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The Graceview Patient
Misery meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers in this genre-bending, claustrophobic hospital gothic from the bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence.
Margaret lives with a rare autoimmune condition that has destroyed her life, leaving her isolated. It has no cure, but she’s making do as best she can—until she’s offered a fully paid-for spot in an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial.
The conditions are simple, if grueling; she will live at the hospital as a full-time patient, subjecting herself to the near-total destruction of her immune system and its subsequent regeneration. The trial will essentially kill most of, but not all of her. But as the treatment progresses and her body begins to fail, she stumbles upon something sinister living and spreading within the hospital.
Unsure of what's real and what is just medication-induced delusion, Margaret struggles to find a way out as her body and mind succumb further to the darkness lurking throughout Graceview's halls.
Margaret lives with a rare autoimmune condition that has destroyed her life, leaving her isolated. It has no cure, but she’s making do as best she can—until she’s offered a fully paid-for spot in an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial.
The conditions are simple, if grueling; she will live at the hospital as a full-time patient, subjecting herself to the near-total destruction of her immune system and its subsequent regeneration. The trial will essentially kill most of, but not all of her. But as the treatment progresses and her body begins to fail, she stumbles upon something sinister living and spreading within the hospital.
Unsure of what's real and what is just medication-induced delusion, Margaret struggles to find a way out as her body and mind succumb further to the darkness lurking throughout Graceview's halls.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2025
135 people are currently reading
23999 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Starling
12 books1,994 followersCaitlin Starling is the nationally bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence, the Bram Stoker-nominated The Luminous Dead, and Last To Leave The Room. Her upcoming novels The Starving Saints and The Graceview Patient epitomize her love of genre-hopping horror; her bibliography spans besieged castles, alien caves, and haunted hospitals. Her short fiction has been published by GrimDark Magazine and Neon Hemlock, and her nonfiction has appeared in Nightmare, Uncanny, and Nightfire. Caitlin also works in narrative design, and has been paid to invent body parts. She’s always on the lookout for new ways to inflict insomnia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 716 reviews
October 3, 2025
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I've never read this author before. I like reading spooky-season books in the fall and thought I'd give this a go, as it is listed as gothic horror.
Margaret has an autoimmune disease and joins an experimental trial at Graceview Hospital. She is promised a full recovery and can't say no. They have to destroy her immune system and then regenerate it. It is uncomfortable and affects both Margaret's mind and body. While going through treatment, Margaret feels a sinister presence in the hospital, and she wonders if it is a side effect of the medication. Margaret decides to find out.
Man, did this book ever feel atmospheric and claustrophobic. I wouldn't really call this horror; most are saying it is psychological horror, and I like that because it is an excellent description of this story. Starling sets up a wonderful feeling of dread and mood; the setting is wonderful, and the protagonist's condition and its cure are out-and-out creepy. Margaret's paranoia is evident, and the slow-burning mystery of her cure is the book's most compelling aspect.
However, the pacing sometimes slows to a crawl, which frustrated me to no end. If you're looking for action or plot development, you won't find it here. And while the main storyline is compelling and very unnerving, the ending left me feeling deflated. I am wondering if there is going to be a book two. I checked and can't see it happening, so I'm rating it based on it being a standalone.
Overall, if you enjoy a dread-filled, atmospheric tale over a fast-moving one, this book may be for you. Just know that the ending is rather abrupt, which keeps the book from reaching its full potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
I've never read this author before. I like reading spooky-season books in the fall and thought I'd give this a go, as it is listed as gothic horror.
Margaret has an autoimmune disease and joins an experimental trial at Graceview Hospital. She is promised a full recovery and can't say no. They have to destroy her immune system and then regenerate it. It is uncomfortable and affects both Margaret's mind and body. While going through treatment, Margaret feels a sinister presence in the hospital, and she wonders if it is a side effect of the medication. Margaret decides to find out.
Man, did this book ever feel atmospheric and claustrophobic. I wouldn't really call this horror; most are saying it is psychological horror, and I like that because it is an excellent description of this story. Starling sets up a wonderful feeling of dread and mood; the setting is wonderful, and the protagonist's condition and its cure are out-and-out creepy. Margaret's paranoia is evident, and the slow-burning mystery of her cure is the book's most compelling aspect.
However, the pacing sometimes slows to a crawl, which frustrated me to no end. If you're looking for action or plot development, you won't find it here. And while the main storyline is compelling and very unnerving, the ending left me feeling deflated. I am wondering if there is going to be a book two. I checked and can't see it happening, so I'm rating it based on it being a standalone.
Overall, if you enjoy a dread-filled, atmospheric tale over a fast-moving one, this book may be for you. Just know that the ending is rather abrupt, which keeps the book from reaching its full potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
October 12, 2025
Margaret is a patient at Graceview, admitted for an experimental treatment. But something feels off as the nurses are acting strange, vitals aren’t always updated, and there’s an unsettling atmosphere hanging over the place. The first half moves slowly, clearly building toward something big. When one of her nurses, Isabelle, suddenly becomes a patient herself, things take a dark turn and the eerie tension finally hits.
While it’s not full on horror (I didn’t feel the need to keep the lights on), the slow build and strong character development kept me hooked. A quietly creepy and intriguing read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
While it’s not full on horror (I didn’t feel the need to keep the lights on), the slow build and strong character development kept me hooked. A quietly creepy and intriguing read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
October 14, 2025
My mind is spinning! I loved the lockdown-in-hospital/asylum concept—it always gives me that suffocating, walls-closing-in sensation, making every moment more intense until you can’t hold back your screams! And trust me, I screamed. I screamed while flipping through the pages, unable to stop, completely consumed by this masterfully unsettling story. I'm already a devoted fan of the author, but this book? This book pushed me over the edge! It was mind-blowing, deeply unsettling, and so immersive that I felt physically tense while reading. My body is still recovering from the sheer adrenaline rush!
Margaret’s journey through this experimental medical trial is a slow-burning descent into paranoia, where reality twists and shifts like a fever dream. The sterile, cold walls of Graceview Memorial hide secrets that claw at the edges of her sanity, and as she grapples with her own failing body, the terror lurking within the hospital tightens its grip. The sense of isolation is suffocating, and the creeping dread only intensifies with each new revelation. The medical aspects feel disturbingly real, making Margaret’s suffering all the more visceral. You can feel every ache, every fevered hallucination, every pulse of uncertainty as she tries to hold on to what’s left of herself.
What makes this story truly terrifying is how it burrows under your skin—not just with body horror, but with its exploration of medical ethics, power imbalances, and the psychological torment of feeling trapped, both physically and mentally. The claustrophobic atmosphere, unreliable narration, and a cast of characters who may or may not have sinister motives make for a nerve-wracking, mind-bending read. Just when I thought I had a grasp on what was happening, the story twisted in another direction, keeping me on edge until the very end.
This is not just a story—it’s an experience. A pulse-pounding, mind-warping ride that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love atmospheric, intelligent horror that messes with your perception and keeps you guessing, do not miss this one!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital reviewer copy of this gripping gothic/psychological thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts!
