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The Patient
I feel the steady thump of my new heart beating inside me. The surgeon said everything went well. But I can’t stop thinking about my the girl who was killed. Her death saved my life. But now whoever took hers is coming for mine…
I can’t believe it when I learn my donor’s identity. The attack on Flora was all over the news. From my hospital bed I read every article, obsess over every word and soon I feel like I know the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, adored by everyone around her. Why would anyone hurt someone so perfect?
When Flora’s family reach out to me, I’m unsure. My hands are shaking as I arrive at their grand mansion with its golden stone and sprawling gardens, but they’re warm and welcoming, tears shining in her mother’s eyes as she smiles at me.
She even tells me to take anything I want from Flora’s things, as she can’t bear to go through them herself. I run my fingers over the racks of beautiful designer items, carefully choosing outfits in Flora’s signature yellow, the bright colour complementing the new flush in my cheeks. I think of the years I’ve wasted being ill, and the crushing loneliness I thought would never end. I deserve this.
But then there’s a violent attack on another patient who received one of Flora’s organs. My heart – Flora’s heart – races dangerously fast. Is it a coincidence?
Maybe I’ve made a mistake by stepping into Flora’s life. Has this second chance really saved me? Or has it cost me everything?
I can’t believe it when I learn my donor’s identity. The attack on Flora was all over the news. From my hospital bed I read every article, obsess over every word and soon I feel like I know the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, adored by everyone around her. Why would anyone hurt someone so perfect?
When Flora’s family reach out to me, I’m unsure. My hands are shaking as I arrive at their grand mansion with its golden stone and sprawling gardens, but they’re warm and welcoming, tears shining in her mother’s eyes as she smiles at me.
She even tells me to take anything I want from Flora’s things, as she can’t bear to go through them herself. I run my fingers over the racks of beautiful designer items, carefully choosing outfits in Flora’s signature yellow, the bright colour complementing the new flush in my cheeks. I think of the years I’ve wasted being ill, and the crushing loneliness I thought would never end. I deserve this.
But then there’s a violent attack on another patient who received one of Flora’s organs. My heart – Flora’s heart – races dangerously fast. Is it a coincidence?
Maybe I’ve made a mistake by stepping into Flora’s life. Has this second chance really saved me? Or has it cost me everything?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2024
504 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
About the author
Teri Terry
24 books2,177 followersTeri has lived in France, Canada, Australia and England at more addresses than she can count, acquiring three degrees, a selection of passports and a silly name along the way. Past careers have included scientist, lawyer, optometrist, and, in England, various jobs in schools, libraries and an audiobook charity. The footpaths and canal ways of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns where she now lives inspired much of the setting of Slated. She hates broccoli, likes cats, and has finally worked out what she wants to do when she grows up.
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/TeriTerryAuthor
Notes from the Slushpile: group blog on writing for children http://notesfromtheslushpile.blogspot...
**IMPORTANT: Please do not message me on Goodreads with requests for review copies, swag, interviews, or anything else. See the contact section of my website for that. Messages on Goodreads may (and probably will) go unanswered!**
Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/TeriTerryAuthor
Notes from the Slushpile: group blog on writing for children http://notesfromtheslushpile.blogspot...
**IMPORTANT: Please do not message me on Goodreads with requests for review copies, swag, interviews, or anything else. See the contact section of my website for that. Messages on Goodreads may (and probably will) go unanswered!**
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
December 14, 2023
After reading the premise for this, I had to get my hands on it. A heart patient receiving a heart transplant from a girl who was almost murdered and left in a coma.
Saphy has received a new heart who belonged to a girl named Flora. As Saphy is learning to live again and adjust, she becomes curious to who her donor really was. When Flora’s family decide to meet the recipient, it feels like Flora is still a part of their lives.
Soon, Flora’s sister becomes close to Saphy. She wants to know everything about who Flora was. Who was Flora’s attacker? Most importantly, why would someone want Flora dead?
This story was terribly boring. It read like a drama. A family reliving the life of a dead girl, and the one who wants to be living it. NOTHING even happened until 80% in the book. This could have been cut down by 100 pages. I completely understand character development, however, there was just too much bland conversation and repetitive questions.
I did enjoy the ending. Saw the twist a million miles away. I’d like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley, and Teri Terry for an ARC. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date February 13, 2024
Saphy has received a new heart who belonged to a girl named Flora. As Saphy is learning to live again and adjust, she becomes curious to who her donor really was. When Flora’s family decide to meet the recipient, it feels like Flora is still a part of their lives.
Soon, Flora’s sister becomes close to Saphy. She wants to know everything about who Flora was. Who was Flora’s attacker? Most importantly, why would someone want Flora dead?
This story was terribly boring. It read like a drama. A family reliving the life of a dead girl, and the one who wants to be living it. NOTHING even happened until 80% in the book. This could have been cut down by 100 pages. I completely understand character development, however, there was just too much bland conversation and repetitive questions.
I did enjoy the ending. Saw the twist a million miles away. I’d like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley, and Teri Terry for an ARC. All opinions are my own. Expected publication date February 13, 2024
February 12, 2024
A heart transplant is supposed to save a life. What if, instead of a second chance at life, it’s a second chance at death?
What if the reason the donor dies is because of a murder - a targeted one? What if the other recipients start dying because they now have an organ from this murdered donor? This is the angle the author takes in her debut psychological thriller.
Saphira Logan struggles to have faith in doctors after they couldn’t save her mom dying from cancer or her dad dying from Covid. The thing is, she was born with a heart defect and surgery is necessary to ensure a full life. She becomes obsessive in her quest to know more about her donor and it nearly costs her everything. It reminded me of the saying, ‘curiosity killed the cat.’
Fern is dealing with survivor’s guilt and struggling to make sense of her loss. You’ll read about her role in Flora’s death, the ethical considerations of transplants, and the power of organ donation. It’s never easy for anyone involved and there’s an invisible thread that connects the two families.
Terry takes readers on a slow-burner ride to show readers how both the donor and recipient families are dealing with the procedure. It won’t take long before readers become aware that something isn’t quite right and they don’t know who to trust. This is made more difficult because of the dual perspectives, both of Saphy (recipient) and of Fern (the donor’s sister).
This was refreshingly different and the mystery held my attention. The cover is fantastic and the publication date at Valentine’s is apropos.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
What if the reason the donor dies is because of a murder - a targeted one? What if the other recipients start dying because they now have an organ from this murdered donor? This is the angle the author takes in her debut psychological thriller.
Saphira Logan struggles to have faith in doctors after they couldn’t save her mom dying from cancer or her dad dying from Covid. The thing is, she was born with a heart defect and surgery is necessary to ensure a full life. She becomes obsessive in her quest to know more about her donor and it nearly costs her everything. It reminded me of the saying, ‘curiosity killed the cat.’
Fern is dealing with survivor’s guilt and struggling to make sense of her loss. You’ll read about her role in Flora’s death, the ethical considerations of transplants, and the power of organ donation. It’s never easy for anyone involved and there’s an invisible thread that connects the two families.
Terry takes readers on a slow-burner ride to show readers how both the donor and recipient families are dealing with the procedure. It won’t take long before readers become aware that something isn’t quite right and they don’t know who to trust. This is made more difficult because of the dual perspectives, both of Saphy (recipient) and of Fern (the donor’s sister).
This was refreshingly different and the mystery held my attention. The cover is fantastic and the publication date at Valentine’s is apropos.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 17, 2023
Teri Terry is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have read and loved several of her books and jumped at the chance to read her new book. "The Patient" by Teri Terry is a character-driven psychological thriller with a dash of supernatural elements thrown in for good measure.
