“Dramatic and compelling, this is also a cautionary tale.”

Historical Novel Society

“Based on extraordinary real-life events, The Lobotomist’s Wife is a riveting and impressive debut that had me in its grasp from the very first page… I simply could not put it down”

- Paulette Kennedy, best selling author of Parting The Veil

“The Lobotomist's Wife shines a light onto an underreported but fascinating aspect of medical history. Both tense and informative, this is a timely story not only of hubris and ambition, but also of empathy and the search for truth.”

- Elise Hooper, bestselling author of Fast Girls

“In her stunning debut, Samantha Woodruff explores the fascinating world of mid-century mental health treatments with a deft attention to rich historical detail and memorable characters who carry the story with heart and heft. With an artfully structured second story-line and a propulsive ending, Woodruff has skillfully crafted a novel with an underlying theme so relevant to the struggles of modern day. I absolutely loved this novel and can’t wait to see what she does next!”

- Susie Orman Schnall, bestselling author of We Came Here To Shine

“Woodruff easily pulls the reader into this story of a gifted man with the best of intentions slowly spinning out of control, and the woman who loves him gradually realizing that he must be stopped. Carefully researched and detailed, The Lobotomist’s Wife emerges as a strong cautionary tale about the madness of power gone unchecked. A skillful debut!”

- Shane Abe, New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Astor

“A dazzling, page-turning debut, The Lobotomist's Wife is the shocking tale of a pioneering lobotomist and his devoted ambitious wife. Not only did I stay up reading past midnight to find out what happened in this fascinating portrait of a marriage and mental hospital, the pitch-perfect ending thrilled me to the core.”

- Brooke Lea Foster, bestselling author of On Gin Lane