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The Nurse
Is the nurse a heartless killer or an innocent victim? When you hear her story, will you believe her?
Rose Marlowe is a hard-working nurse, a loving wife, and a merciless killer...or so she says. Despite her confession, it is hard to believe that this beautiful, kind woman could have killed her vulnerable patient in cold blood. Down-on-his luck author and ex-journalist, Theo Hazel, is convinced that there’s more to what happened than Rose is telling, and so decides to visit her behind bars to write her story. With each new visit, he becomes more and more convinced that she can’t be a killer. But is he falling prey to a calculating murderer?
This gripping crime thriller will delight fans of Shari Lapena or J.P. Delaney.
Rose Marlowe is a hard-working nurse, a loving wife, and a merciless killer...or so she says. Despite her confession, it is hard to believe that this beautiful, kind woman could have killed her vulnerable patient in cold blood. Down-on-his luck author and ex-journalist, Theo Hazel, is convinced that there’s more to what happened than Rose is telling, and so decides to visit her behind bars to write her story. With each new visit, he becomes more and more convinced that she can’t be a killer. But is he falling prey to a calculating murderer?
This gripping crime thriller will delight fans of Shari Lapena or J.P. Delaney.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 20, 2021
444 people are currently reading
4643 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Corrigan
5 books110 followersJA Corrigan's new title, THE BAD SISTER is publishing 21st April 2022.
Her other works include, THE NURSE (2021) and FALLING SUNS (2016)
JA Corrigan studied in London, completing a BA Humanities degree, majoring in Modern History and English Literature.
JA also writes modern historical fiction under the pseudonym, Jules Hayes.
Her other works include, THE NURSE (2021) and FALLING SUNS (2016)
JA Corrigan studied in London, completing a BA Humanities degree, majoring in Modern History and English Literature.
JA also writes modern historical fiction under the pseudonym, Jules Hayes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
July 4, 2021
Sharpen your pencil ✏️!
You are going to need a flow chart to keep all of these characters straight! At 20%, there were already 20 characters to keep track of!
And, I can think of AT LEAST 5 characters that were not at all necessary to advance the plot. The author should have cut them out and developed the character of Miles, and his relationship to his wife, Rose, instead.
Rose Marlowe was a caring nurse, until she murdered her patient, Abe Duncan.
But, despite her confession, she doesn’t come across as a killer.
Down on his luck author, Theo Hazel, wants to pen a “true crime” book about Rose, and is thrilled when she agrees to speak with him. The first meeting goes well, as Rose divulges just enough to make sure he will be hooked -and will want to write her story.
With each meeting, we are supposed to learn just a little bit more…
But, from 50-75% as we revisit the past through Rose’s perspective-it fails to feel like an interview!
There is no interaction between Rose and Theo as the “story” is told. No questions, no pausing for a glass of water, or to wipe a tear. NOTHING.
I expected the format to be like Roz Nay’s “Our Little Secret” where the use of this plot device was masterful.
Is Rose a calculating murderer or an innocent Victim?
When the truth was revealed, I didn’t buy into it.
Or the fact, that the guilty party didn’t seem to feel MORE remorse!
2.5 rounded up.
At least I wasn’t bored.
Thank You to Susan for the buddy read and discussion! Be sure to check out her amazing review!
You are going to need a flow chart to keep all of these characters straight! At 20%, there were already 20 characters to keep track of!
And, I can think of AT LEAST 5 characters that were not at all necessary to advance the plot. The author should have cut them out and developed the character of Miles, and his relationship to his wife, Rose, instead.
Rose Marlowe was a caring nurse, until she murdered her patient, Abe Duncan.
But, despite her confession, she doesn’t come across as a killer.
Down on his luck author, Theo Hazel, wants to pen a “true crime” book about Rose, and is thrilled when she agrees to speak with him. The first meeting goes well, as Rose divulges just enough to make sure he will be hooked -and will want to write her story.
With each meeting, we are supposed to learn just a little bit more…
But, from 50-75% as we revisit the past through Rose’s perspective-it fails to feel like an interview!
There is no interaction between Rose and Theo as the “story” is told. No questions, no pausing for a glass of water, or to wipe a tear. NOTHING.
I expected the format to be like Roz Nay’s “Our Little Secret” where the use of this plot device was masterful.
Is Rose a calculating murderer or an innocent Victim?
When the truth was revealed, I didn’t buy into it.
Or the fact, that the guilty party didn’t seem to feel MORE remorse!
2.5 rounded up.
At least I wasn’t bored.
Thank You to Susan for the buddy read and discussion! Be sure to check out her amazing review!
May 11, 2021
Captivating!
Rose Marlow is a hardworking nurse and a happily married wife. So why on earth would she admit to killing one of her patients? Not only does she plead guilty and is sent to prison for a 20 year sentence but she will not discuss why she did it. Not a single word.
