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El paciente equivocado
ELLA DEBÍA SER SU SALVACIÓN. ÉL SERÁ SU DESCENSO AL INFIERNO.
MÁS DE 700.000 LECTORES
De la autora de Una familia casi perfecta
BESTSELLER DE THE SUNDAY TIMES TRADUCIDO A 23 IDIOMAS
Rachel Goodchild tiene cuarenta y nueve años y es una doctora consumada y de prestigio. Su vida transcurre entre pacientes y una interminable lista de tareas pendientes, consultas y reuniones… Pero, a pesar de todos sus esfuerzos, la fachada de perfección que ha construido meticulosamente esconde algunas grietas. Ya no se entiende con Nathan, su marido, y su hija Lizzie está cada vez más distante.
Cuando Luc, un nuevo paciente, acude a ella desesperado, Rachel se involucra tanto en su historia que decide darle su número de teléfono como recurso en caso de urgencia, pero en el fondo también porque la atracción entre ambos es inmediata. Con el paso de los días, Luc despierta en ella una pasión que Rachel creía haber perdido para siempre.
Sin embargo, lo que comienza como una simple aventura acaba arrastrando a Rachel a una red de mentiras, secretos y traiciones que pondrá en peligro todo lo que tiene.
«Jane Shemilt sabe mantener el suspense y atormentar al lector.» Booklist
«Escalofriante.» Claire Douglas
«Es como un puñetazo en el estómago.» Sunday Mirror
«Un thriller lleno de tensión.» Daily Mail
MÁS DE 700.000 LECTORES
De la autora de Una familia casi perfecta
BESTSELLER DE THE SUNDAY TIMES TRADUCIDO A 23 IDIOMAS
Rachel Goodchild tiene cuarenta y nueve años y es una doctora consumada y de prestigio. Su vida transcurre entre pacientes y una interminable lista de tareas pendientes, consultas y reuniones… Pero, a pesar de todos sus esfuerzos, la fachada de perfección que ha construido meticulosamente esconde algunas grietas. Ya no se entiende con Nathan, su marido, y su hija Lizzie está cada vez más distante.
Cuando Luc, un nuevo paciente, acude a ella desesperado, Rachel se involucra tanto en su historia que decide darle su número de teléfono como recurso en caso de urgencia, pero en el fondo también porque la atracción entre ambos es inmediata. Con el paso de los días, Luc despierta en ella una pasión que Rachel creía haber perdido para siempre.
Sin embargo, lo que comienza como una simple aventura acaba arrastrando a Rachel a una red de mentiras, secretos y traiciones que pondrá en peligro todo lo que tiene.
«Jane Shemilt sabe mantener el suspense y atormentar al lector.» Booklist
«Escalofriante.» Claire Douglas
«Es como un puñetazo en el estómago.» Sunday Mirror
«Un thriller lleno de tensión.» Daily Mail
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2022
351 people are currently reading
19064 people want to read
About the author
Jane Shemilt
9 books676 followersJane is a general practitioner who completed a post graduate diploma in Creative Writing at Bristol university and went on to study for a M.A in Creative writing at Bath Spa. She was shortlisted for the Janklow and Nesbitt award and the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize for Daughter, her first novel.
She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.
She and her husband, a Professor of Neurosurgery, have 5 children and live in Bristol, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 654 reviews
October 23, 2021
Rachel Goodchild is the doctor, Luc LeFevre is the patient in question. He’s in desperate need of help, she writes him a prescription and gives him her number if he needs further help..... no one could have foreseen what would follow. Rachel’s marriage to Nathan is in free fall and her relationship with her daughter Lizzie is very strained. The story is told from Rachel’s perspective with a fusion of past and present which works very well.
This is how you write an intelligent, unpredictable psychological thriller, it’s gripping from beginning to end! It’s very well written with a good pace, there are some excellent twists and turns with the whole package giving you prickles of fear right from the start. A sense of tense unease is conveyed effectively from the get go which deepens to become chilling and menacing which contrasts so well with some of the sensuality in the storyline. There’s a fantastic use of place with the novel being set in Salisbury. The cathedral and the cathedral close are used masterfully to suggest various things such as menace from the watchful gargoyles to comfort and clarity from the solidity of its embracing stone walls. The pretty town, it’s beautiful cathedral and it’s environs provide a stark contrast to the horror that unfolds. In addition, the author uses other locations to suggest various emotions such as the noise of a river or the deceptive calm of the surface of water with the unseen turbulence beneath. I love the art element which plays a large part both in the plot and in conveying moods and this is cleverly done. The character development is very good too, as several of those surprise and fool you, not just once either!
Overall, this is a gritty, compelling and absorbing new novel from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is how you write an intelligent, unpredictable psychological thriller, it’s gripping from beginning to end! It’s very well written with a good pace, there are some excellent twists and turns with the whole package giving you prickles of fear right from the start. A sense of tense unease is conveyed effectively from the get go which deepens to become chilling and menacing which contrasts so well with some of the sensuality in the storyline. There’s a fantastic use of place with the novel being set in Salisbury. The cathedral and the cathedral close are used masterfully to suggest various things such as menace from the watchful gargoyles to comfort and clarity from the solidity of its embracing stone walls. The pretty town, it’s beautiful cathedral and it’s environs provide a stark contrast to the horror that unfolds. In addition, the author uses other locations to suggest various emotions such as the noise of a river or the deceptive calm of the surface of water with the unseen turbulence beneath. I love the art element which plays a large part both in the plot and in conveying moods and this is cleverly done. The character development is very good too, as several of those surprise and fool you, not just once either!
Overall, this is a gritty, compelling and absorbing new novel from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 12, 2022
A slow-burn, drama/light mystery
Rachel is a doctor who lives in Salisbury, her home life is lacking and she becomes entangled in an unethical relationship with a patient, Luc. "It was dangerous and safe, wrong and right......".
