The Privilege: A Psychological Thriller

by A.R. Hollowell

She knows who killed him. The law says she can't tell.

A therapist holds hundreds of secrets. It's the job. People sit in her chair, confess the worst thing they've ever done, and trust her to hold it.

Then a patient confesses to a fatal hit-and-run — and walks out like nothing happened.

Three days later, the victim's mother is referred to her as a new patient. Same office. Same chair. She's searching for answers about her son's death. Answers the therapist already has.

Every Tuesday: the mother, searching for the truth.
Every Thursday: the killer, making sure it stays buried.

The law says the confession is protected. The privilege is absolute. But when the killer starts watching the mother — and makes it clear he knows exactly who she is — the rules designed to protect become the walls that imprison.

Now the therapist faces an impossible choice: break the law and destroy her career, or keep the secret and risk a mother's life.

The Privilege is a devastating psychological thriller about the space between duty and conscience — and what it costs to do the right thing when every option is a form of harm.

Book One in the Hollowell Moral Thriller Series.

For fans of Jodi Picoult and Lisa Scottoline.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2026

About the author

A.R. Hollowell writes psychological thrillers about impossible choices: the kind that keep you up at night, not because they are frightening, but because you are no longer sure what you would have done.

The stories live in the space between what is legal and what is right, where ordinary people get caught inside the systems built to protect them and have to choose when every option costs something. There are no clean answers, and that is the point. Readers who love the moral weight of Jodi Picoult and Lisa Scottoline tend to feel at home here.

The current series, the Hollowell Moral Thriller Series, begins with The Privilege and continues with The Testimony, with more to come.

When not writing, A.R. is usually flying a drone, building something new, or watching a movie with family.

Readers who want to know what comes next can follow A.R. Hollowell here

Reviews

[Chapters_with_VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all, The Privilege had me hooked from page one. 😳 A therapist hears a patient confess to a fatal hit-and-run… then ends up counseling the victim’s mother. Talk about a moral nightmare.

The therapist is smart, compassionate, and trapped in an impossible situation, while the tension ratchets higher with every session. The victim’s mother broke my heart, and the killer had me side-eyeing every page. 👀

Hollowell’s writing is sharp, emotional, and packed with suspense. The ethical dilemma at the center of the story is like watching someone walk a tightrope over a pit of alligators—you know disaster is coming, but you can’t look away.

A clever, thought-provoking psychological thriller that kept my nerves fried and the pages flying.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this story. Having a psychology degree, I wanted to see how the therapist was going to handle having both the man who committed the hit and run, and also the mother to the man he hit as her patients . My mind was screaming the entire time I was reading this book. One part of me kept saying to report him, but at the same time, the code of ethics states she legally can’t because he isn’t a threat to himself or others. He just committed a heinous act at that particular moment, and without intent. But then here comes the grieving mother. And she definitely can’t tell this mom who did this to her son. I was still screaming. This was so intense for me. The patients want where my tension lay. It was with the therapist. Morally bound to never be able to say anything to anyone ever or she risks losing her license ands her job. I was completely intrigued with how this put all the weight on the therapist. Showing the difficulty of her job. And how it affected her. I was obsessed with this story. These two patients were the ultimate form of burnout for her. On both a professional and personal level. I can’t imagine how she even rented remotely held herself together with all of this information.
I found this to be very well written, intense, and kept me on the edge of my seat and my brain working overtime throughout the entirety of this story. I will definitely be reading the second one.

[Kierston Ghezzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first ARC that I have received and read and I was very excited. However, I did not consider this to be a psychological thriller like stated and like I was expecting. There were many parts in the dialogue that were significantly repetitive and descriptions that were used too frequently, which made it difficult to focus on the story at hand. There were times where I felt the book could have finished but kept going.

With that being said, I did find it difficult to rate this book. I did find the story line to be interesting. The author really captured the raw range of emotions the main character felt/experienced throughout the book very well. I am grateful that I was able to receive this advanced copy but it did fall short for me. I will be interested to see how this will become part of a series.

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an intriguing read.

Thankyou to A.R  Hollowell for this advanced Complimentary copy via booksirens. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.