Theo Hazel is a recently divorced struggling author that wants to tell Rose's story because he feels there is more to this than Rose is letting on. He would be right.
And, wow, does she have a story to tell. I dare you to put this one down. I really don't want to discuss the plot further because you will want to savor this one.
I just love books like this. Books where we know Rose is in prison for murder but we don't know why or how this came to be. With each chapter, like the peeling of an onion, big and small revelations are revealed which makes this book fall into the unputdownable category. I should also mention the writing is on point. No cheesy dialogue, no repetition. Just really good storytelling. I will definitely keep my eye on J.A. Corrigan. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my copy.
Rose Marlow is a hardworking nurse and a happily married wife. So why on earth would she admit to killing one of her patients? Not only does she plead guilty and is sent to prison for a 20 year sentence but she will not discuss why she did it. Not a single word.
Theo Hazel is a recently divorced struggling author that wants to tell Rose's story because he feels there is more to this than Rose is letting on. He would be right.
And, wow, does she have a story to tell. I dare you to put this one down. I really don't want to discuss the plot further because you will want to savor this one.
I just love books like this. Books where we know Rose is in prison for murder but we don't know why or how this came to be. With each chapter, like the peeling of an onion, big and small revelations are revealed which makes this book fall into the unputdownable category. I should also mention the writing is on point. No cheesy dialogue, no repetition. Just really good storytelling. I will definitely keep my eye on J.A. Corrigan. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my copy.
July 17, 2021
2.5 Stars Rounded Up 💉
The Nurse began on a high note with that gigantic needle on the cover. I mean, is there anyone who likes needles? So ominous and a promise of misadventures to come I hoped.
After four chapters, I’d identified several colorful protagonists and a list of new vocabulary words - always a plus for me.
However, as the character list grew exponentially and the new words dried up, I was immersed into a world of funk and started suffocating on the dreary existence of the entirety, save two people. It was so depressing page after page that I almost quit and DNF’d.
This wasn’t the serial killer nurse story I thought it would be. Almost every story line in this book is tragic and martyrdom abounds - not a good combination for my reading tastes.
I did enjoy the writing quality. The author created an intensity of emotion that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise, but I didn’t enjoy the reading experience.
Maybe you’ll feel differently. The plot is complex and the cast of characters so large that it may appeal to those who like to solve puzzles or can appreciate sorrowful drama.
Thank you to Jayme for reading this with me and sharing your thoughts!
Published May 20th, 2021, available on Amazon Kindle.
The Nurse began on a high note with that gigantic needle on the cover. I mean, is there anyone who likes needles? So ominous and a promise of misadventures to come I hoped.
After four chapters, I’d identified several colorful protagonists and a list of new vocabulary words - always a plus for me.
However, as the character list grew exponentially and the new words dried up, I was immersed into a world of funk and started suffocating on the dreary existence of the entirety, save two people. It was so depressing page after page that I almost quit and DNF’d.
This wasn’t the serial killer nurse story I thought it would be. Almost every story line in this book is tragic and martyrdom abounds - not a good combination for my reading tastes.
I did enjoy the writing quality. The author created an intensity of emotion that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise, but I didn’t enjoy the reading experience.
Maybe you’ll feel differently. The plot is complex and the cast of characters so large that it may appeal to those who like to solve puzzles or can appreciate sorrowful drama.
Thank you to Jayme for reading this with me and sharing your thoughts!
Published May 20th, 2021, available on Amazon Kindle.
April 22, 2021
This dark and twisty psychological thriller had me hooked immediately.
Rose is serving time for murdering one of her patients. Theo, a struggling writer, thinks there’s more to Rose’s story and wants to exploit it. However, when he meets Rose, he cannot reconcile the fact that Rose who appears to be a kind woman could possibly murder a patient in cold blood. The more he interviews Rose, the more certain he is that she didn’t murder this young man. Is Rose playing him or is she innocent?
This is a tense psychological thriller with plenty of dark twists that I did not see coming. I was very interested in Rose as a character. This is a cleverly written and complex thriller and I will be sure to keep an eye out for future books by the author!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an e-ARC!
Rose is serving time for murdering one of her patients. Theo, a struggling writer, thinks there’s more to Rose’s story and wants to exploit it. However, when he meets Rose, he cannot reconcile the fact that Rose who appears to be a kind woman could possibly murder a patient in cold blood. The more he interviews Rose, the more certain he is that she didn’t murder this young man. Is Rose playing him or is she innocent?
This is a tense psychological thriller with plenty of dark twists that I did not see coming. I was very interested in Rose as a character. This is a cleverly written and complex thriller and I will be sure to keep an eye out for future books by the author!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an e-ARC!
April 6, 2021
Rose who was a nurse in a high dependency ward is now in prison for twenty years for murdering a patient in her care. She has confessed to this crime but not everyone thinks she is guilty.
A writer finds this story very interesting and decides to interview Rose to find out what really happened and the circumstances that lead up to this crime.
