Since I actually am a therapist, I’m a sucker for any book titled The Therapist, and boy oh boy, this one did not disappoint. We are introduced to Dr. Fletcher after she attends the funeral of her life-long therapist. We find out that Dr. Fletcher is a psychiatrist who works in a hospital for the criminally insane and she is about to receive a new patient, the infamous serial killer and rock star, Trent Davis and Dr. Fletcher has made it her mission to find out why he brutally murdered six women during the pandemic. However, a copycat killer starts to taunt her and the investigator working with her, Detective Navarro.

The more I read of this novel, the better it got. The plot was dark and twisted and it just kept coming. I loved the dual timelines that were figuring out during the entirety of the book. I also love the character development. S A Falk did a phenomenal job unraveling the thriller. There are a lot of dark concepts in the story, like, murder, abuse and rape. I have to say it all fit into a literally un-put-downable thriller that I had to uncover as much as I could as fast as I could.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing Co and S A Falk for the eARC of The Therapist in exchange for an honest review. Publication date for The Therapist by S A Falk was 25 April 2024.

A dark fast paced thriller. Liked the twists and red herrings that kept me guessing on my toes.

It started reeling me in right from the first chapter which I liked about this book. While it's a bit dark I liked the therapist - criminal genre and the way the book is written.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

** I received this book as an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Stephanie Fletcher, a psychiatrist and criminologist, returns to work with lingering grief but maintains her professional facade. She encounters Trent Davis, a charming man whose warm demeanor contrasts with his dark past as a serial killer. However, when a package arrives addressed to Trent but from Stephanie's home, it threatens to disrupt everything.

Overall rating: 4.4/5

Ratings:

1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 5/5 I was completely captivated by the plot of this book. It held my attention from start to finish, with twists that kept me guessing. The storytelling was masterful, delivering the story with impeccable pacing and surprising turns.

2. **Characterization:** 4/5 The characters in this book were truly enjoyable. They undergo development throughout the story, leading to shifts in how the reader perceives them. It was fascinating to see how their personalities evolved.

3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 Falk's writing style was a highlight for me. It struck the perfect balance between pace and detail, ensuring that every moment felt significant without any unnecessary filler. The prose was engaging and immersive, drawing me deeper into the story with each page.

4. **Originality:** 4/5 While the premise of a psychiatrist encountering a dangerous inmate is not unique, the way this story unfolds sets it apart. The evolution of the narrative and the unexpected twist at the end added a fresh perspective, making it stand out in its own right.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 4/5 This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, thoroughly engaging my emotions. While I was completely absorbed, I found myself wishing for a bit more closure in the ending—an epilogue would have provided a more satisfying conclusion to tie up loose ends.

If you found this book enjoyable, I suggest exploring "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides or "The Inmate" by Freida McFadden for similarly thrilling reads.

I loved loved loved this one! Wow! What an incredibly suspenseful book this one is! SO thoroughly transporting and addictive. Absolutely brilliant. Very highly recommend this one.

This was a darker read than I was expecting. I enjoyed it and the ending was such a shock! I'm still thinking about it a day after I have finished it. I recommend this if you like darker psychological reads. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this one.

Dr. Fletcher is an experienced psychiatrist and criminologist for the criminally insane. She is asked to work with the infamous serial killer Trent Davis and she can't wait to discover the secrets of his mind. Once Fletcher began working with him, a copycat serial killer is on the loose. Whoever is responsible for the new murders idolizes Trent Davis, and Fletcher is determined to use his mind to help solve the current crimes. This was a DARK mystery, and if you're concerned about trigger warnings you may want to stay clear of this one. I happen to love dark thrillers and really enjoyed this. I had a hard time putting it down and finished it so fast! I didn't care for the short chapters of lyrics, but other than that it was a good book. I would recommend this if you are a horror lover!

Wow! I did not see that ending coming at all. If you want an un-put-downable thriller, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll be led right up the garden path and won’t know how you got there. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was not able to review this book on time due to my grandmother passing away. 😞
When I thought about reading, this book came to mind often. I am excited to start this book now and plan to write a review on goodreads when I am finished.
Thank you #netgalley for my ARC!

The Therapist is a twisty psychological thriller that will keep you hooked you from the start!
This follows a psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher who works with patients in the criminal system. Her newest patient, Trent Davis is a notorious serial killer and Dr. Fletcher is determined to break into his psyche. However, while Davis is locked up, a copy cat killer following his infamous crimes.
Is there a copy cat killer or was Davis always innocent? What does Dr. Fletcher uncover while treating him?
I recommend this book for those who enjoy psychological thrillers!

