Ayoh - Shop now
Out of Print--Limited Availability.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Olga Núñez Miret
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Escaping Psychiatry Paperback – January 31, 2014

by Olga Nunez Miret (Author), Ernesto Valdes (Illustrator)
4.0 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
'Escaping Psychiatry' has it all: intriguing characters, noir style, thrilling pursuits, dangerous situations, crime, serial killers, religion, family secrets, murder, psychological insights, mental illness, trauma, debates about prejudice and morality, heated trials, police investigations, corruption, and mystery. If you enjoy 'Wire in the Blood', 'Cracker' and 'Lie to Me' and you are not scared of going deeper and darker, dare to read on. 'Escaping Psychiatry' is a collection of three stories with the same protagonist, Mary, a psychiatrist and writer. She is trying to develop her literary career but circumstances and friends conspire to keep dragging her back to psychiatry. In 'Cannon Fodder', Phil, a lawyer who and Mary's friend asks her to provide a report on one of his clients, a young African-American man called Cain White. Cain is a very religious man and has been accused of inciting a riot at a religious meeting. He says he can hear God's voice. He insists that God is black and his appears to be a Black Nationalist message. Is Cain insane, deluded, misguided, looking for media-attention, or a Saint? To find an answer to these questions Mary talks to his family and friends. Although she concludes he is sane,Mary's investigation uncovers some very damaging revelations about his family life, beliefs and local attitudes. Who is a saint and who is a sinner is a matter for debate. The more Mary gets involved in the lives of Cain and those close to him the more she realises how dangerous secrets are. Like time-bombs ready to set off any minute. 'Teamwork': Captain Tom McLeod, from the San Francisco Police Department, invites Mary for a meal at home with his wife. When she meets their other guest, a young detective called Justin, she quickly realises there is an agenda well beyond a friendly meal. Justin's partner, mentor and father figure, Sgt David Leaman, was killed a couple of months earlier during a routine investigation. Justin witnessed the event but he insists in going back to work and refusing any therapy or counselling. Tom and others at the department are concerned about his mental state but have failed to convince him to accept professional help. Both Mary and Justin are reluctant to engage in the ambush/informal consultation organised, but eventually decide to give it a try. At first sight it appears to be a straight forward case of unresolved grief, but things aren't as clear-cut as they appear and Mary ends up getting too personally involved with the case, to the detriment of her professional objectivity. In 'Memory', Mary runs out of her apartment after a difficult encounter with her friend Phil, and goes missing. When she is found it seems that she was hit in the head, abducted, raped and she is suffering from amnesia. She never recovers memory for the assault and finds it difficult to come to terms with something she cannot recall. The clues point towards a serial killer who could not finish his job in her case. But some things do not fit in. Who disturbed the killer? Why was she left there? The crime and the investigation surrounding it have a profound impact on Mary who decides that she needs to reconsider her life and start anew. The epilogue revisits Mary at the point of the trial of her abductor and sees what changes have taken place in her life. Will she finally manage to Escape Psychiatry? Although these stories are fictional, the author, a forensic psychiatrist, brings her expertise and insight to the material, lifting it above a standard crime caper.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Escaping Psychiatry
  2. Print length
    202 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Olga Nunez Miret
  5. Publication date
    January 31, 2014
  6. Dimensions
    5.51 x 0.46 x 8.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1910214000
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1910214008
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Olga Nunez Miret
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1910214000
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1910214008
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 0.46 x 8.5 inches
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Escaping Psychiatry
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Olga Núñez Miret

Olga Núñez Miret

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

My name is Olga Núñez Miret and I’m a writer. I have also done translations of my and other authors' work, teach English, volunteer at a local radio station, and I have worked as a psychiatrist.. What else? I was born in Barcelona, Spain, and after living in the UK for over 25 years I decided to go back there searching for inspiration. Over the years I’ve done many things and had other lives but, however far I wander, I keep coming back to books and stories, my two earliest loves. When reading was no longer enough, I started writing. My first book was published in 2012 and my publications span different genres, from literary fiction to romance, Young Adult, psychological thrillers, and non-fiction. I plan on writing more novels in the same genres and if my imagination so dictates, I will explore others. I love to connect with readers, so don’t hesitate to get in touch..

You can also find me in the usual places and I always include links in the books. Don’t forget to check my website/blog. I share reviews of my favourite authors and you will always find some surprises

https://olganm.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading!

