The Guilty Patient: A totally addictive and gripping psychological thriller

by Luana Lewis

I take a deep breath before I utter the words I’m terrified to speak out loud. My therapist waits, but nothing could prepare her for what I say next. ‘I think I killed my best friend…’

Three years ago, Alice and I went away for a fun weekend with our big group of friends. But at the end of the trip, police cars flooded the house where we were staying. Alice had been found. Dead. And no one knew what happened to her.

I’ve tried to remember the lost hours before her death, but only snapshots appear in my mind – Alice’s silk scarf, given to her by a secret boyfriend, the silly argument we had when she refused to tell me, and her relationship with Tom, the man who would later become my own husband…

Now, as I talk to my therapist, my heart pounds in my chest. Because I’ve had a breakthrough. And I start to remember that I was there when Alice took her last breath. I was standing over her… could I be her killer?

As my therapist begins to question all our friends, one thing becomes clear – we all have a different version of events. I’m certain someone close to me is keeping a deadly secret. How can I believe anyone around me, when I can’t even trust myself?

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Silent Patient. Prepare to stay up all night to find out what really happened to Alice!

What readers are saying about The Guilty Patient:

‘I read it on one sitting… Wow!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Had me on the edge of my seat. Kept me hooked… I couldn’t put it down… I was gripped.’ Rubie_reads, 5 stars

‘I was hooked from the beginning and I loved the twists and turns.’ Sams.Reading.Journal99

‘I flew through this… I was hooked from the start.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A fast-paced thriller. It sucks you in right from the beginning!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A must-read!!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘One twisty ride… Absolutely thrilling.’ Bookloversanonuk

‘A twisted tale full of lies and deceit… I loved it!’ NetGalley reviewer

‘A true twisty and turny thriller… Couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A suspenseful, action-packed thriller.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Gripped me, kept me wondering, and fascinated me.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘This hooked me in wanting to know what happened… It’s a shocker!!!!’ Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

What readers are saying about Luana

‘WOW… What a rollercoaster… Hooked from beginning to end. Couldn’t turn the pages fast enough… Settle in for the many twists that are going to hit you from all sides.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2024

About the author

S.L. Lewis is a clinical psychologist and author of two non-fiction books (written under Sharon Lewis ): An Adult’s Guide to Childhood Trauma (1999, Cape Town: David Phillip Publishers) and Dealing with Rape (1994,Johannesburg: Maskew Miller Longman). As well as writing for several newspapers, magazines and journals, she has recently completed an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She has also attended workshops at Arvon and City Lit.

DON’T STAND SO CLOSE is her début novel, a gripping psychological thriller about a reclusive psychologist who is forced to confront trauma from her past and secrets in her marriage.

Reviews

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guilty Patient
By: Luana Lewis
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: October 14, 2024

Mia is returning to a place where her friend Alice was found dead at the lake years ago. She is going back with her husband Tom, and has never really spoken about that weekend.
She is now seeing a therapist and is having flashbacks? New memories are coming back. Could she have been responsible? Are they false memories? Is she being manipulated?
This noel explores a few scenarios which lead to several possibilities. She was not the only one there that weekend. Some memories stay hidden to protect us?
This novel is fast-paced and what you want in a suspense psychological thriller.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I killed my best friend

Mia doesn't remember if she killed her best friend or not. Three years ago, Mia and her best friend Alice went on a trip together, one that Alice didn't come back from alive, but Mia doesn't remember what happened, and no one was every charged for Alice's death. Now, after three years, Mia had this random memory of that fateful night and goes to a psychologist to attempt to remember what happened.

Honestly, I was unsure about Tara at first. I mean, someone walks into your office for their first appointment, says they might have killed their best friend, and you decide there's not enough time left in the session to go into that and leave it for the next session? I could never do that. I would instantly cancel everything and try and find out what happened. But as the book went on, I understood where she was coming from about needing Mia to be ready to share, and wanting to be sure that she would be able to get the whole and accurate story. In the end, I appreciated what Tara did to help Mia, and help her figure out if she truly did kill her best friend.

