A morbid, chilling, and deeply disturbing tale. The Patient is a pulse pounding psychological thriller by the bestselling author of Everybody Ain't Your Friend and The Quiet Ones series.
After a rough upbringing, Nina thought she was destined to be one of the have-nots. Until a surprising turn of events catapulted her into everything she ever wanted.
The best days of her life, however, quickly turned into the worst experience she ever faced. Diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Nina is told she has less than six months to live.
Her health is failing rapidly, and time is running out. Nina is doing everything she can to survive.
But what if her demise is the goal?
What if sickness isn't her only problem, and there's a killer in her midst?
A pulse-pounding drama full of twists and turns. This series is fast-paced, straight to the point, and packs a powerful punch that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Red Series is composed of self-contained stories – they can be read in any order.
The way this book stressed me out should be studied! It’s one thing to dislike the villain, but when the actual person you’re rooting for stresses you out too (Nina), there’s simply no winning lol.
Rick was pure evil! There’s literally no other words that can describe him. If Tanisha can’t do anything else, she can write an MMC that will have you questioning the men in your own life lol. At times, I felt bad for Nina, but some of her bad decision-making made me want to shake her. My favorite character, Ms Earline hands down! I felt like she was the only one that had some sense and she was definitely down like four flat tires. This is book 7 for me of the red series, and although it is extremely hard to pick a favorite, I will say this is in my top three, Along with The Hitchhiker & The Babysitter.
The story and plot were well written, and the characters were developed very well. My only struggle was Nina’s naivety.
I know she had a lot going on, but it became a bit frustrating and annoying toward the end of the book. If you can look past that, I think you’ll really enjoy the story.
The characters are well written and the plot was unexpected and wild. The main character frustrated me, but to her credit, she had a lot going on. The ending was satisfying.
Truly, it was a great read. Nina was stuck on finding love after experiencing so much disappointment in her life. She allowed herself to be manipulated without realizing that her boyfriend was isolating her from her loved ones. It's easy for this to happen in real life, and this book shows how the desperation to be loved and the desire to have your own happily ever after can lead to misjudgment and easy manipulation.
You win the lottery to find out that you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, what’s next for you?
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller with elements of secrecy & “trusting your gut” then, this may be your next read.
-cancer diagnosed FMC -living out your last days to the fullest -ignoring your intuition -strong villain MMC -coming into a large sum of money -complicated mother/daughter dynamics -could easily be a Tubi movie -around 150 pages
The FMC, Nina, was stressful during this one. There’s always something about a grown yet naïve MC that annoys me. The entire time I was waiting on her to get it together.
The audiobook didn’t do it for me either. The narrator for Nina didn’t elevate the story like I hoped it would. I was anticipating the classic T. Stewart audiobook pull that makes the story more “creepy”.
Overall, it isn’t in my top favorite books from this series. But, it’s worth the read.
Nina stayed stuck on “stupid” for the entire book. 😂😂 It was a frustrating read because I just wanted Nina to do one thing different. I am not sure she should be trusted with a toddler alone for too long 😉While I agree some elements of the story were far fetched- former addicts feeling they will never be believed by police, lottery winners being stalked for their money, and running into a well-built oncologist while in Miami- I can believe 😂😂🤣 Suspenseful read, held me captive.
I am enjoying The Red Series! The Patient was incredibly intense and the events depicted in this book were shocking. Nina (FMC) was a constant source of irritation and I screamed at her throughout the book. Her desperate need for a relationship caused her to ignore all warning signs. You will definitely have an irrational fear of trusting people after reading this thriller.
4.5 - Listening to this audio had me stressed. Tanisha made it hard to root for the FMC (Nina). She got on my last baby. Ain’t no way you’re this dumb. It got to the point i didn’t even blame Rick for a moment. He was a special kind of crazy/evil and Nina’s behind was missing all the signs. Mr. Black smh and my favorite character was Corey.
The overall story, plot, pacing and narrator did a wonderful job.
3/5 - Short and cute read. Again, I am confused by the psychological thriller label as this gave more of a suspense. I needed Nina (FMC) to have a little more sense. It didn't give me had low self esteem. Rick (MMC) got what he deserved at the end.
Couldn’t wait to finish this book, it was definitely a thriller but it was also very annoying. Nina was blind as a bat and I was ready to just get it over with.
