The Family Doctor by Debra Oswald is a domestic noir novel centred around Paula, a GP in suburban Sydney. She has been friends with Anita and Stacey since high school, but Paula's life is turned upside down when one of these women is the victim of domestic violence early on in the book. This is all in the blurb (so not a spoiler) and The Family Doctor focusses on what happens to Paula in the aftermath of that tragedy.
Domestic violence is a serious problem in Australia, with one woman losing her life to domestic violence each week in our country.
Through Anita's role as a crime reporter and Paula's as a Doctor, Debra Oswald is able to shed light on this issue in a sensitive and caring way, whilst also forcing us to consider what we might do in their individual circumstances.
We've all visited a GP at some point (some of us more frequently than others) and I'm sure many of us have wondered about our Doctor's other patients and what our GP must have to deal with in a day. Here, Oswald gives us a peek behind the privacy curtain and Paula's unique character perspective was refreshing.
The Australian setting was instantly relatable to me and the plot development felt realistic and insightful. The Family Doctor reads like a thriller, but also contains lighter moments, focussing on the depths of love and friendship as well as grief.
Through Anita's role as a crime reporter and Paula's as a Doctor, Debra Oswald is able to shed light on this issue in a sensitive and caring way, whilst also forcing us to consider what we might do in their individual circumstances.
We've all visited a GP at some point (some of us more frequently than others) and I'm sure many of us have wondered about our Doctor's other patients and what our GP must have to deal with in a day. Here, Oswald gives us a peek behind the privacy curtain and Paula's unique character perspective was refreshing.
The Australian setting was instantly relatable to me and the plot development felt realistic and insightful. The Family Doctor reads like a thriller, but also contains lighter moments, focussing on the depths of love and friendship as well as grief.
The Family Doctor by Australian author Debra Oswald is recommended for crime and thriller readers and those who enjoy domestic noir. If domestic violence is a trigger for you then choose wisely, as The Family Doctor shines a light on this issue without apology.
