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The Surgeon
Trusted surgeon. Loving wife. Murderer?
Before my world came crashing down, I had it all. The successful career I dreamed of. The beautiful red-brick home where I could relax in front of the fire. The handsome, devoted husband whose blue eyes and charming smile always made me feel safe.
As I call time of death, my voice is steady. My colleagues stand hushed around me, their eyes on me, confused, concerned.
I have never lost a patient until today.
My hands tremble inside their gloves. I slide down the cold tiled walls, my heart racing in my chest.
I have never hated a patient until today.
But what choice did I have, once I recognized him?
And what will I do to protect myself, if someone learns the truth?
Before my world came crashing down, I had it all. The successful career I dreamed of. The beautiful red-brick home where I could relax in front of the fire. The handsome, devoted husband whose blue eyes and charming smile always made me feel safe.
As I call time of death, my voice is steady. My colleagues stand hushed around me, their eyes on me, confused, concerned.
I have never lost a patient until today.
My hands tremble inside their gloves. I slide down the cold tiled walls, my heart racing in my chest.
I have never hated a patient until today.
But what choice did I have, once I recognized him?
And what will I do to protect myself, if someone learns the truth?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,441 reviews
March 25, 2023
Doctor! Doctor! Can't you see I'm burning, burning
Book Information
The Surgeon was written by Leslie Wolfe. It’s due to be published on March 8, 2023 and is 316 pages. I listened to the audio version which is narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor and is 10 hours and 46 minutes. Thanks to Bookouture Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.
Summary
Dr. Anne Wiley is a very successful surgeon. She is very successful in general. She is married to her college sweetheart who is now a lawyer. She is the face of the hospital, literally, on billboards across the city. She had never lost a patient on the operating table—until today. She also never recognized a patient on the table—until today. Finally—she never wanted a patient to die—until today.
Did she kill him? Does anyone else know? Will she be arrested? Fired? Will it ruin her marriage? Her life?
Ann is thrust into a world where for the first time she is on unfamiliar ground---where she doesn’t know who to trust, or even if she can trust herself.
My Thoughts
I’ll start by saying this is a good book. It’s a good story. I was entertained. I think the author did a good amount of research to make all the medical references and procedures sound authentic. There were also a good number of twists and turns—some predictable but some surprising. It’s a slow reveal as Wolfe doles out bits and pieces until you have a full picture of what’s really going on.
But I struggled with parts. Anne, the face of the hospital surgeon was written (or perhaps performed) as indecisive at best or weak at worst. It’s hard to imagine such a successful surgeon being such. She also was painfully naive. There were parts that I found hard to believe—such as Anne not meeting with her patient the morning of the surgery (which would have prevented the entire story as she would have recognized the patient before he hit her table). I also really disliked Paula. Really disliked her. I am ok disliking a character—that’s often a requirement in mysteries or thrillers but she just grated on me to the point that I lost enjoyment in the book when she was prominent.
The narration of the book could be part of my issue. It’s hard for me to parse out whether Anne was written to be perceived as weak or if the performance of the book overly highlighted that trait. Whether Paula was genuinely so dislikable or if the narrator did such a good job making her so that it pushed her over the edge.
Again—not a bad book. Other’s reviews suggest I may be in the minority with my opinions so your mileage may vary. Sometimes a book just doesn’t speak to a given reader—this one didn’t to me.
Recommendation
If you like twists and turns, psychological thrillers, medical dramas, and careers/lives hanging in the balance---you may enjoy The Surgeon.
Rating
3 Maybe She Did Kill Him Stars
Book Information
The Surgeon was written by Leslie Wolfe. It’s due to be published on March 8, 2023 and is 316 pages. I listened to the audio version which is narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor and is 10 hours and 46 minutes. Thanks to Bookouture Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.
Summary
Dr. Anne Wiley is a very successful surgeon. She is very successful in general. She is married to her college sweetheart who is now a lawyer. She is the face of the hospital, literally, on billboards across the city. She had never lost a patient on the operating table—until today. She also never recognized a patient on the table—until today. Finally—she never wanted a patient to die—until today.
Did she kill him? Does anyone else know? Will she be arrested? Fired? Will it ruin her marriage? Her life?
Ann is thrust into a world where for the first time she is on unfamiliar ground---where she doesn’t know who to trust, or even if she can trust herself.
My Thoughts
I’ll start by saying this is a good book. It’s a good story. I was entertained. I think the author did a good amount of research to make all the medical references and procedures sound authentic. There were also a good number of twists and turns—some predictable but some surprising. It’s a slow reveal as Wolfe doles out bits and pieces until you have a full picture of what’s really going on.
But I struggled with parts. Anne, the face of the hospital surgeon was written (or perhaps performed) as indecisive at best or weak at worst. It’s hard to imagine such a successful surgeon being such. She also was painfully naive. There were parts that I found hard to believe—such as Anne not meeting with her patient the morning of the surgery (which would have prevented the entire story as she would have recognized the patient before he hit her table). I also really disliked Paula. Really disliked her. I am ok disliking a character—that’s often a requirement in mysteries or thrillers but she just grated on me to the point that I lost enjoyment in the book when she was prominent.
The narration of the book could be part of my issue. It’s hard for me to parse out whether Anne was written to be perceived as weak or if the performance of the book overly highlighted that trait. Whether Paula was genuinely so dislikable or if the narrator did such a good job making her so that it pushed her over the edge.
Again—not a bad book. Other’s reviews suggest I may be in the minority with my opinions so your mileage may vary. Sometimes a book just doesn’t speak to a given reader—this one didn’t to me.
Recommendation
If you like twists and turns, psychological thrillers, medical dramas, and careers/lives hanging in the balance---you may enjoy The Surgeon.
Rating
3 Maybe She Did Kill Him Stars
November 11, 2023
Currently #1 in Medical Thrillers on Amazon!
