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The Patient's Secret
11 hours, 18 minutes
Secrets worth dying―and killing―for, in a novel of suspense inspired by a horrific true crime by Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author Loreth Anne White.
When the battered body of a female jogger is found beneath the cliffs of an idyllic coastal community, these perfect neighbors suddenly don’t seem so perfect…
Lily Bradley is a respected psychotherapist married to a distinguished professor. They live in a dream house with their two children in close-knit Story Cove. Lily lives a well-ordered life. Or so it seems. As a therapist, she knows everyone keeps things hidden. Even her.
Then sensual and free-spirited Arwen Harper rolls into town in her hand-painted VW van, her sixteen-year-old son riding shotgun. Overnight, Story Cove’s secrets are no longer safe. Because Arwen might know her new neighbors better than they know themselves.
Now someone is dead, and it looks like murder. Brutal and personal. The death invites the shrewd eye of Detective Rue Duval. Rue’s job is to expose secrets. But she’s also an expert at keeping them.
As the lives of three women become inexorably entwined, one thing is clear: when it comes to survival, ordinary people can do the most terrible things.
Secrets worth dying―and killing―for, in a novel of suspense inspired by a horrific true crime by Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author Loreth Anne White.
When the battered body of a female jogger is found beneath the cliffs of an idyllic coastal community, these perfect neighbors suddenly don’t seem so perfect…
Lily Bradley is a respected psychotherapist married to a distinguished professor. They live in a dream house with their two children in close-knit Story Cove. Lily lives a well-ordered life. Or so it seems. As a therapist, she knows everyone keeps things hidden. Even her.
Then sensual and free-spirited Arwen Harper rolls into town in her hand-painted VW van, her sixteen-year-old son riding shotgun. Overnight, Story Cove’s secrets are no longer safe. Because Arwen might know her new neighbors better than they know themselves.
Now someone is dead, and it looks like murder. Brutal and personal. The death invites the shrewd eye of Detective Rue Duval. Rue’s job is to expose secrets. But she’s also an expert at keeping them.
As the lives of three women become inexorably entwined, one thing is clear: when it comes to survival, ordinary people can do the most terrible things.
Audible Audio
First published March 8, 2022
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About the author
Loreth Anne White
93 books7,199 followersLoreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and Bild bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. With over 3 million books sold around the world, she is an ITW thriller award finalist, a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple industry awards.
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Victoria on Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears. For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne....
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or via Instagram: lorethannewhite
Visit her at www.lorethannewhite.com
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Victoria on Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears. For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne....
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or via Instagram: lorethannewhite
Visit her at www.lorethannewhite.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,288 reviews
February 6, 2023
The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White
The Patient's Secret was so much fun to read and to discuss with others. A woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Was her fall an accident or did someone push her to her death? Trying to figure out what was going on led down more paths than I can count and my head was full of potential suspects because the dead woman, Arwen Harper, seemed to excel at making herself a target for lust and other unsavory things.
Lily Bradley, a respected psychotherapist, has the ideal life. She lives with her husband, a professor at the local university, with their children, in the "to die for" revered community of Story Cove. But Lily has a dark, horrible secret that she has kept from everyone, including her husband. Her life, her husband's life, and her children's lives would be destroyed if her secret ever gets out. But now she is getting threatening notes that someone knows her secret. She is being stalked, she feels eyes on her, and a distance is growing between Lily and her husband, Tom.
The timeline is all over the place and we have many POVs for the chapters. But the author makes it very easy to keep track of the people and dates. I was never confused about when something was happening or whose eyes we were seeing the story through. It all just clicked along, each chapter had me wanting to get to the next one, and the only thing I was sure of was that this community was filled with a massive amount of men, women, and children doing things they were not supposed to be doing. Did those things include murder?
The most likeable people were "some" of the younger people and I couldn't help being worried about how they might be involved in what was going on. The story hammers home that a parent will do anything for their child but we also see that a child will do anything for their parents. There is so much driving each and every person in the story, no one is black and white, it's clear that even the most innocent might have something to hide.
Once we know some very important facts, there are always more shocks and twists lurking around the corner. This was my first Loreth Anne White book and I plan to go back and read her other stories.
Pub Mar 8, 2022
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC.
The Patient's Secret was so much fun to read and to discuss with others. A woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. Was her fall an accident or did someone push her to her death? Trying to figure out what was going on led down more paths than I can count and my head was full of potential suspects because the dead woman, Arwen Harper, seemed to excel at making herself a target for lust and other unsavory things.
Lily Bradley, a respected psychotherapist, has the ideal life. She lives with her husband, a professor at the local university, with their children, in the "to die for" revered community of Story Cove. But Lily has a dark, horrible secret that she has kept from everyone, including her husband. Her life, her husband's life, and her children's lives would be destroyed if her secret ever gets out. But now she is getting threatening notes that someone knows her secret. She is being stalked, she feels eyes on her, and a distance is growing between Lily and her husband, Tom.
The timeline is all over the place and we have many POVs for the chapters. But the author makes it very easy to keep track of the people and dates. I was never confused about when something was happening or whose eyes we were seeing the story through. It all just clicked along, each chapter had me wanting to get to the next one, and the only thing I was sure of was that this community was filled with a massive amount of men, women, and children doing things they were not supposed to be doing. Did those things include murder?
The most likeable people were "some" of the younger people and I couldn't help being worried about how they might be involved in what was going on. The story hammers home that a parent will do anything for their child but we also see that a child will do anything for their parents. There is so much driving each and every person in the story, no one is black and white, it's clear that even the most innocent might have something to hide.
Once we know some very important facts, there are always more shocks and twists lurking around the corner. This was my first Loreth Anne White book and I plan to go back and read her other stories.
Pub Mar 8, 2022
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 12, 2024
When it comes to dark and compelling psychological thrillers, The Patient's Secret hits all the right notes.
Lily Bradley has what seems to be an enviable life, living in affluent Story Cove with her loving husband Tom and two wonderfully unruly children. But she's been on edge lately, feeling like she's being followed and her husband is keeping secrets from her. When a newcomer is found dead at the base of the cliffs and Tom is the one who finds her, Lily realizes the careful life she's cultivated may just be an illusion.
This was an atmospheric read, and I found it to be riveting. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. While it's a much-trodden genre, there were elements in here I've never seen before, which made the whole thing feel fresh and unusual. I wasn't exactly sure where it was going, and there were plenty of twists and turns to sustain my interests throughout.
For me, this struck a really good balance between the psychological and the thriller. Normally, my complaint with this genre is that we spend too much time in the character's head with their fears and paranoia, and it all turns silly after a while. And while we do have some of that here, it wasn't overdone. And to counterbalance it, we get to follow the investigation as it unfolds and secrets are revealed, which was plenty satisfying.
I first started reading Loreth Anne White with her book In the Dark, and I find her offerings to be entertaining and gripping. She takes an oversaturated genre and adds something new to it. I'll definitely continue to seek her out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
In the Dark
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Lily Bradley has what seems to be an enviable life, living in affluent Story Cove with her loving husband Tom and two wonderfully unruly children. But she's been on edge lately, feeling like she's being followed and her husband is keeping secrets from her. When a newcomer is found dead at the base of the cliffs and Tom is the one who finds her, Lily realizes the careful life she's cultivated may just be an illusion.
This was an atmospheric read, and I found it to be riveting. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. While it's a much-trodden genre, there were elements in here I've never seen before, which made the whole thing feel fresh and unusual. I wasn't exactly sure where it was going, and there were plenty of twists and turns to sustain my interests throughout.
For me, this struck a really good balance between the psychological and the thriller. Normally, my complaint with this genre is that we spend too much time in the character's head with their fears and paranoia, and it all turns silly after a while. And while we do have some of that here, it wasn't overdone. And to counterbalance it, we get to follow the investigation as it unfolds and secrets are revealed, which was plenty satisfying.
I first started reading Loreth Anne White with her book In the Dark, and I find her offerings to be entertaining and gripping. She takes an oversaturated genre and adds something new to it. I'll definitely continue to seek her out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
In the Dark
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
March 8, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Shocking, brutal, and unputdownable. A 5-star stunner!
Lily Bradley - a respected therapist, her professor husband, and two children live on a quiet cul-de-sac in the quaint Story Cove community. Although Lily is used to hearing other people’s secrets - given her profession - she hopes none of hers get out.
