The Perfect Patient

by Paige Monroe

Therapy was supposed to save her mind.
But it might be an experiment meant to destroy it.

Elena Drake returns home to find things slightly out of place.
Her worst fear resurfaces - someone has been inside her apartment.

And that’s only the beginning.

No one believes her - not her boyfriend, her best friend, or the police.
At first, only her therapist, Dr. Roth, seems to understand. Kind. Calm. Always in control.

As Elena digs deeper, the line between memory and manipulation blurs.
Friends pull away. Doubt creeps in.

Is the real danger outside her walls—or inside her mind?

But the more she confides in Dr. Roth, the more her world tilts out of control.
Is the person she thought she could trust, the man meant to help her, the one pulling the strings?

Every discovery shatters what she thought she knew about her past, her sanity, and herself.

In a world built on deception, can Elena uncover the truth before she unravels completely?

Genres: Mystery

79 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2025

Reviews

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena is a bit unstable and worried about her mental state. Is she imagining things? She sees Dr. Roth, a psychotherapist, to help her through it, but she become suspicious of him when some unexplained polaroids show up in her apartment - pics she knows she didn't take, and which Dr. Roth seems a bit too willing to explain as a product of her imagination. But how could that be? A short read, but a good page-turner and a couple mind-blowing twists in the final pages. Eerie!

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced psychological thriller!

I have heard it said "just because I am paranoid, that doesn't mean they aren't out to get me". This story captures that thought perfectly!
As Elena struggles to control her anxiety, her therapist says he is guiding her through it. But maybe he is the cause. Elena isn't sure who she can trust as she tries to determine what's real and what's her imagination.

[Sandi Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle

Elana didn't know who she could trust. This was a very good book. Kept me on the edge of my seat.

[Patience · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this novella may be short in terms of page numbers, it certainly isn't lacking in impact! The word ‘unsettling’ doesn't do this book justice. As someone who has experience in the mental health system, I found myself racing through the pages as I devoured this psychologically warped story, consumed by the fear, confusion, and frustration right alongside Elena. The nuances in psychological manipulation were portrayed perfectly, highlighting the smallest adjustments that may seem innocent and insignificant yet slowly fracture Elena’s sense of reality, ultimately leaving a large and lasting mental and emotional disturbance.

The dual-POV was well written, providing both sides of this malicious betrayal and broken trust. Reading about Dr. Roth felt deeply unsettling, as his confidence in being more intelligent, calculated, and clever than those around him oozed from every interaction. Elena was a perfectly crafted character, showing that no two mental illnesses present in the same way, and no reaction can be predicted with total accuracy. Between the unique storyline and fully developed characters, I found this psychological thriller to be a fast-paced, emotionally heavy, and fully enjoyable read!

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Roth was a psychologist/psychiatrist who worked with Elena on her paranoia, her fear. But was he helping her at all? When sounds in the night and Polaroids taken of her at a certain time in the morning while she slept, when her paranoia gets worse it all fractures and her friends and boyfriend backs away and slowly edge out of her life. Who is Claire and is she really helping Elena?
Where is Elena's mother? Will Dr Roth be able to help her in time before she breaks?
You have to read this new psychological thriller by Paige Monroe it is great,n keeps you on the edge and won't let you stop until you are finished. My only complaint...I wish it were longer.

[Debra Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena is finally free from years of manipulation, but the past isn’t done with her. As she searches for answers about her mother’s disappearance, every clue only leads to more questions and the people closest to her may be hiding the truth. The suspense builds slowly as Elena begins to question the voice she’s trusted all her life, and the unraveling truth is both unsettling and compelling. Tense, twisty, and filled with secrets, this is the kind of story that lingers after the final page.
Thank you to the author for eARC, this is my honest review

[Candy Turk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially picked up what I later realized was the second book in the series. While the author notes it can be read as a standalone, I found myself wanting more background on the main character and ended up going back to read the first installment (a novella). I’ve always enjoyed stories told through multiple points of view, and this one delivered on that front. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing with the next book in the series.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting!

Elena thought he could help. Instead she was an experiment.