Dr. Anne Wiley is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon with a career that’s only on the rise. Behind her closed doors, her handsome, loving husband caters to her every whim while making her feel cushioned from the world. Little does she know, however, but that hard fought for life is about to come crashing down at her feet. With one twist of fate, her future is set on a collision course of the likes she could never have foreseen.
Then one day, in the middle of a routine surgery, Anne’s past slams directly into her present. Lying on her surgical table is someone she’s known—and hated—for over half of her life. How she couldn’t recognize him until now is shocking to be sure, but as she calls his time of death one question is foremost in her mind. Did she just become a murderer in front of a roomful of her colleagues?
The first patient she’s ever lost in her career, her coworkers seem to understand her distress. After all, even though she’s had some hard-fought near losses, Anne has never had to call time of death in an OR—until now. One thing she knows, though, is that she doesn’t regret what she just did, but what will she do if someone uncovers her actions themselves? For there’s one thing that’s certain. The perfect life she has led until just a moment ago is now primed for demolition, requiring only one little match for the whole thing to blow up in her face.
I didn’t know quite what to expect before diving into The Surgeon. I mean, obviously I realized it would be a tale about a woman pushed to make a devastating choice, but, after closing the cover, I know that was just the beginning. Between a thoroughly unlikeable character and constantly ratcheting suspense, this dual POV stunner had my attention from the very first word. Granted, some of it was over-the-top, but only in that well done soap opera way.
Then there were the perfectly set up plot twists. While not necessarily all that jaw-dropping or shock-inducing, the groundwork before them was simply sublime. With one red herring after another, there wasn’t a chance that I could’ve seen behind the deftly woven curtain. And let me just tell you… The climax that finally exposed it all? Well, it had me re-examining everything with fresh eyes.
Beyond the one character who I absolutely loved to hate, the rest had me rallying behind them. Even the one who carried on with some rather despicable behaviors. But as the plot progressed and a few choice secrets were revealed, I found myself changing my mind in an instant. Only a truly gifted author can wreck havoc on my mind like that without alienating me along the way, and I can’t applaud Ms. Wolfe hard enough for managing to walk that fine line like a pro.
The only minor complaint had to do with the final twenty pages. Although the truly explosive climax and ensuing finely played conclusion wrapped up the novel just right, it also felt rushed in a way I hadn’t expected. In my lowly non-author opinion, I would’ve loved to have seen it explored a bit more. Perhaps if the past had entered the picture earlier, it would have delivered some wonderful character development. After all, while I enjoyed each of the personas immensely, they did lack quite a bit in that area.
When I finally closed the cover, however, my mind was well and truly blown by Wolfe’s sharp writing and palpable foreboding. Page after page, this epic game of cat-and-mouse left me questioning who was going to win in the end. And when the finale finally rolled around, it had me crossing my fingers that this was just book one in a series. I mean, with an ending like that, it would almost be a travesty to not have a sequel. All I can say is that this one gets two delighted thumbs up. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Leslie Wolfe and Bookouture for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 8, 2023
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: infidelity, death during surgery, mention of: death of a sibling, molestation, suicide
Dr. Anne Wiley is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon with a career that’s only on the rise. Behind her closed doors, her handsome, loving husband caters to her every whim while making her feel cushioned from the world. Little does she know, however, but that hard fought for life is about to come crashing down at her feet. With one twist of fate, her future is set on a collision course of the likes she could never have foreseen.
Then one day, in the middle of a routine surgery, Anne’s past slams directly into her present. Lying on her surgical table is someone she’s known—and hated—for over half of her life. How she couldn’t recognize him until now is shocking to be sure, but as she calls his time of death one question is foremost in her mind. Did she just become a murderer in front of a roomful of her colleagues?
The first patient she’s ever lost in her career, her coworkers seem to understand her distress. After all, even though she’s had some hard-fought near losses, Anne has never had to call time of death in an OR—until now. One thing she knows, though, is that she doesn’t regret what she just did, but what will she do if someone uncovers her actions themselves? For there’s one thing that’s certain. The perfect life she has led until just a moment ago is now primed for demolition, requiring only one little match for the whole thing to blow up in her face.
I didn’t know quite what to expect before diving into The Surgeon. I mean, obviously I realized it would be a tale about a woman pushed to make a devastating choice, but, after closing the cover, I know that was just the beginning. Between a thoroughly unlikeable character and constantly ratcheting suspense, this dual POV stunner had my attention from the very first word. Granted, some of it was over-the-top, but only in that well done soap opera way.
Then there were the perfectly set up plot twists. While not necessarily all that jaw-dropping or shock-inducing, the groundwork before them was simply sublime. With one red herring after another, there wasn’t a chance that I could’ve seen behind the deftly woven curtain. And let me just tell you… The climax that finally exposed it all? Well, it had me re-examining everything with fresh eyes.
Beyond the one character who I absolutely loved to hate, the rest had me rallying behind them. Even the one who carried on with some rather despicable behaviors. But as the plot progressed and a few choice secrets were revealed, I found myself changing my mind in an instant. Only a truly gifted author can wreck havoc on my mind like that without alienating me along the way, and I can’t applaud Ms. Wolfe hard enough for managing to walk that fine line like a pro.
The only minor complaint had to do with the final twenty pages. Although the truly explosive climax and ensuing finely played conclusion wrapped up the novel just right, it also felt rushed in a way I hadn’t expected. In my lowly non-author opinion, I would’ve loved to have seen it explored a bit more. Perhaps if the past had entered the picture earlier, it would have delivered some wonderful character development. After all, while I enjoyed each of the personas immensely, they did lack quite a bit in that area.
When I finally closed the cover, however, my mind was well and truly blown by Wolfe’s sharp writing and palpable foreboding. Page after page, this epic game of cat-and-mouse left me questioning who was going to win in the end. And when the finale finally rolled around, it had me crossing my fingers that this was just book one in a series. I mean, with an ending like that, it would almost be a travesty to not have a sequel. All I can say is that this one gets two delighted thumbs up. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Leslie Wolfe and Bookouture for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 8, 2023
👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: infidelity, death during surgery, mention of: death of a sibling, molestation, suicide
June 10, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ ARE WE GETTING A SECOND BOOK??!!?
