Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Doctor Lucifer by Anthony Lee is a contemporary medical thriller that explores the intersection of healthcare and cybersecurity. The story follows Dr. Mark Lin, an internist working at Ivory Memorial Hospital in Southern California, who becomes entangled in a disturbing series of medical mishaps caused by a mysterious hacker known as "Doctor Lucifer." As patient records are manipulated and lives are put at risk, Lin is thrust into a high-stakes battle to protect both his patients and his reputation.

The novel is built around a timely and thought-provoking premise: the vulnerability of medical systems in an increasingly digital world. Lee integrates technical and medical details with accessibility, making the content approachable for readers without specialized knowledge. The suspense builds gradually as the source of the cyberattack is investigated, and the ethical dilemmas raised throughout give the story a deeper dimension.

Character development focuses primarily on Dr. Lin, whose personal and professional challenges serve as the emotional core of the novel. While some supporting characters may come across as underdeveloped or stereotypical, the central narrative remains compelling, particularly for those interested in hospital-based drama and techno-thrillers.

Doctor Lucifer doesn’t radically redefine the genre, but it provides a solid, engaging read with a modern twist. It may especially appeal to readers who enjoy medical mysteries or are curious about the real-world implications of cybersecurity threats in healthcare.

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

This book was intense. This is a scary nightmare that make you think about how technology can be the bad guy. I love medical thrillers and this was great. #NetGalley #virus #medicalsuspence

Sorry, but this book wasn't for me. The storyline seemed slow in places. Wasn't what I thought/expected.

I'm sorry but this is one of the most ridiculously horrible books I've ever read. Was this even proof read? The author graduated from med school but you would never be able to tell judging by how terribly wrong so many things were written in this book. Also, we all lived through covid...I'm so sick of seeing it in books and on TV. can we move past it? this was awful.....so many incorrect medical things that would absolutely never take place. and for the author to mock tv shows like House & Grey's Anatomy for being ridiculous....this book was ridiculous!

*As always I want to thank the author and publisher for the chance to have an advanced copy of this work.*

This was one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time! The twists and turns kept me guessing but more than anything it appealed to the curiosity that comes with anything related to the internet. You could say even though a foot print is never erased its uses are endless, and this just shows the take on a hacker not intervening to help but hurt. How much power is given to whoever presses the right sequence of code, and in turn can effect not only the people there to care for us but every other aspect as well.

eh. This was okay, the premise started out great and I loved all the medical background but I was lost when they didn't really take the hacker thing seriously especially when it started affecting patients in a very negative way. It was very much brushed off and in the real world it wouldn't. It jsut felt more like a TV medical drama but even worse than that. Some of the medical terms and procedures could’ve been simplified a bit. Dr. Lin and a few other characters felt underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with them. The plot also had significant flaws, like the IT department's overly unrealistic reaction to a cyber attack that put patients at risk. I was pretty much done with the book by the time I reached 50%. Defintiely struggled getting through this book. Probably won't be grabbing the next one for the author.

The medical thriller premise had a lot of promise but somehow the pacing and prose disappointed. The twist was not satisfying but was unexpected indeed. The main character was supremely narcissistic and the reason why he thinks so highly of himself or is arrogant isn’t clear till halfway through the story. Editing could have been way better. If the writer spends more time polishing the prose and gets a better editor, the plot has a lot of potential.

If I could give this zero stars I would I couldn’t even make it past the first 50 pages. Definitely not the book for me.

Doctor Lucifer has a high-concept premise—hackers manipulating medical records to cause chaos in hospitals—but unfortunately, it falls short of living up to its potential. Dr. Mark Lin, the disillusioned internist, becomes the target of a hacker who’s hell-bent on ruining lives through digital manipulation. The idea of a medical cyber-thriller is intriguing, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

The pacing is uneven, and the stakes, while high, don’t fully translate into the gripping, edge-of-your-seat moments you’d expect. The plot feels formulaic, and the characters, particularly Mark, lack depth. He spends most of the book scrambling to fix problems caused by the hacker, yet his emotional journey never fully resonates. The villain, Doctor Lucifer, is more of a shadowy figure than a truly menacing threat, and his motivations never feel fully fleshed out.

Ultimately, Doctor Lucifer feels like it could have been a compelling tech-based thriller, but instead, it’s bogged down by predictable turns and a lack of real character development. It’s a missed opportunity to explore the darker side of healthcare and technology.

Doctor Lucifer by Anthony Lee is a gripping medical thriller that blends cybercrime with high-stakes hospital drama. Dr. Mark Lin, a skilled but jaded internist, faces a relentless hacker who manipulates digital medical records to endanger his patients’ lives. As Lin races against time to prevent further disasters, he must also contend with personal and professional obstacles, including a vengeful widow and a pompous surgeon. Fast-paced and filled with tension, this novel is a compelling exploration of the vulnerabilities in our increasingly digital world. Fans of suspenseful, tech-driven mysteries will find much to enjoy in Doctor Lucifer.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Medical mistakes due to a hacker. Sounds good, but could use a better editor as it read very much like the debut novel it was.