Rachel throws caution to the wind and goes all in with her dalliance. Her character came off a bit flat for me and not entirely authentic. The story is more about her relationships with her husband, daughter and patient than a thriller. More of a domestic mystery. There are secrets, some lighter suspense and some chapters when Rachel is in custody.
I did enjoy it and wanted to finish, but found the happenings too far-fetched (some eye rolls here) and was expecting more suspense and a surprise twist (which doesn't happen).
Those who enjoy more of a slow burn domestic drama may enjoy this one.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! OUT May 3, 2022
Rachel is a doctor who lives in Salisbury, her home life is lacking and she becomes entangled in an unethical relationship with a patient, Luc. "It was dangerous and safe, wrong and right......".
Rachel throws caution to the wind and goes all in with her dalliance. Her character came off a bit flat for me and not entirely authentic. The story is more about her relationships with her husband, daughter and patient than a thriller. More of a domestic mystery. There are secrets, some lighter suspense and some chapters when Rachel is in custody.
I did enjoy it and wanted to finish, but found the happenings too far-fetched (some eye rolls here) and was expecting more suspense and a surprise twist (which doesn't happen).
Those who enjoy more of a slow burn domestic drama may enjoy this one.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy! OUT May 3, 2022
April 2, 2022
This book was one of the ‘quiet’ reads that I sometimes enjoy. It was a slow burn but this time it worked for me. Rachel Goodchild is a 49 year old GP whose life is in a bit of a rut. She is married to teacher Nathan and has an adult daughter, Lizzie, who doesn’t really get on with her mother.
One afternoon she gets a late patient, Luc Lefevre, who is crying his eyes out in her room. She listens to him which is all he really wanted and she prescribes some anti depressants. She feels strangely attracted to him but will never see him again. Soon, she and Nathan are invited to a housewarming party in the newly renovated canonry in old Salisbury. Rachel is surprised to learn that Luc and his wife Ophelia are the new owners. Luc draws Rachel out into the garden and it is clear these two are hot for each other even though Luc is younger and they are both married. They start a brief affair which has far reaching and disastrous consequences.
This was beautifully written and the characters came alive for me. Most of them were not that likeable although I did have some some sympathy for Rachel. It is so easy for women of that age to feel invisible and undesirable. The story is set in Salisbury, England and a small village in Provence, France.
While the build up was slow, there were definitely things happening. Rachel often felt that someone was following her, watching her. Only she is way off base about who it was. The story roars to a fast paced, shocking conclusion where murder is afoot, truths are told, lies are told and betrayals are rife. Just when you think you have worked out what is happening it gets twisted again.
The story is ultimately an elaborate ploy in the service of naked greed. I think after a couple of fast paced murder thrillers this book was a pleasant counterpoint. There was, however, enough tension to satisfy those who enjoy a psychological thriller. I really enjoyed it. Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
One afternoon she gets a late patient, Luc Lefevre, who is crying his eyes out in her room. She listens to him which is all he really wanted and she prescribes some anti depressants. She feels strangely attracted to him but will never see him again. Soon, she and Nathan are invited to a housewarming party in the newly renovated canonry in old Salisbury. Rachel is surprised to learn that Luc and his wife Ophelia are the new owners. Luc draws Rachel out into the garden and it is clear these two are hot for each other even though Luc is younger and they are both married. They start a brief affair which has far reaching and disastrous consequences.
This was beautifully written and the characters came alive for me. Most of them were not that likeable although I did have some some sympathy for Rachel. It is so easy for women of that age to feel invisible and undesirable. The story is set in Salisbury, England and a small village in Provence, France.
While the build up was slow, there were definitely things happening. Rachel often felt that someone was following her, watching her. Only she is way off base about who it was. The story roars to a fast paced, shocking conclusion where murder is afoot, truths are told, lies are told and betrayals are rife. Just when you think you have worked out what is happening it gets twisted again.
The story is ultimately an elaborate ploy in the service of naked greed. I think after a couple of fast paced murder thrillers this book was a pleasant counterpoint. There was, however, enough tension to satisfy those who enjoy a psychological thriller. I really enjoyed it. Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
April 20, 2022
Based upon the blurb I was expecting a thriller and instead got more of a mystery/domestic drama. It was also a slow burn which is definitely not my favorite. The character Rachel annoyed me and the choices she made at times were hard to believe. The writing style was ok, again not my favorite. Maybe this would have been better as an audiobook.
Rachel Goodchild is a middle age doctor who doesn’t feel appreciated in her marriage to teacher Nathan. Her relationship with her adult daughter Lizzie also isn’t the way she would like it. Her new patient Luc Lefevre left a lasting impression on her. As the book progresses the reader can see there is something brewing between the two.
However, are the risks that Rachel is taking worth it? Secrets are revealed and as a result puts Rachel and Luc in a precarious situation.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Rachel Goodchild is a middle age doctor who doesn’t feel appreciated in her marriage to teacher Nathan. Her relationship with her adult daughter Lizzie also isn’t the way she would like it. Her new patient Luc Lefevre left a lasting impression on her. As the book progresses the reader can see there is something brewing between the two.
However, are the risks that Rachel is taking worth it? Secrets are revealed and as a result puts Rachel and Luc in a precarious situation.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2022
I always talk about how blurbs and taglines are so important to the expectations of a new book. The Patient by Jane Shemilt is no different - from the blurb I expected a Doctor/Patient relationship gone wrong, perhaps questioning ethics of the job or maybe something to do with drug dependencies if you study the cover. The Patient only really hits this brief slightly; our main character Rachel is in fact a GP and her lover Luc is her patient, but only for one-hour long consultation before she passes him back to his normal practitioner. From there it’s more like a standard domestic love affair story which was quite disappointing.