January 8, 2024
This book was hard for me to get into - especially after some of Freida’s books. I tried reading a few pages and couldn’t then tried the audiobook. I still couldn’t. But I’m not a quitter. I tried reading it again and finally committed. I was in a solid 100 pages before it got even a little bit interesting - if you hang in there the twists and turns don’t stop. The protagonist was easy to love, strong and emotional… however, I would have loved for her emotions to be told differently. She was crying almost every other page. The ending was nothing I could’ve guessed.
November 18, 2023
Actual rating 3,5
Review to come this weekend. Probably even today. I promise.
This is our bookclub's pick for November.
Review to come this weekend. Probably even today. I promise.
This is our bookclub's pick for November.
March 6, 2024
Bueno, este final ha hecho que al final le otorgue esa 4⭐.
Estaba siendo un buen thriller, quizá algo plano o lineal, sin muchos giros o sorpresas, pero en la parte final hubo 2 que si merecieron la pena y así entendí más los actos de una de las protagonistas, que no lo comparto, pero en fin.
Buen final, correcto.
Valoración: 7/10
Sinopsis: Cirujana de confianza. Esposa dedicada. ¿Asesina?
Antes de que mi mundo se derrumbara, lo tenía todo. Una exitosa carrera. Una casa de ladrillo rojo preciosa, donde podía relajarme frente a la chimenea. Un apuesto y devoto marido cuyos ojos azules y sonrisa encantadora siempre me hicieron sentir segura.
Cuando digo la hora de la muerte, mi voz es firme. Mis compañeros permanecen en silencio a mi alrededor con los ojos fijos en mí, confundidos, preocupados.
Nunca he perdido a un paciente hasta hoy.
Mis manos tiemblan dentro de los guantes de látex. Me deslizo por las frías paredes de azulejos. Mi corazón se acelera en mi pecho.
Nunca he odiado a un paciente hasta hoy.
Pero ¿Qué opción tenía después de haberlo reconocido?
¿Y qué haré para protegerme si alguien se entera de la verdad?
Un apasionante thriller psicológico que te pondrá el pelo de punta y te hará contener la respiración hasta el sorprendente giro final.
Estaba siendo un buen thriller, quizá algo plano o lineal, sin muchos giros o sorpresas, pero en la parte final hubo 2 que si merecieron la pena y así entendí más los actos de una de las protagonistas, que no lo comparto, pero en fin.
Buen final, correcto.
Valoración: 7/10
Sinopsis: Cirujana de confianza. Esposa dedicada. ¿Asesina?
Antes de que mi mundo se derrumbara, lo tenía todo. Una exitosa carrera. Una casa de ladrillo rojo preciosa, donde podía relajarme frente a la chimenea. Un apuesto y devoto marido cuyos ojos azules y sonrisa encantadora siempre me hicieron sentir segura.
Cuando digo la hora de la muerte, mi voz es firme. Mis compañeros permanecen en silencio a mi alrededor con los ojos fijos en mí, confundidos, preocupados.
Nunca he perdido a un paciente hasta hoy.
Mis manos tiemblan dentro de los guantes de látex. Me deslizo por las frías paredes de azulejos. Mi corazón se acelera en mi pecho.
Nunca he odiado a un paciente hasta hoy.
Pero ¿Qué opción tenía después de haberlo reconocido?
¿Y qué haré para protegerme si alguien se entera de la verdad?
Un apasionante thriller psicológico que te pondrá el pelo de punta y te hará contener la respiración hasta el sorprendente giro final.
February 24, 2023
Finished reading: February 24th 2023
"We always assume we have time. There's never any time. Every day we're alive is borrowed against the unforeseen."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
February 12, 2023
I love Leslie Wolf’s ability to craft such an unlikeable character! I’m always amazed by how much agency they exhibit in earning my attention. One of the characters in this story engineers her own conflict, causing her to be magnetic in my eyes. I loved watching her ruin her own life and, for me, it was the anticipation of what she was going to do next that propelled the plot forward…not necessarily the character many thought was driving the action. Sorry for the vague review…this is such a powerful and well-written book and I don’t want to give anything away for you.
I also love Wolfe’s plot twists. She’s a master of them. It’s not her actual twists that are mind bending, although they certainly are, but rather the set-up. When I finish one of her books I always find myself quietly pondering the big reveal and going back over the plot in my mind to think of clues I may have missed. I always give 5 stars to an author who can trip me up and mess with my perception of characters and actions. In this book, Wolfe gets all the stars for getting me MORE THAN ONCE!
Like a renowned surgeon, Wolfe has a tight grasp on her skills, making her an auto-read author. Her skills are well-honed and so perfectly utilized that readers won’t see the twists coming nor have time to ‘hate’ a character simply because they don’t like the personality or actions! An author who has the ability to create an unlikeable character and have me cheer them on, is most certainly gifted. You need to read this one to experience a master craftsperson at work. This is a novel I’ve already been telling everyone about - heaven help the next person who asks if I’ve read any good books lately! I could go on and on and on about what I loved about this book.
I was gifted this by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review
I also love Wolfe’s plot twists. She’s a master of them. It’s not her actual twists that are mind bending, although they certainly are, but rather the set-up. When I finish one of her books I always find myself quietly pondering the big reveal and going back over the plot in my mind to think of clues I may have missed. I always give 5 stars to an author who can trip me up and mess with my perception of characters and actions. In this book, Wolfe gets all the stars for getting me MORE THAN ONCE!
Like a renowned surgeon, Wolfe has a tight grasp on her skills, making her an auto-read author. Her skills are well-honed and so perfectly utilized that readers won’t see the twists coming nor have time to ‘hate’ a character simply because they don’t like the personality or actions! An author who has the ability to create an unlikeable character and have me cheer them on, is most certainly gifted. You need to read this one to experience a master craftsperson at work. This is a novel I’ve already been telling everyone about - heaven help the next person who asks if I’ve read any good books lately! I could go on and on and on about what I loved about this book.
