This book may be read as a standalone however you will get a better read if you have read the first two. It may not be to everybody's taste as the story deals with child abuse and violence non of which is written for a thrill but to emphasise what may happen to certain young people if they fall into the wrong hands. As always, John's writing comes from a passion to try and stop these types of people and alert those around them. Another good solid story in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

This fiction novel is the third in a series written by John Nicholl, a former Police Officer and Social Worker, who based the novel off of true stories he encountered while working in the field.

This novel is narrated by Tony, a married father to one daughter who is going through the process of researching and writing about a sexual abuse and pedophilia ring that he was a victim of during childhood. Each chapter he interviews a different person connected to the crimes or to his own childhood including: police officers, a receptionist, other victims, other perpetrators, and his parents. As Tony dives further and further into his past and gains more troubling information about the crimes that were committed, he begins to turn to alcohol as a support. His drinking coupled with paranoia leads to troubles in his own family and causes his wife to leave town with their daughter. As the search continues Tony continues to reassure himself that he needs to find these answers but he begins to question how far he will go and at what cost?

From what I can tell, the previous two books were called The Doctor and The Wife referring to the man who committed the crimes against Tony, Dr. Gailbraith and his wife Cynthia. I was able to follow along with The Father without reading the two previous books in the series, but I think reading all three would be a good recommendation for anyone who is really interested in this series.

I loved that the author really brought to the surface the ideas of grooming and the targeted, systematic process predators take when identifying victims, as well as the charisma required to fool the adults around them. These are concepts that I think all adults who may be in the position to protect children from abuse should be aware of. Throughout Tony's interviews there is a common thread of adults wishing they had listened to their gut and done something to prevent abuse from occurring but that the doctor had them fooled.

The writing style was alright. I found there was a lot of attempts to draw a story out of the people Tony was interviewing. This makes sense considering the background of the author, as a police officer or social worker, it often takes a long time to get the full story. That being said, as a reader, I felt a bit bored at times. I questioned "why are they stalling and talking about getting another coffee/beer? Just answer the question!". I think this is just a case of how sometimes what is realistic doesn't come off as interesting to the reader. I also felt like Tony spent a lot of time consoling his family members and other people he interviewed saying things like "you couldn't have known" and "I don't blame you". I'm glad that the character came to terms with his childhood abuse, but I felt like it went a bit too far at times. Maybe it was the repetitiveness, or maybe it was my own perspective of being an adult in a caring perspective and feeling frustrated for Tony's experiences as a child, but it didn't sit well with me after the first few times he reassured people who were supposed to protect him.

In all, I think this is a really interesting story and gives some really important information about child predators and to what extent parents, caregivers and public servants like police can really protect children. Despite being able to read the books out of order, I would recommend reading the first book first, even though I have not read it myself, as I think that it would probably be set up to start the story a little bit differently. I definitely want to check out more books by John Nicholl and thing it is really neat that he is using his inside perspective to write really interesting and important books. Thanks to Book and Tonic and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. As well as NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources. #booktour

Aged just seven years old, Tony Mailer was one of the many victims of Dr. David Galbraith, a vile twisted predator, pure evil perfectly hidden by a façade of professional respectability as he led a paedophile ring of unfathomable proportions over many years. Thirty years later Tony plans to write a book of his story in the hope that it will help him make sense of his past and lead to a brighter more stable future for him and his family. Interviewing many of the people involved in the case, including police, social workers, his own family and Galbraith’s wife, he starts to understand how far reaching was Galbraith’s control, how the authorities were restricted in the action they could take and how much of what happened to him he never knew about. Until now. So will writing this book help Tony overcome his alcoholism and finally lay to rest the nightmares of his childhood – or will more dark demons be released in the process?
How the reader finds this story depends very much on whether they have read the first two stories or not. I had read them, albeit quite a while ago, therefore I knew the story of Tony and Galbraith but new readers will be discovering for the first time all that depraved history as this book unfolds and Tony makes his journey back thirty years, learning things he never knew at the time. If you’re uncomfortable with the subject of child abuse then this is probably not the book for you, although there is nothing really graphic in the descriptions and it is more the psychological trauma that will haunt the reader. Exquisitely written, this is so much more than simply a crime thriller, as it explores the wide ranging and devastating effects that one monster can have on so many survivors for a lifetime. 5*

This is the third book in the series and although it is a good read, I found the other two books better. They flowed more easily.