The chapters were very short, so it made it seem like I flew through this book and it was pretty fast paced for the most part, with a couple of lulls here and there, but I was hooked from the start. Throughout each chapter, old memories are recovered and new information is brought to light, which added more to the story and the question of what happened to Alice, who did it, and why. I found myself constantly changing my idea of what had happened every time new information was given. Tara, Mia's psychologist, works with Mia and utilizing several other sources to find out exactly what happened. The ending caught me completely off guard, it was not one of the options that I had come up with and I really enjoyed that.

My main complaint that I had about this book is not really a complaint, because I understand why it was done, it just got confusing at times. This book does go back and forth between the present and several different timelines in the past.

Thank you to Bookouture, Luana Lewis, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

[Jordan (jordanbeavenblogs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Guilty Patient, a Psychological Thriller, written by Luana Lewis. Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for allowing me to read this Advanced Reader Copy in return for an honest review📖

I thought this book started quite slow however soon became fast paced with many different twists and turns! I was always second guessing myself!

We start off meeting a pregnant woman who is seeing a psychologist as she is determined she murdered her best friend. Throughout this book we follow the pregnant lady and her psychologist whilst they break everything down and come face to face with the truth whilst also gaining insight as to who killed her best friend.

This book was insane when you get into it, I absolutely loved it and feel obliged to read the authors other book!

I really did feel as though I had worked it all out but as the pages kept being turned I got myself more and more into a jumble of thoughts that I just couldn’t understand. However thanks to the psychologist who works with the pregnant lady it slowly unpicks the night in question and it all made sense in the end…although the ending was not what I had expected in the slightest!

A very enjoyable and quick read and one I found had me hooked! I wish we knew more about the life afterwards but I feel lucky to have been able to catch a glimpse, I wish to have known more but I’ll settle for what’s left for us to enjoy!

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Guilty Patient is more a murder mystery than a psychological thriller.
A slow burn melodrama, a cast of intense characters and a storyline of how the past can affect the present.
Dr Tara Black is a psychologist who is dealing with some personal trauma and issues.
She is introduced to a new patient, Mia who is getting flashbacks from her past.
Mia is seeing her best friend die and thinks she could be responsible.
What happened that day….
Can Tara get Mia to remember the truth…..
A good read with a good ending.
It was solidly written enough for me to want to read to the end and discover what happened.
I did identify that this is the second book to feature the main character but it didn’t alter my reading experience.

[Sylvia Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guilty Patient by Luana Lewis
#theguiltypatient
#luanalewis


Rating 4 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
https://instagram.com/sylv.iareads?ig...
Www.goodreads.com/dsamuel48samgmailcom

Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat

My review
Alice died 3 yrs. ago. Mia, her best friend, is just now realizing she may have been the one to kill her.
She goes to see Tara a phycologist to help
Tara has her own issues. She was dating a married man who had passed away a yr. ago and left her a hefty estate. Of top of that, when she was younger, her parents were killed, and it has always been assumed that Matthew, her older brother, is the one who killed their parents. But Matthew has been missing ever since their parents were killed
Carolyn is a psychotherapist, and Mia was her patient first
Tara goes to Carolyn to get the case notes on Mia, but it seems there is something, or should we say nothing in the notes as if Carolyn left things out on purpose
There is a collection of in laws that may know more than what they are telling
But someone certainly killed Alice 3yrs ago
Was it you?

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller about a young pregnant woman that comes to see a psychologist to try and work out what happened the night her friend died. She has been carrying the pain of her death for years and as she nears the end of her pregnancy is unable to bond or get excited about the baby due to her fears that she may have had something to do with her friends death. As Tara tries to get to the bottom of the demons haunting her patient and delve deeper into her life and family she is also chasing some secrets of her own. This is one of these books where you are constantly changing your mind about what happened and it takes some time to actually like the young woman or understand why she is the way she is. A really good read with a great twist at the end.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars: Fragile memories, guilt, and the distortion of self

A full review can be found at: https://criminallycreepybooks.substac...

The Guilty Patient by Luana Lewis is not just a whodunit murder mystery; it is a study of the human psyche, the fragility of memory, and how trauma can distort both our recollections and sense of self.

