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The Patient
A therapist must face her own worst fear—one of her patients is a serial killer.
Dani Rycroft suspects someone close to her has a dark secret. In the confidential setting of therapy, her patients share their anxieties and fears. Now, with a string of murders in town putting her on edge, Dani’s own worries come close to eclipsing her patients’. In each case, the pattern is the same: parents killed while their children sleep blissfully unaware in their beds. Her best friend, Detective Tami Sloan, is the only person she has confided in.
Dani believes that there’s still a secret one patient has yet to share. But which one? Behind a familiar face is a stranger who’ll do anything to hide their worst compulsions. The anxiety brings Dani to her own therapist’s office, seeking counsel and comfort. But what is she willing to risk, and how much closer must she get, to stop them?
Dani Rycroft suspects someone close to her has a dark secret. In the confidential setting of therapy, her patients share their anxieties and fears. Now, with a string of murders in town putting her on edge, Dani’s own worries come close to eclipsing her patients’. In each case, the pattern is the same: parents killed while their children sleep blissfully unaware in their beds. Her best friend, Detective Tami Sloan, is the only person she has confided in.
Dani believes that there’s still a secret one patient has yet to share. But which one? Behind a familiar face is a stranger who’ll do anything to hide their worst compulsions. The anxiety brings Dani to her own therapist’s office, seeking counsel and comfort. But what is she willing to risk, and how much closer must she get, to stop them?
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2019
2485 people are currently reading
5276 people want to read
About the author
Steena Holmes
58 books1,591 followersSteena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with nearly 3 million copies of her titles sold worldwide, including The Patient, The Forgotten Ones, and Sister Under the Stairs.
Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.
One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author
LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:
SHE TOOK MY BABY
THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)
THE TWIN
ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER
THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS
THE PATIENT
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY
THE WORD GAME
Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep
The Memory Child & The Memory Journal
FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope
Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.
One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author
LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:
SHE TOOK MY BABY
THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)
THE TWIN
ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER
THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS
THE PATIENT
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY
THE WORD GAME
Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep
The Memory Child & The Memory Journal
FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
June 19, 2020
3.25 so sorry but you gave so much clue from the beginning so I didn’t enjoy the final surprise because I already found it which puts me in the minority group of readers who don’t like the book so much stars!
Reading too much surprising, twisted, whodunit, “Oh no! I didn’t see this coming!” books made me suspicious person who sleeps one eye open and love to finish puzzles, guessing unconventional, unforeseeable endings of the books (or movies! When I told my friends, I think Bruce Willis was dead at the tenth minute of Sixth Sense, they threw me out from the theater!)
In this case, this book has a big final twist most of my friends didn’t see it coming but I felt its moves from the first steps because in my opinion the author gave us too many details to solve the puzzle and get the clues. So when you realize what’s going on at the beginning, it’s so boring to read 300 pages more.
Can you imagine to know how the Lost series end and you keep watching them. Of course not, because that’s the worst ending on television history. At least this book’s ending is predictable but also good.
Oh come on! There are too many thriller fishes on the sea so you want to keep catching them!
Only one sentence at the end intrigued me so I add 0.25 points more!
As a result, there is so hard to connect with the characters but you’ll understand the reason again at the ending why the characters acted like something completely wrong with them. (I’m not gonna spill the beans! When I was little, I hid my siblings’ Agatha Christie books. I read all of them and wrote who the murderers were at the middle pages of the books with my devilish red pen and returned them back. You may guess my siblings still plan my murder! But they didn’t succeed, yet!!! Ha ha ha! So I don’t want my GR friends hold grudge against me and plot my murder,too!)
I have to be fair, the writing was smart but also a little complicated with too many POVS and emotional turmoil.
The author chose a hard plot and throughout the development process she might have had real difficulties. Because the story has too many mismatched puzzle parts.
But I still appreciate the effort and I’m curious to read the other books of the writer. Because you may sense she’s still gifted. And most of the readers enjoyed this book! Unfortunately it doesn’t work for me! Still keep my hopes up to start my new thriller!
And speech part: Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley to send me ARCCOPY in exchange my honest review!
Reading too much surprising, twisted, whodunit, “Oh no! I didn’t see this coming!” books made me suspicious person who sleeps one eye open and love to finish puzzles, guessing unconventional, unforeseeable endings of the books (or movies! When I told my friends, I think Bruce Willis was dead at the tenth minute of Sixth Sense, they threw me out from the theater!)
In this case, this book has a big final twist most of my friends didn’t see it coming but I felt its moves from the first steps because in my opinion the author gave us too many details to solve the puzzle and get the clues. So when you realize what’s going on at the beginning, it’s so boring to read 300 pages more.
Can you imagine to know how the Lost series end and you keep watching them. Of course not, because that’s the worst ending on television history. At least this book’s ending is predictable but also good.
