Dr Dan's Casebook

by Laurie Graham

Meet Dr Dan. He's young, he's eager and he's been offered a ritzy job in Harley Street. So why is he joining a GP practice in a gritty Black Country community? A gentle comedy from best-selling author Laurie Graham.

332 pages, Paperback

Published August 23, 2019

About the author

Laurie Graham was first published at the advanced age of 40. Gentle comedy is her style. She is the author of seventeen novels, including the best-selling The Future Homemakers of America and its sequel, The Early Birds

Mother of four, grandmother of many, Laurie is married to a New Yorker and lives in County Dublin, Ireland.

You can visit her website, read what she's up to and say hello at http://lauriegraham.com

Reviews

[Shirley Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book to which I have allocated 5 stars. This is such fun, so relatable and very British. Much of the content resonates as I've lived close to the areas in the West Midlands that are mentioned. Dan is a delightful narrator, especially being so honest about how much he craves validation and appreciation. I spent most of the time wanting him to be well shot of the ghastly fiancee and hoping his new mentor would survive his lung problems. I became that invested in this fictional character from page 1. It is beautifully written and I have read Laurie Graham's Homemakers Of America to which I gave three stars. This has much more pace, is laugh out loud funny and I wanted more once it was over. No wonder our poor NHS is struggling when GPs have to deal with some of the cases presented here - but I have been in the local surgery waiting room and seen similar time-wasters and reflected on the notice of those who failed to turn up for appointments. Amid that there will be the sad and the hopeless and there will be GPs who offer the old style bedside manner while others push for modernising. It is all here, woven in this cracker of a novel.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is different from Ms Graham’s other books but every bit as engaging! It is the story of a modern day man and his life training as a doctor.

I’ve always wondered why Laurie Graham isn’t more widely known — and celebrated! I’ve read everything I can find of hers (even her non-fiction). She is a truly gifted story teller with excellent pacing and a keen eye that reveals her characters in a wonderfully natural fashion. Her writing style and quality are both top notch. I think of her work as literature that is more accessible than many “classic” works.

On the title page of this book there is a note:
“Dedicated to my readers, who kept the faith even when my publishers didn’t.”
So - Thank you, Laurie Graham, for keeping the faith with and for us! I remain a fervent and vocal fan! I read a lot (150+ books per year) and anytime someone asks me for a reading recommendation, your titles are on the list.

[Salli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable light read which I'd have been cross to buy at more that £5.00. I'm not sure this really adds anything to our understanding of GPs or human nature. It just displays it again and I felt I was reading several episodes of GPs on Camera or whatever the programme is called, mixed with a bit of "Doctors". Not new, not overly clever hence only 3 stars. Competentently written, reasonably plotted and with a few laughs.

[Jess Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny. I laughed out loud at a lot of points. Would be interested to read more of her books

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice light read that covered what could either be a dull or serious subject in a way that was both amusing and respectful. I recognised the situation of being the 'new kid on the block' and loved the idea of the acronyms on the folders. This is how I imagine GPs could be - I expect most of them have tales they could tell if it wasn't for their hippocratic oath...
This was a quick read which I enjoyed.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word this is brilliant. It's a warm hearted story, with a touch of witty hilarious situation's. Dr Dan has got what it takes, starting out as a young doctor, training at The Lindens, i found myself laughing at some of the antics, this book has it all such sweet funny witty moments as you keep reading, with a sense of humour. loved all the characters and you will find yourself falling in love with this doctor, so worthy of 5*

[Robin Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good fun. I'd like to see a sequel. Book said "Dr Dan will be back in early 2020", so I may look for it.

I don't know why Goodreads says "Independently Published" - book clearly says "First published in 2019 by Laurie Graham". Does an individual have to be anonymised?
Correct word order in the "either ... or" part of the disclaimer, where many self-styled top-line publishers get it wrong, so top marks to this self-publisher.

It's only 326 pages if you follow Goodreads counting rules.

Humorous use of language, e.g.:
'COPD'? 'Correct. Two-packs a day emphysema...'
'She's decided she's never going to feel any better and she wants to make sure I don't stop her pills. ... we've tried it all. The bottom line is she's happiest taking the pills and telling everybody they don't really help.'
... who did this Arab jerk think he was, swaddling my girlfriend in a scarf worth more than my entire wardrobe?
'Why would you stay there a moment longer than you need to? The place is run like a goat gymkhana.'

Not enough commas. Other points to raise proofreader eyebrows:
p 10 insert "of" in "the middle a drug war"
p 15 "rounder's bat" should be "rounders bat" - a bat used for playing Rounders
p 23 insert "a" in "said I was good-looking young guy"
p 49 "dependents" should be "dependants"
p 53 delete the first "about"
p 99 "70 year old" used adjectivally needs hyphens and "mgs" should be "mg"
p 128 "What's" needs an opening quote mark; and the smaller space at the start of the last line suggests that the writer may have been indenting in a way the word-processing program didn't recommend.
p 167 verb "practice" should be"practise" in British English
p 187 insert "go" in "have to back"
p 212 insert "a" in "had patient"
p 296 "maybe" should be "may be"
p 301 "family's" should be "families"
p 303 insert "a" in "was child"
(Is it possible that some of those word omissions are excusable because they are West Midlands dialect colloquialisms?)

[David Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-published works are always a bit of a risk (there's usually a good reason why publishing companies have passed them up) but in this case the risk was well-rewarded. Laurie Graham paints a compelling picture of a busy GP practice in the midlands of England and it's a page-turner peopled with interesting characters and great plot twists. Indeed it may be some of the characters that caused Graham to be rebuffed by publishers - unflattering depictions of drug-addled housing estate dwellers and a domineering Muslim husband may reflect the reality of the location where Dr Dan's Casebook is set but perhaps the publishers wanted them removed or softened? Who knows, I'm only speculating.
But whatever the reasons for Graham not being able to get this book produced by a commercial publisher, I'm sure glad she self-published it because it was a great, entertaining read. Anyone who likes medical dramas will love Dr Dan's Casebook.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this in a couple of days before Christmas and the second one over Christmas. Absolute bliss - as a med secretary/dispenser in a GP surgery this was so on the button! I recognised our doctors in this I think LG must have been a fly on the wall! So easy to read, so humourously observed, and never a dull moment - I would read Laurie's shopping list if she published it.