The Wife by John Nicholl is the follow up to "The Doctor", which I'd suggest readers read first to get the most out of this book.
Cynthia Galbraith is in prison for murder and following the advice of her councillor is writing a journal about her experiences to help with her appeal,not least her life with her evil victim. As Cynthia tells her tale her life in prison and her relationship with the other prisoners runs as a backstory..
Even before Cynthia is aware of her eventual victim he has her in his sights and the story is a tale of how a manipulative and narcissistic sociopath targets and entraps his victim. While this is a very real issue I found the villain of the piece a bit over the top ,going from the manipulator to full on Hannibal Lector very quickly. Author Nicoll has had experience of people like this during his time as a police officer and social worker but I wasn't overly convinced.
Having said that it's a good read,if outright nasty in places, Cynthia is an interesting and believable character,her victim/tormentor and what we learn of his behaviour however was a bit too much for me.

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

This is the follow up to The Doctor but can be read as a stand alone although I had read the first one.

Whereas the first book told the story from a few viewpoints this book tells it from just one viewpoint, that of Mrs Galbraith, wife of Dr Galbraith who is in prison after the events in the first book. She has been advised by a prison therapist to write down how she got where she is. So we see that Dr Galbraith not only was a paedophile but he also treated his wife badly and we learn how she became the woman she was.

I found this book a lot easier and quicker to read than the first whether it was the style of the writing or I was feeling better after a short illness I am not sure, which is why I am giving it one more star than the first.

I look forward to book number 3.

I have just finished The Doctor by John Nicholl, so it seemed logical to move straight on to his follow up novel - The Wife. Based on the story of wife of the protagonist Dr David Galbraith, many of the events are re-related from Cynthia’s perspective. Another great read. I couldn’t put it down.

psychological... Is best to describe this arc.
I've read my fair share of thrillers but never read a thriller such as this.
At frist I was really wanting to call it quits, but later found it to be quite interesting. It took awhile to get the story but the wait was... I guess worth it in the end.
Despite it being a fictional book, alot of events that took place where to be true event that's did in fact happen.
Such as overpowering, controlling, abusive and sociopath men.( please note I'm not saying all men are like this but there are a few who are in the world we live today).
This also happens to be the second book in his series called, The Galbraith.
You can read the books alone.
This book honselty at times made me so angry and I had alot of wtf moments.
The story was told in a frist speaker perspective which I found very different and it added to the story.
Overall this book was really good to read. Especially if you someone who loves a good psychological thriller.
Favourite line:
" A mask behind which he could hide his true nature from the world".

The Wife by John Nicholl is a great follow up the to The Doctor. This story shows how you never really know someone. This story follows Cynthia and how she ends up the Doctor's wife. You will not see the twists coming in this story and you don't want to put it down.
This story is well written. It switches from present to past when telling the story, which just makes it more interesting and continues to hook you at the end of the chapters.
Can't wait to see what comes next in the series.

This is the second in the Dr Galbraith series written from his wife, Cynthia’s perspective and details how she became worn down and manipulated by the predatory Doctor.

I flew through this book but it didn’t grip me as much as the first however, it did give a narrative as to how victims of domestic abuse find it so hard to leave. There were times I was pleading for her to run for hills!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

So many intense twists and turns. But also very emotional. A great read. This story dove into deep waters while maintaining such a creep factor. I couldn't put it down.

An ok read for me, a lot of back and forth from past to present and all in all it didn’t grip me at all ..

Dr David Galbraith #2

**TRIGGER WARNING** ChildAbuse, Domestic Abuse, Manipulation, Mental Health, Murder, Attempted Suicide, Paedophillia

Twenty nine year old Cynthia Galbraith is serving a life sentence for murder and struggling with the traumatic past that out her behind bars. When the prison counsellor suggests Cynthia writes a personal journal exploring the events that drove her to murder, she figures she has all the time in the worldand very little to lose. So she begins to write, revealing the secrets that haunt her and the truths she never dared tell.

