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Donovan Creed #10
Bad Doctor
““When you’re in my hospital you’re not family. You’re prey!
“If you’re coming after me, don’t do it in a hospital. That’s my domain. And don’t piss me off in the real world and expect a smooth hospital stay because I have a long memory, and no one is exempt."
“If you’re coming after me, don’t do it in a hospital. That’s my domain. And don’t piss me off in the real world and expect a smooth hospital stay because I have a long memory, and no one is exempt."
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2012
210 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
John Locke
55 books390 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information. This is the novelist (2x spaces), not the philosopher (1x space).
New York Times best-selling author John Locke is the international best-selling author of sixteen books in four different genres. He is the 8th author in history to have sold one million eBooks on Kindle. Locke has had four books in the top ten at the same time, including #1 and #2. His Donovan Creed thriller series has sold more than 1,700,000 copies since January, 2011, and foreign rights have been acquired by six major publishers for Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Hungarian, and Lithuanian translations. (Amazon's brief biography)
NY TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR!
8th MEMBER of the KINDLE MILLION SALES CLUB!
First self-published author to hit #1 on Amazon/Kindle!
First self-published author to hit Kindle Million Sales Club!
John sold 1,100,000 eBooks in 5 months by word of mouth!
John wrote and published 6 best-selling books in 3 separate genres in 6 months, part-time!
John has had 4 of the top 10 eBooks on Amazon/Kindle at the same time, including #1 and #2! He’s also had 6 of the top 20, and 8 of the top 43 at the same time!
Every eBook John Locke has written and published has become a best-seller.
New York Times best-selling author John Locke is the international best-selling author of sixteen books in four different genres. He is the 8th author in history to have sold one million eBooks on Kindle. Locke has had four books in the top ten at the same time, including #1 and #2. His Donovan Creed thriller series has sold more than 1,700,000 copies since January, 2011, and foreign rights have been acquired by six major publishers for Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Hungarian, and Lithuanian translations. (Amazon's brief biography)
NY TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR!
8th MEMBER of the KINDLE MILLION SALES CLUB!
First self-published author to hit #1 on Amazon/Kindle!
First self-published author to hit Kindle Million Sales Club!
John sold 1,100,000 eBooks in 5 months by word of mouth!
John wrote and published 6 best-selling books in 3 separate genres in 6 months, part-time!
John has had 4 of the top 10 eBooks on Amazon/Kindle at the same time, including #1 and #2! He’s also had 6 of the top 20, and 8 of the top 43 at the same time!
Every eBook John Locke has written and published has become a best-seller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
November 7, 2015
WHAT HAPPENED? *cries a puddle of tears*
Started out really good but, then it just went ka-plunk.
2.5 stars (rounded up).
The start was really good. The MC is a doctor and I love the "you're most vulnerable when you're in a hospital" part of it. I expected some kind of blackmail, like to a politician or to a lawyer. Nope. Nothing. Na-da.
It slowly starts its downwards spiral, the dark descent, when the MC blackmails hookers (or were they prostitutes?) Either way, they were high and had drugs in their bags.
Later on some more things happened that weren't very fun to read so I almost DNF but, I stuck through it because I really liked the author's book "Promise You Won't Tell."
Sadly, the ending did not make up for it.
It was kind of like Gone Girl but, still a pretty meh ending...
3/5 stars (2.5)
Started out really good but, then it just went ka-plunk.
2.5 stars (rounded up).
The start was really good. The MC is a doctor and I love the "you're most vulnerable when you're in a hospital" part of it. I expected some kind of blackmail, like to a politician or to a lawyer. Nope. Nothing. Na-da.
It slowly starts its downwards spiral, the dark descent, when the MC blackmails hookers (or were they prostitutes?) Either way, they were high and had drugs in their bags.
Later on some more things happened that weren't very fun to read so I almost DNF but, I stuck through it because I really liked the author's book "Promise You Won't Tell."
Sadly, the ending did not make up for it.
It was kind of like Gone Girl but, still a pretty meh ending...
3/5 stars (2.5)
April 9, 2014
Dr. Gideon Box is the best at saving the lives of children with heart conditions. He’s the go-to guy for hopeless cases, but for as skilled as he is, there’s no doubt he is a bad doctor.