Arwen Harper and her 16-year old son, Joe, just moved to town. Arwen gives off bohemian vibes, and walks with confidence and sensuality. Not everyone is happy about the new addition to Story Cove...and this is before they know the secrets that Arwen is privy to.
After a female jogger is found battered and dead, Detective Rue Duval is on the case. She wonders if this may relate to the “jogger killer” she’s been hunting down.
Little does anyone foresee the events that will unravel. I know I didn’t.
I’ve read two other books by Loreth Anne White, and loved both of them. However, she KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK here! I was impressed by all the story threads, secrets revealed / to be revealed, and fully dimensional characters with haunting pasts. She ties it all together seamlessly. It’s highly atmospheric from start to finish.
I couldn’t put this book down, nor could I stop playing detective the whole way through (a failing detective in this case). This book is very dark, disturbing, surprisingly emotional, and thought-provoking in more ways than one. This will hook you in from the very first page and through many twists! Highly recommended!
NOTE: The Patient’s Secret is based in part on a true crime that is both horrific and ghastly. I strongly advise against googling that crime until you finish reading this one. Otherwise, some secrets may be spoiled.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Shocking, brutal, and unputdownable. A 5-star stunner!
Lily Bradley - a respected therapist, her professor husband, and two children live on a quiet cul-de-sac in the quaint Story Cove community. Although Lily is used to hearing other people’s secrets - given her profession - she hopes none of hers get out.
Arwen Harper and her 16-year old son, Joe, just moved to town. Arwen gives off bohemian vibes, and walks with confidence and sensuality. Not everyone is happy about the new addition to Story Cove...and this is before they know the secrets that Arwen is privy to.
After a female jogger is found battered and dead, Detective Rue Duval is on the case. She wonders if this may relate to the “jogger killer” she’s been hunting down.
Little does anyone foresee the events that will unravel. I know I didn’t.
I’ve read two other books by Loreth Anne White, and loved both of them. However, she KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK here! I was impressed by all the story threads, secrets revealed / to be revealed, and fully dimensional characters with haunting pasts. She ties it all together seamlessly. It’s highly atmospheric from start to finish.
I couldn’t put this book down, nor could I stop playing detective the whole way through (a failing detective in this case). This book is very dark, disturbing, surprisingly emotional, and thought-provoking in more ways than one. This will hook you in from the very first page and through many twists! Highly recommended!
NOTE: The Patient’s Secret is based in part on a true crime that is both horrific and ghastly. I strongly advise against googling that crime until you finish reading this one. Otherwise, some secrets may be spoiled.
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/8/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
March 24, 2022
A Page Turner!
"She was the patient. And her secret is mine."
The Patient's Secret is a psychological thriller about a psychiatrist, Lily Bradley, who lives the perfect life with her perfect family. Lily is married to her perfect husband, Tom. They have two perfect children, Phoebe and Matthew, and they live in the perfect neighborhood in their picture-perfect house. When a mysterious woman dies, Lily finds herself in shambles. Darkness lurks behind the facade of perfection, threatening to destroy The Bradley family.
There are two timelines: “now” and “then”. The chapters that occur in the past recount the time before the woman dies. These chapters begin with a reminder of how many days before the woman dies, for example, “two months before she dies.” The chapters that occur in the present deal with the fall out from the murder. Passages from a true-crime narrative add another layer between the two timelines.
There are multiple points of view, but Lily, Tom, 8-year-old Matthew, and Rue, the homicide detective, are the main narrators. I loved Matthew, but at the same time, he doesn't sound like an 8-year old. His voice and his observation skills seem rather advanced for someone his age. Lily and Rue’s characters were the most developed, whereas the reader only gets minor insights into Tom. By the end of the book, I wanted more of his story.
Part of this book is based on the events of a horrific true story. I had my doubts about the portrayal of one character, but knowing that their actions are based on something that happened in real life, made me reconsider my doubts.
I thought this was heading in one direction, but I was pleasantly surprised that it went in another. It is a fast-paced, immersive read filled with red herring, darkness, and gruesome murder. White doesn’t hold back on the details of the crime scenes, and there are some bloody scenes to read. I had a few issues with the ending, as I feel that the tightly wound narrative unravels a bit, but overall this was a riveting read!
"She was the patient. And her secret is mine."
The Patient's Secret is a psychological thriller about a psychiatrist, Lily Bradley, who lives the perfect life with her perfect family. Lily is married to her perfect husband, Tom. They have two perfect children, Phoebe and Matthew, and they live in the perfect neighborhood in their picture-perfect house. When a mysterious woman dies, Lily finds herself in shambles. Darkness lurks behind the facade of perfection, threatening to destroy The Bradley family.
There are two timelines: “now” and “then”. The chapters that occur in the past recount the time before the woman dies. These chapters begin with a reminder of how many days before the woman dies, for example, “two months before she dies.” The chapters that occur in the present deal with the fall out from the murder. Passages from a true-crime narrative add another layer between the two timelines.
There are multiple points of view, but Lily, Tom, 8-year-old Matthew, and Rue, the homicide detective, are the main narrators. I loved Matthew, but at the same time, he doesn't sound like an 8-year old. His voice and his observation skills seem rather advanced for someone his age. Lily and Rue’s characters were the most developed, whereas the reader only gets minor insights into Tom. By the end of the book, I wanted more of his story.
Part of this book is based on the events of a horrific true story. I had my doubts about the portrayal of one character, but knowing that their actions are based on something that happened in real life, made me reconsider my doubts.
I thought this was heading in one direction, but I was pleasantly surprised that it went in another. It is a fast-paced, immersive read filled with red herring, darkness, and gruesome murder. White doesn’t hold back on the details of the crime scenes, and there are some bloody scenes to read. I had a few issues with the ending, as I feel that the tightly wound narrative unravels a bit, but overall this was a riveting read!
March 8, 2022
It BEGINS with how it ENDS
NOW
June 20. Monday
This story, (inspired by a true crime which made headlines in Canada) opens with psychotherapist Lily Bradley, counseling a young patient, in her office, Oak Tree Therapy, located at her home in Story Cove. The rain that spoiled, last night’s neighborhood BBQ has not quite let up.
Lily is distracted.
SECRETS had been exposed at the BBQ, and she and her husband Tom had a DIFFICULT conversation following it. In fact, despite the continuing rain, and thunder, he left for an early morning jog to clear his head.
And, the distractions continue as she hears wailing POLICE SIRENS.
Tom returns home, moving quickly, racing into their shed.
The sirens grow louder as they arrive at her home.
Apparently ANOTHER jogger has been found dead, her battered body lying on the beach below the wooded trails.
Now, her story will be shared by the alternating perspectives of SEVERAL neighborhood characters as they chronicle what happened in the days BEFORE and AFTER “SHE” was found.
Is she the latest Victim of a serial killer, known as JK-the jogger killer? Or was she killed for more personal reasons?
And, what does this have to do with Lily and Tom? And, the rest of the residents of this town?
Despite being an avid reader and reviewer of Mysteries and Thrillers, I have to admit that I was not familiar with the work of Loreth Anne White until earlier this year, when I read “In the Deep” in February. I have now read three of her titles and she has been added to my “auto-request” author list!
Always atmospheric, always intricate, and always begging you to read “just one more chapter “, she is an author I have been glad to discover! Have you discovered her work yet?
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Montlake Publishers for the early gifted copy, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
NOW
June 20. Monday
This story, (inspired by a true crime which made headlines in Canada) opens with psychotherapist Lily Bradley, counseling a young patient, in her office, Oak Tree Therapy, located at her home in Story Cove. The rain that spoiled, last night’s neighborhood BBQ has not quite let up.
Lily is distracted.
SECRETS had been exposed at the BBQ, and she and her husband Tom had a DIFFICULT conversation following it. In fact, despite the continuing rain, and thunder, he left for an early morning jog to clear his head.
And, the distractions continue as she hears wailing POLICE SIRENS.
Tom returns home, moving quickly, racing into their shed.
The sirens grow louder as they arrive at her home.
Apparently ANOTHER jogger has been found dead, her battered body lying on the beach below the wooded trails.
Now, her story will be shared by the alternating perspectives of SEVERAL neighborhood characters as they chronicle what happened in the days BEFORE and AFTER “SHE” was found.
Is she the latest Victim of a serial killer, known as JK-the jogger killer? Or was she killed for more personal reasons?
And, what does this have to do with Lily and Tom? And, the rest of the residents of this town?
