3.75 ⭐ This is a darker thriller. Fast paced, engaging and definitely suspenseful. My first book by S.A. Falk and won’t be my last.

The storyline starts off very suspenseful and definitely brings you in. The part I loved most is getting a glimpse of the mind of a killer.

Loved the writing style and it reminded me of books by Freida McFadden and the book The Silent Patient.

However, I think the ending felt a little bit rushed as 70% of the book was getting to the big reveal at the end. I think I just expected a little more but nonetheless, I did enjoy this!

Thank you Net Galley and Storm Publishing for this arc.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. I was very intrigued by the title and description and got about 40% of the way through the book, but so much of the content was demonic-focused, and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I wish the description had warned or hinted toward that.

After loosing her therapist recently and been given the morning off to go to her funeral, returning back to work is hard but she must put on her professional face and get on with it.

When Trend Davis is admitted to the unit, he’s known as the vampire. He’s killed 6 people, fed on their blood and presumed to have eaten some of their organs and it’s her job to get deep into the mind of a serial killer again.

This is my second read of SA Falk, and whilst this wasn’t as gripping as The Patents Secret for me, I still enjoyed this book.

One word to describe this psychology thriller is wow!!! It had all the rollercoaster emotions, the in-depth story telling of serial
Killer was very clever with the added background of words within a song association was perfect.

The plot, was face paced and entertaining. I really enjoyed the first half of the story but felt it was really rushed at the end, which I think lets the readers down. That being said overall , this was amazing I would still recommend this book as it was gripping and the authors ability to write and bring the reader in to see inside a person’s mind I was hooked. Would love to read more from this author just felt the story needed a bit more thought to finish off this thriller.

Nothing pulls me in a story like a disturbing psychological thriller about a therapist who treats mentally insane serial killers.
Decoding the songs and their lyrics made the mystery aspect even more interesting.
It was interesting to understand about the psychology of criminals and the role mental and childhood trauma disorders play in it. This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
"some people are just born evil or the circumstances make them evil", this book got me thinking a tad too obsessively about this notion.
I think I ending was quite predictable and the reveal was abrupt. Nonetheless I still loved this book and the goosebumps it gave me while reading it at midnight!!
Thank you Netgalley, Storm publishing and author S.A. Falk for providing me a copy of this arc. The publication date is 25th April, 2024.

Trigger warnings:
Child abuse (both physical and sexual), talks about satanism, gore, mental disorders, drugs

This book was fantastic!! I didn’t see the twist coming at all, and it made me extremely uncomfortable (which is how I know it’s doing its job!).

I could not put this book down! The Therapist dives into the chilling world of a ritualistic serial killer, Trent Davis, who arrives at Pantano State Hospital. Stephanie Fletcher, a determined psychiatrist, is assigned to his case and faces a crucial decision: how far into the fire will she go to get answers? Can she figure out what’s happening in time to save herself?

This psychological thriller captivates from the first page, pulling readers into a fast-paced, suspenseful journey. The novel masterfully keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making it nearly impossible to put down. The plot is brilliantly woven with layers of mystery and suspense, leading to a surprising ending that will leave readers reeling and questioning what they thought they knew.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was an absolute gem! It was dark, super twisty, and slightly disturbing. The plot was skillfully crafted, drawing the reader in with its twists and turns. The ending left me in a state of disbelief, still trying to process what happened. This book is a must-read for all my thriller lovers, guaranteed to captivate you from start to finish.

I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy this book, but I was engrossed. It was brilliant., twists like you wouldn't believe. This is most definately a one to read., I was on the edge of my seat.
When a serial murderer Trent Davies is placed in a physciatric facility things take a dark turn for the worst for his physciatrist Dr Stephanie. It was a mesmerising read and the relationship between professional and patient. Is Trent Davies all he seems? Did he commit these murders ? Was somebody else involved. Great read.

A good thriller with twists and mystery. A little slow at starting, trying to understand the narrative. Though it picked up pace soon. Storyline is unusual but interesting. Characters are unreliable and unpredictable. Overall, it was a nice pastime book. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Oh my! It is a quite interesting book! A lot of talk in the therapist's room, as would be expected. The end is surprising, maybe yes. It all depends on how much attention you pay to each step of the reading.