The story follows Mia. Heavily pregnant, she is battling with the terrifying possibility she killed her best friend, Alice, three years earlier. The problem? Mia can’t remember what happened. All she has is snippets to form her version of events. “I think I killed my best friend,” Mia boldly states to her therapist, Dr. Tara Black, during their first meeting. Traumatised, Tara is intent on unearthing the truth. Together, they try to de-mist Mia’s memory and recover the events of that fateful night.

These sessions aren’t easy on Mia. Her mental health starts to crumble and her behaviour becomes increasingly heightened - borderline erratic. She becomes confused, aloof, conflicted, and dissociative. Tara is understandably concerned, and before long, she is embedded into every facet of Mia’s life (inappropriately so, I would argue). The duo slowly begin to discover more than what they bargained for.

At its core, The Guilty Patient is a psychological thriller that explores issues concerning fractured memories, guilt, deception, and self-doubt. Rooted in her experience as a clinical psychologist, Lewis does a commendable job of pulling the reader through a maze of unreliable narrators, red herrings, and untrustworthy characters.

The short and snappy chapters made the reading experience feel brisk and engaging. When I thought I had a handle on what had happened, fresh insights would emerge, causing me to reassess my theories - a hallmark of a solid popcorn thriller.

The Guilty Patient has multiple tentacles - there is a lot going on. It is made up of many differing versions of events and secondary storylines. There are a lot of red threads to follow. I don’t mind this; however, for those who prefer a more linear narrative, the story may sometimes feel a little convoluted and difficult to keep up with. Coupled with various time hops, it’s understandable that some readers may find the plot jarring and overly complicated, even when the thread ends loosely come together at the end.

And the ending? The novel's final act delivers a satisfying conclusion. That’s all I shall say about that.

Overall, The Guilty Patient is a solid domestic thriller and suspense that explores the human mind's dark corners and how guilt and trauma can distort reality. Yes, it’s jam-packed, which may be its downfall for some, but fans of thrillers such as The Girl on the Train will appreciate its links to unreliable memories and the haunting power of the unknown within one’s own mind.

Recommended for fans of:
- Authors such as Freida McFadden, Fiona Barton, and B.A. Paris
- Books such as The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects, and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
- Popcorn thrillers with flawed, unreliable narrators at its core

Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour and for allowing me access to the book via NetGallery in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The highly anticipated return of S.L. Lewis, a clinical psychologist and bestselling author (Luana Lewis, favorite author) follows The Perfect Patient (5 Stars) with her latest gripping and emotional psychological thriller, THE GUILTY PATIENT.

With her unique insight into the human mind, Lewis weaves a story about someone desperate to bury the past and willing to resort to dangerous measures to protect their deadliest secret. The plot is a masterful blend of suspense and mystery, ensuring you're always on the edge of your seat.

We catch up with the last book, The Perfect Patient, and this is part of my review of that book:

SEQUEL: I would like to see a sequel to catch up with the characters and dive deeper into Dr. Tara Black's (I loved her character) background, the murder of her family, and the missing brother, among other things.

Thank you. Wish granted!

About...

TARA: Picking up from the last book...

Dr. Tara Black (forties) is newly grieving with her partner, Daniel, who died in a tragic car accident a year earlier. She was in the car, however, unharmed. She had spent more than twenty years as a psychologist and in private practice. Tara was dating Daniel, who was married and had a family and was getting a divorce. His insurance money had saved the clinic. People close to her had a habit of dying too young. Unexpectedly and violently. She learned she was the executor.

Daniel was a best friend of her older brother, who is still missing after her parent's murder years ago. She was away when it happened, and the cops think the murderer was Matthew. She has since changed her name due to the publicity surrounding the case. Her parents had been murdered when she was sixteen, and their case, too, remained unsolved.

Tara has worked with many memory loss and trauma patients, and Mia is her patient. She is drawn to the darker cases that resonate with her ghosts. This was the first time anyone in her office had wanted to confess to murder. Mia was full of contradiction.

MIA: Three years earlier, Alice Kelly (her best friend), age 25, was found dead in a lake near the house where she was staying with friends for the weekend. Mia and her now husband, Tom (two years), were there but never spoke about what had happened. No one was ever charged with her death.

