wow what a book! i loved it from start to finish, and i didn't see that final twist coming! what a clever and really well written novel! can't praise it highly enough! i was really excited to read this book and i wasn't disappointed. thanks to the publishers for letting me read it.

It was okay. A bit rambly at times. Accurate representation of GP practice, though probs too detaily at times. Still, an intriguing read.

I really enjoyed the lyrical descriptions in this book. Although it's a thriller with a twist, the writing is unexpectedly beautiful. It made me want to hop on a plane to the south of France and lose myself in the drowsy beauty of summer evenings. The story itself about a series of murderous attacks in the historical streets of Salisbury twists and turns like a hall of mirrors. Highly recommended.

Doctor, and patient, brother and sister, husband and wife. Twisted family relationships. Murder in a small village, who is capable of such atrocities?
A taut, descriptive book with well formed characters..

I enjoyed this book and really liked how the killer was identified. Although slow in places its worth a read!

I'd heard a lot about this book from other book reviewers, so I had high hopes. It didn't disappoint one bit. This will definitely be one of those viral books that has everyone talking (and hopefully a TV/film adaptation). It's thrilling, and gripping and the way in which the characters are written is wonderful. The ending was fantastic, you won't see it coming

I hugely enjoyed reading Jane Shemilt’s previous novels and found that she superbly dissects the latent tension and hidden secrets at the heart of modern family life. The same is true for this novel, set in Salisbury, and featuring GP Rachel Goodchild. Financially secure and privileged, Rachel is nevertheless deeply unhappy, navigating life with a dismissive husband and an emotionally distant adult daughter. When Rachel starts an affair with an enigmatic but deeply troubled patient, Luc Lefevre, she sets in motion a terrifying chain of events that will include stalking and retaliation and ultimately blow her comfortable lifestyle apart.

It can be rare for authors of commercially successful novels to match readers’ high expectations in their subsequent works, but I would say Jane Shemilt more than achieves this with 'The Patient'. This is a highly recommended read, and I would like to thank Harper Collins (the publishers) and NetGalley for their free ARC that made this honest review possible.

Rachel is a GP in her late forties. Her marriage to Nathan has become stale and her daughter is becoming increasingly distant. At the end of surgery a new patient, Luc, turns up and is clearly distressed. Rachel spends time listening to Luc, helping him to calm down. Rachel becomes entranced by Luc and when the feelings are reciprocated this sets in motion actions that will effect everyone.

This is a slow burning story, part love story, part thriller. It is easy to empathise with Rachel, her marriage is in a rut, life revolves around work and she is slowly realising what she has missed by putting her patients ahead of her family. When the intoxicating Frenchman Luc appears Rachel finds it impossible to fight the attraction.

As the relationship between Rachel and Luc develops there is a sense of something lurking in the shadows. A number of times Rachel is convinced she's being followed. At times she's adamant there's someone watching from the bottom of the garden. Each time no-one is found. Rachel is convinced one of her patients has become fixated with her but when a colleague is found dead the story becomes even more sinister.

Ooh a novel about when the doctor/patient relationship goes too far. This was creepy from the off. Led by the doctor initially I did wonder if she was in her right mind. Well, no evidently not, but you know what I mean? Not the sharpest scalpel on the operating table. It all felt very Doctor Foster how it played out and it would make a good BBC drama. Crazy people alert! Ok so they all do daft things but it's car crash fiction watching it all play out.

This book was great. I loved the different plot strands and the way the characters interacted at the end. Although I saw some things coming, the majority was unexpected - especially the ending which I found truly shocking. Don't want to say anymore and spoiler it! I also really enjoyed the way art was weaved into the plot, to excellent effect which elevated this book in the genre.

Disturbing, thrilling and exciting. This book has it all. Brilliant characters and storyline and extremely well written. Definitely one to read!

