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byronic_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Isn't it ironical that a thriller is not thrilling to read? The Patient by Steena Holmes is a psychological thriller but it is not thrilling to read. The protagonist is obsessed with Alice in the Wonderland and lives in a place that reminds her of those characters. She even reads that book to her patients as a part of therapy. It is kind of irritating to read after a few minutes. Where is the plot? And where is the plot twist? The plot twist is not a twist if the reader figures out at the start. But even then I kept reading page after page. I would say that is the plus of this book. Though it's not that thrilling, I would recommend it to thriller fans.
greeneyeslovely's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I really enjoyed this book. There were quite a few twists and some really caught me by surprise. Steena Holmes has found a compeling way to differentiate between all the other thrillers out there and does a great job of making you think you know the answer and then spinning it on it's side. I highly recommend it.
Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. There were quite a few twists and some really caught me by surprise. Steena Holmes has found a compeling way to differentiate between all the other thrillers out there and does a great job of making you think you know the answer and then spinning it on it's side. I highly recommend it.
Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
kimcheel's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. This book made me so mad, but if I talk too much about it, then I'll spoil it. Basically the character annoyed me so much. I saw the twist coming a mile away. On one hand, I have consumed enough of these stories that I see twists before others, but on the other hand, I was totally shocked by the twist when I saw The Village in theatres.
I mean, ultimately I read the book in one sitting, so there's that going for it. Honestly, the last chapter of the book was what I was looking for midway through because the last sentence is murder. We got 300 pages of supposed lead up, a delivery that honestly is not that surprising, and then that last sentence that is probably the most interesting part of the whole thing. Bah!
I mean, ultimately I read the book in one sitting, so there's that going for it. Honestly, the last chapter of the book was what I was looking for midway through because the last sentence is murder. We got 300 pages of supposed lead up, a delivery that honestly is not that surprising, and then that last sentence that is probably the most interesting part of the whole thing. Bah!
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
5.0
This was a twisted, engrossing story that knocked me for a loop. All along, I thought I had everything figured out and then I'd turn the page and I didn't anymore. So many clues were given. So much deceit that needed to be to covered up. So much confusion.
I loved every minute of this story. It is fast-paced and so intriguing. It will definitely draw the reader in with all the drama swirling around everywhere. I am in awe of this author for being able to weave such a unbelievably believable plot.
The Patient is a must-read and one that I highly recommend if you love edge-of-your-seat thrillers that will have you guessing until the very end.
I loved every minute of this story. It is fast-paced and so intriguing. It will definitely draw the reader in with all the drama swirling around everywhere. I am in awe of this author for being able to weave such a unbelievably believable plot.
The Patient is a must-read and one that I highly recommend if you love edge-of-your-seat thrillers that will have you guessing until the very end.
bookishwithwine's review against another edition
4.0
Oh this book is twisty! Steena Holmes is a new to me author, and my first book by her did not disappoint. I’ll be back for more!
I will admit that the town of Cheshire seemed a little too storybook for me. So much Alice in Wonderland reference! If that’s your thing, you’ll love this story.
On to the book!
Being a therapist would be such a hard job. You took an oath to keep your patients most private and darkest secrets to yourself. What would you do if a patient told you they murdered someone? Where does the patient confidentiality end, and the protection of the people begin? Where is the line drawn between what’s true and what’s not true?
Danielle has three patients, Ella, Tyler, and Savannah. One of them admits to having killed someone in the past. One of them is deathly afraid of their significant other finding out about them seeing a therapist. The last patient is plotting to kill their parents.
Tami is one of Danielle’s two friends they discuss. She’s a cop whose working on solving the murders that have been happening in their small town of Cheshire. The two women have a mother/daughter relationship. I thought it was going to be a budding romance, but Tami is more the protector type.
The killer in this book sees themselves as an avenger. This seems to be the theme in a lot of books I have read lately. They are only killing the parents and leaving the sleeping child alone. These parents are abusers or harmful to their child in some way in the eyes of the killer.
I will admit the further I got into the book, the more predictable it became. That was ok to me because even though I figured it out, there was still more of the story to uncover!
There were some really good twists thrown in. The author leaves it open at the end for a follow up, and I hope she does!
Thank you @NetGalley @LakeUnionPublishing for this ARC.
Grab you copy October 15th, 2019
I will admit that the town of Cheshire seemed a little too storybook for me. So much Alice in Wonderland reference! If that’s your thing, you’ll love this story.
On to the book!
