The Doctor's Wife (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Sometime after midnight Michael Knowles wakes to the sound of his beeper and picks up the phone..." (more)
Key Phrases: Reverend Tim, Simon Haas, Annie Knowles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A suspense novel crossed with a literary exploration of infidelity and marital rancor, Elizabeth Brundage's ambitious debut, The Doctor's Wife, provides more than the usual kick of adrenalin for readers. In a small town in upstate New York, urban transplants Annie and Michael Knowles--he is a rising OB/GYN, and she is a once-trailblazing journalist who has settled into a teaching job--hope to escape the noise and bustle of the city. But both are drawn into danger: Annie begins an affair with an infamous (and married) painter, Simon Haas, and Michael is coaxed into helping an ex-lover at her family planning clinic. He performs abortions for poor women, and tries to ignore the cars that follow him home and the increasingly threatening phone calls. ometimes Brundage perfectly navigates the twisting, overlapping elements of her complicated story line, but other times gives us too much at a time. And one of her characters, Simon's disturbed wife Lydia Haas, is so fascinating that she puts the others in the shade. Nevertheless, this is a rich first novel and a promising beginning for its author. --Regina Marler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Set against the backdrop of the battle for abortion rights, this timely but stilted debut thriller features a perfect yuppie couple. Michael Knowles is a successful OB-GYN and his wife, Annie, is a popular journalism professor; they have two precious kids and a big, airy home in upstate New York. But once Michael accepts a position at the only abortion clinic in town, the already heavy strain that his doctor's schedule puts on their marriage sends Annie into the arms of a colleague, notorious painter Simon Haas. Meanwhile, Michael receives increasingly hostile threats from creepy antiabortion activists, suggesting that one, or both, of the Knowles are targets of a vicious terror campaign. The painter's childlike young wife, Lydia, as a menacing, tormented Bible-thumper scarred by a harsh, loveless upbringing, is the enigma that fuels Brundage's examination of what happens when we are drawn to the very things that promise to destroy us. But the lessons here are heavy-handed and the characterizations mechanical. The bad guys wear mirrored sunglasses as they force Michael off the road; the good guys wear jackets emblazoned with angel's wings; and the dialogue is delivered in short sound bites scripted for a TV cliffhanger. The Knowles' storybook marriage takes a number of dark, twisted turns, but the lack of character nuance and depth blunt Brundage's stab at psychological suspense.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Plume (November 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452286913
• ISBN-13: 978-0452286917
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,047 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling story!, July 9, 2004

By	Judith C. Oswood (Marshalltown, IA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Doctor's Wife (Hardcover)

This is a story about marital infidelity and mental psychosis. That sounds pretty heavy for a good book, but it works. The book centers around two married couples: Simon and Lydia Haas and Michael and Annie Knowles. Their lives intertwine in a shocking and fascinating way. The climax of the book was satisfying and exciting. I kind of stumbled upon this book at the library one day and thought I'd try it. I'm glad I did.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Keep your eyes on this author, August 24, 2004

By	Annie "bookwishes4" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Doctor's Wife (Hardcover)

I think that Elizabeth Brundage made a wonderful first attempt at literary fiction with The Doctors Wife. Very rarely can you find an author who can write about such unsavory subject matter as rape, kidnapping, attempted murder, adultery, child abuse, abortions, and mental illness and yet still have the ability to keep you wanting to turn the page to find out how the story is going to end. Kudos!!

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great!, September 2, 2004

By	T. C Gerlach "pootiboo" (Altoona, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Doctor's Wife (Hardcover)

This book was a very good read. As the other reviewers mentioned earlier this book dealt with so many 'bad' subjects. The author handled them all so well. I loved the character Annie. I seen myself in her, the good and the bad. Mrs. Haas was perfectly demented. The character went deeper and deeper in a slow manner at first--and then the build up to the ending. Very good novel. I would've liked to have seen more time spent on Simon Haas though. I will definately be looking for this author's next novel.