I simply cannot believe that Delicate Condition is the author Danielle Valentine’s debut novel. Danielle has weaved a fantastic thriller that my eyes were constantly wide open, with fear for Anna Alcott. This debut novel I’m shouting loudly about, it’s a must read, must buy. Thriller Delicate Condition is a must to be turned into a film. With actress Anna dating Dex, they got married 8 months later. All Anna wants is for them to have a baby to complete their family. For Anna to have a baby she has go through IVF. But something weird is happening to Anna, every important appointment on her mobile phone for her visits to the hospital, are being changed. Then somehow someone breaks into their house and takes the ultrasound photograph of her baby. Too make things really upsetting for Anna she feels someone is following her. When Anna has to visit the hospital, she has a miscarriage after seeing an ultrasound technician. I was really concerned for Anna, with everything going wrong in her life. Someone changing her appointment, following her, a miscarriage, and then someone messed with her charts at the hospital. Then after losing her baby, Anna could feel a baby kicking inside her, but once again her husband didn’t believe her. I didn’t know who was messing with Anna, with a few friends and her husband not believing anything that Anna told him. Throughout the story there were so many suspects. And there was someone that seemed to not want Anna to have a baby. I suspected Dex her husband was working with one Anna’s friends that had something to do with everything that Anna, was going through. But was I right? I never read a such a a clever story with twists at the end, that I didn’t see coming and I don’t think any readers will be able to either. Delicate Condition explores visceral themes of loss, medical misogyny and female power. If you have read Behind Her Eyes, you’ll love this spellbinding dark thriller by Danielle Valentine.

Anna is desperate for a baby and is currently going through IVF treatment to hopefully become a mum one day. She's also just been catapulted into the public eye due to the success of a film she acted in, juggling her parenthood journey with work commitments. What Anna doesn't realise is how weird a pregnancy can actually get! I definitely got creepy vibes from Delicate Condition, I'd put it firmly in horror. In the beginning I thought is was a little Rosemary's Baby crossed with American Horror Stories (there are 2 episodes that this story nodded it's hat to). But as we went into the story further I realised the true horror was with the treatment of Anna and how she is dismissed and gaslit at every turn. I got so angry at her treatment and it made me feel heard as I had a horrible pregnancy / birth experience. There were a few red herrings within the action that sent me off in some bizarre directions and when the climax came it wasn't disappointing.

‘I wanted this baby so badly. But she may be the death of me...’ My thanks to Serpent’s Tail/Viper for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Delicate Condition’ by Danielle Valentine. This was a disturbing psychological horror that included visceral descriptions of an unusual pregnancy. Actor Anna Alcott is desperate to have a family with her husband Dex. She is approaching forty and has been undergoing a gruelling IVF regime for some time. However, she starts to suspect that someone is going to great lengths to make sure that never happens. It’s only little things such as appointments being moved and crucial medication spoilt but it is concerning. Then she finally becomes pregnant and it’s not long until her real nightmare begins …I shall leave the summary there as I feel that thrillers such as this are best read ‘cold’. While I wouldn’t class this novel as a retelling, for those familiar with Ira Levin’s classic there are clearly a few echoes of ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ in the narrative; including the chalky aftertaste to the smoothies that Anna’s husband insists she drinks and the strange women that appear to be shadowing her. Add to this the sense of growing paranoia as to who Anna can trust. All very effective to build the suspense. I will admit that I found some of the descriptions of Anna’s pregnancy harder to read than more conventional horror. In her Author’s Note Danielle Valentine writes about her realisation as how difficult even the most average pregnancy can be. Overall, I found ‘Delicate Condition’ more disturbing than most conventional horror novels. In that respect ‘enjoyed’ wasn’t quite the right word to describe my response. I found it very effective in terms of psychological horror and also appreciated how well Danielle Valentine handled the pacing, characterisations, and the eventual reveal. It proved a satisfying and engaging read. On a side note I was excited to learn that ‘Delicate Condition’ will serve as the basis for Season 12 of ‘American Horror Story’.

I think this must be the strangesrt story I have ever read. A scientist cum Doctor falls in love with a female patient who has Tuberculosis and evetually dies. What follows is beyond the realms of imagination. Very appropriate conclusion to an amazing story.

When Anna finally has success with IVF, things soon start to go wrong. Someone is changing her appointments and she feels as if she has a stalker. After her doctor tells her that she has lost the baby, Anna can still feel movement and is convinced that she has been lied to. As her symptoms worsen, she becomes terrified of the baby she is carrying. A complete rollercoaster of a story that will thoroughly terrify you. This book literally gave me nightmares. The writing painted such a vivid picture in my mind and I could imagine every frightening moment that Anna went through. I really felt for Anna, especially when she felt like no one believed her, and found her story to be so emotional and heart-breaking. Danielle Valentine created so much tension from the very start of the book. The cleverly crafted plot had me racing to the end to find out what was going to happen. Delicate Condition is an incredibly dark thriller that you won't be able to put down. Thank you NetGalley and Viper for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.