A therapist named Elena takes on a client who discloses having committed a hit and run. However, under state law and governing rules of practice she can't disclose the crime unless someone is in imminent danger.

She also takes on another client, a grieving mother whose son was killed in a still-unsolved hit and run. At this point the red flags are blaring and Elena should walk away from one of these patients but she feels a sense of duty to both. 

Can she really remain impartial and professional? Can she provide balanced and unbiased care to both? 

It is an interesting look at the patient-therapist bond and the "privilege" that means that what is shared between them cannot be shared any further unless there is imminent threat or danger. 

She looks to her mentor for guidance. She reads the guidelines front to back but she is wrestling with her conscience. In different circumstances, she knows the decisions she would make.

This story poses so many ethical and moral dilemas and asks what would you do in this situation? 

I found myself mad and shouting at Elena, but another part of me could see that she really thought she was doing the right thing. 

This was a psychological suspense novel that allows us to look at the inner thoughts and conflicts that Elena faced. It felt a bit repetetive towards the end.

This was a good read and I would recommend.

[Dawn Staub · Rating 5 out of 5]

I contemplated if I wanted to read this book since I am a mental health therapist. People tend to get so much wrong about the profession, but I decided to give it a chance. I am glad I did! Hollowell takes one event, a hit and run incident where the victim dies, and provides the complex viewpoint of three separate individuals: the driver, the victim’s mother, and a well-meaning (although misguided) therapist to both. His ability to provide the perspectives of three individuals whose behaviors and thinking are so different is what makes this book so engaging. It is easy to say, “I would never” but real life shows us that not everyone responds the same. Looking forward to reading book 2 when it comes out.

[BookishDogMamaKate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that grabs you, pulling you in on the first page? And within the first 2 chapters you are wondering who will play the characters in the movie or Netflix show? I did on Sunday. That book is The Privilege by Author A.R. Hollowell.

The Privilege is a highly effective psychological thriller dealing with one of the most serious ethical issues those entrusted to care for people are faced with. What do I do if a patient reveals they have committed a crime, may be capable of more…and the law of client privilege bars me from revealing this? How do I protect future victims while maintaining patient confidentiality?

Therapist Elena finds herself trapped in this situation…and her journey carrying this knowledge is drop-the-mic tension!

While reading I found my own heart racing, my own hand holding my chair tighter…and my lungs gently reminding me that needing to breathe is important.

The characters are so believable. The descriptions of the atmosphere and emotions are palpable. The dialogue between them reads like a movie in my mind and I want to keep turning pages to see what happens next.

This story presents ethics, life changing decisions, therapy, grief and relationships spot on.

I would highly recommend this book! It will be a fast read, as you won’t want to put it down.

I received an advance reader copy from the author. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to Booksirens and A.R. Hollowell for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Privilege first drew me in as I was interested in the premise of the privilege between a therapist and their patient. The moral dilemmas that arise throughout is definitely what keeps you hooked in. Elena is a character you can truly sympathise with and has you questioning what you might do if posed with that same situation. Speak up or stay quiet. Personally, I struggled a bit to stay engaged as parts of the story were a bit repetitive. Aside from that it was well written, the suspense slowly builds and I would be interested in reading the continuation of the story in book two. Thanks again for the opportunity in reading this ARC.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was truly a fascinating read that had me in awe from the beginning. I was not prepared for this type of psychological thriller. The pacing was so smooth that at times I’d forgot it was a book. A.R. Hollowell’s choice of theme was refreshing. Who’d thought a story geared around a therapist would be so thrilling. Each character was nothing short of interesting. Each brought something different into the story. This story will have you thinking and considering what would you do if you were in the characters shoes. How would you go about things? I’m in suspense to see what’s up next for book 2 because lets be real this story and the characters need a book 2.

Thank you A.R. Hollowell & Booksirens for the eARC. This review is that of my own.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

​The Privilege by A.R. Hollowell is an addictive, exceptional, quiet, and deeply unsettling dive into ethics, law, and self preservation. It is a profound exploration of the human psyche and the blurry line between right and wrong.

​Therapist Elena knows from the very start that her Tuesday patient, Diane, and her Thursday patient, Thomas, are deeply connected. Treating them both is a forbidden gamble she deliberately takes, driven by an immense sympathy for Diane.