To say he has a hilariously terrible bedside manner would be an understatement. He’s constantly in trouble at the hospital he works at. People refuse to work with him after he curses not only the staff, but the poor little patients.
Dr. Box is House on steroids. With Tourette’s.
The weight of being everyone’s only hope causes a kind of stress to build in him that makes him self-destructive. Some might blow off steam with a round of golf. Dr. Box does it by soliciting strippers for sex and then robbing them at gunpoint.
I had heard the name John Locke, but this was my first time reading one of his books. “Bad Doctor” is unconventional, smart, and laugh out loud funny. There are a couple of twists I hadn’t seen coming and ultimately, I wanted more! I’m excited to see if any of the other Dr. Box books pick up the story because I really think he’s met his match with this new nurse.
I’ve seen people do ‘medical’ poorly, but Locke’s authority was clear. He’s either had some experience in that realm or he’s one hell of a researcher. Either way, nothing he wrote pulled me out of the moment.
This isn’t your typical tale. It’s clear from the first page we’re dealing with a screws-loose individual who deals in offensiveness. Sure, he’s brilliant. He’s also majorly flawed. I considered rating this book four stars because a few things were left unfinished, but I can’t fault the author for tying into a series. The Siamese twin hitmen were maybe a bit over the line for me, but hell, they were funny and who else would write someone like that?!?
Five stars for this nutty ride.
To say he has a hilariously terrible bedside manner would be an understatement. He’s constantly in trouble at the hospital he works at. People refuse to work with him after he curses not only the staff, but the poor little patients.
Dr. Box is House on steroids. With Tourette’s.
The weight of being everyone’s only hope causes a kind of stress to build in him that makes him self-destructive. Some might blow off steam with a round of golf. Dr. Box does it by soliciting strippers for sex and then robbing them at gunpoint.
I had heard the name John Locke, but this was my first time reading one of his books. “Bad Doctor” is unconventional, smart, and laugh out loud funny. There are a couple of twists I hadn’t seen coming and ultimately, I wanted more! I’m excited to see if any of the other Dr. Box books pick up the story because I really think he’s met his match with this new nurse.
I’ve seen people do ‘medical’ poorly, but Locke’s authority was clear. He’s either had some experience in that realm or he’s one hell of a researcher. Either way, nothing he wrote pulled me out of the moment.
This isn’t your typical tale. It’s clear from the first page we’re dealing with a screws-loose individual who deals in offensiveness. Sure, he’s brilliant. He’s also majorly flawed. I considered rating this book four stars because a few things were left unfinished, but I can’t fault the author for tying into a series. The Siamese twin hitmen were maybe a bit over the line for me, but hell, they were funny and who else would write someone like that?!?
Five stars for this nutty ride.
January 10, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars I like the writing style of this one, December 12, 2013
This review is from: Bad Doctor (Kindle Edition)
The first of the much touted John Locke's books that I've ever read, and I understand he writes in a wide variety of genres. I like the writing style of this one...easy and fast paced and sometimes over the top. The hired hit man thing was so jarring, though, it reminded me I was reading, otherwise I probably would have given this a five. I liked the quick characterizations and the plot moved along at a good clip. (As an aside, I kept seeing the doctor as Colin Sweeney on the Good Wife. ha ha He seemed the perfect fit to me in my current mind set.) I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting
This review is from: Bad Doctor (Kindle Edition)
The first of the much touted John Locke's books that I've ever read, and I understand he writes in a wide variety of genres. I like the writing style of this one...easy and fast paced and sometimes over the top. The hired hit man thing was so jarring, though, it reminded me I was reading, otherwise I probably would have given this a five. I liked the quick characterizations and the plot moved along at a good clip. (As an aside, I kept seeing the doctor as Colin Sweeney on the Good Wife. ha ha He seemed the perfect fit to me in my current mind set.) I enjoyed the book and read it in one sitting
September 9, 2018
Well, with a stripper on the front cover I wasn't sure why I chose this book - but I read on the Kindle so must not have noticed the cover. But it didn't take long to get in to this novel and it just got better and better! Oh, you'll hate the main character, everybody does, but stick with it. This book has convinced me to follow John Locke and look for all his books! Did you ever see the movie Fargo? It was labelled a dark comedy - or even a black comedy, since there was a lot of death in it. Well, I would label this book a dark comedy. A sorta keystone cops type of cover up of some bad deeds, mostly which occurred in a hospital.
