Let me thank the author, the publishing house, and NetGalley for allowing me an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked when I read about the premise of this book. That an anonymous psychiatrist posted on some random blog/forum about this interesting case he worked on at the state asylum. THEN I read that Ryan Reynolds and the possibly the director from the IT movies were looking to make this into a movie!

I will not spoil this book for anyone else but I will say that I was slightly confused about one piece of the ending. However, the thought that there can be a person locked in a state facility that no one can help nor wants to help was intriguing. Having worked with acutely mentally ill patients I could understand the main character's desire to solve the puzzle. And possibly free the man? Or is he a monster in a "man-suit"?? So this Dr tried to help. And it nearly drove him out of medicine.

On an online message board, Parker H. posts a series of journal entries detailing the case of a patient known only as "Joe". Joe had spent nearly his entire life in the mental instituation, yet there was almost no paper file on him and no diagnosis at all. Every doctor that ever tried to treat Joe ended up either commiting suicide or going insane. Parker was determined to get to the root of what was wrong with Joe and treat him... without falling prey to the same fate at his predecessors. By the time it is all over, Parker is forced to re-think everythink everything that he once believed.
This book was dark & twisted. It gave me chills and I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. if you want a good scare, then this is your book.

This books takes place in a psychiatric hospital where a new psychiatrist named Parker thinks he can treat a patient that no one has been able to cure for decades. I loved the formatting of this book, how it is told in separate website forum submissions, with therapy notes thrown in. This is a short book, just over 200 pages, and a super easy read. The end kind of took a turn I wasn’t expecting and I’m not sure I enjoyed, but it definitely kept my attention throughout, and I couldn’t put it down.

The Patient follows Parker H—, a young psychiatrist, who chronicles his short stint at a dreary mental hospital in New England. At Connecticut State Asylum (CSA), Dr. H— undertakes curing a mysterious and profoundly dangerous patient, Joe, who has been admitted for nearly four decades. Having been admitted at age six, and now forty years old, Joe has no known diagnosis. His symptoms evolve over time, and every person who attempts to treat him is driven to madness or suicide. Despite blunt warnings, Dr. H—, brilliant and overconfident, takes it upon himself to discover what ails this mystery patient so he can finally cure him. As things quickly spiral out of control, Dr. H— is forced to question everything he thought he knew.

Billed as "THE SILENT PATIENT by way of Stephen King," The Patient hooked me from its first page. An atmospheric, eerie tale about the depths of the human psyche and the uncanny dangers that lurk within that darkness, this was an unputdownable read. Finishing it in just one sitting, I was left in awe at the author's storytelling abilities.

Playing on today's digital era, the author tells the story by way of an Internet message board, with Dr. H— recounting his harrowing journey at CSA via blog posts. To successfully implement this method, DeWitt employs the use of "tell, not show," up until the heart-stopping, spine-tingling climax. As soon as the reader reaches the chilling final pages, the author abruptly changes pace. DeWitt's use of imagery in the finale links back to tiny details spread throughout the novel. Each word describing the aftermath is intentional. I found this method rather ambitious, because readers who skim will miss the signs and what is intended as the novel's obvious conclusion; however, it was incredibly well done—and admirably so.

Perfect for fans of Stephen King or dark medical thrillers, The Patient is an engrossing horror novel with minor supernatural elements. An entertaining, fast-paced read, it's sure to keep you up way past your bedtime!

I read this book in one sitting - it was so gripping I couldn't put it down!

I've always been interested in Psychology, having studied it myself at school - so the premise of this book definitely appealed to me. I have to say, however, that I was not expecting the direction that this book took - it was like something out of Doctor Who!

And I'm so glad that I went into this blind, without knowing that. Because it's one of those things that is hard to write without sounding a bit naff, and it probably would have put me off. Is the ending realistic? No - but that didn't matter to me because by that point I was so enthralled.

Really different to what I normally read - I really enjoyed it!

A few things, in no particular order: Everything about this is abrupt, there is no nuance in either the language or the plot. Also, the frame is whisper thin and, frankly, garish. There is a silliness to the whole situation, which, all in all, I wish I hadn't wasted my time with.

If you're looking for a supernatural horror story, with a side of psychology, look no further!

