I liked it, but it hasn't been an unforgettable reading, on the other hand I really like the writing style of the writer so I surely want to read something else about her at some point. It have been very easy and fast to read but in summary the plot isn't for me

This is my first Zoe Goldman book and it did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Couldn't put it down. A great quality read.

Take note thriller lovers! There is an awesome new female protagonist on the scene and her name is Zoe Goldman. When I read the synopsis for “The Secret Room” by Sandra Block I was unaware that this was the third book in a series. I requested it on Netgalley and was very excited when I received the arc. Zoe is intelligent (working on her psychiatry residency in a prison), feisty (see prison job), yet very flawed. I really enjoyed the psychiatry angle both from her perspective as a therapist and also from the therapy she receives for herself. To make the story even more interesting, her psychopathic sister Sofia is one of the inmates housed in the prison where Zoe is working. While there was enough information throughout the book to help me catch up on what happened in the beginning of the series, I am definitely going back and reading Books 1 and 2 to get the full character development.
In “The Secret Room”, all of Zoe’s patients are beginning to die, some from apparent suicides and others under more suspicious circumstances. The warden of the prison believes that Zoe is actually assisting the prisoners in taking their lives and suddenly everything that she has worked so hard for is all on the line. She is assigned a new prisoner, a young man named Andre, who attempted to kill his father because he believes his father is the devil and that he is responsible for the death of Andre’s mother. As Zoe works with Andre, she begins to believe that he may be telling the truth even though he is exhibiting classic schizophrenic symptoms. Zoe finds herself fighting for her job and her very sanity as she attempts to determine if there is a conspiracy at work or if she herself, is slowly going mad. There are multiple story lines throughout this book and I found myself racing through the pages to see what was going to happen next. I can not believe I have never heard of this series or Sandra Block. This book was excellent -- I am officially a fan! As it stands, it’s easily a 4 star read. I feel like if I had read the first two books that rating would bump up to 5 stars since I would have a better understanding of some of the things discussed as well as the character growth. I plan to read “Little Black Lies” and “The Girl Without A Name” because I need more Zoe Goldman in my life.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sandra Block returns following: The Girl Without a Name and Little Black Lies, with her latest Zoe Goldman installment THE SECRET ROOM — Psychologically rich full of intrigue, suspense, chills, twists, and action.

From strong imaginations, darkness, metaphors, comics, dual personalities, magic pills, obsessions, a secret room, to depersonalization. When a patient thinks they are not real, somehow like fake humans in this world.

In Little Black Lies, we met Dr. Zoe Goldman, a Yale graduate, and a psychiatry resident at a Buffalo, N.Y., hospital, where she suffers from ADHD, with a number of personal issues. She likes repairing her patients, while on probation, and continuing to struggle with the control, of her own thoughts.

Zoe was haunted by her past and discovered dark secrets and lies behind her biological mother’s death, while her adoptive mother suffered from dementia. Her last patient was connected with her past and she is still struggling with the aftermath.

In The Girl Without A Name a Jane Doe shows up at the hospital. An African American girl approximately thirteen years of age; no past, no name, no history—landing at the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, NY. Zoe becomes immersed in this patient and her life. A world of fear, identity, and facades.

Presently with THE SECRET ROOM, this is Zoe’s first year as a psychiatrist in a prison facility. Forensic psychiatry fellowship. A local correctional facility where Zoe is still learning the ropes while watching her back to avoid some dangerous prisoners.

Of course, as usual, there are plenty of mentally disturbing and dangerous prisoners. From narcissistic and sociopathic behaviors, delusions, hallucinations, schizophrenia, cutting, personality disorders – fighting their devils and demons. (Plus more)

The Secret Room

“Wake up. Eat breakfast. Kill time. Eat Lunch. Kill time. Eat dinner. Kill time. Lights out. Repeat. That was my life. That would be my life, for years, too many years to come. Until I met you, Professor, and everything changed. And I knew that I could never go back to my life before you, that half a life, that living death. Never. And I would do anything it took to keep you. Anything. Even kill for you.”


Zoe’s patients are dying. While some are suicides and others possible accidents. Someone is texting and tormenting her. Is Dr. Zoe Goldman an angel of death-intentionally helping hopeless cases go to a "better place" or she is -being set up while targeting her patients?

Who is manipulating her patients? When it does not take much to push these mentally disturbed patients over the edge.

The mysterious woman in the secret room. Sprinkled throughout we hear weird X-rated thoughts and happenings about a Professor. An unhealthy obsession with her teacher.

Then there is the teenage patient, Andre who thinks his father is the devil. However, was his diagnosis correct? Why was he a different person before?

In the middle of everything, Zoe has been requested to start a research project on a new behavior technique and the Doctor wants her first patient to be her biological sister, Sofia.

