**3.5 Rounded up**

I have many mixed emotions about books with an unreliable narrator, this one is no exception. From the beginning, the author has you second guessing yourself on who the copycat killer is. However, if you pay close enough attention to the information between the lines, the ending can be predicted from the beginning. I definitely finished the book with the idea that I should’ve seen it coming a mile away. This is a classic psychological thriller that would make a fantastic introduction to the genre. There just wasn’t anything about the story that made it stand out against the rest. Definitely comparable to the Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.

TW: csa, religion, satan/devil, religious influence, sa, extreme mental health issues, violence, graphic descriptions of violent crimes, murder.

Dr Fletcher has the weighted task of working with Trent Davies, notorious killer of women, However, there appears to be a copycat killer out there, but is Trent involved from the confines of a psychiatric hospital? I really enjoyed the story throughout but found the ending a little rushed and a little bit of a let down compared to the build up.

This was my first time reading a book from this author. Such a refreshing and exciting read. I loved that it was immersive, graphic details that make it feel more real in the scariest way possible. Highly recommend this author. You will not be able to put his books down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions expressed are strictly my own.

This book hooked me from the very beginning, and took me for quite the roller coaster ride. Very interesting premise, although there were some gory scenes to be prepared for. The ending seemed very abrupt and it was not explained very well if she had these psychotic tendencies on her own, or if Trent’s evil spirit had invaded her.

Dr. Stephanie Fletcher is no stranger to dangerous people. As a psychiatrist for the Department of Corrections in California, Dr. Fletcher treats some of the most dangerous patients. When Trent Davis, famous heavy metal artist and convicted serial killer, is assigned to her, she gets sucked into his case. Did a demon inside of him convince him to kill all those people or is he clinically insane? Now there is a copycat killer on the loose and Stephanie is drug into the middle of the investigation.

I loved the first 3 quarters of this book. I was interested to find out the reality of Trent's situation and if there really was a demon inside him or if it was just a manifestation of his childhood trauma. Who is the copycat killer and why are they so interested in Trent? When the twist came, I felt it was out of nowhere. I would have liked if the author would have explained how the copycat killer managed the killings. I don't want to spoil the book here, so I'll try to be vague. There was little to no explanation of why the copycat killer did what they did. I think the ending could have been fleshed out more. I do enjoy a twist or two, but when there is little to no clues building up to the reveal, it feels like more of a cop-out or a twist just for the shock value.

The Therapist
by S.A. Falk
Pub Date: April 25, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
A shocking and unputdownable thriller with a ‘didn’t see that coming’ twist. The perfect read for fans of The Silent Patient, Mike Omer and Freida McFadden.
This is a dark, disturbing, gory thriller about a therapist who treats a serial killer. While he is locked away, a copycat killer emerges.

This is a darker thriller than most and after reading I felt like I needed to clense with a lighter read. It involves talk of the devil and demons. This might be hard for some to read.
The pros - Started out suspenseful, who doesn’t want to know what goes on in a killer’s mind?
Bit repetitive. The characters went round and round in circles. The ending, you see it a million miles away.
I wish I could say that I loved it. However, it did hold my interest.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Stephanie Fletcher is the lead psychiatrist on the high security ward of a maximum security prison. Even though she is dealing with loss and grieving her mentor whom she considered family, her work does not stop and a new serial killer is starting his sentence. Trent Davis is not only a famous musician, he is another kind of killer that no one, including Stephanie, is prepared for. I have worked in a psychiatric hospital and the things Trent describes are more terrifying than anything I ever heard from a patient but this book is one I absolutely did not want to put down! Stephanie use interviews with Trent, his fiance that holds onto his innocence, and takes a deep dive into his music to try and understand the mind of this horrific killer. The Therapist is wonderfully written and absolutely oozing with suspense, a book to clear your schedule to devour!

Review is on Goodreads and will be on Instagram in early April.

I have mixed reviews. There were parts of this book I really loved… the world of criminal psychology fascinates me and the basis of the storyline kept me intrigued throughout. I devoured the philosophical aspects of crime, and good vs. evil. Some parts were incredibly dark and gory. There were also parts that drove me crazy. The continuous, “I know everything and I’m right” mentality from the main character was over the top. I was starting to piece together the main twist by the end, but the relationships just didn’t make sense once the truth was revealed. Overall, it was a mind-bending read. Big thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for letting me read an ARC copy of the book.