*********************************************************************************************************************************************

Me llamo Olga Núñez Miret y soy escritora. También traduzco mis obras y las de otros autores, doy clases de inglés, soy voluntaria en una radio local, y he trabajado de psiquiatra. ¿Qué más? Nací en Barcelona, España, y después de vivir más de 25 años en el Reino Unido, decidí volver a casa buscando inspiración para nuevas historias. A lo largo de mi vida he hecho y estudiado muchas cosas y he tenido otras vidas pero no importa cuánto me aleje de esto, siempre acabo volviendo a los libros y las historias, mis dos amores primeros. Cuando leer ya no me bastó, empecé a escribir. Publiqué mi primer libro en 2012 y mi obra cubre muchos géneros, desde la ficción literaria al romance, la novela juvenil, los thrillers psicológicos y la no-ficción. Planeo escribir más novelas en los mismos géneros y, si mi imaginación así lo decide, exploraré otros. Me encanta conectar con los lectores, así que no dudéis en poneros en contacto conmigo.

También me podéis encontrar en los lugares habituales y siempre incluyo enlaces al final de mis libros. No os olvidéis de echarle un vistazo a mi página web/ blog. Comparto reseñas de mis autores favoritos y siempre encontraréis alguna sorpresa.

https://olganm.wordpress.com

¡Y gracias por leer!

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
16 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's pacing engaging, with one review noting how it chronicles three psychiatric cases. Moreover, the character development receives positive feedback, with customers describing them as genuinely interesting. Additionally, the story quality is praised, with one customer highlighting its compelling weave of three separate narratives.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

PacingCharacter developmentStory quality
5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging, with one customer describing it as a compelling read that chronicles three psychiatric cases, while another notes how the characters come alive in the narrative.

"...in all, I found these stories to be a satisfying, engaging, and compelling read...." Read more

"This work of fiction chronicles three psychiatric cases – two where Mary Miller consults for the police department, and one where she’s the victim...." Read more

"...The people in her stories come alive. Their decisions make sense (make sense for them, not always decisions I’d agree with!)...." Read more

"...is an artist/writer of the highest caliber, and Escaping Psychiatry is splendidly consistent with this level of artistry...." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters genuinely interesting.

"...The characters grow on you to the point where you feel you’re an interloper accompanying them to their hangouts: typically hotel rooms and..." Read more

"...The pace is moderate and there are some excellent secondary characters...." Read more

"...I’ve never read this author before, and I was blown away by her understanding of character. The people in her stories come alive...." Read more

"...Through the genuinely interesting characters in her book, Olga weaves a so quite spellbinding study into the dynamics of life...." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the story quality of the book, with one mentioning its compelling weave of three separate narratives.

"...Escaping Psychiatry offers a compelling weave of three separate stories documenting her efforts to do so in the company of longtime confidante Phil,..." Read more

"Escaping Psychiatry is a mosaic novel featuring Mary. Three stories are standalones, but they are connected, too...." Read more

"Interesting stories that engaged me from beginning to end...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • B. Robert Conklin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Noir Suspense with a Touch of Romance
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The title of this story collection might lead you to think of a patient on the run from psychological treatment. However, this isn’t the escape that author Olga Núñez Miret has in mind. Her protagonist, Mary, is a practicing psychiatrist seeking to escape the demands of her profession to become a fulltime writer. Escaping Psychiatry offers a compelling weave of three separate stories documenting her efforts to do so in the company of longtime confidante Phil, a criminal lawyer, and sometime associate Tom, a police captain. The characters grow on you to the point where you feel you’re an interloper accompanying them to their hangouts: typically hotel rooms and restaurants to discuss developments of each case over mixed drinks. Each story begins with a seemingly simple premise requiring Mary’s investigative skills. “Cannon Fodder” starts with Mary being called in to determine the sanity of a young Black man whose claim to have a direct line to God, who is also Black, sparks a church riot. “Teamwork” involves Mary being brought in by Tom to console a young police officer whose older mentor figure was shot and killed in the line of duty. “Memory” sees Mary walking out on her friend Phil, who, in the grips of a manic episode, comes onto her too strongly, and subsequently disappearing without a trace—until resurfacing with temporary amnesia.

    As each story progresses, the plotlines become more tangled, as complications arise that keep the reader on high alert for culprits and motives. The author does a brilliant job of managing these complications, teasing out hints that keep the reader guessing until the end. Underlying Mary’s investigations is the recurring theme of interrelationships, especially those involving sexual attraction between men and women. As a 30-something, attractive professional, Mary’s romantic status is interrogated by her friends, acquaintances, and even her therapeutic patients, not to mention by Mary herself. The ending of the third story opens tantalizing possibilities to be explored in subsequent volumes.