Despite being an avid reader and reviewer of Mysteries and Thrillers, I have to admit that I was not familiar with the work of Loreth Anne White until earlier this year, when I read “In the Deep” in February. I have now read three of her titles and she has been added to my “auto-request” author list!
Always atmospheric, always intricate, and always begging you to read “just one more chapter “, she is an author I have been glad to discover! Have you discovered her work yet?
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Montlake Publishers for the early gifted copy, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
June 13, 2023
This was my second book by the author and it was another enjoyable read. The twists and turns left me dizzy, but in a good way. The POVs had interesting backstories and I loved that the book was based on a real event (a murder that made headlines in its day). White shows respect for the people involved and psychological insight. It’s obvious that she knows what she’s doing when she describes the POVs inner realities , and how that influenced their behavior. The story flowed easily and naturally, like watching a movie where everything made sense.
November 20, 2021
4.5 rounded up.
Phew! What a tense start in this latest thriller/police procedural from the talented Loreth Anne White. Three women, three fractured lives on a destructive collision course. First of all, there’s Dr Lily Bradley, a therapist who is carrying a long buried secret but so is husband Tom but that’s another story. Secondly, there’s Detective Rulandi (Rue) Duval who is a highly competent member of the Story Cove Police Force but whose life is about to take a different turn. Finally, there’s flamboyant Arwen Harper, waitress, artist, mother who also hoards a deep dark buried secret. Their lives become conjoined when the body of a female jogger is found beneath the edge of steep cliffs, she resembles a broken doll and it’s brutal to witness. Who is it? Is it an accident or murder? Does it link to the ‘Jogger Case’, the unknown murderer of three other women? Only time will tell but what undoubtedly happens is that it causes a ripple effect (probably more like a tsunami effect) in a picture perfect community with several inhabitants about to be unmasked.
First of all, one of the most powerful aspects of all the books by this author is the atmosphere she creates. She cleverly uses location to match circumstances and her sentence structure (sometimes crisply staccato) and descriptions add to the aura - she’s one of the best out there in this genre. She cleverly builds the fast paced plot layer by layer pulling you in so you happily clamber on board the twisty rollercoaster ride, desperate to pick truth from lie as the mystery deepens. This is a powerful and dark tale, it’s told very visually so it’s engaging, it’s based on fact and poses some thought provoking points along the way. You really can’t see the wood for the trees in the plot forest as Story Cove contains some messed up people scrambling to protect those they love. Add in loads of stalkerish creepy vibes that are a constant presence and you get prickles of unease running up and down your spine. The characterisation is very good too enabling you to picture them and gain some understanding of their motivation. Despite the fact the story is told via multiple points of view and across several different timelines the path towards the dramatic conclusion is smoothly delivered.
Overall, I really like the premise of people being unmasked by forces of destruction in a plot that is full of suspense and tension. It keeps you guessing which makes it a hard novel to put down. It’s a well written intelligent novel which I recommend to fans of the genre.
Ps. The only thing I find very irritating is the repetition of the colour of Lily’s house - yes, got it!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Montlake for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Phew! What a tense start in this latest thriller/police procedural from the talented Loreth Anne White. Three women, three fractured lives on a destructive collision course. First of all, there’s Dr Lily Bradley, a therapist who is carrying a long buried secret but so is husband Tom but that’s another story. Secondly, there’s Detective Rulandi (Rue) Duval who is a highly competent member of the Story Cove Police Force but whose life is about to take a different turn. Finally, there’s flamboyant Arwen Harper, waitress, artist, mother who also hoards a deep dark buried secret. Their lives become conjoined when the body of a female jogger is found beneath the edge of steep cliffs, she resembles a broken doll and it’s brutal to witness. Who is it? Is it an accident or murder? Does it link to the ‘Jogger Case’, the unknown murderer of three other women? Only time will tell but what undoubtedly happens is that it causes a ripple effect (probably more like a tsunami effect) in a picture perfect community with several inhabitants about to be unmasked.
First of all, one of the most powerful aspects of all the books by this author is the atmosphere she creates. She cleverly uses location to match circumstances and her sentence structure (sometimes crisply staccato) and descriptions add to the aura - she’s one of the best out there in this genre. She cleverly builds the fast paced plot layer by layer pulling you in so you happily clamber on board the twisty rollercoaster ride, desperate to pick truth from lie as the mystery deepens. This is a powerful and dark tale, it’s told very visually so it’s engaging, it’s based on fact and poses some thought provoking points along the way. You really can’t see the wood for the trees in the plot forest as Story Cove contains some messed up people scrambling to protect those they love. Add in loads of stalkerish creepy vibes that are a constant presence and you get prickles of unease running up and down your spine. The characterisation is very good too enabling you to picture them and gain some understanding of their motivation. Despite the fact the story is told via multiple points of view and across several different timelines the path towards the dramatic conclusion is smoothly delivered.
Overall, I really like the premise of people being unmasked by forces of destruction in a plot that is full of suspense and tension. It keeps you guessing which makes it a hard novel to put down. It’s a well written intelligent novel which I recommend to fans of the genre.
Ps. The only thing I find very irritating is the repetition of the colour of Lily’s house - yes, got it!!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Montlake for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 20, 2023
4.5
A woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff – accident or murder?
The characters:
*Arwen: a free spirit, she and her son are new to town, which threatens to reveal long kept secrets
* Lily Bradley: a psychotherapist. Her husband Tom found the body and is now the prime suspect
* Detective Rue, who is investigating the death, wondering if this woman was a victim of the Jogger Killer.
My third book by this author, this is yet another atmospheric and compelling page-turner, with plenty of twists and turns. Told through alternate POV and timelines, the author pulled it off seamlessly. At various points, I suspected nearly everyone, and the final reveal was shocking (in a good way).
Inspired by a true crime case, this is one I highly recommend.
A woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff – accident or murder?
The characters:
*Arwen: a free spirit, she and her son are new to town, which threatens to reveal long kept secrets
* Lily Bradley: a psychotherapist. Her husband Tom found the body and is now the prime suspect
* Detective Rue, who is investigating the death, wondering if this woman was a victim of the Jogger Killer.
My third book by this author, this is yet another atmospheric and compelling page-turner, with plenty of twists and turns. Told through alternate POV and timelines, the author pulled it off seamlessly. At various points, I suspected nearly everyone, and the final reveal was shocking (in a good way).
Inspired by a true crime case, this is one I highly recommend.
February 1, 2022
Anytime someone new moves into the neighborhood, the first question typically on everyone’s mind is… I wonder how they’ll fit in. (Of course, this includes some good old-fashioned peering through the shades!) And it’s no different when Arwen and her son move into Stoney Brook. The welcoming committee couldn’t be more divided with their opinions. The men are predictably giddy to have Ms. Arwen in their presence.😉 Their wives, of course are not exactly on-board with the young, beautiful single mother just down the street.
A huge fight at the neighborhood barbecue, a possible murder. Now everyone starts eyeing their neighbors quite differently. After all…they are all hiding their own secrets!
A fast-paced domestic thriller (which are my favorite) with plenty of moving parts from multiple POV’s. Easy to follow along so pack your favorite detective’s cap to figure this one out. It surprised me!
My first read by this author and fortunately I have a few of her previous books on my shelf just waiting for me.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake
A huge fight at the neighborhood barbecue, a possible murder. Now everyone starts eyeing their neighbors quite differently. After all…they are all hiding their own secrets!
A fast-paced domestic thriller (which are my favorite) with plenty of moving parts from multiple POV’s. Easy to follow along so pack your favorite detective’s cap to figure this one out. It surprised me!
My first read by this author and fortunately I have a few of her previous books on my shelf just waiting for me.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake
January 9, 2022
TRIGGER WARNING: As mentioned in the blurb, this is based on a horrific true crime. What I wasn’t prepared for was the amount of detail in the description of this crime.
I am an outlier on this book but I did finish it, so here goes:
Story Cove is a wealthy area and this crime takes place along a cliff trail close to a cul de sac, where “supposedly” everyone knows everyone else!! The path which runs along forest and cliff is well used by the neighborhood joggers. On this day Tom Bradley has gone out for an incredibly early run on a stormy wet morning. He returns, immediately going to his shed – does he need dry clothes? Why doesn’t he go straight to the house?
Lily Bradley, a psychologist, is listening to a patient detail their problems in her home office when sirens blast through the neighborhood. A young wooman has been found dead at the bottom of the cliff, her body broken and battered!! Her husband Tom was the one who found her and called the police. The police are in her driveway and now pounding on their door – THEY WANT TO QUESTION TOM.
