to reading more about her.

Anne Buist shows us a contemporary and modern side to psychiatry in this page turner of a psychological thriller.  Anne Buist's excellent writing vividly paints the scenes and her vast knowledge explains all the reader needs to know in order to follow the case, making this both an interesting and a thrilling read. 

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Key - Kathryn Hughes

Today I'm taking part in the blog tour for The Key by Kathryn Hughes.  This is an absolutely breathtaking book that I will remember for a very long time.  You can read my review below and you can also click here to read an extract comprising the prologue that made me gasp out loud and chapter one set in 2006.

1956

It's Ellen Crosby's first day as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum. When she meets a young woman committed by her father, and a pioneering physician keen to try out the various 'cures' for mental illness, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change all their lives for ever...

2006

Sarah is drawn to the abandoned Ambergate Asylum. Whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase belonging to a female patient who was admitted fifty years earlier. The shocking contents lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only she may have the power to put right . . .

What did I think?

I was a late entrant to join The Key blog tour and I thought that I would struggle to read the book in the time given, but I couldn't have been more wrong.  No sooner had I picked the book up than I was wiping my eyes after turning the final page.  Kathryn Hughes is such a talented author that she effortlessly weaves so much emotion into the pages that even the coldest heart can't fail to be moved.

The prologue is set in 1956 with an attempted dual suicide and murder that made me gasp out loud, but we are teasingly left dangling for quite a few chapters before we pick up this thread again.  As we meet Sarah in 2006 we discover the abandoned Ambergate Lunatic Asylum and Sarah is determined to tell its story through a book she is writing.  Sarah befriends a homeless young man who is sheltering in the asylum and the pair investigate the empty corridors and empty rooms together.  One day they stumble across the attic filled with suitcases and one suitcase in particular is like opening the wardrobe door to Narnia as we glimpse into the past of 1956.

Student Nurse Ellen Crosby is very empathetic and wants to make a difference; her outspoken views often get her into trouble with the sister and the doctor, but I loved her standing up to them to get her point across.  Ellen is drawn to Amy Sullivan who is admitted on the same day that Ellen started at Ambergate and is the same age as her.  Amy's story is terribly tragic and her misery is compounded as each day of her incarceration in Ambergate passes.  In 2006, Sarah traces Amy via Ellen and the whole heartbreaking story is revealed.

I had to brush a few tears away whilst reading The Key; the pain and suffering must have been immense for the men and women forced into institutions, many of them as sane as  you or I.  It's quite shocking to think that places such as Ambergate Asylum actually existed.  Thank goodness for Enoch Powell, then Minister of Health, who promised to close many of these asylums in his 'water tower' speech delivered in 1961.  

The Key is a completely heart-wrenching and poignant story that left me completely powerless to prevent my eyes blurring with tears as the story unfolded.  It reminded me of the TV show Long Lost Families as my happiness for the characters at the end of the book was coupled with a lone tear trickling down my face.  It's a beautifully written novel, inspired by the real-life discovery of a room filled with suitcases in a derelict asylum in Willard, New York.  In addition to reading The Key, it's well worth visiting the Willard Suitcases website to read more about this amazing story.  I definitely won't forget The Key anytime soon.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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They All Fall Down - Tammy Cohen

Hannah had a normal life – a loving husband, a good job. Until she did something shocking.

Now she’s in a psychiatric clinic. It should be a safe place. But patients keep dying.

The doctors say it’s suicide. Hannah knows they’re lying.

Can she make anyone believe her before the killer strikes again?

What did I think?

I could not contain my excitement when I received a copy of Tammy Cohen's new book, They All Fall Down.  I have been a fan of Tammy Cohen's writing since reading The War of the Wives many years ago so this book literally dropped onto the doormat and into my hands without even making a brief visit to the TBR pile.

I knew I was going to love it from the start as the first page reminded me of Alice in Wonderland's 'we're all mad here' and as it's set in a psychiatric institution I did find this rather amusing.  Amusing as Hannah is a lot more sane than she realises and I was desperate to learn why she had been incarcerated.  As my mind kept asking the same question: 'What happened to her baby, Emily?'  Such a fine hook from Ms Cohen as I greedily took the bait and raced through the story, uncovering more than I ever expected.

Not only do we have Hannah's story to unravel, but suddenly patients appear to commit suicide.  Hannah is sure that something untoward is happening, but who will believe her - she's mad, isn't she?  Part of me wondered if it was all in Hannah's head but the storyline is SO much better than that.  It went in directions I never even saw coming and then suddenly Hannah is next on the kill list.  Will her family get there in time to save her?  Eeeeeek!