A gripping thriller that is frightening.

A highly recommended reading if you like this genre.

Thank you for the opportunity to read your book

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, suspenseful read. I was awake at 3 am, read most of it, then finished while walking laps at the YMCA. This is the first in this series.
Elena, the mc, is stressed and on the edge always. Ever since her mother disappeared when she was quite young she feels like she has to be in control. But when she realizes someone was in her abode, she really freaks out. Of course her counselor is there to help — really.
I liked the fast pace and the multiple point of views throughout the novella.
This was a short ARC I received from the author through BookFunnel. This is my honest review and I will reread it again, it was that good.
Used this for library bingo as a suspense/psychological thriller.

[Kris Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy cr@p!!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Patient: A gripping psychological thriller (The Elena Drake Series Book 1), my first compelling 83-page short read from author Paige Monroe, an author I've not read before this. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book & am reading it & voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I'll be reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Perfect Patient” by Paige Monroe is a twisty psychological thriller that keeps you second-guessing everyone. With sharp pacing, dark secrets, and a chilling finale, it’s the kind of book you’ll tear through in one sitting.

[karin whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this Novella as an ARC and this is my review. Elena seems to have uninvited people in her apartment when she isn't aware of them. She doubts her mind as everyone tells her she's imagining things. But photos tell her she's right. Why whomever is messing with her is, drives her to seek help, but then even her psychologist has her own doubts. A fast paced, story with great characters, an intriguing story. Looking forward to more...

[Texas · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE PERFECT PATIENT - Not impressed with the writing or characters. Source: My Kindle library. 2*

THE PERFECT SILENCE - I promised to review this book, so I had to finish it. A cerebral thriller, not. Interesting story and characters, average. I tried but could not get interested in the writing style, the story lines, or the characters, especially Elena. I do recommend reading Patient, then Silence. Source: The Author. 3*

[Whispers of ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read "The Perfect Patient" by Paige Monroe, and I have to say, it’s a gripping psychological thriller that kept me on my toes the whole time. The pacing is sharp, there's a web of dark secrets, and the ending gave me chills—it was definitely one of those books that I couldn't put down and finished in one sitting.

Overall, I loved my experience with this book and am excited to dive into her other books. If you’re into thrillers that keep you guessing, I definitely recommend giving this one a shot!

[Paul Weiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Sometimes it’s not about what’s in your head. Sometimes it’s about who’s putting things there.”

An interesting premise – “gaslighting” in layman’s terms, fraudulent and criminal psychological malpractice to be more exact. Consider these notes, well hidden from everyone’s eyes but the psychologist’s own:

“Reinforced sense of helplessness. Planted seeds of resentment. Suggested emotional constancy. Introduced concern over potential self-harm to provoke protective reflex and destabilize trust.

… Introduced language around compassion fatigue and blurred personal boundaries. Initial receptivity noted. Echoed mild concern about emotional volatility and implied self-harm risk as therapeutic justification.”

But, sadly, while I could follow the plot point that it was a psychologist’s criminal intent to push his patients to their mental limits even to the point of inducing self-harm or insanity, I don’t think it was the author’s intent to produce a plot so byzantine and tortuous that I felt like I was being gaslighted myself.

THE PERFECT PATIENT had its moments which I felt pushed the overall rating from a single star to two stars. That said, I’ll also add that if this had been a full length novel instead of a novella with less than 100 pages, there’s not a chance I would have finished it. And, last but not least, the ending paragraphs which were clearly intended to be that brilliant shocking twist … what’s up with that? I have no idea what it was about??

Paul Weiss

[Sammye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this gripping psychological thriller. The mystery and twists kept me guessing. It’s a short, exciting read.

[River Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more! Despite it's short length, this novella was jam packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Creepy, disturbing, and too many loose ends in the final chapter.

[Carol Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elena is being treated by Dr. Roth, a physiatrist who is using her as part of an experiment that hehas used on other patients. The end of the book has a big twist.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychological treatment isn't always good for the patient!!

[Donna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good psychological thriller. Made me question what was real or false. Kept me guessing. Didn’t predict the ending. Highly recommend this book and author.