I have read other books by John Nicholl but this wasn’t my favourite unfortunately. It was intense at times and well written but I didn’t find the storyline very different to many other psychological thrillers. There are many other books out there about a maniac on the loose, wanting revenge so sadly I wasn’t as hooked as I would have liked. It was a little predictable at times, especially the ending. Overall not bad.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

This book will drive you insane. The Surgeon himself is a crazy maniac. He went to prison for a crime he did not commit, but the revenge for the things he did before and after prison should make him go to prison anyway.

I feel that there are gaps in this story, for instance, the Surgeon's take on how he had been thought as the killer in the first place. What images were seen on his computer to indicate his arrest? And what on Earth was his experiment on the people he tried to torment and kill?! I shrug my shoulders on this book.

4.5 stars for the craziness!

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

The Surgeon is a relentlessly twisty and un-put-downable psychological thriller that will leave you guessing until the last page. The novel traces the events of a well-known surgeon who is unjustly arrested for murder. After the actual killer confesses and he is freed, he is not only relieved, he is planning a gruesome revenge.

This is not a straightforward tale of a man clearing his name. Rather, it's an insider's look at the mind of a man pushed to the edge, carefully plotting his revenge. The author skillfully interweaves several voices including the detective who put him away, an influencer who pleaded for his release, and a former victim of the murderer to create a multi-faceted and thrilling tale.

With its surprise plot twists and race-against-time storyline, The Surgeon is a dark and addictive read that will appeal to the fans of writers like Daniel Hurst and Frieda McFadden. It's a gripping story of justice, betrayal, and the sweet, wicked flavor of revenge.

Wow! Very dark and disturbing characters that I loved!! lol This book definitely gave me chills! It had great suspense, gruesome murders, mystery, intrigue, creepy characters and some truly shocking moments! The storyline was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! It’s definitely a chilling thriller! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This was an unexpected story about a professor, a surgeon who is a narcissistic egomaniac. It's very disturbing and a real page turner. Some of it was difficult for me to read. Man's inhumanity to man was the main theme. The end felt rushed; however, I was happy to see it end. Once you've read it you can't unread it. If this is your kind of book I would recommend it. It was not mine. I give it a generous 3 stars.

Not what I expected at all. I was expecting a book about the killer killing victims in the OR. I did throughly enjoy the book and I definitely recommend it. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ll be seeking out his other books in the future.

From the very first chapter, this book had me hooked. The story is dark, tense, and filled with a constant sense of unease that kept me turning the pages. The characters are well-drawn and complex, making the suspense feel even more real and gripping. It’s a chilling, fast-paced read that holds your attention until the very end.

John Nicholl has a strong writing style for the thriller genre, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the suspenseful atmosphere. I was engaged with what was happening and enjoyed the overall feel of this world. It had that tense element that I was looking for and was glad it was everything that was promised. I'm excited to read more from John Nicholl as this was so well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book I adored it. It’s the first I’ve read by John Nicholl and it won’t be the last .
A very good gripping thriller, fast paced and keeps you glued to the pages.
This book is written in the first person which I found good for this book.
Well worth a read.

Many thanks to netgalley, the Boldwood Books for approving my request to read this book.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely is not going to be the last.

The Surgeon is a superbly crafted psychological thriller which I devoured greedily. I loved the dark, unsettling plot and the pace of this book doesn't let up until the very last page-the final few chapters certainly got my heart pounding!

5 stars from me

Gripping and gruesome just about sums it up.
The characters well written and well developed.
The Surgeon is not for the faint-hearted.
Love this author.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Professor Aiken is in jail for a murder he didn't commit. Not for the murders he did commit. He vows to get revenge for the five years he was incarcerated.

A chilling book about a heartless murderer. This is a gripping book, with gruesome content. A psychopath who feels nothing for his victims, he thinks he is a genius because he was never caught for his crimes.

A quick read that will keep the reader glued to the pages from start to finish.

5 stars from me

Yet again another page turner. I was gripped from the beginning, who would think how evil the surgeon was. Lewis saved the day.

Unfortunately, this was very much not my cup of tea. The premise hooked me, but I was underwhelmed by the writing and unprepared for the virulent misogyny of the eponymous surgeon. I was intrigued by the idea of a wrongly convicted surgeon seeking revenge, but less excited about a predictably psychopathic murderer with a god complex using vengeance as an excuse to torture women for his sexual pleasure. Several scenes creaked with expository, unrealistic dialogue (this seemed to happen mostly during phone calls), and the graphic violence felt almost garish. I found the alternating perspectives only intermittently convincing; some were strong standalones propelling the narrative forward (“The Lawyer”) while others were overwritten to the point of caricature ("The Addict"). The surgeon's chapters were especially off-putting; I understand he’s the villain here, but his utter sociopathy—the man compares himself to Mengele!—really challenged my willing suspension of disbelief.