Falk's narrative grips you from the very first page, plunging you into a world where every turn of the page unravels another layer of questions. The book is not for the faint of heart, as Falk's masterfully portrays the grisly details of the murders, sparing no detail in depicting the horrors of the killer's deeds. Yet, it is not the gore that haunts the reader, but the psychological depth of the characters and the intricate web of lies and deception that surrounds them. This is an unputdownable read with a shocking ending. The therapist is tasked with treating a notorious serial killer while dealing with her own personal issues. Readers are taken on a chilling journey into the darkest corners of the human psyche. It's a MUST READ!!!!

I was not prepared for the ride that this book took me on. Every time I thought I figured it out, I was wrong. Cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to preview this advanced copy book.

This was a true page-turning, mesmerizing novel of a serial killer and his psychiatric hospital therapist. It's both a race against time and additional dead bodies as both police and psychiatrist try to profile who the copycat killer may be. Red herrings are thrown at the reader along the way but none prepare the reader for the final outcome.

Good book for a book club to discuss and hash out the plot.

This was such an interesting read for me. I think Trent Davis was the most interesting character. He absolutely knew how to play the game, and I loved every time we got to be a part of his sneaky, creepy, tortured brain. Stephanie, on the other hand, surprised me a little. There were some things I saw coming, but didn't expect it to happen the way it did. Her own PTSD from childhood trauma has her able to relate well to some of the patients she has worked with, but this was a horse of a different color for her. Stephanie was definitely not ready for what Trent would pull out of her.

I think I was anticipating a bigger finish, and it just didn’t happen for me. I love when I can go through a book quickly like this because I know I'm enjoying it so much. I think it fell flat in the end, despite such a building of anticipation the whole time. I don't like giving away spoilers, so I'll tread lightly on my language. I didn't like that there was someone we didn't see again. I felt like there was supposed to be a battle that didn't happen, or some creepy but romantic connection, and that grand finale wasn't there.

I did like the cat and mouse style chapters toward the end. Having the short chapters of Stephanie traveling north and the visits she made, followed by short chapters of the entity following her and closing in, was really exciting. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and give it 3.5-4 stars

Once again S.A. Falk does exactly what he always does.... ropes the reader and keeps you up past your bedtime.

Another fast moving thriller and the plot that you never see coming. WOW ........ If you love the silent patient hold on because this will be your new read new author.

S.A. Falk .... the writing, the plot and the WOW factor is amazing. Always fast paced and leaving you wanting to read in one sitting. Put this on your TBR you won't be disappointed.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This ARC was something. I liked the beginning and the middle became slow for me. The tension between Dr. Fletcher and Trent was there for sure; but you kept wondering who the copycat killer was.

Dr. Fletcher and the detective sure had chemistry and worked on the case well together. But her past traumas were definitely not managed and I knew she had a mental health concern that would lead to an interesting ending. (But maybe that’s the therapist in me!)

Overall, it’s a solid 3 star read and I enjoyed it but it had more opportunity for potential I wish I could’ve read!

Thank you @netgalley and @stormpublishing for this ARC!

#netgalley #stormpublishing #safaulk

This twisty, psychological read keeps you on your toes because it's impossible to predict what will happen next. The main character, Dr. Stephanie Fletcher, has a new patient arriving at the facility for the criminally insane where she works—a serial killer and popular musician named Trent. After his arrival, more bodies begin turning up killed in the same manner as his victims. I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling anything, but this is an insane read. I highly recommend this one for fans of dark psychological thrillers.

I was really enjoying this one until about halfway through. Then I figured out the twist and it lost something. The characters are excellent. If you loved The Silent Patient you will definitely like this one!

Dr. Stephanie Fletcher is a leading psychiatrist working in the prison psychiatric facility. She was assigned to do psych evaluations on the most notorious serial killer and a famous gothic band member- Trent Davis. Trent Davis was convicted of killing six women and many of these women were murdered in the most gruesome and brutal manner that some of their organs are missing. As Dr. Fletcher takes on Davis's case, boxes with body parts in it were mailed to none other than Dr. Fletcher herself. Women start going missing and their mutilated bodies were found in the highway. Is there are copycat killer out there or someone else is responsible?

Honestly, this story really had a good premise. The story is well written and then there is the moment of suspense throughout the story. The plot was really good as well. The story itself is unpredictable, which made me guess more as to what is going to happen towards the end. The characters weren't really likable, although Trent Davis really as a serial killer vibe in the character. The story was at times too disturbing and gory to read and so this is not really for the faint hearted who cannot stand reading about blood. The ending was a surprising twist although I didn't really fancy the ending too much. I actually enjoyed this author's debut move The Patient's Secret and saw I took a chance to read this latest novel. This book wasn't bad but wasn't great as the first novel. Overall this book is worth four stars in my opinion.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.