3,5/5
The story revolves around Dr. Fletcher who’s lead psychiatrist at Pantano State Hospital. One day the murderer Trent Davis, who committed murders with cannibalistic and ritualistic elements, is committed to the psychiatric ward.
After he is committed copycat murders arise and the police with help from Fletcher is on the case.

It was a nice reading experience. I have taken a liking to thrillers lately. It’s a page-turner and when you think the case is about to be solved twisty things keep happening.
At the same time as the murder part this is a story about deep sorrow and trying to come to terms with abuse.
I liked the book, but I’m not sure the ending was for me.
Release date: 25/4 2024
Check it out!
Thanks so much to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and the author. All opinions are my own.

I’m finding that I’m falling more and more in love with thriller, mystery, and true crime books. When I start reading a book and it holds my attention from beginning to end that for me is a great read. I love when I’m reading and I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen next. I would definitely recommend this book!!

Fast paced, gripping and a next level of page-turner thriller.

We can guess or a bit of expectation about the book by the book title. A psychiatrist and prisoner. Not only this, but turn out to be darker, crazy and jaw-dropping trauma.

The story setting was unique, with room to imagine and guess what’s coming next. Still, I could not see the ending came like this! Twisty!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pub date: April 25, 2024

The Therapist is a dark and twisty thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Dr. Stephanie Fletcher is a psychiatrist who works in the prison system and with the criminally insane. After suffering her own childhood trauma she works with criminals who have committed completely heinous and unforgivable crimes.

Her first day back at work after bereavement leave there is a patient named Trent Davis who is brought in and put on her caseload. Trent is responsible for the grisly murders of six women. Dr. Fletcher becomes obsessed with figuring him out, and soon packages begin to show up at the hospital. Packages with grisly contents, and it appears that there is now a copycat killer on the loose. Dr. Fletcher begins working with the detective on the case.

This book was a solid four stars all the way through. Until we got to a two star ending. Not only did I guess the twist from about 2/3 of the way through, it was just so incredibly rushed. It’s so disappointing to get sucked in to a book and then be so incredibly disappointed by the ending.

I will most likely give this author another try, simply because I did enjoy the first 2/3 of the book so much.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the author, SA Falk for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions are all my own.

This is a fast paced thriller that kept me on my toes and made me gasp at the twists! S.A. Falks writing is addictive and fast paced making you unable to put it down. Highly recommend to thriller fans!

I loved how written this book was. The characters were strong, and the plot flowed easily. The main reason this is an average 3* read for me was because religion / God / Satanism / Devil references were heavy and used quite frequently throughout the book. I did find myself rolling my eyes a few times and wishing that it didn't need to keep going on about those elements. They didn't feel overly important to the twists etc and felt more like a character/ relationship element so I felt it could be used a little less than it was.

The twist was done very well and was quite a gentle reveal in my opinion. It lacked a majorly shocking factor because it was seamlessly imbedded in the story, but I can't say that I saw it coming until a couple of chapters before when it was hinted at.

All in all, I enjoyed the read and am glad I had the opportunity to read it as an ARC.

I was really excited to dive into this book, and I must say, it didn't disappoint! It's a gripping story that kept me hooked however, I felt like the build-up was a tad too long, and I ended up guessing the ending before it arrived. Nonetheless, while I anticipated the general outcome, the finer details still managed to surprise me.

One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the dual points of view. It added an element of unpredictability which I found refreshing. Following both perspectives made the story easy to follow yet engaging.

Dr. Fletcher, the protagonist, is a successful psychiatrist and criminologist accustomed to dealing with troubled individuals. However, Trent Davis, her newest patient, proves to be a unique challenge. Despite his dark and troubled past, Dr. Fletcher finds herself drawn to him.
The story takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious package arrives at the institute, addressed to Trent with her address as the return address,, plunging into a thrilling tale of suspense and intrigue. S A Falk masterfully weaves together elements of mystery and psychological tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

However, as much as I enjoyed the ride, I couldn't help but feel that the ending was somewhat rushed and left me with a slight sense of incompleteness. It seemed like certain loose ends weren't fully tied up, leaving me wanting more closure.

On a positive note, I appreciated the storyline involving Dr. Fletcher's involvement in assisting Detective Navarro, the detective in charge of finding the copycat killer. Their collaboration added depth to the story, showcasing Dr. Fletcher's expertise in a real-world application.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of thrillers and mysteries. While the pacing might be a bit slow in parts and the ending slightly rushed, the payoff is worth it for the twist that awaits. It's a perfect read for anyone looking to be swept away by a gripping and unputdownable story.

Whoa, this book is chilling! Gripping from the start and the psychology is intense. I loved the dual aspect and disclosure of how mental pleas work within the legal system. Fascinating and scary.

