This book has all the elements it needs to be an intriguing gothic thriller.
Old prison turned into high-end, exclusive rehab center with new-age techniques nestled into a misty mountain and removed from all GPS locations for "privacy". - Check
Almost all characters are substance abusers either in detox or still high which makes them highly unreliable and unstable. - Check
Secluded, locked door type mystery elements. - Check
Secrets revealed a little at a time to build suspense. - Check
Secret identities and undercover infiltration. - Check

I was so into this story -- flawed, unlikable characters and all -- until about the 60% mark. It is told in 2 POVs - Meg, the drug-addict sister of a famous (also drug addicted) singer/actress who dies under mysterious circumstances in this rehab center. Meg ends up getting herself admitted to go undercover to discover who potentially killed her sister. Meanwhile, she grapples with the unknown to her (selective amnesia) and the reader childhood trauma that lead her down the path of addiction in the first place.
We also have Cara's POV. She's the naive, non substance addicted manager of The Clinic. She allows us to see the inner workings of the clinic and the police investigation. That's pretty much all I have to say about her. She has some unnecessary backstory that doesn't add to the story.
Without giving too much away, the ending left me entirely unsatisfied. I found the main character really whiny and too much in denial. (She thought "I need my oxy" at least three times a chapter. At least. We get it.) She is also able to smuggle drugs and a cell phone into the clinic even though it is supposed to be state of the art. She's not the only one with contraband stuff either. The pace, although fast through the first part, slows down considerably in the middle while the police fumble through an investigation, Meg fumbles through an investigation, and Cara fumbles through her own investigation. It's a lot of whining about not having access to enough drugs or alcohol even though she "has it under control" (Meg), whining about having four kids and carting one around to crime scenes (police), and whining about whether or not the on-site psychologist likes her or not (Cara). All of which I, as the read, didn't really care about.
Meg is also having some serious trauma flashbacks to a man with playing card eyes and an apparition of a lady wearing pinup style lingerie that visits her in the clinic. These are supposed to be from some major shared trauma from her youth (with her sister). But the payout isn't worth all the set up (IMO). I was like, that's it. After all that. Really?
And the ending... I have lots of thoughts on this particular plot device. If you've read it, hit me up. Am I being too harsh? It was really contrived to me.
I still gave this 2.75 stars (rounded up to 3) because the first 60% did draw me in and I was overall intrigued by the writing. I guess my hopes for a twisty, gothic type story just didn't live up to the execution.
Thank you to NetGalley, Cate Quinn, and the publisher for allowing me access to an ARC copy to review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Cate Quinn - 4 stars!

Meg works undercover at an LA casino, trying to catch cheaters. Nursing a sore shoulder from an incident that went badly wrong, she's now taking too many oxycodone pills along with alcohol. When she gets a report that her estranged sister, Haley, a popular singer, died by suicide at an exclusive celebrity rehab clinic, Meg decides to go in as a patient and investigate what happened. Once there, she trusts no one and suspects everyone.

Told from the POV of Meg and Cara, the manager of the clinic, in short chapters to heighten the suspense and intrigue as Meg tries to figure out which of her fellow patients could be involved in Haley's death. And just what kind of treatments are the patients getting? Is there more going on behind the scene? None of these characters are extremely likable and there are parts where you have to suspend belief, but I was all in, I thought it was a good look into addiction and mental health issues as well.

This psychological thriller is told from a dual POV and takes place in a secluded rehabilitation clinic. The book is heavily character driven which includes a diverse set of characters. They are very interesting and I enjoyed how several secrets were slowly revealed throughout the story. There were so many twists I did expect and it was fun to try and determine what was true and what was an illusion. I loved the short chapters which made it easy to read. There’s themes of addiction, relationships, lies, power, and mental health. I liked that this book was personal to the author and I’m looking forward to seeing that she writes next.

The Clinic by Cate Quinn was a great psychological thriller that makes you question what actually happened to the sister of Meg, the main character of the book. This book certainly had some topics that may be challenging for readers, including mental health, addiction and suicide, but if none of those are triggers for the reader, this was a fantastic book. Meg learned that her sister was in a rehab facility and has been told that she has passed away but refuses to believe the story. Instead, she decides to check into the same private facility and do her own research to see what actually happened. This story is hard to review without spoiling the book, so let’s just leave it at this; don’t hesitate to read this book if you like a good story with lots of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed both the premise and setting of this novel- a mysterious “suicide” in a remote and exclusive rehab facility. I was hooked pretty early on and overall, enjoyed this novel.