A slow moving thriller with twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A writer finds this story very interesting and decides to interview Rose to find out what really happened and the circumstances that lead up to this crime.
A slow moving thriller with twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2021
J.A. Corrigan is just one of those authors that just command your attention. The Nurse is a testament to her skill. Immediately upon putting it down I knew it had a compulsive energy to it. Think Nurse Ratchet vs Silence of the Lambs. Her characterisation is a crescendo to the senses. The validity, the moral dilemmas and the utter humanness leaves you in awe with the realism. My introduction to this author’s work has left me salivating for more and I can’t wait to try more of her delights. The Nurse is a book that I fell for because of the blurb! The cover stopped me in my tracks, but the blurb made sure I stayed for the ride!
It is a story that whispered to me…it promised the darkness and a mystery to solve and with a convicted nurse thrown into the mix. Once upon a time I trained to be a nurse, so this really felt nostalgic, to a point. There is nothing regular about this story. The opening chapter impacts like a heart attack and the shockwaves are felt through-out the story. Rose, a nurse, is on trial for the murder of Abe, she admits her guilt and consequently receives a sentence of twenty years.
A nurse is meant to be an individual with a caring disposition, its their vocation, their calling. Just what could push them to committing the murder of one of their patients? I loved the tone; it disrupts the status quo. The plot hit the ground running. I didn’t have time or space to breathe let alone question too deeply…but question is what the reader must do. A man in the gallery of the court is intrigued by her story…can he get to the bottom of it? Will Rose let him?
Theo Hazel is a bit of a broken man. His marriage has ended in divorce, he lost his teenage son, and his finances are in ruins. One more month and the bank will be foreclosing on his house. He has one last chance – writing a book about Rose and her supposed victim, Abe. He’s convinced his editor will love it and might just be his next big payday. She’s initially dead set against meeting with him but a chance meeting with a girl named Bella and it spins her world straight out of its orbit. Be prepared, intrigue, mystery, heartache and dysfunctional families play a central role.
Corrigan has created multiple layers that form a complex plot. The Nurse had an intelligent narrative and a mystery that would not quit. I was surprised the sheer force of the writing and the themes tackled with tact and understanding. It had quite the impact on me. The author has the unique skill of making sure I was never quite sure about anything.
The Nurse was a twisty tale of betrayal and dysfunctionality. I felt everything and I was immediately swept up into the story. Dark and intense.
It is a story that whispered to me…it promised the darkness and a mystery to solve and with a convicted nurse thrown into the mix. Once upon a time I trained to be a nurse, so this really felt nostalgic, to a point. There is nothing regular about this story. The opening chapter impacts like a heart attack and the shockwaves are felt through-out the story. Rose, a nurse, is on trial for the murder of Abe, she admits her guilt and consequently receives a sentence of twenty years.
A nurse is meant to be an individual with a caring disposition, its their vocation, their calling. Just what could push them to committing the murder of one of their patients? I loved the tone; it disrupts the status quo. The plot hit the ground running. I didn’t have time or space to breathe let alone question too deeply…but question is what the reader must do. A man in the gallery of the court is intrigued by her story…can he get to the bottom of it? Will Rose let him?
Theo Hazel is a bit of a broken man. His marriage has ended in divorce, he lost his teenage son, and his finances are in ruins. One more month and the bank will be foreclosing on his house. He has one last chance – writing a book about Rose and her supposed victim, Abe. He’s convinced his editor will love it and might just be his next big payday. She’s initially dead set against meeting with him but a chance meeting with a girl named Bella and it spins her world straight out of its orbit. Be prepared, intrigue, mystery, heartache and dysfunctional families play a central role.
Corrigan has created multiple layers that form a complex plot. The Nurse had an intelligent narrative and a mystery that would not quit. I was surprised the sheer force of the writing and the themes tackled with tact and understanding. It had quite the impact on me. The author has the unique skill of making sure I was never quite sure about anything.
The Nurse was a twisty tale of betrayal and dysfunctionality. I felt everything and I was immediately swept up into the story. Dark and intense.
May 19, 2021
The Nurse is a compulsive and deeply enthralling psychological thriller with an exhilarating mystery at its heart and one man who stakes his journalistic reputation on his gut feeling about a stranger and convicted murderer. The prologue opens in May 2015 at Queen’s Hospital in Derbyshire where a young man lies - he can breathe and hear but cannot move, open his eyes or speak. He's been brought out of an induced coma and moved from intensive care and is now in the hospital’s high dependency unit. He recognises the nurse by her scent: sweet cinnamon and he associates that smell with the friendly nurse who often chats to him. But this time is different. The person doesn't speak knowing that he cannot be sure who they are until they do. His consciousness begins to slip and a voice speaks the words: ”I'm sorry”. Images begin to flash before him - he sees his wife, her already burgeoning belly taut, the dark skin of her face translucent with happiness, and as his life ebbs away, he acknowledges that his efforts to find the truth have all been in vain. And then he is gone.