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Margaret’s journey through this experimental medical trial is a slow-burning descent into paranoia, where reality twists and shifts like a fever dream. The sterile, cold walls of Graceview Memorial hide secrets that claw at the edges of her sanity, and as she grapples with her own failing body, the terror lurking within the hospital tightens its grip. The sense of isolation is suffocating, and the creeping dread only intensifies with each new revelation. The medical aspects feel disturbingly real, making Margaret’s suffering all the more visceral. You can feel every ache, every fevered hallucination, every pulse of uncertainty as she tries to hold on to what’s left of herself.
What makes this story truly terrifying is how it burrows under your skin—not just with body horror, but with its exploration of medical ethics, power imbalances, and the psychological torment of feeling trapped, both physically and mentally. The claustrophobic atmosphere, unreliable narration, and a cast of characters who may or may not have sinister motives make for a nerve-wracking, mind-bending read. Just when I thought I had a grasp on what was happening, the story twisted in another direction, keeping me on edge until the very end.
This is not just a story—it’s an experience. A pulse-pounding, mind-warping ride that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. If you love atmospheric, intelligent horror that messes with your perception and keeps you guessing, do not miss this one!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital reviewer copy of this gripping gothic/psychological thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts!
medium.com
June 22, 2025
I've read The Starving Saints only last week and I must have liked it a lot, because I'm right back with the next Caitlin Starling. Both books turned out to be fever dreams (one medieval, one medical), but they are ultimately very different and I wouldn't necessarily recommend one if you liked the other. The Graceview Patient takes place in modern times and follows 26-year-old Margaret Culpepper as she starts experimental treatment for her rare autoimmune disorder. She's admitted into Graceview Memorial Hospital with the goal of the complete destruction of her weak immune system and the rebuilding of a healthy new one. I can't say that I've read many books that solely take place in a hospital and I thought it an intriguing setting. All the medical talk is difficult to understand for me, though, with English not being my first language, but that's not the book's fault. I probably wouldn't understand it much better in German either. It wasn't that much of a problem anyway, because Margaret's perspective is too marked by confusion. She's a character who never fully understands what's happening to her. She's dependent on the medical staff, but nobody ever tells her the truth about what's actually going on inside the hospital. Everyone seems to only get sicker and never healthier, and other patients bring up more questions than they answer. Still, there is very little plot in this book. It's really mostly about Margaret suffering - from her disease and from the treatment. The suffering is interwoven with trippy episodes and hallucinations, and there were some body horror elements. It's not a super thrilling read, but I wanted to find out what's happening and it kept me going steadily. But in the end there was very little pay-off and I can't say that the book was really worth reading. The ending was weird and unsatisfying with little explanation for anything. There was nothing to hate on here, but nothing to love either. Entirely middle-of-the-road, so 2.5 stars.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2025
That was not nice of Caitlin Starling… I was very engaged in the welfare and care of the main character and the mysterious apparition that was introduced! But then I turned the page, and out of nowhere, the book ended! How can you write such a unique and intriguing story but just say “The End” and never tell us what happened? Is there a Book 2 coming and I just missed that notification? 2 Stars ⭐️⭐️!
October 14, 2025
A long-term hospital stay that will be every patients worst fear.
Meg has a very rare, painful autoimmune disorder that has left her isolated away from friends and family. Imagine her delight when her doctor recommends her for a new drug trial that will hopefully heal her completely. With nothing to lose, she signs the paperwork and is admitted into Graceview Memorial Hospital. As the trial progresses, she starts seeing things that make her question reality. Is it the side effects of the drug causing these hallucinations or is there something much more sinister going on?
This novel was definitely intense and unsettling. As each day passed, we witnessed firsthand what Meg was seeing. It was tough to determine if it was a fever dream or reality. The setting itself was quite claustrophobic as it takes place mainly in her hospital room. It also felt very realistic, especially since I could relate having spent time in the hospital always wondering what was in each little pouch that was making its way into my arm. I still am unsure of the ending. I personally found it a bit open ended and has me questioning what actually happened. But overall, it had me hooked from the first page to the last.
I would probably recommend not reading this before being admitted into a hospital. But it would make for a perfect spooky season read in the comfort of your own home.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2025
What the F*ck did I just read?
As an avid gothic fiction reader, I was super excited to read The Graceview Patient. While this book absolutely fit that genre, I was left with SO many questions…and I NEED answers!
Margaret suffers from a rare autoimmune condition with no cure that has severely impacted her ability to live a normal life. Isolated from her family and friends, she decides to enter an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial Hospital. The doctors will tear down her immune system and then regenerate it. However, while living in the hospital Margaret begins to see sinister things. Is it just her medication inducing illusions or is it real? Is Margaret in danger?
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Xe Sands while following along with the Ebook. This is the second book I have listened to by this narrator and both times I have felt her voice and inflections are super strange. Unfortunately, it was not the best listening experience. I recommend reading the hard copy of this one.
Creepy and claustrophobic, the whole book reads like a fever dream. It is incredibly dark and unsettling, leaving the reader feeling trapped along with Margaret. While the book does achieve the quintessential gothic feeling, it is incredibly monotonous and leaves you without clear answers. Maybe that’s the point, but I prefer to have some clarity after reading an 8 ½ hr. book.
Unfortunately, The Graceview Patient just missed the mark for me.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Dreamscape Media, and St. Martin’s Press for the Arc of The Graceview Patient in exchange for an honest review.
As an avid gothic fiction reader, I was super excited to read The Graceview Patient. While this book absolutely fit that genre, I was left with SO many questions…and I NEED answers!
Margaret suffers from a rare autoimmune condition with no cure that has severely impacted her ability to live a normal life. Isolated from her family and friends, she decides to enter an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial Hospital. The doctors will tear down her immune system and then regenerate it. However, while living in the hospital Margaret begins to see sinister things. Is it just her medication inducing illusions or is it real? Is Margaret in danger?
I listened to the audiobook which is read by Xe Sands while following along with the Ebook. This is the second book I have listened to by this narrator and both times I have felt her voice and inflections are super strange. Unfortunately, it was not the best listening experience. I recommend reading the hard copy of this one.
Creepy and claustrophobic, the whole book reads like a fever dream. It is incredibly dark and unsettling, leaving the reader feeling trapped along with Margaret. While the book does achieve the quintessential gothic feeling, it is incredibly monotonous and leaves you without clear answers. Maybe that’s the point, but I prefer to have some clarity after reading an 8 ½ hr. book.
Unfortunately, The Graceview Patient just missed the mark for me.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Dreamscape Media, and St. Martin’s Press for the Arc of The Graceview Patient in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2025
**3.5-stars**
The Graceview Patient follows Margaret, 'Meg', Culpepper, who suffers from a debilitating autoimmune disease known as Fayette-Gehret syndrome, for which there is no cure.
Meg's world has shrunk smaller and smaller as her symptoms and pain have caused her to continually isolate herself, and cut herself off from family and friends.
When offered the opportunity to participate in a all-expenses-paid experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial, though she has her doubts, Meg agrees to take part. She doesn't really feel she has much other choice.
During the course of the trial, she needs to move into Graceview for a few months as a full-time inpatient. It's explained to her that they will basically be completely destroying her entire immune system, and then regenerating it in the hopes it will eradicate her syndrome in the process.
As she settles into the hospital she meets nurses, another patient and others involved with the study. The further she gets into it, the weaker her grip on reality, and the weaker my understanding of the story.
I was following along swimmingly until about the halfway point, and then the fever dream quality took over to the point that I had no clue what was happening anymore. Seriously, what the hell happened?