For four months, the emotional toll of this choice weighs heavily on Elena. She is trapped by professional privilege, a sacred boundary she is legally bound to protect, and she faces a moral dilemma that could cost her her license and career.

​While the conclusion felt slightly dragged out, the brilliant character development keeps you hooked, forcing you to ask: what would you do when there truly isn't a right answer?

My thanks to Booksirens for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

[Gisela Marengo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Privilege

4.75⭐️ This book had me hooked from the first chapter I couldn’t put it down. I was feeling the weight of every decision, every secret, and every consequence. The characters felt real, flawed, and human, which made their struggles hit even harder. I felt every emotion, every decision so intense. I can’t wait to start book 2 .

[Cassie Hasdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC


Ok….WOW. This book was honestly a little outside the realm of what I’d normally read and not what I would normally sway towards for fear of boredom. ( I love any great action-packed, graphic crime thriller)

This was ANYTHING but boring and stirred a great moral dilemma within me. As someone who has worked in healthcare and is held by similar laws and legislations ( Aussie gal here so things differ slightly). I found myself imagining what I would do if I were thrust into a situation like this……and honestly? I have arguments that support both sides of this story.

I was instantly drawn to Elena and the impossible position that she was straddling: The battle between Therapist-patient privilege and the ethical framework, laws and legislations that invisibly bind the hands of all of those who choose to uphold its oath.

Despite the lack of ‘gore’ and action-packed murder mysteries that I’m used to, I never got bored throughout this book (and I’m a very impatient person when it comes to reading books that can’t reel me in within the fist couple of chapters).
If this is only book 1 of a 3 book series than sign me up now for the next 2 because I can’t recall the last time I read a book that made me second guess every belief that I once held surrounding patient confidentiality and the multifaceted battle that those bound by these laws face throughout their careers.

Easiest 5 ⭐️ I’ve given this year 😊

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well paced and tackles ethical questions faced by psychologists. I enjoyed the book, but I wish the main character wasn’t so stupid.

[Fiza Pathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I closed ‘The Privilege’ on a Mumbai afternoon in early May, sat with it for a long time in the silence of my Bandra West flat bedroom, and then turned back to the first page. I had not believed, in the days before I opened it, that a debut novel by an unknown writer publishing under the small Armitage Press imprint would ‘press’ itself against my chest and refuse to leave. I expected, with the familiar resignation of a reader who has worked her way through too many competent legal thrillers, an evening of serviceable plotting and a manageable suspense. What I found instead was a book of moral gravity so disciplined and so honestly built that, by the third chapter, I had set my smart pen down and stopped taking notes. Some books do not want to be analyzed before they are received. Five stars, without hesitation. ‘The Privilege’ is the most ethically serious thriller I have read in a long while.

The premise is, on its surface, the kind of high-concept hook that fills the catalogues of every commercial publisher each spring. Elena Vargas is a Chicago therapist with fourteen years of clinical practice behind her, and a small office above a yoga studio on Armitage Avenue. On a Thursday in November, her third-session patient - Thomas Crane, a wealthy real-estate developer - confesses with rehearsed calm that, on a rain-slick October night the previous month, he struck and killed a twenty-four-year-old graduate student named Ryan Hollowell on a stretch of Sheridan Road near the university, sat in his car for ‘two, maybe three’ seconds while the calculation ran, and drove away. The privilege belongs to him; Illinois law is unambiguous; Elena cannot tell. Three days later, by a referral she has neither the moral clarity to refuse nor the professional ground to accept, Ryan’s mother -Diane Hollowell, retired Evanston teacher, knocking on doors with flyers in a winter coat - becomes Elena’s new patient.

What lifts this novel from competent thriller to something genuinely lasting is Hollowell’s refusal - and one feels it as a moral choice, not merely a craft choice - to soften any edge of the dilemma he has set. The book’s ethical question is not solved. It is suffered. For four months of narrative time, Elena sits with Diane every Tuesday at two o’clock and with Thomas every Thursday at four, knowing what she knows, and the novel inhabits her body as the secret begins to consume it - twelve pounds lost, hair coming out in the shower, headaches behind the eyes, hands she has to hide under her notepad. ‘The Privilege’ understands, with a clinician’s seriousness, that the body is the first place where conscience registers - that the failure to speak is not a passive condition but an active wound. I cannot recall another thriller that has so faithfully recorded what silence costs the silent.