The plot itself very much drags and nothing really properly happens until the very last quarter of the book. There’s a lot of foreshadowing phrases to end chapters before this point but the first three quarters are mainly just about an unlikeable woman’s infatuation with a neighbour and their love affair. My main issue with the book was that there is no-one to really root for. Rachel herself is unpleasant – she makes some really stupid mistakes and she doesn’t seem to care very much about those around her, whether that be her colleagues or her family. Her husband is a wet blanket who refuses to take her side or back her up in any argument and doesn’t seem to believe in parenting as a team. Her daughter is horrific – a spoiled brat who is openly rude to her mother at all opportunities for seemingly no reason. Even the subject of the affair Luc is painted vaguely and I didn’t really understand his appeal. Most of the scenes with the two of them together are focused on what Rachel is thinking and feeling as opposed to learning anything new about Luc.
The ending did come as a bit of a surprise although I had guessed the culprit even though I didn’t really understand their motives. The reveal came as two monologues which is always a truly boring was to wrap up a plot. It also left me with a lot of questions and didn’t really make sense with hindsight to the whole story. I also really didn’t understand why certain characters acted the way they did at the end – it made for a very confusing conclusion.
Overall, The Patient is not really a story about a GP and a patient, more a domestic love affair that goes wrong with unlikeable characters and an ending that left more questions than it answered. Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK – Harper Fiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The plot itself very much drags and nothing really properly happens until the very last quarter of the book. There’s a lot of foreshadowing phrases to end chapters before this point but the first three quarters are mainly just about an unlikeable woman’s infatuation with a neighbour and their love affair. My main issue with the book was that there is no-one to really root for. Rachel herself is unpleasant – she makes some really stupid mistakes and she doesn’t seem to care very much about those around her, whether that be her colleagues or her family. Her husband is a wet blanket who refuses to take her side or back her up in any argument and doesn’t seem to believe in parenting as a team. Her daughter is horrific – a spoiled brat who is openly rude to her mother at all opportunities for seemingly no reason. Even the subject of the affair Luc is painted vaguely and I didn’t really understand his appeal. Most of the scenes with the two of them together are focused on what Rachel is thinking and feeling as opposed to learning anything new about Luc.
The ending did come as a bit of a surprise although I had guessed the culprit even though I didn’t really understand their motives. The reveal came as two monologues which is always a truly boring was to wrap up a plot. It also left me with a lot of questions and didn’t really make sense with hindsight to the whole story. I also really didn’t understand why certain characters acted the way they did at the end – it made for a very confusing conclusion.
Overall, The Patient is not really a story about a GP and a patient, more a domestic love affair that goes wrong with unlikeable characters and an ending that left more questions than it answered. Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK – Harper Fiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2022
Rachel Goodchild is a 49 year old, married, menopausal woman who is a doctor at a general practice in Salisbury, England. One night as she prepares to head home, a young man named Luc enters her practice desperately seeking help. As soon as Rachel sets eyes on Luc, she instantly becomes attracted.
Months later Rachel and Luc are both being detained for pending murder charges. How did this doctor and her patient end up in this terrifying situation?
The Patient is told entirely from Rachel’s point of view, with alternating timelines.
Part thriller, and part romance, The Patient is a slow burn novel centered around a mystery. Jane Shemilt did an excellent job creating the settings and characters in The Patient. I loved the fact that part of the story took place in southern France. The author’s descriptions on Provence made me wish I were there.
I enjoyed the main characters, Rachel and Luc. Honestly they were the only likable ones in this entire story. Both Rachel’s daughter and her husband treated her very disrespectful so that cultivated a lot of sympathy for her. I loved the fact that the main character was made into a menopausal women because so many women in that age group feel unseen.
Overall I enjoyed this unique story and I look forward to reading more of Jane Shemilt’s work. The Patient will be a story that I will kit be forgetting anytime soon. I can see both thriller and romance fans enjoying this one!
The Patient by Jane Shemilt will be available on May 3. A massive thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2022
Lot of twists and turns but I had no trouble keeping’s up.
December 16, 2021
Rachel is a 40 something menopausal woman. She is also a doctor at her local practice. She is married to Nathan, but her marriage is falling apart and so is her relationship with her grown up daughter Lizzie. The relationship is getting more and more distant.
When the practice is ready to close after a busy day, a patient arrives Luc Lefevre needing help due to him having suicidal thoughts. She helps him as much as possible. There seems to be a connection between them. This connection leads them to an affair and Murder. That also leads Rachel too be accused of accessory to murder.
Thanks, Harper Collins, for a copy of The Patient by Jane Shemilt. I have mixed feelings about this book. Even though I thought that the basic storyline of this book was good and there was a lot of twists and turns. I felt personally that there was a lot of loose ends in this book that didn’t quite come together, and it left me answering questions. 3 stars from me.
When the practice is ready to close after a busy day, a patient arrives Luc Lefevre needing help due to him having suicidal thoughts. She helps him as much as possible. There seems to be a connection between them. This connection leads them to an affair and Murder. That also leads Rachel too be accused of accessory to murder.
Thanks, Harper Collins, for a copy of The Patient by Jane Shemilt. I have mixed feelings about this book. Even though I thought that the basic storyline of this book was good and there was a lot of twists and turns. I felt personally that there was a lot of loose ends in this book that didn’t quite come together, and it left me answering questions. 3 stars from me.
June 27, 2022
Another unprofessional professional who can’t seem to hide the fact that she's a moron. This was a sad little domestic drama concerning people I didn’t much care about, with a plot that only sometimes made sense. It would have been more coherent and believable if Doctor Rachel had acted like a real doctor with scruples and a brain. Menopausal women - all women for that matter - have enough problems without regularly being portrayed as out-of-control emotional slop buckets. On the other hand, none of the other characters here earned even a shred of my sympathy either. 2 stars.
April 13, 2022
A patient
A Dr
A special and unique relationship where you can ‘tell all’ for 10 mins then you both move on……..what do you do though if the attraction between you is so strong you are both more than happy to throw away everything you have to indulge your passion? And what about the consequences that abandon may bring?
This book is, as we say, a slow burner and also very descriptive, over so at times but it is well written and handles subjects such as mental health and the menopause in the story
There are some twists and an unusual ending
A different read for me
7/10
4 Stars
A Dr
A special and unique relationship where you can ‘tell all’ for 10 mins then you both move on……..what do you do though if the attraction between you is so strong you are both more than happy to throw away everything you have to indulge your passion? And what about the consequences that abandon may bring?