Alice’s silk scarf was given to her by a secret boyfriend, and then they argued when she refused to tell her about this secret guy. What was she hiding? Alice was in a relationship with Tom, who later became Mia's husband.

Mia is pregnant and now in therapy with Dr. Tara Black as she is having flashbacks. She has new memories and details about Alice's final hours. She wonders if she could have killed her best friend. Why has she suppressed this?

She confesses to her therapist, and things start falling apart. Everyone that was there had a different account. Did she kill her friend? Someone doesn't want the past to resurface and will go to dangerous lengths to keep their deadliest secret. Who did Alice come in contact with after she left Mia?

We also met Carolyn, a psychotherapist whom Mia saw for almost two months and who is connected to the storyline.

All the stories intertwine as we hear from Tara and her personal story. Did Daniel have a secret life, and who has he been sending money to from a Swiss bank account? Could it be her brother, Matthew (who was Daniel's friend)? Could he be alive, and what had happened to their parents? Matthew has not been seen since. She needed the truth.

Tara may be able to face the last of her family's demons. Will she be able to get answers to bring closure? And who killed Alice? Is the scarf the key? Was Mia responsible? And what was the motive?

My thoughts...

I loved this book! It was so much more than a whodunit—it was a why, how, and who, plus more.

THE GUILTY PATIENT is psychologically rich, absorbing, intriguing, compelling, twisty, and sinister. This multi-layered mystery with dual storylines is a well-written, intense domestic suspense mystery that will keep you glued to the pages. The characters are complex and flawed, with their dark secrets and motivations, making you feel deeply connected and invested in their stories.

The narrative alternates between Mia and Tara, focusing on Tara and her past and present. I was introduced to Tara in the last book, a personal favorite, and I was eager to uncover the answers to the mysteries surrounding her parents and brother.

Equally captivating is the storyline of Mia, Tom, and Alice and the intricate web of connections that bind all the characters. How their stories intersect adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, keeping you hooked until the very end.

As mentioned in my previous review, the author is a pro with vast expertise in this field as a clinical psychologist. Lewis tackles trauma, guilt, self-doubt, deception, and memory loss with sensitivity and compassion, ensuring the psychological aspects of the book are authentic and engaging.

Brilliantly crafted with a twisty plot, clever misdirection, unreliable narrators, red herrings, and a wide cast of characters— you are not sure whom to trust, leaving you guessing until the twisty, satisfying conclusion.

I enjoyed THE GUILTY PATIENT so much that I turned on the audio on my Kindle app/iPad and iPhone to listen in the car while doing other things to avoid missing anything.

I highly recommend this author who wowed me back in 2014 when I started my blog with Don't Stand So Close, The Perfect Patient (2023), and with THE GUILTY PATIENT.

Recs...

The novel is for fans of the author and readers who enjoy smartly written psychological thrillers, as well as works by B.A. Paris, Freida McFadden, Fiona Barton, Christina McDonald, Sally Hepworth, Kimberly Belle, Michael Robotham, D.J. Palmer, and Mary Kubica.

Thanks...

Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing a gifted advance reading copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 14, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
Oct 2024 Must-Read Books
Oct Newsletter

[Cc Readsss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The guilty patient 4⭐️
Release: Oct 13

Genre:
suspense thriller

Details:
Alice and Mia went on a weekend getaway with their friends 3 years ago. Alice's remains are found in her home. The narrator is Mia who recounts the moments just before Alice passes away recalling her relationship with Tom- who Mia would eventually marry.
Mia experiences a breakthrough during a therapy session and begins to recall being with Alice when she took her last breath leading her to believe she killed her best friend.
She fears someone close to her is hiding a terrible secret, so she starts questioning her friends about how they see the events. Because she is unable to trust herself, Mia finds it difficult to believe those around her.

Thoughts along the way:

-Why does Mia have difficulty remembering things?
-the details of fatal incident with her friend Alice
-her mother (even though she passed when Mia was only 7)
-did Carolyn plant the memory in Mias head? Why did she suddenly remember after all this time?
--trauma induced false memory?
-Could she really kill Alice that easily?
-there are a lot of plots being introduced, I hope they all come together in the end
-what's with the Freddie situation?