Very fast paced book with a lot of twists and turns. I’m happy that Nina got a happy ending! Absolutely loved being informed about Dr. Farid Fata. Medical malpractice is a very real thing!
❝︎All this time, the answer was right in front of me but I didn’t see it. My mom tried to warn me. So did Jamika. But I didn’t listen to either of them. I had fallen head over heels and I was a woman on a mission, fighting to salvage a piece of my life by getting married.❝︎
𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸: this book felt too real. Tanisha Stewart has a way of diving into situations that just make your stomach turn, and with The Patient, she absolutely succeeded. from the first chapter, i felt this overwhelming sense of dread—that unsettling feeling that you never know what someone is capable of. it’s a topic i already have strong feelings about, and the story just solidified that gut instinct.
the situation the FMC went through was honestly sick and wrong. i felt so deeply for her isolation, and you can’t help but root for her survival and justice. and the MMC? he can absolutely kick rocks. seriously, what he did was unforgivable, and no amount of money or justification in the world could make me understand or excuse that kind of behavior. 😤
but the turning point? when the FMC finally made her way out to miami? that was the breath of fresh air she—and i—needed. It was the absolute best thing for her growth and her journey toward recovery. i’m so glad she found the justice she deserved. the ending was truly beautiful, delivering that emotional payoff that left me smiling. Tanisha Stewart has yet to disappoint! if you’re looking for a dark, compelling read that feels incredibly authentic, pick this one up.
OMG! I think this novel is my favorite (thus far) by Tanisha Stewart! I was so angry throughout the entire novel, job well done! I was on the edge of my seat reading every line!
The female main character was annoying throughout the entire book. I cannot stand an extremely gullible human being. There is no way that after six months of knowing someone they’re going to have the password to my bank account and moved into my house. Right after you hit the lottery is wild. This book was in my opinion trying to be bring awareness to malpractice in its own way. This is very much a real thing and people should get a second opinion when it comes to life altering diagnosis if they are able.
I don't think I ever talked back to a book as much as I did with this one. Nina (MFC) got on my last nerves. I almost was about to be team Dr. Black. Now, Rick(MMC) can go straight to H E double hockey sticks with gasoline draws on. He was a crazy crazy. Where do ppl like him even come from...smh. He is a true example of " your mom should have swallowed you". The storyline, plot, and pace were all good. I listened to this while working and keep getting distracted by Nina craziness/dumbness. 😂🤣 Definitely a good read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This short story was amazing! I loved everything about it, it felt like a movie. That ending was jaw dropping. Nina was one hell of a woman. I just hope I never meet a guy like Rick because, like the author said, MR. RICK gonna have to F#$k around find out 😉 I highly recommend this; you won't be disappointed. It was a real page-turner.
So you know something isn’t right and I found myself irritated that she wasn’t more suspicious. I just suspect everyone and everything lol but this was still a good ride. I like that EVERYONE got the ending they deserved!
This read was… honestly somewhere between okay and good and I keep going back and forth on that 😅
At its core, the plot has a really solid premise. It’s the kind of idea that could hit hard if given the space to fully develop. We’re dropped into a story that has potential for depth, tension, and emotional payoff but because it’s so short, it never fully stretches its legs. I kept wanting more pages, more time, more detail.
That said, I had to check myself and reframe my expectations this is a short story, not a full novel or even a true novella. And once I looked at it through that lens, I appreciated it more.
👍🏽 What worked for me: • It was longer than the previous ones, which helped a lot • I was more engaged and actually interested in where things were going • The story itself was enjoyable I didn’t mind the ride this time
⚖️ What held it back: • Still too short to fully execute the premise • Not enough depth to make it memorable • And honestly… the audiobook narration just isn’t hitting for me 🎧😬 —which definitely affects how I connect with the story
🌶️ Spice Level: 0/5 completely clean, no spice
💭 Overall, I wouldn’t call this a full book or even a novella it really is a short story through and through. And judging it that way, it lands better.
⭐ Rating: 3/5 stars It was good. Not amazing, not groundbreaking but definitely better than the first two.
📖 I’d recommend this if you’re looking for a quick palate cleanser between heavier reads. Just go in knowing you’re getting a bite, not a full meal.