This book basically tells the story of Anthony’s mother, father and a few other people’s involvement in the build up and aftermath of the abduction of him.
3.5 stars

Perfect ending to the trilogy about Dr. Galbraith and, I'd say, my favourite one, but it's just a personal choice.
The series is a clever one, I loved the fact that each book gives us a different POV on the story. And I loved the more subdued pace of this last book, because it gave me time to digest the horrors of the story.
John Nicholl is a great writer, I really enjoy his writing style, but what he tells is brutal and necessary.

Thank you to NetGallet and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is another excellent book by the best selling author John Nicholl. It is the third in a series but reads well as a standalone. As psychological thrillers go this is up there with the best of them.
At the age of seven Anthony Mailer is held captive in the basement of Dr David Galbraiths premises. Galbraith had a history of child abuse! Now thirty years on and a Father Mailer looks for answers to his torment.
This is chilling and gut wrenching and had many twists throughout the story but it's very well crafted by the author.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I overall would mark it as 4.5 but have rounded it down to 4 add it's not for everybody.

If you’ve been a follower of my blog, then you know that John Nicholl is one of my favorite Psychological Thriller authors. So, of course when I have an opportunity to read a book of his I never turn it down. The latest book in the Dr. Galbraith series is The Father. I highly recommend starting the series from the beginning. It’s utterly terrifying and will make your skin crawl, but this book will make much more sense if the history is known.

As mentioned, this is the latest book in the series. I’ve read a lot of psychological thrillers, the genre is one of my favorites, but this one by John Nicholl is one that sticks out. The Father tells the story of Anthony, one of Dr. Galbraith’s child victims. As he deals with the aftermath of the trauma that occurred to him as a child, he interviews family members, law enforecement, and anyone who had knowledge of the experience. The book revisits the old wounds by telling the story from Anthony’s point of view, in the present and the past.

While I found The Father to be a slower pace than its predecessors, it was still written in the author’s true fashion. He leaves nothing to the imagination, but without being unnecessary. With his background in law enforcement and as a child protection social worker, the details are real and can be disturbing. He never apologizes and doesn’t hesitate to show the true colors of evil in the predators. There is a raw component to his writing that is somewhat refreshing, even if the book can creep into nightmares.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book. The Father is not one to be missed.

The father by John Nicholl.
Thirty years ago Anthony Mailer was a seven-year-old boy trapped in Dr Galbraith’s basement. Now he’s a journalist, a husband and a father. But no matter how far he’s come, at times he’s still that scared little boy.
In order to save his marriage, he has to stop hiding from what happened and deal with it once and for all.
But digging into the past holds dangers Anthony never imagined . . .
This was really good but it is sensitive. 5*.

If you read this book, please ignore the misleading cover. The involvement of Anthony’s daughter is a tiny aspect of this read. I’m unsure as to why the cover focuses on Anthony’s daughter, as it’s really about him digging into his past in order to move on from his trauma and save his marriage.

When I picked up this book, I didn’t realise it’s part of a series. I really, really wish I did know. It can read as a standalone, but I definitely feel like I missed so much of getting to know the characters and I spent the whole book wishing I was reading the action and not just interviews with characters from earlier books about what happened back then. This book really is so well-written and really shows how trauma can affect one’s life down the line.