I'm not explaining this book very well, let me just try to convince you to READ this book! Very well written and I read it straight through with no breaks!
I'm not explaining this book very well, let me just try to convince you to READ this book! Very well written and I read it straight through with no breaks!
October 2, 2014
This was so different and quirky to what I normally read, but thoroughly enjoyable! I loved the flawed character of Dr Gideon Box - his dry wit was hilarious! In general, there were lots of laugh out loud moments derived from scenarios and dialogue, and the whole 'Black Toad' scene made me cry with laughter!
The reason why I docked this book a star was because I felt it needed a good editing, and the Siamese twins were one quirk too far - they did nothing for me. But otherwise very entertaining!
The reason why I docked this book a star was because I felt it needed a good editing, and the Siamese twins were one quirk too far - they did nothing for me. But otherwise very entertaining!
May 15, 2014
“If you’re coming after me, don’t do it in a hospital. That’s my domain. And don’t piss me off in the real world and expect a smooth hospital stay because I have a long memory, and no one is exempt...When you’re here, you’re not family. You’re prey!”
--Dr. Gideon Box
Woo hoo - a world renowned pediatric surgeon with a mean streak a mile long - what's not to love? I sure did - and the fact that I got it free at Amazon.com makes it an even more savory discovery. I've been a John Locke fan for a while - he's the author of the popular Donovan Creed series - and this one sounded so juicy I couldn't resist.
Basically, it centers on the good doctor (let me clarify; he's good with surgical instruments, but he has zero bedside manner and calls his tiny patients and the surgical nurses horrible names while he's working). But it's outside the operating room that he really gets going; all that heroic life-saving activity, you see, takes such a toll that he just has to let off steam somehow. Add in the fact that he's pretty much a sociopath, and as I said before, what's not to love?
Sometimes he gambles, sometimes he seeks out call girls and sometimes he breaks into homes while the owners are away. This time, though, his venting leads to murder, and he comes dangerously close to getting himself killed as he puts the screws on others. A few characters from Locke's other novels pop in here, and I'll be the first to admit that the whole thing gets downright silly in spots. Still, it's smart, witty and definitely fast-paced. Accordingly, now I'm off on a tear to try the next two in the series (Box and Outside the Box. As I write this, the Kindle versions are just $2.99 each - a bargain for a romp with such a decadent hero.
--Dr. Gideon Box
Woo hoo - a world renowned pediatric surgeon with a mean streak a mile long - what's not to love? I sure did - and the fact that I got it free at Amazon.com makes it an even more savory discovery. I've been a John Locke fan for a while - he's the author of the popular Donovan Creed series - and this one sounded so juicy I couldn't resist.
Basically, it centers on the good doctor (let me clarify; he's good with surgical instruments, but he has zero bedside manner and calls his tiny patients and the surgical nurses horrible names while he's working). But it's outside the operating room that he really gets going; all that heroic life-saving activity, you see, takes such a toll that he just has to let off steam somehow. Add in the fact that he's pretty much a sociopath, and as I said before, what's not to love?
Sometimes he gambles, sometimes he seeks out call girls and sometimes he breaks into homes while the owners are away. This time, though, his venting leads to murder, and he comes dangerously close to getting himself killed as he puts the screws on others. A few characters from Locke's other novels pop in here, and I'll be the first to admit that the whole thing gets downright silly in spots. Still, it's smart, witty and definitely fast-paced. Accordingly, now I'm off on a tear to try the next two in the series (Box and Outside the Box. As I write this, the Kindle versions are just $2.99 each - a bargain for a romp with such a decadent hero.
August 18, 2014
I don't remember downloading this book but I'm glad I did. I haven't laughed and cringed this much since the The Pilo Family Circus. As soon as I finished it, I downloaded another book by the author. Can't wait for the grandbabies nap time so I can start reading.
I'll never be able to play ring toss with a straight face!
I'll never be able to play ring toss with a straight face!