WHO IS THE JOGGER AND DID SOMEONE IN STORY COVE COMMIT MURDER??? WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?? THE WEATHER WAS RAINY AND COLD, WHY WAS SHE OUT FOR A RUN?
WHAT A LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
This is a true psychological thriller, with at least one psychopath and maybe a sociopath or two!
The kids in this book are well portrayed, at least one of them will be a hero by the end! The kids were the only believable and likable characters.
Detective Sergeant Rulandi Duval (Rue) is one tough detective. She doesn’t give up and keeps digging for the truth. She suspects everyone, adult, child, even her own family. She listens to anyone and everyone who has a clue. I loved her portrayal of a strong female detective.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK
So tired of the setting of these thrillers, why always in a wealthy neighborhood??
The number of characters to keep straight and so many red herrings directing the reader to “look here, is this the criminal” ? I didn’t like any of the adult characters, none of them felt relatable and I just wanted to finish the book.
The absolutely blood soaked, gruesome details of a crime committed by one of these characters in the past as a child. Once read, it wouldn’t leave my mind.
I hesitate to believe that true psychopaths, even as children, can be rehabilitated through psychotherapy. Perhaps, but I’m not convinced.
If vivid descriptions of true crimes don't bother you, then you will probably enjoy this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I am an outlier on this book but I did finish it, so here goes:
Story Cove is a wealthy area and this crime takes place along a cliff trail close to a cul de sac, where “supposedly” everyone knows everyone else!! The path which runs along forest and cliff is well used by the neighborhood joggers. On this day Tom Bradley has gone out for an incredibly early run on a stormy wet morning. He returns, immediately going to his shed – does he need dry clothes? Why doesn’t he go straight to the house?
Lily Bradley, a psychologist, is listening to a patient detail their problems in her home office when sirens blast through the neighborhood. A young wooman has been found dead at the bottom of the cliff, her body broken and battered!! Her husband Tom was the one who found her and called the police. The police are in her driveway and now pounding on their door – THEY WANT TO QUESTION TOM.
WHO IS THE JOGGER AND DID SOMEONE IN STORY COVE COMMIT MURDER??? WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?? THE WEATHER WAS RAINY AND COLD, WHY WAS SHE OUT FOR A RUN?
WHAT A LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
This is a true psychological thriller, with at least one psychopath and maybe a sociopath or two!
The kids in this book are well portrayed, at least one of them will be a hero by the end! The kids were the only believable and likable characters.
Detective Sergeant Rulandi Duval (Rue) is one tough detective. She doesn’t give up and keeps digging for the truth. She suspects everyone, adult, child, even her own family. She listens to anyone and everyone who has a clue. I loved her portrayal of a strong female detective.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK
So tired of the setting of these thrillers, why always in a wealthy neighborhood??
The number of characters to keep straight and so many red herrings directing the reader to “look here, is this the criminal” ? I didn’t like any of the adult characters, none of them felt relatable and I just wanted to finish the book.
The absolutely blood soaked, gruesome details of a crime committed by one of these characters in the past as a child. Once read, it wouldn’t leave my mind.
I hesitate to believe that true psychopaths, even as children, can be rehabilitated through psychotherapy. Perhaps, but I’m not convinced.
If vivid descriptions of true crimes don't bother you, then you will probably enjoy this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2023
3.0 stars— It is Kindle Unlimited time again so I decided to read the increasingly popular author, Loreth Anne White. I have heard nothing but good things about “The Patient’s Secret” so I decided to read it over a newer book by her about another damn maid. (I love maids as much as the next guy, but at this point everyone but James Patterson has taken a stab at the maid trend). Let me start by saying Ms. White is an excellent writer. In fact, I believe the problems I had with this book might be because she tried to be a little too creative with her twists and turns. I will start by saying “Secret” has a long list of characters, so many that I almost had to write down who was whom to keep from getting confused. The plot involves multiple murder mysteries that span over 30 years which include a child murdering her family, a jogger serial killer, and the murder of a waitress/bartender that may or may not been committed by the main character, Lily’s husband, Tom. There are so many deaths, suspects and red herrings it gets tiring trying to keep up with it all. The book lost major momentum to me about 3/4 of the way through when characters’ actions became more and more unrealistic and outrageous. Wives do not act the the way these women acted when confronted with real proof of affairs or when finding out their whole marriages were based on dishonesty. And don’t get me started on the two sons and how their actions were so ridiculous time and again in order to move the story along. The conclusion of the book does not even border on credible. With all of that being said, even though the book was full of potential it was also full of crap at times too. (Sorry! I just thought that had a ring to it and I had to use it).
January 12, 2022
Hunka Munka........This one is like the footsteps you hear outside your bedroom door in the middle of the night. And you definitely know you're home alone. Maybe not for long.
The Patients's Secret is raw, brutal, unsettling, and enough to make you watch your own skin crawl. Why you say? It's inspired by a true crime that happened in Canada some years back. Real people doing horrendous things to other real people. But there's also a story here that bathes itself in normalcy. Until it all goes down the drain.
Story Cove is an upscale residential area populated with professionals. No one here has to worry about paying the rent. But everything will tilt and shift as Arwen Harper moves into a small rental cottage in the area with her sixteen year old son, Joe. Arwen is an artist of sorts and works as a waitress at the local pub called The Red Lion. She becomes familiar with the usual crowd that meets for drinks every Friday night. They know Arwen and Arwen knows them.
Down the street is Dr. Lily Bradley, a psychotherapist who has an office in her home. She's been a sought after therapist and has a regular bounty of patients. Her husband, Tom, is a psychology professor at the local university. They have two children, Phoebe and Matthew. Phoebe is a twelve year old handful with kohl eyes and pink hair. Matthew is a camera buff with a good eye.
These neighbors meet for barbecues, boating, and car pooling. They seem to know each other's comings and goings. A delightful way of life. And then there's that issue when a body is found at the base of a cliff. It's one of them. And what happens next will pin you to these pages like the ink forming words. You won't leave these characters swirling around inside your head. You simply can't.
The Patient's Secret is one of the best true crime sourced/psychological thrillers that I've read in a long time......and I've read tons. Loreth Anne White just keeps the action coming nonstop. It's not for the cozy lovers out there. It's gripping......especially for those who like getting gripped. Highly recommend. Can't wait for more from this talented author. Whew!
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Montlake Publishers and to Loreth Anne White for the opportunity.
The Patients's Secret is raw, brutal, unsettling, and enough to make you watch your own skin crawl. Why you say? It's inspired by a true crime that happened in Canada some years back. Real people doing horrendous things to other real people. But there's also a story here that bathes itself in normalcy. Until it all goes down the drain.
Story Cove is an upscale residential area populated with professionals. No one here has to worry about paying the rent. But everything will tilt and shift as Arwen Harper moves into a small rental cottage in the area with her sixteen year old son, Joe. Arwen is an artist of sorts and works as a waitress at the local pub called The Red Lion. She becomes familiar with the usual crowd that meets for drinks every Friday night. They know Arwen and Arwen knows them.
Down the street is Dr. Lily Bradley, a psychotherapist who has an office in her home. She's been a sought after therapist and has a regular bounty of patients. Her husband, Tom, is a psychology professor at the local university. They have two children, Phoebe and Matthew. Phoebe is a twelve year old handful with kohl eyes and pink hair. Matthew is a camera buff with a good eye.
These neighbors meet for barbecues, boating, and car pooling. They seem to know each other's comings and goings. A delightful way of life. And then there's that issue when a body is found at the base of a cliff. It's one of them. And what happens next will pin you to these pages like the ink forming words. You won't leave these characters swirling around inside your head. You simply can't.
The Patient's Secret is one of the best true crime sourced/psychological thrillers that I've read in a long time......and I've read tons. Loreth Anne White just keeps the action coming nonstop. It's not for the cozy lovers out there. It's gripping......especially for those who like getting gripped. Highly recommend. Can't wait for more from this talented author. Whew!
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Montlake Publishers and to Loreth Anne White for the opportunity.
November 16, 2021
Psychology Today.
And yesterday, the day before, and… what day is it now?
A woman has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff dressed in athletic wear. And it’s suspicious.
Enter Detective Rue Duval, head of the Jogger Killer task force to investigate whether this death is related to three other females assaulted in the area.
