This is a well written book in regard of skill. Unfortunately it felt too slow for me and I gave up my investment in finding out exactly what happened. I skipped to the end after being about halfway through. This could be more about me than the writer, though. Thanks for the opportunity to read the book.

The Patient's Secret
By: S. A. Folk

5 Stars

This story follows Dr. Sharon Stevenson, as she tries to save a mans life on death row, Kevin Blackford. She believes he has a mental disorder, which led to these crimes being committed.Throughout the story, she tries to save his life despite it affecting her life, her job, and her reputation. In the end, neither of their lives will be the same.

Wow. I studied Psych in college, and so this book was right up my alley, and oh man, it was awesome. The entire story will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was so well written and easy to read in one sitting if the time was given. The characters were well done, and the entire story was well described. Without giving too much away about this book, from a psychological perspective, it was amazing. It was done in a very realistic, thrilling, and sadistic way. The descriptions were very well done. Kevin is a character who will stay in my mind for a while. Honestly, I think this whole book will. I never could have guessed how this book would end. I was in complete shock, and that made this story even better.

This is my first book by this author, but it will not be the last. I am a fan.

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review.*

Get ready to dive into the mind-bending world of "The Patient's Secret" by SA Falk, a book that's part psychological thriller, part heart-wrenching drama, and 100% unputdownable. This isn’t just a story; it’s a psychological rollercoaster that will have you questioning everything!

Meet Sharon Stevenson, a forensic psychiatrist with a knack for unraveling the minds of her patients. Her job? To figure out if someone's mentally fit to stand trial, not play detective about their guilt or innocence. But here's the catch: Sharon is not just any psychiatrist; she's a mother haunted by the disappearance of her daughter, Maddie.

Now, imagine Sharon's world turning upside down when a man charged with multiple murders might hold the key to Maddie's fate. Falk masterfully intertwines Sharon's professional acumen with her personal agony, creating a character that's as relatable as she is intriguing. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife, or in this case, a therapist's pen!

What makes "The Patient's Secret" a standout is Falk's ability to weave a complex narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The book is like a puzzle where each piece is a revelation, leading you through a maze of emotions and theories. You'll find yourself playing detective alongside Sharon, sifting through clues and second-guessing every character's motive.

I won't spoil it, suffice to say this book is worth 5 stars!

That book was quite different from what I'm used to. For the most part, I thought I was reading the memoir of a forensic psychiatrist. But that twist at the end shocked me to waves ! I really enjoyed my read ! I'm wondering if there will be more books about Sharon, I'd love to read more about her.


Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Gripping storytelling with great characters and a fascinating narrative. Lots of twists that felt exciting and truly aithentic world building.

I hope this is a series and we see more from Sharon in the future.

Finally, a twisty page-turner to end the year!!!
The Secret Patient will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very last page.
Sharon is a psychiatrist who is evaluating an alleged serial killer to see if he can stand trial. With 30 years of experience, some might say she is an expert in her field. But, the man in custody is unlike anything she has ever seen. Will she find the truth and justice for the victims?

The Patient’s Secret is about a psychological thriller about a forensic psychiatrist who is working with a man who is on trial for multiple murders, to decide whether or not he is fit for trial.
If you enjoyed The Silent Patient, you will love this. I found myself glued to the book and unable to put it down. A very surprising plot twist and the end caught me off guard!

The book is very cleverly written, and the author has clearly done a lot of background research.

This is an intense deep-dive into the psyche, with building tension as the clock ticks. If you love series like mindhunter, this book might just be what you need.

In the patient’s secrets we witness interviews between Sharon, a well-known psychiatrist and Kevin, a serial-killer responsible for 28 deaths. Sharon’s professional judgment is challenged. Is Kevin a manipulative serial killer who gets under her skin, or is there something else going on?

The novel is good at raising those questions and making the reader wonder about what’s going on. There was a steady flow of new information that kept the reader engaged. As we started to get to know Kevin, you were already invested in his faith. But if you think you know how it will end, think again.