Being a therapist would be such a hard job. You took an oath to keep your patients most private and darkest secrets to yourself. What would you do if a patient told you they murdered someone? Where does the patient confidentiality end, and the protection of the people begin? Where is the line drawn between what’s true and what’s not true?
Danielle has three patients, Ella, Tyler, and Savannah. One of them admits to having killed someone in the past. One of them is deathly afraid of their significant other finding out about them seeing a therapist. The last patient is plotting to kill their parents.
Tami is one of Danielle’s two friends they discuss. She’s a cop whose working on solving the murders that have been happening in their small town of Cheshire. The two women have a mother/daughter relationship. I thought it was going to be a budding romance, but Tami is more the protector type.
The killer in this book sees themselves as an avenger. This seems to be the theme in a lot of books I have read lately. They are only killing the parents and leaving the sleeping child alone. These parents are abusers or harmful to their child in some way in the eyes of the killer.
I will admit the further I got into the book, the more predictable it became. That was ok to me because even though I figured it out, there was still more of the story to uncover!
There were some really good twists thrown in. The author leaves it open at the end for a follow up, and I hope she does!
Thank you @NetGalley @LakeUnionPublishing for this ARC.
Grab you copy October 15th, 2019
kittietta's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to NetGalley , the author and Lake Union Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Steena Holmes and have read everything she's written, but The Patient is different from her other books. And for me, in a good way.
A therapist, with a love for all things Alice In Wonderland...and a possible serial killer for a patient are the subjects of this dark twisted mystery/thriller. I have to confess, I thought I had it figured out early, but it didn't take away from the thrill of the read for me.
The plot and the writing were Steena Holmes perfection but where this story differed from her others were the characters. They were dark, damaged, weird..sometimes borderline sociopathic which I loved! And that ending....BANG!!!! It blew me away! I love that she tried different and for me successfully!
4 stars!!
I love Steena Holmes and have read everything she's written, but The Patient is different from her other books. And for me, in a good way.
A therapist, with a love for all things Alice In Wonderland...and a possible serial killer for a patient are the subjects of this dark twisted mystery/thriller. I have to confess, I thought I had it figured out early, but it didn't take away from the thrill of the read for me.
The plot and the writing were Steena Holmes perfection but where this story differed from her others were the characters. They were dark, damaged, weird..sometimes borderline sociopathic which I loved! And that ending....BANG!!!! It blew me away! I love that she tried different and for me successfully!
4 stars!!
meldav4's review against another edition
4.0
Steena Holmes shows us her talents and gifts in creative writing once again in The Patient. Not only is it a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you completely engaged and on the edge of your seat, causing you to feel anxious and eager at the same time, it also makes you truly appreciate and wonder how on Earth Holmes came up with these warped dark thoughts and ideas and be able to write about them in such deep explicit detail!
This was an easy read, though disturbing, and one that I highly recommend. Whether you are able to figure out who the killer is, or determine the plot before you reach the end, it is still worth the read.
I love the Alice In Wonderland interweaving theme throughout. Nice touch and super creative!
This was an easy read, though disturbing, and one that I highly recommend. Whether you are able to figure out who the killer is, or determine the plot before you reach the end, it is still worth the read.
I love the Alice In Wonderland interweaving theme throughout. Nice touch and super creative!
kerrylonsdale's review against another edition
5.0
An addictive page-turner with an original plot spin. I was totally entertained.
menniemenace's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the ending so much, to the point I'll welcome a second book.
From early on the author sprinkles the story with little details that screams "UNRELIABLE NARRATOR!" but stays fuzzy on the details. While your mind knows something is being omitted by each characters you're not sure what that's supposed to mean. I reached the conclusion having a dozen of working theories but not the right one. It was fun trying to guess though. Some people say they easily got the plot twist from the start but I still think the writing in the last 4 chapters can make up of not being surprised.
This could have been amazing if each character had chapters written in first person rather than just Danielle. The flashbacks and murderer's POVs were close but not as good as having the entire cast speaking for themselves.
Spoiler
I kinda guessed the story, I thought the characters were part of a family, just not that type of family.From early on the author sprinkles the story with little details that screams "UNRELIABLE NARRATOR!" but stays fuzzy on the details. While your mind knows something is being omitted by each characters you're not sure what that's supposed to mean. I reached the conclusion having a dozen of working theories but not the right one. It was fun trying to guess though. Some people say they easily got the plot twist from the start but I still think the writing in the last 4 chapters can make up of not being surprised.
This could have been amazing if each character had chapters written in first person rather than just Danielle. The flashbacks and murderer's POVs were close but not as good as having the entire cast speaking for themselves.
mademille12's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.75