The Lobotomist's Wife

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5 Stars= It was an excellent and near perfect read. I would read it again.

TRIGGER WARNING: LOBOTOMIES, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUICIDE (off page), MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUATIONS IN THE 1930s,1940s, and 1950s

POV: Multiple, Third PersonSeries/Standalone: StandalonePart of an series: NoSafe or Dark: Overall safe but with sensitive subject matter

Ruth being the extraordinary woman she is, dedicated her life, much to her parents chagrin, to the care for patients with varying degrees of mental health issues. Her dedication stemming from the mental health challenges her deceased brother faced after the war....

While running her family's private hospital, she hires Dr. Robert Apter, she finds herself drawn to his charisma and his passionate needs to cure mental health issues that mirror her own.
Ruth finds herself falling in love with Dr. Apter and the set about marrying and revolutionizing care for those with no other treatment options. Things go well for years as Robert builds a reputation for his lobotomy procedures, being called all over the country to perform them.
A chance meeting of a long term patient has Ruth questioning the effectiveness of lobotomies on Robert's patients and it sets her on a path she never wanted to be on. Can she find the truth about what he has been up to before it is too late?

I found this book gripping! The whole premise of a woman high up in the medical establishment and putting her family money to good use, only to find herself not so infallible to a mans charms that she is blinded by her love.
I loved the dynamic of a work home life for the married couple. Ruth with her tender heart and compassion, made me feel like I was reading about a dear friend. You can see why she fell in love with Robert and why things were missed that she would have caught had she not been romantically invested in him.

The book brings to light the harsh realities of what passed for medical treatment in the early 1930's for people suffering with a mental health disorder. Lobotomies were, at the time, considered pioneering in the medical field until the data just didn't add up and it was ultimately stopped. Doctors like Apter are actually very common when the ego and reputation does more harm that good.

The author did a smashing job of bringing all the characters to life. The book was well rounded, fascinating to read and I felt engaged the whole way through! Nothing was left unanswered and I felt the story really was breathtaking in its execution. Flawless research, very well done.

If you are looking for a book with solid bones that you can't put down, then this is the one for you.

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.