Saphy, a young woman with a life-threatening heart condition, receives a heart transplant and gets a new lease on life. The donation came from Flora, a young woman who was declared brain-stem dead after a vicious attack that left her in a coma and on a ventilator. After learning her donor’s identity from the news, Saphy becomes obsessed with Flora. She picks apart every detail about Flora, collects her photos, and even tries to copy her appearance. She starts having nightmares about her and develops tastes similar to Flora.
When Flora's family contacts her and asks to meet her, she eagerly agrees for the chance to learn more about Flora. She wants to be Flora, whose life seems to sparkle. The plot thickens when a couple of patients, recipients of Flora’s organs, are viciously attacked, leaving Saphy worried that she is next in line. Maybe being Flora isn't such a good idea...
The novel is a concoction of intrigue, a psychological character study, and a family drama. With themes of friendship, bereavement, fallible human nature, right and wrong, and moral dilemmas, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading.
The book is written from a first-person perspective, alternating between Saphy and Fern (Flora’s sister). Almost two-thirds of the book follows the characters and builds up to the action in the last third of the book. The story is well-written, and the narrative flows at a steady pace. I like that the author addresses the dilemma of organ donation from both sides of the coin. One of the most interesting questions this book raises is how you would act in the same position, and it emphasizes the importance of organ donation.
Even though the action doesn't start until the last section, it was an interesting read. I loved reading about the transplant process from the perspectives of both Saphy and Fern, though I really preferred Saphy and connected with her more. Fern was colder and harder to connect with, and I found her lacking, and her choices unacceptable. The ending was satisfactory, but I didn't like that not all parties got their just desserts. Some twists I guessed, but others managed to surprise me.
All in all, I loved the book and found it difficult to pull myself away from it. I give the book 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars. The story was engaging, the characters believable, and the steady pace of the plot kept me turning the pages. The author does a wonderful job of providing just enough detail to paint a clear picture of the characters and settings without being tedious. I recommend it to those of you looking for something a little different in their mystery books.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
Saphy, a young woman with a life-threatening heart condition, receives a heart transplant and gets a new lease on life. The donation came from Flora, a young woman who was declared brain-stem dead after a vicious attack that left her in a coma and on a ventilator. After learning her donor’s identity from the news, Saphy becomes obsessed with Flora. She picks apart every detail about Flora, collects her photos, and even tries to copy her appearance. She starts having nightmares about her and develops tastes similar to Flora.
When Flora's family contacts her and asks to meet her, she eagerly agrees for the chance to learn more about Flora. She wants to be Flora, whose life seems to sparkle. The plot thickens when a couple of patients, recipients of Flora’s organs, are viciously attacked, leaving Saphy worried that she is next in line. Maybe being Flora isn't such a good idea...
The novel is a concoction of intrigue, a psychological character study, and a family drama. With themes of friendship, bereavement, fallible human nature, right and wrong, and moral dilemmas, the author has woven a tale that I enjoyed reading.
The book is written from a first-person perspective, alternating between Saphy and Fern (Flora’s sister). Almost two-thirds of the book follows the characters and builds up to the action in the last third of the book. The story is well-written, and the narrative flows at a steady pace. I like that the author addresses the dilemma of organ donation from both sides of the coin. One of the most interesting questions this book raises is how you would act in the same position, and it emphasizes the importance of organ donation.
Even though the action doesn't start until the last section, it was an interesting read. I loved reading about the transplant process from the perspectives of both Saphy and Fern, though I really preferred Saphy and connected with her more. Fern was colder and harder to connect with, and I found her lacking, and her choices unacceptable. The ending was satisfactory, but I didn't like that not all parties got their just desserts. Some twists I guessed, but others managed to surprise me.
All in all, I loved the book and found it difficult to pull myself away from it. I give the book 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars. The story was engaging, the characters believable, and the steady pace of the plot kept me turning the pages. The author does a wonderful job of providing just enough detail to paint a clear picture of the characters and settings without being tedious. I recommend it to those of you looking for something a little different in their mystery books.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my Blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2023...
July 26, 2024
Teri Terry's THE PATIENT is a twisty, character-driven, highly entertaining psychological thriller about a heart transplant. When a recipient becomes entangled with the donor's family, nothing is as it appears when dangers are lurking below the surface.
COVER: Firstly, the cover was striking, and I was hooked immediately.
AUDIO: Secondly, I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by a favorite, Sarah Durham. I have enjoyed her narrations with other books, such as Daniel Hurst, Rona Halsall, and others —her performance was stellar, making this a 5-star rating! She made the characters come alive!
AUTHOR: Last but not least, this is my first book by the author, Teri Terry, and I was highly impressed. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more by this author!
Set in London, it is A mix of medical, crime thriller, psychological suspense, mystery, and family drama with unreliable narrators and a killer twist. WHODUNIT!
Saphy has a heart problem that COVID-19 made worse. She is on a waiting list for a heart transplant. Her father passed away recently from COVID, and her mom passed away when she was a little girl. She was adopted.
Zoe is her best friend, and Saphy knows she will die without a transplant. She is unsure even if they call her that a heart is available; she does not know if she wants to go through it because there are many dangers, including infections and the risk of rejection. She is uncertain.
Someone has to die first.
She gets the call.
She is a match.
Fern, a doctor, is Flora's older sister. Flora is gone. She is the donor. She was the beautiful sister, wild and impulsive but possibly troubled. Benji, her boyfriend, was arrested and charged with her murder. She was drugged, tied down, and strangled in a specific way with carotid artery compression for long enough to deprive her brain of oxygen and cause brain damage. The girl from the society pages was in a coma.
However, Benji pleads innocent. If not him, who?
Saphy is the recipient of the heart transplant and becomes obsessed with knowing more about her donor when she discovers that her donor is the sleeping beauty everyone talked about.
Then, the family invites her to their beautiful home and into their lives. She even agrees to a news story about donors after much negative publicity about donors and recipients. This puts her in more danger.
Then, people who are recipients are attacked. Something sinister is going on. Now, Saphy may be in danger. She meets Jack, who may not be who he seems. There are lots of suspects.
Also, Fern's mom seems to be taken with Saphy, but Fern is unsure about her intentions. She begins dressing like her and thinking like her. Their lifestyle wows her since she has no family now.
However, things are not as they seem. Told from the POVs of Fern and Saphy, we also go back to find out about Saphy's birth mother and how she came to be adopted. Then, there is another mystery surrounding her birth.
The last half of the book speeds up with non-stop action and suspense as the tensions are high trying to figure out who murdered Flora and if the same person is killing the organ recipients. Then Saphy goes missing.
A multi-layered suspense mystery that will keep you turning the pages and glued to your AirPods. Smartly written, THE PATIENT is a wild ride, scary and frightening. One of moral dilemmas. How far will the murderer go to cover up his secrets of the past?
I had the privilege of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook, which I enjoyed. For fans of Daniel Hurst, Freida McFadden, KL Slater, Miranda Rijks and Leslie Wolfe.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for introducing this new author to me and a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 13, 2024
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Feb 2024 Must-Read Books
COVER: Firstly, the cover was striking, and I was hooked immediately.
AUDIO: Secondly, I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by a favorite, Sarah Durham. I have enjoyed her narrations with other books, such as Daniel Hurst, Rona Halsall, and others —her performance was stellar, making this a 5-star rating! She made the characters come alive!
AUTHOR: Last but not least, this is my first book by the author, Teri Terry, and I was highly impressed. I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more by this author!
Set in London, it is A mix of medical, crime thriller, psychological suspense, mystery, and family drama with unreliable narrators and a killer twist. WHODUNIT!
