Very unusual and complex story which seemed quite unbelievable at times. Several twists and turns especially the ending.

Wow, just brilliant, I knew I would like this from the very beginning. and I was gripped from the first page of this nail biter thriller. Plenty of twists and turns which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, believable characters with an excellent ending.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough, you will not be disappointed, well done Lisa I look forward to your next masterpiece.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Doctor’ by Lisa Stone in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Emily befriends Alisha who lives in the house next door with her anaesthetist husband Amir. Alisha says she’s an invalid and can’t leave the house and seems scared of her husband who spends long hours in the converted shed at the bottom of their garden. When Emily’s husband Ben gets home from work late one evening he finds a letter from her saying she’s left him for another man but Ben doesn’t believe that she’d leave him or their young son Robbie, so where is she?

‘The Doctor’ is a nail-biting thriller that enthralled me from the beginning and had me sitting on the edge of my seat for a lot of the time. It’s very well-written with a plot that’s chilling and becoming increasingly so as the story continues, it’s shocking and horrifying, and although the twist towards the end is unexpected the final page is a massive shock. This is a book that's well worth reading.

How well you do you know your neighbours? How can we ever really know what goes on behind closed doors? How far would you go in pursuit of your beliefs? To what extent would you go to cover up your darkest secret? These are just some of the questions raised in this dark, shocking psychological thriller.
Emily,Ben and their young son Robbie live next door to the Burmans. Dr Burman is an anaesthetist who also looks after his ill wife Alisha. It is obvious from the start that all is not well in the Burman household. The doctor’s interest in cryogenic research into freezing humans until such a time ailments can be cured and they can be brought back to life is chilling and sets the tone for the rest of the book. Their neighbours, Emily and Ben on the other hand seem perfectly normal in comparison. She is on extended maternity leave and intrigued as to the strange comings and goings of the doctor next door. Naturally inquisitive and in need of company, the search for their missing cat leads Emily trying to befriend Alisha who seems to never leave the house. A tentative friendship is formed but Emily grows increasingly concerned for the welfare of her new friend and events unfold that are extremely shocking. Will Emily’s inquisitiveness and kind nature be her downfall? Is Dr Burman mad, bad or both?? This is a well written engrossing read although the plot may seem a bit far fetched in places. The author also tackles a highly controversial subject that may seem more grounded in fantasy than reality but it does make the reader think about the possibilities for the future. I think the way in which the author brings the storyline to its climax is very clever (no spoilers here!) and the ending is unexpected and chilling. The Doctor is a perfect read for book groups as it has plenty of scope for discussion and also for anyone who loves a page turner even if it is disturbing!
I highly recommend you put this on ‘must read’ pile.
With thanks to the publisher Avon and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

This was a fast and engaging read with plenty of suspense. Once the disappearance happened I was on the edge of my seat hoping for someone to figure it out before the worst happened. I wanted Emily and her family to be ok, which means the author is definitely doing something right.

Having said that, the writing felt rushed and at times fell into the 'as you know, Bob' trap of characters telling each other things they should already know for the benefit of the reader. I found Alisha's character incredibly frustrating; I felt for her, but her motivations didn't make sense given what Amit had already threatened to Eva (she had nothing to lose and everything to gain by standing up to him). And the final twist didn't fit at all with what had been shown of the characters up to that point, meaning that it spoiled the book a little because I found it so implausible.

Overall, then, a mixed bag but worth checking out for a quick and thrilling read, if you can suspend all disbelief.

A very dark and unique story. It was creepy and crazy at times but a thoroughly enjoyable read for crime thriller fans. I’d love to read more form this author x

Emily attempts to befriend her neighbor Anita Burman and gets herself tangled in a mess she could have never foreseen. Anita has a few secrets that could cost her, and Emily, their lives. Dr. Burman is a cold hearted narcissist who believes he has the right to gain power over death and secrets he hold that could destroy him. This book had me captured from the start and disturbed me to the core. Could he really get away with his plan to control his wife's disease or is this about something bigger? Read this book only if you are not squeamish...this is a story of how far someone will go to attempt to succeed in the power over life and death.