April 14, 2012
Great to have a new John Locke novel and also a new character who is actually more screwed up than Donavan Creed. Also really enjoyed that characters from other books were included in this one. Look forward to more of Dr. Box but can't wait for the next instalment of Mr Creed.
April 17, 2012
Once again, John Locke weaves an exciting tale filled with interesting characters and tells the tale at a fast pace that keeps you turning the page. It was an excellent read and well worth the money.
December 24, 2013
I can't say that I've read many books from this author but I do believe I'm hooked. This story hooked me from the very beginning and I caught myself thinking.. "Who is this guy?" I bet for anyone that has read this ... It will definitely make you wonder on your next visit to the hospital. Crazy!
September 3, 2015
Crazy and funny
This was one of the craziest books I have read. The lead character is nuts and the twisted story line was great. I couldn't put it down.
This was one of the craziest books I have read. The lead character is nuts and the twisted story line was great. I couldn't put it down.
April 30, 2020
Another excellent piece of writing by John Locke
Locke’s ability to create memorable characters is the key to his successful books. Dr Gideon Box has such a high-profile stressful job, yet his performance can’t suffer, because he’s a world-renowned surgeon who operates on small children and babies. The only relief, the only thing that takes the pressure off, is to be rude to the parents, tell them their precious little girl is going to die, and once every now and again do something absolutely crazy, like break into someone’s house, pay lap-dancers for extra services and then rob them.
And that’s how the story begins. Except there is twist after twist until you’re never really sure who’s who. Willow, the lap-dancer, is a beauty with a dark past and many secrets. As the tale unravels, we learn more and more about Willow. John Locke writes very well about extremely intelligent young women who for one reason or another are down on their luck or facing plight of some sort
SPOILER ALERT!
When you read most books and there’s a murder, the murderer normally walks away coolly, or runs off so as not to get caught. But what would happen in reality? This is John Locke’s talent. He has an ability to read real life situations and predict the actual behaviour in those circumstances. Is it possible, for instance, that if two people kill someone, they might just look at each, both burst into tears and hug? Locke has a talent for writing very realistic situations
An easy read, like all Locke’s books, and one I thoroughly recommend
Locke’s ability to create memorable characters is the key to his successful books. Dr Gideon Box has such a high-profile stressful job, yet his performance can’t suffer, because he’s a world-renowned surgeon who operates on small children and babies. The only relief, the only thing that takes the pressure off, is to be rude to the parents, tell them their precious little girl is going to die, and once every now and again do something absolutely crazy, like break into someone’s house, pay lap-dancers for extra services and then rob them.
And that’s how the story begins. Except there is twist after twist until you’re never really sure who’s who. Willow, the lap-dancer, is a beauty with a dark past and many secrets. As the tale unravels, we learn more and more about Willow. John Locke writes very well about extremely intelligent young women who for one reason or another are down on their luck or facing plight of some sort
SPOILER ALERT!
When you read most books and there’s a murder, the murderer normally walks away coolly, or runs off so as not to get caught. But what would happen in reality? This is John Locke’s talent. He has an ability to read real life situations and predict the actual behaviour in those circumstances. Is it possible, for instance, that if two people kill someone, they might just look at each, both burst into tears and hug? Locke has a talent for writing very realistic situations
An easy read, like all Locke’s books, and one I thoroughly recommend
May 22, 2018
Love this book
Where do I start? This book was nothing like I expected but, I loved the story and the characters!
Dr Box is a bad, bad boy but you gotta love him! The strange wrong things he does is outweighed by all the good that he does. Deep down he is a misguided man who just needs to find someone to complete him! I also loved the character Willow/Amy, who would have guessed that she was so clever! I will not spoil the plot but she turns out to be one strong woman! Would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good thriller, with many twists and turns!
Where do I start? This book was nothing like I expected but, I loved the story and the characters!
Dr Box is a bad, bad boy but you gotta love him! The strange wrong things he does is outweighed by all the good that he does. Deep down he is a misguided man who just needs to find someone to complete him! I also loved the character Willow/Amy, who would have guessed that she was so clever! I will not spoil the plot but she turns out to be one strong woman! Would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good thriller, with many twists and turns!