I do love a book by John Nicholl! This is an author who consistently delivers a gritty, gripping and sometimes gruesome read. This book has a different format to John’s other books, in that each chapter is told from the first-person perspective via a host of characters, including the police officers investigating the crimes, a victim, witnesses and the killer himself. I really like this multilayered approached; it adds depth and gave me ample opportunity to form my own theories as to what would happen next. As always, John’s characterisation is spot on, each character is well written and well developed – if not all likeable, (yes, I’m looking at you, Halliday!). It was brilliant to have an appearance from the much-loved Ray Lewis, and for those readers who are familiar with John’s earlier work, it was a nice touch to reference DI Gravel.

All in all, this book is packed with relentless tension, which is coupled with excellent pacing and a chilling plot. Very highly recommended.

To sum this up in one word this book was amazing! A complete page turner with thrills that just keep coming. Relatable characters and a story that just kept you guessing

Second book I've read by this author.
A very good read that I found I raced through as I was always keen to read just one more chapter.
I liked the writing style with each chapter told from the perspective of a different character.
A thriller featuring a highly intelligent but completely unstable killer.
No real mystery or twists to the storyline and no real "oh my god" moments but highly enjoyable nonetheless and no hesitation in awarding four stars. Here's to the next one from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.

The Surgeon is a chilling, razor-sharp thriller that slices deep into the psyche of justice, revenge, and the darkness that can dwell behind a polished façade. John Nicholl crafts a taut, unsettling narrative around an eminent surgeon accused of a brutal murder—a man who knows the feel of life slipping away beneath his hands, yet insists he didn’t cause the death he’s blamed for.

When the real killer confesses and the surgeon is released, the story takes a sinister turn. Vindication quickly curdles into vengeance, and what follows is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Nicholl’s prose is lean and relentless, his pacing breathless, and his characters disturbingly believable—no doubt sharpened by his own background in law enforcement.

The novel’s strength lies in its ability to keep readers guessing, gasping, and glancing over their shoulders. It’s not just a whodunit—it’s a “what will he do next?” And the answer is never comforting.

Fans of TM Logan, Daniel Hurst, and Frieda McFadden will find themselves utterly gripped. The Surgeon is a dark, compulsive read that lingers long after the final twist. Just be warned: once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.

With thanks to John Nicholl, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, John Nicholl, and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to explore the writing of John Nicholl, which is full of exciting twists, I gladly reached for this ARC. After an odd admission by another about a murder five years ago, a well-known surgeon who has been in jail is released. The authorities are baffled as to how and why this new man has admitted being involved, but it is when a woman with some history of mental illness goes missing that suspicions arise. Has the surgeon gone back to his old ways? John Nicholl impresses once more with this piece.

Professor Aiken is popular surgeon who loves the feel of having life in his hands. He knows the power that brings, but also the fragility. When Professor Aiken is arrested for murdering a girl, he is flummoxed, vowing his innocence. It falls on deaf ears and After conviction, he is locked away for years.

When a woman enters the West Wales police dispatch and says her husband is the actual killer, no one can believe it. Professor Aiken is released after new evidence emerges. As Profesor Aiken vows his innocence once more, he has other plans to fill his time, something that he has been waiting five years to finish. He soon targets a young woman with some mental health issues, capturing her for his own experimentation. She eluded his scalpel before, but he won’t let her get away again.

Enter DI Kesey and her newly promoted DC Nicholl. They have been following the case of the missing woman and all evidence points to the professor. While they want to make an arrest, or at least probe more, the higher-ups, still stinging from the false imprisonment, want nothing to do with it. DI Kesey and DC Nicholl will have to act fast and ensure they capture the suspect, while risking things blowing up amongst their superiors. Nicholl offers a great thriller that reads swiftly.

John Nicholl has long been an author who has impressed me with his writing, be it a series or standalone. With this novel, Nicholl develops a strong narrative that he uses throughout to forge a captivating piece full of action. He multiple perspectives adds another depth to the already-strong piece. Great characters emerge and develop, perfect for those readers who have read much of Nicholl’s work and will recognise some names. Plot points provide eager aspects that had me reading chapter upon chapter, if only to get answers as the surprises mounted. Another great piece by John Nicholl that I could read with ease.

Kudos, Mr. Nicholl, for a thriller that packed a punch.

What a thrill of a ride on this book..all the characters were spot on and I even loved the full an. Creepy, but I loved every minute of this one.

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley for a early release of this book.