I loved this story with numerous details to piece together and a non-linear timeline adding to the effect. Intricate mysteries with intersecting pathways are my favorite because of the seemingly limitless possibilities.
It’s more manageable than it sounds as all chapters are labeled giving the reader a reference. So the only guess work is figuring out exactly what happened, who did it, and what was going on in this neighborhood.
As if.
I was at eighty five percent and my field of suspects hadn’t narrowed and still hadn’t an inkling as to where this was headed. Just the way I like it.
Another favorite feature was a sordid neighborhood complete with a quirky eight year old sleuth and photographer. I could envision this little fellow with his camera and the trouble he could cause…
This is my third book by Loreth Anne White having read her recent two and I’m a fan!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Montlake Publishing for my electronic review copy.
Scheduled for a March 22, 2022 publish date.
And yesterday, the day before, and… what day is it now?
A woman has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff dressed in athletic wear. And it’s suspicious.
Enter Detective Rue Duval, head of the Jogger Killer task force to investigate whether this death is related to three other females assaulted in the area.
I loved this story with numerous details to piece together and a non-linear timeline adding to the effect. Intricate mysteries with intersecting pathways are my favorite because of the seemingly limitless possibilities.
It’s more manageable than it sounds as all chapters are labeled giving the reader a reference. So the only guess work is figuring out exactly what happened, who did it, and what was going on in this neighborhood.
As if.
I was at eighty five percent and my field of suspects hadn’t narrowed and still hadn’t an inkling as to where this was headed. Just the way I like it.
Another favorite feature was a sordid neighborhood complete with a quirky eight year old sleuth and photographer. I could envision this little fellow with his camera and the trouble he could cause…
This is my third book by Loreth Anne White having read her recent two and I’m a fan!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Montlake Publishing for my electronic review copy.
Scheduled for a March 22, 2022 publish date.
May 2, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 - Five psyh0pathic stars!! Finally, my streak of reading crappy thrillers is over!!
THOUGHTS:
- There's so much to unpack in this one - but I'm not going to because I feel like you need to feel every part of this story. Also - The Patient's Secret is partly based on a true crime situation that happened in Canada and I think that made it even better to contemplate that there really are people our there like that.
- Written with alternating timelines and alternating POVs - this was the first psychological/thriller/murder mystery that I've loved in a really long time. The way elements are revealed and tied together is SO satisfying!
- Did I guess the ending? A true hallmark of whether or not I liked the book is whether I could predict the ending accurately. While I predicted some things - there were other things I didn't predict, and the ending was amazing for that! It's the same reason I love The Maidens because I was totally taken by surprise by its conclusion.
- All potential suspects and characters' inner monologues/motivations were done really well, and that's another thing that has to be good in thrillers. Their motivations or descent into madness have to seem plausible or likely given their circumstances, and in the end, I totally understood everything that was happening. No loose ends!
NOTES:
- Available on Kindle Unlimited as an audiobook, the narrator did a great job!
- CWs: Familicide, s3xual assault on women (but peripherally mentioned and not detailed)
THOUGHTS:
- There's so much to unpack in this one - but I'm not going to because I feel like you need to feel every part of this story. Also - The Patient's Secret is partly based on a true crime situation that happened in Canada and I think that made it even better to contemplate that there really are people our there like that.
- Written with alternating timelines and alternating POVs - this was the first psychological/thriller/murder mystery that I've loved in a really long time. The way elements are revealed and tied together is SO satisfying!
- Did I guess the ending? A true hallmark of whether or not I liked the book is whether I could predict the ending accurately. While I predicted some things - there were other things I didn't predict, and the ending was amazing for that! It's the same reason I love The Maidens because I was totally taken by surprise by its conclusion.
- All potential suspects and characters' inner monologues/motivations were done really well, and that's another thing that has to be good in thrillers. Their motivations or descent into madness have to seem plausible or likely given their circumstances, and in the end, I totally understood everything that was happening. No loose ends!
NOTES:
- Available on Kindle Unlimited as an audiobook, the narrator did a great job!
- CWs: Familicide, s3xual assault on women (but peripherally mentioned and not detailed)
March 13, 2022
Wow, wow, wow! This book is 5-star all the way. I went into it rather blind, aside from everyone’s great reviews. It did not disappoint. The author did a brilliant job leading us down a variety of paths that this story could travel. Yes, I figured out one small piece of the puzzle, but there were so many twists and turns. Fortunately, the ending did the books story justice and it wasn’t some OTT ending the author tossed in. White is in rare form on this one. If you love a taught, clever and intelligent mystery, this is the book for you!
Note, this is available on Kindle Unlimited with WhisperSync.
Note, this is available on Kindle Unlimited with WhisperSync.
July 21, 2022
I'm not sure how I missed this author before but she will definitely be in my line of reading after this book. I'm blown away by this psychological atmospheric thriller! This is inspired by a horrific true crime, which immerses you into the characters. Between the story of Now & Then, the investigation brought in a lot of unique characters with dark secrets. Some were not as innocent as portrayed which brought a lot of shocks, twists and unraveling of the game plan.
The story is instigated by a female jogger, Arwen, found at the bottom of the cliffs dead. The evidence circulating brings many people into the crime after a casual BBQ in an affluent neighborhood in Story Cove turns volatile. When the characters talk they each appear as the perpetrator, with a lot of different motives. Family secrets surface, a stalker is watching them, cheating spouses and a multitude of other sins that become a shocking additive in this Can't Put Down Thriller. When the past comes reeling in passages from a true account horror scene, the story becomes too deep to get out of it.
The story leads with Lily Bradley, a psychotherapist and her professor husband Tom with a multitude of evidence against them. Their son, Matthew, although he is only 8 years old took pictures that would later be condemning in the case. I'm usually turned off by a lot of characters, but for some reason it worked so well that it didn't overwhelm the story. When you think this story has been overwritten and played out too many times, you haven't read this one because it is an amazing stand alone kind of novel. Great job, Loreth Anne White. I will be adding your other novels!
The story is instigated by a female jogger, Arwen, found at the bottom of the cliffs dead. The evidence circulating brings many people into the crime after a casual BBQ in an affluent neighborhood in Story Cove turns volatile. When the characters talk they each appear as the perpetrator, with a lot of different motives. Family secrets surface, a stalker is watching them, cheating spouses and a multitude of other sins that become a shocking additive in this Can't Put Down Thriller. When the past comes reeling in passages from a true account horror scene, the story becomes too deep to get out of it.
The story leads with Lily Bradley, a psychotherapist and her professor husband Tom with a multitude of evidence against them. Their son, Matthew, although he is only 8 years old took pictures that would later be condemning in the case. I'm usually turned off by a lot of characters, but for some reason it worked so well that it didn't overwhelm the story. When you think this story has been overwritten and played out too many times, you haven't read this one because it is an amazing stand alone kind of novel. Great job, Loreth Anne White. I will be adding your other novels!
October 9, 2022
Disappointing.
Given the high Goodreads rating, praise from reviewers, and an intriguing premise, The Patient’s Secret was one of my most anticipated reads.
I have read a few of White’s other thrillers and loved them, so I was surprised that this one didn’t grab me like the others.
Based on a true crime committed in Canada in 2006, White explores whether a violent child can effectively be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
I enjoyed the short chapters and fast pace of this book, but that is where my intrigue ended. I was not familiar with the actual case, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I think that I set my expectations too high and suspected this book was headed in a very different direction.
I mostly had a difficult time connecting with the characters. White spends a long time on Detective Rulandi Duval’s back story instead of developing other main characters. Maybe she plans to write more novels that include her character? I just wanted the focus to be more on the actual characters being investigated instead of the detective doing the investigating.
The actual mystery is well done, as all of the characters have motives for the murder. Unfortunately, I figured most of it out before the detective. Additionally, I’m confused as to why part of the focus was on a particular aspect of the true crime story, because White doesn’t offer any explanations either.
Overall, this was not a stand out mystery for me. However, I will probably continue to read more from this author.
3/5 stars
Given the high Goodreads rating, praise from reviewers, and an intriguing premise, The Patient’s Secret was one of my most anticipated reads.
I have read a few of White’s other thrillers and loved them, so I was surprised that this one didn’t grab me like the others.
Based on a true crime committed in Canada in 2006, White explores whether a violent child can effectively be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
I enjoyed the short chapters and fast pace of this book, but that is where my intrigue ended. I was not familiar with the actual case, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I think that I set my expectations too high and suspected this book was headed in a very different direction.