Saphy has a heart problem that COVID-19 made worse. She is on a waiting list for a heart transplant. Her father passed away recently from COVID, and her mom passed away when she was a little girl. She was adopted.
Zoe is her best friend, and Saphy knows she will die without a transplant. She is unsure even if they call her that a heart is available; she does not know if she wants to go through it because there are many dangers, including infections and the risk of rejection. She is uncertain.
Someone has to die first.
She gets the call.
She is a match.
Fern, a doctor, is Flora's older sister. Flora is gone. She is the donor. She was the beautiful sister, wild and impulsive but possibly troubled. Benji, her boyfriend, was arrested and charged with her murder. She was drugged, tied down, and strangled in a specific way with carotid artery compression for long enough to deprive her brain of oxygen and cause brain damage. The girl from the society pages was in a coma.
However, Benji pleads innocent. If not him, who?
Saphy is the recipient of the heart transplant and becomes obsessed with knowing more about her donor when she discovers that her donor is the sleeping beauty everyone talked about.
Then, the family invites her to their beautiful home and into their lives. She even agrees to a news story about donors after much negative publicity about donors and recipients. This puts her in more danger.
Then, people who are recipients are attacked. Something sinister is going on. Now, Saphy may be in danger. She meets Jack, who may not be who he seems. There are lots of suspects.
Also, Fern's mom seems to be taken with Saphy, but Fern is unsure about her intentions. She begins dressing like her and thinking like her. Their lifestyle wows her since she has no family now.
However, things are not as they seem. Told from the POVs of Fern and Saphy, we also go back to find out about Saphy's birth mother and how she came to be adopted. Then, there is another mystery surrounding her birth.
The last half of the book speeds up with non-stop action and suspense as the tensions are high trying to figure out who murdered Flora and if the same person is killing the organ recipients. Then Saphy goes missing.
A multi-layered suspense mystery that will keep you turning the pages and glued to your AirPods. Smartly written, THE PATIENT is a wild ride, scary and frightening. One of moral dilemmas. How far will the murderer go to cover up his secrets of the past?
I had the privilege of reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook, which I enjoyed. For fans of Daniel Hurst, Freida McFadden, KL Slater, Miranda Rijks and Leslie Wolfe.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for introducing this new author to me and a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest review.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 13, 2024
Feb Newsletter
Feb 2024 Must-Read Books
April 26, 2024
This pov high quality audio tells the story of a heart transplant paitent who has the heart of a famous girl.
The blurb hooked me and I gueese gave me high expectations. I found the dialogue highly questionable in places and very distracting. The pacing was off for me it was the last 20% that the action and reveal occured. It was more like a drawnout drama with elements of wanting to live the life of the deceased. The twists were predictable but the narrator did a good job with the material.
This felt overly unnecessary long and it was a struggle to keep listening at times. The characters were too deceloped and the hear and now wS not given the time it needed. If the pacing was better it eould be 4 stars.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator
The blurb hooked me and I gueese gave me high expectations. I found the dialogue highly questionable in places and very distracting. The pacing was off for me it was the last 20% that the action and reveal occured. It was more like a drawnout drama with elements of wanting to live the life of the deceased. The twists were predictable but the narrator did a good job with the material.
This felt overly unnecessary long and it was a struggle to keep listening at times. The characters were too deceloped and the hear and now wS not given the time it needed. If the pacing was better it eould be 4 stars.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator
October 21, 2024
As with the other book I’ve read by this author 3* feels too mean but 4* feels too generous. I really enjoyed the second half of this book and the ending but the beginning was so bloody slow!
March 19, 2024
"A second chance at life. A second chance to die..."
I have read a couple of books which involve organ transplants, although both have focused on heart transplants, whilst my own experience through my sister-in-law, is kidney donor related. She has now courageously endured three transplants, the first two which didn't survive for too long before rejecting and the third, a living donation by her husband, my brave brother, which came to the end of its natural expected lifespan after almost 12 years. She is now back on dialysis whilst waiting for another suitable organ, so you can probably tell how invested I was in this storyline, before I had even turned the first page.
...
Saphy was adopted from birth, with her adoptive parents always having known about the congenital heart defect, which might possibly have the potential to shorten her life. Now, in her twenties, with both her parents having died young, leaving her with the responsibility of a large house she is loathe to sell but unable to maintain, the nasty aftermath of a vicious Covid infection means that Saphy is in desperate need of a heart transplant to save her life. Saphy's best friend Zoe and her mother Claire, a nurse, have taken an increasingly frail Saphy under their wing, although little does Claire know of the risks the two girls regularly undertake in order to fulfil Saphy's bucket list, before it is too late. Saphy and Zoe are out on one such mission when Saphy gets the call she has long awaited, yet at the same time dreaded, from the hospital. A donated heart has become available which her surgical team think might be a good match and can she come immediately.
The donor Flora, a girl of similar age to Saphy, has been in a coma since being attacked and left for dead at the remote family cottage in Dorset. Now, Flora's condition has deteriorated to the extent that recovery expectations are almost nil and life-support is to be removed with the agreement of her family - parents Margot and Charles and sister Fern. Flora is to become a multiple donor, so it may not only be Saphy who is set to benefit from her generous sacrifice and gift, although the anti-donor contingent are out to make waves with their assertions that the organs had been harvested from Flora, before life had been officially pronounced extinct.
The operation looks to have been a remarkable success and after several weeks of tender ministrations by Zoe and Claire, Saphy decides that the time is right for her to return to her family home. Having read about the case of Flora's murder in the news, Saphy has convinced herself that her donor heart belonged to Flora and wants to thank her family for their generosity of spirit in the face of their catastrophic grief, so a pathway is opened by the authorities for them to connect if both parties so wish. At the same time, Saphy, with her unexpected new lease of life, decides that the time is right to also attempt to make contact with her birth mother.
For Saphy, her life takes on a whole new purpose and meaning, especially when Flora's family accept her request for a meeting, inviting her to their home and she also has a positive couple of initial meetings with her birth mother Jenny, which look set to flourish into a more permanent relationship. However, at the back of her mind, Saphy has niggling doubts about the emotional effect her new heart is having on her, as she finds herself devouring every small scrap of information she can about Flora, her family and friends, finding herself, part consciously and part sub-consciously modelling herself on her donor's mannerisms, behaviours and dress. For those who believe themselves to be amongst Flora's closest confidantes, Saphy's intrusion into their lives, whilst at first welcomed, brings with it some unpalatable home truths and distressing insights into the world of the person they thought had led a charmed and favoured life. Some realise that they hadn't known Flora as well as they had thought, whilst others have to come to terms with the fact that 'turning a blind eye' to Flora's shortcomings and unheeded cries for help, may have ultimately led to her death - a death which never needed to happen?
The police, although they have detained and questioned one suspect for Flora's murder, don't have enough evidence to bring charges and seem no closer to finding a motive or perpetrator for the unprovoked attack. Now, some weeks later, their investigations take on a much more urgent and sinister remit, when the recipients of some of Flora's generously donated organs, are singled out and attacked, leaving one dead and another in a critical condition. Saphy fears for her life, but does the one person she believes she can trust, have her best interests at heart after all, especially when that heart is even more precious than Saphy could have ever imagined, or she in more danger than she could have ever feared?
...
This was a real slow-burner of a storyline. The dramatics really all happened in the last third or so of the book. However, the groundwork was beautifully laid and structured throughout, for a tense plot build-up, which was rich in atmosphere and definitely compulsive enough to make me want to read it in no more than a couple of good-sized sittings. The single timeline is contemporary and the short, well-signposted, easy to navigate chapters, are punchy and of predominantly dual narration by Saphy and Fern.