Fast forward to December 2015 and Rose Marlowe, a former nurse at the city’s hospital who had once looked after those patients in need of the most care part-time for over 4 years alongside her consultant anaesthetist other half, is on trial. Despite having been nothing but a caring, compassionate and empathetic nurse, wife and mother, Rose has admitted she murdered Abe Duncan but has given no reason as to why and when she eventually does who knows whether her word can be trusted or not. The judge sums up the crime: its premeditation, its callousness, the admission of guilt and the hurt caused to Abe’s family before sentencing Rose to 20 years in prison. The narrative then jumps forward to March 2016. Rose has been in prison for 3 months when she receives a letter in the post; it's from Theo Hazel, a novelist and nonfiction writer who is very much interested in telling Rose’s story. He's a broken man with a marriage to his university sweetheart, Sophie, that has ended in divorce, a deceased teenage son, Elliot, and ever-worsening financial issues.
He manages to nab an advance and a book deal after using his power of persuasion and begins visiting Rose regularly. He initially wants to get to know her and to gain her trust so she will feel at ease opening up for the first time about the ordeal and has the same questions as everyone else. Did she genuinely carry this out and if so what inspired her to murder? If she is such a cold-blooded killer then why would her husband choose to stand by her despite the public abuse he received for doing so? Is what she's telling Theo the truth? Is Rose an angel of mercy, or angel of death? Far from the standard, run of the mill thriller, Corrigan has penned a riveting medical-based mystery that grips you like a vice from the get-go. The Nurse is at once twisty, dark and suspenseful, but also genuinely heartbreaking. You will wonder how Rose, an intelligent and compelling woman, came to be where she is, and as she reveals her secrets layer by precious layer, you will finally understand. A clever, deftly woven, character-driven debut featuring a thought-provoking unreliable narrator. Highly recommended.
Fast forward to December 2015 and Rose Marlowe, a former nurse at the city’s hospital who had once looked after those patients in need of the most care part-time for over 4 years alongside her consultant anaesthetist other half, is on trial. Despite having been nothing but a caring, compassionate and empathetic nurse, wife and mother, Rose has admitted she murdered Abe Duncan but has given no reason as to why and when she eventually does who knows whether her word can be trusted or not. The judge sums up the crime: its premeditation, its callousness, the admission of guilt and the hurt caused to Abe’s family before sentencing Rose to 20 years in prison. The narrative then jumps forward to March 2016. Rose has been in prison for 3 months when she receives a letter in the post; it's from Theo Hazel, a novelist and nonfiction writer who is very much interested in telling Rose’s story. He's a broken man with a marriage to his university sweetheart, Sophie, that has ended in divorce, a deceased teenage son, Elliot, and ever-worsening financial issues.
He manages to nab an advance and a book deal after using his power of persuasion and begins visiting Rose regularly. He initially wants to get to know her and to gain her trust so she will feel at ease opening up for the first time about the ordeal and has the same questions as everyone else. Did she genuinely carry this out and if so what inspired her to murder? If she is such a cold-blooded killer then why would her husband choose to stand by her despite the public abuse he received for doing so? Is what she's telling Theo the truth? Is Rose an angel of mercy, or angel of death? Far from the standard, run of the mill thriller, Corrigan has penned a riveting medical-based mystery that grips you like a vice from the get-go. The Nurse is at once twisty, dark and suspenseful, but also genuinely heartbreaking. You will wonder how Rose, an intelligent and compelling woman, came to be where she is, and as she reveals her secrets layer by precious layer, you will finally understand. A clever, deftly woven, character-driven debut featuring a thought-provoking unreliable narrator. Highly recommended.
October 27, 2021
Meh…it’s a meh from me
I knew the twist from the minute she was pregnant, it was obvious what was going on
I mean the child was called Abe…Daniels “sister” wife was called Abigail…
The whole story with miles…I just didn’t get it…why they married and had this life where both of them were miserable and had secrets, and she “sacrificed” her freedom so he could keep working…why?
There was red flags absolutely everywhere when she was in a relationship with daniel, and how everyone around her just told her to stay with him despite it all, that wasn’t genuine in my opinion
I mean this girl really was training to be a doctor but had nobody in her life that she could depend on?
And why didn’t she go be a doctor if this was her dream? Why become a nurse…that was never explained
her husband miles saying he killed abe when all along it was rose who killed him, that made zero sense…is that just another twist that she was actually a murderer who killed her own son? Why was she not more distraught about that fact?
Her having cancer, also saw that coming a mile away, but then she’s released from prison has a checkup and the cancer hasn’t spread? Come on now, that was scientifically impossible, breast cancer left untreated will always spread
Theo falling in love with her was a big no for me, no need for them to have a love story in the middle of this as if the two of them had some weird bond over losing their children.