I was gifted this by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review
March 4, 2023
Anne is performing a surgery one morning to remove a heart aneurysm, but nothing goes as planned. She has never lost a patient in the twelve years that she has been a doctor. She is nervous when she sees the face of the man that died on her table. She didn't recognize him before when he had a beard but now that it's gone, she remembers him from his distinct facial birthmark. Who is he, and could she have tried harder to save him?
THE SURGEON is a fast-paced medical thriller that can easily be read in a day. Early on, there was a big twist and my jaw dropped. I was not expecting it, but maybe I should have. There is one character in the book that I couldn't stand, named Paula. I am sure you won't like her either! Without giving more of the plot away, I encourage you to grab a copy of THE SURGEON. Leslie Wolfe did her research, medically speaking. I did learn a few things along the way that I didn't know about cardiothoracic surgery and I found it interesting. I would say to go into this book mainly blind and you will enjoy it even more. I can't wait until Leslie Wolfe's next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
THE SURGEON is a fast-paced medical thriller that can easily be read in a day. Early on, there was a big twist and my jaw dropped. I was not expecting it, but maybe I should have. There is one character in the book that I couldn't stand, named Paula. I am sure you won't like her either! Without giving more of the plot away, I encourage you to grab a copy of THE SURGEON. Leslie Wolfe did her research, medically speaking. I did learn a few things along the way that I didn't know about cardiothoracic surgery and I found it interesting. I would say to go into this book mainly blind and you will enjoy it even more. I can't wait until Leslie Wolfe's next book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
May 8, 2023
You know a book is bad when it bored you to tears and the ending “plot twist” made you yawn.
April 18, 2023
Long, drawn out writing. The author runs in constant circles.
May 7, 2023
For a book with such great reviews I didn’t even bother finishing reading it. The book took too long to get interesting, didn’t have any likeable characters and there wasn’t anything unexpected about it to the midpoint where I gave up. Every TikTok review is almost identical making me think people haven’t actually read the book and based assumptions on the author alone
December 29, 2023
Leslie Wolfe's latest medical thriller, THE SURGEON —is packed with twists and turns where nothing is as it appears with a jaw-dropping twist.
Dr. Anne Wiley is a cardiothoracic surgeon who lost a patient, Caleb Donaghy, on the operating table. She has never lost a patient on the table until now. Did Anne call death too early? Could she have done more? Something was not right.
She recognized the patient. He was an evil man. Was she glad he was dead? Is she a murderer? Will the hospital investigate?
Set in Chicago, we met Anne, Derreck, and Paula—a triangle. The players have more in common than they know.
Anne's husband, Derreck, is an attorney and hopes to soon be Mayor. He is also having an affair with Paula.
Paula Fuselier is ambitious, with State's Attorney Office, and on her way to becoming the State Attorney General. Paula and Derreck spend their time in hotels. Paula knows Derreck will never leave his wealthy wife. Anne is the one with the money.
However, Paula has a hidden agenda. She is obsessed. She wants to bring Anne down. She is using her office and position to push this investigation into the death and Anne.
Anne's mom (she also has secrets) lives with Anne and Derreck, and later in the book we find out, they adopted a foster child named Melanie. Anne loved her little sister and we learn she died, but we do not know how until later.
Everyone is keeping their own dark secrets.
Paula is evil and manipulative, and soon Derreck finds out about Paula. Paula has been waiting months for the famous Dr. Anne Wiley to make a mistake. He still does not know how far she will go and why.
Two questions haunt Anne:
Why did his heart refuse to start?
And why has the State's Attorney Office made Donaghy's heart into a case worth investigating?
How do all these storylines connect, and how does the man on the table fit into these lives? I did not see this one coming. Readers will be pleasantly surprised.
A dark and chilling tale! Gripped from page one of this shock-inducing medical thriller of revenge, obsession, and ambition— prepare to be hooked.
I alternated between the e-book and the audiobook narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor. My concerns with the audiobook were either the narrator or how the book was intended with the two main characters.
Both voices were to the extremes. Anne was very naive, whiny, and soft-spoken and did not come across as an intelligent and confident surgeon. On the other hand, Paula was over the top, mean, unglued, and in your face, and not composed for someone of her position. I also noted other reviewers with the same line of thinking.
Book 4 Stars
Audio 3 Stars
Overall 3.5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
My first book by Leslie Wolfe, and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for a gifted e-ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 8, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, rounded to 4 Stars
March 2023 Must-Read Book
Dr. Anne Wiley is a cardiothoracic surgeon who lost a patient, Caleb Donaghy, on the operating table. She has never lost a patient on the table until now. Did Anne call death too early? Could she have done more? Something was not right.
She recognized the patient. He was an evil man. Was she glad he was dead? Is she a murderer? Will the hospital investigate?
Set in Chicago, we met Anne, Derreck, and Paula—a triangle. The players have more in common than they know.
Anne's husband, Derreck, is an attorney and hopes to soon be Mayor. He is also having an affair with Paula.
Paula Fuselier is ambitious, with State's Attorney Office, and on her way to becoming the State Attorney General. Paula and Derreck spend their time in hotels. Paula knows Derreck will never leave his wealthy wife. Anne is the one with the money.
However, Paula has a hidden agenda. She is obsessed. She wants to bring Anne down. She is using her office and position to push this investigation into the death and Anne.
Anne's mom (she also has secrets) lives with Anne and Derreck, and later in the book we find out, they adopted a foster child named Melanie. Anne loved her little sister and we learn she died, but we do not know how until later.
Everyone is keeping their own dark secrets.
Paula is evil and manipulative, and soon Derreck finds out about Paula. Paula has been waiting months for the famous Dr. Anne Wiley to make a mistake. He still does not know how far she will go and why.
