Download PDF Confidential edition by Ellie Monago Romance eBooks
From the bestselling author of Neighborly comes a twisty novel of psychological suspense about the lies three women tell to survive, and the ones they’d kill to keep hidden.
Everyone loves therapist Michael Baylor. He’s handsome. He’s respected. And he’s provided a safe place for his female patients. Now he’s dead, and a detective is casting a tight net for the murderer—because the good doctor may have done some very bad things with the women who trusted him. That’s if their stories check out.
There’s Lucinda, who struggled to process her childhood trauma even as she was falling in love with Dr. Baylor. Greer, an accomplished career woman who was torn by her sudden desire to have children, so she went to Dr. Baylor for help but may have gotten more than she bargained for. And then there’s Flora, a beautiful former patient who’d been on intimate terms with the man she called Dr. Michael for two years. Some might even say she was obsessed with him.
Three women caught in a tangled web of lies and secrets. And each with a motive for murder. With so much at stake, can any of them be trusted to tell the truth?
Download PDF Confidential edition by Ellie Monago Romance eBooks
"An entertaining novel of psychological intrigue, “Confidential†(2019) is the second book written by Ellie Monago. Dr. Michael Baylor, a never-married highly respected behavioral therapist was found dead in his Oakland California office. When homicide detective Gregory Plath arrived to investigate, he quickly determined that perhaps Dr. Baylor’s “sterling reputation†may not have been the entire truth.
Detective Plath needed to investigate Dr. Baylor’s patients, particularly the three patients who seemed to have been in love with the good therapist. Flora, Lucinda and Greer had their own individual motives for murder and had met together in a local restaurant before Dr, Baylor’s death.
Flora: With her husband Young, the couple had sought Dr. Baylor to assist in getting their marriage back on track. Did Dr. Baylor manipulate this mildly troubled couple’s divorce so he could have Flora for himself? Flora had completely and totally fallen in love with “Michael†and would push him to go public with their secret relationship after the required two year waiting period for therapist client involvement had passed. Flora’s cousin Kate had uncovered some disturbing accusations against Dr, Baylor by former clients.
Lucinda: An only child, raised by a reformed addict and her step-father Adam, who had induced a serious mental illness in Lucinda relating to their guilt ridden sexual relationship. Although Lucinda struggled to come to terms “under the spell of an evil person,†she taught writing workshops and was bored with her job as a proof-reader. Lucinda began to unravel when Adam was placed in a Hospice care and her mother mysteriously disappeared.
Greer: A single feminist career business administrator determined she had missed out by avoiding motherhood. While in therapy with Dr. Baylor, as her biological clock was winding down, all the donor profiles she had studied for artificial insemination were not as “perfect†as Dr. Baylor. Indeed, Dr. Baylor would agree and meet with Greer’s legal team to sign paperwork, but at what cost?
With three of Dr. Baylor’s clients clearly enthralled with their love and desire for him, they discover they are not his “one and onlyâ€. Themes of obsession and delusion, stalking, transference take on new meanings. Furthermore, would Dr. Baylor risk his professional reputation to unethically seek and manipulate clients for his own needs and sexual gratification? Detective Plath believed without question he had figured out who had murdered Dr, Baylor, despite the fact he had been denied access by the court to clients medical records due to stringent privacy laws. This is a gripping fast-paced murder-mystery drama and there is never a dull moment in this reading experience. ~ 4* Excellent. **With thanks and appreciation to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review."
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Confidential edition by Ellie Monago Romance eBooks Reviews :
Confidential edition by Ellie Monago Romance eBooks Reviews
- At the end I felt a bit confused and disoriented. I didnt feel like the story had a real ending. I don't know that I'd recommend this book to anyone although I'll admit it was a page turner. But the ending really ruined the entirety.
- 2 1/2 âï¸â€˜s
While this book did have me flipping pages at first, I found the plot to be completely implausible and the detective to be a bumbling oaf. All of the characters were totally unlikable leaving no one to root for. There was a bit of language throughout, but at times its use was cringe worthy. The twist at the end was suppose to leave doubt, but, unfortunately, it just didn’t work the way it should have. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. - I listened to the audiobook. The woman that read for Flora was terrible. The accent was off and I couldn't understand half of what she was saying. It was very distracting to say the least.
- Thought provoking and suspenseful read. Interesting characters and storyline. I’m looking forward to reading the author’s other book, Neighborly, next.
- I loved everything about this book. Best thriller/drama/mystery I’ve read in awhile! I was addicted... reading it nonstop. Character development was spot on and I felt like I was inside their heads. Even though I felt like I knew everything, I was still hit with twists. Amazing.