A crazy plot where hackers threaten a hospital, but They aren’t looking for your credit card number. A brutal plot where hackers aim is to fudge records and ultimately get patients killed. All hell breaks lose when multiple patients are harmed, fights break out, and the doctor is attacked. An action-packed, dark and gritty thriller.

Doctor Lucifer is a chilling and thought-provoking psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of dark, atmospheric fiction. Anthony Lee’s ability to craft a complex, morally ambiguous protagonist in Dr. Lucius Wolfe is the heart of the book, and the layers of suspense, mystery, and psychological intrigue make it a compelling read from start to finish. The book’s exploration of evil, power, and redemption will leave readers questioning the nature of humanity long after they’ve finished the story.
While the pacing may lag slightly in the middle, the strong character development, eerie atmosphere, and shocking twists make Doctor Lucifer a standout in the thriller genre. If you're looking for a dark, atmospheric read with moral depth and psychological complexity, Doctor Lucifer is well worth the journey.


Strengths of the Book
1. Engaging Psychological Depth: One of the most striking elements of Doctor Lucifer is its psychological complexity. Dr. Wolfe is a deeply flawed character, and Lee does an excellent job of exploring the layers of his psyche. He is both brilliant and terrifying, and the novel slowly peels back the layers of his personality, revealing a character who is far more than just a villain. The book raises intriguing questions about the nature of evil, the fine line between genius and madness, and what it means to truly be human.

Alice, the journalist, is also a well-rounded character whose investigation adds an element of suspense and tension to the story. Her personal journey is as important as the external mystery, and her emotional growth adds depth to the narrative.

2. Atmospheric and Creepy: Lee does an exceptional job of creating an atmosphere that is both unsettling and immersive. The hospital setting, with its sterile corridors and dark secrets, serves as a perfect backdrop for the story’s sinister events. The pacing of the narrative builds tension gradually, with the sense of dread becoming more palpable as the story unfolds. The eerie tone of the book draws readers in, making them feel as if they’re caught in the midst of a twisted, psychological game.

3. Thought-Provoking Themes: The novel doesn’t just rely on suspense; it also tackles deeper moral and philosophical questions. What happens when a person with immense power loses their sense of morality? Can someone who has committed horrific acts ever be redeemed? Dr. Wolfe's experiments and his disregard for human life invite the reader to question the ethics of medical practice, as well as the dangers of unchecked ambition and the desire for control.

4. Well-Constructed Twists: Doctor Lucifer is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The plot is rich with suspense, and Lee doesn’t shy away from subverting expectations. Each revelation about Dr. Wolfe’s past and the true nature of his actions is carefully timed, ensuring that the tension never lets up. The final twists are both satisfying and haunting, leaving a lasting impact long after the last page is turned.

This is a unique medical thriller comparable to the works of Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen, two authors that I enjoy. Author Anthony Lee's debut novel is, I believe, the beginning of a series. This is one of my favorite genres, I found the story quite interesting throughout and look forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC copy of this text.

What would your worst day look like? For Dr. Mark Lin, that day looks like patient after patient having medical complications. Not a huge deal, considering he works in the ER, but what if those complications were due to human error NOT an actual problem? Now, what if the errors were not errors but intentional. It is up to Dr. Lin to find out why somebody would cause these potentially fatal changes to their information, while still attempting to keep his routine as normal as possible.

Overall, this book was OK. It was a little long for what it was.

I count get into it, it was so hard, maybe am not interested into medical stuff, the title is what got me, I thought was going to be scary but no, not to me but it was really hard to fully get my attention and I did really try.

Dr. Lin is an Internal Medicine Specialist at a large hospital. One morning while making rounds, he is suddenly dealing with three patients in a row with serious emergencies that require immediate attention. After things calm down, one patient is dead and another in ICU. When Dr. Lin goes and checks the patient’s charts, the orders he put in previously have been changed and caused the horrible outcomes.
Dr. Lin is afraid he will be fired. He finds out that there’s a computer problem worldwide called the Lucifer Worm. Is that what has caused the problems with his patients’ health? Will the higher ups believe him?
Unfortunately, cyber hacking has become all too common. This story does seem plausible in some ways, though the message the doctor receives early on is on the paranormal side.
I worked in a hospital lab in my first career and my sister and daughter are nurses. The hospital jargon and setting is very realistic.
If you are looking for a creepy and compelling book, Dr. Lucifer is perfect for you.0

I really wanted to love this book based on the synopsis, but it fell flat for me. The story was unique, but a lot of the medical stuff wasn't for me. I was interested in the plot enough to finish the book.

“Doctor Lucifer” by Anthony Lee is a gripping thriller that brilliantly merges medical drama with cybercrime suspense. Dr. Mark Lin’s battle against a hacker tampering with patient records is intense, and the stakes feel all too real in today’s tech-reliant world. While some of the medical jargon slowed the pace a bit, the unique premise and relentless tension kept me hooked. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves medical thrillers with a modern twist!