This story wasted zero time easing you in. From the diagnosis alone my chest was tight but once you realize the illness might not even be the real enemy!! Yeah paranoia unlocked. Medical horror hits different because it plays on trust, vulnerability and the power imbalance of people who literally hold your life in their hands.
Rick 🥷🏾 a walking red flag factory. Greed, manipulation and entitlement wrapped up in charm. That man needed an Oscar with the way he was performing. Can we get a handclap for the way Divine Intervention literally stepped in and rerouted Nina’s path. That felt intentional, like the universe said not today, Satan. That urge to miss her appointment wasn’t luck, it was protection.
Fast paced, unsettling and the kind of thriller that has you side eyeing doctors, lovers and your own intuition. Definitely a page turner that proves The Red Series does not come to play. My thriller era is officially activated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In The Patient, the latest installment in Tanisha Stewart's Red Series, the author introduces readers to Nina. Just as Nina finally finds stability, she receives a terminal cancer diagnosis giving her only months to live.
What intensifies the horror is that someone close to Nina stands to gain enormously from her impending death. Stewart plunges audiences deep into Nina's deteriorating mental state as the days slip away. Who can she trust in her inner circle?
The level of manipulation in this book is diabolical.😂 I found myself yelling and cussing at these characters. All I have to say is thank goodness for Cory.
This book took a little while for me to get into. It was well written and very suspenseful but, this woman did not make good decisions (when she finally started thinking for herself) and I found myself not liking her. I especially disliked that she needed a man to save her and she seemed to lack critical thinking skills or discernment at the very least. However, I know this woman. I watched her allow a man make all of her important decisions and be utterly clueless how it was actively destroying her life. I clocked it at about 15 minutes into the conversation when things weren't adding up. Instead she looked at him like he hung the stars. I often wonder if she's still in that state of delusion.
Well, I now officially have trust issues! 🤦🏽♀️ He did the absolute MOST to defraud this poor woman. The crazy part is, it reminded me of her other book, The Student, because had he just done right, he could have had everything he wanted anyway!! You ain't got ta LIE, Craig!! Lol... As with all of her books, it was a fast-paced, quick and entertaining read. If you like your suspense on the cleaner side, you have found your books. Just go read the whole series.
The main character, Nina, stomped on my nerves with her whining, wishy washy-ness and naivete. I never felt compassion for her even though I was totally invested in her plight. I kept expecting her to wake up, take control of and fight for her life. How couldn't she see the driving force behind her boyfriend's actions and how he manipulated her? This book had me on the edge, hoping this girl didn't go out like that. They say money can't buy happiness - apparently it can't buy common sense either.
I’m a big fan of Tanisha Stewart and always love supporting her work. The Patient had an intriguing setup, but Nina’s character frustrated me. She took everything at face value, didn’t research her diagnosis, and relied too heavily on Rick’s opinion—who, let’s be real, wasn’t even her husband. This was her health, and she should’ve advocated for herself.
The plot was also pretty predictable—I saw most of the twists coming early on. Still, the writing was solid, and I’ll definitely keep reading Tanisha’s books. Just not my favorite from her.
I feel so bad that I couldn't rate this higher. But 4 stars for me means I really liked a book and sadly I can't say that with this one and it's 1000% the FMC's fault.
This story follows a woman (I can't EVEN remember her name) whose boyfriend is trying to kill her. I liked the storyline and it was well written. The Dominican dude and her mama were my favs.
But the ignorance and denial of the FMC just irked me. It just took too long for her to get with the program. Has she NEVER watched true crime?! Overall I love Tanisha Stewart and I like her writing. I plan on reading the rest of the series, I think my couch detective mentality just got in my own way with this one.
When you think of what lengths people go through for greed, it's sickening. The patient is a story that from the start, let's you know something is amiss. Ms. Stewart dangles clues as to what and why these things are transpiring. We, the reader, just have to know how it ends.
This is a suspenseful tale they has you riding a wave and taps into emotions as the main character takes this unbelievable journey.
This book was so good. I could not believe that Rick was doing all that for some money that wasn't even his. He really was a terrible person and the fact that he was mad that Dr. Black was able to move on with his life. He really tried to destroyed that man. Nina was so impressed to find love and found the wrong person. She really was a good person. You gotta be careful who you try to use you.