This book is, as we say, a slow burner and also very descriptive, over so at times but it is well written and handles subjects such as mental health and the menopause in the story
There are some twists and an unusual ending
A different read for me
7/10
4 Stars
August 21, 2022
Rachel could never imagine how much her life would change when she meets her new patient, Luc. Rachel is looking for something new in her life, after her daughter is breaking away from her and her husband doesn't seem to have much time. Rachel will fall for Luc, but she doesn't really know him, and the secrets he hides...
I do love a good thriller! This was brilliant, I was gripped the whole way through. Rachel was a character that was easily liked, but also made some decisions where I was like why?! Overall it was a fantastic read, and I would definitely recommend it!
I do love a good thriller! This was brilliant, I was gripped the whole way through. Rachel was a character that was easily liked, but also made some decisions where I was like why?! Overall it was a fantastic read, and I would definitely recommend it!
April 10, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
When Rachel meets Luc, the attraction is instant. But she is the Doctor, and he is the patient. She gives him the drugs he needs - but in doing so, risks everything. And when a secret is exposed, they're both in the firing line. Not all patients are telling the truth.
Rachel, a GP, is in her forties. her marriage to Nathan is stale and her daughter is distant with her. When Luc turns up to her surgery, he's a new patient, he's clearly distressed. She helps him to calm down.
The story is told from Rachel's point of view. The pace is slow. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't trust any of them either. It's quite a dark read but it's neither tense or thrilling. This story has a dual timeline with a few twists. I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't love it either.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #JaneShemilt for my ARC of #ThePatient in exchange for an honest review.
When Rachel meets Luc, the attraction is instant. But she is the Doctor, and he is the patient. She gives him the drugs he needs - but in doing so, risks everything. And when a secret is exposed, they're both in the firing line. Not all patients are telling the truth.
Rachel, a GP, is in her forties. her marriage to Nathan is stale and her daughter is distant with her. When Luc turns up to her surgery, he's a new patient, he's clearly distressed. She helps him to calm down.
The story is told from Rachel's point of view. The pace is slow. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't trust any of them either. It's quite a dark read but it's neither tense or thrilling. This story has a dual timeline with a few twists. I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't love it either.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #JaneShemilt for my ARC of #ThePatient in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2022
This one sounded really good but was not what I expected, and actually ended up falling flat for me. It started strong and kept my attention in the beginning, but then I got lost a bit with the characters, none of which I was invested in, and that combined with the very slow burn of a pace this was just too much on the light side of a mystery for me. I like my thrillers dark and fast paced and this was the opposite. The potential was there it just did not deliver for me.
Thank you to GetRedPR and William Morrow Books for the free book to review.
Thank you to GetRedPR and William Morrow Books for the free book to review.
October 1, 2022
Boring book with annoying, one-dimensional characters. The jumping back and forth of the timeline was unnecessary, and it felt like nothing really happened until the end. Explanations of situations and behaviors felt super farfetched. This was a very long 300 page book. If you want to try one by this author, check out The Daughter.
October 23, 2021
This story follows a series of events in the life of Rachel, a successful GP in which her life begins to unravel. Clearly unhappy at home, detached from her daughter, Rachel is lonely, menopausal and disillusioned with life.
It’s hard to say much more without giving away everything that happens; however, I will say that the synopsis/blurb is misleading. It’s not inaccurate, just I expected something more than what ultimately unravels.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I confess, it’s going to be the last. Clearly, we just don’t vibe. I found the vast majority of the characters to be quite unlikeable. Rachel, we are led to believe, is quite the career woman, yet she barely seems able to decide what to make for dinner without a degree of anxious hand-wringing. Her husband is mediocre at best, but clearly emotionally stunted. How can your wife be expressing concerns about her lack of relationship with your child and you just shrug it off?
As for Lizzie, she just comes across as an utter bitch who, frankly, I couldn’t be bothered to give the time of day to. On the whole, a lot of the relationships/issues didn’t really make any sense.
With regards to the plot – I was intrigued, until things got insanely convoluted. For me, this felt like someone trying to throw a lot of different options in to the mix in an attempt to keep the reader guessing. I’d have preferred a well written and thought-out story instead of the pick n mix solution I was left with. For a slow paced book, not enough happens, until ALL the things happen at the end.
Honestly, I found this odd and far too repetitive in places.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard to say much more without giving away everything that happens; however, I will say that the synopsis/blurb is misleading. It’s not inaccurate, just I expected something more than what ultimately unravels.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I confess, it’s going to be the last. Clearly, we just don’t vibe. I found the vast majority of the characters to be quite unlikeable. Rachel, we are led to believe, is quite the career woman, yet she barely seems able to decide what to make for dinner without a degree of anxious hand-wringing. Her husband is mediocre at best, but clearly emotionally stunted. How can your wife be expressing concerns about her lack of relationship with your child and you just shrug it off?
As for Lizzie, she just comes across as an utter bitch who, frankly, I couldn’t be bothered to give the time of day to. On the whole, a lot of the relationships/issues didn’t really make any sense.
With regards to the plot – I was intrigued, until things got insanely convoluted. For me, this felt like someone trying to throw a lot of different options in to the mix in an attempt to keep the reader guessing. I’d have preferred a well written and thought-out story instead of the pick n mix solution I was left with. For a slow paced book, not enough happens, until ALL the things happen at the end.
Honestly, I found this odd and far too repetitive in places.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2023
Rachel Goodchild a respected Doctor is married to Nathan a teacher and they have a daughter Lizzie. They have gotten to the stage in their marriage where they are comfortable with each other but lacking any passion.
One night as she prepares to go home, a late patient Luc Lefevre enters the practise in tears desperate for help. Rachel is instantly attracted to this handsome man who just wants someone to listen to him and prescribe him some anti-depressants.
