A peek into the life of the New England Mafia through the eyes of a female cardiologist.
This memoir exposes a life with mobster Raymond Patriaca and his family and doctor Barbara Roberts. A detailed and honest reflection of this female activist, doctor,mother,wife and confidante. It recounts a time period that was exciting, dangerous, political, and revolutionary. Reading this book reminded me of the enormous magnitude that we can have on one another.
I received a digital copy from #Netgalley and the publisher.

Dr. Roberts was the first woman cardiologist in Rhode Island and became the doctor of the New England top mob boss. Intriguing story but didn't have as much substance as I would have thought.
Very interesting and full of insight into the mob dealings.

Dr. Barbara Roberts, a 36 yr old single mother of 3 children, was the 1st female cardiologist to practice in Rhode Island.
This is her story.
The former Catholic schoolgirl from a strict working class family, becomes the physician and defender of one Mafioso, and the lover of another.
With this page turner, Roberts takes us on a wild ride, her life. From a football star's wife, to a national abortion rights activist, fighting against the Vietnam War, a women's libber, a cardiologist, wife and mother. And she has a file with the FBI.
I applaud Barbara's courage in this tell all memoir.

Thank you to NetGalley and Heliotrope Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. When I was browsing Netgalley’s available-for-request titles, the cover of The Doctor Broad caught me eye, when I read the synopsis I was intrigued. Dr. Barbara H. Roberts, after an initial examination of the notorious New England crime boss Raymond Patriarca, became his cardiologist. Upon attending to him, she questioned treating him, yet realized her pledge of the Hippocratic oath, “to do no harm,” bound her medically and ethically to care and treat him. In the days to come Roberts found herself viewing Patriarca as an underdog of sorts. Her care of him bothered her then boyfriend, who was already bothered by other aspects of their relationship. Roberts also worried that treating the crime boss would cause problems with a custody case of her youngest daughter, but she kept on working. I don’t want to write any spoilers, so just go read this book. My only pick, is that at times-and very occasionally at that, the writing is a smidge choppy. This could be due to fact of this being an ARC versus a final draft. I think this story would make a wonderful documentary. Great read and Happy Publication day!

** Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review **
Me intrigaba mucho conocer la historia, ya que es un clásico de la realidad supera a la ficción. Es bastante documental, pero es entendible siendo una obra de no ficción. Ademas de la historia que involucra personajes de la mafia, me llamaba mucho la atención el currículo de la autora y cómo esto influía en su punto de vista. La lectura no es compleja, y después de leerlo me dieron ganas de empezar a ver la serie ”The Sopranos”. Si les interesa ese tipo de ficción, creo que les puede interesar leer sobre un caso real.