An unusual mystery set in Jamaica loosely based on a true story. The storytelling was interesting but I could not get involved in the narrative.

It started off a little confusing as I wasn't sure if I was reading about a play or if it was in a court room. The characters do have good depth to them and they're well developed but I was struggling through it. I do feel like adding the mermaids/fantasy element didn't really fit the story due to it being loosely based on a serial killer in Jamaica.

The Case of the Mad Doctor started off as a quirky mystery with an interesting setup, but the introduction of the mermaid really threw me off. It made the story feel a bit odd and disconnected from the tone I expected. The mystery itself had some fun twists, and the writing was engaging, but the fantasy element didn’t quite blend well with the rest of the plot.

It wasn’t a bad read—just not what I was hoping for. If you enjoy mysteries with an unusual twist and don’t mind a bit of the bizarre, this might be your thing. For me, it was a middle-of-the-road experience. 3 stars.

I really wanted to like this one. I was intrigued by the concept, but found the execution slower and more intensely focused on the slavery elements than I was prepared for... That's not a bad thing, just a disturbing one to read. There was also a random mix of elements here that I struggled to find cohesive. Mermaids? Slavery? Madness? Murder? Family? I felt like it was trying to tackle so many issues at once that it couldn't focus on any of them for long enough to truly peak my interest. This one wasn't a good fit for me...

Inspired by a true story this book is quite riviting.

Set in 1772, peopl are going missing and no one knows if they have met some dasteredly deed or just simply relocated elsewhere.

Isaiah Ollenu, an aspiring Black barrister and is sent to Jamaica to dscover the facts of the missing and encounters prejudice, greed asnd corruption.

The author writes a good tale of British colonialism and while it is sometimes disturbing it does have a few moments of humour..

I loved how the good guy wins in the end and this is a book worth the reading time.

I mostly enjoyed this, and would be interested to read the next in the series, which I think shows great promise. I liked the characters and the story. The only slight criticism I have is that some of the dialogue felt a little un-natural. For example, at the end when Hutchison is drowning, I cannot believe that anyone would be able to scream "Stay away from me, disgustful monstrosities" - they'd be too busy trying to breathe!
That nitpick aside, I enjoyed it. And I really liked the cover.

I was looking forward to reading this book but I'm disappointed. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. The story is interesting, the characters are well developed but I sort of struggled through the book. I'm sure other people will like this book.
I received an advance review copy via NetGalley/Canelo and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

This was a really good book. It’s an unusual storyline & plot with a nice quick pace with the action. Nice character building. Essentially it is a good vs evil plot. Very well written.

The Case of the Mad Doctor is a terrific slow-burn combination of historical fiction, true crime, and magical realism. When Isaiah Ollenu, an aspiring Black barrister, is sent by his mentor to complete a mission in Jamaica, he’s immediately wary. Stepping onto a ship bound for a colony where people who share his skin color have no rights and are treated as less than human demands all his courage and resolve. Once there, his strength is repeatedly tested by greedy, corrupt servants of the crown who delight in using intimidation and violence as proof of their power. Cruel for cruelty’s sake, these men must be stopped, but how?

While Ollenu is certainly an interesting and compelling character and the descriptions of colonial Jamaica are fascinating, what I loved most was Lennon’s choice to incorporate magical realism and local legends/beliefs into his tale. From the spontaneous rhymes that hint at danger, to the mermaids that follow the Isabella, to the Rolling Calf, the author reminds (warns?) us that there are forces in the universe that can and should bring divine retribution to unchecked power and abuse.

4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Canello for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful historical novel. This follows a law clerk sent to Jamaica with an insurance agent to investigate the disappearance of three people. He reluctantly leaves Bristol and his family to travel for weeks in the hope of securing future career progression. However this is a particularly perilous journey as he is Black and he’s travelling to a place where slavery is legal.

We start this novel off on the right foot straightaway as we meet our intelligent and charismatic main character acting out a trial. I really liked the author’s writing style which moves along at pace whilst giving us a rich sense of character and setting. The historical language and tone was done well, adding depth to the story whilst being approachable for a modern reader.

This is a fascinating story that has our investigators uncover a serial killer whilst looking into their missing people. This is set against a tense backdrop where our main character is constantly in danger from the ignorance and bigotry of others, in spite of his skill, wisdom and physical prowess. The main villain is quite horrifying and this is made worse by the challenges our main character has to face to just get people to listen to him.

I was utterly gripped by this novel, finishing it very quickly. It’s a wonderful exploration of setting and time period and covers some really challenging topics. We have a wonderful main character who is very easy to root for. I would love to read more from this author.

This novel revolves around a mystery about missing people and slavery profits and an insane doctor who may have been Jamaica’s first serial killer. Ed Barrow is not a happy man in Bristol, 1772. Heavily involved in slave trafficking, he’s lost track of his go-between, Francis Dantry in Jamaica, and the large sum of money Dantry is supposed to hand over. Ruben Ashby, Barrow’s insurance fraud investigator, is sent to Jamaica to find the man and the money. Travelling with the very white Mr Ashby is Black law clerk Isaiah Ollenu, a whip-smart man who has inched his way up the ladder to become highly respected in Bristol’s white law society. This imaginative duo is the heart of the novel. Their touchy relationship, verbal sparring, experiences of Black vs white, and their character arcs which form the backbone of events.
The novel begins well, until we get to Edinburgh Castle (no, not the Scottish one) in Jamaica, the home of a madman masquerading as a doctor. At this point everyone’s behavior and dialogue become cartoonish and nothing feels believable. Although passably written, the novel doesn’t seem to meet the publisher’s usual high standards. That said, it’s a fast read for anyone looking for an unusual mystery and its themes of racism are conscientiously dealt with. High praise to the author also for developing the down-to-earth, decent, morally straight-up Ollenu, who navigates the pitfalls of Jamaica so well.

This was an interesting tale loosely based on a serial killer in Jamaica. I enjoyed most of it. Some of the dialogues between the two main characters were often witty, which made the reading of the distressing situation of the slaves in Jamaica a bit lighter. However, what really disturbed me was the appearance of mermaids!!!!!! I can read about superstitions common hundreds of years ago, as well as understand their significance, but mermaids???? I found this fantasy element utterly unfitting in this story. Shame. Otherwise, the novel was entertaining .
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Book review 4 The Mad Doctor by PD Lennon
4 Starts

Thank you to Canelo Publishing for an Arc of the case of the Mad Doctor.This is a fictionalized tale of the first serial killer in Jamaican History.

I enjoyed the criminal case plot line of this story. I like the fact that the good guy accomplished his goal in the end


However, one thing did not seem to fit within the larger plot line of the story for me. I feel like the scenes with the mermaids represent a genre jump, from True Crime to Fantasy. although when I read the first instance with the mermaids it was jarring, I like the fact that they did get to exact their vengeance by the end.

I would read another book by this author.

Set in 1772, the story starts in Bristol but soon transfers to Jamaica. Charged with locating three missing persons on the island, Isaiah Ollenu and Ruben Ashby seem an unlikely pairing. Faced with prejudice and violence, they are thrown together in an extremely dangerous situation.
This is an interesting historical story based on a real life serial killer. Aspects of the story relating to slavery are quite disturbing but the historical detail is excellent.