Such an abolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

S.A. Falk's "The Patient's Secret" emerges as a masterful psychological thriller that leaves readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. With twists and turns aplenty, this novel deftly weaves a web of intrigue that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

From the first page, Falk grabs hold of the reader's attention, drawing them into a world where nothing is as it seems. As the story unfolds, layers of deception and hidden truths are peeled away, revealing a complex tapestry of characters and motives.

Reader reviews rave about the book's ability to keep them hooked from the outset. One reader aptly describes it as a "sneaky, sneaky book," highlighting its ability to subvert expectations and keep readers guessing. The pacing is relentless, with no time wasted in diving straight into the heart of the story—a quality appreciated by fans of the genre.

The novel's exploration of mental health adds depth and complexity to the narrative, drawing readers further into the intricate web of lies and secrets. Each revelation is met with astonishment and disbelief, culminating in a twist ending that leaves readers reeling.

Elisa Hart Kipness, Amazon bestselling author of "Lights Out," praises Falk's skillful execution, describing "The Patient's Secret" as a "fiendishly smart psychological thriller." With smart dialogue, gripping prose, and a plot that races toward its conclusion, Falk delivers a thrilling read that is as satisfying as it is unpredictable.

In summary, "The Patient's Secret" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. With its clever twists, engrossing plot, and compelling characters, it's a book that will keep readers captivated from beginning to end.

Dr. Fletcher is a psychiatrist and criminologist, working at a hospital for the criminally insane. She has been recovering from a great personal loss, and has a history of abuse herself. She is ready for Trent Davis, a new patient, a famous musician and serial killer. She can’t seem to avoid him getting under her skin, and she seems obsessed with understanding him. While he is at the facility, a copycat emerges, and packages show up at the facility. This book is extremely dark, with triggers of self-harm, abuse, demons, and many dead bodies. The author moves the plot swiftly, the therapist-patient interactions are interesting and the characters are well delineated, however the ending feels very rushed. I was not surprised by the twist, still the book kept my interest all the way through. With thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Though the premise was interesting I didn't find the characters to be well developed. I felt the ending was predictable. Overall an ok read but for me it felt like work to finish this one.

This is really good! There are notes of Silence of the Lambs and some reasonably chilling gore fests but the undercurrents of psychology are fascinating and immersive.
I was captivated by the centre stage and totally was blind to who was just off stage until (almost) too late. There were some good clues and hints to the twistier parts of this story which I slowly soaked up so when I did finally make the association the parts of the jigsaw slid neatly together. I enjoyed the links to heavy metal, initially I thought this cliche might irritate me but the songs and lyrics were innovative and a great part of the storyline as was the concept that music can be such an escape and somewhere to vent your innermost thoughts, a therapy of sorts.
Definitely an exciting and exhilarating read and not one for the faint hearted.

I was really excited to read this book and it ended up being a really great story! I did think the lead up was a little bit long and I was able to guess the ending! I had a feeling it was going to end the way it did, I just didnt know the details of it. The book was super easy to follow, I loved the dual POVs I thought they really made the story unpredictable. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves thriller or mysteries!!

The premise of this book drew me in. I like all things psychological. But, I could not deal with the darkness of this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eArc.

....... its a lot. To say its dark would be an understatement n I'm not that squeamish but this was a bit too shock value gore for me and that pretty much overshadowed the actual writing or plot lines. It wasn't for me

I was able to obtain an ARC of this book, my first by this author. I normally love books with a character who works in mental health, as I do. I wanted to like this book. It had a decent story line & plot twist, but what turned me off the most was the Satanic elements and gore. I love true crime & thrillers, but cannibalism, Satanic rituals, & sacrifices just are too much for me. This may be enjoyed by a reader who likes the gory brand of horror and who doesn’t mind the Satanic themes. While the ending was a decent twist, it didn’t feel fully believable to me and I felt it was abrupt.

This psychological thriller, reminiscent of The Silent Patient, follows Dr Stephanie Fletcher, a psychiatrist who works with the criminally insane, and her patient Trent Davis, a rockstar and serial killer. Then a copycat shows up and this dark twisty book makes you hold on tight 'til the ending you can't guess. Unputdownable!

There were a lot of supernatural discussions within it that had a creepy effect. It was more of a psychological suspense-horror/thriller and definitely a dark one. You’ve been warned! I did like all the psychological aspects of the characters and learning about mental illness. The twist was one that I didn’t see coming!

This book will publish on April 25, 2024. Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced readers copy. This is my voluntary and honest review.

This really had me hooked and what a thrilling read that had me guessing right up to the last chapter

Wow! This was a really great read I really like so many emotions came from this story including feeling sorry for the killers. This was a first time read for me with S. A. Falk and I can say I will be checking out more of their books. I highly recommend!