If you asked me about this book, besides what is written above, I couldn't tell you. While I truly appreciated the unsettling atmosphere Starling created at this hospital, as well as the Medical Horror elements, as far as the story goes, I didn't ultimately end up enjoying it as much as I wanted. I can appreciate it, but I wasn't crazy about it.
I frequently mention that I'm not a big fan of fever dream stories. Every once in a while, one will come along that I'm able to connect with, for example, The Starving Saints, also by this author, but that unfortunately wasn't the case here.
As mentioned above though, the atmosphere is fantastic and it is definitely an intriguing plot. If you are a Reader who enjoys fever dream style narratives, and don't mind maybe walking away with a few questions, you could end up loving this one. It's worth a read.
The audiobook is very well narrated by Xe Sands, who did a phenomenal job upping the tension with their emotional delivery. I do feel the audio format is a great option for taking in this story.
At the end of the day, even though this isn't my favorite from this author, I will always continue to pick up her work. I respect so much her range of ideas and her creativity with her concepts. I never know what I'm getting into when I pick up one of her books, and I love that.
Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. As an atmopshere girlie, I'm glad I checked this one out!
The Graceview Patient follows Margaret, 'Meg', Culpepper, who suffers from a debilitating autoimmune disease known as Fayette-Gehret syndrome, for which there is no cure.
Meg's world has shrunk smaller and smaller as her symptoms and pain have caused her to continually isolate herself, and cut herself off from family and friends.
When offered the opportunity to participate in a all-expenses-paid experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial, though she has her doubts, Meg agrees to take part. She doesn't really feel she has much other choice.
During the course of the trial, she needs to move into Graceview for a few months as a full-time inpatient. It's explained to her that they will basically be completely destroying her entire immune system, and then regenerating it in the hopes it will eradicate her syndrome in the process.
As she settles into the hospital she meets nurses, another patient and others involved with the study. The further she gets into it, the weaker her grip on reality, and the weaker my understanding of the story.
I was following along swimmingly until about the halfway point, and then the fever dream quality took over to the point that I had no clue what was happening anymore. Seriously, what the hell happened?
If you asked me about this book, besides what is written above, I couldn't tell you. While I truly appreciated the unsettling atmosphere Starling created at this hospital, as well as the Medical Horror elements, as far as the story goes, I didn't ultimately end up enjoying it as much as I wanted. I can appreciate it, but I wasn't crazy about it.
I frequently mention that I'm not a big fan of fever dream stories. Every once in a while, one will come along that I'm able to connect with, for example, The Starving Saints, also by this author, but that unfortunately wasn't the case here.
As mentioned above though, the atmosphere is fantastic and it is definitely an intriguing plot. If you are a Reader who enjoys fever dream style narratives, and don't mind maybe walking away with a few questions, you could end up loving this one. It's worth a read.
The audiobook is very well narrated by Xe Sands, who did a phenomenal job upping the tension with their emotional delivery. I do feel the audio format is a great option for taking in this story.
At the end of the day, even though this isn't my favorite from this author, I will always continue to pick up her work. I respect so much her range of ideas and her creativity with her concepts. I never know what I'm getting into when I pick up one of her books, and I love that.
Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. As an atmopshere girlie, I'm glad I checked this one out!
October 29, 2025
✨ Claustrophobic tension, eerie atmosphere, & slow-burn dread!
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, I couldn’t stop reading. It completely pulled me in with its unsettling mood and creeping tension, but on the other, I felt myself detaching from the story a little bit as I neared the end.
The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling is a psychological horror with a strong gothic undertone that feels both medical and unsettlingly human. Margaret joins an experimental medical trial that promises to cure her autoimmune disease, but as her body begins to fail and her sense of reality slips, she starts to wonder what’s real and what’s part of the treatment.
Right from the start, I was drawn in by the claustrophobic atmosphere of the hospital and the intense sense of unease that hung over everything. I felt Margaret’s confusion and fear right along with her, and I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages to see where it was all leading. Starling’s writing is vivid and disorienting in the best way, and she captures the vulnerability of being trapped in your own failing body so well.
But while I was fascinated by the concept and completely invested in the beginning, the pacing slowed quite a bit in the middle, and by the end, I felt a bit adrift. The ambiguity didn’t quite work for me. I usually like things explained and not left up to my imagination, so the ending left me feeling slightly disconnected.
Even with that, I did enjoy the reading experience overall. It was dark, tense, and quietly unnerving, and there’s something about the way Starling builds a sense of dread that is hard to look away from.
✨ Key thoughts
🕵️ Fascinating concept that blends medical experimentation with creeping psychological horror
✍️ Vivid, immersive writing that pulls you right into Margaret’s experience
📖 Strong start that had me fully engaged and uneasy in the best way
💭 Pacing slowed in the middle and the ambiguous ending didn’t quite work for me
🎯 Still a compelling, well-crafted story that held my attention throughout
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A dark and atmospheric story that had me curious, tense, and uneasy, even as I felt myself pulling back near the end.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital copy.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this one. On one hand, I couldn’t stop reading. It completely pulled me in with its unsettling mood and creeping tension, but on the other, I felt myself detaching from the story a little bit as I neared the end.
The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling is a psychological horror with a strong gothic undertone that feels both medical and unsettlingly human. Margaret joins an experimental medical trial that promises to cure her autoimmune disease, but as her body begins to fail and her sense of reality slips, she starts to wonder what’s real and what’s part of the treatment.
Right from the start, I was drawn in by the claustrophobic atmosphere of the hospital and the intense sense of unease that hung over everything. I felt Margaret’s confusion and fear right along with her, and I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages to see where it was all leading. Starling’s writing is vivid and disorienting in the best way, and she captures the vulnerability of being trapped in your own failing body so well.
But while I was fascinated by the concept and completely invested in the beginning, the pacing slowed quite a bit in the middle, and by the end, I felt a bit adrift. The ambiguity didn’t quite work for me. I usually like things explained and not left up to my imagination, so the ending left me feeling slightly disconnected.
Even with that, I did enjoy the reading experience overall. It was dark, tense, and quietly unnerving, and there’s something about the way Starling builds a sense of dread that is hard to look away from.
✨ Key thoughts
🕵️ Fascinating concept that blends medical experimentation with creeping psychological horror
✍️ Vivid, immersive writing that pulls you right into Margaret’s experience
📖 Strong start that had me fully engaged and uneasy in the best way
💭 Pacing slowed in the middle and the ambiguous ending didn’t quite work for me
🎯 Still a compelling, well-crafted story that held my attention throughout
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A dark and atmospheric story that had me curious, tense, and uneasy, even as I felt myself pulling back near the end.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital copy.
May 19, 2025
I wasn't sure about this book at first; the prologue and first chapter were confusing and not at all intriguing. I pushed on, and I'm so glad I did. The story and writing style found a rhythm in chapter three, and once that happened, I was hooked.
An unreliable protagonist slipping further and further into madness. And suddenly, everything and everyone around her become clues, culprits in the awful things she's enduring.
This storing was captivating. Until the ending, which was a bit of a letdown. Still, I'm glad I read this.
An unreliable protagonist slipping further and further into madness. And suddenly, everything and everyone around her become clues, culprits in the awful things she's enduring.
This storing was captivating. Until the ending, which was a bit of a letdown. Still, I'm glad I read this.