What a great storyline - it's like a study of the human mind that plays with your mind.  I could have quite easily questioned my sanity at times, as Tammy Cohen continued to surprise me.  You're always guaranteed a good read with one of Tammy Cohen's books and They All Fall Down is no exception.  This is surely set to rocket up the charts - you'd be mad not to read it.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The Cold Room - Karen Long

I had seen a lot of excitement about the Eleanor Raven series by Karen Long but I had managed to resist the books until now.  As one who doesn't normally like to jump in mid-series, I launched into the Eleanor Raven series at book 3 which I found to be an absolutely brilliant read and I am thrilled to release my review as part of the blog tour.

Don't miss the giveaway at the end of my post for your chance to win a signed paperback.

Publication Date: 8th May 2017

Series: Eleanor Raven – Book 3

Genre: Crime / Thriller

The brand new thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the author of The Safe Word and The Vault.

Winter is settling on Toronto and a series of seemingly unconnected murders are weighing heavily on DI Eleanor Raven. When an army veteran holds his family hostage, leaving chaos and an unidentifiable skeletal human hand in his wake, Raven is left tangled in a web of leads, lies and secrets, with each thread leading her closer to the all too terrifying truth.

But with time running out, Raven needs to re-connect with her past life – the one she thought she’d finally escaped from – if she’s to find out who the killer is before they strike again . . .

What did I think?

I was intrigued from the start as I got my introduction to Eleanor Raven as she is undergoing hypnosis, perhaps this is some clue as to what has happened in previous books.  I will certainly find out shortly as I plan to read the first two books as soon as possible after having read this BRILLIANT instalment.

Eleanor would rather just get on with her job but she has to prove that she is fit for duty, hence the psychiatric treatment, but the case that she is drawn into will certainly play with her mind.  Eleanor finds herself part of a hostage negotiation as an ex-marine kills his wife with his 3 children in the house.  Once the children are secured, the Toronto police go after the ex-marine and they find a bit more than they bargained for hidden in the house.  With such a jam-packed chapter one I knew straight away that I was going to love this book!

When a seemingly unrelated incident sees the uncovering of a boiler room full of dead dogs, it is not long before the perpetrator moves on from canines to humans.  My mind was buzzing as I tried to work out how this could be linked to the marine in chapter one and once the penny dropped I saw the purpose of every single sentence written in this fantastic book.

I do think that I would have benefited from reading the Eleanor Raven books in order, but I know a good book when I see one and The Cold Room certainly fits the bill.  It's gruesome, chilling and AMAZING!  Don't wait as long as I did, make sure you discover the Eleanor Raven series today!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author

Karen Long was born and raised in the English midlands, educated at Bangor University and taught English and Drama for fifteen years. During her teaching years she studied biology and neurology with the Open University and this interest in medicine, forensics and forensic psychology is reflected in her writing. She is an enthusiastic traveller and has spent time in Toronto, which became the backdrop and inspiration for The Safe Word.  

She is a keen amateur naturalist with a deep and abiding love for the crow family. She has dedicated time, love and several fingers in an effort to rehabilitate crows, magpies, rooks and ravens.   

Karen is happy to correspond with readers and can be contacted through her website KarenLongWriter.com, where she posts regular blogs. 

The Safe Word is Karen's first novel and was an Amazon bestseller, later joined by the second in the Eleanor Raven series, The Vault. 

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All author or review enquires please contact Karen Long’s Personal Assistant J.B. Johnston – brookbooks@hotmail.co.uk

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PLUS…………..HEAD ON OVER TO GOODREADS FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK!

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/236099-the-cold-room

Before I Let You In - Jenny Blackhurst

Karen is meant to be the one who fixes problems.

It's her job, as a psychiatrist - and it's always been her role as a friend.

But Jessica is different. She should be the patient, the one that Karen helps.

But she knows things about Karen. Her friends, her personal life. Things no patient should know.

And Karen is starting to wonder if she should have let her in . . .

What did I think?

Jenny Blackhurst's debut How I Lost You was one of my Top 20 Books of 2015, so I was eager to read what Jenny had in store for us next.  I certainly wasn't disappointed with the brain-twister that is Before I Let You In.

Karen, Bea and Eleanor have been friends since they were young.  Karen is a psychiatrist and tries to look after her friends; she knows how people work, after all.  Bea is hiding her true feeling from her friends as she struggles with a painful memory from her past. Eleanor is happily married with two children, but she only gave birth to one of them.  Each woman has secrets that won't stay buried for long.

When a new patient, Jessica, turns up at Karen's practice the tension really does go up a notch.  Jessica seems to be turning psychiatry on its head as we wonder who is the doctor and who is the patient.  Jessica plays with Karen's mind and plants seeds that grow into huge weeds, trying to cause a rift between Karen and her friends.