Nathan and Rachel are invited to a house warming party at the newly renovated property in Old Salisbury Road. Rachel is surprised to learn that Luc and his wife Ophelia are the new owners.
They start a passionate affair, which blinds her to everything else happening around her and which will have devastating consequences, that no one could have ever predicted.
The Patient is narrated from Rachel's point of view with alternating timelines.
A beautifully written story where the characters came alive for me. Several of them surprised and fooled me more than once!!
This is a great psychological thriller, gripping from start to finish. I thought the pace was good and there were excellent twists along the way.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
One night as she prepares to go home, a late patient Luc Lefevre enters the practise in tears desperate for help. Rachel is instantly attracted to this handsome man who just wants someone to listen to him and prescribe him some anti-depressants.
Nathan and Rachel are invited to a house warming party at the newly renovated property in Old Salisbury Road. Rachel is surprised to learn that Luc and his wife Ophelia are the new owners.
They start a passionate affair, which blinds her to everything else happening around her and which will have devastating consequences, that no one could have ever predicted.
The Patient is narrated from Rachel's point of view with alternating timelines.
A beautifully written story where the characters came alive for me. Several of them surprised and fooled me more than once!!
This is a great psychological thriller, gripping from start to finish. I thought the pace was good and there were excellent twists along the way.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2025
Solo se salva la traducción.
Lentísimo y muuuuuuuuuuy previsible.
Se le ven las costuras desde el tren.
Lentísimo y muuuuuuuuuuy previsible.
Se le ven las costuras desde el tren.
May 5, 2022
THE PATIENT
by Jane Shemilt
William Morrow
Pub Date: May 3
The blurring of boundaries between a therapist and patient is a no-no for good reasons, as Jane Shemilt's THE PATIENT shows in this twisty tale.
Rachel is a doctor with a rather quiet life who has an affair with her patient Luc, a French painter who with his wife has bought and renovated a home near where Rachel and her husband live.
Sparks fly in more ways than one with far-reaching consequences, especially as Luc is arrested for the murder of one of her colleagues.
I really wanted to love this story -- billed as a twisty mystery -- about the impact of a patient/client affair. But the narrative was so slowly-paced that I had to force myself to get through it, and also found the ending rather predictable. The concept, however, was intriguing and I'd like to read a revised version that nails pace and denouement.
Thanks to the author, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#thepatient #JaneShemilt #WilliamMorrow #NetGalley
by Jane Shemilt
William Morrow
Pub Date: May 3
The blurring of boundaries between a therapist and patient is a no-no for good reasons, as Jane Shemilt's THE PATIENT shows in this twisty tale.
Rachel is a doctor with a rather quiet life who has an affair with her patient Luc, a French painter who with his wife has bought and renovated a home near where Rachel and her husband live.
Sparks fly in more ways than one with far-reaching consequences, especially as Luc is arrested for the murder of one of her colleagues.
I really wanted to love this story -- billed as a twisty mystery -- about the impact of a patient/client affair. But the narrative was so slowly-paced that I had to force myself to get through it, and also found the ending rather predictable. The concept, however, was intriguing and I'd like to read a revised version that nails pace and denouement.
Thanks to the author, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#thepatient #JaneShemilt #WilliamMorrow #NetGalley
April 21, 2022
Wow, thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and Netgalley for the invitation to read The Patient. What a treat.
I love it when you know or have been to the the location of a book and The Patient took me right back to the Salisbury Cathedral Close are of Salisbury, and indulges your imagination with the fantastic descriptive writing of Jane Shemilt.
I started this book with no expectations as had never heard of or read a book or by Jane Shemilt before, but will definitely be looking out for more by this author and checking out previous books, as if they are anywhere near as good as this, I will thoroughly enjoy them.
In this book Rachel Goodchild, a local GP meets Luc late one evening at the practice, the attraction is instant.
But she is a doctor, and he is her patient. She gives him the drugs he needs – but in doing so, risks everything.
And when a secret is exposed, they’re both in the firing line. He's not only her patient but a neighbour too and there's a very tangled web to uncover. The book is told from Rachel's perspective and flits between the present and the past and flows perfectly. I loved
It is an incredibly well written and unpredictable psychological thriller and really hard to put down as it is so exciting, and love the mix of betrayal, obsession and nervousness and 'its worth the wait for the fantastic twisty ending.
My only negative was that I don't think the blurb really did this book a justice as there is so much more to it. than that.
I love it when you know or have been to the the location of a book and The Patient took me right back to the Salisbury Cathedral Close are of Salisbury, and indulges your imagination with the fantastic descriptive writing of Jane Shemilt.
I started this book with no expectations as had never heard of or read a book or by Jane Shemilt before, but will definitely be looking out for more by this author and checking out previous books, as if they are anywhere near as good as this, I will thoroughly enjoy them.
In this book Rachel Goodchild, a local GP meets Luc late one evening at the practice, the attraction is instant.
But she is a doctor, and he is her patient. She gives him the drugs he needs – but in doing so, risks everything.
And when a secret is exposed, they’re both in the firing line. He's not only her patient but a neighbour too and there's a very tangled web to uncover. The book is told from Rachel's perspective and flits between the present and the past and flows perfectly. I loved
It is an incredibly well written and unpredictable psychological thriller and really hard to put down as it is so exciting, and love the mix of betrayal, obsession and nervousness and 'its worth the wait for the fantastic twisty ending.
My only negative was that I don't think the blurb really did this book a justice as there is so much more to it. than that.
May 8, 2022
Dr Rachel Goodchild is a GP, in her forties with a distant husband and daughter. She juggles everything, often not that well. But when Luc Lefevre visits her practice on a random evening, it starts a cataclysmic chain of events which will impact everyone’s lives - not necessarily for the better. He is her patient. She is his doctor. But is the attraction too strong to resist?