I found that several moral and ethical dilemmas, which I hadn't really given much consideration to, were challenged during the course of this story: It was difficult to determine whether this was case of Saphy, a recipient who had led an emotionally disturbed life, naturally latching on to a kind and receptive donor family to try and replace her own lost loved ones. Or whether, in the hard cold light of day was she a manipulative organ recipient trying to play on the shattered emotions and vulnerabilities of the donor family for her own ends. Or, the much more difficult to get my head around scenario, that because the heart needed to be a living beating engine when it was removed and transplanted, part of that donor or their soul remained alive and lived on in its new host body. That led me to thinking maybe the most troubling of thoughts; how many people, despite brain death having been diagnosed, had been removed from life-support machines whilst still aware of what was happening to them, but were unable to communicate either verbally or through movement, to let someone know that they were cognisant of the fate which had been decided for them.
These difficult discussions, together with the grooming, coercion and ultimate rape of a minor, were pivotal elements of this storyline which were navigated in detail by author Teri Terry, in language which was both realistic to the situation, sympathetic to the victim and their wider network of friends and family, with empathetic narration and dialogue which did not over sensationalise the issues.
I found that at first I could totally relate to Saphy, in her attitude towards her impending transplant. She was convinced that hospitals were little more than waiting rooms for death and had decided to live what life she had left to the full and on her own terms. However, with a keen eye on characters and what makes them tick, author Teri Terry did an excellent job of turning Saphy's thinking inside out, whilst messing with her head in the process. I discovered that quite unexpectedly, I didn't really relate or become deeply invested in any of the principal protagonists, even though they were all believable in their designated roles; as all too often, I found myself questioning their emotionally complex layers of manipulative authenticity; suspicious of the integrity of their motives. Which is what made just about all of them suspects on my list and kept me avidly turning the pages, as twist upon twist threw me off the scent, with that final gut-wrenching confession simply being the icing on this cake of deception and lies.
In this strong, character and plot driven storyline, location was never going to be the overriding consideration, which didn't bode well for me, a confirmed armchair traveller. However, having established that I had visited London (the principal location), Oxford and the Dorset coast, I really felt that whilst there wasn't a huge amount of cosmetic detail about the three main sites of action, the author wove enough descriptive narrative and dialogue into the storyline, to imbue a genuine sense of time and place which I could easily navigate.
As a fan of medical based thrillers, this is definitely one to keep you awake at night and I do hope that Teri decides to write a few more adult psychological thrillers, alongside her many YA novels!!
I have read a couple of books which involve organ transplants, although both have focused on heart transplants, whilst my own experience through my sister-in-law, is kidney donor related. She has now courageously endured three transplants, the first two which didn't survive for too long before rejecting and the third, a living donation by her husband, my brave brother, which came to the end of its natural expected lifespan after almost 12 years. She is now back on dialysis whilst waiting for another suitable organ, so you can probably tell how invested I was in this storyline, before I had even turned the first page.
...
Saphy was adopted from birth, with her adoptive parents always having known about the congenital heart defect, which might possibly have the potential to shorten her life. Now, in her twenties, with both her parents having died young, leaving her with the responsibility of a large house she is loathe to sell but unable to maintain, the nasty aftermath of a vicious Covid infection means that Saphy is in desperate need of a heart transplant to save her life. Saphy's best friend Zoe and her mother Claire, a nurse, have taken an increasingly frail Saphy under their wing, although little does Claire know of the risks the two girls regularly undertake in order to fulfil Saphy's bucket list, before it is too late. Saphy and Zoe are out on one such mission when Saphy gets the call she has long awaited, yet at the same time dreaded, from the hospital. A donated heart has become available which her surgical team think might be a good match and can she come immediately.
The donor Flora, a girl of similar age to Saphy, has been in a coma since being attacked and left for dead at the remote family cottage in Dorset. Now, Flora's condition has deteriorated to the extent that recovery expectations are almost nil and life-support is to be removed with the agreement of her family - parents Margot and Charles and sister Fern. Flora is to become a multiple donor, so it may not only be Saphy who is set to benefit from her generous sacrifice and gift, although the anti-donor contingent are out to make waves with their assertions that the organs had been harvested from Flora, before life had been officially pronounced extinct.
The operation looks to have been a remarkable success and after several weeks of tender ministrations by Zoe and Claire, Saphy decides that the time is right for her to return to her family home. Having read about the case of Flora's murder in the news, Saphy has convinced herself that her donor heart belonged to Flora and wants to thank her family for their generosity of spirit in the face of their catastrophic grief, so a pathway is opened by the authorities for them to connect if both parties so wish. At the same time, Saphy, with her unexpected new lease of life, decides that the time is right to also attempt to make contact with her birth mother.
For Saphy, her life takes on a whole new purpose and meaning, especially when Flora's family accept her request for a meeting, inviting her to their home and she also has a positive couple of initial meetings with her birth mother Jenny, which look set to flourish into a more permanent relationship. However, at the back of her mind, Saphy has niggling doubts about the emotional effect her new heart is having on her, as she finds herself devouring every small scrap of information she can about Flora, her family and friends, finding herself, part consciously and part sub-consciously modelling herself on her donor's mannerisms, behaviours and dress. For those who believe themselves to be amongst Flora's closest confidantes, Saphy's intrusion into their lives, whilst at first welcomed, brings with it some unpalatable home truths and distressing insights into the world of the person they thought had led a charmed and favoured life. Some realise that they hadn't known Flora as well as they had thought, whilst others have to come to terms with the fact that 'turning a blind eye' to Flora's shortcomings and unheeded cries for help, may have ultimately led to her death - a death which never needed to happen?
The police, although they have detained and questioned one suspect for Flora's murder, don't have enough evidence to bring charges and seem no closer to finding a motive or perpetrator for the unprovoked attack. Now, some weeks later, their investigations take on a much more urgent and sinister remit, when the recipients of some of Flora's generously donated organs, are singled out and attacked, leaving one dead and another in a critical condition. Saphy fears for her life, but does the one person she believes she can trust, have her best interests at heart after all, especially when that heart is even more precious than Saphy could have ever imagined, or she in more danger than she could have ever feared?
...
This was a real slow-burner of a storyline. The dramatics really all happened in the last third or so of the book. However, the groundwork was beautifully laid and structured throughout, for a tense plot build-up, which was rich in atmosphere and definitely compulsive enough to make me want to read it in no more than a couple of good-sized sittings. The single timeline is contemporary and the short, well-signposted, easy to navigate chapters, are punchy and of predominantly dual narration by Saphy and Fern.
I found that several moral and ethical dilemmas, which I hadn't really given much consideration to, were challenged during the course of this story: It was difficult to determine whether this was case of Saphy, a recipient who had led an emotionally disturbed life, naturally latching on to a kind and receptive donor family to try and replace her own lost loved ones. Or whether, in the hard cold light of day was she a manipulative organ recipient trying to play on the shattered emotions and vulnerabilities of the donor family for her own ends. Or, the much more difficult to get my head around scenario, that because the heart needed to be a living beating engine when it was removed and transplanted, part of that donor or their soul remained alive and lived on in its new host body. That led me to thinking maybe the most troubling of thoughts; how many people, despite brain death having been diagnosed, had been removed from life-support machines whilst still aware of what was happening to them, but were unable to communicate either verbally or through movement, to let someone know that they were cognisant of the fate which had been decided for them.