The Therapist by S.A Falk
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Out on the 25th of April 2024

Dr. Stephanie Fletcher, a psychiatrist at Pantana State Hospital, has a new patient, Trent Davis. A notorious serial killer, rock star, and cannibal. As she tries to unravel his mind, Dr. Fletcher is drawn into finding a copycat killer who started killing shortly after Trent became her patient. Is he involved? Will she discover who the copycat is in time?

I wanted to read this book because I love a good story about serial killers and the insane. Unfortunately for me this book fell flat. I love the idea of the story, but I found that Dr. Fletcher is unlikeable, as too were the other characters. I didn't get the correlation with the way the story chose to go. I figured out the twist halfway through, I was so hoping that I was wrong about it. It was lacking in the suspense you get from reading a thriller. I found it quite repetitive at times. I didn't dislike the book. It was a good, quick read.

If you like an easy, fast-paced thriller that you don't need to think too much about or you are a fan of Freida McFaddon, then this is a book I recommend to you.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm publishing.

Just when you think you know what’s happening sa fall throws another twist at you! Such a good read and i can’t wait to read more by them.

Very intriguing and loved the psychology aspect of the book. I was not expecting the twist at the end! However I feel like the ending was very abrupt and there could have been more of an explanation or conclusion to the story. Great writing and characterisation.

This is a suspenseful novel that will make you not want to put it down. How would you feel if you were in an area with a copycat killer? Well this book will take you on a whirlwind where a copycat killer has been emerging. If you are into books that have twists and turns then definitely check this out and see if you can guess the twist before the end

This book was so good for 99% of the time.

I loved the main character and the mystery behind what’s going on with this copycat killer. I kept wanting to go to back read it whenever I put it down and I was so immersed in the writing I flew the pages.

The only issue I have is the ending. It felt too rushed into the the conclusion and what went on that I had to go back and re read the last 20 pages to make sure I didn’t miss anything cause I was so confused! Apart from that it was a brilliant read and I did enjoy myself throughout

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
A psychiatrist is treating Trent who is accused of murdering women and sending body parts and blood to the institution. Things start to tumble when a pkg is delivered with the psychiatrist address on it - what does this mean? Who is the copycat killer? Grab this book for the answers!

Oh My God ...... WOW. This is one of the best physiological thrillers I've ever read. It grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go until the end .... and what an ending it was. Fantastic.

This book was well written with great character development. It is not typically something I would read because dealing with anything satanic tends to make me very uncomfortable. It had some great twists that left you in disbelief. It was a very good book that I highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.


WOW!!!! That's how I felt at the end of this book. My hat goes off to S.A Falk for the darkness and complete shock of an ending for this thriller. Our FMC is the head psychiatrist at a maximum security mental hospital in Southern California. Their facility has just taken in a high profile killer, who is a former death metal musician, and was accused/found guilty of picking up hitchhiking women, slitting their throats, gutting their organs, and cannibalizing's them. (This definitely gets dark when talking about backstory, and killer methodology.) Now their town is experiencing a copycat killer, and the FMC along with a detective are trying to figure out who this copycat is before they kill again.


The mind games played in this book are unreal. The attention to detail and the ability to really get into the mindset of a horrific serial killer, as well as a mental health professional so seamlessly was really fun to read. And to be perfectly honest, I really didn't see that ending coming. I almost wish the ending could have been a little bit more drawn out. I wanted a bit more from the reveal. I wanted to spend more time in it. Overall, absolutely excellent book!!

Unnerving, gory and chilling!

Dr. Fletcher is a psychiatrist for those being evaluated as criminally insane. When patient/inmate Trent Davis arrives, she’s up for the challenge. He had murdered and disposed of six women in a grisly fashion - seemingly as some sort of satanic ritual or sacrifice. And then the copycat murders begin. Showcasing the worst of people in a gruesome way, this novel isn’t for the faint of heart. .Thanks to NetGalley, S. A. Falk and Storm Publishing for the arc.

🔪🔪🔪🔪

I picked this book as a therapist who has worked forensic. I actually enjoyed the antagonist Trent a little too much and was a bit disappointed not to get more of him before the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up – a five star thriller, all the way, until the very end, which I felt was a bit abrupt.

This book follows therapist Dr Steph Fletcher she is has been assigned new patient Trent Davis and they both appear to have each other worked out quite well or thats sometimes the feeling i get.
Copy cat killings start happening and they try along with police to figure out how this is happening and if Trent knows anything about it.
Dr Fletcher is dealing with a lot from her past which draws a reader to her.
I felt at times the book could have bern a little more detailed and the ending was expected and again more detail about what happened after would have been good. Having said this I really enjoyed this book and will take a look at the authors books. Thank you for advanced copy.