I mostly had a difficult time connecting with the characters. White spends a long time on Detective Rulandi Duval’s back story instead of developing other main characters. Maybe she plans to write more novels that include her character? I just wanted the focus to be more on the actual characters being investigated instead of the detective doing the investigating.
The actual mystery is well done, as all of the characters have motives for the murder. Unfortunately, I figured most of it out before the detective. Additionally, I’m confused as to why part of the focus was on a particular aspect of the true crime story, because White doesn’t offer any explanations either.
Overall, this was not a stand out mystery for me. However, I will probably continue to read more from this author.
3/5 stars
April 17, 2022
I'm a huge fan of Loreth Anne White. I have read all her books and I have enjoyed all of them.
Lily Bradley is married to Tom and has 2 children. She works as a therapist. She has gone this route because she truly wants to help people. Her past is the reason why she has chosen her profession. Yet, Lily has made sure that no one knows about her past although lately, she has been feeling like someone is following her, and her life as she knows it can be unraveled, and if the past comes out, it will not only destroy her work but her family too.
As Lily's life is unfolding, a woman jogger is found dead. Detective Rue Duval is called to find out if it was an accident or was it murder. Rue has been investigating the "jogger killer" and this woman fits the pattern. Everyone is a suspect and Rue won't give up until she finds out the truth although Rue is also hiding her own connection to the deceased.
I loved this one. I devoured the audio which had a great narrator. I love all the red herrings LAW threw at us. It made me question everything. Was there a crime or not? If yes, who killed her and why?
I liked both Lily and Rue. In a way, both women were trying to keep their children safe. Hopefully, we get to see Rue in another book.
Lastly, if you listen to the audio you won't be disappointed with Brittany Pressley's narration.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Lily Bradley is married to Tom and has 2 children. She works as a therapist. She has gone this route because she truly wants to help people. Her past is the reason why she has chosen her profession. Yet, Lily has made sure that no one knows about her past although lately, she has been feeling like someone is following her, and her life as she knows it can be unraveled, and if the past comes out, it will not only destroy her work but her family too.
As Lily's life is unfolding, a woman jogger is found dead. Detective Rue Duval is called to find out if it was an accident or was it murder. Rue has been investigating the "jogger killer" and this woman fits the pattern. Everyone is a suspect and Rue won't give up until she finds out the truth although Rue is also hiding her own connection to the deceased.
I loved this one. I devoured the audio which had a great narrator. I love all the red herrings LAW threw at us. It made me question everything. Was there a crime or not? If yes, who killed her and why?
I liked both Lily and Rue. In a way, both women were trying to keep their children safe. Hopefully, we get to see Rue in another book.
Lastly, if you listen to the audio you won't be disappointed with Brittany Pressley's narration.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
April 15, 2025
Another KU pick!
It was a good 3 star read for me, but all the POV's were a bit distracting and I didn't realize this one was inspired by true crime or I may have chosen another from her (which I plan to do).
It was a good 3 star read for me, but all the POV's were a bit distracting and I didn't realize this one was inspired by true crime or I may have chosen another from her (which I plan to do).
June 30, 2023
Actual rating 2,75.
Overall it was an okay story, but the way it was written was just not for me. I like more thrilling stories where characters aren't completely safe, not where the main deed was done at the very beginning and that was it.
Maybe if it was written differently it would be better.
This way, I was bored most of the time.
Overall it was an okay story, but the way it was written was just not for me. I like more thrilling stories where characters aren't completely safe, not where the main deed was done at the very beginning and that was it.
Maybe if it was written differently it would be better.
This way, I was bored most of the time.
November 16, 2021
Loreth Anne White is a master of the atmospheric. From the opening pages of this book the atmosphere is thick. You know there’s something rotten in Denmark!
A jogger is found dead at the bottom of a cliff run by Psychology professor Tom Bradley. His actions when he returns from his run to report the death are very suspicious. His wife, Lily, a therapist, is on edge about something. The affluent little enclave these people live in, in Story Cove, is set to get a major shake up. Detective Sergeant Rulandi Duval is on the trail of the Jogger Killer. When she hears another jogger has died she is like a dog with a bone. That is until she realises that this one could sail closer to home than would be comfortable.
Arwen Harper and her 16 year old son Joe arrived in town a few weeks ago. Arwen is waitressing at the nearby inn but Arwen also has an agenda - she is also a very troubled woman.
Everyone in this enclave has secrets they would rather keep, well, secret - even some of the children. At one point or another I think I suspected just about everyone, including the children! As the story progresses and the police conduct searches and arrest people and photos are produced the tension curdles into something thick and ugly. It’s a bomb waiting to go off.
This was so well written. The pacing was perfect and the characterisation was excellent. These were not ‘nice’ people but who is hiding the worst secret? Actually that one is a bit of a toss up in my book! The story was based on real life events from some years ago. Its a pretty shocking crime. The book addresses the issue of whether redemption is possible with the right treatment. I’ll leave you to make up your own minds on this. Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
A jogger is found dead at the bottom of a cliff run by Psychology professor Tom Bradley. His actions when he returns from his run to report the death are very suspicious. His wife, Lily, a therapist, is on edge about something. The affluent little enclave these people live in, in Story Cove, is set to get a major shake up. Detective Sergeant Rulandi Duval is on the trail of the Jogger Killer. When she hears another jogger has died she is like a dog with a bone. That is until she realises that this one could sail closer to home than would be comfortable.
Arwen Harper and her 16 year old son Joe arrived in town a few weeks ago. Arwen is waitressing at the nearby inn but Arwen also has an agenda - she is also a very troubled woman.
Everyone in this enclave has secrets they would rather keep, well, secret - even some of the children. At one point or another I think I suspected just about everyone, including the children! As the story progresses and the police conduct searches and arrest people and photos are produced the tension curdles into something thick and ugly. It’s a bomb waiting to go off.
This was so well written. The pacing was perfect and the characterisation was excellent. These were not ‘nice’ people but who is hiding the worst secret? Actually that one is a bit of a toss up in my book! The story was based on real life events from some years ago. Its a pretty shocking crime. The book addresses the issue of whether redemption is possible with the right treatment. I’ll leave you to make up your own minds on this. Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
March 10, 2022
A master storyteller!
RTC
RTC
February 18, 2024
The Patient’s Secret is a dark and twisted physiological thriller with many twists, shocking revelations, hidden identities, plenty of dark family secrets, trauma, mental health issues, betrayal, redemption, and how three mothers will protect their families no matter the cost. It is so refreshing to read a clever, suspense-filled thriller, and the author was great at misdirecting the reader. The main characters were flawed and mysterious, which made them relatable and realistic. The chapters ended with cliffhangers and kept me turning the pages late into the night. I had to know what was going to happen next.
The author creates shocking plot twists to keep you guessing who did what. At 97% in the book, I still had no idea who did what to whom and why. White introduced the most subtle but unnerving red herrings in her works; you can never figure out who the bad guy is, or even if there is one, until the end of the book. My head was spinning by the end. An Absolute must-read! I couldn’t put this book down!!
The author creates shocking plot twists to keep you guessing who did what. At 97% in the book, I still had no idea who did what to whom and why. White introduced the most subtle but unnerving red herrings in her works; you can never figure out who the bad guy is, or even if there is one, until the end of the book. My head was spinning by the end. An Absolute must-read! I couldn’t put this book down!!
July 25, 2023
WOWZA
Loreth Anne White always amazes me with her books 📚.,, not one is the same, she always throws a curve ball & bam she has you going in another direction she writes a thrilling novel of a who done it just when you think 🤔 you have worked it out.that curve ball 🏀 is smack right in your face.
I love this author she has talent that once you start reading she grabs you & won’t let go.
This book is based on true crime!!!!!
We start the book with Lily Bradley talking to a teen patient, rain battering down in her office.
Lily & her husband Tom live in an exclusive suburb of Story Cove a close knit community her two unruly children keep her on her toes, but Tom finds a body while jogging early morning on Grotto Beach
🏝️ how did the females body get there ?
When Tom becomes a prime suspect after being called in to the local police station headed up by Detective Rutandi Duval things start to implode for Lily & Tom.
Lily in the meantime thinks someone is following her she becomes consumed with the person gets in side her Psyche.
I loved this book I think this os my favourite of Ms White so far a compelling read that let me guessing to the very end that last reveal was just mind blowing my jaw just dropped like a sack of potatoes highly reccomended.