Oh come on! There are too many thriller fishes on the sea so you want to keep catching them!
Only one sentence at the end intrigued me so I add 0.25 points more!
As a result, there is so hard to connect with the characters but you’ll understand the reason again at the ending why the characters acted like something completely wrong with them. (I’m not gonna spill the beans! When I was little, I hid my siblings’ Agatha Christie books. I read all of them and wrote who the murderers were at the middle pages of the books with my devilish red pen and returned them back. You may guess my siblings still plan my murder! But they didn’t succeed, yet!!! Ha ha ha! So I don’t want my GR friends hold grudge against me and plot my murder,too!)
I have to be fair, the writing was smart but also a little complicated with too many POVS and emotional turmoil.
The author chose a hard plot and throughout the development process she might have had real difficulties. Because the story has too many mismatched puzzle parts.
But I still appreciate the effort and I’m curious to read the other books of the writer. Because you may sense she’s still gifted. And most of the readers enjoyed this book! Unfortunately it doesn’t work for me! Still keep my hopes up to start my new thriller!
And speech part: Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley to send me ARCCOPY in exchange my honest review!
August 25, 2019
Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Dani Rycroft’s small, idyllic town is rocked by grievous and grotesque murders- parents are being bludgeoned in their homes while their unsuspecting children sleep. Although she is faced with fear and anxiety herself, Dani continues to find solace in the treatment of her patients- Ella, Savannah and Tyler—all dealing with tragic pasts and seeking to overcome their histories. Through her treatments, Dani hopes to be able to help them cope. However, she soon starts receiving ominous notes indicating that one of her patients is a murderer- but which one?
Steena Holmes returns with an entirely new novel, one that is new not only in its release date but also because it is out of the author’s usual scope and genre. A psychological suspense novel is not the norm for Steena Holmes, but it happens to be one of my favourite genres, so I was eager for a chance to read “The Patient”.
The novel starts off in the quaint town that is based on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, with Red Queen gardens and Cheshire Cat coffee shops. Perfect for our Alice-obsessed protagonist, Dani, she seeks to live a quiet, and mostly solitary life, with just her patients and two close friends for company. Dani is book obsessed, quiet, introverted and a hater of all social situations (ladies and gentlemen, I have found my kindred) and based on that it was easy for me to form a quick bond with her.
Right away, when we are introduced to her clients through her sessions, we know that something is off with them. I started thinking one way about the outcome of the plot, but I knew there had to be something more to it, as that is how these books are written. And of course, I was right. A hard-core and long-term fan of this genre, I was able to predict the outcome of this novel at about the halfway point. Somehow though, this did not make the novel any less enjoyable as I still wanted to see how it played out and it has the psychological factor that just sucked me in.
The novel was entertaining to read and checked all of my “psychological suspense” boxes. Although I predicted the outcome, I still found I had a soft spot for Dani and her clients. The ending line of the novel will leave you gasping for more, and I really hope that future novels about Dani are upcoming. Holmes’ introduction to the genre is a powerful and gritty read and if she continues to delve into this genre, she will only develop her skill more. I look forward to future books about Dani, and her crazy Alice-filled world.
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Dani Rycroft’s small, idyllic town is rocked by grievous and grotesque murders- parents are being bludgeoned in their homes while their unsuspecting children sleep. Although she is faced with fear and anxiety herself, Dani continues to find solace in the treatment of her patients- Ella, Savannah and Tyler—all dealing with tragic pasts and seeking to overcome their histories. Through her treatments, Dani hopes to be able to help them cope. However, she soon starts receiving ominous notes indicating that one of her patients is a murderer- but which one?
Steena Holmes returns with an entirely new novel, one that is new not only in its release date but also because it is out of the author’s usual scope and genre. A psychological suspense novel is not the norm for Steena Holmes, but it happens to be one of my favourite genres, so I was eager for a chance to read “The Patient”.
The novel starts off in the quaint town that is based on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, with Red Queen gardens and Cheshire Cat coffee shops. Perfect for our Alice-obsessed protagonist, Dani, she seeks to live a quiet, and mostly solitary life, with just her patients and two close friends for company. Dani is book obsessed, quiet, introverted and a hater of all social situations (ladies and gentlemen, I have found my kindred) and based on that it was easy for me to form a quick bond with her.
Right away, when we are introduced to her clients through her sessions, we know that something is off with them. I started thinking one way about the outcome of the plot, but I knew there had to be something more to it, as that is how these books are written. And of course, I was right. A hard-core and long-term fan of this genre, I was able to predict the outcome of this novel at about the halfway point. Somehow though, this did not make the novel any less enjoyable as I still wanted to see how it played out and it has the psychological factor that just sucked me in.