October 14, 2025
So moooooody, creepy setting, scared the crap out me!
Pre-Read Notes:
I honestly wasn't sure about this one when I requested it, as I was worried it would be another pile of ableism. But it's *not*! And I'm so invested and enjoying myself so much so far. Wonderful choice for spooky season!
"I didn’t expect any VIP treatment. I wasn’t sure I wanted it, either. It was— ambitious. Too confident. It said, We know we can fix you, and I knew that was a lie." p10
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I really enjoyed this book, but the plot was floppy. This is technically okay, since the narrator is unreliable. But I really expect character motivations to make sense within context of the story.
I was worried I might find ableism baked into this book, but that was not the case. I appreciated that villain was not a patient, or an illness, but a medical system--a hospital, doctors, and nurses. As a disabled person with extensive experience with medical systems, I prefer when the villainy is placed on the right character.
Speaking of character, the setting as character treatment in this book is fantastic and scary--a fresh and fascinating way to think about medical vulnerability. I also loved the disability representation here, with a chronically ill woman who is dependent on a medical system, and a story about her worse than imaginable stay in the hospital.
I loved this one. It's going to be a favorite horror book for a long time. I recommend this one to fans of claustrophobic settings, medical and body horror, and existential horror. You'll love this if you enjoyed September House or September House.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ I think this book executes the unreliable narrator brilliantly. She does so without stigmatizing the character, which is so rare and makes for great reading. It's so well done that it suggests something about fiction of this type itself. "I couldn’t see it then, but I can now: I was dreaming. Or having some strange drug-induced hallucination, but there isn’t much difference between the two. The mechanism only matters as far as it answers this question: Was what I saw real?" p90
✔️ This book places the horror element where it belongs--not scary patients, but scary doctors, scary pharmaceuticals, scary nurses, scary residential medical facility. These things *are* genuinely terrifying for huge swaths of the US population for any number of reasons, whereas the "scary patients" trope is couched in miles-thick stigma.
✔️ The setting is completely terrifying. "I got up. I left the gurney, and the room, and nobody noticed. There was no shouting, no running feet. The door I went through wasn’t locked and opened not onto a main hallway, but a service corridor of some kind. There were signs and fluorescent lights, but there were no nurses’ stations, and no doors to patient rooms." p214
Content Notes: medical abuse, gaslighting, forced institutionalization, medical malpractice, medical neglect, surgery, treatment without consent, hospitals, blood/blood clots, altered consciousness,
Thank you to Caitlin Starling, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
I honestly wasn't sure about this one when I requested it, as I was worried it would be another pile of ableism. But it's *not*! And I'm so invested and enjoying myself so much so far. Wonderful choice for spooky season!
"I didn’t expect any VIP treatment. I wasn’t sure I wanted it, either. It was— ambitious. Too confident. It said, We know we can fix you, and I knew that was a lie." p10
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I really enjoyed this book, but the plot was floppy. This is technically okay, since the narrator is unreliable. But I really expect character motivations to make sense within context of the story.
I was worried I might find ableism baked into this book, but that was not the case. I appreciated that villain was not a patient, or an illness, but a medical system--a hospital, doctors, and nurses. As a disabled person with extensive experience with medical systems, I prefer when the villainy is placed on the right character.
Speaking of character, the setting as character treatment in this book is fantastic and scary--a fresh and fascinating way to think about medical vulnerability. I also loved the disability representation here, with a chronically ill woman who is dependent on a medical system, and a story about her worse than imaginable stay in the hospital.
I loved this one. It's going to be a favorite horror book for a long time. I recommend this one to fans of claustrophobic settings, medical and body horror, and existential horror. You'll love this if you enjoyed September House or September House.
My Favorite Things:
✔️ I think this book executes the unreliable narrator brilliantly. She does so without stigmatizing the character, which is so rare and makes for great reading. It's so well done that it suggests something about fiction of this type itself. "I couldn’t see it then, but I can now: I was dreaming. Or having some strange drug-induced hallucination, but there isn’t much difference between the two. The mechanism only matters as far as it answers this question: Was what I saw real?" p90
✔️ This book places the horror element where it belongs--not scary patients, but scary doctors, scary pharmaceuticals, scary nurses, scary residential medical facility. These things *are* genuinely terrifying for huge swaths of the US population for any number of reasons, whereas the "scary patients" trope is couched in miles-thick stigma.
✔️ The setting is completely terrifying. "I got up. I left the gurney, and the room, and nobody noticed. There was no shouting, no running feet. The door I went through wasn’t locked and opened not onto a main hallway, but a service corridor of some kind. There were signs and fluorescent lights, but there were no nurses’ stations, and no doors to patient rooms." p214
Content Notes: medical abuse, gaslighting, forced institutionalization, medical malpractice, medical neglect, surgery, treatment without consent, hospitals, blood/blood clots, altered consciousness,
Thank you to Caitlin Starling, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT. All views are mine.
October 16, 2025
3⭐️This is a tense psychological horror tale.
Margaret “Meg” Culpepper suffers from a rare disease and enters an experimental treatment trial at a local hospital. Headed up by Adam, a handsome rep, she has high hopes for success. But Adam is not all he seems.
Once treatment is started things begin to go horribly wrong! The drugs decimate her body and mind. Reality is blurred as her physical condition deteriorates. Her one savior is her friendly caring nurse Isobel.
As a nurse, I really liked the first half of this book. Filled with all the workings of daily treatments and the comings and goings of the nursing staff. Where it lost me was Meg’s descent into her delusions and confusion. I understand it’s from deluded patient’s standpoint, but the pacing was a bit off and difficult to follow. What was real?
Dark and sinister, atmospheric, terrifying psychological medical tale that had me rooting for Meg to succeed!
Thanks NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Margaret “Meg” Culpepper suffers from a rare disease and enters an experimental treatment trial at a local hospital. Headed up by Adam, a handsome rep, she has high hopes for success. But Adam is not all he seems.
Once treatment is started things begin to go horribly wrong! The drugs decimate her body and mind. Reality is blurred as her physical condition deteriorates. Her one savior is her friendly caring nurse Isobel.
As a nurse, I really liked the first half of this book. Filled with all the workings of daily treatments and the comings and goings of the nursing staff. Where it lost me was Meg’s descent into her delusions and confusion. I understand it’s from deluded patient’s standpoint, but the pacing was a bit off and difficult to follow. What was real?
Dark and sinister, atmospheric, terrifying psychological medical tale that had me rooting for Meg to succeed!
Thanks NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read
March 30, 2025Shelved as 'unable-to-finish'
Not my cup of tea. I just could not get into this book, which is a first person account of a nightmarish stay in a hospital as part of a clinical trial. After slogging my way through the first six chapters I gave up. I went through each of the remaining 32 chapters, reading the first few pages to confirm the tedious storytelling and writing style remained consistent (it does) and read the final chapter just to get some closure on the tale, which was completely unsatisfying and made me glad to have not invested more time reading the book.
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
Not my cup of tea. I just could not get into this book, which is a first person account of a nightmarish stay in a hospital as part of a clinical trial. After slogging my way through the first six chapters I gave up. I went through each of the remaining 32 chapters, reading the first few pages to confirm the tedious storytelling and writing style remained consistent (it does) and read the final chapter just to get some closure on the tale, which was completely unsatisfying and made me glad to have not invested more time reading the book.