You always know you are in for a cracking good read with a Jane Shemilt novel -and The Patient didn't disappoint .
Rachel is a GP . A little disillusioned with life -doesn't have a very good relationship with her daughter and her husband is increasingly distant towards her . Luc comes into her life initially as a patient -then as a neighbour .
Whilst she is on a conference in France they meet up and begin a passionate affair -and life seems worth living again . Until the murders start .

Enjoy !

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

When I was offered a copy of The Patient, I wasn’t sure whether to accept, but I am so glad I did. Not having read any work by Jane Shemilt before, as it isn’t my usual genre of book, but I really enjoyed it. Set in Salisbury, France, and the States, we have mystery, suspense, murder, romance, glamour and emotional highs and lows. There were many twists and turns in the story, mostly unexpected, which kept me intrigued, wondering what would be revealed about the next character, whom I had completely misjudged. One of the few books which have kept me awake wanting to read just one more page. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an arc of this book.

This is the first book I have read by Jane Shemilt and I loved it! I liked the premise of a doctor who finds herself drawn to a mysterious patient and is gradually drawn into his world. The characters are well drawn and the writing is excellent and I found it hard to put down. With twists that took me by surprise and events moving to the South of France I loved everything about this book. It was gripping and I’m going to read her other books now I’ve discovered this author so thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this early read.

This was a mixed bag for me it was a mess of twist and turns with a dose of lust and murder thrown in the bag.

It was a slow burn to start with but then as the layers built up the paced picked up too I did however find it repetitive and predictable in places.

This book takes its time to reveal the truth and reach a really sinister conclusion but the journey along the way is well worth it, although it left me wanting to shout out loud at Rachel and her poor decision making on several occasions.
Lots of deliciously dark characters and a great plot!

This gripping thriller kept me up until the early hours, I couldn’t put it down. Women readers will empathise with Rachel and her humdrum marriage, wanting an escape. I thought there were a few things that were unrealistic but these could not detract from the roller coaster plot. I was not expecting the action to move to the South of France: the descriptions gave a wonderful sense of place. A thoroughly enjoyable novel, with many twists towards the end.

Slower paced, more atmospheric and "literary" than a lot of thrillers that might have a similar plot, "The Patient" follows a middle-aged GP who embarks on an affair with a man she treats briefly as a patient during a mental health crisis. While it was a bit of a slow burner, the last third of the book was absolutely gripping as all the elements of the plot came together to quite a satisfying conclusion.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

What an unusual story this turned out to be, in a positive way. Rachel is a doctor that made a fatal error once and determined that such a mistake will never happen again. So when Luc walks in off the street saying that he needs meds, she prescribes him what he wants. There is an instant attraction between them, but she knows she will never see him again. Rachel’s marriage is rocky, and because of decisions she has made before to further her career, her daughter is not close to her.

When Rachel and her husband are invited to a party by the people next door, she discovers that her new neighbour is her mysterious patient with a stunning young wife. I felt that this story was going to be predictable, but I was enjoying it. I couldn’t have been more wrong. There was no way I could have guessed the path it would take.

There is no hint in the blurb at the events that follow in the book. It is dark and sinister, gripping and addictive. I had read late into the night, and there was no way I was putting this book down. Every page brought uneasiness. What a story this was turning out to be. It seemed like I was looking at every character from a different angle now, and no one was as I thought they were. Fabulous read!

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book which, I have reviewed honestly.

Rachel is a GP living in Salisbury with her husband. She has a grown up daughter, Lizzie, with whom she has a fractured relationship. (I didn’t enjoy this particular storyline- it felt very much like a dig at working parents.) When Rachel is faced with a new patient at her practice it sets in motion a twisting, turning chain of events that changes everything.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s well written and certainly drew me in quickly, but the sheer number of twists and turns was off putting. It almost felt like the author was trying out different ideas to see which stuck! I finished it more to find out which version was the right one rather than because I desperately wanted to find out. I disliked most of the characters and found them selfish and mostly deserving of their fates, obvious exception being Victoria who was the only ‘nice’ person in my opinion!

I’m sure it will be a great book club read, but it didn’t really do it for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.