- I enjoyed the book and there's no way I could have seen the ending coming. I had to rethink everything after that. Well done!
- An entertaining novel of psychological intrigue, “Confidential†(2019) is the second book written by Ellie Monago. Dr. Michael Baylor, a never-married highly respected behavioral therapist was found dead in his Oakland California office. When homicide detective Gregory Plath arrived to investigate, he quickly determined that perhaps Dr. Baylor’s “sterling reputation†may not have been the entire truth.
Detective Plath needed to investigate Dr. Baylor’s patients, particularly the three patients who seemed to have been in love with the good therapist. Flora, Lucinda and Greer had their own individual motives for murder and had met together in a local restaurant before Dr, Baylor’s death.
Flora With her husband Young, the couple had sought Dr. Baylor to assist in getting their marriage back on track. Did Dr. Baylor manipulate this mildly troubled couple’s divorce so he could have Flora for himself? Flora had completely and totally fallen in love with “Michael†and would push him to go public with their secret relationship after the required two year waiting period for therapist client involvement had passed. Flora’s cousin Kate had uncovered some disturbing accusations against Dr, Baylor by former clients.
Lucinda An only child, raised by a reformed addict and her step-father Adam, who had induced a serious mental illness in Lucinda relating to their guilt ridden sexual relationship. Although Lucinda struggled to come to terms “under the spell of an evil person,†she taught writing workshops and was bored with her job as a proof-reader. Lucinda began to unravel when Adam was placed in a Hospice care and her mother mysteriously disappeared.
Greer A single feminist career business administrator determined she had missed out by avoiding motherhood. While in therapy with Dr. Baylor, as her biological clock was winding down, all the donor profiles she had studied for artificial insemination were not as “perfect†as Dr. Baylor. Indeed, Dr. Baylor would agree and meet with Greer’s legal team to sign paperwork, but at what cost?
With three of Dr. Baylor’s clients clearly enthralled with their love and desire for him, they discover they are not his “one and onlyâ€. Themes of obsession and delusion, stalking, transference take on new meanings. Furthermore, would Dr. Baylor risk his professional reputation to unethically seek and manipulate clients for his own needs and sexual gratification? Detective Plath believed without question he had figured out who had murdered Dr, Baylor, despite the fact he had been denied access by the court to clients medical records due to stringent privacy laws. This is a gripping fast-paced murder-mystery drama and there is never a dull moment in this reading experience. ~ 4* Excellent. **With thanks and appreciation to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review. - Dr. Michael Baylor was a successful psychotherapist, especially when it came to his female patients. However, he is now dead and the detective in charge of the case has three potential suspects, Flora, Lucinda and Greer, Detective Gregory Flath certainly has his work cut out for him.
Each woman has a different story. Lucinda is trying to deal with childhood trauma. Greer is a career-driven woman who suddenly is desperate for a child, and is trying to work out the hows and whys. Then there is Flora, who started seeing Dr. Baylor for marriage counseling along with her husband Young.
As far as Flora is concerned, she began an affair with Dr. Baylor and they have been intimate for two years. As much as Flora might be in love with him, she is definitely just as obsessed. This is even to the point of resenting Dr. Baylor's time with his female patients.
Each woman, as things slowly reveal, is caught up in secrets and lies, and thus presenting a motive. Detective Flath is forced to question each of them at length, especially since doctor-patient privilege stands even after Dr. Baylor's death.
Confidential is delivered in knife-sharp precision in the past and present. Presently, the story is told from the detective's point of view. As far as the past is concerned, each woman's story is relayed. It becomes rather easy to see why these women need a therapist. To a large degree, each one of them is unraveled, falling apart at various times for various reasons.
There is not a single likeable character in this story! Yet, it is compelling from page one. Along with the detective, the job of the reader is to ascertain which of the woman is responsible for the murder of Dr. Baylor. Read well. Read carefully, as there are a lot of clues along the way.
What a book! I could not put it down, except for when my body demanded sleep. Otherwise, this would have been a one-sitting read. I enjoyed the writing style of Ellie Monago. I am certain that her real-life job as a therapist went a long way when it came to getting into the minds of Flora, Lucinda and Greer, all the while seeing how manipulative Dr. Baylor actually was.
I definitely found a new favorite author! So much so that I was forced to put aside what I had planned next to read in order to read her previous novel, Neighborly, which was equally engaging. I will be looking forward to anything else this immensely talented author pens.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.