I absolutely love James Caine's books. They are full of crazy twists and turns and thoroughly enjoyable. Lily Parker and her husband David have gotten the opportunity of a lifetime. Move to an island that treats high-profile celebrities and rich patients. Strange things happen the first night they are there and I didn't guess at all what was really happening until much further in the book. Definitely a great read and I always read his books as soon as I see them.

Great book. Couldn't put it down. Read it in one sitting. Was invested from the get go. Five stars hands down.

Book Review: Keep The Doctor Away by James Caine
Keep The Doctor Away by James Caine is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that plays with the tension of isolation, secrecy, and paranoia. The story follows Lily Parker, whose life takes a dark turn when her husband accepts a prestigious position as the new plastic surgeon at Northwind Clinic, a secluded island facility for the rich and famous. From the moment she arrives, Lily feels that something is off, and her suspicions grow as she’s watched by cameras, guarded by security, and surrounded by tall walls that trap her in this mysterious place.
Caine builds suspense as Lily's unease escalates, and the death of a clinic worker only deepens the sense of foreboding. The whispered warning from the dying woman—“You shouldn’t have come here”—launches Lily into a web of questions about the true nature of Northwind Clinic and the people around her.
While the plot is engaging and keeps readers turning the pages, it's not entirely plausible, often feeling like a plot-driven roller coaster rather than a nuanced, character-focused narrative. There are moments where you might think you're watching a Lifetime movie in book form: suspenseful, dramatic, but at times, lacking depth or realism. Nevertheless, the novel delivers in terms of entertainment, making it an easy and satisfying read for anyone who enjoys light thrillers with a hint of psychological tension.
If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you engaged without requiring too much suspension of disbelief, Keep The Doctor Away might just be the perfect beach read or weekend escape.

I just finished the best psychological thriller book. Keep The Doctor Away was a great read that kept me guessing until the end.

4⭐️

ARC READ. This was so good! I really enjoyed this book, it really is a page turner that keeps you guessing all the way with short chapters and suspense at the end of each chapter it really is a great read and exactly what you want from a thriller! It was chilling, suspenseful and really keeps making you guess what is going on!

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the island and I think the author did a great job and making you envision what the island looked like and gave it a real spooky feel! There was some parts of the book where I was generally so freaked out and I loved that what happened in the book didn’t come out of nowhere like some thrillers do, there was little breadcrumbs along the way that makes you so mad you didn’t pick up on what was happening!🤣

I did, unfortunately drop a star as personally I found the ending too rushed, I would’ve loved for this to be longer! And I think there was still a few bits not answered by the end sadly, which I would have loved this to have been longer as it kinda felt the ending was the last 10% of the book and it really could’ve been soooo much better if it was longer and more suspense! But overall a really great book I loved it!

Lily Parker's life is turned upside down when her husband takes a job as a plastic surgeon at a secluded clinic on an island. As she discovers strange and unsettling things about the clinic, including a mysterious death and ominous warnings, Lily becomes paranoid and starts questioning the safety of her new home and the people around her.

This book by James was truly exceptional and did not disappoint! It was a quick read filled with suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. The intricate plot and well-developed characters made it difficult to determine who to trust.

The isolated setting on an island heightened the eerie atmosphere of the story, and the unexpected twist at the end left me in disbelief. If you are looking for a gripping read that will captivate you from the start and keep you hooked until the very end, then this book is must-read. With plenty of unexpected turns, the ending is both tragic and fitting, leaving a lasting impression.

Thank you, ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

this was a fast-paced, chilling read that had me hooked right from the start. i loved the pace of this book and the different twists and turns. the ending felt a bit rushed to me, but the overall story was really good. not sure if there’s a sequel in the future, but i’d love to tune in for the next one!

WHOA!!! What did I just read?! This book was deliciously GOOD! I could not put it down. I fell asleep with my kindle in my hand and woke up this morning and jumped right back in. Lily was such a BOSS in this book. Initially I wasn't sure what to believe, but as the story went on, I was hit with a twist that made me gasp out loud. This book was full of action, drama, a creepy sense of foreboding, and a great plot! I was truly immersed in the pages as I furiously flipped to find out what was going to happen. A short but thrilling read, the storytelling was top notch. The chapters were short, and the intensity was great. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book.

I have wanted to read a book by Caine for a while now. I'm glad this was my first one and it definitely won't be my last. I highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley, Booksprout and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book interested me immediately but unfortunately thats where my interest ended. The writing was lacklustre and boring, the characters were outlandish and unbelievable and the plot itself wasn’t original. Thankfully the plot moved very quickly, otherwise I think I would have DNF’d this book. I wish there was more detail and more imagery for the book, the entire thing felt very flat.