These difficult discussions, together with the grooming, coercion and ultimate rape of a minor, were pivotal elements of this storyline which were navigated in detail by author Teri Terry, in language which was both realistic to the situation, sympathetic to the victim and their wider network of friends and family, with empathetic narration and dialogue which did not over sensationalise the issues.
I found that at first I could totally relate to Saphy, in her attitude towards her impending transplant. She was convinced that hospitals were little more than waiting rooms for death and had decided to live what life she had left to the full and on her own terms. However, with a keen eye on characters and what makes them tick, author Teri Terry did an excellent job of turning Saphy's thinking inside out, whilst messing with her head in the process. I discovered that quite unexpectedly, I didn't really relate or become deeply invested in any of the principal protagonists, even though they were all believable in their designated roles; as all too often, I found myself questioning their emotionally complex layers of manipulative authenticity; suspicious of the integrity of their motives. Which is what made just about all of them suspects on my list and kept me avidly turning the pages, as twist upon twist threw me off the scent, with that final gut-wrenching confession simply being the icing on this cake of deception and lies.
In this strong, character and plot driven storyline, location was never going to be the overriding consideration, which didn't bode well for me, a confirmed armchair traveller. However, having established that I had visited London (the principal location), Oxford and the Dorset coast, I really felt that whilst there wasn't a huge amount of cosmetic detail about the three main sites of action, the author wove enough descriptive narrative and dialogue into the storyline, to imbue a genuine sense of time and place which I could easily navigate.
As a fan of medical based thrillers, this is definitely one to keep you awake at night and I do hope that Teri decides to write a few more adult psychological thrillers, alongside her many YA novels!!
February 8, 2024
⭐️3.0
It was alright. It pains me to admit that I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would have based on the synopsis,especially because this book had all the ingredients to be so epic and mind blowing.
Told from the POV of Saphy, the heart recipient and Fern, Flora’s the organ donor’s sister. This was more of a building connections and learning the way these two women express themselves in various aspects of life.
This was one of the slowest paced thriller books I’ve ever read 😭 and despite it all I didn’t feel that connection to any of the characters. There is a psychological thriller element to it but it only picks up around 70% and by 90% you’re like woah, woah ! but up to the 70% there’s basically nothing thriller about it. I did enjoy the ending though so that’s a win.🏆
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
It was alright. It pains me to admit that I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would have based on the synopsis,especially because this book had all the ingredients to be so epic and mind blowing.
Told from the POV of Saphy, the heart recipient and Fern, Flora’s the organ donor’s sister. This was more of a building connections and learning the way these two women express themselves in various aspects of life.
This was one of the slowest paced thriller books I’ve ever read 😭 and despite it all I didn’t feel that connection to any of the characters. There is a psychological thriller element to it but it only picks up around 70% and by 90% you’re like woah, woah ! but up to the 70% there’s basically nothing thriller about it. I did enjoy the ending though so that’s a win.🏆
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 10, 2024
I really loved this book, the writing style, both point of views. I felt emotional reading through all this. And when the thriller part comes, the twists, I was shocked ! When I thought the twists were over, I got even more shocked at the end ! If you love both general fiction and thriller, this book is for you !
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
December 24, 2023
What does it feel like to think you’re going to die and then have a new chance at life, because of someone else’s death? What does it feel like to be the family member of an organ donor and meet the person who received your loved one’s heart?
Told in first person from the perspective of Saphy (the donor recipient) and Fern (Flora’s sister) The Patient was compelling because it answers these questions. Saphy and Fern are unique voices and well developed characters. The majority of the story is how these two women think and feel about family, friends, life, love and loss, along with some mystery and suspense elements woven in. You really get to know them as well as other secondary characters.
There IS a psychological thriller aspect but the majority of that happens in the last 30% of the novel. The Patient is more of a slow burn which allows you to feel a connection to the characters, though I would’ve preferred more suspense. The pacing was steady and then built to a tense finale.
Thank you to Teri Terry, Bookoutore and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Told in first person from the perspective of Saphy (the donor recipient) and Fern (Flora’s sister) The Patient was compelling because it answers these questions. Saphy and Fern are unique voices and well developed characters. The majority of the story is how these two women think and feel about family, friends, life, love and loss, along with some mystery and suspense elements woven in. You really get to know them as well as other secondary characters.
There IS a psychological thriller aspect but the majority of that happens in the last 30% of the novel. The Patient is more of a slow burn which allows you to feel a connection to the characters, though I would’ve preferred more suspense. The pacing was steady and then built to a tense finale.
Thank you to Teri Terry, Bookoutore and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2024
First things first: thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a free ARC of The Patient in exchange for my honest review.
The Patient tells the story of a young woman in need of a heart transplant and against slim odds one is found and her life saved. For the time being that is. Saphy quickly gets caught up in her donor's world and learns that the old adage "All that glitters is not gold" is true. In fact, it very well could be deadly.
As a past creator myself I always err on the side of caution when it comes to reviews. Reviews are important, but I am very aware that someone put a lot of energy, love, and work into their craft. It's a very vulnerable thing to create something and then release it to the world. I never want to offend or hurt someone's feelings. That being said I have to stay honest: this book was not my cup of tea. I found the flow to be very inconsistent. Sometimes fast paced while other times painfully slow. I also found the main character to be generally off putting. It very well could be that I just personally didn't connect with her, but I found her to be unbelievably impulsive for someone who just went through a medical miracle. I found a few of the supporting characters to be very immature, as well.
Overall, this book was ok, but not something I would necessarily recommend to others.
The Patient tells the story of a young woman in need of a heart transplant and against slim odds one is found and her life saved. For the time being that is. Saphy quickly gets caught up in her donor's world and learns that the old adage "All that glitters is not gold" is true. In fact, it very well could be deadly.
As a past creator myself I always err on the side of caution when it comes to reviews. Reviews are important, but I am very aware that someone put a lot of energy, love, and work into their craft. It's a very vulnerable thing to create something and then release it to the world. I never want to offend or hurt someone's feelings. That being said I have to stay honest: this book was not my cup of tea. I found the flow to be very inconsistent. Sometimes fast paced while other times painfully slow. I also found the main character to be generally off putting. It very well could be that I just personally didn't connect with her, but I found her to be unbelievably impulsive for someone who just went through a medical miracle. I found a few of the supporting characters to be very immature, as well.
Overall, this book was ok, but not something I would necessarily recommend to others.
February 2, 2024
Saphy is learning to live again after receiving a heart transplant. She received it from a woman named Flora, who was almost murdered and was left in a coma. As Saphy learns to adjust to her new life, she becomes curious as to who her donor was. When Flora’s family decides they want to meet Saphy, it feels like Flora is back in their lives. Saphy soon tries to intergrate herself into Flora’s family and gets close to Floras sister in attempt to find out who would attack Flora and leave her for dead.
This is a VERY slow burn story in which not a lot happens other than a lot of talk about the transplant and life surrounding the surgery and the donor and recipient and their respective families until about 70% in. Then the twists and the suspense finally kicks in.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
This is a VERY slow burn story in which not a lot happens other than a lot of talk about the transplant and life surrounding the surgery and the donor and recipient and their respective families until about 70% in. Then the twists and the suspense finally kicks in.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
January 11, 2024
The premise of this book sounded amazing, we have a girl that gets a heart transplant from another girl that was murdered, and now she starts to fear for her own life. The pace of the book was quite good, and the twists shocked me through it.
Did I see the end coming? Yes. Was I right about it? No, not even close. I did not expect the way this end. And the dual POV along with the writing style was a great way to make me so engaged with this story. Did I recommend this book to all my friends? Yup, I most definitely did.
We explore to sides of the story, the donor family, and the recipient family, and we got to see how they are dealing with the procedure which made the story even more intriguing.