Two questions haunt Anne:
Why did his heart refuse to start?
And why has the State's Attorney Office made Donaghy's heart into a case worth investigating?
How do all these storylines connect, and how does the man on the table fit into these lives? I did not see this one coming. Readers will be pleasantly surprised.
A dark and chilling tale! Gripped from page one of this shock-inducing medical thriller of revenge, obsession, and ambition— prepare to be hooked.
I alternated between the e-book and the audiobook narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor. My concerns with the audiobook were either the narrator or how the book was intended with the two main characters.
Both voices were to the extremes. Anne was very naive, whiny, and soft-spoken and did not come across as an intelligent and confident surgeon. On the other hand, Paula was over the top, mean, unglued, and in your face, and not composed for someone of her position. I also noted other reviewers with the same line of thinking.
Book 4 Stars
Audio 3 Stars
Overall 3.5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
My first book by Leslie Wolfe, and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for a gifted e-ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 8, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, rounded to 4 Stars
March 2023 Must-Read Book
May 21, 2024
I am SHOOK!!! Totally didn’t see the twist in this one!! Great, quick, entertaining book! Highly recommend!
April 4, 2024
Garsi chirurgė, kuri iš pažiūros gyvena tobulą gyvenimą. Mylintis ir atsidavęs vyras, puiki karjera bei pripažinimas visoje šalyje. Tačiau viskas galėjo labai greitai baigtis..
Iki šios dienos gydytoja Anė Vaili dar nei karto nebuvo netekusi paciento. Tai pasikeitė šiandien. Kuomet buvo pranešamas mirties laikas, jos balsas net nesuvirpėjo. Priėjusi prie uždangos ir pamačiusi paciento veidą, gydytoja pajuto kaip žemė jai slysta iš po kojų. Ji pajuto tikrų tikriausią neapykantą. Kuomet atpažino pacientą, beliko tik tai. Ji negalėjo leisti jam išgyventi.
Tikrai gana intriguojantis bei įtraukiantis trileris. Ši knyga man skaitėsi greitai bei įdomiai. Autorė puikiai padirbėjo ir tikrai labai nuosekliai bei kruopščiai aprašė darbą operacinėje bei už jos ribų. Tiesa, Anės personažas manęs šiek tiek neįtikino.. Vieną akimirką ji savimi pasitikinti chirurgė, o kitą akimirką ji elgėsi tarsi naivi paauglė. Nepaisant to, man ši knyga tikrai patiko. Autorė sukėlė nemažai klausimų, kuriuos buvo galima apsvarstyti ir užvertus paskutinį knygos puslapį. Manau, jog pirmoji pažintis tikrai vykusi. Ir lauksiu kitų jos knygų.
Iki šios dienos gydytoja Anė Vaili dar nei karto nebuvo netekusi paciento. Tai pasikeitė šiandien. Kuomet buvo pranešamas mirties laikas, jos balsas net nesuvirpėjo. Priėjusi prie uždangos ir pamačiusi paciento veidą, gydytoja pajuto kaip žemė jai slysta iš po kojų. Ji pajuto tikrų tikriausią neapykantą. Kuomet atpažino pacientą, beliko tik tai. Ji negalėjo leisti jam išgyventi.
Tikrai gana intriguojantis bei įtraukiantis trileris. Ši knyga man skaitėsi greitai bei įdomiai. Autorė puikiai padirbėjo ir tikrai labai nuosekliai bei kruopščiai aprašė darbą operacinėje bei už jos ribų. Tiesa, Anės personažas manęs šiek tiek neįtikino.. Vieną akimirką ji savimi pasitikinti chirurgė, o kitą akimirką ji elgėsi tarsi naivi paauglė. Nepaisant to, man ši knyga tikrai patiko. Autorė sukėlė nemažai klausimų, kuriuos buvo galima apsvarstyti ir užvertus paskutinį knygos puslapį. Manau, jog pirmoji pažintis tikrai vykusi. Ir lauksiu kitų jos knygų.
February 28, 2023
Thank you Netgalley, Bookotoure Audio and Leslie Wolfe for letting me listen to “The Surgeon” in exchange for an honest review.
Narrated by: Gwendolyn Druyor
Duration: 10h 46 min
Publication: March 8th 2023
This was quite a story! It had me hooked right from the beginning.
Dr Anne Wiley has a successful career as a cardiac surgeon. No patient has died in her operating table. She is married to a lawyer who is set out to become mayor. But someone is out to get her.
Assistant State Attorney Paula (didn’t catch her last name when listening) is waiting in the corners for something to happen. Then it does. A man died on Anne’s operation table. For no obvious reason. By chance she sees the face of the man while operating and recognises him. A man who has haunted her since she was a teenager.
Could she have done more to save this man? Did she subconsciously kill him? How did the SAS get to know?
Is her husband related, whom she had an affair with?
Paula is riddled with jealousy and ambition.
We get two different POV’s. Anne’s and Paula’s . Here is where I have a problem. The narration is not very well done. Anne is way too soft spoken , like. Little mouse, and Paula is portrayed as a vicious b*tch. I also did not like the voices for the male characters. At all. The story was really interesting and well thought out. The narration was a let down. I would have enjoyed this much more as a book. That’s why I won’t rate it five stars.
Narrated by: Gwendolyn Druyor
Duration: 10h 46 min
Publication: March 8th 2023
This was quite a story! It had me hooked right from the beginning.
Dr Anne Wiley has a successful career as a cardiac surgeon. No patient has died in her operating table. She is married to a lawyer who is set out to become mayor. But someone is out to get her.
Assistant State Attorney Paula (didn’t catch her last name when listening) is waiting in the corners for something to happen. Then it does. A man died on Anne’s operation table. For no obvious reason. By chance she sees the face of the man while operating and recognises him. A man who has haunted her since she was a teenager.
Could she have done more to save this man? Did she subconsciously kill him? How did the SAS get to know?