The prose itself is the second of the novel’s quiet astonishments. Hollowell writes in short, controlled sentences, with a Hemingway-esque economy that is nonetheless capable of sudden lyricism - check this out - a maple tree losing its leaves ‘with a kind of exhausted dignity, one at a time’; the click of an office door in an empty stairwell sounding ‘like a period at the end of a sentence.’ The minimalism never preens. It is the prose, one feels, of a writer who has imposed on himself the same discipline he has asked of his protagonist - say only what is true; say nothing more. There is, throughout the book, an authorial restraint that signals a writer who trusts his reader and trusts his subject - an increasingly rare combination in contemporary commercial fiction. Bravo A.R. Hollowell!

The novel’s structural architecture is similarly disciplined. Four parts - The Weight, The Trap, and the two after, which I shall not name for fear of spoiling - carry the reader through confession, surveillance, breaking, and the long, unsentimental work of repair. Hollowell is unafraid of patience. He gives Detective Luis Reina an entire mid-novel arc to build the case from toll records, body-shop receipts, and the stubborn forensic instinct of a man with a yellow legal pad and twenty years of cases behind him. He gives Diane the dignity of her own investigative grief - the flyers, the cameras, the doorbell rounds of a mother who refuses to be a passive recipient of bureaucratic indifference. He gives even Freud the cat - Elena’s small orange domestic conscience, perched on the kitchen counter through every crisis - a presence as exactly observed as any human character.

The ensemble is what one notices, finally - a moral landscape populated by people, not figures.
But the chapter that decided me on this book, is the one in which Elena enters a small Catholic parish on Fullerton Avenue and meets Father Tom Brennan. There is, in contemporary American fiction, a chronic discomfort with the figure of the priest (ROFL) - a literary embarrassment that produces either caricature or nostalgia. Hollowell writes Father Brennan as neither (Thanks be to God, Alleluia). He is middle-aged, balding, replacing burned-down candles on a Wednesday afternoon (They should do this in Mumbai, India too – why do I have to do it all the time!!??), and he asks Elena no questions she has not first asked herself. He tells her, instead, the parable of a parishioner who came to confession every Saturday for three years for the same sin, and who one day went home and told his wife. The marriage broke, and was rebuilt over years of pain, and ‘the truth didn’t fix anything’ Father Brennan says - it merely cleared the ground for building on something that wasn’t rotten. Then he uses the one word that pierces Elena’s professional armor - enabling. She has used the word with her own patients for fourteen years. She has never applied it to herself. The blow is moral, and it is exact, and any reader who has ever sat with the slow accumulation of small compromises will recognize in this scene the kind of clarity that good Catholic moral theology has always understood - that grace, when it arrives, often arrives as the lifting of a single self-deception.

I do not know whether A. R. Hollowell is Catholic; I do know that the novel’s moral architecture is profoundly indebted to the confessional tradition, with its insistence that absolution is a door one must still walk through. This is not a Catholic novel in the narrow sense, but it is a novel that takes seriously what the Catholic moral imagination has always taken seriously - that conscience is real, that it has a body, that silence has a cost, and that the cost cannot be deferred forever without consequences that are spiritual before they are professional. As a Catholic reader - as a Benedictine consecrated virgin in formation, as one who carries her own discipline of Catholic theological reading into every novel she opens - (as a Catholic Biblical Theologian myself) I felt the weight of these intuitions on every page. I felt, too, the dignity of a secular novel that allowed religious seriousness into its frame without apology and without sentimentality, and which respected the priest as an interlocutor rather than reducing him to scenery.