The author’s own experiences in child protection services really made a significant impact to this book. Often times within books, everyone is doing what it takes, including outside of the law, to stop bad things. This book really focuses on how frustrating a job within child protection services and the police can be, especially when known crimes are put aside temporarily in order for bigger cases to be built.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and John Nicholl for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed my first outing with John Nicholl!
When I started The Father, I admit to being a little confused. The author's note blended with the opening chapter so seamlessly, that I thought it was still the author's note! Once I went back to reread it, I was able to grasp what was happening.
That said, I was able to follow from thereon in and I didn't feel like I needed to read the first two books in the series, but it would have probably enhanced my enjoyment. I definitely prefer reading series in order!
The characters are clearly established, but I loved how there was such a big time gap in between the books so we saw how childhood trauma affects people as they grow older and build lives of their own.
The plot was fast paced and absolutely chilling at times. They are rather poignant too, and sheds light on people battling their demons from their childhood.
A surprising and multi-layered story that crime and thriller fans will love.

The third in the Dr David Galbraith series, THE FATHER is a dark and disturbing psychological thriller that delves into the lasting effects and impact that child sexual abuse has on its victims. The first book "The Doctor" has to be one of the most chilling, harrowing and disturbing tales I have ever read. The second book "The Wife" details Galbraith's wife's perspective and how she became one of his victims too. Now in THE FATHER we have come full circle as we revisit the events of both of the first two books combined.

Anthony Mailer was seven years old when Dr David Galbraith abducted him and imprisoned him in his cellar. Now thirty years later he is journalist, husband and a father...but no matter how far he's come the past still haunts him just as much today as it did when he was that little boy. In his attempts to face the past, Anthony has decided to write a book based on his experiences as well as others at the hands of the monster they called "the doctor". But to do so requires research and research requires investigation which thus involves bringing up the past that, for many, has been long since buried. But not for Anthony...not for his mother and not for Galbraith's many victims.

His digging into the past is both harrowing and haunting, as memories long forgotten come flooding to the surface to the point he feels as if he is drowning in them. The only way he can put a lid on them and keep afloat is to lose himself in several pints or a bottle of single malt - straight. Even wine would do the trick. Anything to take away the pain. But the alcohol is merely a band aid and before long that in itself creates problems for Anthony in his marriage.

But how can he delve into the past and relive every harrowing moment without the numbing effects of alcohol to take it all away? But he knows that to do this will be cathartic, it will unleash the pain and memories he has carried for so long. And so using his journalistic skills he arranges a series of interviews with many of those involved with Galbraith or the investigation into the paedophile ring he puppeteer-ed. He is methodical in his interviews and record keeping, taking notes or recording the interviews if he can. To do so will help him feel more normal and not the scared little boy Galbraith had reduced him to. Each step is fraught with heartbreak as well as tension as the reader takes this journey with the now adult Anthony alongside the then boy Anthony.

It doesn't matter that I read "The Doctor" just two months ago and I knew what happened and all the events that took place. It doesn't matter that I knew what was to come. THE FATHER is Anthony's story; his journey. We get his perspective on what happened in the course of events we read in that first book that took place thirty years ago. And we see just how it has affected him. It is harrowing, haunting and equally disturbing as it is poignant. John Nicholl holds nothing back and yet he deals with the subject matter sensitively. You cannot read this, or any of the Galbraith series, and not be affected by them. They truly are emotive reads within their own right.

The fact that this is the third book in the series does not mean you need to read the first two to keep up. THE FATHER suffices perfectly well as a standalone, as each book does. But together they complement each other as we then see the bigger picture and the wider effects that such abuse in any form has on those around them. We know it as the ripple effect. Every tendril that branches from the initial event has the power to affect everything else it comes into contact with...even briefly.

And yes, while you or I may have read the first two books so we know what Anthony's investigations are going to uncover. But in something of a different light we then see it from others' perspectives...and ultimately, the final twist that brings everything into focus. Every action has a reaction...and every action has a consequence.