Overall, it was such a great, twisted book that got me guessing and on the edge until the very end. So, I really recommend it to anyone who enjoys twists and suspense that will get you hooked for the start until the epilogue itself. This one is a must read to me.
Thank you, Bookouture & NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
Did I see the end coming? Yes. Was I right about it? No, not even close. I did not expect the way this end. And the dual POV along with the writing style was a great way to make me so engaged with this story. Did I recommend this book to all my friends? Yup, I most definitely did.
We explore to sides of the story, the donor family, and the recipient family, and we got to see how they are dealing with the procedure which made the story even more intriguing.
Overall, it was such a great, twisted book that got me guessing and on the edge until the very end. So, I really recommend it to anyone who enjoys twists and suspense that will get you hooked for the start until the epilogue itself. This one is a must read to me.
Thank you, Bookouture & NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.
December 21, 2024
Wow, really liked this! More thoughts to come.
February 7, 2024
Probably closer to 3.5⭐️ for me. The first 70% or so was more domestic drama, building up the background of Saphy and her need for her heart transplant, as well as getting to know her donor’s family. I don’t normally like a slow burn but found myself wanting to continue to listen to find out what was going to happen. It really picked up the last 20-30%, lots of twists and action. It felt a little rushed, it was a lot happening at once. Overall this was a solid thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 7, 2024
Overall, it was a fine book. The plot seemed interesting. However, it is one of the slowest-paced mystery plots I’ve ever read — it was way too slow for me. I did not really enjoy this slowness. The plot picks up (towards the 75% I would say) and when it did, it got interesting. The ending was pretty decent. As for the characters, I did not like Saphy at all (she was quite the unreliable character in my opinion) but Fern was fine.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
March 27, 2024
Thanks to Bookouture and Teri Terry for providing an eARC via NetGalley 🙌
Book Review:
The Patient by Teri Terry
Bookouture, 13th February 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
I feel the steady thump of my new heart beating inside me. The surgeon said everything went well. But I can’t stop thinking about my donor: the girl who was killed. Her death saved my life. But now whoever took hers is coming for mine…
I can’t believe it when I learn my donor’s identity. The attack on Flora was all over the news. From my hospital bed I read every article, obsess over every word and soon I feel like I know her: the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, adored by everyone around her. Why would anyone hurt someone so perfect?
When Flora’s family reach out to me, I’m unsure. My hands are shaking as I arrive at their grand mansion with its golden stone and sprawling gardens, but they’re warm and welcoming, tears shining in her mother’s eyes as she smiles at me.
Maybe I’ve made a mistake by stepping into Flora’s life. Has this second chance really saved me? Or has it cost me everything?
Review:
The Patient's thrilling premise holds Saphy's life in the balance, and the story ebbs and flows, much like the beat of her freshly-transplanted heart. Teri Terry has a way of drawing you in to the story, and making you care about the characters; it matters what happens to them. A couple of things I predicted early on, but I read a LOT of this genre.
That it crosses over a lot of genres means it should have wide appeal - crime, thriller, contemporary lit, and more.
#BookReview #ThePatient #TeriTerry #Bookouture #Bookstagram
Book Review:
The Patient by Teri Terry
Bookouture, 13th February 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis:
I feel the steady thump of my new heart beating inside me. The surgeon said everything went well. But I can’t stop thinking about my donor: the girl who was killed. Her death saved my life. But now whoever took hers is coming for mine…
I can’t believe it when I learn my donor’s identity. The attack on Flora was all over the news. From my hospital bed I read every article, obsess over every word and soon I feel like I know her: the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, adored by everyone around her. Why would anyone hurt someone so perfect?
When Flora’s family reach out to me, I’m unsure. My hands are shaking as I arrive at their grand mansion with its golden stone and sprawling gardens, but they’re warm and welcoming, tears shining in her mother’s eyes as she smiles at me.
Maybe I’ve made a mistake by stepping into Flora’s life. Has this second chance really saved me? Or has it cost me everything?
Review:
The Patient's thrilling premise holds Saphy's life in the balance, and the story ebbs and flows, much like the beat of her freshly-transplanted heart. Teri Terry has a way of drawing you in to the story, and making you care about the characters; it matters what happens to them. A couple of things I predicted early on, but I read a LOT of this genre.
That it crosses over a lot of genres means it should have wide appeal - crime, thriller, contemporary lit, and more.
#BookReview #ThePatient #TeriTerry #Bookouture #Bookstagram
December 29, 2023
I liked the novel less that I thought I would based on synopis. The description says that we deal with a dead donor whose recipients fall dead one by one. Okay, but until we will rich the point, half of a book must happen, and a lot of uneccesary pages been read. I do not have any complains about the language, and I know lot of important subjects are raised here, but in my opinion novel should start after the main character aclready had her transplant, not before.
3 stars
3 stars
February 13, 2024
Thanks netgalley for the audiobook. This thriller was a terrifying reflection on what it could mean to be an organ donor and then actually get attacked but being aware when your organs are harvested. The recipient of the new organ then hesitates between meeting their donor's family and friends and finally deciding they're too curious not to. Loved the believable characters, the brief ethical exploration of this topic, but most of all, the twists and turns in the story as what happened slowly comes to light. If you like twisty thrillers that don't get too gory, this one's for you.
February 21, 2024
Everything about this audiobook seems to be right: the narration is very nice and draws you into the story, the theme is promising and I have become a big fan of Bookouture's audiobooks. And yet, I do have some reservations about The Patient as an audiobook.
Overall, I don't think the theme of the story lends itself very well as an audiobook. I found it to have a lot of dialogue and unfortunately the narrator also does the male voice in the story and I am personally not a fan of that.
I particularly liked the theme: a young woman receives a heart from a woman who has been declared brain-dead. Gradually, she changes, begins to like other things and almost seems to take on the identity of the deceased.
I wish the author had stayed with this story and developed it further, adding more depth and thriller-like elements to the story.
I found the concept of changing one's identity with a new heart fascinating. The heart is the seat of passion and emotion, hence proverbs like heartless or heart cry, while the brain is the seat of reason and consciousness.
The moment Saphy starts looking for her biological mother, I lost interest in the book.
Saphy is an adopted child, and she needs family and meaning to get a sense of her place in this world. Taking this back to the heart as the seat of feelings and emotions, I can understand what she is going through. Besides all the moral issues surrounding transplantation, there is also the issue of adoption. I would have liked to have kept it to the transplant issue, but besides that, themes about family, adoption and finding your place in the world come into play. I also found Saphy's behaviour towards Flora's family morbid and borderline. It seems she has dependency issues that she needs to work on.
I also learned something from this book: I am a donor myself - everyone in the Netherlands automatically is unless they object - but I did not know that it is common for the donor's next of kin to have contact with the recipient.
In this book, Flora’ s family is still in deep mourning and trying to come to terms with their loss - and lo and behold, there is Saphy on their doorstep.
This is a novel with a subject that actually lends itself better to a reading group - and, in my opinion, is less suitable as an audiobook.
One might ask, for example, can someone in a coma also serve as a donor? When is someone 'deceased'? Is it cardiac arrest or brain death?
And should the 'guardian of the heart' lead the life the donor has been denied? Is she allowed to drink, bungee jump, do dangerous things? Or, on the contrary, should she live extra carefully because she has been given a chance? Is she allowed to drink?
Many moral and ethical questions are raised. I think this could be good material for a reading group discussion.
I loved the voice of the narrator, but unfortunately she did not quite manage to save the story. My advice is to read this as a book and possibly have a reading group discussion with a book kit.