I started this novella (it's quite short at only a little over 200 pages), at 2:30 AM and finished up around 4:30...I was captivated. I loved the way Jasper DeWitt opted to tell the story...using the protagonist, Parker, to write about his harrowing experience, with a particular patient, on an on-line forum (using fake names and locations to protect the privacy of those involved, of course).

Perhaps I'm the only one, but this story vaguely reminded me of Stephen King's The Outsider...just a less refined version. There is a great deal of medical terminology and lingo thrown around, so that's something to take into consideration.

The setting, a dilapidated, state-run, psychological hospital in small-town Connecticut, was appropriately creepy. The aforementioned protagonist, Parker (side note...I have a very handsome son with the same name 😍), though a little too self-assured for a newbie doctor, was well fleshed-out and appropriately sympathetic.

My one huge gripe...a tortured cat. Hence, the reason I rounded down, instead of up.

Overall, I really enjoyed this fun, entertaining, little story, and I'll happily read works from this author in the future.

3.5 stars
Available for purchase on July 7, 202o

TRIGGER WARNING: Animal torture

**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for my review copy.

Listing this book as “Mystery & Thrillers” is misleading. It started out as a wonderfully creepy psychological thriller but then veered off into an insane horror story. It’s a well-written quick read that’s told in an online blog format. The setting of an old, dilapidated mental hospital is suitably eerie as is the secret, hidden patient. I couldn’t put the book down but just didn’t like where the ending went. Lots of comparison to Steven King, and fans of horror will probably love it.

I greatly enjoyed this story. It's a great realistic fiction story that kekpt me asking "what if...". I highly recommend this book!

Jasper DeWitt has written a superb read with The Patient. Well worth the time and a true page turner!

This book is written in a series of online posts in blog format. I really liked the conversational and joking tone that it took. This format was perfect because it allowed for the reader to go back and forth from the posts to the events written about and detailed in the posts. Parker is a psychiatrist straight out of medical school that has set his path to make a difference in the lives of his patients. He ends up working at a substandard hospital environment due to the need to live in a certain location with his wife after graduation. It really seems like business as usual until his instincts begin to get the best of him and take him down a path far removed from his predessors. I really wanted to love this book, but it fell short for me. It seemed like the ending was rushed and it just did not get where I felt like it could have gone. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.

A young psychologist writes a series of blogs about a patient at an old mental institution. I almost didn't read the book because it seemed like the author used a thesaurus to describe the mental hospital while driving up to it the first time. How many words can you come up with "dreary"?
But I pushed on to read the rest of the horror book. I'm glad I did.
There is one patient who has been in the hospital since he was six years old. Every person, whether it be a psychiatrist, orderly, nurse, roommate, is adversely affected by the patient. Is madness contagious?
My word! This is going to be a film! Horror fans will love it.

Is there a bogeyman? This horror story is about a young psychiatrist named Parker who decides he would be the one to cure "Joe", a "monster" who has a sense of empathy that has evolved to the point of being able to figure out how to trigger psychosis shortly after meeting someone. Prolonged exposure to "Joe" puts people at more risk of his driving them to do something like jumping out a window.
"Joe's" madness is contagious and The Patient by Jasper DeWitt will have you locking all the doors, turning on all the lights, and possibly seeking therapy for yourself!

Wow. Because of the format of the book, I thought it was based on real events! It was a quick read and it kept my attention until the end and then it was a little farfetched. I liked the context in which it was written though. Definitely entertaining but I would have liked to have more background info on the parents. they seemed suspicious to me.

I really really liked this book. I was hooked from the first pages and couldn't put it down. When you have a fresh, want to be hero, that believes he can save the mentally ill but has no idea what he is getting himself into, you can't go wrong. The writing was really good and I liked how it got you hooked by saying this was a true story. The only thing that I didn't like, I will try to not give away anything, was the ending and how it all wrapped up. I didn't realize this was going to take the twist that it did and how it went into a direction that I normally would never read. I felt a little let down by that piece of it but all in all I think it was an excellent book and I would totally read more by this author!