The novel was entertaining to read and checked all of my “psychological suspense” boxes. Although I predicted the outcome, I still found I had a soft spot for Dani and her clients. The ending line of the novel will leave you gasping for more, and I really hope that future novels about Dani are upcoming. Holmes’ introduction to the genre is a powerful and gritty read and if she continues to delve into this genre, she will only develop her skill more. I look forward to future books about Dani, and her crazy Alice-filled world.
October 13, 2019
Danielle Rycroft was a therapist, working in a small town with three patients. They all had problems and Dani was doing her best to help them. But continually she felt a failure as the issues kept bouncing from small to large and back again. She was feeling stress, her migraines had returned and her inability to sleep was getting her down. Dani knew her patients had secrets, but with the violent murders that had been occurring in town and her best friend Detective Tami Sloan only giving her basic information, Dani was beginning to think one of her patients was a serial killer.
Dani finally, reluctantly went to see a local therapist to help her cope. She also wanted to ask her advice about her own patients. But could she? Patient confidentiality was always something she was mindful of, but she needed help…
The Patient is my first in a while by Steena Holmes and it’s different to how I remember her writing. The chapters were headed with the three different patients; the killer; memories - mostly with Dani narrating, but it was a little choppy. Nevertheless, the plot was good, and the twists done well with the ending unexpected (unless you’d figured it out) An intriguing psychological thriller, The Patient is one I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Dani finally, reluctantly went to see a local therapist to help her cope. She also wanted to ask her advice about her own patients. But could she? Patient confidentiality was always something she was mindful of, but she needed help…
The Patient is my first in a while by Steena Holmes and it’s different to how I remember her writing. The chapters were headed with the three different patients; the killer; memories - mostly with Dani narrating, but it was a little choppy. Nevertheless, the plot was good, and the twists done well with the ending unexpected (unless you’d figured it out) An intriguing psychological thriller, The Patient is one I recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2019
A town plagued by brutal murders… Parents found bludgeoned to death with their young children at home left untouched. A therapist who gets a note that one of her patients is behind the murders…
This book was really fascinating! A lot of clues sprinkled through the book and I had about a dozen theories of who was behind the murders. The list of suspects is a long one and I loved the way the book came together!
The setting for this book is a town that is full of references to Alice in Wonderland. Fitting, because Alice in Wonderland is Danielle’s favorite book since she was a child. I loved the town setting—coffee shops based on the Cheshire Cat and town green spaces based on the queen’s gardens. I did a study of Alice in Wonderland during one of my literature courses in undergraduate and I thought the parallels in the book were a lot of fun!
Danielle—Dani—lives a solitary life and it suits her. She has two close friends who don’t get along with each other. She has a small practice that allows her to really dig into things with her three patients. But as the murders in the town continue, Dani becomes aware that one of her three patients may be behind the murders. But which one? They all have a link to the murders in their own way, and they all have something to hide from her.
As things heat up with the case, Dani’s life feels like it is unraveling. She is having trouble sleeping, and she feels the burden of the murders on her as she tries to uncover which of her patients may be behind it. I’m a big fan of this genre and I felt that there was something off about her patients from the beginning. Not to mention several other characters in the town!
I had one theory in particular that I felt stronger about as the book went on, but I was completely wrong! I loved the way this one worked out. It had a lot of elements of psychological suspense that kept the pace moving and my mind engaged as I tried to put the clues together.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
This book was really fascinating! A lot of clues sprinkled through the book and I had about a dozen theories of who was behind the murders. The list of suspects is a long one and I loved the way the book came together!
The setting for this book is a town that is full of references to Alice in Wonderland. Fitting, because Alice in Wonderland is Danielle’s favorite book since she was a child. I loved the town setting—coffee shops based on the Cheshire Cat and town green spaces based on the queen’s gardens. I did a study of Alice in Wonderland during one of my literature courses in undergraduate and I thought the parallels in the book were a lot of fun!
Danielle—Dani—lives a solitary life and it suits her. She has two close friends who don’t get along with each other. She has a small practice that allows her to really dig into things with her three patients. But as the murders in the town continue, Dani becomes aware that one of her three patients may be behind the murders. But which one? They all have a link to the murders in their own way, and they all have something to hide from her.
As things heat up with the case, Dani’s life feels like it is unraveling. She is having trouble sleeping, and she feels the burden of the murders on her as she tries to uncover which of her patients may be behind it. I’m a big fan of this genre and I felt that there was something off about her patients from the beginning. Not to mention several other characters in the town!
I had one theory in particular that I felt stronger about as the book went on, but I was completely wrong! I loved the way this one worked out. It had a lot of elements of psychological suspense that kept the pace moving and my mind engaged as I tried to put the clues together.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
December 6, 2019
I received a free copy of The Patient by Steena Holmes from Goodreads for my honest review.