November 16, 2017
Dies Buch ist nicht leicht zu bewerten. Einerseits hab ich es in einem Rutsch durchgelesen und hatte meinen Spaß, andererseits ist es streckenweise schon fast schmerzhaft politisch inkorrekt. Also irgendwie so, wie die alten Bond-Filme aus heutiger Sicht.
So oder so, die Geschichte hat einige interessante Wendungen, haufenweise Deus-ex-machina-Hilfen - was mich aber nicht gestört hat - und liest sich sehr flott. Eine kleine, lustige Geschichte ohne literarischen aber mit viel unterhaltsamen Werten.
So oder so, die Geschichte hat einige interessante Wendungen, haufenweise Deus-ex-machina-Hilfen - was mich aber nicht gestört hat - und liest sich sehr flott. Eine kleine, lustige Geschichte ohne literarischen aber mit viel unterhaltsamen Werten.
May 9, 2019
Twisted plot again
Always has a strange twist to his plots, always a surprise. Looking forward to more books by this author again.
Always has a strange twist to his plots, always a surprise. Looking forward to more books by this author again.
March 22, 2020
It is fun and has characters that link to Donovan Creed and Dani Ripper series. I love it.
June 22, 2022
2nd Time Reading A!l Of John Locke's Books
Just as entertaining the second time thru.
Gideon Box definitely has a few issues
Birch Bark Tea ?????
Primo work
Just as entertaining the second time thru.
Gideon Box definitely has a few issues
Birch Bark Tea ?????
Primo work
August 20, 2023
Unexpectedly weirdly amusing. An improbable yet possible comedy of errors. Puts me in mind of some of Carl Hiaasen's writings. Thoroughly enjoyable. This author is new to me, and I look forward to reading more.
April 27, 2012
Sometimes I let my interest in the next Donovan Creed book interfere with my pleasure than indie thriller writer John Locke has released something new that's not a Creed novel. In the case of BAD DOCTOR, the first in what appears intended as a series of Dr. Gideon Box novels, indulging in disappointment would be a mistake.
Of all of Locke's characters to date, Dr. Box is perhaps the most villainous; he's a doctor. More specifically, he's a doctor in the same rough mold as Fox TV's Dr. Gregory House, only unfiltered for television.
Dr. Box is a man bent on revenge against anyone and everyone who ever crosses him in even the slightest way. Even if it takes decades. As a medical doctor, he uses his position to exact that revenge in a way that could cause more sensitive readers to swear off medical care forever.
Eventually, over the course of this slim novel, Locke allows us to see past the gruff exterior to realize that, Dr. Box, while monstrous, is not the worst creature walking the planet; unfortunately, there are far worse monsters out there and at times, he is the cure to their existence.
Creating empathy is in short supply here, which offers Locke perhaps his biggest challenge to date. In order to compel his readers to go for this ride, he must find a way other than "Dr. Box isn't such a bad guy after all" or "Dr. Box is a victim himself" reasons to follow his adventures.
Most creative writing classes will instruct young writers that creating empathy for one's main character is a writer's greatest task, because "if you don't like the narrator, the reader won't stick around to find out what happens to him or her."
Like the producers of HOUSE, M.D., Locke rejects that advice as being universally true. With the Fox TV drama, they were able to rely on Hugh Laurie's significant charm and humor as an actor to make Dr. House "like-ably despicable."
In a prose novel, such charm is difficult to pull off; yet Locke's primary approach may be just as workable. His Dr. Gideon Box may be even less appealing than Dr. House, but Dr. Box, so far, is one thing every interesting main character must be: compelling.
If Locke can maintain that quality without softening Dr. Box into someone more likable, he may not need the charm of Hugh Laurie to pull readers along for the ride.
Of all of Locke's characters to date, Dr. Box is perhaps the most villainous; he's a doctor. More specifically, he's a doctor in the same rough mold as Fox TV's Dr. Gregory House, only unfiltered for television.
Dr. Box is a man bent on revenge against anyone and everyone who ever crosses him in even the slightest way. Even if it takes decades. As a medical doctor, he uses his position to exact that revenge in a way that could cause more sensitive readers to swear off medical care forever.
