The Doctor (Dr David Galbraith #1) by John Nicholl
Genre: Psychological thriller
Read: 21st July 2022
Published: 27th July 2022
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Be careful who you trust.
The Mailer family are oblivious to the terrible danger that enters their lives when seven-year-old Anthony is referred to the child guidance service by the family GP following the breakdown of his parents' marriage.
Fifty-eight year old Dr. David Galbraith, a sadistic, predatory paedophile employed as a consultant child psychiatrist, has already murdered one child in the soundproofed cellar below the South Wales Georgian townhouse he shares with his wife and two young daughters.
Anthony becomes Galbraith's latest obsession and he will stop at nothing to make his grotesque fantasies reality.
A note from the author: While fictional, this book was inspired by true events. It draws on the author’s experiences as a police officer and child protection social worker. The story contains content that some readers may find upsetting. It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.
*Previously published as White is the Coldest Colour*
MY THOUGHTS:
Firstly, it is important to note that this book comes with major trigger warnings for child abuse, child exploitation, paedophilia, domestic violence and torture. There is the brief mention of the murder of animals but it is very very minimal and mentioned just in passing.
THE DOCTOR is not a book for everyone and it is most definitely not to everyone's taste. It is dark, very disturbing and incredibly chilling. It is not an easy book to read. But it is engrossing, eye-opening and heartwrenching at the same time, tackling a topic that is a societal taboo.
When reading, there are always villains you love to hate. But in this case, you want the villain to suffer as much as possible in the slowest way possible before his eventual demise. David Galbraith is quite honestly the most repulsive, repugnant and despicable character I have ever come across. Many characters get under my skin...but this guy not only got under my skin, but burrowed his way and stayed there until the final glorious page.
We are thrust headlong into a confronting scene from the very first page as we meet the illustrious and well-respected child psychiatrist Dr David Galbraith. But he is also a narcissistic, sociopathic, sadistic and violent paedophile. Within the first pages we meet the real "Doctor" as he basks in reliving the memory of his abuse of young boys, many of whom come through his clinic. He is but a small part of an even bigger network branching out from his corner of Wales throughout the rest of the UK, but operating under the radar of the police and the wider community who see only what he wants them to see. He has terrorised his wife of less than a decade, Cynthia, into submission as well as his two daughters who he merely refers to as "brats", never allowing them to leave the house...and fearing reprisal if they do. He refers to his devoted secretary as the "moronic bitch" while his wife is "the useless bitch".
In his profession as child psychiatrist, Galbraith uses his position of power to groom and abuse young boys who come under his care. We get an even greater glimpse into his predatory behaviour when he meets seven year old Anthony Mailer, who has been referred to him to help come to terms with his parents' separation. But Galbraith has plans for Anthony and nothing will stand in the way of his evil intentions.
The story takes an interesting twist with the shifting perspectives as the Doctor soon becomes the focus of a police operation looking to apprehend those involved in his ring, affectionately termed "pet club". But do the police have enough to arrest him? Or will the Doctor's arrogance serve him well?
As the reader, we are always one step ahead of investigators and even Galbraith while at the same time wondering where it is all going to end. As much as I loathed Galbraith his character is extremely impressive and the portrayal of his two faces is done well, as uncomfortable as it is to read in part. He most obviously hates women as his internal monologue continues to refer to them as "bitches" and never by their names, as if by doing so he strips them of their identities. To him, they are nothing; they mean nothing. They are a means to an end; a tool he uses to hide his true nature behind; and to serve him by any means required. He displays a complete lack of empathy or emotion and is a narcissistic monster who sees himself as superior to everyone.
The story itself feels shockingly realistic, thanks to the author's own experiences as a police officer as well as in the child protection field. The opening chapter is extremely confronting but at the same time not overly graphic. Nicholl has used a careful narrative to paint the disturbing images without actually doing so, making the inference clear but not graphic. It is, quite honestly, one of the most chilling books I've read in a long time.
There is so much involved in this story and although you knew exactly what was happening, you are still completely riveted to the page and unable to stop reading. Watching all the pieces come together for the final showdown had the adrenaline pumping...and then that ending! It came as a real twist that had me wanting to start the sequel "The Wife" right away.
Confronting yet compelling, THE DOCTOR is a dark and disturbing read that is chilling and is not for the fainthearted. Those who enjoy fast-paced psychological thrillers that are dark and gritty in nature will love this book.
I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheDoctor in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Social Media links:
No comments:
Post a Comment