Loreth Anne White always amazes me with her books 📚.,, not one is the same, she always throws a curve ball & bam she has you going in another direction she writes a thrilling novel of a who done it just when you think 🤔 you have worked it out.that curve ball 🏀 is smack right in your face.
I love this author she has talent that once you start reading she grabs you & won’t let go.
This book is based on true crime!!!!!
We start the book with Lily Bradley talking to a teen patient, rain battering down in her office.
Lily & her husband Tom live in an exclusive suburb of Story Cove a close knit community her two unruly children keep her on her toes, but Tom finds a body while jogging early morning on Grotto Beach
🏝️ how did the females body get there ?
When Tom becomes a prime suspect after being called in to the local police station headed up by Detective Rutandi Duval things start to implode for Lily & Tom.
Lily in the meantime thinks someone is following her she becomes consumed with the person gets in side her Psyche.
I loved this book I think this os my favourite of Ms White so far a compelling read that let me guessing to the very end that last reveal was just mind blowing my jaw just dropped like a sack of potatoes highly reccomended.
Read
February 10, 2022“[An] exceptional psychological thriller…White does a superb job keeping the reader guessing as she peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect family to reveal the shocking truth. Suspense fans will want to see more from this talented author.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Patient’s Secret is an intensely moving reading experience…Loreth Anne White is a writer at the top of her game, and it’s never been more evident than with this piece of work.” —Mystery & Suspense
“The Patient’s Secret is a must-read for fans of true crime–inspired fiction. It’s so tightly plotted, the characters so fascinating, and the shocking secrets so expertly revealed that you won’t be able to put it down.” —Jess Lourey, Amazon Charts bestselling author
#lorethannewhite #twistysuspense #atmospheric #psychologicalsuspense #domesticdrama #murdermystery #truecrime #hotcoldcase #montlake
“The Patient’s Secret is an intensely moving reading experience…Loreth Anne White is a writer at the top of her game, and it’s never been more evident than with this piece of work.” —Mystery & Suspense
“The Patient’s Secret is a must-read for fans of true crime–inspired fiction. It’s so tightly plotted, the characters so fascinating, and the shocking secrets so expertly revealed that you won’t be able to put it down.” —Jess Lourey, Amazon Charts bestselling author
#lorethannewhite #twistysuspense #atmospheric #psychologicalsuspense #domesticdrama #murdermystery #truecrime #hotcoldcase #montlake
April 1, 2022
What an outstanding thriller! This was a real page turner that sucked me in from beginning to end. Plenty of twists and turns to keep my jaw dropped. Lily thought that she had left her terrifying past behind her. She became a new person with a wonderful husband and two children. But you can only run for so long! I highly recommend this fantastic book if you love suspense thriller's! One of my favorites this year!
March 8, 2022
In The Patient’s Secret the residents living in the upscale, seaside enclave of Story Cove, B.C. feel lucky and maybe a bit smug living in such an idyllic location. Usually small group of University professors meet for drinks Friday afternoons with the party moving onto any one of their sailing boats. Some of the women do book club with lots of wine.
One father might help a neighborhood kid with his photography. Another mother might always be ready to drive all the kids to their private school. Get the picture yet?
Across the Strait of Juan de Fuca residents can see Washington State’s Olympic Mountains. Such a stunning location. Sure, there are secrets. Murder? Adultery? Mental illness? Vodka bottles under a tween’s bed? Who knows? But every adult knows when the snake enters paradise.
The snake, Arwen Harper, at first is well disguised as an artist, as a bohemian, as the waitress at The Red Lion. The professors meet for their Friday happy hours at The Red Lion, and the snake works her magic.
Arwen starts shedding her skin when she and her sixteen year old son, Joe, move into a cottage behind a house on the cul-de-sac where two of the university professors just happen to live their idyllic lives.
Just after they move in, Harper and Joe are invited to a neighborhood pool party. The party ends early because of a dangerous thunderstorm and a devastating fight between Lily and Tom Bradley, and Arwen Harper
The next morning Tom Bradley discovers the broken body of a runner at the foot of the rocky cliffs overlooking Grotto Beach, too broken to immediately identify. The victim partially fits the profile as the work of the Jogger Killer (JK). The head of the JK task force, Rue Duval, is called in immediately to investigate.
I have always found Loreth Anne White one of most quotable writers I have read. I want to share just about every sentence she writes, but I will settle on this quote “…and always-hidden beneath the narratives-are the secrets. Deep and dark and primal. Everyone has them.”
White brings up various psychological issues in The Patient’s Secret. A few of the questions concern the rehabilitation of child criminals; questions of race and how an atypical upbringing will impact later life. The most important question of all, how far would you go to protect your family?
I had one big problem with the story, the lead detective, Rue Duval, should have removed herself from the case immediately once the victim was identified. Rue along with family could all be considered viable suspects.
There are multiple POV's and timelines to follow in The Patient’s Secret, while at the same time the reader needs to follow White's clever shell games. Keep an eye on White’s shells. You will never see the pea again, even as she hands you an easy and obvious win to entice you deeper. For White plays a different game, quickly adding other shells, other peas until you just give up, sit back and enjoy one shocking moment after another. I should entitle this review “I Never Saw That One Coming”.
White is an impeccable writer, her settings are always lovely, but with an undertone of darkness, most of her characters are relatable, despite their smugness or shadows. Always though, it is her story, her narrative that will leave you wanting more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Loreth Anne White for a review ARC.
One father might help a neighborhood kid with his photography. Another mother might always be ready to drive all the kids to their private school. Get the picture yet?
Across the Strait of Juan de Fuca residents can see Washington State’s Olympic Mountains. Such a stunning location. Sure, there are secrets. Murder? Adultery? Mental illness? Vodka bottles under a tween’s bed? Who knows? But every adult knows when the snake enters paradise.
The snake, Arwen Harper, at first is well disguised as an artist, as a bohemian, as the waitress at The Red Lion. The professors meet for their Friday happy hours at The Red Lion, and the snake works her magic.
Arwen starts shedding her skin when she and her sixteen year old son, Joe, move into a cottage behind a house on the cul-de-sac where two of the university professors just happen to live their idyllic lives.
Just after they move in, Harper and Joe are invited to a neighborhood pool party. The party ends early because of a dangerous thunderstorm and a devastating fight between Lily and Tom Bradley, and Arwen Harper
The next morning Tom Bradley discovers the broken body of a runner at the foot of the rocky cliffs overlooking Grotto Beach, too broken to immediately identify. The victim partially fits the profile as the work of the Jogger Killer (JK). The head of the JK task force, Rue Duval, is called in immediately to investigate.
I have always found Loreth Anne White one of most quotable writers I have read. I want to share just about every sentence she writes, but I will settle on this quote “…and always-hidden beneath the narratives-are the secrets. Deep and dark and primal. Everyone has them.”
White brings up various psychological issues in The Patient’s Secret. A few of the questions concern the rehabilitation of child criminals; questions of race and how an atypical upbringing will impact later life. The most important question of all, how far would you go to protect your family?
I had one big problem with the story, the lead detective, Rue Duval, should have removed herself from the case immediately once the victim was identified. Rue along with family could all be considered viable suspects.
There are multiple POV's and timelines to follow in The Patient’s Secret, while at the same time the reader needs to follow White's clever shell games. Keep an eye on White’s shells. You will never see the pea again, even as she hands you an easy and obvious win to entice you deeper. For White plays a different game, quickly adding other shells, other peas until you just give up, sit back and enjoy one shocking moment after another. I should entitle this review “I Never Saw That One Coming”.
White is an impeccable writer, her settings are always lovely, but with an undertone of darkness, most of her characters are relatable, despite their smugness or shadows. Always though, it is her story, her narrative that will leave you wanting more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Loreth Anne White for a review ARC.
June 16, 2023
A psychotherapist is hiding dark secrets about her past from her husband and children. Faced with someone intent on revealing them, her “perfect” life begins to unwind. When her husband discovers the body of a young woman on his morning run, the detective’s investigation reveals an idyllic neighborhood full of explosive secrets. She also, however, is hiding ones of her own. Who is behind the death? And why was she killed?
Psychotherapist Dr. Lily Bradley and her psychology professor husband Tom have a seemingly perfect life in the wealthy enclave of Story Cove, British Columbia. But recently, Lily had been filled with the sensation that she’s being watched. And then there are the notes alerting her that someone else on Vancouver Island knows the secrets she’s been hiding. Who is threatening her with exposing all she has kept hidden? And what do they want?