However, I also found it to be hard to follow because I felt like important details were left out and we weren’t given adequate backstory; almost like the characters and plot weren’t quite finished.

Meg and Haley’s relationship was the hardest to grasp for me. Meg obviously cared enough about her sister to feel the need to investigate her “suicide,” but then there was a lot of odd disdain for her- like she liked her one minute and hated her the next. I understand they wanted to keep the big childhood reveal until the end, but I still feel like a little backstory on their relationship was important.

In all honesty, I felt most of the relationships in this novel were odd.. very fake and forced? Most of the characters just seemed bizarre- especially the police, Max, and Harry. And the entire clinic itself with all of its rooms and therapies and treatments was a bit hard to swallow and keep up with.

Then the end was just about as bizarre as could be…

Still, The Clinic kept me engaged and turning pages, trying to figure out where we were headed. So overall I’d recommend the read.

3.5 stars out of 5

Initially I was drawn to the cover and title of the book and it helped set the atmospheric mood of this book. At first I was intimidated by the long chapter count (115!), but saw that the chapters were actually short so I didn’t mind that. In fact, it gave me such a huge sense of accomplishment when I finished 60 chapters in one sitting! I would describe this book as a good popcorn thriller although it does deal with heavy topics such as addiction and trauma. It did a great job of capturing my attention. It was hard to put it down because I wanted to solve the mystery. It’s hard to talk about this book blwithoit giving away spoilers so my advice to truly enjoy it is to go on blind and not know too much about it. Thrilling, fast paced and yes you will have to suspend belief sometimes but you’ll have a fun time nonetheless.
Thank you NetGally and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Meg just finishes up an assignment, catching cheaters at a casino, when she learns of her sisters untimely death. Convinced that Haley would not leave her, even if her death was ruled a suicide, Meg checks herself into the very rehab Haley was murdered to do her own investigation. Easier said than done while grappling with her own addictions and side effects of withdrawal...especially when someone keeps leaving her notes signed by her dead sister. Is Haley alive or is someone just trying to scare Meg away? And just what hidden traumas will she uncover about herself on her quest for the truth?

Told from two perspectives, Cara the clinic manager, and sister/patient Meg. The patient list is relatively small at this exclusive celebrity rehab so even when combined with the owner, addiction counselor, and those connected to Meg/Haley, it is very easy to keep the characters separate. The manageable size also allows for character development throughout.

I was hooked on this book very early on. Lots of twists and turns, and you know ya girl loves an unreliable narrator. This one hit different though -- even knowing how unreliable she is, I believed her...the whole way through. There is something in her somewhat guarded vulnerability. You can feel how hard she is trying. I hate Haley though; I am not even going to deny it. She is such an unlikeable character, clearly by design. But it makes you feel a certain kind of way about the ending...and I am not entirely sure what way that is yet.

There are so many layers to this mystery and that is what really sucked me in. 4.5 stars from me + 10/10 recommend.

This was such a fun read and I was sucked in from the very first chapter. I was a little hesitant at first, since this was almost 450 pages long and I wasn't sure how a seemingly straightforward mystery would handle being stretched out for that long. However, I think Quinn did a great job of layering a few different plot threads as well as weaving these plots together at different points in the book.

I loved all the characters in this read - especially Meg. She is such an interesting and complex character. I loved how the mystery thread is intertwined with Meg's character development and how, eventually, Meg comes around to the idea that in order to find out what happened to her sister, she'll have to work on herself first.

Obviously, since this was set in a rehab clinic, there is a lot of discussion about addiction of various types. I don't personally have any experience in this area so I can't speak personally to the representation. However, there is a note in the book that says Quinn was inspired to write this book after her own experience in rehab.

On paper, this ending feels like it should be one of those off the rails endings that I absolutely love. However, it didn't quite land right for me. After giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that while I very much enjoyed the twist aspect (I certainly didn't see it coming), I think it deflated some of the character development we get throughout the previous 400 pages. But as with any twisty endings, results will vary reader to reader.