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2025
What a surreal, claustrophobic, unsettling ride this was! As someone who deals with invisible disabilities and chronic illnesses, there's something especially horrifying about the entire premise of this book.
October 10, 2025
4 stars
An effective, feverish hospital Gothic—just don’t expect your questions to be answered. The Graceview Patient reads like the disturbed offspring of Catherine House and Silent Hill. From page one, I was drawn into its eerie medical setting and a narrative shrouded in uncertainty—there’s never clarity on whether its protagonist is mentally unstable, drugged, or haunted by something supernatural. For some readers, the lack of plot and resolution will be frustrating, but through the lens of a patient who is subjected to seemingly purpose-less tests and lost in medical jargon—the absence of answers feels thematically fitting.
Though very much a 'vibes-only' story with limited substance, I still very much enjoyed The Graceview Patient. It doesn't quite reach Catherine House in balancing its elements, but Caitlin Starling’s writing is undeniably stunning, crafting dread through language, layering in visceral body horror (tubes, needles, procedures) alongside surreal, otherworldly manifestations. Not a book for everyone, but I can easily see this becoming a niche favourite.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An effective, feverish hospital Gothic—just don’t expect your questions to be answered. The Graceview Patient reads like the disturbed offspring of Catherine House and Silent Hill. From page one, I was drawn into its eerie medical setting and a narrative shrouded in uncertainty—there’s never clarity on whether its protagonist is mentally unstable, drugged, or haunted by something supernatural. For some readers, the lack of plot and resolution will be frustrating, but through the lens of a patient who is subjected to seemingly purpose-less tests and lost in medical jargon—the absence of answers feels thematically fitting.
Though very much a 'vibes-only' story with limited substance, I still very much enjoyed The Graceview Patient. It doesn't quite reach Catherine House in balancing its elements, but Caitlin Starling’s writing is undeniably stunning, crafting dread through language, layering in visceral body horror (tubes, needles, procedures) alongside surreal, otherworldly manifestations. Not a book for everyone, but I can easily see this becoming a niche favourite.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
December 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Wow.
Now, this was a trip down the Bram Stoker/Stephen King-bricked road. I couldn't stop turning the pages once I started, and now that I am done, I feel like pulling the covers over my head and waiting until the fear passes. I saw another review describe this tale as a "claustrophobic hospital gothic." See our protagonist, Margaret "Meg" Culpepper, who has a rare( fictional) autoimmune condition, is in the Graceview Patient Hospital, and doctors are determined to try new experimental treatments to make her feel better. Except that since she has begun her treatments, Meg is increasingly unsettled by what she sees and hears in the hospital, but no one seems to be listening.
I love it when authors make me question their characters. Is Meg just an unreliable narrator, and with hallucinations caused by her medications, or should we press the panic button to rescue her? I know that I desperately wanted to find out. I have to admit that I am still musing over how everything all came together in the end. My fear isn't because I believe the story was terrifying, just that the setting was so unsettling. How did you break away from a situation like Meg's when you are supposed to be in a place to make you feel better, not worse?
I am crowning this one a 5-star for giving me a lot to think about in the days to come. It's too bad that I didn't read this one in October because it is a great title for Halloween.
Publication Date 14/102/5
Goodreads review published 20/12/25
Wow.
Now, this was a trip down the Bram Stoker/Stephen King-bricked road. I couldn't stop turning the pages once I started, and now that I am done, I feel like pulling the covers over my head and waiting until the fear passes. I saw another review describe this tale as a "claustrophobic hospital gothic." See our protagonist, Margaret "Meg" Culpepper, who has a rare( fictional) autoimmune condition, is in the Graceview Patient Hospital, and doctors are determined to try new experimental treatments to make her feel better. Except that since she has begun her treatments, Meg is increasingly unsettled by what she sees and hears in the hospital, but no one seems to be listening.
I love it when authors make me question their characters. Is Meg just an unreliable narrator, and with hallucinations caused by her medications, or should we press the panic button to rescue her? I know that I desperately wanted to find out. I have to admit that I am still musing over how everything all came together in the end. My fear isn't because I believe the story was terrifying, just that the setting was so unsettling. How did you break away from a situation like Meg's when you are supposed to be in a place to make you feel better, not worse?
I am crowning this one a 5-star for giving me a lot to think about in the days to come. It's too bad that I didn't read this one in October because it is a great title for Halloween.
Publication Date 14/102/5
Goodreads review published 20/12/25
July 22, 2025
Margaret (Meg) Culpepper's last hope for treatment for the rare autoimmune disorder, Fayette-Gehret Syndrome, which has taken almost everything from her, was checking into Graceview Memorial. The hospital is running a two-to-three-month-long medication trial treating the disorder, but even though Meg's life had become unsustainable, taking part in the trial means she must break her lease and give her time and body over to the hospital. Meg expects to be prodded and poked, to be subjected to blood draws and IV medication infusions. Still, the longer she stays at Graceview, the harder the treatment is to endure, physically and psychologically. She is slowly enveloped by the horrors and darkness of the hospital, and her sense of reality becomes increasingly distorted. Is the medication causing hallucinations and drug-induced delusions, or is the hospital harboring something more sinister?
Not for anyone squeamish about medical procedures, The Graceview Patient treads a fine line between psychological thriller and medical horror. Meg begins the trial with mixed expectations and anxiety, and depending on the reader's anxiety about medical procedures, this will affect their experience. Most of the tension and paranoia that make this an absorbing read are derived from the mystery treatments, coupled with Meg as an unreliable narrator. Meg's journey through her treatment is an emotional and atmospheric experience, unfolding slowly; the pace is fitting, considering the length of the trial, lending itself to all matters of distortion.
If you're remotely fearful of hospitals, this will likely be a torturous read as every procedure is described in detail. This won't phase everyone, and in fact, it heightens the horror. As someone who deals with a chronic illness and has been through all kinds of procedures and has been stuck with a needle more times than I can count, I fully appreciated Meg's search for symptom relief, her feelings of helplessness within the medical system, and how isolating and lonely chronic illness feels. Even when it's hard to like Meg, author Caitlin Starling portrays her as someone who is justified in asking questions, as her life is in the hands of others. The story may only be strengthened with greater emphasis on the supernatural and sinister themes that haunt Graceview, as these are the root of the actual sickness and horror in the hospital.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy. #SMPEarlyReaders
Not for anyone squeamish about medical procedures, The Graceview Patient treads a fine line between psychological thriller and medical horror. Meg begins the trial with mixed expectations and anxiety, and depending on the reader's anxiety about medical procedures, this will affect their experience. Most of the tension and paranoia that make this an absorbing read are derived from the mystery treatments, coupled with Meg as an unreliable narrator. Meg's journey through her treatment is an emotional and atmospheric experience, unfolding slowly; the pace is fitting, considering the length of the trial, lending itself to all matters of distortion.