3.5/5 ⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC! I love psychological thrillers and based on the description, the Therapist was totally up my alley with it following a psychiatrist meeting with a serial killer patient. The book started off really strong, although gory at times, with the serial killer being insufferable (to be expected). However, the ending fell off for me :( It was so short and felt rushed - it could've down with a another chapter or two, which is why I'm knocking it half a star down. If you're a fan of The Silent Patient/Freida McFadden, I think you'd really enjoy this one!

The Therapist was a novel that I was so excited to read. I love psychological thrillers and looking into the minds of criminals. Unfortunately this one was slow to start, and I had a hard time connecting with the main character. The ending also felt rush and just left me unsatisfied.

the therapist was so mysterious in every way possible, but I have literally figured out who this creepy "copycat" is miles away. this book was too predictable though it held my interest for sure! it was nonetheless fun to actually solve it yourself <3 gave this a 3.75 star! Thank you so much NetGalley and to the author for this ARC !

This book was hard to put down. I enjoyed the whole book. That ending was definitely unexpected. I did not expect that person to be the copycat killer!

This is the second S.A Falk book I've read and its pretty damn good. The story is amazingly twisted and no matter how much you think you know the answer or the next plot twist, BAm it's completely different. I would have loved for the final plot twist to have more explination or more run time, but all in all, the story was a great read!

This was such a good fast paced read! I enjoyed all of it, and even though everyone says they didnt see the twist coming, I did, I just hoped that wouldnt be it.
The writing style is easy to follow, and I was locked in, and got through it so fast. The story was fascinating, well written, and it got the best out of me. I still recommend it to anyone who likes the darker side of things, and be warned of gore.
Warning: possible spoilers ahead
I felt like the twist was too obvious, and kinda lazy. I was hoping for some smarter, better thought out twist, up until the very last page. The book kept me wondering about everyone, and I kept trying to find connections, and waiting for a very smart gut wrenching twist, and then.. well... thats why it didnt get 5 stars from me.

I love getting into criminal’s minds and this book does a great job of it. Dr Fletcher treats Trent, a criminally insane who murdered at least 6 women. The story does a great job of keeping you interested however some parts were repetitive and could have been simplified. The ending I figured out which was a slight let down because I love a good 180 twist. Overall good read. Beware though it does get dark so don’t read it before bed.

Stephanie Fletcher, is a psychiatrist who is grieving the loss of her long-time therapist. Stephanie was a victim of horrid childhood abuse and depended on therapy to help her to process it. Back at work at her job at the Pantano State Hospital, a facility for the criminally insane, Stephanie relies on her job as a correctional psychiatrist to help patients, even those with extensive life sentences. One patient in a particular, new to the facility, has been given six life sentences for his brutal and vile crimes to six victims. Stephanie tries to help him, but realizes that the trauma of her past affects the way she views and treats her patients.

Stephanie’s newest patient, Trent, has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, with years of self-medicating, as well as how he was affected from the horrible treatment of his mother when he was a child. Her sessions with Trent were vey telling, if not cringeworthy, yet she strives to find common ground with him.

The Therapist was full of tense scenes and packed a wallop when it came to a shocking twist and conclusion, making me tap my Kindle faster ad faster as the book ended with a crescendo.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This book started out as a typical psychological thriller, laying out pieces of a puzzle for the reader to slowly digest and put together. Through the course of this book, although slowly, you gradually get a darkening sense of the psychology of the subject. This book turned darker than I expected, and I didn’t necessarily like some of the subject matter, I thought it was well written and detailed and kept me engaged. I did draw the conclusion of how the story would play out about 70% in to the story. But the read was still good and intriguing and overall I thought it was a great read. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book gets the rating it does because I was riveted and engaged the whole time but I need to start off by saying that it irritated me to no end by the conclusion and that's why it's not a 5 star.

The book was very heavy on the psychology aspect which I very much enjoyed. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Trent and Stephanie, his doctor. I can't really explain what irked me about this book without giving away spoilers, but to put it simply we needed to be given more specific evidence and explanation at the end, and we also needed more from Trent to wrap things up, perhaps a letter or something acknowledging what is happening. That would have made this book more well rounded and a 5 star in my opinion.

As a therapist on an inpatient behavioral health unit who is also obsessed with thrillers/mysteries, I loved this book! I absolutely did not see the twist coming. Also, I love that the writing actually sounds like it was written by someone who understands mental illness and diagnoses, and not written like the author just did a quick google search. I'll definitely be reading more by this author!