I should note, in fairness to readers whose tastes differ from mine, the perspectives a less enthusiastic critic might raise. The pacing is unhurried; readers who come to legal thrillers expecting the brisk procedural rhythm of a John Grisham or a Scott Turow (my IBDP English Literature tuition students are obsessed with this guy! Why??! I am doing something wrong big time!) will find Hollowell’s patience trying. The ethical conclusion is genuinely contested within the therapeutic and legal-ethics professions - a great many practicing clinicians will read Elena’s eventual decision as a violation rather than a vindication, and the novel honors them by refusing to argue otherwise. The prose, for all its precision, occasionally trades vividness for restraint, and a reader who prizes lush sentences may feel the writing too austere. The novel’s secondary cast - Margaret Chen the supervisor, Gloria the clinic director, Detective Reina, Father Brennan, the late-arriving Dr. Reeves - is unambiguously sympathetic, and a critic of harder taste may complain that Thomas Crane is the only true villain in a moral landscape this complex. Each of these is a fair observation. None of them, to my reading, diminishes the achievement of the whole.

What ‘The Privilege’ offers, beyond its considerable virtues as a thriller, is the rare gift of a novel that respects its own subject. Hollowell publishes under a surname - Hollowell - that is also the name of his murdered character, and the dedication reads - For the therapists who carry what they cannot say. And for the families still waiting for answers. It is a small detail, easy to miss, but it tells the reader something important about the seriousness of the project. Whoever A. R. Hollowell is - the use of initials, the surname shared with the victim, and the modest single-book imprint suggest a writer who has chosen this material with deliberate care, and who may well be writing under a pseudonym - he has written this book under the sign of the wound it explores. The author’s own brief note at the end concedes that the dilemma has no clean answer; that, he writes, is the point. It is a rare contemporary thriller that ends with such intellectual honesty. Author A.R. Hollowell – you intrigue me!

That is what I shall remember of ‘The Privilege’, long after the plot details have softened into the general inventory of books I have read.

I do not often read thrillers these days. I do not often finish them. Too deeply drowning in my studies in Catholic Theology and Data Science and Data Analytics and MBA Human Resource Management and Paralegal Law Diploma Courses. I have rarely closed one and felt, as I felt closing this one, that I had been in the presence of a serious moral artist working at the height of his attention. Five stars undoubtedly, and the warmest possible recommendation to readers who are willing to be patient with a novel that is patient with itself. ‘The Privilege’ will repay the patience many times over – grab your copy of the book when it is released soon. I shall watch for Book Two with the kind of anticipation I usually reserve for Catholic theological monographs and rare second-printings of Marian devotional texts. That is, I think, the highest compliment I know how to give.

And I took three hours to type this book review – and now it is time for me to go for Mass. I shall mull over the mystery of the author while walking towards the Church of my choice this early morning.

Interesting novel. Intriguing novelist.

A must read for all readers who like ‘thinking thrillers’.

[Bethanne Hauser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book, it was an interesting storyline. Not like most psychological thrillers. There was a bit of repetition throughout, but didn’t turn me away from reading. I would be interested in reading more in the series.

[Lori Albertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Privilege was given to me as an advanced copy by A.R. Hollowell; these are my thoughts. The book started strong with a moral conundrum for the main character as she fought with how to handle the situation she was placed in by a confession. The resolution was a little too long in my opinion. This is a 3.5 star read rounded up to 4 stars.

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!!! Highly recommend!!!

As the author's note says in the beginning, the characters are fictional but their dilemma is a real one.

Can't wait to read the second part.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line was different and actually made you think if this really happens to therapists

[Erica Noto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy

I received an arc of this book for free in return for an honest review. I truly enjoyed the storyline and will most likely be intrigued with the rest of the series. It was very interesting to learn of all the cans and can’ts of therapists and to read how it can truly affect someone in that profession. I feel there was a lot of repetition throughout that could have been skimmed a bit but overall really solid read. It is not your typical psychological thriller however it is definitely a little edge of your seat what happens next read for me!

[Taylor kogut · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting but I found parts drawn out and repetitive. Very interesting to see how the series progresses.

[Kathryn Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic of therapist-patient confidentiality was very interesting in A.R. Hollowell’s book The Privilege. Elena is a successful therapist with a reputation for really listening to her clients. One of her patients discloses a tragic accident in which a young man died. That confession is a heavy burden that Elena must carry since she cannot report the crime under the rule of privilege. A new client is referred to Elena with ties to that crime. She should not accept the referral, but she does and her burden soon becomes so heavy that she is not sure if she can bear it.