A well written psychological thriller that I enjoyed even though I figured out what was going on very early in the book.
A well written psychological thriller that I enjoyed even though I figured out what was going on very early in the book.
August 20, 2019
I had a hard time staying with this book. I found it oddly written, with characters that didn’t connect, and rather banal conversations. Not to mention how nearly every chapter ended with a question mark. Drove me nuts! I stayed with it because of a glowing review I read which told me the big super surprising, you’d never guess it reveal would make it so worth it. Hmmm. I had a feeling I knew where we were heading and yes, I was right. I really didn’t like this book. I am apparently in the minority, as there are a lot of 5 star reviews. I’m wondering if we read the same book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
August 10, 2019
A therapist with a serial-killer patient is at the heart of Steena Holmes’ latest, The Patient. Holmes starts with a bang, then builds the action steadily, a gradual unfolding of truths and secrets that will have you constantly rethinking who is the killer. A brilliant psychological thriller that will mess with your mind.
February 4, 2020
A therapist must face her own worst fear—one of her patients is a serial killer.
A series of horrific murders are occurring in Danielle Rycroft's small town. As a psychologist, she comes to believe that one the killer is one of her patients - but which one?
Rarely do I describe a book as a "roller-coaster ride," but that is the perfect term for Steena Holmes newest book, The Patient. As Rycroft meets with each of her patients she comes to realize the horror that one of them has to be guilty of the brutal crimes in her town. Each time she meets with one of them, the suspicion shifts from one patient to another until finally you feel as though you and Rycroft are a free-fall into madness. This fast paced, taut thriller will have you hanging on for dear life until the very final page!
Homes has proven through multiple books and awards, that she is a very talented and gifted writer and readers of The Patient will understand why she is considered one of the best writers of today. My only drawback - and it is indeed a very small one - is that I knew early on what was happening and going to happen. Perhaps I've read too much crime fiction. This did not stop my over all enjoyment because the who and what is not nearly as important as the Why. If you love crime fiction and suspense then The Patient is definitely a must-read.
Thank you to #netgalley and #LakeUnionPublishing for my copy of this terrific thriller.
July 7, 2019
SERIAL KILLER
Dr. Danielle Rycroft suspects one of her therapy patients is a serial killer in an intense psychological thriller that will blow your mind.
WILD RIDE!
I’d initially found the patient sessions completely inauthentic, based on my past experience as a psychotherapist. I also disliked all of the characters with their irritating emotional wounds. But I hung in and I’m glad I did because the plot explodes, explaining these “failings” in a way that will gobsmack you. I won’t reveal details. You’ll just have to take the wild ride with THE PATIENT yourself.
Thanks to Steena Holmes, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
Pub Date 15 Oct 2019.
#ThePatient #NetGalley
Dr. Danielle Rycroft suspects one of her therapy patients is a serial killer in an intense psychological thriller that will blow your mind.
WILD RIDE!
I’d initially found the patient sessions completely inauthentic, based on my past experience as a psychotherapist. I also disliked all of the characters with their irritating emotional wounds. But I hung in and I’m glad I did because the plot explodes, explaining these “failings” in a way that will gobsmack you. I won’t reveal details. You’ll just have to take the wild ride with THE PATIENT yourself.
Thanks to Steena Holmes, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
Pub Date 15 Oct 2019.
#ThePatient #NetGalley
October 16, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
So I had a little bit of an idea where The Patient by Steena Holmes was going, but I sure wasn't planning on the extent of how things turned out.
What it's about: Danielle Rycroft is a therapist and she thinks one of her patients might be a serial killer. Someone is committing crimes in her town of Cheshire and they all have the same MO, the parents are murdered leaving a small child behind. Danielle is trying to help her clients Ella, Tyler, and Savannah with their issues and insecurities, but any of them may be harboring a dark secret. With only a couple of friends, there isn't anyone she really feels like she can confide in. But she needs to share her worries, before it's too late...
I had so many theories as I read The Patient and only one was even remotely close to being right. I really liked how Holmes wrote this book and even though some people might figure out what was truly at play, I didn't really get all the way there. It was a quick read that took me just over 4 hours to get through, and I found myself having a hard time putting it down.
I really enjoyed the different types of chapters in this book, and it was definitely something that kept me interested. There are certain chapters that really had me wondering whose viewpoints they were and trying to connect them to what I knew about each character. The Patient is a book that will truly mess with your head and have you wondering who the killer is.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Mockingbird by Eminem
Final Thought: The Patient is going to be a binge read for a bunch of folks, and if you like Steena Holmes then there is a great chance you will like this book. I love Holmes' writing style, and this did not disappoint. I feel like she has the ability to write so many different types of books, and this just further shows how awesome of a writer she truly is.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
So I had a little bit of an idea where The Patient by Steena Holmes was going, but I sure wasn't planning on the extent of how things turned out.