I just want to add something I found on Google about dissociative identity disorder since at one point the psychiatrist wishes there was some way to look at their brain to confirm a diagnosis:

Prefrontal dysfunction is frequently reported in dissociative disorders. Functional changes in other cortical and subcortical areas can be correlated with these diagnoses. Further studies are needed to clarify the neurofunctional correlations of each dissociative disorder in affected patients, in order to identify better tailored treatments.

I also want to add that serial killers are rarer than DID, and I think the book could have mentioned that.

Sharon Stevenson is a forensic psychiatrist who works with prisoners to determine whether they are sane enough to stand trial. She is also a mother dealing with the disappearance of her daughter Maddie who was a drug addict and ran away from home 10 years ago.
Sharon is asked by the prosecutor to fly to Wyoming to evaluate Kevin Blackford, the notorious serial killer known as the Blue River Strangler. He has been accused of strangling to death over 28 women. During her visits to Kevin’s cell, she diagnoses him with dissociative identity disorder, better known as multiple personality disorder. Is Kevin faking it or does he have the disorder? There is a deadline and everyone especially the prosecutor wants Kevin put to death.
This is a story of justice, mental illness and tragedy. It makes the reader reflect on their beliefs on the justice system, mental illness and crimes and the death penalty. It questions the ethics and views of capital punishment and criminal rehabilitation. It questions the connection between mental illness and criminality.
Sharon was persistent to see justice done correctly and was an advocate for the mentally ill. The prosecutor was easily persuaded and thought about how Kevin’s conviction would benefit her. It makes readers like myself question the justice system

This was quite a mind-blowing experience for me all the way through. A very gripping and intense psychological thriller indeed, a real page turner. I love stories set in prison so this was right up my street. I have never heard of some of the mental/personality disorders raised in this storyline so i learnt quite a bit. It was my first book by this author and i will definitely be reading more.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

If I tell you that this book has many twists and turns believe me it does.. So many that when I finally read the ending I couldn't believe it.

At the center of this story is Sharon Stevenson a forensic psychiatrist who has the duty of deeming a patient fit enough to stand trial. Sharon has seen her share of patients who are or are not fit for trial Yet this patient Kevin Blackford will push Sharon to the limits of putting not only her credibility at risk but also putting her life at risk.

Kevin is deemed the Blue River Strangler and everyone wants him to receive the death penalty. The only person that feels Kevin is being railroaded is Sharon and she wants to prove it. You see Kevin seems to have many personalities that come out at different times. Sharon labels it Dissociative Identity Disorder. and feels Kevin should not be put to death. How can she get everyone to believe her. As Sharon is fighting the good fight for Kevin she is hiding a personal secret. Every time a new victim turns up Sharon wonders will this be her daughter Maddie who has ran away so many years ago.

This psychological thriller is just that a thriller. With every twist and turn something else hits you. The character of Kevin blew me away. He was so well written. Going between the different personalities really wanted me to read on and on. Is he the killer or is somebody using him.? As Sharon keeps pushing she finds out there are some who want her out of the way and let Kevin go. But can she? Many secrets come out while Sharon keeps pressing on.. Who can she trust? Is she crazy for risking everything on someone who is just a patient?

My only negative comment is that I felt it was a little lone. Maybe that is because I was so engrossed that I wanted to get to the ending. This was a true thriller, well written. Filled with so many ups and downs that you wonder how can someone do this job. Seeing if someone is fit for trial or put to death. It also showed the side of mental illness that that sometimes turns into tragedy.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. One to recommend to other readers. 4.5 stars

This is the best book I’ve read in years - S.A Falk’s writing style is amazing and the twists and turns keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.. this book deserves more than 5 stars.

4.5⭐A twisted tale of justice, mental illness, tragedy, death, and the hunt for the Blue River Strangler. A gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist

Sharon Stevenson, a forensic psychiatrist, has been tasked with deciding whether Kevin, the notorious serial killer known as the Blue River Strangler, is fit to stand trial. But Sharon is also a mother grieving the disappearance of her seventeen-year-old daughter, Maddie.