Is her husband related, whom she had an affair with?
Paula is riddled with jealousy and ambition.
We get two different POV’s. Anne’s and Paula’s . Here is where I have a problem. The narration is not very well done. Anne is way too soft spoken , like. Little mouse, and Paula is portrayed as a vicious b*tch. I also did not like the voices for the male characters. At all. The story was really interesting and well thought out. The narration was a let down. I would have enjoyed this much more as a book. That’s why I won’t rate it five stars.
May 31, 2024
estuvo bueno pero sentí que no había mucho misterio, más que un thriller es un episodio de la ley y el orden
February 16, 2024
Medicininiai trileriai yra atskirtas žanras, kuris man labai patinka. Deja, nėra jų tiek daug ir kiekvienas romanas vertas skaitymo. O jeigu dar toks intriguojantis kaip “Chirurgė”, tai tiesiog dar smagiau.
Gydytoja Anė Vaili yra krūtinės chirurgė. Tai viena sudėtingiausių chirurgijos sričių, kai reikia operuoti organą, kuris nuolat juda. Žinoma, pasitelkiami įvairūs triukai kaip tą padaryti, pavyzdžiui dirbtinė kraujo apytaka. Anė labai sėkminga ir daili moteris, pasiekusi karjeros aukštumų, turinti mylimą vyrą. Deja, tobulas gyvenimas pradeda eižėti - po visiškai įprastos operacijos miršta pacientas. Anę prislegia ne tik kaltės jausmas, nes ji atpažino pacientą - tai buvo praeities šmėkla. O kartu ją pradeda persekioti ir kitos negandos.
Rašytoją tik galiu pagirti dėl įsigilinimo į kardiochirurgines operacijas. Iki smulkmenų detaliai aprašomi visi procesai leido mėgautis, o ne vartyti akis. Siužetas man atrodė pakankamai įtemptas ir išlaikyta intriga iki pat galo. Kiek nervino šioks toks trypčiojimas, Anės išskydimas, kai įvyko visa ši istorija.
Ir vis dėl to, ką jaučia medikas, kai įvykus komplikacijai ir miršta pacientas. O kur yra riba tarp medicininės klaidos ir komplikacijos? Šalia trilerio, buvo galima ir pasvarstyti ir šiais klausimais. Medikų darbe klaidos ir komplikacijos tiesiog alsuoja į nugarą: vienas blogai priimtas sprendimas ar kažkas praleista, o pasekmės gali būti skaudžios. Anės Vaili apmąstymai, baimės buvo man artimos - nuolat gyveni baimėje, kad ne viską padarei teisingai. Galvoju, kad ta baimė užtikrina budrumą, kai viską apgalvoji kelis kartus prieš priimant sprendimą.
Šis trileris gana lėtas - daug pamąstymų, daug keliavimų per aplinkui. Bet tai nedaro jo prastesnio nei kiti. Kaip tik įdomiai pateiktas mediko gyvenimas Amerikoje - esu girdėjusi, kad jie dirba kaip didelė komanda su krūva asistentų. Anė atsiskleidžia ne tik kaip puiki specialistė, bet ir kaip moteris, žmona. Man buvo įdomu, o ar bus įdomu jums - teks nuspręsti patiems.
Gydytoja Anė Vaili yra krūtinės chirurgė. Tai viena sudėtingiausių chirurgijos sričių, kai reikia operuoti organą, kuris nuolat juda. Žinoma, pasitelkiami įvairūs triukai kaip tą padaryti, pavyzdžiui dirbtinė kraujo apytaka. Anė labai sėkminga ir daili moteris, pasiekusi karjeros aukštumų, turinti mylimą vyrą. Deja, tobulas gyvenimas pradeda eižėti - po visiškai įprastos operacijos miršta pacientas. Anę prislegia ne tik kaltės jausmas, nes ji atpažino pacientą - tai buvo praeities šmėkla. O kartu ją pradeda persekioti ir kitos negandos.
Rašytoją tik galiu pagirti dėl įsigilinimo į kardiochirurgines operacijas. Iki smulkmenų detaliai aprašomi visi procesai leido mėgautis, o ne vartyti akis. Siužetas man atrodė pakankamai įtemptas ir išlaikyta intriga iki pat galo. Kiek nervino šioks toks trypčiojimas, Anės išskydimas, kai įvyko visa ši istorija.
Ir vis dėl to, ką jaučia medikas, kai įvykus komplikacijai ir miršta pacientas. O kur yra riba tarp medicininės klaidos ir komplikacijos? Šalia trilerio, buvo galima ir pasvarstyti ir šiais klausimais. Medikų darbe klaidos ir komplikacijos tiesiog alsuoja į nugarą: vienas blogai priimtas sprendimas ar kažkas praleista, o pasekmės gali būti skaudžios. Anės Vaili apmąstymai, baimės buvo man artimos - nuolat gyveni baimėje, kad ne viską padarei teisingai. Galvoju, kad ta baimė užtikrina budrumą, kai viską apgalvoji kelis kartus prieš priimant sprendimą.
Šis trileris gana lėtas - daug pamąstymų, daug keliavimų per aplinkui. Bet tai nedaro jo prastesnio nei kiti. Kaip tik įdomiai pateiktas mediko gyvenimas Amerikoje - esu girdėjusi, kad jie dirba kaip didelė komanda su krūva asistentų. Anė atsiskleidžia ne tik kaip puiki specialistė, bet ir kaip moteris, žmona. Man buvo įdomu, o ar bus įdomu jums - teks nuspręsti patiems.
April 16, 2023
Not recommended
I have read several books from this author and had given them five stars. In them, the protagonists were always mentally strong and seldom wavered on doing the right thing. But not in this case. Anne, the heroine, is full of self doubts and always questioning herself on whether she did the right thing. Worse she was in tears every other page, or on the point of crying. I found this very annoying to read. In fact, she comes across as Paula described her - a spoiled, rich, and weak woman. The ending too was unsatisfactory, leaving readers hanging in the air.