What it's about: Danielle Rycroft is a therapist and she thinks one of her patients might be a serial killer. Someone is committing crimes in her town of Cheshire and they all have the same MO, the parents are murdered leaving a small child behind. Danielle is trying to help her clients Ella, Tyler, and Savannah with their issues and insecurities, but any of them may be harboring a dark secret. With only a couple of friends, there isn't anyone she really feels like she can confide in. But she needs to share her worries, before it's too late...
I had so many theories as I read The Patient and only one was even remotely close to being right. I really liked how Holmes wrote this book and even though some people might figure out what was truly at play, I didn't really get all the way there. It was a quick read that took me just over 4 hours to get through, and I found myself having a hard time putting it down.
I really enjoyed the different types of chapters in this book, and it was definitely something that kept me interested. There are certain chapters that really had me wondering whose viewpoints they were and trying to connect them to what I knew about each character. The Patient is a book that will truly mess with your head and have you wondering who the killer is.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Mockingbird by Eminem
Final Thought: The Patient is going to be a binge read for a bunch of folks, and if you like Steena Holmes then there is a great chance you will like this book. I love Holmes' writing style, and this did not disappoint. I feel like she has the ability to write so many different types of books, and this just further shows how awesome of a writer she truly is.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
November 30, 2019
"It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."
2.5 stars rounded down.
The Patient is a decent story, but it's so utterly obvious, practically from page 1, where the story is going...and what the twist actually is... that I truly can't imagine anybody reading this book and not figuring it out very early on. Because the entire story line relies so heavily on the reader being surprised at the end, it's a bit of a fail in that respect.
I wholeheartedly admit this would be a tough book to write, but like most stories I've read lately, it's been done before...and more successfully. Regardless, this novel is still an improvement over the first Steena Holmes book I read, Saving Abby. I can't recommend that one...it was a poorly researched clunker. Okay, if I'm being terribly honest here (and when am I not?), this book didn't appear to be overly well-researched either. There were several times during my readings when I'd whisper to myself, "That's not correct." However, in this story, the mistakes can be explained away, so I tried to overlook the blatant errors.
The cover is quite pretty though.
Bottom line: If you're a psychological suspense novice, you may enjoy this. Otherwise, I'd recommend spending your time reading something more worthy.
**Thanks to the publisher for providing my ARC, in exchange for my candid review.
August 22, 2019
This genuinely couldn't have been worse. She gave away the big plot twist a bit past a third of the way in, the dialogue was atrocious, and her metaphors were so heavy handed (and abundant) I started to make a drinking game out of them but had to stop because alchohol poisoning is real kids.
October 15, 2019
Wow! Just wow!
A therapist has a serial killer as a patient but which one? Parents are being killed in their beds while their children sleep but why? Someone is holding on to dark secrets but who? This creeped me out! My own thoughts were racing just as as fast as I was reading it. I was up all night. I've never read this author before. Holmes blew me away with this. What a rollercoaster of a thriller. Don't miss it and start it early. You won't put it back down.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
A therapist has a serial killer as a patient but which one? Parents are being killed in their beds while their children sleep but why? Someone is holding on to dark secrets but who? This creeped me out! My own thoughts were racing just as as fast as I was reading it. I was up all night. I've never read this author before. Holmes blew me away with this. What a rollercoaster of a thriller. Don't miss it and start it early. You won't put it back down.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
August 10, 2019
I love this author and find her books entertaining and emotionally interesting.
Dr. Danielle suspected one of her patients to be a serial killer when a string of murders rocked the town. Her best friend Detective Tami was her confidante of her fears.
Steena Holmes has written an swirling plot with an interesting arc which had me looking at everyone with a suspicious eye. The story was disjointed at some parts but soon pulled together making it a chilling read.
Absolutely different from the earlier works, the author shocked with the darker vibe happening in this book. The therapy sessions of her patients was different and quite intriguing.
This was surely one of my different, unexpected reads. Read it, stick with it, and enjoy it.
Dr. Danielle suspected one of her patients to be a serial killer when a string of murders rocked the town. Her best friend Detective Tami was her confidante of her fears.
Steena Holmes has written an swirling plot with an interesting arc which had me looking at everyone with a suspicious eye. The story was disjointed at some parts but soon pulled together making it a chilling read.
Absolutely different from the earlier works, the author shocked with the darker vibe happening in this book. The therapy sessions of her patients was different and quite intriguing.
This was surely one of my different, unexpected reads. Read it, stick with it, and enjoy it.
October 12, 2019
I really wanted to like this book. The premise is fascinating, but the delivery is all over the place.
