Based on my first impression after reading the first chapter I wasn’t so sure this was for me (some parts were quite graphic which isn’t really my thing). Well I hate not finishing a book so I gave it a chance & I’m so glad I did because I was wrong!

This book is a big ol messy story of a bunch of people in a little place called Story Cove. They all seem to be connected someway somehow. I feel like this is a game of Clue but the rated R version…whodunnit & with what & where! Basic premise of the book is in the beginning a woman dies & throughout the book they try to figure out what happened. The story is told from many points of view which normally I don’t love but the way the author did it added to the story & in my opinion it wasn’t confusing, where many times too many narrators can make it hard to follow. The majority of the book we spend with two of the main characters the therapist Lily & one of the detectives Rue. For me this was a fast paced exciting read (for the most part), so much going on with everyone that it kept my interest the whole time. Almost everyone in the story was connected somehow & it kept me guessing the whole time. I really wanted to know what happened to the jogger in the beginning of the story!! I feel like around 90% what was a really great twisted up story started to drag in that last 10% & I began to feel bored, which is such a bummer after having the majority be so well written & executed. It kind of picks back up here & there to complete the story but this last bit I guess tainted my experience with the book. Most of the book was probably 4.5-5 stars but the ending brought it down a notch for a couple reasons. Lily’s husband Tom’s character was inconsistent as far as his personality in my opinion, almost like he was a totally different person in a lot of the book & then in the end it was like he was another person. He just came across much differently in how he was presented. Initially his character seemed weak or like a pansy especially in comparison to his seemingly strong wife, then later I feel he comes off smarter/strong/smug. The other reason is in general the ending was kind of dumb (for lack of a better word) especially when much of the story had so much going for it. There were also some things I’d tidy up (either add more to the story or remove altogether- such as Lily’s first client in the book).

I would still read this knowing what I know now & if you’re a fan of White or suspense I would recommend this! One thing I want to mention is the author was very descriptive but not overly, she did a great job of describing the characters. This is my first book by Loreth Anne White & I’d absolutely read another!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher Montlake for the
ARC!!


*NOTE: TRIGGER WARNINGS*
Most of the book isn’t graphic but when it does describe the violence or harm it is very detailed so if that’s a trigger you won’t like this. Also there is detailed harm to children in some of this.

A spine-chilling thriller with a labyrinth of twists and turns!

Tom and Lily Bradley lead a perfect life. He’s an esteemed professor and she’s a successful psychotherapist. Both hide secrets that can destroy their family.

Arwen Harper glides into Story Cove in a vintage VW bus with her teenage son, Joe, and all the carefully woven strings of lies begin to unravel.

Arwen is sexy, beautiful-vicious. She has a dangerous plan in play, one that she will pay for with her life.

Now a high-profile detective is digging into Tom and Lily’s lives, dragging their friends through the mud and covering secrets of her own.

This is a twisted story based on a horrendous true crime in Canadian history. The author tells the tale by weaving past and present together without revealing the culprit until the very end.

I could NOT put this down! It has a lot of the noire feel of her In the Barren Ground (check my review here), one of the freakiest books I’ve ever read.

The Patient’s Secret is a must read!

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.

"Before Arwen arrived, the neighborhood was fine. Just ticking along, everyone effectively hiding their dark family secrets behind their smiling masks. But Arwen rattled their cage."

A thriller based on a true crime case...a story of revenge, murder, and privilege. White has done an amazing job keeping the reader guessing, and feeling as if they are the detective on the case.

This is one of the best thriller/mystery novels I have picked up, I could not put it down, the twists kept on coming! I look forward to reading Whites other books (Do read the trigger warning before diving into this book).

Thank you to author Loreth Anne White and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading an arc of this amazing novel.

🤫 BOOK / REVIEW 🤫

#thepatientssecret by @lorethannewhite doesn't publish til March of 2022, but here I am exclaiming my love (and neverending gratitude to @netgalley / @amazonpublishing for my #ARC) months in advance!