Overall, this was a good mystery with a great cast of characters. The topic of rehab/addiction is core to the story but felt like it was handled well. I loved Meg and her journey throughout the book. The ending didn't work for me as well as I would have liked, but I can see other readers liking it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC. Expected publication date is January 23, 2024.

In "The Clinic," we follow Meg, a casino employee in LA, whose life takes a dramatic turn when she hears about the death of her sister, Haley, a well-known actress, at a remote rehab facility. Struggling with her own issues, including an addiction to pain pills, Meg can't bring herself to accept the reports suggesting suicide. Determined to uncover the truth, she decides to investigate from the inside by checking into the same rehab facility.

As Meg grapples with her personal demons and faces the challenges of isolation, the story unfolds, revealing the complexities of her quest for the real story behind Haley's death. The narrative seamlessly blends Meg's internal struggles, her relentless pursuit of the truth, and the mysterious secrets hidden within the rehab facility's walls.

"The Clinic" is a gripping thriller that explores themes of addiction, family dynamics, and the lengths one would go to unveil the truth. The author creates a compelling story that keeps readers engaged, intertwining personal battles with a suspenseful mystery. It's a tale of deception, redemption, and the unyielding quest for answers in the face of tragedy.

When Meg learns that her sister Haley, a famous actress, has died at a remote rehab clinic on the Pacific Northwest coast, there are whispers of suicide, but Meg doesn't believe the rumors. Haley had been forced to go to The Clinic to get her addictions under control. Meg, who works at a casino catching cheaters, has been battling her own addictions. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check herself into rehab so she can investigate what really happened from the inside. But figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, far away from friends, family, and anyone who could help her.

With its remote and atmospheric setting, dual POVs, and short chapters, "The Clinic" is a bingeable thriller full of twists and turns. I enjoyed reading the story from the perspectives of Meg and Cara, the manager of The Clinic, because I never knew who or what to believe. The mystery surrounding Haley's death and the potential involvement of the other rehab patients kept me hooked, and I had many theories and guesses as to what really happened. At 448 pages, this book is not necessarily a quick read, and I do think some of the subplots could have been eliminated without taking anything away from the main story. Overall, a gripping and twisty thriller that addresses difficult issues in a genuine and thoughtful way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've officially DNFed my first book of 2024.

The chapters were short, so I made it about 40% before I decided to DNF. And I almost pushed through, but I want to spend my time on ARCs more intentionally and I couldn't finish this one just because it was an ARC.

One of the first problems I came across with this book was that some of the characters blended together for me. Specifically Dr. Max and Dr. Lutz and the local police officers. It was also hard to really like any of the characters. Cara grated on my nerves with her constantly thinking that people thought she was stupid. Typically I would have empathy for her character, but just something about the way she was written just did not make me feel connected to her in any way. If it turns out this is how the author meant to write this character, then she did too good of a job.

What finally made me decide to DNF was a specific scene. It just did not seem to make any sense and really just came out of no where. There was nothing inherently wrong with the scene, it just was a final "nope" moment for me.

The Clinic has almost 1000 ratings on Goodreads and it's hanging out at just under four stars. So I'm definitely in the minority for this one. So if you're looking for a thriller, you might still want to give this one a chance.

BOOK REVIEW 📖

The Clinic by Cate Quinn
Pub Date: Jan 23rd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Haley Banks was a famous country singer who died at a remote rehab in the Pacific Northwest. The Clinic labeled her death as an overdose, but her sister, Meg, and the local police think something more sinister is at play. Meg decides to check herself into the rehab undercover to try to find out for herself what really happened to her sister.

Thoughts: This was a super twisty psychological thriller that I would love to see as a movie! The first half of the book was a bit slower paced and took me a little while to get into, but once I got to the halfway point I was HOOKED. The overall concept was smart and unique and not quite like anything I’ve read before. There were a couple points that kept me from rating five stars - as mentioned, the pacing of the first half, and also the unlikable nature of most of the characters. However, I really loved the mystery, the setting, the pacing of the second half, and, most of all, the crazy twists! Highly recommend this to any thriller lovers. TW for mental health and substance abuse.