There are loads of twists and turns in Before I Let You In; it certainly managed to tie my brain into knots.  Jenny Blackhurst is an amazing author; she builds up tension, drops bombshells that you're not expecting and leaves you reeling at the end of the book.  If you haven't read any of Jenny Blackhurst's books yet, I strongly urge you to do so - you won't be disappointed.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Headline, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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All Is Not Forgotten - Wendy Walker

You can erase the memory. But you cannot erase the crime.

Jenny’s wounds have healed.
An experimental treatment has removed the memory of a horrific and degrading attack.
She is moving on with her life.

That was the plan. Except it’s not working out.

Something has gone. The light in the eyes. And something was left behind. A scar. On her lower back. Which she can’t stop touching.

And she’s getting worse.

Not to mention the fact that her father is obsessed with finding her attacker and her mother is in toxic denial.

It may be that the only way to uncover what’s wrong is to help Jenny recover her memory. But even if it can be done, pulling at the threads of her suppressed experience will unravel much more than the truth about her attack.

What did I think?

Oh my word, this was a very unique read.  We are plunged straight into the moments following the rape of Jenny Kramer and the pace of the book does not relent until the final page has been turned.  It's an absolutely magnetic read that I'm sure people will have no problem reading in one or two sittings.  I was so completely engrossed from start to finish that I felt like a new born bunny at the end, blinking furiously to take in my surroundings as if I couldn't quite believe that I was sitting in Gateshead, UK and not in Connecticut, USA.

It's not an easy read by any means; there are some very dark moments as the details of Jenny's rape are revealed.  Wendy Walker has been very clever in examining what would happen if we could erase from our memory the very worst thing that has ever happened to us.  It sounds great, not being able to remember such a devastating event but the event itself can't be erased from history.  It still happened even though you can't remember it and that is a form of mental torture in itself.

The book is written as if narrated by Jenny's psychiatrist, Dr. Alan Forrester.  After Jenny has treatment to erase her memory of the rape, she struggles with the physical scars that remained.  Dr. Forrester agrees to help her with memory recovery to see if she can remember what happened that night.  It is only through remembering what happened that Jenny can deal with it and move on, but Dr. Forrester has to ensure that it is real memories that Jenny remembers and not suggested memories.  Although sometimes suggested memories may have their advantages for someone who wants to pervert the course of justice...

It really does make you think about the power of the human mind.  How open we are to suggestions and how the brain protects us from harmful events.  It actually became secondary to me, finding out who actually raped Jenny, as I was so intrigued by the memory recovery process and the sessions that Dr. Forrester had with Jenny's family.  

All Is Not Forgotten is a gripping, addictive, compulsive, highly intelligent and simply brilliant psychological thriller.  I can't praise it highly enough!  I really felt as if my brain had been given an intense workout and I can't stop thinking or talking about this book since I finished it; I'll certainly be recommending it for many years to come.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Little Girl Gone - Alexandra Burt

A baby goes missing. But does her mother want her back?

When Estelle’s baby daughter is taken from her cot, she doesn’t report her missing. Days later, Estelle is found in a wrecked car, with a wound to her head and no memory.

Estelle knows she holds the key to what happened that night – but what she doesn’t know is whether she was responsible…

What did I think?

I quite enjoyed this, it was a relatively quick read but I didn't really warm to Estelle or Jack.  Estelle has a bit of a chip on her shoulder and expects to fail at everything so she doesn't realise that she is suffering from post-partum depression until it is too late.  Jack was a bit of a cold fish and doesn't really appear much in the book, I questioned whether he was even bothered that his daughter had gone missing.

I found it well written although sometimes I felt like it was a bit padded with more words than were necessary, for example: "something had gone amiss, had gone awry" - which is basically the same thing.  I think Alexandra Burt has chosen a difficult subject to write about, not only a child going missing but a mother suffering from post-partum depression.  The description of the effect of post-partum depression was written brilliantly and I think it was important to emphasise the help that psychiatric professionals can give in such cases, as people shouldn't suffer alone.

The story of the baby going missing is the main point of the book and I thought the addition of a few news articles within the book was a great idea.  I read the book quickly as I wanted to find out what had happened to Mia so the hook was there and I continued to be intrigued during Estelle's search for the truth.  The ending wasn't a disappointment, in fact I think it showed how far Estelle had come in her therapy - she never gave up looking for her daughter.

I did enjoy the book and I think it was a fascinating psychological analysis of a damaged young woman as she attempted to adapt to married life and motherhood.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Avon, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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