Eventually, over the course of this slim novel, Locke allows us to see past the gruff exterior to realize that, Dr. Box, while monstrous, is not the worst creature walking the planet; unfortunately, there are far worse monsters out there and at times, he is the cure to their existence.
Creating empathy is in short supply here, which offers Locke perhaps his biggest challenge to date. In order to compel his readers to go for this ride, he must find a way other than "Dr. Box isn't such a bad guy after all" or "Dr. Box is a victim himself" reasons to follow his adventures.
Most creative writing classes will instruct young writers that creating empathy for one's main character is a writer's greatest task, because "if you don't like the narrator, the reader won't stick around to find out what happens to him or her."
Like the producers of HOUSE, M.D., Locke rejects that advice as being universally true. With the Fox TV drama, they were able to rely on Hugh Laurie's significant charm and humor as an actor to make Dr. House "like-ably despicable."
In a prose novel, such charm is difficult to pull off; yet Locke's primary approach may be just as workable. His Dr. Gideon Box may be even less appealing than Dr. House, but Dr. Box, so far, is one thing every interesting main character must be: compelling.
If Locke can maintain that quality without softening Dr. Box into someone more likable, he may not need the charm of Hugh Laurie to pull readers along for the ride.
June 17, 2014
I was behind my Goodreads Challenge, this year I promised to myself that I wouldn't care about it since I am not competing to anyone to see who reads more in the less time possible, but seeing that I was behind one book still bothered me. So I decided to cheat :D by reading some of the few short stories I got a few days ago from Amazon, well not really cheating, I am still reading, a short story, but I still read. Anyway I chose Bad Doctor by John Locke thinking it was a short story, I started reading it and it sounded good, a little creepy but really good so I kept reading it and I noticed that the percentage of my kindle did not advanced as fast as I was expecting for a short story , so I got on my computer and saw and goodreads that it was a full length book. NICE! Why nice? because I was really enjoying it I did not want it to finish anytime soon.
OK, I need to address the cover. To be honest , it looks awful,( remember do not judge a book by the cover! I do it sometimes :P ) when I saw the cover of this book (plus the name :P) I thought it was an erotica , but it wasn't. I usually read paranormal YA, or Fantasy YA, so I am surprise of how much I liked this book. The characters were all great, very likable.
When Dr. Box gets all stressed out he does wild unthinkable things. so Having one of these stress moments he got into someone's house, stole his identity for one night and that is how hell got loose. He meets Willow, Cameron, Bobby, the twins Charlie and Carlos( these duo was hilarious!) getting himself into a big mess.
This book was also very funny, I am very happy that I chose to read it.
By the way, this will be weird for those that have met Dr.Box already, but I do have a book crush with this character, so I am going to keep reading his other books.
I totally recommend it and I will definitely read other stories from John Locke.
OK, I need to address the cover. To be honest , it looks awful,( remember do not judge a book by the cover! I do it sometimes :P ) when I saw the cover of this book (plus the name :P) I thought it was an erotica , but it wasn't. I usually read paranormal YA, or Fantasy YA, so I am surprise of how much I liked this book. The characters were all great, very likable.
When Dr. Box gets all stressed out he does wild unthinkable things. so Having one of these stress moments he got into someone's house, stole his identity for one night and that is how hell got loose. He meets Willow, Cameron, Bobby, the twins Charlie and Carlos( these duo was hilarious!) getting himself into a big mess.
This book was also very funny, I am very happy that I chose to read it.
By the way, this will be weird for those that have met Dr.Box already, but I do have a book crush with this character, so I am going to keep reading his other books.
I totally recommend it and I will definitely read other stories from John Locke.
October 12, 2016
Gideon Box is the world’s best congenital cardiothoracic surgeon. He’s also a weirdo and a psychopath. He curses his patients, his nurses, and anyone else around him when he’s performing surgery. If he has a grudge against you, don’t go to his hospital; he’s likely to let you die from a preventable infection. When he’s not in the OR, he’s likely to be in someone else’s home, pretending to be them, or in a strip joint paying for lap dances.