I have mixed feelings about The Patient. If I were reviewing it as a short story, I’d give it 5 stars, but since it’s marketed as a novel, I’d have to drop that down to 3 stars. As all the reviews state, The Patient is a horror story told by way of internet postings made by a psychiatrist named Parker. After med school, Parker took a posting at a run down Connecticut mental hospital. Soon after his arrival, his attention was caught by a 40-something patient who has been incarcerated there since age six and has never been correctly diagnosed. Being young and cocky, Parker is sure he will be the doctor to solve this strange case. As the book begins, Parker posts that ten years have passed since the events that transpired at that hospital, and he is need of the catharsis he thinks he might be able to attain by sharing his story through online posts

Two things about me. I love Stephen King. The Patient is most definitely NOT a King-type horror story. It’s far too tame and brief and flat for that comparison. Also, not at all scary. Second, I love thrillers/suspense/mysteries. The Patient really isn’t any of those either. In summary, I enjoyed the blog-like style of the book, and it is a quick read that keeps the reader engaged. It was a great short story, but to hollow to be a great novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A mysterious patient at a mental asylum intrigues a young, new doctor and he believes he can cure this patient. I thought the format was very cool - series of online posts - but it would have been awesome to also read comments/reactions to the posts. This definitely has a crazy and twisty ending, which you have to suspend belief to enjoy.

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“But every hospital, even one with patients like these, has at least one inmate who’s weird even for the mental ward. I’m talking about the kind of person whom even the doctors have given up on and whom everyone gives a wide berth, no matter how experienced they are. This type of patient is obviously insane, but nobody knows how they got that way.”

The Patient was a seriously edge of your seat, freaky, scary, and messed up book. Right from the beginning it was crazy and insane, but the author wrote in such a way that even though you were freaked out you wanted to know more. This book is told in entries on a forum online, we learn of the past leading right up to the present. I thought this was going to be a thriller, which it was, but let me tell you it has a lot of aspects for horror fans. Some parts had me so shook up and scared, I seriously had to sleep with the lights on.

Dr.Parker our main character starts working at a mental facility somewhere in Connecticut, he has always wanted to help people because he couldn’t help his mom who has schizophrenia. His first day on the job he finds out about a patient who has been in this hospital since he was six years old. He becomes fascinated with trying to figure out what Joe’s problems are and to find a cure and let him out. Every doctor who has tried to help Joe has either gone insane themselves or has committed suicide. I can’t even begin to explain what kind of wild, messed up roller coaster of a ride this book was, but I loved every minute of it. I don’t want to go into too much detail about what happens, but it’s a really fast paced read that has you questioning everything.

Parker is a young medical school graduate from a prestigious school. Though he has many doors open to him, he is committed to staying local and helping the less fortunate because of personal past experiences. His mother suffered from depression and had a psychotic break and the trauma from it deeply impacted Parker.

Starting work as a psychiatrist at the Connecticut State Asylum, Parker is happy to be helping people. Most of the patients at the state run facility are only there for short term stays due to insurance refusing to pay for long term care. However, one patient has been locked behind the asylum's walls for over thirty years. Known only as Joe, Parker begins to hear rumors about Joe's effect on any person who encounters him. Almost as if Joe's undiagnosed psychosis is contagious, orderlies, nurses, and doctors have routinely gone mad or committed suicide after having Joe in their care.

Determined to diagnose Joe and help him find a cure, Parker volunteers to take him on as a patient. But after spending several sessions with Joe, Parker begins to wonder if Joe is actually sane, and there is something more sinister happening at the hospital to keep him locked away. Who can Parker trust? Is Joe sane or is he such a skilled sociopath that he's even fooled Parker?

Written in letter form, this was a fast paced thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down and read it in nearly one sitting. This novel had some Stephen King vibes which I really enjoyed and if you're looking for something unique and quick, this is it!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this author but I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The story gives the reader a taste of what the world is like inside an asylum for the mentally ill. I enjoyed the way the story was told via blog posts, you were inside Doctor H's head the whole time. There were definitely plot twists and turns- a few predictable but mostly unexpected for me. I think this storyline is just fantastic.

Overall, this is an fascinating story, it kept my attention and I read it in one sitting. The writing is superb. Jasper DeWitt can put together a scene while creating easy, readable prose. I was impressed with the ending, it was climatic and nail bitingly exciting. The comparisons to Stephen King are spot on. All. The. Stars.