Overall, I don't think the theme of the story lends itself very well as an audiobook. I found it to have a lot of dialogue and unfortunately the narrator also does the male voice in the story and I am personally not a fan of that.
I particularly liked the theme: a young woman receives a heart from a woman who has been declared brain-dead. Gradually, she changes, begins to like other things and almost seems to take on the identity of the deceased.
I wish the author had stayed with this story and developed it further, adding more depth and thriller-like elements to the story.
I found the concept of changing one's identity with a new heart fascinating. The heart is the seat of passion and emotion, hence proverbs like heartless or heart cry, while the brain is the seat of reason and consciousness.
The moment Saphy starts looking for her biological mother, I lost interest in the book.
Saphy is an adopted child, and she needs family and meaning to get a sense of her place in this world. Taking this back to the heart as the seat of feelings and emotions, I can understand what she is going through. Besides all the moral issues surrounding transplantation, there is also the issue of adoption. I would have liked to have kept it to the transplant issue, but besides that, themes about family, adoption and finding your place in the world come into play. I also found Saphy's behaviour towards Flora's family morbid and borderline. It seems she has dependency issues that she needs to work on.
I also learned something from this book: I am a donor myself - everyone in the Netherlands automatically is unless they object - but I did not know that it is common for the donor's next of kin to have contact with the recipient.
In this book, Flora’ s family is still in deep mourning and trying to come to terms with their loss - and lo and behold, there is Saphy on their doorstep.
This is a novel with a subject that actually lends itself better to a reading group - and, in my opinion, is less suitable as an audiobook.
One might ask, for example, can someone in a coma also serve as a donor? When is someone 'deceased'? Is it cardiac arrest or brain death?
And should the 'guardian of the heart' lead the life the donor has been denied? Is she allowed to drink, bungee jump, do dangerous things? Or, on the contrary, should she live extra carefully because she has been given a chance? Is she allowed to drink?
Many moral and ethical questions are raised. I think this could be good material for a reading group discussion.
I loved the voice of the narrator, but unfortunately she did not quite manage to save the story. My advice is to read this as a book and possibly have a reading group discussion with a book kit.
February 18, 2024
Medical thriller that flies along.
3.5 stars.
I have loved Terry's YA work, and chose this on that basis. The audio version moved along quickly but I wasn't keen on the female voice taking on the male parts, a little jarring and they didn't sound right to my ear, not every narrator pulls off both genders well.
Still, a good premise, with young adult Saphy sped through the process of a heart transplant when one becomes available after (who she suspects of being) her donor is attacked and later dies in hospital. The reader knows that this is in fact the case, with Flora attacked by, supposedly, a man who loved her.
Saphy gets little time to enjoy her renewed vigour and life. The donor's family get in touch, wanting to meet her. And to ask her to both get to know them and to help in their quest to quash the worries about the organ donation that has cropped up since their daughter/sister's death and organ removal.
Then Saphy learns of the attacks of another of Flora's organ recipients. And that the possible attacker who allowed her own new heart to be given to her may not have been Flora's killer after all...
I guessed the 'real' identify of the nefarious party very early on, and did find some elements of the book a little silly - Saphy feeling she was turning into her donor. The part I DID like - debate over organ donation, didn't go anywhere in particular, which I thought was a shame.
The narration was split between Saphy and Flora's sister, which kept the story flowing and different perspectives giving us further clues and insight along the way, and the several storylines did move well together and eventually join.
But this for me wasn't hugely memorable, though I did enjoy the listen. Fairly standard for the genre, with a fairly rushed ending and female voice unsuited to male characters.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
3.5 stars.
I have loved Terry's YA work, and chose this on that basis. The audio version moved along quickly but I wasn't keen on the female voice taking on the male parts, a little jarring and they didn't sound right to my ear, not every narrator pulls off both genders well.
Still, a good premise, with young adult Saphy sped through the process of a heart transplant when one becomes available after (who she suspects of being) her donor is attacked and later dies in hospital. The reader knows that this is in fact the case, with Flora attacked by, supposedly, a man who loved her.
Saphy gets little time to enjoy her renewed vigour and life. The donor's family get in touch, wanting to meet her. And to ask her to both get to know them and to help in their quest to quash the worries about the organ donation that has cropped up since their daughter/sister's death and organ removal.
Then Saphy learns of the attacks of another of Flora's organ recipients. And that the possible attacker who allowed her own new heart to be given to her may not have been Flora's killer after all...
I guessed the 'real' identify of the nefarious party very early on, and did find some elements of the book a little silly - Saphy feeling she was turning into her donor. The part I DID like - debate over organ donation, didn't go anywhere in particular, which I thought was a shame.
The narration was split between Saphy and Flora's sister, which kept the story flowing and different perspectives giving us further clues and insight along the way, and the several storylines did move well together and eventually join.
But this for me wasn't hugely memorable, though I did enjoy the listen. Fairly standard for the genre, with a fairly rushed ending and female voice unsuited to male characters.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
February 8, 2024
Oh my life. My goodness gracious. Holy McMoley with a cherry on top, what a book! (True, I listened on audiobook, but that added to the experience of this phenomenal novel!)
The Patient, written by Teri Terry and narrated by Sarah Durham is absolutely incredible. Stellar performance on both counts, from the author for writing such a blinding book and to Sarah Durham for her vocal performance which was pure perfection. The emotes, accents, characters and emhasis were so on point I had to remember to breathe
The book opens with a narrative from Flora's subconscious/ spectral mind, confusion, hearing voices, scared. We learn that she has been brutally strangled by someone she thought she could trust, and her family need to make the ultimate sacrifice, and turn off the life support, donating her organs so that others may live on.
Saffie is dying. She has a congenital heart condition that took her father at a young age and is coming for her. Saffie is given Flora's heart and she is given a new lease of life, yet, she cannot stop thinking about the donor who gave her this chance
Saffie discovers who her donor is and starts to research every little thing about flora's life, and death. However, when the family make contact, offer her some of Flora's things, the uncertainty rows, especially when another organ recipient is attacked. Will this second chance at life be torn away before it has truly begun?
This psychological thriller is utterly blinding, a real belter of a ride and I could not press pause, I had to keep listening, my own heart racing. The dialogue, the narrative, the pace, sheer perfection! I will certainly be looking fr more books by this phenomenal author
Thankyou very, very much to Netgalley, Bookouture audio, Terry Teri and Sarah Durham for this incredible experience, this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
The Patient, written by Teri Terry and narrated by Sarah Durham is absolutely incredible. Stellar performance on both counts, from the author for writing such a blinding book and to Sarah Durham for her vocal performance which was pure perfection. The emotes, accents, characters and emhasis were so on point I had to remember to breathe
The book opens with a narrative from Flora's subconscious/ spectral mind, confusion, hearing voices, scared. We learn that she has been brutally strangled by someone she thought she could trust, and her family need to make the ultimate sacrifice, and turn off the life support, donating her organs so that others may live on.
Saffie is dying. She has a congenital heart condition that took her father at a young age and is coming for her. Saffie is given Flora's heart and she is given a new lease of life, yet, she cannot stop thinking about the donor who gave her this chance
Saffie discovers who her donor is and starts to research every little thing about flora's life, and death. However, when the family make contact, offer her some of Flora's things, the uncertainty rows, especially when another organ recipient is attacked. Will this second chance at life be torn away before it has truly begun?