The book had potential and is written well
But there was a lot that wasn’t believable to me
Her relationship with Cathy in prison? What was that about?
How did all this come about from a student called Bella, who’s brother was dating Ed, a friend of daniels who was always around when rose was with him and who she found creepy from day one…that’s how this story really came out which is just a bit ridiculous to me
I knew the twist from the minute she was pregnant, it was obvious what was going on
I mean the child was called Abe…Daniels “sister” wife was called Abigail…
The whole story with miles…I just didn’t get it…why they married and had this life where both of them were miserable and had secrets, and she “sacrificed” her freedom so he could keep working…why?
There was red flags absolutely everywhere when she was in a relationship with daniel, and how everyone around her just told her to stay with him despite it all, that wasn’t genuine in my opinion
I mean this girl really was training to be a doctor but had nobody in her life that she could depend on?
And why didn’t she go be a doctor if this was her dream? Why become a nurse…that was never explained
her husband miles saying he killed abe when all along it was rose who killed him, that made zero sense…is that just another twist that she was actually a murderer who killed her own son? Why was she not more distraught about that fact?
Her having cancer, also saw that coming a mile away, but then she’s released from prison has a checkup and the cancer hasn’t spread? Come on now, that was scientifically impossible, breast cancer left untreated will always spread
Theo falling in love with her was a big no for me, no need for them to have a love story in the middle of this as if the two of them had some weird bond over losing their children.
The book had potential and is written well
But there was a lot that wasn’t believable to me
Her relationship with Cathy in prison? What was that about?
How did all this come about from a student called Bella, who’s brother was dating Ed, a friend of daniels who was always around when rose was with him and who she found creepy from day one…that’s how this story really came out which is just a bit ridiculous to me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
A few pages in, and I just knew this was going to be a 5 star read. Don't you love it when that happens?
I absolutely inhaled this book. Read it in 2 days and obsessed about it when I wasn't reading it. SO gripping and twisty, I couldn't put it down.
There were lots of characters, and a few times I had to check who they were so I could follow the plot developments, and I did work out some of the twists, but this was fantastic.
Rose and Theo were amazing characters, with many layers that gradually got revealed to us as the story progressed.
Highly recommend! Go and read it!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this copy for review.
I absolutely inhaled this book. Read it in 2 days and obsessed about it when I wasn't reading it. SO gripping and twisty, I couldn't put it down.
There were lots of characters, and a few times I had to check who they were so I could follow the plot developments, and I did work out some of the twists, but this was fantastic.
Rose and Theo were amazing characters, with many layers that gradually got revealed to us as the story progressed.
Highly recommend! Go and read it!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this copy for review.
June 4, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- A gripping psychological thriller indeed!
PROS
-- Well written and very readable.
-- Past and present merged seamlessly. As did the POV changes.
-- Well paced.
-- Captivating plot that kept me turning the pages.
-- Twists and turns.
-- Intriguing and well-developed characters.
-- Satisfying ending.
CONS
-- A little predictable. I figured out a lot of the "twists" from early on.
-- Theo and Rose's "romance" was a little weak in execution.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
PROS
-- Well written and very readable.
-- Past and present merged seamlessly. As did the POV changes.
-- Well paced.
-- Captivating plot that kept me turning the pages.
-- Twists and turns.
-- Intriguing and well-developed characters.
-- Satisfying ending.
CONS
-- A little predictable. I figured out a lot of the "twists" from early on.
-- Theo and Rose's "romance" was a little weak in execution.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
dnf
April 1, 2022dnf @21%
this so far has been just an excruciatingly detailed description about this woman falling in love with a man. i literally couldn't care less. what is it with thrillers nowadays and bringing in a weird romantic (sub)plot? just write a romance novel then, i'm here for murder
this so far has been just an excruciatingly detailed description about this woman falling in love with a man. i literally couldn't care less. what is it with thrillers nowadays and bringing in a weird romantic (sub)plot? just write a romance novel then, i'm here for murder
February 23, 2023
Wow! Couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend it! This author never disappoints! Thank you J.A. Corrigan for another excellent book!
April 21, 2021
This dark and twisty psychological thriller had me hooked immediately.
Rose is serving time for murdering one of her patients. Theo, a struggling writer, thinks there’s more to Rose’s story and wants to exploit it. However, when he meets Rose, he cannot reconcile the fact that Rose who appears to be a kind woman could possibly murder a patient in cold blood. The more he interviews Rose, the more certain he is that she didn’t murder this young man. Is Rose playing him or is she innocent?
This is a tense psychological thriller with plenty of dark twists that I did not see coming. I was very interested in Rose as a character. This is a cleverly written and complex thriller and I will be sure to keep an eye out for future books by the author!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an e-ARC!