I have read several books from this author and had given them five stars. In them, the protagonists were always mentally strong and seldom wavered on doing the right thing. But not in this case. Anne, the heroine, is full of self doubts and always questioning herself on whether she did the right thing. Worse she was in tears every other page, or on the point of crying. I found this very annoying to read. In fact, she comes across as Paula described her - a spoiled, rich, and weak woman. The ending too was unsatisfactory, leaving readers hanging in the air.
November 17, 2023
Knyga "Chirurgė" man patiko. Tikrai labai įtraukė, kai kuriuos siužeto vingius pavyko atspėti. Bet pabaiga tikrai nustebino ir viską sudėliojo į vietas. Šiek tiek erzino chirurgė Anė su savo naivumu. Bet rekomenduoju trileriu gerbėjams. 😊
May 22, 2024
I liked the premise behind this book, but the writing and storytelling left a lot to be desired. This is a one and done for this author.
September 11, 2024
Review coming soon.
March 1, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
The narration of this book was spot on! She really embodies all the characters and makes it an incredibly easy listen. The story is about a surgeon who loses her first patient and secrets are revealed as the hospital and DA has to determine if it was an accidental death or malpractice. There are many twists, my favorite being toward the end, some I saw coming, others caught me completely off guard! I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and suspenseful books!
The narration of this book was spot on! She really embodies all the characters and makes it an incredibly easy listen. The story is about a surgeon who loses her first patient and secrets are revealed as the hospital and DA has to determine if it was an accidental death or malpractice. There are many twists, my favorite being toward the end, some I saw coming, others caught me completely off guard! I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and suspenseful books!
November 9, 2023
Pleasantly surprised with this one! I loved it from the very first page!
February 26, 2023
Ambition and jealousy play second fiddle to revenge in this standalone thriller by Leslie Wolfe. A tragic event in the life of a young woman has a deep affect on the life and livelihood of a heart surgeon. There is another drama going on, and this drama is due to the actions of her husband. The surgeon is Dr. Anne Wiley and she is married to a well-respected man named Derreck who just might be the very next mayor.
However, another story is being told. Anne’s husband is having an affair with Paula, a woman who seems bound and determined to bring Anne down. While a tragic loss of life during surgery could cost Anne everything, ambition facing her husband and his lover are also at play.
The lives of these three characters are very much intertwined, although Anne is unaware of what is going on between Derreck and Paula. All Anne wants is to avoid being prosecuted and jailed for the death of the patient she recently lost. Paula has other plans, and if ruining Anne happens along the way, then that will perhaps satisfy Paula. While Derreck was a man definitely caught up in the illicit affair, loyalty comes into play. This is especially so as the career and reputation of his wife is very important to him.
While The Surgeon is an exciting thriller with multiple twists, so much so that forming opinions on the characters is easy from the very beginning, especially to the degree where you as a reader might just despise Paula as much as I did. However, I listened to this book as an audiobook that was narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor. While audiobooks is one of my favorite forms of reading, I was less than satisfied with the narration, especially when it came to the voice of Anne. I felt that she was too whiny every time the book was turned to her perspective. Maybe it was the narration, maybe it was the characterization of Anne.
Despite this one caveat, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this latest book by an author that I very much enjoy. I absolutely love the Kay Sharp series by Leslie Wolfe, and very much appreciated having a medical thriller as her latest book. I hope she continues to write standalone thrillers because she did a fabulous job with The Surgeon. With excellent pacing, a sad but intriguing storyline, as well as the medical aspects of this book, this was quite a compelling read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
However, another story is being told. Anne’s husband is having an affair with Paula, a woman who seems bound and determined to bring Anne down. While a tragic loss of life during surgery could cost Anne everything, ambition facing her husband and his lover are also at play.
The lives of these three characters are very much intertwined, although Anne is unaware of what is going on between Derreck and Paula. All Anne wants is to avoid being prosecuted and jailed for the death of the patient she recently lost. Paula has other plans, and if ruining Anne happens along the way, then that will perhaps satisfy Paula. While Derreck was a man definitely caught up in the illicit affair, loyalty comes into play. This is especially so as the career and reputation of his wife is very important to him.
While The Surgeon is an exciting thriller with multiple twists, so much so that forming opinions on the characters is easy from the very beginning, especially to the degree where you as a reader might just despise Paula as much as I did. However, I listened to this book as an audiobook that was narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor. While audiobooks is one of my favorite forms of reading, I was less than satisfied with the narration, especially when it came to the voice of Anne. I felt that she was too whiny every time the book was turned to her perspective. Maybe it was the narration, maybe it was the characterization of Anne.
Despite this one caveat, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this latest book by an author that I very much enjoy. I absolutely love the Kay Sharp series by Leslie Wolfe, and very much appreciated having a medical thriller as her latest book. I hope she continues to write standalone thrillers because she did a fabulous job with The Surgeon. With excellent pacing, a sad but intriguing storyline, as well as the medical aspects of this book, this was quite a compelling read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 10, 2024
Kaip gi chirurgė neperskaitys knygos tokiu pavadinimu - "Chirurgė"! Nors trileriai medicinine tema gana populiarūs, iš tikrųjų juose medicinos būna tik nedidelės nuotrupos. O šis kūrinys parašytas ypač kruopščiai ir išanalizavus medikų kasdienybę. Žinoma, kardiochirurgija yra aukščiausias medicinos lygis ir remtasi Amerikos darbuotojų užkulisiais.
Pagrindinė knygos veikėja - įstabaus proto ir stebuklingų rankų kardiochirurgė - Anė Vaili. Ji pirmą kartą praranda pacientą ant operacinio stalo ir leidžiasi į savo klaidos paieškas bei svarstymus. Atrodo, nieko čia ypatingo, kiekvienam chirurgui taip gali atsitikti, bet paciento mirtimi pradeda domėtis prokuratūra.