When he pulls the stolen identity/lap dance stunt with Willow and her fellow stripper, bad things begin to happen—even worse than usual. First, he robs the women of the money he’d paid them plus what they’d made from dancing, which leads them to return the next day and, assuming the woman in the house is his wife, kill her and steal what little money she has. Then, Willow’s doper boyfriend, Bobby, kidnaps him, snags the girls, and head to the countryside to get his revenge, whereupon in his drug-addled state, he shoots himself and Box, instead of saving him, kills him by packing nutmeg into his open wound (who would have thought nutmeg could kill you>).
It just gets crazier and more complicated from there, and if you want to know how this wacky story turns out, you’ll have to read Bad Doctor by John Locke. The first in the Doctor Gideon Box series, one has to wonder what worse can the good (bad) doctor get up to. The story can be a bit confusing as it switches from Gideon’s first person point of view to other characters’ third person, but if you’re the patient type, it all starts to make a little sense near the end. It’s a bit hard to root for a main character who is such a bad person, and impossible to like him, but like a house fire or an auto accident, you feel compelled to look.
When he pulls the stolen identity/lap dance stunt with Willow and her fellow stripper, bad things begin to happen—even worse than usual. First, he robs the women of the money he’d paid them plus what they’d made from dancing, which leads them to return the next day and, assuming the woman in the house is his wife, kill her and steal what little money she has. Then, Willow’s doper boyfriend, Bobby, kidnaps him, snags the girls, and head to the countryside to get his revenge, whereupon in his drug-addled state, he shoots himself and Box, instead of saving him, kills him by packing nutmeg into his open wound (who would have thought nutmeg could kill you>).
It just gets crazier and more complicated from there, and if you want to know how this wacky story turns out, you’ll have to read Bad Doctor by John Locke. The first in the Doctor Gideon Box series, one has to wonder what worse can the good (bad) doctor get up to. The story can be a bit confusing as it switches from Gideon’s first person point of view to other characters’ third person, but if you’re the patient type, it all starts to make a little sense near the end. It’s a bit hard to root for a main character who is such a bad person, and impossible to like him, but like a house fire or an auto accident, you feel compelled to look.
September 16, 2016
Locke at his best
I just figured out I have read 18 of his books. What can I say, just love John Locke's writing.
I just figured out I have read 18 of his books. What can I say, just love John Locke's writing.
April 4, 2017
Love this book and this author!
As soon as I finished this book (which was free on Amazon for Kindle) I immediately uploaded the other two Dr. Box books, flew through them, and then ordered everything the author has written in the Dani Ripper series and the Donovan Creed series. Am two books into the Dani Ripper series--love those books too--but Dr. Box will always be my favorite!
After working long days in my job and attempting to enlighten my mind by reading and re-reading all those wonderful books on the Classics lists, I admit that soaking in the tub with Dr. Box is like a lovely mental beach vacation.
The protagonist, Dr. Gideon Box, is one of the world's greatest surgeons...and one of the most unlikable characters ever written...and yet... he's also sort of likable and a little vulnerable and a LOT funny enough that I can't hate him. I even learned to love him quite a bit. Hard to imagine, I know, but the stream of consciousness writing style (a bit like Nelson DeMille's John Corey series) is so mercilessly funny and the situations, swearing, and sex so brutally not pretty that I'm eagerly but not very patiently waiting for another Dr. Box book to come out. Soon, please!
As soon as I finished this book (which was free on Amazon for Kindle) I immediately uploaded the other two Dr. Box books, flew through them, and then ordered everything the author has written in the Dani Ripper series and the Donovan Creed series. Am two books into the Dani Ripper series--love those books too--but Dr. Box will always be my favorite!
After working long days in my job and attempting to enlighten my mind by reading and re-reading all those wonderful books on the Classics lists, I admit that soaking in the tub with Dr. Box is like a lovely mental beach vacation.
The protagonist, Dr. Gideon Box, is one of the world's greatest surgeons...and one of the most unlikable characters ever written...and yet... he's also sort of likable and a little vulnerable and a LOT funny enough that I can't hate him. I even learned to love him quite a bit. Hard to imagine, I know, but the stream of consciousness writing style (a bit like Nelson DeMille's John Corey series) is so mercilessly funny and the situations, swearing, and sex so brutally not pretty that I'm eagerly but not very patiently waiting for another Dr. Box book to come out. Soon, please!