But when Arwen Harper, a bohemian single mom to 16 year-old Joe, sweeps into town, the idyllic neighborhood is turned inside out. With a grand plan and ulterior motives aplenty, Arwen knows Lily’s big secret and is determined to expose her with little concern for who may get hurt in the process. Even including her own son.
Not long after, Tom discovers a woman’s body at the base of a cliff on his early morning run. After the death has been ruled as suspicious, RCMP Detective Rulandi ‘Rue’ Duval sets her sights on Tom as her prime suspect in the death. However Rue is hiding her own secrets. Secrets that could impact the case. Will she follow the clues wherever they take her or will her personal life get in the way?
For the second time, I read The Patient’s Secret in just over a day. Fast-paced, captivating, and with a multi-layered plot, this intense thriller/police procedural is inspired by a real Canadian crime that Loreth Anne White masterfully crafted into a fictional tale of secrets, lies, and the impact of one’s past traumas.
The plot is a complexly interwoven puzzle that delivers an epic twist through multiple points of view and timelines. This flawless storyline offers characters who are relatable and authentic. I particularly loved Arwen’s manipulations, which slowly expose every secret each individual has been hiding. She’s a character you’ll love to hate…until that antipathy is transformed into sympathy. Almost (but not quite).
With some of the best twists and turns I’ve read (with the last 75 pages providing one heck of a ride), White reinforces her status as an author of first-class thrillers. I strongly recommend this book to both lovers of mysteries and true crime. But a warning: do not look up the case that this fictional story is spun from before reading (but definitely do after) as it will present spoilers to part of the plot. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I have. On to read the next book by Loreth Anne White, The Maid’s Diary, for which I’m lucky enough to have an ARC! It’s due out March 1, 2023! Rating of 5 stars (for the second time).
Trigger warning: loss of parent, marijuana use, rape, cancer, attempted suicide, stalking
Psychotherapist Dr. Lily Bradley and her psychology professor husband Tom have a seemingly perfect life in the wealthy enclave of Story Cove, British Columbia. But recently, Lily had been filled with the sensation that she’s being watched. And then there are the notes alerting her that someone else on Vancouver Island knows the secrets she’s been hiding. Who is threatening her with exposing all she has kept hidden? And what do they want?
But when Arwen Harper, a bohemian single mom to 16 year-old Joe, sweeps into town, the idyllic neighborhood is turned inside out. With a grand plan and ulterior motives aplenty, Arwen knows Lily’s big secret and is determined to expose her with little concern for who may get hurt in the process. Even including her own son.
Not long after, Tom discovers a woman’s body at the base of a cliff on his early morning run. After the death has been ruled as suspicious, RCMP Detective Rulandi ‘Rue’ Duval sets her sights on Tom as her prime suspect in the death. However Rue is hiding her own secrets. Secrets that could impact the case. Will she follow the clues wherever they take her or will her personal life get in the way?
For the second time, I read The Patient’s Secret in just over a day. Fast-paced, captivating, and with a multi-layered plot, this intense thriller/police procedural is inspired by a real Canadian crime that Loreth Anne White masterfully crafted into a fictional tale of secrets, lies, and the impact of one’s past traumas.
The plot is a complexly interwoven puzzle that delivers an epic twist through multiple points of view and timelines. This flawless storyline offers characters who are relatable and authentic. I particularly loved Arwen’s manipulations, which slowly expose every secret each individual has been hiding. She’s a character you’ll love to hate…until that antipathy is transformed into sympathy. Almost (but not quite).
With some of the best twists and turns I’ve read (with the last 75 pages providing one heck of a ride), White reinforces her status as an author of first-class thrillers. I strongly recommend this book to both lovers of mysteries and true crime. But a warning: do not look up the case that this fictional story is spun from before reading (but definitely do after) as it will present spoilers to part of the plot. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I have. On to read the next book by Loreth Anne White, The Maid’s Diary, for which I’m lucky enough to have an ARC! It’s due out March 1, 2023! Rating of 5 stars (for the second time).
Trigger warning: loss of parent, marijuana use, rape, cancer, attempted suicide, stalking
March 8, 2022
4.5 suspenseful stars - now available!
Inspired by true crime, this atmospheric and tense novel kept me engaged and guessing for the whole story! The book opens with a chase through a forest and a horrible fall.
We move back in time and meet Lily, she’s a therapist working from home. Lily seems to have her life compartmentalized so that it looks perfect, gorgeous house, two lovely children, a promising career. Under the surface we can see the cracks, things are not going well with her marriage, her teen daughter is pushing boundaries, and her son spends too much time watching other people.
Then we meet Arwen and her son, she’s waitressing and working on a project that she claims will be her big break. Arwen flirts with all the married men in town and seems to know things about people in the small community.
We also meet Rue, a murder detective, brought into the case because it might be connected to a serial killer. It seems everyone in this book has some secrets that they would prefer to keep under wraps.
I found the second half of this one to be very dark and it had some twists that truly shocked me. I think I suspected just about everyone in this story at one point. I did love the surprising character that helped to solve the case.
This is just my second book by this author, but I want to read some of her back titles! This book created quite a bit of discussion as we discussed various theories and cemented Loreth Anne White as a must read author for me!
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the early copy to read and review.
Inspired by true crime, this atmospheric and tense novel kept me engaged and guessing for the whole story! The book opens with a chase through a forest and a horrible fall.
We move back in time and meet Lily, she’s a therapist working from home. Lily seems to have her life compartmentalized so that it looks perfect, gorgeous house, two lovely children, a promising career. Under the surface we can see the cracks, things are not going well with her marriage, her teen daughter is pushing boundaries, and her son spends too much time watching other people.
Then we meet Arwen and her son, she’s waitressing and working on a project that she claims will be her big break. Arwen flirts with all the married men in town and seems to know things about people in the small community.
We also meet Rue, a murder detective, brought into the case because it might be connected to a serial killer. It seems everyone in this book has some secrets that they would prefer to keep under wraps.
I found the second half of this one to be very dark and it had some twists that truly shocked me. I think I suspected just about everyone in this story at one point. I did love the surprising character that helped to solve the case.
This is just my second book by this author, but I want to read some of her back titles! This book created quite a bit of discussion as we discussed various theories and cemented Loreth Anne White as a must read author for me!
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the early copy to read and review.
March 11, 2022
There was no shortage of secrets in "The Patient's Secret".
Loreth Anne White is the "Queen of Dark and Twisty Atmospheric Page-Turner Thrillers" and she does not disappoint.
Inspired by a horrific true crime that occurred several years ago in Canada, "The Patient's Secret" is a compelling whodunnit mystery that unfolds in an idyllic coastal community.
When the battered body of a female jogger is found, multiple suspects are interrogated.
The book's three main female protagonists are entwined in the murder investigation: with lives clashing in ways they could not have imagined. All of the female protagonists and their spouses have deeply guarded secrets.
Loreth Anne White is a gifted storyteller and a master in the art and science of manipulating readers. This being said, this book featured more red herrings than a fish market and continually kept me guessing the answer to the "whodunnit" question until the very last page.
The last half of the book was much stronger than the first half.
I listened to the audiobook and narrator Brittany Pressley did a superb job with the narration.
"In the Deep" is still my favorite Loreth Anne White book, but "The Patient's Secret" was a strong contender for that number one spot.
I look forward to listening to future titles by this talented author.
4.5 stars.
Loreth Anne White is the "Queen of Dark and Twisty Atmospheric Page-Turner Thrillers" and she does not disappoint.
Inspired by a horrific true crime that occurred several years ago in Canada, "The Patient's Secret" is a compelling whodunnit mystery that unfolds in an idyllic coastal community.
When the battered body of a female jogger is found, multiple suspects are interrogated.
The book's three main female protagonists are entwined in the murder investigation: with lives clashing in ways they could not have imagined. All of the female protagonists and their spouses have deeply guarded secrets.
Loreth Anne White is a gifted storyteller and a master in the art and science of manipulating readers. This being said, this book featured more red herrings than a fish market and continually kept me guessing the answer to the "whodunnit" question until the very last page.
The last half of the book was much stronger than the first half.
I listened to the audiobook and narrator Brittany Pressley did a superb job with the narration.
"In the Deep" is still my favorite Loreth Anne White book, but "The Patient's Secret" was a strong contender for that number one spot.
I look forward to listening to future titles by this talented author.
4.5 stars.
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