Mia

-36ish weeks pregnant
-Tom loved Alice before he loved Mia (was dating Alice when she died)
-chronic headaches (could they be tied to her lapses in memory?)
--hearing a voice when headaches are present?
--what causes these headaches?
-was she high the night Alice died?
-Could explain the lapses in memory

Tara

-lost her husband Daniel in a hit and run 1 year ago
-blames herself
--did Daniel have a secret life?
-swiss bank account that has payments going out routinely
-this was predictable, but make sense
-brother Matthew
--is he really dead?
--why can't Tara remember the details of Matthew's death?
---Matthew was charged with the murder of their parents?
-did she kill her mother?

Alice
-financial instability in childhood causing fears in her adult life
-was high when she died
-is she sleeping with David?
--nope!
-the scarf!

*thank you to netgalley, the publisher & author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

[Victoria Postlewait · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Guilty Patient has some good elements! While the story itself is interesting and I did want to find out what is going on, there was a lot going on in the story which made it a bit confusing. There is a story in itself with the patient that is having memories of killing her best friend after therapy sessions and there is a story about the therapist herself which is a whole other plot line. I couldn't really find myself liking any of the characters in this story, the therapist especially, I would have liked to have seen a bit more character development.. We don't get much of a glimpse into many home life interactions, mainly her job as a therapist and the unethical things she does. I say this as a therapist myself, whenever I read a psychological thriller that has a therapist I can be quite critical, "That is not HIPPA compliant!". There were a lot of these moments in this book, from being having wine alone with a patient's dad who has a shady background to interviewing the main patient's friends and family and setting zero boundaries. Overall there were some elements I did enjoy in this book, I did find myself wanting to know the answers and the overall twist. Not a bad read!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

[A Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Guilty Patient by Luana Lewis. Though it stared a bit slow it quickly picked up and was hard to put down.

Pregnant Mia seeks the help of Psychologist Dr Tara Black, after having recurrent visions of her friend Alice's death years earlier. Thinking she may have played a role in her death, Mia is unable to find peace and enjoy her pregnancy. She knows Alice was planning on leaking a big secret that would affect both of them. She also knew she was jealous of the relationship Alice was in with boyfriend
Tom because she herself was in love with Tom. But could she be that angry or jealous to commit such a violent act?

Tara is immediately drawn to her new patient, but seems to have her own past issues she needs to deal with. Going back and forth between the two pasts, Tara uncovers answers, some she wasn't ready for, and as a result both she and Mia can begin their healing process.

The story alternates between Mia and Tara with more emphasis on Tara and her past. It alternates between past and present, and at times can get a little confusing but is a good story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have met Dr Tara Black in the previous book and she plays one of the main roles again. She is not the only recurring character though. There are two more who make a reappearance. 

Tara is not the only one who is struggling to remember what happened that one horrific night many years ago. Her new patient also seems to have trouble recalling the details of that particular evening that turned her world upside down.

Tara will not stop until she has done everything she can to help her patient, trying to find out if she is indeed a guilt y patient.

In the meantime, Tara is still trying to work through her grief, but there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

This is a story about trauma and feeling guilty It also shows how the past can effect the present. There are a lot of emotions involved and let's not forget about the twists and turns...

The author created interesting characters and although I found it a bit slow paced, it's is still a great book. 4,5 stars.

Thank you

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was good but boy was there a lot going on here. There are several stories being told and although they all kind of come together I still felt it was a lot to keep up with. There's the therapist's story, the victim's story, the in-laws story, the other therapist's story and of course, the guilty patient's story. I had a difficult time getting it all straight and actually getting into it but closer to the end it really started getting good and although the end seemed a little abrupt the main question was answered in a satisfying way. I was left with a few new questions that I hope to see answered in the future because I do think there are two characters that would make great partners in future stories. I will say this, my absolute favorite part was the offer of some gelato! You will just have to read it to find out what I mean and what it is I want to see more of.

[Stormi Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guilty Patient
By: Luana Lewis

4 Stars

Tara is a psychologist with her own problems, but when Mia walks in one day, this case Tara knows will be one that will take all her strength. Mias best friend dies and is having terrible memories. Is it real? Did Mia kill her best friend?