The story drew me in from the beginning and I was happy to go along for the ride. My only criticism about the story is that there were moments that seemed repetitive. It was only a few, so it was not distracting. Also, the denouement seemed to arrive early and the ending dragged a bit after that.

Overall, the story was very exciting and I read it very quickly because I wanted to see what was going to happen next. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Toya McGriff · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC

I think this book had a very interesting premise and that kept me engaged. I could feel Elena’s emotions very clearly.

I struggled with some of the errors in the book along with repetitiveness and overuse of parentheses. It was very distracting and I found myself going back to reread to be sure I didn’t misunderstand a discrepancy. I think it these items are fixed, it would be a 4 star.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica Hunnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pleasantly surprised about this book. It is amazing!!! I fully entered it expecting another story about a disconnected therapist and their perspective with little depth. I was WRONG. He gets into the nitty-gritty of everything behind the scenes for a therapist, how they feel, the thoughts, it is so accurate, it even hit a little close to home. The secrets we carry on top of our own, can be heavy. The characters Elena, Thomas, Diane and Ryan, there is so much detail around their characters that you can easily picture Elena talking to one of them in her office.
I struggled to not put this book down. I highly recommend it.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Honestly, I went into it expecting another story about a therapist that felt distant or unrealistic, where everything stays surface level. I was completely wrong. A.R. Hollowell absolutely nails the emotional reality behind being a therapist — the thoughts you keep to yourself, the emotional exhaustion, the weight of carrying other people’s secrets while still trying to manage your own life. Some parts honestly hit a little close to home.
The characters — Elena, Thomas, Diane, and Ryan — felt incredibly real to me. They weren’t just characters on a page; they felt like people you could actually picture sitting in Elena’s office having these conversations. The amount of detail and emotion put into each of them made it easy to get attached and invested in their stories.
What really stood out to me was how raw and honest the book felt without trying too hard. The relationships, emotions, and struggles felt believable and messy in the way real life is messy. I found myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.
I genuinely struggled to put this book down. Every time I finished a chapter, I wanted “just one more.” If you like emotionally driven stories with depth, strong character development, and a realistic look at the human side of therapy and relationships, I highly recommend this book.

[Jessica Hunnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pleasantly surprised about this book. It is amazing!!! I fully entered it expecting another story about a disconnected therapist and their perspective with little depth. I was WRONG. He gets into the nitty-gritty of everything behind the scenes for a therapist, how they feel, the thoughts, it is so accurate, it even hit a little close to home. The secrets we carry on top of our own, can be heavy. The characters Elena, Thomas, Diane and Ryan, there is so much detail around their characters that you can easily picture Elena talking to one of them in her office.
I struggled to not put this book down. I highly recommend it.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Honestly, I went into it expecting another story about a therapist that felt distant or unrealistic, where everything stays surface level. I was completely wrong. A.R. Hollowell absolutely nails the emotional reality behind being a therapist — the thoughts you keep to yourself, the emotional exhaustion, the weight of carrying other people’s secrets while still trying to manage your own life. Some parts honestly hit a little close to home.
The characters — Elena, Thomas, Diane, and Ryan — felt incredibly real to me. They weren’t just characters on a page; they felt like people you could actually picture sitting in Elena’s office having these conversations. The amount of detail and emotion put into each of them made it easy to get attached and invested in their stories.
What really stood out to me was how raw and honest the book felt without trying too hard. The relationships, emotions, and struggles felt believable and messy in the way real life is messy. I found myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.
I genuinely struggled to put this book down. Every time I finished a chapter, I wanted “just one more.” If you like emotionally driven stories with depth, strong character development, and a realistic look at the human side of therapy and relationships, I highly recommend this book.