Patiko, kad trileris mediciniškai sukonstruotas labai smulkmeniškai. Minima daug chirurginių terminų, piešiamas tikroviškas operacinės vaizdas. Žinoma, dr. Vaili dirba su daugybe asistentų, kurių Lietuvoje nėra. Taip pat patiko trilerio pabaiga, bet jos neatskleisiu.
Nepatiko gana silpni veikėjų charakteriai, galbūt toks įspūdis susidarė dėl pasikartojimų ir nuolatinių svarstymų. Taip pat žodis "trileris" gal kiek per stiprus šiam romanui. Kūrinį pavadinčiau šeimos drama su detektyvo prieskoniu.
Vertinu 3.5/5. Rekomenduoju "švelnių" trilerių, šeimos dramų gerbėjams. Tiems, kuriems patinka medicinos smulkmenos.
Pagrindinė knygos veikėja - įstabaus proto ir stebuklingų rankų kardiochirurgė - Anė Vaili. Ji pirmą kartą praranda pacientą ant operacinio stalo ir leidžiasi į savo klaidos paieškas bei svarstymus. Atrodo, nieko čia ypatingo, kiekvienam chirurgui taip gali atsitikti, bet paciento mirtimi pradeda domėtis prokuratūra.
Patiko, kad trileris mediciniškai sukonstruotas labai smulkmeniškai. Minima daug chirurginių terminų, piešiamas tikroviškas operacinės vaizdas. Žinoma, dr. Vaili dirba su daugybe asistentų, kurių Lietuvoje nėra. Taip pat patiko trilerio pabaiga, bet jos neatskleisiu.
Nepatiko gana silpni veikėjų charakteriai, galbūt toks įspūdis susidarė dėl pasikartojimų ir nuolatinių svarstymų. Taip pat žodis "trileris" gal kiek per stiprus šiam romanui. Kūrinį pavadinčiau šeimos drama su detektyvo prieskoniu.
Vertinu 3.5/5. Rekomenduoju "švelnių" trilerių, šeimos dramų gerbėjams. Tiems, kuriems patinka medicinos smulkmenos.
October 19, 2023
Foi isto?
Tanta coisa... para isto?
Não me entendam mal, gostei de ler. Entreteve, viciou e fez-me passar raiva. Mas não passou disso.
A premissa era boa. Tinha tudo para dar certo... mas não deu.
Várias coisas sem sentido a acontecer. Explicações mal conseguidas.
Personagens completamente detestaveis.
Acho que só gostei mesmo das últimas frases, mas nem isso me convenceu o suficiente.
Leiam se quiserem um livro viciante e rápido de ler.
Não leiam se quiserem uma história mega bem construída e com plots incríveis.
Tanta coisa... para isto?
Não me entendam mal, gostei de ler. Entreteve, viciou e fez-me passar raiva. Mas não passou disso.
A premissa era boa. Tinha tudo para dar certo... mas não deu.
Várias coisas sem sentido a acontecer. Explicações mal conseguidas.
Personagens completamente detestaveis.
Acho que só gostei mesmo das últimas frases, mas nem isso me convenceu o suficiente.
Leiam se quiserem um livro viciante e rápido de ler.
Não leiam se quiserem uma história mega bem construída e com plots incríveis.
February 28, 2024
4⭐️! I had fun with this! It reminds me of a Freida book tbh. You’re in for a good time, but don’t dissect the plot and all the details
While I had an idea of what might be going on, the actual plot twists shocked me! You do need to suspend your beliefs a little though. This was easy to read and a relatively short psychological thriller. I don’t read a lot of medical themed thrillers, so this was something new to me. I don’t know how much of the medical stuff was accurate, but again I’m not digging into details.
A couple little complaints- the book was in two different POV’s but the chapters weren’t marked with who’s pov it was so you had to start reading to realize who was talking so it got confusing. Also felt like the plot was a little drawn out and could have been cut back or changed to add more details as the middle was slow.
But overall I definitely enjoyed this and recommend it!
While I had an idea of what might be going on, the actual plot twists shocked me! You do need to suspend your beliefs a little though. This was easy to read and a relatively short psychological thriller. I don’t read a lot of medical themed thrillers, so this was something new to me. I don’t know how much of the medical stuff was accurate, but again I’m not digging into details.
A couple little complaints- the book was in two different POV’s but the chapters weren’t marked with who’s pov it was so you had to start reading to realize who was talking so it got confusing. Also felt like the plot was a little drawn out and could have been cut back or changed to add more details as the middle was slow.
But overall I definitely enjoyed this and recommend it!
March 3, 2024
Caput una lectura más! Fue una lectura ágil, con capítulos cortos que iban entre Anne y Paula...
Algunos de los giros de la trama no me los vi venir.
La obsesión de Paula por Anne fue demasiado la vdd y raya en lo enfermizo hizo que Paula me cayera como patada de burro. La actitud del final de Anna para con ella no fue lo "mejor" para mi pero digamos que puede ser comprensible.
Derreck... mejor de él no hablo xq me da coraje jajajaja fue frustrante en parte como se maneja durante la trama de la novela
Disfruté la arrastrada que le puso su jefe a Paula xD
Los personaje bastante bien perfilados para mi gusto, no son un hitazo pero son buenos.
En fin la disfrute y me lo acabé bastante pronto :)
3.5 estrellitas
Algunos de los giros de la trama no me los vi venir.
La obsesión de Paula por Anne fue demasiado la vdd y raya en lo enfermizo hizo que Paula me cayera como patada de burro. La actitud del final de Anna para con ella no fue lo "mejor" para mi pero digamos que puede ser comprensible.
Derreck... mejor de él no hablo xq me da coraje jajajaja fue frustrante en parte como se maneja durante la trama de la novela
Disfruté la arrastrada que le puso su jefe a Paula xD
Los personaje bastante bien perfilados para mi gusto, no son un hitazo pero son buenos.
En fin la disfrute y me lo acabé bastante pronto :)
3.5 estrellitas
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