Pro tip - do not sit on the chance to read anything by this author. Her books are so well written, highly engaging and really well researched. She is someone who can keep me up way past my bed time and she finds stories that completely occupy my thoughts for days. This one is actually inspired by a horrific #truecrime story which makes me love it more! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Patient's Secret
A Novel
by 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

.Wow, this is a very good book. What people will do, can be shocking. The book is based on a TRUE Crime. Which makes it even more shocking. and frightening. Everone has secrets, but some are deadly. What a great book. Kudos to Loreth Anne White,

Thankyou Netgalley for the advanced copy of The Patients secret by Loretta Anne White.
This is the first time I’ve read one of White’s books, and I really enjoyed it. Thrillers are my go to, so I tend to figure some out fairly quickly but definitely not this one!

I have always enjoyed Loreth Anne White books and this one did not disappoint! A stand alone novel full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up to the end. A must read for 2022.

Thank you #netgalley and #montlake for the eARC.

I was thrilled to be able to read an advance copy of Loreth Anne White's newest novel. I've become a big fan of her work over the past few years, and this one definitely did not disappoint. This is the second book of White's that I've read that is based around a real crime (and 2 Canadian crimes, to boot). The way that the author has built a tale around the original circumstances is nothing less than masterful. This one is filled with twists and turns and oh-so-many secrets...and just when you think you've figured it out - of course, you haven't.

Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the eARC.
This is a fantastic read based on a true horrific crime that took place in Canada.
A female jogger is found, terribly mutilated, by a male runner, who calls 911 once he gets back home. The police immediately suspect him and his wife, devastated, tries to clean up any signs of his involvement. His young son, a fanatic photographer, has taken photos of his dad as he came home, covered in blood.
When they discover the identity of the jogger, the upscale neighborhood is turned upside down. This seemingly safe, scenic and expensive enclave has many dark secrets among its residents. The mysterious death slowly unearths a past that's so horrifying you can't wrap your head around it.
The book starkly reminds you of the danger of burying memories, the ripple effect it creates and the mental illness it often brings with it ... plus the effect it can will on those near and dear to you.
It was hard to put the book down, I kept hurrying through my day so I could dive back into it.
Highly recommended!

I will read anything by Loreth Anne White, and this book is one of her best I think! Her writing is always so smooth, concise, no words wasted. Characters are scintillating and reflect the modern day persona. This particular novel is based on true events, with unapologetic instances showing that in desperate times, even the most mild, evenly tempered, educated person can cross the line into violence to protect what matters to them. A really great read.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this copy, this review is my personal opinion.

Wow! This was one crazy ride. Lily is a therapist in a small town whose husband discovers the body of a female jogger on the cliffs near their house. Is one of their neighbors a serial killer? The Patient’s Secret immediately grabs your attention and never lets up, with plenty of twists and misdirection that’ll keep you glued to the pages. This is part thriller, part police procedural that is unrelenting in the suspense and action, and had me ripping through the book to finish! Loved it! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished very late last night. Creeptastic AF! Just wow and holy sh*t. Phenomenal crime thriller! White is a a master in all the THRILLER adjectives: Dark, twisted, chilling, vividly descriptive, fast paced, powerful, complex, intoxicating, mesmerizing.
NOT KIDDING. Get this NOW! I am a huge fan, back list here I come.

The Patient's Secret by Loreth Ann White is inspired by a horrific true crime and the author's previous career as a journalist shines through in this thriller. I really enjoy twisty suburban tales and had a hard time putting this book down—I absolutely had to know who the killer was!! This is my first book by White and will definitely not be my last!

This is a dark tale. There are a lot of people with dark secrets. It’s a very twisty road of deceit, murder and lies. In the end the book left me contemplating and questioning my reactions to the story. It’s very well written. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be the last! The story is told from multiple perspectives and it takes a while to figure out who the patient is and what the secret is, but the wait is worth it.

Lily is a psychologist and mother and seems to have it all but she feels like she is being watched. Her husband Tom is a professor and unfortunately stumbles upon a dead body of an unknown woman. Or is she unknown? As it turns out, once the identity of the dead woman is confirmed, it turns out that he did know her and there are many people that could have wanted to harm her, including him. She was new to the area and it seems like her arrival triggers a chain reaction of bad events as she becomes intertwined with many different people in the community. Because she has knowledge of many secrets that someone would kill to keep from getting out. Rue is the detective on the case who is closer than she wants to admit.