The premise of this book sounds SO promising, doesn't? A twisty turny mystery with a doctor that may or may not be out to hurt his neighbors. Sounds like a crazy page turner, right?

Unfortunately, it wasn't. And I'll admit, I was unable to finish this book, rating it one star (or an F) in my book. The book itself was so over the top but at the same time there were no twists and turns that I was looking for. I found myself dreading reading time because this book could not keep my attention.

I think a main reason that I disliked this book and couldn't finish it is that the characters were very two dimensional. I didn't care about any of them and I didn't even care to find out how the book ended. I found myself skimming through the chapters which is never good.

Unfortunately I can't recommend this book. For me there were no redeeming qualities wanting me to finish it. I was able to get 38% of the way in (and this took me a week!) and finally decided life is too short to waste on this book.

Maybe next time.

Emily, Ben and their young son Robbie move in next door Dr Burman and his wife Alisha. Emily is home on maternity leave and is fascinated by the neighbours. Why does Dr Burman spend so long in his shed? Why does Alisha never leave the house? Determined to find out more, Emily tries to befriend Alisha. And that's when she realises there's a lot more to the neighbours than she first realised.

Once I started reading The Doctor, I was hooked! The fast paced story kept me wanting to read more and find out exactly what was going on next door. I was drawn to Emily as a character and found her likable and relatable, where as I immediately hated Dr Burman from the second I started reading.

This book was a little bit disturbing, but as someone who loves a medical thriller, I thoroughly enjoyed the nature of this novel and can't wait to read whatever Lisa Stone writes next!

I really enjoyed THE DOCTOR by Lisa Stone. Great character development, exciting plot and great twists that will surprise you. More than just a neighbour tale of woe. Great novel.

I absolutely loved this book and read it within the day. It had me hooked right from the beginning. A cracking read and a page turner from start to finish. Makes you wonder if part of the story could become reality in the near future

I had so many problems with this book.

Firstly, in the snyposis it says Emily goes missing, that doesn't happen till over half way through the book. I really don't understand why publishers do this? Don't put events that happen half through the story on the back story.

Secondly, there was no twists or turns. Everything was laid out to us as readers. There wasn't nothing shocking or surprising that happened at all. Yes, there was a twist at the end but I saw it coming from the start. Its SO obvious.

There was so many plot holes and convenient plot points in this story, it was so ridiculous. Also the ending was wrapped up way to quickly.

I did like the subject matter of this book. I think it was original and creative, not something I've ever read before. I wish this book was better executed.

Overall, I was very disappointed in this book. I wanted to love it but there was just too many problems and some poor decisions made by the publishers to give away a major event that doesn't happen till over half way through

Emily and Ben move to a new house. They are a younger couple with a new baby Robbie. They are wrapped up in their young blissful family and love their new neighbourhood . The exception - their next door neighbour Dr Amit Burman who could not be more arrogant and aloof. Emily is friendly and slightly suspicious of Dr Burman. She has some time on her hands, being at home with Robbie on extended maternity leave. She learns Dr Burman has a wife with with an incurable illness but surely that alone is insufficient to explain his odd behaviour.

Emily’s inquiring mind leads her to meet Alisha, Dr Burman’s wife and the pair strike up a friendship of sorts and meet in secret against Dr Burman’s wishes. Emily cannot predict the chain of events that begins to unfold around her and what she discovers next door. [No spoilers here 😀]

The question is whether Emily will place her own life at risk as she unwittingly discovers the lengths to which one person may go to in pursuit of their own depraved goals.

Trigger warning for those sensitive to issues of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and violence towards animals. The Doctor touches on all of these issues.

Having read this 3 days post - discharge from hospital I’m relieved I waited to read this! I may not have signed my anaesthetic consents x 2 quite so willingly!

Lisa Stone’s characters are convincing. Emily a well meaning, friendly woman with a strong sense of right and wrong. Alisha is Dr Burman’s co-dependent wife. Dr Burman - bad rather than mad but verging on the latter. The reader gets a strong sense of where the Doctor is coming from and it is not with the intention to ‘Do No Harm’.