Rose is serving time for murdering one of her patients. Theo, a struggling writer, thinks there’s more to Rose’s story and wants to exploit it. However, when he meets Rose, he cannot reconcile the fact that Rose who appears to be a kind woman could possibly murder a patient in cold blood. The more he interviews Rose, the more certain he is that she didn’t murder this young man. Is Rose playing him or is she innocent?
This is a tense psychological thriller with plenty of dark twists that I did not see coming. I was very interested in Rose as a character. This is a cleverly written and complex thriller and I will be sure to keep an eye out for future books by the author!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an e-ARC!
November 18, 2025
——1 star !!
➜this was a hard read for me. what really killed off the last ounce of enjoyment was how every time i felt like the story was getting somewhere, i was cut off. i’m not even exaggerating when i say that the execution was a complete disaster. no red thread. so subtlety. just a big slam of supposed truths 95% into the book.
💉| much later in my life, I’d question if those six words secured my fate.
➜as clearly seen, most of the lines were corny to the point of actually irritating me, and most plots were anticipated if not expected. something else that bothered me was how we didn’t get to see any depth when it came to miles and rose’s relationship. why were they even together?
🩸| his visits are a relief after miles’s, which are full of empty silences and things unsaid. miles and i are connected by much more than our wedding vows.
➜ this is a line i found like 10% into the book, and it builds up quite a lot of eagerness to learn more about miles and his relationship with rose. don’t get too excited, though; you will get nothing in return. not even if you squeeze the book to death in hopes of finding subtle clues. as i said, there’s no subtlety. if you can’t physically read it, there’s nothing there.
January 18, 2022
What a fantastic thriller I couldn’t put it down. Twists and turns were revealed right up until the final chapter and the authors writing is suspenseful and addictive.
The story follows Rose Marlowe a nurse who murders a patient in her care whilst at work. As predicted not all is as it seems and things soon start to unravel and secrets are revealed. I loved the characterisation and it’s a story you really become invested in.
The story follows Rose Marlowe a nurse who murders a patient in her care whilst at work. As predicted not all is as it seems and things soon start to unravel and secrets are revealed. I loved the characterisation and it’s a story you really become invested in.
August 7, 2022
4,5 stars.
I really enjoyed this thriller. It was very interesting and not boring at one point. I really recommend it if you want a quick, easy and good book to read.
It was a little hard to understand the ending/the plot... but i still understood it, so you know.
Really underrated book.
I really enjoyed this thriller. It was very interesting and not boring at one point. I really recommend it if you want a quick, easy and good book to read.
It was a little hard to understand the ending/the plot... but i still understood it, so you know.
Really underrated book.
April 19, 2021
This compelling novel deftly reels the reader in with a slow-burning sense of intrigue, and the sense that all is not as it seems on the surface when we're introduced to Rose, a nurse imprisoned for the murder of a young man in her care. The story cleverly unfolds in a series of meetings Rose holds with Theo Hazel, an ex-journalist, who will write a true-crime book based on Rose's story. Through these conversations in the prison waiting room, we learn of the spontaneous and passionate relationship that emerged between med student, Rose and her much older lover, Daniel, the medical CEO of an exclusive private hospital. The author uses great subtlety to establish Daniel's gradual but insidious hold over the more vulnerable, Rose, whose ambition and independent spirit are no match for Daniel's money and sophisticated manipulations. This is a novel filled with intriguing characters and surprising twists and revelations, that keep the reader turning the pages to find out the shocking truth. It's a novel about the danger of buried secrets and the chilling nature of power and control in the hands of those who attempt to get what they want, no matter the human cost.
January 28, 2022
3.5. On the whole I enjoyed this book but at the start, with the introduction of so many characters, it took me a while to work out who was who. Once I had, the story flowed better but it was definitely a slow burner. Lots of twists with the biggest coming at the very end.
August 8, 2022
Przyjemny thriller. Może bez efektu wow, ale przyjemnie mi się słuchało audiobooka.
February 22, 2022
This story was sad, dark and compelling; I strongly recommend you read this one!
It was told both in past and present tense, brilliantly jumping back and forth between the two. I loved Rose's stories about her past, and felt they were so entertaining, and I am ashamed to confess that I birefly LOVED Mr Daniel Deane. Moreover, I was very pleased with the way this book handled sensitive topics; and I loved the brief moments where sexism was addressed, presenting Rose as a much more strong woman in STEM who had overcome the ill treatment from the men in the industry.
I particularly enjoyed any chapter that consisted of Theo 'interviewing' side characters- despite my burning hatred of Don (Rose's therapist in prison).
Alison Greenwood is a girlboss and I thoroughly enjoyed her involvement in this story.
Apologies for the awful, messy review- I am honestly still in shock.
Also- if you read this- can somebody PLEASE explain what on earth happened in the epilogue???
P.S: I told myself I needed a break from romance novels, so I picked this story up yet to discover it contained a hint of romance... I CANT ESCAPEEEEE!