If you're remotely fearful of hospitals, this will likely be a torturous read as every procedure is described in detail. This won't phase everyone, and in fact, it heightens the horror. As someone who deals with a chronic illness and has been through all kinds of procedures and has been stuck with a needle more times than I can count, I fully appreciated Meg's search for symptom relief, her feelings of helplessness within the medical system, and how isolating and lonely chronic illness feels. Even when it's hard to like Meg, author Caitlin Starling portrays her as someone who is justified in asking questions, as her life is in the hands of others. The story may only be strengthened with greater emphasis on the supernatural and sinister themes that haunt Graceview, as these are the root of the actual sickness and horror in the hospital.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy. #SMPEarlyReaders
May 2, 2025
I was absolutely captivated by this book. I felt completely immersed in her struggle, from the painful isolation of her illness to the terrifying uncertainty of the medical trial. I admired her resilience, even as the boundaries between reality and delusion blurred, making every moment feel unsettling and deeply suspenseful. I found myself gripped by the eerie atmosphere of Graceview Memorial, feeling the tension build with each new revelation. The psychological twists kept me questioning everything, and I appreciated how the author masterfully balanced horror, mystery, and raw emotion. I felt deeply connected to Margaret’s experience—her fear, her determination, and the chilling realization that something far more sinister was at play. I finished the book feeling haunted yet completely satisfied. The storytelling was immersive, the pacing was perfect, and the emotional weight of Margaret’s journey stuck with me long after I turned the last page.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with a sharp, thought-provoking edge.
Thank you to @stmartinspress @authorcstarling and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with a sharp, thought-provoking edge.
Thank you to @stmartinspress @authorcstarling and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
July 8, 2025
So soon after reading The Starving Saints, I was really disappointed by The Graceview Patient. The main character's entire personality consists of being helpless and whiny, and the passive plot in a single location makes the book a frustrating read. Even the writing itself feels like a downgrade for Starling.
November 8, 2025
3.75/5 stars
September 24, 2025
A gothic asylum with paranormal elements, horror elements and has you questioning your sanity at every corner.
I really enjoyed this book the plot absorbed me right away, I felt for the main character and the mundaneness of her continuous sickness and medical treatment contrasted by the insanity of the place she was residing.
I also really enjoyed the ending but as many others seem to agree, it felt closed out very quickly, leaving more to be desired and almost giving the sensation of a cliff hanger leading to a second book (which I don’t think is the case?)
Despite that I still thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience, I thought the plot was unique, the character was relatable in a way where I had no issue empathizing with her and I was excited to see how it all ended.
Thank you for the gifted copy,
Publishes: October 14th
I really enjoyed this book the plot absorbed me right away, I felt for the main character and the mundaneness of her continuous sickness and medical treatment contrasted by the insanity of the place she was residing.
I also really enjoyed the ending but as many others seem to agree, it felt closed out very quickly, leaving more to be desired and almost giving the sensation of a cliff hanger leading to a second book (which I don’t think is the case?)
Despite that I still thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience, I thought the plot was unique, the character was relatable in a way where I had no issue empathizing with her and I was excited to see how it all ended.
Thank you for the gifted copy,
Publishes: October 14th
November 10, 2025
As someone with chronic illness and medical conditions, I was hoping to see myself represented here and I DID! The tedium, fear, lack of control and the struggle to accept what is happening to your body, were all present and accounted for in spades! I could RELATE to Margaret. She's so desperate to have some semblance of a normal life that she's willing to undergo a DANGEROUS experimental drug trial just for a CHANCE it could improve her life. I get it.
Caitlin Starling absolutely NAILED what it's like to live with a debilitating chronic illness/condition including the monotony and the way hope and hopelessness are desperately entangled together on any given day. I kept waiting for the drug to have some profound effect on Margaret, either devastatingly horrid or wonderfully rejuvenating. The tedium of Margaret's everyday life began to get to me and maybe that's the point. The spiral of sanity and reality DO lead up to something quite horrifying, but by the time we got there, I was just plain old tired (like Margaret) and had lost most of my investment. Still, the creepy and isolated hospital environment along with the various suspicious characters was enough to keep me flipping pages right to the end!
Xe Sands narrates the audiobook and she was excellent at conveying the exasperation, confusion, doubt, hopelessness, fear, resignation, and ultimately unending hope. In addition, there was a tired and almost dreamlike quality to her performance which fit Margaret's fatigue and desperation.
THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT is an unrelenting psychological horror amidst a gothic setting that lays bare desperation, paranoia, doubt and being unable to trust your own mind. It's terrifying in its own right. Grab this one if you enjoy an unreliable narrator and not knowing whom to trust!
____
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
Caitlin Starling absolutely NAILED what it's like to live with a debilitating chronic illness/condition including the monotony and the way hope and hopelessness are desperately entangled together on any given day. I kept waiting for the drug to have some profound effect on Margaret, either devastatingly horrid or wonderfully rejuvenating. The tedium of Margaret's everyday life began to get to me and maybe that's the point. The spiral of sanity and reality DO lead up to something quite horrifying, but by the time we got there, I was just plain old tired (like Margaret) and had lost most of my investment. Still, the creepy and isolated hospital environment along with the various suspicious characters was enough to keep me flipping pages right to the end!
Xe Sands narrates the audiobook and she was excellent at conveying the exasperation, confusion, doubt, hopelessness, fear, resignation, and ultimately unending hope. In addition, there was a tired and almost dreamlike quality to her performance which fit Margaret's fatigue and desperation.
THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT is an unrelenting psychological horror amidst a gothic setting that lays bare desperation, paranoia, doubt and being unable to trust your own mind. It's terrifying in its own right. Grab this one if you enjoy an unreliable narrator and not knowing whom to trust!
____
Thank you to Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
September 30, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Oct. 14, 2025
“The Death of Jane Lawrence” author Caitlin Starling’s new gothic horror novel, “The Graceview Patient” is an absolutely terrifying, hypnotic page-turner. As a die-hard horror fan, the claustrophobic and pulse-pounding “Patient” gave me next-level scares.
Margaret has suffered from a chronic illness for years, leaving her isolated and in pain, but she has managed to do the best she can. When she is offered a paid-for position in a medical trial at Graceview Hospital, she starts to dream about what her life could look like without her illness and eagerly agrees. As she begins the treatment process, Margaret starts to question if she made the right choice, especially when she starts seeing the darkness that hides in the hospital walls. Are the things Margaret hears, and sees, a result of the drugs? Or is something more sinister at play?
I am absolutely terrified of hospitals- I hate being in them for any period of time and, like most people, I dread the idea of being confined, helpless and dependent on others for my basic needs. Add to that my claustrophobia and Starling reached right into my fears and ripped them right open with “Patient”, and I absolutely loved every minute.
Margaret (Meg) is the protagonist and the entire story takes place in Graceview hospital. Alone, with her mother a plane ride away, Meg has no one, so she suffers in silence until she bonds with another patient and her night nurse, Isobel, who end up disappearing in a mysterious way. Who can Meg trust when she can’t even trust her mind and her senses? “Patient” is well-crafted, with a tense and dark plot, and Starling’s writing is intense and engaging.
For anyone familiar with horror novels or movies, the ending was expected, but it was heartbreaking and scary all the same. Starling’s creative plot came together in a cohesive, emotional ending that will leave readers uncomfortable and on edge, as only true horror authors can do.
I have somehow never come across any of Starling’s novels before, but I never turn down the oppourtunity to discover a new (to me) horror author. “Patient” is absolutely horrifying in a visceral way, and discovering this novel has skyrocketed Starling to the top of my to-watch list. She is a credit to the horror genre, and I’m so excited to explore more of her works.
Expected publication date: Oct. 14, 2025
“The Death of Jane Lawrence” author Caitlin Starling’s new gothic horror novel, “The Graceview Patient” is an absolutely terrifying, hypnotic page-turner. As a die-hard horror fan, the claustrophobic and pulse-pounding “Patient” gave me next-level scares.