[Jessica Hunnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read



I was so pleasantly surprised about this book. It is amazing!!! I fully entered it expecting another story about a disconnected therapist and their perspective with little depth. I was WRONG. He gets into the nitty-gritty of everything behind the scenes for a therapist, how they feel, the thoughts, it is so accurate, it even hit a little close to home. The secrets we carry on top of our own, can be heavy. The characters Elena, Thomas, Diane and Ryan, there is so much detail around their characters that you can easily picture Elena talking to one of them in her office.
I struggled to not put this book down. I highly recommend it.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Honestly, I went into it expecting another story about a therapist that felt distant or unrealistic, where everything stays surface level. I was completely wrong. A.R. Hollowell absolutely nails the emotional reality behind being a therapist — the thoughts you keep to yourself, the emotional exhaustion, the weight of carrying other people’s secrets while still trying to manage your own life. Some parts honestly hit a little close to home.
The characters — Elena, Thomas, Diane, and Ryan — felt incredibly real to me. They weren’t just characters on a page; they felt like people you could actually picture sitting in Elena’s office having these conversations. The amount of detail and emotion put into each of them made it easy to get attached and invested in their stories.
What really stood out to me was how raw and honest the book felt without trying too hard. The relationships, emotions, and struggles felt believable and messy in the way real life is messy. I found myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.
I genuinely struggled to put this book down. Every time I finished a chapter, I wanted “just one more.” If you like emotionally driven stories with depth, strong character development, and a realistic look at the human side of therapy and relationships, I highly recommend this book.

[Molly McMullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧠⚖️ The Privilege

A.R. Hollowell
Genres: Psychological Thriller · Moral Dilemma · Domestic Suspense
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Mini‑Review:
This is a slow‑burn psychological thriller built around one of the most claustrophobic ethical traps imaginable. A therapist receives a confession from a killer — a confession protected by confidentiality — while the victim’s grieving mother sits in her office week after week, begging for answers the therapist already knows. The entire novel turns that impossible tension into a pressure cooker.

Hollowell leans into moral dread rather than action. The suspense comes from the therapist’s internal unraveling: the guilt, the fear, the legal constraints, and the growing sense that the killer is watching her reactions a little too closely. The alternating sessions create a rhythm that feels like a metronome ticking down to disaster.

What makes the story compelling is its focus on ethical suffocation. There’s no convenient loophole, no easy escape hatch. Every choice harms someone, and the narrative forces the reader to sit in that discomfort. It’s a thriller that asks, What does doing the right thing even mean when the rules make it impossible?

The only minor limitation is that the book stays tightly centered on the central dilemma rather than expanding into deeper psychological backstory. But the tension is sharp, the stakes feel personal, and the final act lands with a quiet, devastating punch.

Shelves: Psychological Tension · Moral Dilemmas · Domestic Suspense · Completed

This is an ARC review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Staci Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Compelling Dive into Psychological Drama

I recently had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

It is a true page-turner. While many might expect a standard thriller, I found this to be a deeply engaging psychological drama that centers on a fascinating concept I hadn't explored before: the complexities of therapist-legal privilege.

The Story & Characters
The plot is expertly paced and kept me hooked from start to finish. The victim and the grieving mother were particularly well-developed; their emotional resonance felt authentic and grounded the story.
The protagonist, Dr. Vargas, is an intriguing lead. While her professional life is well-documented, I found myself wanting to peel back more layers of her personal history and outside connections to fully round out her character. Similarly, the antagonist, Thomas Crane, is a compelling foil, though at times his sinister actions felt a bit disconnected from his established character arc.

Technical Feedback
The core of the story is excellent, though as this is an ARC, there are some technical inconsistencies that a final critical edit would resolve. I noticed several instances of repetitive phrasing—such as consecutive sentences repeating the same point about accuracy—and a few "counting" errors (e.g., a character mentioning "six simple words" followed by a five-word sentence).

Final Verdict
Overall, the author has crafted a very strong narrative with a unique hook. With one more round of tight editing to smooth out the prose, this book has all the ingredients of a potential bestseller. It’s a must-read for fans of character-driven psychological dramas.

[Kimberly Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

Right from the start an unsettling tingle beneath my skin settled upon me and remained throughout making it palpable.

The approach this author took in writing this story is masterful in the way that it is expressed. Provoking deeper thought and realizations. Taking a deeper dive through character observations in a clinical way in analyzing and connecting the dots resulting in thinking about things in and around something that is beyond typical in perceptions and perspectives. Paying attention to nuances and deeper reflections and observations of the characters and situations.