I called what was going on from the beginning, as it is pretty obvious if you're any sort of thriller reader or movie watcher (or even if you just slightly pay attention to the clues). It's a very overdone premise and I found myself wanting something to actually happen instead of revisiting the same exact things over and over again. I get it, Danielle is tired, Danielle doesn't sleep, Danielle has a migraine. There's actually not much to the story overall plot-wise, and what is there is quite convoluted.
That said, I pretty much figure out every book or movie that supposedly has a shocking twist, so it takes a LOT to surprise me. Maybe other readers won't have the same issues I did with this book if they just go with it rather than analyze every clue.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I called what was going on from the beginning, as it is pretty obvious if you're any sort of thriller reader or movie watcher (or even if you just slightly pay attention to the clues). It's a very overdone premise and I found myself wanting something to actually happen instead of revisiting the same exact things over and over again. I get it, Danielle is tired, Danielle doesn't sleep, Danielle has a migraine. There's actually not much to the story overall plot-wise, and what is there is quite convoluted.
That said, I pretty much figure out every book or movie that supposedly has a shocking twist, so it takes a LOT to surprise me. Maybe other readers won't have the same issues I did with this book if they just go with it rather than analyze every clue.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
November 15, 2019
If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of suspense, drama, heartbreak, therapy and mystery, then The Patient by Steena Holmes is a must-read for you!
From the get-go there was so much happening in this wonderful psychological thriller! Danielle Rycroft was an interesting, troubled character and it was a journey to get to know her. I got to see that sometimes life got overwhelming for her. There was lovely depth and poignancy to Steena Holmes’ writing which kept me hooked throughout. The author really worked wonders with most of the characters in this fabulous story and even the less personable ones still had very good parts to play and did not dampen my enthusiasm for this fascinating tale.
The plot was great and moved along at a really comfortable pace and I was very happy with the author’s general writing-style. The main focus of family and relationships brought a wonderful touch to this mystery, which tugged at my heartstrings, before hurtling towards the surprising denouement.
I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting story and I will be checking out this author's back catalogue as well as checking out her next novel. All in all, this is cracking read for anyone who has a preference for a brilliant psychological thriller that has a flavour of a gruesome crime, without the detail of the guts and gore.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
From the get-go there was so much happening in this wonderful psychological thriller! Danielle Rycroft was an interesting, troubled character and it was a journey to get to know her. I got to see that sometimes life got overwhelming for her. There was lovely depth and poignancy to Steena Holmes’ writing which kept me hooked throughout. The author really worked wonders with most of the characters in this fabulous story and even the less personable ones still had very good parts to play and did not dampen my enthusiasm for this fascinating tale.
The plot was great and moved along at a really comfortable pace and I was very happy with the author’s general writing-style. The main focus of family and relationships brought a wonderful touch to this mystery, which tugged at my heartstrings, before hurtling towards the surprising denouement.
I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting story and I will be checking out this author's back catalogue as well as checking out her next novel. All in all, this is cracking read for anyone who has a preference for a brilliant psychological thriller that has a flavour of a gruesome crime, without the detail of the guts and gore.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 7, 2019
The Patient by author Steena Holmes is WOW...absolutely shockingly different than any other books I have read by this author!. This is a dark, psychological suspense novel...but oh, so interesting! I started reading The Patient: A Novel this morning and could not put it down until the very end. I won't post spoilers.
Danielle Rycroft is a therapist who resides in the small town of Cheshire, where she feels she is needed. Danielle is new to this town where the theme of Alice in Wonderland is prominent in the shops, parks, and library. Since childhood, Danielle has used the Alice in Wonderland book as an escape and she has loved the characters in the story. As the reader progresses further in the story, you meet Danielle's closest friends: Sabrina, owner of a tea shop and Tami, a detective with the local police. Soon Danielle is thrown into the midst of a mystery as she begins to suspect one of her three patients may be guilty of murder! I enjoyed how some chapters were primarily the documentation of her patients' personal sessions. There are clues and insights among the therapy sessions as to the murderer.
A wonderful novel, Steena!
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Danielle Rycroft is a therapist who resides in the small town of Cheshire, where she feels she is needed. Danielle is new to this town where the theme of Alice in Wonderland is prominent in the shops, parks, and library. Since childhood, Danielle has used the Alice in Wonderland book as an escape and she has loved the characters in the story. As the reader progresses further in the story, you meet Danielle's closest friends: Sabrina, owner of a tea shop and Tami, a detective with the local police. Soon Danielle is thrown into the midst of a mystery as she begins to suspect one of her three patients may be guilty of murder! I enjoyed how some chapters were primarily the documentation of her patients' personal sessions. There are clues and insights among the therapy sessions as to the murderer.
A wonderful novel, Steena!
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 10, 2022
Saw this one coming from a mile away. Knew by chapter 2.
