The Good Doctor by Jessica Payne review: A medical thriller
The Good Doctor summary:
I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted: a career saving lives, my dream home among the pines, and my caring fiancé, Elton. He doesn’t know about my past. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…
I’m so excited for my life with Elton—we’ve even discussed which room would make the perfect nursery. And we’re working together in our new jobs in the ICU at Portland General hospital.
But when I walk in on my first day, I see my ex-husband Jameson. His familiar broad shoulders are unmistakable in his white doctor’s coat. The shock knocks the air from my lungs.
I’m thrown back to the moment Jameson and I gathered around that hospital bed as the steady beeping on the monitor slowed.
We did something unforgivable that day.
And for the first time, I saw who Jameson truly was.
The truth scared me more than I can explain.
So I ran.
If Jameson tells Elton what I did, I’ll lose everything. Will he destroy my new, perfect life? Is he still a danger to the innocent patients all around us? And how far will I have to go to stop him?
The Good Doctor is a totally twisty, rollercoaster ride of a psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Fans of Freida McFadden, My Lovely Wife and The Couple Next Door will love it!
My review
The Good Doctor by Jessica Payne
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Grey’s Anatomy, but with murder.
Chloe, a newly-qualified nurse practitioner, eagerly embarks on a fresh chapter of her life, filled with excitement as she embraces a new job, a new house, and a new city alongside her loving fiancé, Elton. However, her journey takes an unexpected turn when, on her very first day at work, she discovers that she must face her past head-on—working alongside none other than her ex-husband, a person with whom she shares a hauntingly dark secret that threatens to unravel her perfect new life.
This was a well-written medical thriller. I enjoyed the authenticity of author Jessica Payne’s medical expertise: she is an RN, which really shines through in this book, whether it’s human anatomy, pharmaceutical knowledge or hospital procedures.
However, while the plot held my attention from beginning to end, I must admit that I accurately anticipated the major reveal within the first few chapters. I believe that most astute suspense and thriller genre fans will too. Despite that, I still appreciated the story and unravelling the finer details of the mystery. It's an easy-to-read, engaging page-turner of a book that I have no hesitation in recommending.
My thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author Jessica Payne for the opportunity to read this work, which will be published on the 14th of June, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
TW: Murder, assisted suicide/passive and active euthanasia.
If you enjoyed reading The Good Doctor, you may also enjoy reading:
Listen for the Lie (darkly comedic psychological thriller)
Drowning by T.J. Newman (disaster procedural action thriller)
Yellowface by R.F. Khuang (Dark satirical thriller)