Read this if you like:
🧖‍♀️ celebrity gossip
🧖‍♀️ locked room mysteries
🧖‍♀️ creepy Pacific NW atmosphere
🧖‍♀️ morally grey characters
🧖‍♀️ twisty psychological thrillers

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the eARC!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, NetGalley and author Cate Quinn for this ARC to read and review!

Holy unreliable narrator, Batman! I absolutely LOVE a psychological thriller trope where the people telling the story are a hot mess with secrets and a dark past and you second guess every single thing! Add in a creepy isolated setting and you got me! I also loved the quick and snappy chapters with dual POV … the writing style kept me flipping pages and totally engaged all the way thru! I had some suspicions to where this was going, but in the end was pleasantly satisfied with a few more surprises in the wrap up! Loved my first experience with this author … excited to check out more of her backlist!

ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ: After finding out her twin sister committed suicide in rehab, Meg goes undercover at the clinic to find out what really happened to Haley.

ᴍʏ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴇɴᴛs: This was such a great fast-paced thriller! The closed setting made everyone a suspect and I really had no idea where this book was going, but I could not put it down.

It takes place in a rehab called The Clinic, and gives a really good look at addiction and the battles people face while struggling to break an addiction.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ:
💊forced proximity
💊learning about addiction
💊closed-room mysteries

The Clinic by Cate Quinn was a very intriguing thriller.
This amazing book is very well written and the descriptions are brilliant. I felt I was in the plot with the characters. The characters were strong, interesting and believable. Very fast moving with a gripping plot. It captures you, compelling you to turn the pages until all of the words are used up.

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

When a celebrity dies mysteriously at an exclusive rehab center called "The Clinic", her sister (dealing with some dependency issues of her own), checks herself in to see if she can get to the bottom of her death.

As someone who lives in the PNW, the synopsis of this one really called to me. I was ready to be sucked in by the atmosphere of this eerie, gothic setting. The beginning was fantastic! I was pulled in by the prose, highlighting many an impressive sentence on my kindle. Unfortunately things kind of fell apart for me in the second half. Just a bit too outlandish and illogical. It was also a tad too long. That said, it was still an enjoyable read and I will definitely read what Quinn writes next!

Thank you Sourcebooks for the gifted eARC.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'll be honest I picked this book to read purely based on the cover. It has a creepy vibe and I was all for it. I was happy to find a murder mystery that I could not put down! I thought the use of different POVs helped to tell the story in a fast and quick-paced way. I didn't feel like there was ever much of a lull or dull point that I was just trying to push through. While there were a couple of scenes towards the end that felt a little disjointed to me, personally. I will say that I did not see the twist coming which always makes me happy. I found a new author to look out for!

Thank you Netgally for giving me a chance to read and review this book. The opinions and thoughts in this review are mine and mine alone.

Oh man! I have feelings about The Clinic and they aren’t pretty! First off, it took me eleven days to wade through this over the top, ridiculous novel! Every night, I’d settle in to read and fall asleep after about ten minutes. I just couldn’t get into this one! Plus- the main characters are unlikable and hard to connect with. This book was at least one hundred pages long! I wish I would have DNFed it! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review. The Clinic comes out January 23, 2024.

The Clinic by Cate Quinn is about Meg who checks herself into a celebrity rehab clinic after learning that her famous sister Haley has died there. In addition to working on her own addictions, Meg eventually unravels a variety of secrets hiding at The Clinic.

The book definitely had several twists that kept me guessing about what would happen. Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

This is a new author for me. I picked up this book because the description intrigued me - checking yourself into some kind of rehab clinic gave me chills and the thought that you just might not be able to get out!

Description:
Meg works for a casino in LA, catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control.

There are whispers of suicide, but Meg can't believe it. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check in herself – to investigate what really happened from the inside.

Battling her own addictions and figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, far away from friends, family – and anyone who could help her.

My Thoughts:
This was a great thriller and I was engrossed from beginning to end. The book has a spooky cover that foreshadows what is inside. Unbelievable what was happening at that clinic! Meg had no idea what she was getting into. It took guts to do what she did - even while battling her own addiction. The narrator is unreliable in this one. The plot was tense and had good movement. The spa setting was over the top fancy. There are many twists and surprises to keep your attention focused. I recommend to anyone who likes a good psychological thriller.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication is January 23, 2024.