I recommend that you read The Doctor, the first book in this series, before you start reading The Wife, This book can't be read as a standalone. The book is written in the first person perspective. Through this book we learn how Cynthia met her husband and how he manipulated her. I did find the beginning of the book a little confusing, but once you get into the writing style, it gets easier to read. The delicate subjest matter was written sensitively. My heart went out to Cynthia, a young woman who has been through so much. I loved this book but it did not get under my skin as much as The Doctor did.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JohnNicholl for my ARC of #TheWife in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an excellent page turner that I couldn’t put down. It’s full of twists and turns throughout that keel you on the edge of your seat. The characters were interesting, the plot was excellent, and the style of writing was perfect.

I never read the first book of this series.
But that being said not sure if I had to...this book had all the creepiness to it that just makes you mad, angry, sad...
It drew me right in and ended in a way I either it would. Great book.

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

I listened to this book previously on audible before it was released under this title. I loved it then and I really enjoyed it now,
This author really has a way of getting under your skin and really giving you the creeps. It’s a hard hitting novel dealing with complex issues.
The author has yet again pulled off an outstanding piece of work, and I’d recommend this to everyone.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my arc.

Cynthia is serving a life sentence in prison after murdering her husband Dr Galbraith. This is the second book in the Dr Galbraith book and I’d say this book could be read as a stand alone as it’s very cleverly written and tells you pretty much what happened in the first book but from Cynthia’s point of view in the form of a diary.

Whilst serving time Cynthia is aboard by her therapist Mrs Martin to write a diary of everything she has been through. Although Cynthia did killer her husband it becomes clear that after years of abuse toward her (which is detailed much more in this book than the first) plus finding out her husband is the head of a Paedophile ring and currently holds a young boy in her very home Cynthia kills her husband in order to protect herself and to stop him killing the child he has abducted.

What I liked about this book is how the author detailed the abuse that Cynthia went through and how much detailed was shown towards the mental impact it had on her poor Cynthia was left with trust issues and no self confidence. I also love how John Nicholl uses his experience from previous work in the police and as a social worker into his writing.

I also really felt for Cynthia as I didn’t think she deserved a life behind bars and was pleased that in the end things turned out for the better for her. She was a victim of circumstance and not a criminal and I really love the way I found myself feeling for her.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Before I start my review, I think it is important to strongly recommend readers to read the first book "The Doctor" first, as this is not a standalone story but rather goes hand in hand with the first one.

I had thought I had read it all when I read "The Doctor" but THE WIFE will reignite readers' contempt for Galbraith as this time Cynthia recounts her story. And what a tragic tale it is. It begins rather spasmodically in a somewhat choppy narrative that stutters in fits and spurts as she details life as it is for her now languishing in prison before going back to how it all began under the seemingly charming guise of Dr David Galbraith.

Cynthia Galbraith has served three years of a life sentence for murder of her husband at the end of the first book. As part of her rehabilitation, she meets with a prison counsellor every week who encourages her to keep a journal. And really, who else can tell Cynthia's story as accurately as Cynthia herself? No one else lived her life or walked in her shoes. No one else knew just what it was like to live with Galbraith. No one except Cynthia.

If one remembers from the first book, Galbraith isolated her to such a point she had no one. And really, we only had but a glimpse of her in the first book...and what was our impression of her? A quiet timid beaten-down woman to afraid of her own shadow. We caught only a snippet of Galbraith's treatment of her and even that was enough to make our blood boil. We have no way whatsoever of knowing what really went on behind those closed doors. And that is why this story is so significant...because it is only through Cynthia's eyes that we can see just kind of life she truly had and why she acted and behaved in the way she did.

THE WIFE is not only Cynthia's story, it is a memoir and it written as such. Remembering that she had suffered at the hands of Galbraith's belittling and abuse for years that even she doubts her own ability to convey her story accurately. So in the beginning, she does appear to waffle and go off track on occasion. She even chastises herself for doing so, so used to being reprimanded she was. It sometimes appears disjointed and confusing but as it is written by Cynthia herself that is only to be expected given all she has endured. Even now, three years later, she continues to second guess herself.

As the story begins to unfold, Cynthia takes us back to her life before Galbraith. The person she was, her hopes, dreams and life with her then boyfriend Steven with whom she was in love and had plans to marry someday. Their trip to Tenby, where her parents lived, and the ultimate tragedy that changed her life. And then she meets Dr David Galbraith. Slowly, we see the subtle manipulation and the gaslighting he plies her with and wonder why she didn't see the warning signs and just run. But he was a master at manipulation. And we see, through Cynthia's eyes, how little by little piece by piece her confidence is chipped away and she is whittled into a trembling, frightened but completely compliant mess. Oh yes, Galbraith knew exactly what he was doing. And just when readers thought we saw the end of him in the first book, our hate for him is reignited as he comes alive once again through Cynthia's eyes.