December 8, 2013
OMG bad doctor? Bad doctor? How about more like INSANE DOCTOR? The book is one that will make you question why your reading it? But like a train wreck you are just unable to pull yourself away. The book I do have to say leaves you with mixed emotions of I am never going to read anything by this author again especially if it includes This vulgar, heartless, insane, Dr! To searching the list of his writings for more. It is not a book for teens with its descriptive language and non filtered choice of dialog this Dr seems to prefer, over that of a mature world famous surgeon! If you like a ride on the wild side, oooo you are in for a ride! The characters that join the story, will have you scratching your head, to laughing it off! You will be saying OMG more than ever... Not for the weak of heart, but hey if ya gonna go, what a way to go!
August 15, 2012
There is just nothing like a John Locke book! This is a brand new character, with a few old friends thrown in to thrill the faithful fans, but it has that Locke spin that no one else can give a book. As with everything John writes, it is a quick, fun, easy, entertaining read that makes you gasp one minute and laugh out loud the next. You start out hating this bad doctor but find out he has some redeeming qualities and really want him to come out on top in the end. I read this book in one day, could not put it down and have now added Dr. Gideon Box to my list of favorite characters that I want more of.
August 19, 2012
John Locke creates the characters you never know if you are to hate them or love them. you never know how far he will go. then he goes beyond. in this book, he introduces Dr Box. Dr Box is not Donovan Creed, but can anyone top Creed? besides Callie. i am not sure how crazy the next book will be, but it's already on my Kindle. i started this book yesterday. its done. i already have the next book. pick up Bad Doctor. then strap yourself in. detach from your way of thinking. because John Locke will take you out of your normal way of thinking.
fyi. his characters show up in every series. if you like John's style of writing, get ready to read.
fyi. his characters show up in every series. if you like John's style of writing, get ready to read.
August 19, 2012
1st off i have to say i thought Gideon was hiarious. I kept reading because i had no idea what was going on but i couldnt stop reading it. It confused me but it had a lot of twist that ended up tied together. I loved that Gideon just rolls with the punches no matter what happens. I love when he puts ppl on his list you would think he was a bad person but he had certain qualities. He does a lot shit but i think he might not be that way if he actually had people in his life. It was something that struck me when Rose showed i didnt like her and i still dont understand her part in the book yet or what she actually is!!
May 14, 2013
John Locke, you are so crazy. How do you come up with all this stuff? Is this going to be a new series? I sure hope so because I like this character better than the other two.
This is about a brilliant heart surgeon who has absolutely no social skills. He's also a little crazy. His job bothers him so much, he feels compelled to do all kind of weird things, like breaking into people's houses and taking on their identity. Once again, John comes up with other weird characters to compliment the main character, in this case siamese twin hit men, and a lap dancer who is also a killer and blackmailer. Anyway it's whacky as all his others and I love it.
This is about a brilliant heart surgeon who has absolutely no social skills. He's also a little crazy. His job bothers him so much, he feels compelled to do all kind of weird things, like breaking into people's houses and taking on their identity. Once again, John comes up with other weird characters to compliment the main character, in this case siamese twin hit men, and a lap dancer who is also a killer and blackmailer. Anyway it's whacky as all his others and I love it.
November 13, 2013
Dr Box is hilarious. It's really all I can say. John Locke has one funny yet twisted imagination. I like the fact that Dr. Box knows he's a complete dirt bag yet brilliant and rationalizes why he is kind to people. He's fun. I would probably get along with him just fine if he were a real person. People that have traits like Dr. Box, you have to just let them be because they truly DO get it but refuse to change so you have to laugh at them instead of getting angry. It's a waste of time.
Keep up the good work John Locke. I like Dr. Box as much as I like Donovan Creed.
Keep up the good work John Locke. I like Dr. Box as much as I like Donovan Creed.
May 22, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, it was sick, twisted and pretty funny. I absolutely love how this author writes. He keeps you on your toes throughout the entire book and you never expect the endings. The book is about a doctor who basically has a hit list for all of the people who have crossed him in life. Now this list isn't just specific to the person, it extends to family as well. Dr. Box is a world renown pediatric surgeon, the best there is and you had better hope your not on his list. The irony and humor in the book is just excellent! Definitely worth the read.
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