The final chapters of the book sees the story culminate fairly quickly and there are some epilogoue-type chapters as well for those who like to know what became of their favourite non-dead characters. [Again, no spoilers here]. The rapid-fire ending took the edge of it a little for me otherwise it was a five-star read. I wanted another twist or turn! 4.5/5

It took me a day and a half to read this book. I enjoyed all aspects of it, its not for the feint-stomached and has a realness to it that gives you pause to ask what if.

Thankyou to Lisa Stone, Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m off to investigate the other titles Lisa Stone has written under the pseudonym Cathy Glass.

My full review is posted to goodreads and also on my Instagram @aplace_inthesun

The Doctor by Lisa Stone was CHILLING! I loved the plot which we haven’t seen a million times before and by now you might now I don’t love recycled plotlines. I really worried for the characters and the suspense took hold early in the book and didn’t let go until the end. I loved this one.



How much do you know about the couple next door?

When Emily and Ben move in next door to Dr Burman and his wife Anita, they are keen to get to know their new neighbours. Outgoing and sociable, Emily tries to befriend the doctor’s wife, but Anita is strangely subdued, barely leaving the house, and terrified of answering the phone.

When Emily goes missing a few weeks later, Ben is plunged into a panic. His wife has left him a note, but can she really have abandoned him for another man? Or has Emily’s curiosity about the couple next door led her straight into danger?

This one has everything you want in a suspense including a creepy doctor, a wife in trouble, and a well-meaning neighbor who just wants to help but gets caught up in something that might end her own life. Scary!

Coming on July 25! Order now.

The Doctor by Lisa Stone is an uncomfortable thrill ride that I couldn't put down. It took me a couple chapters to get into the book and suspense but once I did it was gripping. Emily and her partner Ben live in a nice suburban neighborhood and enjoy a quiet life with their son Robbie. Their next door neighbors, Dr. Amit Burman and his wife Alisha, live behind blacked-out windows, tall hedges and CCTV cameras. Emily is very curious about the aloof and rude doctor and his quiet wife. Emily, not one to keep to herself, soon becomes unwittingly involved in the sinister activity next door. Most of the book focuses on Emily's concerns next door, a look into the unraveling of Dr. Burman and features less in-depth character development because of that focus.

The action picks up when Ben discovers Emily is missing and it was hard to put down the book until the end! There are some other twists and turns along the way; enough to keep you hooked and engaged. As others have mentioned, the animal cruelty (not a major focus but enough to warn someone) is a little off putting and I think the story could have been told without it. I feel it would have been 4 stars with more in depth character focus.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I absolutely loved this book.
It drew me in from the first page. It was fast paced and easy to read
Couldn’t put the book down

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Unfortunately, I'm sorry to say this book just didnt do it for me.

I'm not sure what I was expecting to be honest but it just didng grip me. The action starts near on straight away and personally I think that stopped me investing in the book as much as their was no intrigue into the characters lives.

I'm still rating a 3-3.5 stars as even though it wasnt for me, it was extremely well written.

This book immediately gripped me and didn't let go until the end. Lots of twists and turns to keep you reading late into the night. What a ride...I loved every minute of it.

I hate giving negative reviews but this book just didn't gel with me. The 'action' happens straight from chapter one but for me this meant it was difficult to get to know and build a 'relationship' with the characters in my head. As a result it was hard to invest in their stories and what was happening to them. The book was written well though and I enjoyed the ending.

The Doctor by Lisa Stone is an addictive thriller that pulled me in from the very first page. I read this book in a single sitting, and could not turn the pages quickly enough, so immersed was I in this creepy and twisted tale.

Emily and Ben, along with their young son Robbie, are living next door to Dr Amit Burman and his wife, Alisha. Emily has tried to make friendly overtures to the doctor's wife in the spirit of being neighbourly, but she is rebuffed at every gesture. The doctor is rude in the extreme, and Alisha appears to live in fear and isolation. But Emily is persistent, and eventually gains access to the dark and foreboding house that is shrouded in mystery. A tentative friendship begins to form between the two women, but now that Emily has penetrated the barriers of the house next door, is she prepared for the evil that lurks inside?

This is a gripping read, unsettling in the extreme, and the ending is wholly and deliciously sinister, and completely unexpected. I will be anxious to read more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.