Throughout her memoir, Cynthia recounts that of her life before incorporating it with what it has now become in prison. From her various cellmates to her work in the laundry to her sessions with Mrs Martin. It is cleverly told and though it takes some time to build, trust me, it is worth it. Don't give up on this book because, believe me, it will all make sense.

I can't say I've ever read anything quite like THE WIFE before. It was raw, it was intimate and it was heartbreaking. The destruction of a young life at the hands of a psychopathic paedophile. I really felt for Cynthia and though we only caught a glimpse of her in the first book, I really came to like her in this one...though I'm not sure I can entirely trust her judgement, given that it was so destroyed that she can't even trust herself.

So is it like the first book? No. Is it as good as "The Doctor"? In many ways it is below par but in others it surpasses it completely as it is so skillfully written. But one thing is for sure. It, like "The Doctor", is not for the faint-hearted. It is dark and, while it isn't as disturbing as the first book, it is just as chilling. And incredibly thought-provoking.

John Nicholl is an exceptional writer. I have only read these two books by him and I am impressed. I wonder where he will take us next. I look forward to tackling the third and final book in this series "The Father" where readers will reunite with an adult Anthony Mailer some decades after the Galbraith scandal.

Overall, THE WIFE is an intense read that evokes a range of emotions from sorrow to anger to contempt to shock and sadness again. I really didn't think it could match the impact of "The Doctor", but it comes pretty close. It is written so differently to the first book and yet it is just as powerful as the first. Can Nicholl shock us again with "The Father" ?

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheWife in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This is the second book in this series and it is a definite 5 star. I did not know it was book 2 when I asked to read it. John Nicholl is one of those authors whose books you will not be able to put down! Be sure to add this to your list of books to read you will not be disappointed!

Wow this was dark and gritty. Really tough subject matter but very well written. This book provoked so many emotions. The characters were well developed and really kept the story hopping.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Was really lookig forward to this one but unfortunately, it was a DNF for me.. I really tried to read it and get through it but I just could not get into it at all.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this for my honest review.

There are three books in this series The first book The DOCTOR a hard hitting five star read and now the story continues with The Wife.
Cynthia is married to the doctor and has given birth to two beautiful twin girls but how can a beautiful, intelligent woman live with such a abhorrent monster and really not know what was happening in her own home. This is her story of even before he met her he started to manipulate every aspect of her life. How little by little he chips away at her self esteem and moulds her into the woman she is today. Another hard hitting and powerful read and not to everyone's taste. I strongly advice the reader to read The first book The DOCTOR before embarking on this another dark, intense and emotional rollercoaster of a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

The Wife
The start of a dark, gripping crime thriller series from bestseller John Nicholl
by John Nicholl
I actually did like the book. NOT love it, but that's the point. It has an ugly message and warning against trusting anyone with authority... you were programmed to. I see as the writer did try to tell, QUESTION everyone who has contact with your child. BE VERY CAREfUL who you trust.

The Mailer family is oblivious to the terrible danger that enters their lives when seven-year-old Anthony is referred to the child guidance service by the family GP following the breakdown of his parent's marriage.
Fifty-eight-year-old Dr. David Galbraith, a sadistic, predatory pedophile employed as a consultant child psychiatrist, has already murdered one child in the soundproofed cellar below the South Wales Georgian townhouse he shares with his wife and two young daughters.
Anthony becomes Galbraith's latest obsession and he will stop at nothing to make his grotesque fantasies reality.
A note from the author: While fictional, this book was inspired by true events. It draws on the author’s experiences as a police officer and child protection social worker. The story contains content that some readers may find upsetting. It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.
I do love the message the book finally makes clear to everyone. No time to look away from ugly things.
This is a 3 books series. You want to see the justice if you will, and The doctor's wife, even as she did what she had to pay dearly, as well as hundreds of young boys. Lastly is Anthony and his story. It was all so very dreadful for so many, it tightens your heart for the survivors.
One series of books I shall not forget.