This is a brilliant concept; we have the forty-something neglected wife and the charming yet deeply complicated Luc. Who on earth could resist? But this book is far, far more than a simple adultery gone wrong tale. Oh no there is much more to this story than originally meets the eye. As we get introduced to Luc’s family and wealth it becomes apparent that his life is very far removed from Rachel’s but destiny has still brought them together and destiny can tear them apart…
The characters in this book were all wildly different; some I liked, some I hated. But they were all relevant to the plot and added suspicion and intrigue throughout. However what I loved best about this book was just as you thought you had the plot sorted, boom! There goes a great twist. And boom! There goes another. My head was spinning trying to work out who was telling the truth and who was double crossing who! Im happy to inform you I got it completely wrong!
A fantastic psychological thriller that starts off quietly and then hurtles along at top speed keeping you guessing all the way. I read it in two days which is always a good sign.
Thank you Harper Collins for my ARC. All views my own.
This is a brilliant concept; we have the forty-something neglected wife and the charming yet deeply complicated Luc. Who on earth could resist? But this book is far, far more than a simple adultery gone wrong tale. Oh no there is much more to this story than originally meets the eye. As we get introduced to Luc’s family and wealth it becomes apparent that his life is very far removed from Rachel’s but destiny has still brought them together and destiny can tear them apart…
The characters in this book were all wildly different; some I liked, some I hated. But they were all relevant to the plot and added suspicion and intrigue throughout. However what I loved best about this book was just as you thought you had the plot sorted, boom! There goes a great twist. And boom! There goes another. My head was spinning trying to work out who was telling the truth and who was double crossing who! Im happy to inform you I got it completely wrong!
A fantastic psychological thriller that starts off quietly and then hurtles along at top speed keeping you guessing all the way. I read it in two days which is always a good sign.
Thank you Harper Collins for my ARC. All views my own.
April 7, 2022
*ARC provided by publisher*
2.5 stars.
This book tried so hard to be a literary thriller, to the disservice of the character development and any suspense whatsoever. The writing itself was ok, but overly detailed in some places. The reveals were very convenient/lazily presented imo, rendering the end very underwhelming. Plus I don’t feel convinced that the romance between Luc and Rachel was fleshed out or long-standing enough to warrant all of what happened. Meh. I suppose it did get me out of my reading slump, so I rounded up.
2.5 stars.
This book tried so hard to be a literary thriller, to the disservice of the character development and any suspense whatsoever. The writing itself was ok, but overly detailed in some places. The reveals were very convenient/lazily presented imo, rendering the end very underwhelming. Plus I don’t feel convinced that the romance between Luc and Rachel was fleshed out or long-standing enough to warrant all of what happened. Meh. I suppose it did get me out of my reading slump, so I rounded up.
May 9, 2022
In my opinion, this was the worse book I've read in years. I was so looking forward to it but it was just lackluster and it took more than half the story to find out what happened. It wasn't suspensful, it was frustrating. A ridiculous novel with absolutely no point. I struggled to read it but for a few chapters, after the plot came to light. It just fell flat from beginning to end. My suggestion: read at your own risk.
April 7, 2022
The Patient is a contemporary domestic suspense novel set in Salisbury, England, about a middle-aged doctor who begins a relationship with a married patient, with deadly consequences. I’d read The Drowning Lesson by this author before, and had also 3-starred it, but liked the sound of this, especially since the heroine is a GP of approximately my age. It’s a well written thriller, and I did quite enjoy it, but I was put off by the universally unlikeable characters and predictable twists.
Rachel is a 49 year-old, perimenopausal empty-nester with a boring marriage and a stressful job at the local medical practice. When sexy architect Luc presents as a new emergency patient one evening, she is drawn to him, and helpless to stop herself falling into an affair when they meet again some months later. When she starts hearing footsteps behind her, Rachel initially blames stress and paranoia, but then a violent death has her questioning everything - could her lover be a murderer?
I’ve read a few books this year by former GPs, and they all make me grateful not to be one any more - then it occurred to me that contented current doctors are too busy to write books, so I’m probably getting a skewed perspective. I do like the accuracy that medical authors bring to scene-setting and plot details. Friends often ask if I’ve thought about writing a book myself, but I like reading and reviewing too much, and besides - I have no imagination!
This is all told from Rachel’s first person perspective (past tense, thankfully) and initially I had a lot of sympathy for her, but this dwindled as she makes excuses for her awful adult daughter’s selfishness and rudeness, her husband’s neglect and her own lust-confused-with-love making her sure Luc must be innocent. The murder mystery wasn’t totally convincing, and I guessed who was behind it and some of the reasons why, but probably only because I read too many thrillers. I liked the descriptive passages of Salisbury and Provence, and I did get caught up in the story, but doubt it will stay with me for long. 3.5 rounded down.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Patient is published on April 28th.
Rachel is a 49 year-old, perimenopausal empty-nester with a boring marriage and a stressful job at the local medical practice. When sexy architect Luc presents as a new emergency patient one evening, she is drawn to him, and helpless to stop herself falling into an affair when they meet again some months later. When she starts hearing footsteps behind her, Rachel initially blames stress and paranoia, but then a violent death has her questioning everything - could her lover be a murderer?
I’ve read a few books this year by former GPs, and they all make me grateful not to be one any more - then it occurred to me that contented current doctors are too busy to write books, so I’m probably getting a skewed perspective. I do like the accuracy that medical authors bring to scene-setting and plot details. Friends often ask if I’ve thought about writing a book myself, but I like reading and reviewing too much, and besides - I have no imagination!
This is all told from Rachel’s first person perspective (past tense, thankfully) and initially I had a lot of sympathy for her, but this dwindled as she makes excuses for her awful adult daughter’s selfishness and rudeness, her husband’s neglect and her own lust-confused-with-love making her sure Luc must be innocent. The murder mystery wasn’t totally convincing, and I guessed who was behind it and some of the reasons why, but probably only because I read too many thrillers. I liked the descriptive passages of Salisbury and Provence, and I did get caught up in the story, but doubt it will stay with me for long. 3.5 rounded down.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Patient is published on April 28th.
March 10, 2022
Three stars from me means I believe the author has achieved all they set out to, but that I personally didn’t fall in love with the book.