It was told both in past and present tense, brilliantly jumping back and forth between the two. I loved Rose's stories about her past, and felt they were so entertaining, and I am ashamed to confess that I birefly LOVED Mr Daniel Deane. Moreover, I was very pleased with the way this book handled sensitive topics; and I loved the brief moments where sexism was addressed, presenting Rose as a much more strong woman in STEM who had overcome the ill treatment from the men in the industry.
I particularly enjoyed any chapter that consisted of Theo 'interviewing' side characters- despite my burning hatred of Don (Rose's therapist in prison).
Alison Greenwood is a girlboss and I thoroughly enjoyed her involvement in this story.
Apologies for the awful, messy review- I am honestly still in shock.
Also- if you read this- can somebody PLEASE explain what on earth happened in the epilogue???
P.S: I told myself I needed a break from romance novels, so I picked this story up yet to discover it contained a hint of romance... I CANT ESCAPEEEEE!
October 5, 2021
My Dad read this on my Kindle ,
He never tells me what he thinks of books unless I ask,
So to see he gave it 4 ⭐️ is quite something!!
Glad he liked it then ha.
He’s borrowing my kindle as he’s read everything on his so I said he might as well read the books on mine.
(Well the thrillers anyway, that’s all he reads)
I’ll add any comments I get from him later...
Oh news just in - he’s now saying he pressed 3 ⭐️ not 4 (sounds a bit suspect to me)
And his comments on the book are - it was alright (classic Dad there) and it was a bit predictable.
There we have it , blinding review as always.
He never tells me what he thinks of books unless I ask,
So to see he gave it 4 ⭐️ is quite something!!
Glad he liked it then ha.
He’s borrowing my kindle as he’s read everything on his so I said he might as well read the books on mine.
(Well the thrillers anyway, that’s all he reads)
I’ll add any comments I get from him later...
Oh news just in - he’s now saying he pressed 3 ⭐️ not 4 (sounds a bit suspect to me)
And his comments on the book are - it was alright (classic Dad there) and it was a bit predictable.
There we have it , blinding review as always.
April 8, 2021
I was drawn into this twisty, haunting thriller from the very first page. The vivid description of the characters, the dark twists of the story and the pacey narrative kept me captivated until the end. I was intrigued by Rose’s story and couldn’t make up my mind whether she was innocent or a cold blooded-murderess. Theo and Rose were both complex characters and that ending took me completely by surprise! A dark but compelling read.
April 4, 2021
Well this was was a read that had my head spinning round as twist after twist came rolling along and just as I thought I knew what was happening I was surprised yet again. It’s a dark and disturbing read in parts but it’s also a complex and very cleverly written book and I really did enjoy it.
The story was told from different points of view and timelines, I like this as little hints and secrets are there to find and it seems to make for a much more well rounded storyline. The main character of Rose was excellently written I both liked and disliked her in equal measure it always makes for a much more interesting read when I am not sure about a character and Rose was certainly one of these.
So I’m not rehashing the plot you can read it in the overview but I really can recommend this book it’s one that kept me wanting read , what more can you ask for!
My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The story was told from different points of view and timelines, I like this as little hints and secrets are there to find and it seems to make for a much more well rounded storyline. The main character of Rose was excellently written I both liked and disliked her in equal measure it always makes for a much more interesting read when I am not sure about a character and Rose was certainly one of these.
So I’m not rehashing the plot you can read it in the overview but I really can recommend this book it’s one that kept me wanting read , what more can you ask for!
My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 9, 2021
Rose, a nurse, is in prison for the murder of one of her patients.
Theo, an ex journalist and author, is keen to explore and publish Roses story and she agrees to him visiting in prison in order to hear her side. Theo is keen that the story should not be one sided and also speaks with the deceased s family as well as Roses mother. He does not believe the murder to be cut and dried and begins to explore motives and key players in this disaster.
The story is told both in the here and now, as well as in the past when Rose was a struggling 4th year medical student falling in love with an unlikely suitor and finding herself pregnant.
I enjoyed this book, very easy to read, fast paced with many twists and turns right up to the end page. Highly recommend.
Theo, an ex journalist and author, is keen to explore and publish Roses story and she agrees to him visiting in prison in order to hear her side. Theo is keen that the story should not be one sided and also speaks with the deceased s family as well as Roses mother. He does not believe the murder to be cut and dried and begins to explore motives and key players in this disaster.
The story is told both in the here and now, as well as in the past when Rose was a struggling 4th year medical student falling in love with an unlikely suitor and finding herself pregnant.
I enjoyed this book, very easy to read, fast paced with many twists and turns right up to the end page. Highly recommend.
January 6, 2022
2.5 Stars
Overview: I was very kindly gifted this book by @mollymustreads and we decided to read it as a buddy read together. The blurb holds such potential but unfortunately the writing let it down terribly and it was just so...boring! It ended up as a DNF for Molly and I can't say I blame her. I'm not sure why I persevered...maybe I'm stubborn or maybe I'm one of those people who can't look away from a car crash!