A word of warning - THE FATHER, just like "The Doctor" and "The Wife" before it, are not for everyone. There are multiple trigger warnings featuring abuse of various forms - domestic, sexual abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, rape to name a few. It is a no-holds-barred read but a thought-provoking one just the same. And one you won't forget for a long time to come.

I would like to thank #JohnNicholl, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheFather in exchange for an honest review.

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

What if the person you are suppose to trust hurts you. Hurts you in a way that people may not believe. What if this person is a doctor? A psychiatrist? What would you do? Who can you trust? This story is set in England. Wales. A family just like any other family. Until it isn't.

This book is a very touchy subject matter. It's about child abuse. Abuse rings run by a doctor and many other people. They hurt children. Both girls and boys. This book is about one boy. A little boy who was only seven years old when he was taken to this doctor because he needed help after his parents split up. He needed his father but that father was never there. He was acting out and his mother needed help. This is told from the man's point of view from start to finish. It's not explicit in any way but you know what happened. You know that this psychiatrist is horrible. He's despicable in every way. He's got away with this for years. He grooms these children. He groomed his wife. He needed her to make him look good. He has no conscience. No soul. No morals. No heart. He's evil to the very core.

My heart broke for this man. The last chapter was maybe the worse of all. Knowing that after all he had been through this was his life. I think he should have been given a medal myself. But that's not how the world works is it? The bad get away with things and the innocent all to often have to pay the price. How sad is that?

This book is very interesting in that it's based on actual events. It's written by an ex police officer and child protection social worker. Based on things he's seen. It's horrible to believe these things happen yet they do. Every day they do. People get away with these horrible things too. Lives are ruined because of these things. Children are forced to grow up way too fast. It's truly beyond sad.

This may be the hardest review I have ever written. It's definitely one of the hardest books I've read. Even though it does not go into any big detail, you know. You just know. The horrors that happened to these children. To this man. To his mother. To the doctors wife. Everyone that man touched was messed up once he let go. Not that he actually let go. He would do anything to get what he wanted. I do mean anything too. Evil to the very depths of his soul. But it's still written in a way that you are reading a book that is being written by a victim. The main character is trying to find closure so he's writing a book about his life. He interviews everyone involved with this case. But does he actually find that closure? That peace of mind? Does he make it. Can he save his marriage and his own little girl?

Thank you #NetGalley, #JohnNicholl, #BoldwoodBooks for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

5 stars. It's a very dark book but you should read it if you can. Hear this man's story.

cw: Descriptions of CSA, graphic violence, coercive behaviour


Anthony, a survivor of child sexual abuse at the hands of the sadistic Dr Galbraith, is now a journalist. Feeling like the only way he make peace with his horrific experience, he decides to write a book. Through the course of the story, he interviews the key people involved, from his own family members, to the authorities tasked with uncovering the ring of predators.

I think one of the most overwhelming themes throughout was how trauma causes ripples through every person it touches, with very few exceptions. When I requested this from NetGalley, I wasn't aware that it was the final instalment of a series. That said, I didn't feel lost at any point. Truthfully? Though the previous books must inevitably offer additional perspectives, I don't think I have the stomach to read more. That's not in any way a criticism of the writing. If anything, it's because it's SO well written. I guessed one pivotal event near the end, but it was still an incredibly heartbreaking moment.
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First off I’d like to start by saying I love John Nicholl’s style of writing, the fact that he has experience from working in the police and as a social worker definitely helps to bring his books up to the standard they are. I also find his work easy to read even if some of it is pretty hard core.

I’ve read all the books in the Dr. Galbraith series, this is the third one but any of these books could easily be read as a stand alone thriller. 30 years ago Anthony was abducted by doctor Galbraith when he was just a seven year old boy.

Anthony started his therapy when his parents marriage broke down and even though this all happened 30 years ago Anthony finds himself stuck in the past and is often reminded that deep down he is still the same scared little boy who was abducted and trapped in a white cellar all those years ago.