I really enjoyed this one! For those of you who like to read creepy, scary books for Halloween, I highly recommend this one! I did not see the ending coming!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

Creepy, chilling, and intense!. James Caine delivers an original, fast-paced, and entertaining story with a nail-biting conclusion. I could absolutely see this as a mini-series or movie. This is a quick and satisfying read that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

"Keep the Doctor Away" is my first book by James Caine, but certainly not my last. Thrillers are my preferred genre, and this book has cemented my interest in Caine's work. The premise of a clandestine plastic surgery clinic on a remote island sets the stage for suspense.

Dr. David Parker, struggling to find work post-graduation, receives an invitation from a former mentor to join a prestigious plastic surgery clinic on an isolated island catering to an elite clientele. For David, this opportunity seems like a dream come true, a chance to finally enjoy the fruits of his labor alongside his wife, Lily.

However, their arrival on the island marks the beginning of a series of unfortunate events, starting with the harrowing suicide of a woman who ominously warns Lily that leaving is not an option.

Engrossing from the outset, "Keep the Doctor Away" is a chilling narrative that kept me riveted with its unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to put down.

Shew, what a wild ride this one took me on. I was not expecting that plot twist!! What a great way to wrap up that ending!

This is the second book I’ve read by author James Caine, and it will not be the last! Keep the Doctor Away is a gripping tale of resilience, abuse, and the wrongdoing of society's elite. This book was incredibly fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to exploring more works by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this as an ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Find fast psychological thriller. Based upon the unique concept. Although the topic is quite disturbing, the author is able to make this an enjoyable quick read. I did not see the twist and turns coming. I’m looking forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you, NetGalley the publisher, the author for this advanced copy.

SYNOPSIS
- Lily & David Parker move to a secluded island, where David has been hired as a plastic surgeon at private plastic surgery clinic for the ultra-wealthy.
- When they arrive, it has weird vibes. Tons of security, cameras, etc. All cellphones are confiscated.
- Lily feels like something is off, but is it?

MY THOUGHTS
- Interesting premise.
- Slow burn.
- Very repetitive in many portions.
- Not too much character development.
- Writing is decent. Kept me interested.
- Pretty far-fetched. Reader will need to majorly suspend disbelief.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5 stars. Decent thriller, but reader will need to be ok with majorly suspending disbelief.

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book is out now.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher. It sounded very interesting and fun. Unfortunately, I didn’t love it. It lost me once it was revealed what was going on.

The first half was intriguing. I was interested in Lily and her husband, David, settling into their new lives on the secluded island of plastic surgery. The concept of a whole secret island for high end clientele to recover and stay out of the public eye was quite fascinating. While Lily and David are having dinner with the head doctor and his wife, a woman approaches them, warns Lily, and then jumps to her death. Lily is obviously distraught over this incident and tried to find out what the warning was about. The more she digs into the woman’s history, the more she discovers about the island. It may not be the paradise she’s been sold.

I enjoyed the first half of the book, but once I found out what the secret was, I no longer enjoyed it. I don’t want to ruin the book for you, but the answer to the mystery didn’t do anything for me. Maybe it was because I don’t care for stories without a supernatural element or maybe I was simply bored. I’m not sure. This one way majorly in “Meh” territory.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

“THEY’LL COME FOR YOU…”

In Keep The Doctor Away, we meet Lily - an average woman with an average life, and her husband, David. When David’s work as a surgeon uproots them to a secluded island, Lily’s life becomes less than average…

TW: there’s a good bit of gore and a suicide early in the book.

This was one of the best books I’ve read of late - such a page turner! You know from the beginning there are going to be twists and you just HAVE to find out! It was fast-paced, but not rushed, so I was totally hooked.

Lily is a really vulnerable and sensitive character that I just wanted to give a big hug to 💖 I think you’d find it hard not to like her. She’s humble and normal, likeable and lovely.

David made me so mad. From the beginning, you can tell he is definitely a walking red flag 🚩🙃 and as the book goes on, we see how that unfolds…

WOW. This was such a fast paced book and I really liked it! It was very thrilling from start to finish. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC (it's out now, though!)
4.5 stars!

This fast paced thriller had me gripped from page 1. It waa creepy and a real page turner. It was so entertaining and intriguing. I loved the ending and could easily see this as a movie. This is a highly recommended 5 star read that is correctly paced and will have to entertained with every word. The burb reflects the story perfectly. All the characters and side characters are well written and I really enjoyed the twist with the head doctor's wife. Thank yoy so much netgallery and publisher and author.