Bipolar psychiatrist Natalie King is recovering from a combination of PTSD and depression. She decides to relocate to a sleepy coastal town on the Great Ocean Road and complete her PhD at the local university. Her supervisor, Dr Frank Moreton, approaches her with a problem – his first wife died while pregnant, and now his second wife is pregnant and behaving erratically. Natalie reluctantly but irrevocably finds herself drawn in by Frank and his complex and tragic past. Meanwhile, she tries to adjust herself to so-called normality and attempts to begin a relationship with a cop with whom she shares a bit of history.

Dangerous to Know is interested in exploring mental illness through a central character who both suffers from and treats mental illness, but Natalie King is not a particularly endearing character. Her behaviour calls into question her ethical and moral standing as a therapist. Then there’s another quandary regarding the horrific subject matter; instead of being explored with real sensitivity and insight, it feels like a sensationalistic and slightly trashy plot device. While readable, Dangerous to Know never really satisfies on any level.

Reviewed by Tessa Chudy