The story, the setting, the characters, and the plot are all unique and kept me turning pages, with lots of twists and turns... and what to believe... is Kevin the real killer, or maybe is someone else involved?... Kevin had a dissociative identity disorder, or was he faking it?.. I love Sharon for her determination to search for the truth even if that takes her to the point of damaging her reputation... and that is wrong to put Kevin on death row, but keep Him in a psychiatrist's hospital, and go against the people in power who are determined to make this case the stepping stone to a promotion, and nothing to do with justice. A well-written complex story filled with raw emotions that you can't miss.

Posting Reviews on GoodReads immediately, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble upon Publication Feb 5.

Thank You, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an eARC. I really enjoyed it.

Sharon is a forensic psychologist. She spends all her time working so she doesn’t have to think about her daughter Maddie who disappeared. Sharon has to decide if Kevin is the Blue River Strangler or is it someone else. Sharon went above and beyond to find out if Kevin was it or not. I really thought I had I an idea of who it was but I was wrong! I found this book to be a little slow but interesting. I would definitely recommend this book. I’m looking forward to reading more books by S.A. Falk


Thank you, NetGalley, S.A. Falk and Storm Publishing for the ARC!

The Patient’s Secret by S.A. Falk is pretty good. The interview between Dr. Stevenson and Eddie was a little repetitive in the beginning.

Sharon Stevenson is a forensic psychiatrist. Her job is to decide whether a patient is of sound enough mind to stand trial, not whether they did or didn’t commit a crime. But Sharon is also a mother grieving the disappearance of her seventeen-year-old daughter, Maddie, who has never been found.

She needs to find out if the man sitting before her also had something to do with her daughter's disappearance.

The Patient's Secret did read like a cat-and-mouse game. A good twist-and-turn story. I would check out more books by this author.

#ThePatientsSecret #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

Sharon Stevenson is a psychiatrist. She has been tasked to decide whether Kevin Blackwood is fit to stand trial.

For the first time in her long career, she notices signs that all is not well with Kevin. She calls in a colleague to assess Kevin, to make sure she is not delusional.

Sharon's daughter has been missing for ten years, and she suspects that her daughter has fallen victim to a killer.

The prosecuting attorney was determined to make this case her stepping stone to a promotion. I found her cold and unfeeling. Unwilling to even listen to the expert she called in.
Sharon - Sharon is far too trusting. But she is clever, brilliant in fact. She solved the case that many experts could not solve.
I read this book, thinking that it might be absolutely fantastic and by the time I reached the end, I realised it was like 'not too bad, but not my cup of tea'. Something was off about it.
I felt really sorry for little Jackie, poor kid.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. 3/5 stars.

This was an intriguing read to me, the twists and turns kept it exciting amd fast paced, a great read overall.

The Patient's Secret was a really compelling read for me. The story kept me guessing right to the end, and even once I finished it I wasn't totally sure I knew what had really happened. The characters were interesting, and it was very well written.

This is a complicated, emotional tale of death, mental illness and justice. When mental illness and homicide collide, it’s important to find out if the perpetrator is competent to stand trial for his crimes. And that is the job of Dr. Sharon Stevenson, the renowned psychiatrist. But when the alleged killer is suspected to have dissociative identity disorder, is it wrong to put him to death for the heinous crimes that only one of his personas allegedly committed?

This twisty tale is absolutely riveting and worthy of 4 stars. The subject matter, the characters and the plot are all unique and kept me turning pages late into the night.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy. This is due to be published on February 5, 2024.

This book was about a doctor who is assessing a serial killer. Once she starts here evaluation she find something is very wrong and she wants to find out the truth whether it hurts her credibility or not.

This is not your typical medical thriller but it was interesting and there were surprises i never even seen coming.

The character build was good and the writing was as well.

If you like psychological thrillers, you will love this book.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.