Zoe’s birth mother died. She was adopted when she was three years old and Sofia was fourteen (killed their mother). Zoe had completely blocked it out from her memory. The adoptive mother tried to hide the truth from her.

Her sister was an ex-patient who also stabbed her in the neck. (Zoe is surrounded by dysfunction and drama). Has her sister really changed? Can a psychopath really ever change? Can she possibly help Zoe this time around?

Jack, their brother lost his eye when she stabbed him, who was left to fend for himself in a slew of foster homes until he found heroin and religion. (more about him here as well).

Clever plotting and extensive medical knowledge allow the author to control the story, full of suspense and enough edge to keep you glued to the pages. (with a nice balance of personal life from Zoe).

As in Block’s past books, THE SECRET ROOM is full of metaphors in relation to the concept of “rooms.” Both physical, also within our minds.

“Freud might say we have hidden rooms inside our minds that emerge in dreams or unconscious actions.”


In addition, references to dual identities throughout the book with both Zoe and her patients. Before and after. "In truth, none of us are who we seem to be. Many of us wear masks at times for one reason or another. To protect or hide behind."

I always enjoy reading the author’s work, which is thought-provoking, compelling, and leaves the reader with a strong takeaway message or question to ponder. Who am I?

Highly recommend starting with the first book to really understand the character of Zoe (she always seems to be on leave, at the end of each book) recuperating from a trauma. However, the author provides insight to get you up to speed and rest assured she will be back in full force for the next battle.

Fans of psychological and medical thrillers (authors): Tess Gerritsen, Kelly Parsons, Lisa Unger, and Michael (Daniel) Palmer will enjoy. The author is a practicing neurologist and her medical knowledge is reflective throughout. Hope to hear more from Zoe!

A special thank you to Grand Central and NetGalley for providing an early reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks

I read The Girl Without a Name the previous book in the series two years ago and really liked it and was thrilled to get The Secret Room to read. I haven't read Little Black Lies, but this book deals with what happened in that book by having Zoe's sister in the story. And, that's a subject that intrigued me very much and one some levels did I find it more interesting than the main story about the prisoners that dies. I guess the troubled relationship Zoe has with her sister just fascinates me more since what happened between them that makes Zoe mistrust her. Yeah, I'm trying to be as vague as possible if you haven't read any of the books.

Dr. Zoe Goldman is a new psychiatry fellow at the local correctional facility. Lately has problems arisen with prisoners dying, either by suicide or by accidents. But, they have all been her patients and the prison warden is getting more and more displeased with her and Zoe is racked with guilt and self-doubt. Then, she starts to suspect that someone is helping the prisoners die. But, who could it be, could someone of the prisoners be after her, but why?

I found the whole prisoner dying plot interesting, Zoe herself suspects a certain person, but I had a feeling that it would be too easy if it was so. However, I had some suspicious feeling that Zoe was played by that person. That even if this person was not the one behind it could it be that the person in question had some knowledge or even helped out. It will be interesting reading the next book to see the consequences of the events in this book.

Besides the hardship at work is Zoe dealing with her own "little" problem, she has learned something that will affect her whole life and she's struggling with this during the book. She has to make a decision and this storyline added quite a lot of drama to the story. But, in a good why. I quite liked this development.

This is the third book in a series and I must say, I am absolutely obsessed with Sandra Block's writing and Zoe Goldman.

In this installment we find Zoe in a prison working for her fellowship. She is seeing unstable prisoners who have anything from depression to schizophrenia. Throughout the whole story, Zoe is being targeted. Her patients seem to end up dead and no one can figure out why. And the biggest catch of them all... Zoe's crazy sister is in the prison with her and we all know how that turned out in the last book.

I loved this book as well as the two other books in the series. I find it fascinating in the psychological aspect and I love the development of Zoe and her brother Scotty and her boyfriend Mike. Sandra block is such an amazing writer and I can't wait to see if and when another installment in the Zoe Goldman series comes out. A well deserved 5 out of 5 stars!

Lately, I have found myself in the mood for reading mystery and thriller type novels, and it's a good thing since there has been an influx lately of good ones. An author whom I had read previously and enjoyed Sandra Block has a new one out at the end of April and thanks to Netgalley; I got an early copy. Zoe Goldman is a psych doctor doing her residency at a prison where her biological sister is also held for killing their biological mother and trying to kill Zoe and her sibling. It seems though that there is an Angel of Death at work as Zoe's patients seem to be dying and in the form of suicides, even the ones that aren't suicidal. Can Zoe figure out who is behind this as she has one guess but is she looking in the right direction? The other two main storylines in The Secret Room is A) Zoe has been asked to set up a research project on a new behaviour technique and the Doctor wants her first patient to be her biological sister - has she really changed or is this another of her manipulative mind games to cause mayhem and chaos in Zoe's life ? The other storyline is set around a patient of Zoe's - a teenage boy named Andre. Andre was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his mother died and he believed his father was the devil; he was arrested after he stabbed his father. Was Andre's diagnosis correct or is there a bigger conspiracy at play surrounding Andre's condition as Zoe starts to dig into Andre's life and those in his family tree ? If you are on the lookout for a good mystery and psychological thriller and a book that you won't see the ending coming then check out The Secret Room by Zoe Goldman today as you won't be disappointed.