This psychological thriller is utterly blinding, a real belter of a ride and I could not press pause, I had to keep listening, my own heart racing. The dialogue, the narrative, the pace, sheer perfection! I will certainly be looking fr more books by this phenomenal author
Thankyou very, very much to Netgalley, Bookouture audio, Terry Teri and Sarah Durham for this incredible experience, this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
February 4, 2024
Saffy has spent her life with a weak heart, waiting years for a potential donor match. When Flora is taken off, life-support after a coma, Saffy receives her heart
The book alternates between Saffy‘s point of view, and Flora‘s sister Fern’s POV. Overtime the women become close, and an important part of each other’s live
The first half of the book focuses on the ethics of switching off life-support and harvesting the organs for transplant. Eventually, the focus falls on the mystery of Flora’s murder
Although I found the book an easy read, I struggled to feel a strong connection with any of the characters. Considering everything revolved around Flora - her murder, her organs, recipients - the fact that we never got flashbacks felt like a missed opportunity, and something that I craved
In the second half of the book, there was a lot of fast paced discoveries, twists and turns which I enjoyed, but wished it could have been more consistent throughout
I thought the big reveal, although not completely shocking was great! It was fast paced, dramatic and got pretty twisty. If the pace and focus had been more consistent, I’d have been more chipper
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review
The book alternates between Saffy‘s point of view, and Flora‘s sister Fern’s POV. Overtime the women become close, and an important part of each other’s live
The first half of the book focuses on the ethics of switching off life-support and harvesting the organs for transplant. Eventually, the focus falls on the mystery of Flora’s murder
Although I found the book an easy read, I struggled to feel a strong connection with any of the characters. Considering everything revolved around Flora - her murder, her organs, recipients - the fact that we never got flashbacks felt like a missed opportunity, and something that I craved
In the second half of the book, there was a lot of fast paced discoveries, twists and turns which I enjoyed, but wished it could have been more consistent throughout
I thought the big reveal, although not completely shocking was great! It was fast paced, dramatic and got pretty twisty. If the pace and focus had been more consistent, I’d have been more chipper
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review
February 15, 2024
If you enjoyed The Silent Patient, you will enjoy The Patient by Teri Terri
****I definitely recommend this and give it 4.5 stars!*****
This was a really well done slow-burn suspense, psychological thriller.
I really enjoyed how all the aspects of the book tied well together, but it wasn't easily sorted out throughout the book. It was possible to potentially put a few details together, but you weren't sure if they were all going to fit together in the end.
The narration of this book was well done. Sarah Durham did an excellent job of telling the story and not trying too hard, but also not being flat and robotic.
I want to thank #Netgalley and #BookoutureAudio for an advanced audio copy of this book. All my opinions are my own and I am thankful for the opportunity to listen to this!
February 1, 2024
This is what I call a Lifetime thriller! Meaning, if you like lifetime movies, you’ll love this book! Before I get started, I do want to mention this needs a TW for child abuse.
“The Patient,” is a psychological thriller about a woman who receives a heart transplant from a girl who was murdered. She feels a connection to her, and when others are attacked that received organs from the victim, she can’t help but worry.
The story starts a bit slow, but the second half is wild. I couldn’t wait to see what happened, and am still trying to figure out what I actually think of the book. I didn’t see the end coming at all! It is very dark and twisted. Overall, if you are ok with kid stuff and into thrillers you’ll probably like this one!
“The Patient,” is a psychological thriller about a woman who receives a heart transplant from a girl who was murdered. She feels a connection to her, and when others are attacked that received organs from the victim, she can’t help but worry.
The story starts a bit slow, but the second half is wild. I couldn’t wait to see what happened, and am still trying to figure out what I actually think of the book. I didn’t see the end coming at all! It is very dark and twisted. Overall, if you are ok with kid stuff and into thrillers you’ll probably like this one!
May 29, 2024
This was such a good fast pace thriller that is different than the other thriller I’ve read this year! It did remind me of the Silent Patient a little but I think this one had more of a plot and I enjoyed it more. This book begins with Saphy undergoing a heart transplant and it follows Saphy’s post transplant journey finding out secrets about her own life and about the life of her donor, Flora. Flora was attacked and later was presumed to be brain dead. Allowing Flora’s organs to be donated. Saphy starts to feel connected to Flora, to the point of obsession. Saphy starts to learn as much as she can about Flora’s murder, family, and past life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook of The Patient!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook of The Patient!
February 7, 2024
I was initially drawn to this audiobook by its captivating cover, and I'm glad I decided to give it a listen. While the story started off a bit slow, the intricate development of each character's role proved to be crucial to the impactful conclusion. Around the 70% mark, the pace picked up significantly, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Teri Terry masterfully delves into the perspectives of both organ donors and recipients, shedding light on the profound complexities of organ donation. The narrative left me hoping for a movie adaptation to bring its compelling storyline to the screen. The writing was skillful and engaging, making it a highly enjoyable listen. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to fellow avid readers, as well as friends and family. Moreover, the empowering message conveyed towards the end, particularly the ode to women and girls, resonated deeply with me. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 13, 2024
Thank you netgalley and bookouture audio for the audiobook!
This was the authors first adult novel, and I loved it!! It was a slow burn, but the character development kept me invested and dying to know the outcome. I think the narrator was perfect for the story as well. The author also touches on sexual abuse and I think the messaging portrayed was poetic and justice was served!
Overall, well done, this book tugged on my heartstrings in some ways, especially given the heart transplant and organ donation setting, but also the warmth and support of family and friends during such challenging times. And then on the other hand, it gave me the thriller vibes of you can’t trust anyone. Clearly, this book gave me all the feels! Highly recommend!
This was the authors first adult novel, and I loved it!! It was a slow burn, but the character development kept me invested and dying to know the outcome. I think the narrator was perfect for the story as well. The author also touches on sexual abuse and I think the messaging portrayed was poetic and justice was served!
Overall, well done, this book tugged on my heartstrings in some ways, especially given the heart transplant and organ donation setting, but also the warmth and support of family and friends during such challenging times. And then on the other hand, it gave me the thriller vibes of you can’t trust anyone. Clearly, this book gave me all the feels! Highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2024
I gave it 3 stars but it was more like 2.5.
I love a good thriller, but there wasn’t a whole lot that was thrilling about this book until the very end. The book started off making me think it was going to be exciting from the very start, but it ended up being a very slow build. I found it a little boring at moments.
In the end it was fine. If you‘ve read as many thrillers as I have, the end was a bit predictable. All in all I would suggest giving it a try. If you’re newer to the thriller genre you’ll probably enjoy this book a bit more than me.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this arc! All opinions are my own.
I love a good thriller, but there wasn’t a whole lot that was thrilling about this book until the very end. The book started off making me think it was going to be exciting from the very start, but it ended up being a very slow build. I found it a little boring at moments.
In the end it was fine. If you‘ve read as many thrillers as I have, the end was a bit predictable. All in all I would suggest giving it a try. If you’re newer to the thriller genre you’ll probably enjoy this book a bit more than me.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this arc! All opinions are my own.
February 14, 2024
Whoa! What a page turner! I devoured this book. The story is told from multiple POV-primarily Spahy and Fern. Spahy was dealt a rough hand in life. She was born with a congenital heart defect, and she lost both of her parents. A heart transplant gives her a new look at life. Fern is an ER resident, always living in her sister’s shadow, trying to earn the approval of her parents until her sister is murdered. I was really invested in these characters as they tried to figure out who killed Fern’s sister, Flora. Both are strong female characters determined to get to the bottom of the murder.
This is @TeriTerryWrites first adult psychological thriller, and I hope it’s not her last! I’m looking forward to more! I really liked this one and highly recommend you give it a try!
This is @TeriTerryWrites first adult psychological thriller, and I hope it’s not her last! I’m looking forward to more! I really liked this one and highly recommend you give it a try!
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