Good Points: Erm...to be honest there weren't many. I would say the plot was good but it was so poorly executed it just wasn't. I always enjoy a back and forth in time type of book so that was good and different POV is always interesting ... just a shame none of the characters were.
Not so Good Points: I believe I have mentioned enough. As a die hard psychological thriller fan I think I'm fairly qualified to review these types of books now. If you're a psychological thriller fan...and haven't read it...I'd avoid.
Overview: I was very kindly gifted this book by @mollymustreads and we decided to read it as a buddy read together. The blurb holds such potential but unfortunately the writing let it down terribly and it was just so...boring! It ended up as a DNF for Molly and I can't say I blame her. I'm not sure why I persevered...maybe I'm stubborn or maybe I'm one of those people who can't look away from a car crash!
Good Points: Erm...to be honest there weren't many. I would say the plot was good but it was so poorly executed it just wasn't. I always enjoy a back and forth in time type of book so that was good and different POV is always interesting ... just a shame none of the characters were.
Not so Good Points: I believe I have mentioned enough. As a die hard psychological thriller fan I think I'm fairly qualified to review these types of books now. If you're a psychological thriller fan...and haven't read it...I'd avoid.
January 22, 2022
This was a gripping pyschological thriller.
Rose, a nurse, is in prison for murdering one of her patients. But did she do it?
Theo, a struggling author, is wanting to write her story. What will he uncover?
There was so much suspense and build up in this story and then everything starts to unravel from about 70% in and I devoured it to the end.
I liked Rose, but wow, she had gone through so much in her life and some of it she hadn't even known about. She did kind of have a Nurse Ratchett feel to her I found in some parts.
The only little downfall I found was that there are so many characters introduced in the first 20%, it was a bit hard to keep track of who was who until further in.
Rose, a nurse, is in prison for murdering one of her patients. But did she do it?
Theo, a struggling author, is wanting to write her story. What will he uncover?
There was so much suspense and build up in this story and then everything starts to unravel from about 70% in and I devoured it to the end.
I liked Rose, but wow, she had gone through so much in her life and some of it she hadn't even known about. She did kind of have a Nurse Ratchett feel to her I found in some parts.
The only little downfall I found was that there are so many characters introduced in the first 20%, it was a bit hard to keep track of who was who until further in.
July 5, 2022
3.5 stars
December 29, 2022
2,5
to mogłoby być maksymalnie 100 stron o historii Rose. Nie porwało. :/
to mogłoby być maksymalnie 100 stron o historii Rose. Nie porwało. :/
April 21, 2021
The story flicks between past and present as well as chapters between Rose, who is in prison for murder and Theo, a writer, who is writing a book about the case.
I didn’t know what to make of Rose to start with. I mean she has killed a young man yet I found myself drawn to her and was desperate to hear her story. Whilst I did correctly guess certain aspects of the story quite early on, it didn’t in anyway spoil my enjoyment of this book. If anything for me it is all about the why’s and if’s. The need to know whether Rose was a killer or not and as to why this man had been killed, it had me desperately wanting to turn those pages to find out.
Theo is a character I really enjoyed. There is a certain softness about him that drew me in and I enjoyed his chapters as much as I did Rose’s. Both characters were completely compelling and usually I find I’m more desperate to get to a certain characters chapters, or timeline but I just couldn’t get enough of past, present as well as Rose and Theo and that is totally down to the author’s story telling.
The Nurse is a novel that will send your mind in turmoil as to why a nurse of all people would kill someone. The author has the reader doubting as to whether this woman is capable or not of something so atrocious. It is twisted and wholly addictive. If it wasn’t for real life getting in the way I could easily have read this book in one sitting as the story grabs hold of the reader and doesn’t want to let go. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I didn’t know what to make of Rose to start with. I mean she has killed a young man yet I found myself drawn to her and was desperate to hear her story. Whilst I did correctly guess certain aspects of the story quite early on, it didn’t in anyway spoil my enjoyment of this book. If anything for me it is all about the why’s and if’s. The need to know whether Rose was a killer or not and as to why this man had been killed, it had me desperately wanting to turn those pages to find out.
Theo is a character I really enjoyed. There is a certain softness about him that drew me in and I enjoyed his chapters as much as I did Rose’s. Both characters were completely compelling and usually I find I’m more desperate to get to a certain characters chapters, or timeline but I just couldn’t get enough of past, present as well as Rose and Theo and that is totally down to the author’s story telling.
The Nurse is a novel that will send your mind in turmoil as to why a nurse of all people would kill someone. The author has the reader doubting as to whether this woman is capable or not of something so atrocious. It is twisted and wholly addictive. If it wasn’t for real life getting in the way I could easily have read this book in one sitting as the story grabs hold of the reader and doesn’t want to let go. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
My thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
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