I've previously read The Girl Without A Name by Sandra block (the first book in the series) and liked it. Somehow I missed reading the second part, but when I read this part I instantly felt connected to the main lead, Zoe Goldman, even better that the first time.

As I started reading the book I was hooked from the first chapter and was right "into" it till the very last page. The plot was really good and I enjoyed the diary entries of the mysterious antagonist a lot. Initially, I thought I had the villain figured out, but as the plot progressed I started doubting my guess, and as the plot proceeded further I was literally biting my nails due to all the anxiousness.

The plot build up was also really good in this book and the pacing was perfect and in tune with the earlier parts(s). I enjoyed the simple writing style of the author and, in fact, appreciated it because it really complimented the story.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves reading a nice medical thriller or a cozy suspense and mystery book. Also, if you're looking to start a new non-detective series, then this will be perfect for you. It's unique, engaging and consistently good

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you very much. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to many.

I was fortunate enough to receive a free copy of The Secret Room from NetGalley. This is the 3rd in a series and the heroine is a psychiatric resident with her own mental issues. Dr. Zoe Goldman is working with prisoners in this thriller. Her live-in boyfriend is an ER doc and they have a dog named Arthur. Early on the patients assigned to Zoe start dying. Are they committing suicide or is something more sinister going on in the prison? I will let you decide because you need to read this book. The series just keeps getting better and better. Block, herself, is a neurologist so she knows of what she speaks. She has done a remarkable job of turning what happens to patients into works of fiction. I hope to see a fourth in the series very soon.

I loved the previous two Zoe Goldman books, and I really liked this one. I read it in a matter of hours ... I was riveted!!

Dr. Zoe Goldman is one hot mess ... but she's in love with her boyfriend and her dog and enjoys spending time with her "hacker/barista" brother Scotty. She has family drama of her own, not the least of which is that her crazy half-sister, Sofia, is back and that her patients are mysteriously dying. I don't like how the author made Zoe pregnant (honestly, isn't she enough of a mess??!) for seemingly no reason, but the mysteries in this book were addicting ... the mystery behind Zoe's patients dying and the mystery regarding the couple in "the secret room." I loved being surprised when their identities were finally revealed!!

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC. I highly recommend this series!

I would like to thank Sandra Block, Grand Central and Netgalley for giving me this AMAZING book for my honest review!
Review By Stephanie
4.5 Stars
Sandra Block writes an amazing Zoe Goldman series that I LOVE! So I was beyond excited when the latest book came on Netgalley!
Dr. Zoe Goldman’s patients are dying; some look like suicide and others look like accidents. Of course people are starting rumors that Zoe is the doctor of death. People are wondering if she is helping the hopeless cross over or is she an incompetent doctor. These deaths are affecting Zoe immensely; she is full of guilt and trying so hard to figure out what is going on. While she is going inane trying to figure out what is going on she is missing that someone is targeting her patients to get to her. Who could be doing this…….
This book was amazing! I was truly on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book! I wanted to know who was targeting Zoe and I wanted to know why! I had a few different ideas while reading but when I found out I was like OMG!

Excellent book! Great characters and a brilliant storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

Book 3 in the Zoe Goldman series is another win for author Sandra Block. We get to see Zoe in a new setting where her patients keep mysteriously dying. Old secrets and old friends come back and Zoe is trying to keep up with her meds, her brother and her own love life! Kept me in suspense and wondering what was next. Zoe is a very realistic and genuine character. I love how she is so human.

Zoe Goldman is a psychiatry fellow at a new correctional facility and her job is far from routine. Trying to learn the ropes and keep safe is hard enough, but with her patients dying, rumors are flying among the inmates that Zoe is responsible. Is she meting out her own justice for inmates that don’t deserve a second chance or is she taking pity on them and releasing them from their earthly chains? Zoe is actually trying to figure out what’s going on; she has little idea that she is in grave danger from someone who knows all her secrets, someone who won’t stop until Zoe has lost everything, her sanity and maybe even her life. I LOVE this series and I can’t get enough!! Sandra Block is an extraordinary writer and if you haven’t read her books, start right now