October 10, 2019
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, you’ll want to pick up The Patient by Canadian author, Steena Holmes. After a series of brutal murders plagues a small town, psychologist Dani Rycroft begins to suspect that one of her clients may be a serial killer. As the truth begins to surface, and the paranoia and fear of the small-town residents rise, readers are taken on a tension-filled ride that will leave them questioning the motives of multiple characters.
As an avid suspense reader, I did figure out 'whodunnit' fairly early on but I still enjoyed seeing how things panned out. This darker read is a departure for the Kincardine, Ontario native who typically writes lighter fare. But with her well-crafted plot and strong character development, Holmes proves she can hold her own in the popular thriller genre by providing her audience with a non-stop, deliciously chilling suspense novel that will keep them riveted until the shocking and satisfying ending.
Other Steena Holmes books I recommend: The Forgotten Ones
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me a digital copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
As an avid suspense reader, I did figure out 'whodunnit' fairly early on but I still enjoyed seeing how things panned out. This darker read is a departure for the Kincardine, Ontario native who typically writes lighter fare. But with her well-crafted plot and strong character development, Holmes proves she can hold her own in the popular thriller genre by providing her audience with a non-stop, deliciously chilling suspense novel that will keep them riveted until the shocking and satisfying ending.
Other Steena Holmes books I recommend: The Forgotten Ones
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me a digital copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
November 5, 2025
I definitely need to read this author's other books cuz this one was sooo good!! The mystery of who dunnit kept me fully engaged and at the edge of my seat. I thought this book was well executed. It was drenched with suspense which made it fun to read. About halfway to a bit past halfway I knew what the "shocker" was going to be. That didn't take away from my experience though. I feel like this story end with a cliffhanger by kind of introducing to the mix "Him." Yet I don't believe this book is a series. But that's ok becuz this story packed a fantastic punch. I loved it and I highly recommend it despite a lot of others rating it poorly.
October 18, 2019
"Fear is a wonder drug. The chain reaction it creates within our bodies is amazing. Prepare and protect...Fear doesn't control me. I control it."
Someone in the town of Cheshire is killing parents and leaving behind the sleeping innocent children after the bloodbath. Everyone is on alert, suspicious and desperate for the "Mad Queen of Cheshire" to be apprehended and punished. Because of the name, this little hamlet has a huge interest in all things "Alice in Wonderland" and has many themed shops and activities. Dr. Danielle Rycroft, a therapist, is no exception and has a huge amount of books and collectibles as well. This psychological thriller opens with Danielle disclosing that she is finally ready to admit that one of her patients might be the serial killer. The only problem is, she's not sure which of those she's treating is the one.
All of them have major issues with their childhoods and all seem capable of violence. NO SPOILERS.
Although the theme is interesting, I would have liked this novel more if I hadn't immediately seen through to the obvious conclusion. So much of the story required immense suspension of disbelief and my irritation with Danielle as a character was extreme. There is so much more I could say but to do so would give away the denouement and I don't want to ruin the guessing game for anyone. Note that this book contains references to childhood sexual abuse in case that topic is a trigger for anyone. I know that others have really enjoyed this and I'd love to discuss certain elements further where spoilers aren't an issue.
2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review after I spotted it on Facebook.
Someone in the town of Cheshire is killing parents and leaving behind the sleeping innocent children after the bloodbath. Everyone is on alert, suspicious and desperate for the "Mad Queen of Cheshire" to be apprehended and punished. Because of the name, this little hamlet has a huge interest in all things "Alice in Wonderland" and has many themed shops and activities. Dr. Danielle Rycroft, a therapist, is no exception and has a huge amount of books and collectibles as well. This psychological thriller opens with Danielle disclosing that she is finally ready to admit that one of her patients might be the serial killer. The only problem is, she's not sure which of those she's treating is the one.
All of them have major issues with their childhoods and all seem capable of violence. NO SPOILERS.
Although the theme is interesting, I would have liked this novel more if I hadn't immediately seen through to the obvious conclusion. So much of the story required immense suspension of disbelief and my irritation with Danielle as a character was extreme. There is so much more I could say but to do so would give away the denouement and I don't want to ruin the guessing game for anyone. Note that this book contains references to childhood sexual abuse in case that topic is a trigger for anyone. I know that others have really enjoyed this and I'd love to discuss certain elements further where spoilers aren't an issue.
2.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review after I spotted it on Facebook.
October 1, 2019
"I think one of my patients is a serial killer. I just don't know which one."
I really wanted to like this book.
First of all, that cover is to die for! That, and the title, which is just so fitting, really intrigued me from the beginning.
Second, this book had so much potential. It's got a really interesting storyline, it reads like a movie and the transitions from one chapter to another were flawless.
However—and I believe I'm in the minority when I say this—I just wish it delivered.