As the story unfolds, it is clear that everyone is not telling the truth and everyone has secrets. Did Tom do it? Did Lily? A neighbor? Who?? Based on a true crime, the secret is absolutely horrible and really makes you realize that you may not know everything about someone that you love.

This is a page turner that will keep you up until you finish so you can find out the shocking truth!

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Patient's Secret was a bit of a wild ride. Told in alternating time lines and by alternating characters view points, the story leaves you twisted and gasping as every last secret is uncovered and boy are there some doozies. Lily Bradley is a therapist who works people through their problems and secrets and she is carrying some big ones of her own. Her husband, Tom is carrying some pretty good secrets himself. Arwen blew into town to expose the truth and cause some trouble. When Arwen is found dead by Tom, the case begins to unravel everyone"s secrets even the lead detective's. Full of twists and unexpected surprises, the story keeps you on edge as every little dirty secret comes out to play in a suspense filled thriller you cannot put down. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

I love reading this book. Unlike other murder mystery novels, this is by far a different style of writing a mystery book. I liked that the author starts off with the murder of Arwen and brings the readers to a different perspective by seeing each characters, like Phoebe, Joe, Matthew, Hannah, Simon, the detectives and Lily's point of view up to the murder.

Overall, as a murder mystery fan, I would highly recommend this book.

This book had such an interesting premise, even more so because it was inspired by a true story. It had suspense, mystery, twists and unpredictability alongside well written characters that helped buikld all of these. It was an enjoyable read that I read quickly

Meet the Bradley family Tom, Lily, Phoebe, and Matthew. Matthew is only eight but he already is wants to become a detective. He hones his skills using his camera to photograph his neighbors like a neighborhood watch kid. Lily is a psychiatrist who works from home. She converted one of the rooms downstairs into a private office. Phoebe is there twelve year old daughter. She’s at that rebellious stage where she’s lashing out at her brother and wearing goth clothes. It’s later revealed that she’s dating an older guy. Dr. Tom Bradley is a psychology professor at Kordel University.
Now that you’ve met the Bradley’s let’s meet a few of the other neighbors. Arwen and Joe are new to the cul-de-sac. Arwen is a fortune-telling, free-spirited artist. Arwen uprooted her son moving him halfway across the country to follow a lead in a secret project she’s been working on. Since her arrival Arwen has brought nothing but trouble. Every week the professors meet for drinks at the bar Arwen waitresses at. She flirts with them ruffling the feathers of the married men.
Simon and Hannah live next door to the Bradley’s. It was Simon who encouraged Matthew to photograph his neighbors.

All these characters live in Story Cove a safe neighborhood near the woods. Recently someone within there community has been killing female joggers.
Detective Rulandi Duval aka Rue is the primary investigator on the Jogger Killer case. One night one of the people within there community is found dead on the beach. An investigation follows with Rue questioning everyone in the neighborhood.
While this was not an on-the-nose investigation I appreciated the information this detective provided. She roused enough suspicion with her questions to pique my interest. However, Tom is a key person of interest since he touched and found the body.

This is a character driven story with multiple points of view. It’s easy to follow the lives of each of these characters, but it obvious that nothing is as it seems. This neighborhood harbors secrets. While I should be excited at the prospect of unveiling these secrets I wasn’t that invested.
I’m in the majority so far because I’m not glued to the pages of this book. For the most part the concept and content is great. It gets a little bogged down by the extreme details.

I felt all these descriptive words serve a better purpose for filming a movie but not for reading. I prefer for the writing to stay on point and not overcrowd the story with the excessive use of descriptive words.

Loreth had me guessing the entire time. But then again she really couldn’t diverge too much for fear of giving away the secrets. The entire premise was based off these secrets.

I imagine it must be exciting to come up with a concept for a story but then struggle with how to deliver the information. I’m not saying this is what happened. For me as a reader I loved the concept but the delivery fell flat. After it was all said and done I truly understood how the pieces fit together. At the time I wasn’t invested in those pieces since the story withheld vital information. This wasn’t the type of story where the reader become an arm chair detective. Instead the reader waits for valuable information to be given as a means of revealing the true story. There’s no way to provide these key elements beforehand. Unfortunately, it did take away from my enjoyment in reading.