One thing I did really appreciate was that, for me, this book encapsulates perfectly the warning we are always given about writing in first person - it has the advantage of letting the reader directly into the mind of the protagonist which allows us to examine thoughts, feelings and motives more specifically, but it means if a reader dislikes the character there’s a danger they’ll lose interest.
And, oh, my, did I find the protagonist, Rachel Goodchild, tedious. At first I was engaged by her off-kilter observations. For the first third of the book I assumed she was going to be an unreliable narrator who was justifying nefarious deeds to herself and, therefore, to us as readers. But, no. She turned out really to be trying to justify what she told us she was at the start - her distant relationship from her daughter, Lizzie.
And, unfortunately, I found Lizzie even more tedious. As a librarian myself, I initially thought I would be drawn into her world at the library more, but, no. Partly because we only see Lizzie through her mother’s self-obsessed eyes, the library, Lizzie’s flat, her friends, and her budding new romance are glimpsed very opaquely. Her distance is put down by Rachel to feeling her mother was more interested in her than in her career. Well ... I’m not convinced. The world is peopled by busy professionals and their children who grow up to understand their parents were just ordinary humans doing the best they could. Is Lizzie then just particularly childish and unaccepting? Is she a bit rude and odd? Or is it because we can only see her through Rachel’s eyes? Maybe Lizzie is distant because her mother is so self-obsessed she needs to protect herself? I don’t know. What I do know is we are treated to a portrait of a very rude, disobliging woman whom I find it impossible to believe would be employed by any library.
Ditto Rachel’s husband. Are we supposed to see him as controlling? All that wrist-holding and the marital rape scene. I mean, I know what I feel about it, but I’m not sure what I was meant by the author to feel?
And then the patient himself. Again, is it Rachel’s self-obsession or is he really the shallow stereotype he seems?
All in all, it’s clear to me that this is a good book if, unlike me, you can get along with or at least not object to Rachel’s thought processes. It’s very well-written, and despite the odd backstory of two of the main characters, very believable. I just wish I had found Rachel, her viewpoint, and, because we only have her viewpoint, therefore all the other characters, less tedious. Mea culpa, perhaps. 🤷🏻♀️
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
One thing I did really appreciate was that, for me, this book encapsulates perfectly the warning we are always given about writing in first person - it has the advantage of letting the reader directly into the mind of the protagonist which allows us to examine thoughts, feelings and motives more specifically, but it means if a reader dislikes the character there’s a danger they’ll lose interest.
And, oh, my, did I find the protagonist, Rachel Goodchild, tedious. At first I was engaged by her off-kilter observations. For the first third of the book I assumed she was going to be an unreliable narrator who was justifying nefarious deeds to herself and, therefore, to us as readers. But, no. She turned out really to be trying to justify what she told us she was at the start - her distant relationship from her daughter, Lizzie.
And, unfortunately, I found Lizzie even more tedious. As a librarian myself, I initially thought I would be drawn into her world at the library more, but, no. Partly because we only see Lizzie through her mother’s self-obsessed eyes, the library, Lizzie’s flat, her friends, and her budding new romance are glimpsed very opaquely. Her distance is put down by Rachel to feeling her mother was more interested in her than in her career. Well ... I’m not convinced. The world is peopled by busy professionals and their children who grow up to understand their parents were just ordinary humans doing the best they could. Is Lizzie then just particularly childish and unaccepting? Is she a bit rude and odd? Or is it because we can only see her through Rachel’s eyes? Maybe Lizzie is distant because her mother is so self-obsessed she needs to protect herself? I don’t know. What I do know is we are treated to a portrait of a very rude, disobliging woman whom I find it impossible to believe would be employed by any library.
Ditto Rachel’s husband. Are we supposed to see him as controlling? All that wrist-holding and the marital rape scene. I mean, I know what I feel about it, but I’m not sure what I was meant by the author to feel?
And then the patient himself. Again, is it Rachel’s self-obsession or is he really the shallow stereotype he seems?
All in all, it’s clear to me that this is a good book if, unlike me, you can get along with or at least not object to Rachel’s thought processes. It’s very well-written, and despite the odd backstory of two of the main characters, very believable. I just wish I had found Rachel, her viewpoint, and, because we only have her viewpoint, therefore all the other characters, less tedious. Mea culpa, perhaps. 🤷🏻♀️
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
May 19, 2022
I thought this sounded like such an interesting concept but it unfortunately fell flat for me. I didn’t really like any of the characters, including the MC Rachel which was difficult given it was in 1st person and we were stuck with only her thoughts and conversations. She tells us she is very observant, that she has to be as a doctor, but she doesn’t seem to notice much of anything. She also makes terrible decisions and was very frustrating. Much of the book is her over thinking things that might be happening or not. This was an extremely slow burn mystery, the pace was slowed down with too much detail and descriptions in my opinion. The relationship felt forced to me, I found it hard to believe two people could both be madly in love after meeting twice. It was also a bit repetitive, especially in her thoughts. The last quarter of the book does begin to pick up, but it also jumped over to implausible territory to me and was a bit convoluted.
This just wasn’t the page turning thriller I’d hoped for, instead it is more of a slow burn domestic drama with a touch of mystery. I’ve seen some great reviews so don’t let me scare you away, its a shorter book and worth a read if you are interested in literary drama mystery. I did the majority of this one on audio and the narrator did a great job. 2.5/5⭐️
This just wasn’t the page turning thriller I’d hoped for, instead it is more of a slow burn domestic drama with a touch of mystery. I’ve seen some great reviews so don’t let me scare you away, its a shorter book and worth a read if you are interested in literary drama mystery. I did the majority of this one on audio and the narrator did a great job. 2.5/5⭐️
Want to read
April 18, 2022With a title like The Patient, I did not need to read the synopsis to know that this would be a book for me.
I work in healthcare and enjoy every little thing about it, especially reading about it!