A level of intelligence shines through and it amazes me-blows my mind the conceptualization of and the work the Author must have done to bring this piece of art forward into a story written. I definitely understood the weight and shape of how privilege could come into play and what strength, struggle and extent it takes to take action as well as there being a consequence regardless.

If one were to reflect upon this read, there is essentially more than can be 'unpacked' and threads of thoughts transpired that could lead to deeply probing and provoking the psyche -- the "thrill" of this read comes from the level of unease that can occur and the seed that may be planted in one's psyche that carries forth passively within.

I started this read early and therefore stepped away from it here and there but it is one that you could put down and return to it like you never left it to begin with. I have not read any other book comparable to this one-unique! I am thankful for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book to read.

[Felicia Delebreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Honest review of an ARC**

This is my very first ARC review, and I am so glad I got the chance to give this book a try before it’s published!

This is definitely a solid 4⭐️ read. Not the typical psychological thriller, and didn’t have any twists that generally come with the thriller genre. What this book is crammed full of? Moral dilemma. To tell or not to tell? How far can therapist-patient privilege be stretched? How thin is the line between right and wrong?

This book detailed some major moral dilemmas for Dr. Vargas. It is an interesting look into the therapist/client relationship. Makes you put yourself into her shoes and question, “What would I do in this situation?” As the story developed I found myself asking that question repeatedly. Tough situations definitely show a side of yourself that you aren’t familiar with. And to be truthful, I don’t know if I could have carried everything that Dr. Vargas carried, especially not for as long as she did.

The book itself is well written, with great detail given to scenes and characters. Sometimes the amount of detail felt a little dense, like there was too much. But I also feel like it helped set the scene and helped showcase the characters through the eyes of Dr. Vargas.

If you are interested in crime, psychology, or books displaying moral dilemma, I’d definitely give this one a read! It really puts things into a perspective I haven’t seen or thought of before. I am really looking forward to the second book in the series to see how it all plays out ⚖️🤔

[Aiesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank BookSirens and A.R. Hollowell for the advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

The premise of this book is what sold me. I found it very unique and extremely intriguing! I found my heart racing and eye bulging at times at the pure disbelief in the position the main character was in. Unfortunately, I didn't LOVE it. Nothing really happened so I'm not sure I would classify this book as a "thriller". Psychological, yes… but it fell flat midway through. I was not left feeling thrilled or blown away.

I hate to critique this author's style of writing because this is his first book. It could be just how he writes and that's perfectly fine… but I found the majority of this book too repetitive. I would go back to make sure I wasn't re-reading paragraphs or even pages because they were so similar. I also found the writing to be overly descriptive for no reason… and then the descriptions would repeat several other times in the book. I could kind of see what he was trying to do but I thought it wasn't necessary because the plot was so strong. It wasn't a long book at all but I wonder just how long it would've been if all of that fluff was taken out of it. I believe it would've left more room for something major to take place that could pull the reader back into the story.

I'm giving this book 3 stars for the unique storyline. I wasn't sure if I would read the next book in this series but I think if I go into it NOT expecting it to be a thriller and it reading more like a drama story, I'll enjoy it more.

[Genevieve Tempest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from author.

3.5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this book and the moral question Elena faces regarding professional privilege.

I struggled a lot with the writing due to the repetitiveness, inconsistencies, incorrect details, adding text in brackets when it’s part of speech and stilted wording in places. I’m also not sure I consider it to be a psychological thriller.

I get that the office is above a yoga studio and wine bar, and I was only 11 pages in to the book when I made a note that I understood it was above the yoga studio, but the reference to the yoga studio didn’t end there.

It feels like there needs to be some editing as some of the wording did not make sense, words are missing or the wrong word appears to have been used (patient instead of patience, she instead of Sharma, etc).

There was also the issue of the author saying “six words” when the sentence contained 5 words, or “four months” when it was actually 3 months.

Also, another issue is the talk of hearing an electronic hum when a phone call disconnects - this doesn’t occurs with mobile/cell phones. The call ends, there’s no sound.

If you can get past these issues you can enjoy the novel for what it is and how the author is able to convey the dilemma being faced by Elena. It sat in my chest too and made me wonder what I would do if I were faced with the same situation.

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and am interested to see the series continue.

Thank you for allowing me to provide a review on this advanced copy.