This was a fast-paced thriller with a twisty story. I loved the storyline, and Mia, being in her condition, adds to the seriousness of the story. This was a story that blended pain and loss with secrets and family drama. It was intriguing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was a bit like getting two stories for one. Tara, having her own side story, adds a mystery to the story aside from Mia and Alices. It really wrapped it all up in a fine and crazy bow at the end because I never saw that ending coming.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

[Mackenzie Busalacchi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Guilty Patient is a suspenseful, action-packed thriller. My main issue with the book was that there seemed to be way too many plots for one book. Clearly, if you had read her previous book, you'd understand a bit more of some of the side comments and character interactions. While I was intrigued with Mia's story, most of the book was spent on Tara. I, personally, didn't care about Tara's relationship with her brother or what happened to their family (maybe I would have if I'd read her previous book). I did enjoy the actual mystery around Mia and who killed her friend. I was continuously guessing throughout, which I do love in a thriller. This book was a bit all over the place, which is possibly why my review seems disorderly. Overall, there was just too much going on that didn't actually connect for me to enjoy the book.

[Heather McIndoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this thriller novel, we follow the FMC as she tries to remember what happened to her best friend, and if she is the one responsible for her death. As the book goes on, more and more memories are put to light. Did she kill her best friend?

She goes back to where it all began to attempt to find the truth out once and for all, but will she regret it?

This book was fast paced and had me hooked from page one. I caught myself holding my breath and wondering “maybe she did kill her” and a few chapters later “there’s no way it was her, was it?”

I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC. Also a big thank you to the author, Luana Lewis for writing this masterpiece. And Bookouture for publishing this and granting me the opportunity to read it before others. This is my honest review.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia Phillips’ best friend Alice Kelly, dies while they are out at a cottage in the woods together. Three years after Alice’s death, Mia has a possible recovered memory of her killing her friend. She starts seeing Dr. Tara Black to figure out if it was a real memory or something else.

This one held my attention and I thought it was so good! I like that the chapters are short, I think that helps to keep the story moving and you just want to find out the truth! Lots of twists and reveals, I didn’t suspect what really happened!

I thought the fact that Dr. Black had some similar experiences in her own life that she could relate to what Mia was going through was an interesting aspect of the book.

I didn’t know this was the second book, I’m going to go and read The Perfect Patient now!

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Luana Lewis, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing this book so I can bring you this review.

Luana Lewis brings us readers a different kind of psychological thriller that I am used to in her latest The Guilty Patient. Where one of the main characters point blank confesses killing someone hiding nothing.

I loved how Luana made her prologue stand out with vivid descriptive details of the events that had been seen. This hooked me into the story wanting to know what happened to the poor girl.

What I found interesting is Mia confessed to killing her only friend and best friend Alice but WHY?!!! When readers find out why it’s a shocker!!!!

Through the story we learn a little more about Mia’s past

[ashlin.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a thrilling read that once I got hooked in, I was truly hooked. I would probably really give this a 3.5. I enjoyed the book overall, but it's not one that I would probably go back to read again.

I will say, it took me a bit to get really into this story as I felt some of the build up was dragging on. However, that didn't effect how I felt overall about the story. I think she did a great job setting up each twist that came and I truly had no idea what was going to happen next. There were multiple different stories going on within this book and I think the author did a good job of not making that confusing. Overall I think this is definitely one to add for some suspenseful reading!

[KKEC Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Guilty Patient by Luana Lewis

Published: October 14, 2024
Bookouture
Genre: Noir Crime
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free and leave my review voluntarily.

I enjoyed how this story was told. The alternating time periods and the use of perspectives and memory were excellent.

The character development was so well done. The way you build a relationship with these characters, then doubts move in, then assumptions start, was brilliantly built up.

I loved the shorter chapters; they made the story feel like it was flying by. This was engaging and fast-paced, holding my attention from start to finish. I could not find good stopping points!

The power of friendship, trust, and truth will be tested- where will you land?

