Dark and unusual read which I didn't realise was part of a series and stands alone quite well as a result.
Disturbing in places, this can be quite intense but once immersed in the pages, it really pays off.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately it’s not the book for me. DNF @ 32%.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Clare Roget gets a frantic call from an old college classmate, obstetrician Dr. Charles Tissot, who is desperate for her to take on a patient (Heather Krimble) of his who is 8 months pregnant and claims the child is his. He wants her to basically declare this women insane. Clare knows he has a certain rep. with women but she agrees anyway

Heather Kimble had 2 previous babies, both of them dead. and claims they were NOT her husband's, but instead 2 other men. Clare already can tell this women has some serious issues. Clare begins to questions her but always brings her sister along, both women swear this isn't a lie.

I loved that the author brought in Clare's other patients to the mix.
ONE young woman who is psychopath
TWO an abused man by his wife in which he finally snaps and stabs her.
Heather tends to take Clare away from her other patients, Clare is so focused on figuring Heather out. She wants to get to the bottom of this for herself but also for this unborn baby.


This just got me hooked right away all the way till the end. I didn't even notice that this was part of a series but it def. did well alone.

I liked this book a lot, but oddly, it wasn't the main section of the story that got me truly interested in it, but the mentions of Claire's other patients that drew me in and refused to let me go. This author has a wonderful way of giving the reader just enough information to keep them interested in the story without giving too much away and letting them solve it before they should. She is also very good at building up the believable kind of suspense that is truly terrifying.

I like books where the monsters under the bed are plausible and make you question how well you really know the people you are closest to. If you love strong female main characters that can get things done, then Claire will no doubt appeal to you. She did struggle with the issues she faced at times, but I always thought she made the wisest decision she could.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic book with a lot to recommend it. It has the right amount of psychological suspense and action to ensure that it never gets boring.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Excellent story line and great main characters. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend.

Good story but I didn't realise this was the second book in a series

Really enjoyed this story! Well written! Looking forward to reading more by this author!

This kept me on the edge of my seat. Such a great mystery!

Claire is asked by her colleague Charles to investigate an accusation against him which has been made by a pregnant woman called Heather. Heather says that Charles is the father of the baby. Heather is not believed as she has accused other men of being the father in 2 previous pregnancies. The story discusses Heathers case and the cases of 2 of Claire's other patients. It is well written and well put together but the ending was obvious which made it a bit disappointing.

It was clear from the outset that this is the second book featuring forensic psychiatrist Dr Claire Roget but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this book as the background was quickly and clearly established. What is more, I presume that there will be No. 3 which made me even happier.

Claire is contacted by obstetrician Charles Tissot regarding one of his patients who is claiming that he is the father of her unborn child – but more than that – that they are involved in a love affair. Recognising that this could ruin his career Claire agrees to investigate. Further investigations reveal that Heather (the patient) has had two other children (lost to cot death) and on both occasions she accused different men of being the father. It would appear that this is clear cut, except for one thing. Heather’s description of how Charles and she met rings alarm bells for Claire. Many years ago, Charles had raped Claire in similar circumstances.

This is a fascinating book and Claire is a fairly complex character, prone to self-analysis and rather introverted or cautious in her relationships with other, leaving her somewhat lonely. This hesitancy can be somewhat annoying but all in all I liked Claire. Masters’ characters are very well drawn and the pace of the book and the various facets are well-structured and provide a very satisfying read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