The Patient is a suspenseful, domestic thriller that will keep you on your toes and guessing the entire book. There is nothing "slow" about this book as I felt the pace was fast and steady the entire time. I finished this book in one afternoon and I was left with complete satisfaction.
Jane Shemitt, executed this plot with precision and attention to detail. This was my first book by Shemitt, but I know it will not be my last as I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book.
The story takes place in England, and circles the lives of a physician, her patient, and their explicit affair. Not only is this wrong and unethical but Rachel, the physician, is also married. Rachel and Nathan's marriage is not picture perfect so when a handsome patient, Luc, shows up at her door, she cant help the chemistry she is feeling.
When the affair ends up in murder, Rachel is being charged as an accessory.
Sounds amazing right? Well, you are going to have to pre-order your copy, due out June 28, 2022 to find out what happens! I can promise you, you will not be disappointed.
I work in healthcare and enjoy every little thing about it, especially reading about it!
The Patient is a suspenseful, domestic thriller that will keep you on your toes and guessing the entire book. There is nothing "slow" about this book as I felt the pace was fast and steady the entire time. I finished this book in one afternoon and I was left with complete satisfaction.
Jane Shemitt, executed this plot with precision and attention to detail. This was my first book by Shemitt, but I know it will not be my last as I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book.
The story takes place in England, and circles the lives of a physician, her patient, and their explicit affair. Not only is this wrong and unethical but Rachel, the physician, is also married. Rachel and Nathan's marriage is not picture perfect so when a handsome patient, Luc, shows up at her door, she cant help the chemistry she is feeling.
When the affair ends up in murder, Rachel is being charged as an accessory.
Sounds amazing right? Well, you are going to have to pre-order your copy, due out June 28, 2022 to find out what happens! I can promise you, you will not be disappointed.
October 23, 2021
A mesmerising tale of obsession, vengeance and betrayal, expertly unpicking the threads of a marriage and the lies that bind. Absorbingly atmospheric with elegant, lyrical prose and a brooding slow-burn tension, The Patient is utterly unforgettable.
The story follows Rachel, a GP, who sees a patient one night and feels an unexpected attraction. She doesn't act on her feelings and instead gives him the drugs he needs, setting in motion a story that intricately dissects an unhappy marriage.
Compelling, haunting and beautifully told, I loved the sense of place and Shemilt's attention to detail in her settings. A novel you won't want to miss.
The story follows Rachel, a GP, who sees a patient one night and feels an unexpected attraction. She doesn't act on her feelings and instead gives him the drugs he needs, setting in motion a story that intricately dissects an unhappy marriage.
Compelling, haunting and beautifully told, I loved the sense of place and Shemilt's attention to detail in her settings. A novel you won't want to miss.
June 6, 2022
This one was just too slow for me to enjoy it. It is a very very long and drawn out suspense and thriller with very little actually happening for the first 90% of it.
The story follows a doctor, Rachel, who meets a patient struggling with mental health issues. However she’s unable to stay away from him and jumps into an affair despite both of them being married. Strange things start to happen around her and she isn’t sure if the threat is real or just in her head.
I struggled with a lot of things here. The author tried to make Rachel an unreliable narrator but there was NO basis for it. She doesn’t have mental health issues, she’s not that old, she doesn’t have pre existing memory concerns. Why in the world wouldn’t she trust herself? I also didn’t really get the enmity of Lizzie and Rachel. Because your mom was busy with her job when you were a kid, you’re not going to tell her you’re pregnant as a grown woman? I kept expecting there to be a real reason for her anger but it never came. Finally, the ending and resolution was really far fetched. So much of it had me shaking my head. I was glad this one was done.
The story follows a doctor, Rachel, who meets a patient struggling with mental health issues. However she’s unable to stay away from him and jumps into an affair despite both of them being married. Strange things start to happen around her and she isn’t sure if the threat is real or just in her head.
I struggled with a lot of things here. The author tried to make Rachel an unreliable narrator but there was NO basis for it. She doesn’t have mental health issues, she’s not that old, she doesn’t have pre existing memory concerns. Why in the world wouldn’t she trust herself? I also didn’t really get the enmity of Lizzie and Rachel. Because your mom was busy with her job when you were a kid, you’re not going to tell her you’re pregnant as a grown woman? I kept expecting there to be a real reason for her anger but it never came. Finally, the ending and resolution was really far fetched. So much of it had me shaking my head. I was glad this one was done.
May 25, 2022
*Paperback ARC
This is a slow burn novel. It was classified as a thriller, but I think that’s a stretch. This was more of a mental health and artwork mystery with an brief affair & loveless marriage thrown in.
There wasn’t much of a focus on development of the characters or their relationships. Even the affair between Rachel and Luc was just meh. There legit didn’t seem to be anything there between Rachel and Luc…I’m thinking if there’s an affair there is heat…passion. I feel like their relationship was more like Luc(Luke)-warm coffee. 😂
The characters weren’t likable. I kept zoning out and forgetting what I was reading. The way the book was written, there didn’t seem to be a smooth transition between different topics, characters and events… the writing just seemed, I dunno…choppy I guess.
The book wasn’t bad or anything, I just think it wasn’t for me. I’m not much into slow burn novels and if I hear there’s an affair…ima need more sex in the book. Just sayin…
This is a slow burn novel. It was classified as a thriller, but I think that’s a stretch. This was more of a mental health and artwork mystery with an brief affair & loveless marriage thrown in.
There wasn’t much of a focus on development of the characters or their relationships. Even the affair between Rachel and Luc was just meh. There legit didn’t seem to be anything there between Rachel and Luc…I’m thinking if there’s an affair there is heat…passion. I feel like their relationship was more like Luc(Luke)-warm coffee. 😂
The characters weren’t likable. I kept zoning out and forgetting what I was reading. The way the book was written, there didn’t seem to be a smooth transition between different topics, characters and events… the writing just seemed, I dunno…choppy I guess.
The book wasn’t bad or anything, I just think it wasn’t for me. I’m not much into slow burn novels and if I hear there’s an affair…ima need more sex in the book. Just sayin…
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