Anthony is now married and had a young daughter, he would do anything to protect his family and to avoid the same thing happening to his daughter Olivia. Anthony is still not completely sure what happened to him as a child as he was drugged and missed a lot of what he went through so he has decided now he is going to use his skills as a journalist to interview as many people as he can to find out the full scale of what he went through and what actually happened to him but sometimes the past is best left alone.

Another brilliant thriller from John Nicholl with a twist at the end I had no idea was coming. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the galbraith series. In my opinion it needs a warning on to people who have survived child abuse! Book 3 is written by the now adult Anthony who survived being abused in his childhood....it fills in details that are not known in the 1st 2 books. He tells of how he has tried to come to turns with what happened to him and his family, with a twist at the end. Fantastic book and very emotional read.

The Father by John Nicholl is a great edition to the Galbraith Series. This story fills in details that the previous novels left open.
The Father follows Tony as he works through the tragic event of his past. Tony is telling his story in the form of a book to help him deal with the events that happened to him in his youth. This book has an ending that you truly don't see coming.
I loved this story and seeing how Tony dealt with the tragic of his past. I think that this book tied up all loose ends of the story and is completely worth the read.
I enjoyed the twists from this story as well as hearing about the events from the past books from other people's perspectives.
Would highly recommend.

WoW and breathe.......The Father by John Nicholl is the third book in the brilliant Dr David Galbraith’s
trilogy and this series has been So Good. It's has been one of the Best series I have read in a long time. These books are full of twists and turns from the beginning till the very end and with a WoW fantastic ending to this series. Every book has been a roller coaster ride and very entertaining. However, I would say you will need to read all three books in order, to get the real effect of this story of Dr David Galbraith and his victims. This is So Good!

In this book, The Father it tell the story of Anthony Mailer who is the young boy who Dr David Galbraith severely abused him. Anthony still tries to come to terms of his past and need to move on especially for his young daughter and to become a good dad to her and also be a loving husband to his wife, as she is holding their small family together.......... But the past is always in its way! Anthony starts to write a book about his childhood, but this has become harder than he thinks........WoW this is so good!

I highly recommend this series. I have loved them.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for allowing me to review this book.

This book does need a trigger warning for anyone who has survived childhood abuse. It is lightly based on a true story.
Now that I have warned you, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved that Mr. Nicholl wrote it as the adult survivor interviewing people in the field, who helped rescue him. I recommend this book, but feel very sad that these horrors go on in real life.

This is the third book in the Galbraith Trilogy in book one it was the kidnapping and abuse of Anthony, book 2 it’s from the perspective of the doctor‘s wife in book 3 is Anthony as an adult trying to get answers and closure for the nightmares that still haunt him. I have found each book in this Trilogy to be written very well the first two were riveting but I found the third to be basically a rehash of the first book and although they had a couple of new incidents that I didn’t know I found myself getting bored with the whole review that is until Anthony started falling apart. It added an edge the previous portion of the book did not have but having said that it is still totally worth reading. This was such a great original idea for a trilogy and kudos to the author I feel privileged that I’ve gotten to read all three before publication if you love a good thriller then read these books in order although you can read them out of order I think the experience would be better in order. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Anthony was abducted by Dr Galbraith when he was seven years old and not found for a few days as he was hidden away in Dr Galbraith’s basement.

Thirty years on, Anthony is a journalist and is trying to write about his experiences. Now married with a young daughter, Anthony is digging into the past in a hope of putting things to rest. Instead, he is falling apart and extremely angry.

I found it hard to read the accounts of the people involved in trying to get the evidence back then to convict Dr Galbraith. We learn a lot in this book about the different services involved as well as how Anthony’s family coped. I could feel the guilt and pain through the writing.

Some parts of the story made me feel ill and extremely tense. These books are written well and you can tell the author has put his heart and soul into them.

This is the final book in the trilogy and I would recommend reading them in order. These books could be triggers for some due to the child abuse.

My thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.