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tara's patient, Mia, has a vision of her killing her best friend, Alice.
Tara sets about to investigate this, and to find out if Mia is guilty of the crime, and if this is nothing more than a false memory.
She finds out that several people have the motive and opportunity to have killed Alice, but each suspect is holding back, or blatantly lying.

This book was good, but the pace was too slow for me. There are many twists, but to keep up with the lies that are told by the characters, I really had to concentrate.
It is full of suspense, and quite emotional as Mia is struggling with guilt.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a lot going on here, that gripped me, kept me wondering, and fascinated me. I have always found how the brain works to be fascinating, and this showed me a different side of how it works. My brain seemed tangled at times, just like the story, but as I read, there was a lot to figure out. I will admit, I did not figure it out, but Luana Lewis, does tell us what really happened. If you want to delve into a story that has lots of twist and turns, with many different people thinking they did it, this is the book for you. It might challenge you, and you might not figure it out either.
I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley.

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia is tormented by the thought that she may have been responsible for her best friend Alice's death many years ago. In an attempt to piece together what happened on that fateful day, she seeks the help of a psychologist to unlock her memories.

The book started slowly and failed to hold my interest; I got easily distracted. Additionally, too many characters were introduced at once, making it difficult to keep track. However, as I better understood the story, I appreciated the use of multiple perspectives and the seamless transitions between past and present.

This book was all right, but it wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the free copy of the book.

[P.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ psychological drama
✨ varies of timelines
✨ feeling of whodunit




✨ Mia is the main character in this story .
The feeling of guilt she have thinking did she really killed her bestfriend?
This story has a varities of past and present timelines.
It may get confusing but every chapter is short and fast paced to read.


✨ a story of feeling whodunit - it was consist of drama and thriller on the ending as it involved Mia’s therapist. Why and why she she involved?


✨ great fast paced book! Definitely recommended.



✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.




🫶🏼 shaye.reads

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars and on KU

Let me start by saying Tara Black is a perfect example of what a therapist should NOT do! Dr. Black is referred to a patient named Mia who believes she may have killed her best friend. Mia is 36 weeks pregnant and now married to her dead best friend's boyfriend. Mia is suddenly having flashbacks of the night of Alice's death. Once Tara is thrust into the family of Mia and her in-laws she starts to unravel a lot of secrets which remind Tara of her own family's secrets she is trying to solve. This was a unique thriller and I did enjoy it. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Book Review 📖 Memories are sneaky. Mia has been grieving the death of her best friend Alice. Through her grief, she ended up marrying AlIce’s boyfriend Tom and now the two are expecting a baby. At the end of the pregnancy, Mia has recovered the memory that she herself killed Alice. The Guilty Patient is one twisty ride through lies, secrets, and bombshells that are bound to be uncovered. But Luana Lewis leads us to question how reliable our memories can be, especially when related to trauma in this absolutely thrilling novel.

[Lexi Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. I had a couple guesses of who had done it and in the end, I was wrong. I did like the characters and how they were portrayed. However, there was one phrase in the book that kind of irked me. I’m not sure if it’s said differently than where I’m from but the phrase was “bushy-tailed and bright-eyed”. It was weird to see it that way since I’m used to it being “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed”. But other than that, no complaints.

[Stephanie T · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are introduced to Mia, a pregnant patient seeking psychotherapy to uncover memories from the night her best friend died. From there, there are so many subplots in this book it is impossible to touch on them all in one review.
The story was intriguing but a bit drawn out. Overall I enjoyed it and wanted to figure out what really happened that night.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Trina 🌻 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read by Luana Lewis. The Guilty Patient was provided to me by NetGalley for my honest opinion. The premise of the book is good. I always find myself drawn to the psychologist/therapy trope so that had my attention. It did take me a bit to get into though. As I kept reading I was more invested in the characters and the plot unraveling. The timelines could be hard to keep up with but the suspense aspect was so good! All in all it was a good read.

[Becky 🐆 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It pulled me in straight away and had several twists and turns to keep me guessing. I liked the jumps in time line and different perspectives throughout. I also enjoyed reading about a therapist and how memories can make people question everything. It’s definitely made me interested to read more books by this author. I’m thrilled to have been given a chance to be an ARC reader for this book and I’ll be recommending it to friends and family.