Margaret has suffered from a chronic illness for years, leaving her isolated and in pain, but she has managed to do the best she can. When she is offered a paid-for position in a medical trial at Graceview Hospital, she starts to dream about what her life could look like without her illness and eagerly agrees. As she begins the treatment process, Margaret starts to question if she made the right choice, especially when she starts seeing the darkness that hides in the hospital walls. Are the things Margaret hears, and sees, a result of the drugs? Or is something more sinister at play?
I am absolutely terrified of hospitals- I hate being in them for any period of time and, like most people, I dread the idea of being confined, helpless and dependent on others for my basic needs. Add to that my claustrophobia and Starling reached right into my fears and ripped them right open with “Patient”, and I absolutely loved every minute.
Margaret (Meg) is the protagonist and the entire story takes place in Graceview hospital. Alone, with her mother a plane ride away, Meg has no one, so she suffers in silence until she bonds with another patient and her night nurse, Isobel, who end up disappearing in a mysterious way. Who can Meg trust when she can’t even trust her mind and her senses? “Patient” is well-crafted, with a tense and dark plot, and Starling’s writing is intense and engaging.
For anyone familiar with horror novels or movies, the ending was expected, but it was heartbreaking and scary all the same. Starling’s creative plot came together in a cohesive, emotional ending that will leave readers uncomfortable and on edge, as only true horror authors can do.
I have somehow never come across any of Starling’s novels before, but I never turn down the oppourtunity to discover a new (to me) horror author. “Patient” is absolutely horrifying in a visceral way, and discovering this novel has skyrocketed Starling to the top of my to-watch list. She is a credit to the horror genre, and I’m so excited to explore more of her works.
Want to read
December 22, 2024we’re getting TWO Caitlin Starling books in 2025? oh we are blessed
October 9, 2025
No one is more surprised than me at this rating because I'm a huge fan of Caitlin Starling. I've followed her career and loved her books since The Death of Jane Lawrence. They're all very different books, each one more of a fever dream than the last, blending genres and tropes in unexpected ways. She's taken me to subject matter I ordinarily don't gravitate to, like an ice queen robot doppelganger or cannibal nuns.
But sadly this one just really did not work for me.
I was really excited to see what she'd do with medical horror. I have no triggers with this genre. I've had friends and family who've had extended hospital stays, but luckily, I've managed to avoid such health scares and chronic physical illnesses myself. Those who have had those issues should take care reading this book. I loved Andrew Joseph White's takes on medical horror though so I was hoping for more of that.
This book can basically be summed up as no one likes to spend time in a hospital, and that's about that.
Meg has a rare autoimmune disorder and is at the end of her rope. She has pushed away friends and family, and can barely work as a technical writer anymore. So she desperately agrees to an experimental trial that has a lot of red flags. She thinks the trial will be to destroy her immune system and then rebuild it stronger than before. She forms a bond with her night nurse, Isobel, who tries to warn her that all is not as it seems.
My main issue with this story was that it was just fairly tedious, like being hospitalized is rather tedious. It had some body horror that brought some interest, but mostly it was about real world horrors with very little of a supernatural dimension. Meg is an unreliable narrator and the point of view stays with her, and she is frequently confused and losing her grip on reality. I formed an emotional connection to her as a character; the book did an excellent job at establishing the dread and loneliness of experiencing harrowing chronic illness, even as she could be rather unlikable.
But the pace just dragged from there. The characters were the slick sales rep and a rotation of nurses and we spent most of the time in Meg's head. It felt like getting dragged from one IV injection to the next and losing track of time as a reader. In that sense it was creepy, but it just became dull, repetitive and tedious to slog through. It needed a faster pace or more going on to keep my interest. I liked the idea of the hospital being an evil entity but it touched on that very little.
The ending was also quite unsatisfying and rather open-ended. I wanted Meg to find some measure of freedom or at least reconnect with her mom and she never did.
So basically, it had some scary moments, but only as far as hospitals and deadly diseases are scary. But they can also be incredibly tedious. I will say it caught the claustrophobic feeling of hospitalizations quite well.
I was so sad that this one wasn't for me. I guess even favorite authors have misses. I'll still auto pick up her next work because I'm eager to see what her wild imagination cooks up next.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But sadly this one just really did not work for me.
I was really excited to see what she'd do with medical horror. I have no triggers with this genre. I've had friends and family who've had extended hospital stays, but luckily, I've managed to avoid such health scares and chronic physical illnesses myself. Those who have had those issues should take care reading this book. I loved Andrew Joseph White's takes on medical horror though so I was hoping for more of that.
This book can basically be summed up as no one likes to spend time in a hospital, and that's about that.
Meg has a rare autoimmune disorder and is at the end of her rope. She has pushed away friends and family, and can barely work as a technical writer anymore. So she desperately agrees to an experimental trial that has a lot of red flags. She thinks the trial will be to destroy her immune system and then rebuild it stronger than before. She forms a bond with her night nurse, Isobel, who tries to warn her that all is not as it seems.
My main issue with this story was that it was just fairly tedious, like being hospitalized is rather tedious. It had some body horror that brought some interest, but mostly it was about real world horrors with very little of a supernatural dimension. Meg is an unreliable narrator and the point of view stays with her, and she is frequently confused and losing her grip on reality. I formed an emotional connection to her as a character; the book did an excellent job at establishing the dread and loneliness of experiencing harrowing chronic illness, even as she could be rather unlikable.
But the pace just dragged from there. The characters were the slick sales rep and a rotation of nurses and we spent most of the time in Meg's head. It felt like getting dragged from one IV injection to the next and losing track of time as a reader. In that sense it was creepy, but it just became dull, repetitive and tedious to slog through. It needed a faster pace or more going on to keep my interest. I liked the idea of the hospital being an evil entity but it touched on that very little.
The ending was also quite unsatisfying and rather open-ended. I wanted Meg to find some measure of freedom or at least reconnect with her mom and she never did.
So basically, it had some scary moments, but only as far as hospitals and deadly diseases are scary. But they can also be incredibly tedious. I will say it caught the claustrophobic feeling of hospitalizations quite well.
I was so sad that this one wasn't for me. I guess even favorite authors have misses. I'll still auto pick up her next work because I'm eager to see what her wild imagination cooks up next.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
As a former psychiatric nurse, these books are usually always up my alley. Usually, just to see how ridiculous it is when they over exaggerate certain aspects with psychiatric nursing and care, but I also like when creepy elements are thrown in. However, I don't think Caitlin Starling is an author for me as this was my second attempt with her, and it just did not excite me. The story is quite dull and literally goes nowhere. It drags so much, and you would hope that the ending would provide some twist or revolution that wows you, but it just does not deliver. You would think that with how things went, there would be a continuation of the story, but it does not look like we'll get that. I say don't waste your time with this one.
As a former psychiatric nurse, these books are usually always up my alley. Usually, just to see how ridiculous it is when they over exaggerate certain aspects with psychiatric nursing and care, but I also like when creepy elements are thrown in. However, I don't think Caitlin Starling is an author for me as this was my second attempt with her, and it just did not excite me. The story is quite dull and literally goes nowhere. It drags so much, and you would hope that the ending would provide some twist or revolution that wows you, but it just does not deliver. You would think that with how things went, there would be a continuation of the story, but it does not look like we'll get that. I say don't waste your time with this one.