It's one thing to come up with a good story, and it's another to figure out how to deliver it. I didn't feel the connection between the characters and it didn't help that they were annoying most of the time either. The therapy sessions, which I believe are of utmost importance in the story, felt superficial.
They revealed pretty much everything from the beginning so I wasn't really thrilled to reach the ending. With all that build up, I wish the author had focused more on the ending because it felt rushed and left me pretty disattisfied.
It's a book about people and what goes on their minds, so I think it's pretty fair to say that it needs more improvement in the character category—focus on giving them more dimension rather than creating merely paper cut-outs.
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An advance digital copy of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
October 25, 2019
An addictive page-turner with an original plot spin. I was totally entertained.
August 19, 2019
Love it A LOT!!!
The book is AWESOME!!!! It lures you in from the start with just a few words and you find yourself addicted until the end! It has an air of mystery to it as you try and figure out what's really going on and who the killer is.. with each page you go deeper and deeper into the story and it becomes a race against time to find out who it really is!!! When the ending draws near and all is revealed you won't believe it... you are BLOWN AWAY!!!! I NEVER saw that ending coming!!! OMG!!!!
The author did a fantastic job for sure!
I love how the book was written.. it keeps your attention, it flows well, you get just enough detail and description without feeling bombarded by it! I really love all the different characters! They are very interesting for sure!
The book is VERY GOOD and you won't be able to put it down! You will find yourself wanting to read it again after just finishing!
The book is AWESOME!!!! It lures you in from the start with just a few words and you find yourself addicted until the end! It has an air of mystery to it as you try and figure out what's really going on and who the killer is.. with each page you go deeper and deeper into the story and it becomes a race against time to find out who it really is!!! When the ending draws near and all is revealed you won't believe it... you are BLOWN AWAY!!!! I NEVER saw that ending coming!!! OMG!!!!
The author did a fantastic job for sure!
I love how the book was written.. it keeps your attention, it flows well, you get just enough detail and description without feeling bombarded by it! I really love all the different characters! They are very interesting for sure!
The book is VERY GOOD and you won't be able to put it down! You will find yourself wanting to read it again after just finishing!
December 26, 2019
Interesting.... There's a serial killer.
The main character Danielle may know who the killer is. Is it one of her crazy patients.
Mostly the 3 patients she has has some issues and are most likely to be a suspect.
But I had my own predictions as I got to know the characters. And yep I was right. Even though I predicted most I still enjoyed the bit of run around suspicious characters intrigued outcome to it all.
The main character Danielle may know who the killer is. Is it one of her crazy patients.
Mostly the 3 patients she has has some issues and are most likely to be a suspect.
But I had my own predictions as I got to know the characters. And yep I was right. Even though I predicted most I still enjoyed the bit of run around suspicious characters intrigued outcome to it all.
September 19, 2020
This is unusual for me but I've got to say this book just didn't do much for me. I love a good mystery and I love Steena Holmes' books. But from the beginning, there was something off about the storyline. The characters didn't seem to mesh together, conversations were banal, and the therapist angle drove me to distraction. None of rang true.
I made it through to the end, even though I had it figured out at the halfway point. Not every offering is for everyone. So I'll just move on.
I made it through to the end, even though I had it figured out at the halfway point. Not every offering is for everyone. So I'll just move on.
October 16, 2019
WOW! Review coming. Stay tuned.
November 17, 2019
Interesting premise
Interesting premise but I figured it out too early. I alternated between the audio and Kindle edition. The audio narration was not very good.
Interesting premise but I figured it out too early. I alternated between the audio and Kindle edition. The audio narration was not very good.
October 15, 2019
“Simply existing wasn’t enough for me. In order to live life the way it was meant to be experienced, I had to push past my own boundaries and embrace every adventure that came my way.”
Wow... I was hooked from that paragraph!
Dr Danielle is a therapist with three different patients, each vastly different. All while Dr D feels one of her patients is stalking her!
Not giving any spoilers, but I loved it. I was intrigued by the therapy sessions and the Alice in Wonderland backstory !
A different kind of book for Steena Holmes but I like this style !
Wow... I was hooked from that paragraph!
Dr Danielle is a therapist with three different patients, each vastly different. All while Dr D feels one of her patients is stalking her!
Not giving any spoilers, but I loved it. I was intrigued by the therapy sessions and the Alice in Wonderland backstory !
A different kind of book for Steena Holmes but I like this style !
January 6, 2020
I really thought the atmosphere of Alice and Wonderland was quite intriguing. Danielle has three different patients that she is counseling and begins to believe that one of them is committing the crimes in the area. She seeks the assistance of a therapist to help her rationalize what was going on to better understand why she is feeling the way she does. I thought that there was really good suspense and I was kept guessing until the very end. This book was very atmospheric and I would love to read more from this author. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.
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