So with this book, we know what the deal is by the synopsis. Kelly, a physician and single mom to 19-year-old Lauren, has a quandary on her hands. Lauren was taking a ferry to go to a university interview, but she never texted Kelly that she’d arrived, and she isn’t answering her phone. Then Kelly finally gets a message: a video of her daughter held captive, and a text giving her three rules. She must kill one of her patients within three days without telling anyone else or getting caught, or her daughter will die.

Of course the mystery is why, and who, and what to do. There isn’t much I can get into outside of that synopsis, but Kelly “has a past”, because in the thriller world, they all do. Is this some kind of retaliation? This is like the movie “Taken”, only Kelly does not have a special set of skills, so that’s a problem. Whoever has taken Lauren is watching Kelly’s every move, and she can’t make a mistake. Also, she obviously needs to kill a patient. Should she go for the alcoholic, abusive man? Maybe the woman in her 90s, or the retired church warden? She has several choices, but this is a big decision.

If you haven’t surmised this already, you’ll need to suspend reality for this very dramatic thriller. The plot isn’t very unique, and for some reason all of the characters seemed very lackadaisical about what is happening, almost like this is an everyday problem that needs to be solved. However, this is definitely a page turner with a lot of suspense and action. Can Kelly decide on who to kill? Who is doing this to her? Will she get her daughter back, safe and unharmed? The ending wraps everything up neatly, and while there are only a few ways it could go, I was surprised by who was behind all of this. Overall, this was a fun read. Four stars!

(Thank you to Bookouture, J.M. Dalgliesh and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published on January 2, 2025.)

My second book by this author and although I liked the first one a lot, I even liked this one more. 

I enjoyed the mystery that hung around Dr Kelly and I was longing to find out what went on before. Little by little the author takes us back in time to give the background information and the tragedy that took place. 

Often when you dislike someone, there is a reason for it even though you cannot always put your finder on it from the beginning. And then of course there are different ways to deal with it...

Sometimes is harder to see someone's true nature and that's when it becomes utterly dangerous.

I liked the characters and the story line. I had a few people on my radar, but in the end the author still managed to take me by surprise which is always a bonus.

Looking forward to the next book. This one deserves 5 stars.

Thank you

A fast paced thriller read with plenty of jaw dropping moments with great characters.

I was involved in the storyline from beginning to the end and couldn't wait until the ending which was excellent.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending

Another great read from this author. This time we meet a doctor on a remote Scottish island whose daughter is taken and she is told she must kill a patient or her daughter will be killed. As her life starts to fall apart and she has no one she can trust she has 72 hours to take someone’s life or loose the one thing that matters to her. Why is she being targeted and can she get to the bottom of who has her child before it’s too late and can she trust anyone. A really good edge of your seats read.

I just picked up this arc tonight and immediately started to read it on my kindle. I’m very excited for this thriller because I’m already hooked only 2 chapters into this arc. I can’t wait to read more and this is already a roller coaster of emotions. I’m already hooked from prologue!! I hope to finish this book soon because wow 🤯 already with the Doctor’s daughter Lauren being kidnapped. This is my first arc by this author and it certainly won’t be the last!

Full review to follow
Pub date is January 2,2025. I’ll need a copy of this book, would love to have the PR book box of this book because I already am currently reading so I can also film an review on TikTok with the PR book box also! Thanks so much. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc. This book will be one you won’t want to miss out on!
I really am liking all of the characters so far the plot. Is one that will have you thinking and guessing the whole time you read this book.

I started this late at night and could not put it down. I absolutely devoured it in a few hours I loved the plot and how tense the story was written. It had everything you could want in a thriller and wow what crazy ending it was really did not see that coming. I loved the character Ava and how well written she was. I will definitely be recommending this brilliant thriller to everyone and can’t wait to read more from this author. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great thiller.

Well-written thriller with a doctor having to face consequences of a decision made a long time ago. With her daughter’s safety in jeopardy, she is not allowed to contact authorities and she must murder someone. The author keeps the suspense high and the story moves quickly.

This had that element that I was hoping for from a psychological thriller novel, the overall story worked with the genre. I thought the characters had that element that I was hoping for and had that tension that I was looking for. J M Dalgliesh has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

The storyline is crazy and a little far fetched. Having said that i just loved it.
A huge cast of characters that could be the villain or villain's and i got it completely wrong!
I stayed up late to finish this and the ending was bonkers but enjoyable.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
Easy five star read.
.

I have three days to kill a patient. If I fail, my daughter will die… Wow! That was a wild ride! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was definitely a different kind of story than I’ve read and I loved it!! It had suspense, murder, mystery, kidnapping, intrigue, action, violence, and some really crazy but great twists and turns! The story was very very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! It’s well worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! I will definitely be on the lookout for this author! Great book!

The twists in this one!!!!...loved that blair saved lauren in the end ....but so sad for Niall even though he was a douchebasg sleeping with bonnie!...Ava was sooo close to lauren but couldnt even guess that she was hughie's accomplice!!

How to leave a review without giving too much away. Kelly and her daughter, Lauren, move to an island after some issues with her husband. Lauren ends up kidnapped and Kelly is instructed to kill one of her patients. Chapters from the past are thrown in so the reader can understand the issues in Kelly’s life and why someone kidnapped her daughter. I also thought I had it figured out and was wrong-same as Kelly. Good suspense. Good drama. Good book.

I have never read this author before. Hoping now to read more. A twister for sure I was surprised on who it was. Had me thinking otherwise. Great writing easy to keep on top of characters and to pick up the book.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

I sped through this book, it kept me gripped the entire way through-I just had to now how it ended! I was really very reluctant put this book down I have to say and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Great characters, brilliant storyline and a twist at the end, what's not to love! I'll most definitely be reading more from this author.

Kelly and her daughter Lauren live on a remote Scottish island. Kelly is a doctor.
In the past, she made a decision to save one person over another, and her choice has come back to haunt her when Lauren goes missing.


I really enjoyed this highly suspenseful book. The pace was just right, and the tale gripping from the beginning.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.