This novel held my interest from start to finish always at its core how much of delusions are falsehoods. Claire, a forensic psychiatrist receives a call from a colleague whom she has an uncomfortable past. When he a consultant in obstetrics, asks Claire to take on a patient whom he has met and who also claims is expecting his child, something doesn’t sit well for Claire. The accusation if believed could be ruinous to the OB’s practice and future, However, some of Heather’s claims ring true. Even though this is now the 3rd allegation of Heather contradicting the father of her unborn child. Two previous children had died of cot death and only one DNA sample taken to disprove the father of one of the babies. Most alarming is Heather is taking her delusions out on her unborn child and is now admitted to the psych ward in which Claire works. So much of what Heather says is grossly fabricated yet she seems to have too many concrete details regarding the OB whom she claims is the Father of her child. Fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together ends in a satisfying yet slightly rushed conclusion. Nevertheless, I highly enjoyed this novel. 4.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Dr. Clare Roget, forensic psychiatrist, is called by an old acquaintance, Dr. Charles Tissot, obstetrician, in regards to a pregnant patient of his, Heather Kimble, who claims he seduced her at a party and that her unborn baby is his. Previously, she had 2 babies, both of whom died of cot death. She alleged in both cases that 2 separate men, not her husband, fathered the babies, a fact both of them hotly denied. Charles wants Clare to take on the woman as a patient and declare her delusional. He has a reputation as a womanizer, as Clare knows full well. She agrees reluctantly, as his livelihood and reputation are at stake.
She has two other patients to look after as well. One of them is a young woman, a psychopath, and the other a meek man, who, after years of being bullied and assaulted by his wife, finally snapped and stabbed his wife.
Heather is a severely mentally damaged woman and Clare fears for her unborn child. But her sister, who is with Heather all the time, is insistent that she is telling the truth.
This was such a good book, very different from the usual psychological thrillers. Fascinating, well written and unputdownable. My heart was in my mouth a lot of the time as Clare desperately tries to get at the truth, knowing full well that psychiatry is not cut and dried, but genuinely wanting to do what is best for her patients.
Wow, what a great read, loved it!

This is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing till the very last page. I was imagining all sorts of shenigans and suspects, but the author played everything close to the chest and I was surprised at the end. A great read, quick, and loved the main character, Claire!

I did not realize this was the second book about Dr. Claire Roget, but I easily learned what had happened in her life prior to her new case. Pregnant Heather has lost two children to crib death. With both pregnancies she swore her husband Geoff was not the father. Now pregnant for the third time, Heather is accusing an ob/gyn, who asks for Claire's help in proving the young mother mentally ill. And that is just the beginning of the story. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for a fair and honest review. I'll be watching for more about Claire.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

I read the Kindle edition of this novel.

Forensic psychiatrist Claire Roget receives a frantic call from an old classmate. Now an obstetrician, Charles Tissot is having a serious problem with a patient. The patient named Heather Krimble claims that she and Tissot have been having a secret affair and that he is the father of her unborn child. She is eight months pregnant. Tissot wants Claire to see her and find her “fucking mad.” She didn’t even come to him until she was already pregnant. However, there is a problem.

So, Heather’s GP refers her to Claire for an appointment and assessment. While waiting for the initial appointment, the reader gets to meet some of Claire’s varied patients. Arthur Connolly bullied by his wife for thirty years, snapped one day and took a knife to her. Badly wounded, she survived the assault. Riley Finch is a psychopath who steals things that she wants without a hint of conscience. This includes stealing a baby because she wanted one and no one had the right to stop her.

Claire also contacts Heather’s previous psychologist who treated her following the deaths of her two infants. She speaks to the locum who tells her that Heather has made two such claims before – claiming that men, not her husband, were the fathers of her babies, a fact that both men vehemently denied. So she does have a history of making such accusations as she has made against Charles Tissot.

When she finally meets Heather, her younger sister Ruth trails into Claire’s inner office with her. (How odd I say to myself.) Ruth begins talking and Heather gives somewhat defensive and confused responses to Clair’s questions. Claire too is confused as to why Ruth is responding and defensive so much. On subsequent visits to Claire, Heather acts more and more oddly. Defensive, secretive and belligerent. As Heather’s delivery date draws nearer, Claire becomes increasingly worried about the baby’s safety and puzzled by Heather’s bizarre actions. Ruth is being secretive as are Heather’s parents.

This book is well written and plotted, however there is one thing that annoyed me about it. Claire kept thinking that she should talk to Tim Cartwright and Sam Maddox, the two men Heather had accused before, but she kept putting it off. I wanted to tell her, “So, go talk to them already!” (She never does.) The suspense began immediately with the book with Charles Tissot’s frantic phone call and continued throughout until the denouement of the novel. I liked Claire, even though she seemed a little too much swayed by her own emotions and unsure of herself at times.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this engaging book to read and enjoy.

Clair Roget, forensic psychologist comes to the aid of an old colleague when one of the obstetrician’s patients claims he seduced her and is in fact, the father of her unborn child. Charles Tissot denies the accusation and points to his patient Heather’s history of instability. Heather lost two children to crib death and it would be easy to assume that the subsequent pain and guilt would make her unstable. Still, Clair has a feeling Charles isn’t being totally honest with her and when she discovers he’s kept a number of things from her, Clair wonders if she, Heather or her child are safe. There’s nothing scarier than the thought of being branded mentally ill and being totally helpless. Masters spins out the tension in this fantastic thriller