October 12, 2025
The Graceview Patient is an excellent piece of horror: the kind that unveils itself very slowly amidst the seemingly normal and leaves a reader wondering, when did that normal start getting so weird?
The central character, Margaret, has lives with an autoimmune disorder that expresses itself in any number of painful and limiting ways. Her life has been falling apart. She can only work remotely, and that work is drying up because her physical limitations make meeting deadlines complicated—so she's having an increasingly difficult time covering basic like rent and food. Her mother uses Grace's illness as a way to get others, including Grace, to pity her. Her father is unavailable. She's alienated friends because of her unpredictability: chronic pain makes keeping social arrangements difficult and can evoke all sorts of temperamental shifts.
When Margaret learns that she can participate in a medical trial of a new treatment for her autoimmune disorder—and that she will be required to live in hospital for several months while the trial is underway—she sees it as a win-win: perhaps improved health and definitely time to stop worrying about work and rent and all of that.
And that's where the novel begins and my review ends, except to say that author Caitlin Starling knows how to make the best use of every element of the tale she's telling. If you like horror, if you like modern-day Gothics, if you like books that make you uneasy in exactly the right way, The Graceview Patient needs to be on your radar.
I received a free electronic review of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
The central character, Margaret, has lives with an autoimmune disorder that expresses itself in any number of painful and limiting ways. Her life has been falling apart. She can only work remotely, and that work is drying up because her physical limitations make meeting deadlines complicated—so she's having an increasingly difficult time covering basic like rent and food. Her mother uses Grace's illness as a way to get others, including Grace, to pity her. Her father is unavailable. She's alienated friends because of her unpredictability: chronic pain makes keeping social arrangements difficult and can evoke all sorts of temperamental shifts.
When Margaret learns that she can participate in a medical trial of a new treatment for her autoimmune disorder—and that she will be required to live in hospital for several months while the trial is underway—she sees it as a win-win: perhaps improved health and definitely time to stop worrying about work and rent and all of that.
And that's where the novel begins and my review ends, except to say that author Caitlin Starling knows how to make the best use of every element of the tale she's telling. If you like horror, if you like modern-day Gothics, if you like books that make you uneasy in exactly the right way, The Graceview Patient needs to be on your radar.
I received a free electronic review of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
August 29, 2025
4 stars
This novel excels at making you feel trapped within its many confines. I wanted to scream for (and at) characters. I was a bit too invested, perhaps.
But a great story. Well told with solid writing. It tackles troupes and ideas I've seen done before, but keeps things just unique and fresh enough to feel like it's wholely its own thing.
Recommended. I had a great - albeit frustrating - time.
This novel excels at making you feel trapped within its many confines. I wanted to scream for (and at) characters. I was a bit too invested, perhaps.
But a great story. Well told with solid writing. It tackles troupes and ideas I've seen done before, but keeps things just unique and fresh enough to feel like it's wholely its own thing.
Recommended. I had a great - albeit frustrating - time.
December 3, 2025
TW/CW: Language, toxic family relationships, anxiety, blood, depression, covid mention, chronic sickness, gaslighting
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Margaret’s rare autoimmune condition has destroyed her life, leaving her isolated and in pain. It has no cure, but she’s making do as best she can―until she’s offered a fully paid-for spot in an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial.
The conditions are simple, if grueling: she will live at the hospital as a full-time patient, subjecting herself to the near-total destruction of her immune system and its subsequent regeneration. The trial will essentially kill most of, but not all of her. But as the treatment progresses and her body begins to fail, she stumbles upon something sinister living and spreading within the hospital.
Unsure of what's real and what is just medication-induced delusion, Margaret struggles to find a way out as her body and mind succumb further to the darkness lurking throughout Graceview's halls.
Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Genre: Psychological Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐
What I Liked:
1. I like the idea of this book
What I Didn't Like:
1. Didn't like the writing style
2. Nothing happens
3. The cover is ugly
4. Boring
5. Characters are so uninteresting
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
I find it suspicious that there is a clinical testing in such a rare disease. Why would someone want to study it? I suppose I don't understand how it works with small illnesses.
Is something going to happen? I'm over the whole testing and stuff. I need something more to happen than just our main character talking about her illness over and over.
Oh now she is checking out Isabelle.
Final Thoughts:
Okay this is wonderful if you are living with illness that people would never understand what you are dealing with, but for the rest of us it becomes so unbelievably boring. I was exhausted hearing about this test and that test. It honestly just kept going on and on with no end and I kept waiting for things to happen. I got to page 150 before I was just too bored and didn't care. If I had to read about one more test I was going to lose it.
I just how realized I read the author's other book; Starving Saints last month (November 2025) and also dnfed it too. I think this author isn't for me.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Margaret’s rare autoimmune condition has destroyed her life, leaving her isolated and in pain. It has no cure, but she’s making do as best she can―until she’s offered a fully paid-for spot in an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial.
The conditions are simple, if grueling: she will live at the hospital as a full-time patient, subjecting herself to the near-total destruction of her immune system and its subsequent regeneration. The trial will essentially kill most of, but not all of her. But as the treatment progresses and her body begins to fail, she stumbles upon something sinister living and spreading within the hospital.
Unsure of what's real and what is just medication-induced delusion, Margaret struggles to find a way out as her body and mind succumb further to the darkness lurking throughout Graceview's halls.
Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Genre: Psychological Horror
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐
What I Liked:
1. I like the idea of this book
What I Didn't Like:
1. Didn't like the writing style
2. Nothing happens
3. The cover is ugly
4. Boring
5. Characters are so uninteresting
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
I find it suspicious that there is a clinical testing in such a rare disease. Why would someone want to study it? I suppose I don't understand how it works with small illnesses.
Is something going to happen? I'm over the whole testing and stuff. I need something more to happen than just our main character talking about her illness over and over.
Oh now she is checking out Isabelle.
Final Thoughts:
Okay this is wonderful if you are living with illness that people would never understand what you are dealing with, but for the rest of us it becomes so unbelievably boring. I was exhausted hearing about this test and that test. It honestly just kept going on and on with no end and I kept waiting for things to happen. I got to page 150 before I was just too bored and didn't care. If I had to read about one more test I was going to lose it.
I just how realized I read the author's other book; Starving Saints last month (November 2025) and also dnfed it too. I think this author isn't for me.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
November 5, 2025
WHAT THE FUCK!!????
good god, this one is pretty well designed to be horror that will REALLY make me feel awful and scared. medical horror is some of my worst fears (god, i hATED and had to skim around the decriptions about her IVs and needles, it's my real one thing i cannOT do) and this one just really got to me and it was BLEAK and it is NOT one that goes well, things worked out a little bit in the end. NOPE. BUCKLE UP FOLKS IT'S ALL BAD.
(but also damn it's very very good at being awful).
good god, this one is pretty well designed to be horror that will REALLY make me feel awful and scared. medical horror is some of my worst fears (god, i hATED and had to skim around the decriptions about her IVs and needles, it's my real one thing i cannOT do) and this one just really got to me and it was BLEAK and it is NOT one that goes well, things worked out a little bit in the end. NOPE. BUCKLE UP FOLKS IT'S ALL BAD.
(but also damn it's very very good at being awful).
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