    Largely dialogue-driven, the pace of reading is brisk, the descriptions minimal, allowing the reader to develop an aural soundscape. Even with the e-book version, I could “hear” each individual voice in rapid-fire sequence, giving the impression of listening to a radio play—one of those old-time 30s and 40s crime dramas like “The Shadow.” All in all, I found these stories to be a satisfying, engaging, and compelling read. The character of Mary mentions Hitchcock as an influence on her writing, which is why I would be tempted to label the stories about her as noir suspense with a touch of romance.
    Helpful
     Report
  • D. W. Peach
    4.0 out of 5 stars A foray into three psychiatric cases involving collaboration with police
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This work of fiction chronicles three psychiatric cases – two where Mary Miller consults for the police department, and one where she’s the victim. The cases are separate though there are recurring characters in each. Mary wants to “escape psychiatry” as a career, but circumstances continue to make that challenging for her.

    In the first two cases, the author takes us through the referral and interview processes, coordination with the police, her volatile relationships with her clients, and ultimately how the police resolve each case, including their wrap-up through the courts. In the case where Mary is the victim of a crime, her friend Phil carries the POV and his feelings and concerns take the forefront.

    The psychiatry is interesting, and Mary is far from flawless in her approach. Confidentiality violations run rampant, primarily with Phil, and Mary crosses some taboo boundaries with her clients. That said, her ethical transgressions add complexity to the cases, and the conversations with various characters about her clients help the reader know what’s going on.

    There are some twists and turns, but the primary focus seemed to be on Mary’s psychiatric and personal handling of her cases. There’s a touch of romance with a couple of love triangles. The pace is moderate and there are some excellent secondary characters. Recommended to readers who enjoy psychological dramas and psychiatric collaborations with the police to solve crimes.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Priscilla Bettis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Character Insight
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Escaping Psychiatry is a mosaic novel featuring Mary. Three stories are standalones, but they are connected, too.

    I’ve never read this author before, and I was blown away by her understanding of character. The people in her stories come alive. Their decisions make sense (make sense for them, not always decisions I’d agree with!). I think it’s because Miret, like Mary, is a psychiatrist herself.

    Her stories deal with real-people issues. Is someone insane if he hears the voice of God? Is it our place to discount someone else’s spiritual experience? What do police officers deal with on the job, and can they separate their family lives from work? And how do crimes affect people after the fact? I loved Mary's probing investigation of other characters.

    I enjoyed all three stories. Memory (the last one) was written the most skillfully with lots of suspense. Cannon Fodder (the first one) was my favorite story plot-wise, but it wasn’t written as well as the other two. So not quite five stars for my rating, but a solid four-star book!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dr. Glen Hepker
    5.0 out of 5 stars A genuinley impeccable work...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    It is truly an honor to write this review for this impeccable work by Olga Nunez Miret.

    I believe it is important to know that this is in no way an exaggeration - she truly is an artist/writer of the highest caliber, and Escaping Psychiatry is splendidly consistent with this level of artistry.

    Please know I do not say this lightly - with this book, Olga has offered us a work which is impeccably written, quintessentially resplendent, and with a powerful, deeply moving message...so much so that I (humbly and respectfully) believe it is important to say that she has truly made the world a better place through her splendid effort. Through the genuinely interesting characters in her book, Olga weaves a so quite spellbinding study into the dynamics of life. Once one begins reading, it really truly IS difficult to put down. – Dr. Glen Hepker (author of “A Glimpse of Heaven: The Philosophy of True Health)
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
    Reviewed in France on August 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Love the book + it came in excellent condition
    Report
  • karen gaskell
    5.0 out of 5 stars There is no escape from psychiatry
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed the reflection on life and the cool distance of the author: no one escaped the psychiatric history taking.
    Report
  • Jim Buck
    2.0 out of 5 stars Delicate stories, yet not ephemeral
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I give this 2 very shiny stars. If the stories were longer the writing would certainly justify an extra star. As it is, they are hopefully a taster of later writings---including things already written.

    I understand that Olga Nunez Miret is in the process of becoming a full-time writer. If that is true then we readers have made a gain; and forensic psychiatry appears to be about to suffer a loss---given the warmth and humanity Miret displays in her writing.

    The stories here are as delicate as snowflakes but are by no means ephemeral. Before they melt away, to the residue of memory, there is a clarity of pattern in play which one hopes will expand into as yet unwritten novels.

    The narrator avoids the gorgon gaze of psychiatry---and refuses to feed any appetite for the gruesome and grotesque. Mary, the protagonist of these tales, is herself a psychiatrist---yet reflexively shares the quirkiness and vulnerability of her clientele; and of her colleagues.

    It may be true that you can take the girl out of psychiatry but not psychiatry out of the girl. If that has any relevance in Dr Miret's case, then the fascination may be in the way she accommodates her own past--even as she escapes psychiatry.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic novel that fails to engage
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I read only two-thirds of this novel and gave up. The story is told with little to intrigue the reader. The characters are flat and unconvincing.
    Report