This tale examines the relationships Dr Rachel Goodchild has with her husband, her daughter, her colleagues and Luc, the patient to which the title refers.
This is a slow burner of a story with suspicions of threat which hint at imagination getting the better of Rachel.
Suddenly, things change and the story changes pace. Everyone has their own version of the truth.
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jane Shemitt/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a mystery suspense and it was pretty good. Im giving it a high 4⭐️.
The novel kept me engaged and unfolded nicely. I really wasn’t let down in anyway and enjoyed the plot. I could totally see this as a movie on BBC.
I definitely recommend it. Would I read another by this author? Absolutely.
Thanks HarperCollins via NetGalley.

I’m leaving my review on Instagram, FB, BB, GR, Amazon a no d B&N.

From the description, I was expecting an exciting and fast-paced thriller but this is not what I experienced; it was more a slow-burn domestic suspense/mystery/love affair that although wasn't what I anticipated, it kept me engaged most of the time.

I found the characters weren't particularly likeable and whilst this doesn't usually bother me that much, they did start to grate on my nerves which affected how I felt about them and the story as it developed.

The story itself was an interesting mystery but nothing overly exciting or different. The writing was a little over descriptive at times but it plodded on ok.

Overall, not the most exciting book I have ever read but not the worst either but, once again, there are many more positive reviews out there so give it a go if you enjoy romance books with a bit of mystery thrown in.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

A slow burner that will keep you hooked until the end !!

Rachel is a doctor and Luc is her patient. There is an instant attraction but Rachel is married to Nathan and Luc is married to Ophelia. Rachel’s marriage is strained and she is struggling to engage with her adult daughter.

Some new neighbours are having a housewarming and Rachel and Nathan are invited. On arriving, Rachel soon realises that Luc and Ophelia are the new neighbours. Is the attraction mutual ? And will they act on it ?

This is a great slow burner with some great characters. I love how the story develops and the secrets are gradually revealed. The book also has some great characters, which really develop over the pages.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

This was an engaging read and although I had worked out some events, there were some that took me by surprise. Rachel and Nathan had been married for some time but things weren’t the same between them. I just couldn’t understand how their daughter’s attitude was hostile towards Rachel, her mother but communicated freely with her father. She annoyed me. Into their lives come a new family to live nearby. This family would have a great effect on their lives. There are some very tense moments and surprising moments. There were lovely descriptions of Salisbury and the South of France and I’m pleased to say a happy ending for most of the characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Doctor Rachel Goodchild lives in a sleepy village in Salisbury and is married to her teacher husband Nathan.
After yet another day of being the local GP Rachel has a last minute patient to see.
Luc Lefevre walks into her consulting room and with such a heartfelt and emotional outburst she prescribes him some antidepressants and didn't think she would see him again anytime soon.
Rachel and Nathan are invited to a housewarming party and Rachel soon finds out that it is hosted by not just Luc but his wife Ophelia.
The chemistry between Rachel and Luc soon turns into an affair but with disastrous consequences.

I was expecting as advertised a page turning thriller but this book was more about intrigue and certainly in the middle was the opposite of page turning. The characters weren’t particularly likeable and if I’m honest I only continued to read to the end to see if they and the story improved.

Jane Shemilt's The Patient has a slow build-up but the wait is worth it as the reward for the reader is a suspenseful, top-notch and intelligent tale. Dr Rachel Goodchild works at a health centre and Luc Lefèvre turns up at the centre one evening in need of a GP. Rachel, married to Nathan, has marriage problems and an emotionally distant grown-up daughter, Lizzie, soon finds she is caught up in a pickle.

There is a great general sense of unease emanating from the pages and the Salisbury setting and the cathedral are used by the author to offer a good sense of place. The character construction is skilful and overall, I delighted in this compelling, gritty story.


I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I loved this book, certainly an author for me to watch out for in the future.
A really addictive read that I didn't want to put down.
Cleverly written and unpredictable storyline.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, the author and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the story but found it a little slow in pace in the middle. Some parts were predictable but there were some great twists that I didn't see coming. Rachel is a doctor who falls for one of her patients Luc. To me the genre of thriller doesn't really fit this book and I would call it more of a mystery. Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I wasn't gripped.

As someone who loves thrillers, I was super excited to give The Patient by Jane Shemilt a read. The plot is largely crime-related, a very familiar genre for me, so I was keen to jump in. The pace of the book was quite varied at times; however it included a lot of twists that I didn’t see coming and as a result, at times, I couldn’t put the book down. I particularly liked the strong development of the characters and the recurring flashbacks. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is into thrillers!
In this crime fiction novel, Rachel is introduced to us as a very average woman. She has a stable job as a doctor and a seemingly loving husband. However, with her daughter all grown up and living independently, Rachel reaches a monotonous spell in her life. We quickly learn that Rachel is going through menopause and her marriage seems to be lacking in love. With this initial build-up of a loveless marriage, it comes as no surprise when Rachel is immediately drawn to an attractive patient that stumbles into her office.
The story unfolds in many different stages. Quickly upon learning about the new attractive patient, Luc, we discover that the story is indeed a flashback. In the present, Rachel is being questioned by detectives. Although at first, we don’t know what Rachel is being questioned about, it is evident that Luc plays a part in it. We get a deep insight into Rachel’s mind and her feelings towards Luc, however, the information she gives the police is limited. This made me question Rachel and her intentions multiple times throughout the book. If she is innocent like she claims to be, then why is she withholding parts of the truth?
Throughout the book, we learn more about how their feelings developed for each other, despite both parties being married. As this happens, many lines are crossed and boundaries are broken, both professionally and in her marriage. However, Rachel also begins to notice strange things occurring. At first, it’s footsteps following her, then it’s shadows of people lurking in the darkness. All this is quickly dismissed by her husband who is quick to tell Rachel she is delusional. In the eyes of the reader, this changes our perception of Rachel multiple times throughout the book. The development of her character makes it easy to feel sympathetic yet at the same time disapproving of her.
The beginning of the book was quite slow. Apart from the blossoming relationship and a few footsteps, not much seems to be going on. However, in the second half of the book, the pace swiftly picks up. First, Rachel’s colleague Carol is murdered. While everyone is trying to process this, and the police are trying to piece the puzzle pieces together, a patient named Brian is also murdered. This all happens really quickly and makes the book really addictive. With every page turn, we start to edge closer to the truth and closer to solving the mystery of these murders.
The tone and atmosphere quickly shift and everyone, including Rachel, is soon terrified of the unfolding events. At the same time, a lot of the storylines seem to unravel all at once and loose ends start to be tied together. Upon reflection, certain clues were dropped throughout the book however I did not foresee the ending and the twists involved. Compared to the first half of the book, the ending feels a tiny bit rushed. Nonetheless, the story is brought together, and we soon find out the fate of all of the characters.

When Rachel's family life starts to break, an unethical attraction happens with one of her patients. A domestic drama, told mainly from Rachel's perspective, which was a bit far fetched for my taste.

The synopsis led me to believe that this would be a thriller about a doctor and her patient, which, as morally corrupt as it is, is what attracted my attention. Unfortunately, the story within the covers is not as it implies. I certainly expected something different than what I got. The storyline has a lot of potentials, but it resulted in nothing more than an average read, and not really for me. The Patient left me deflated and disappointed.

The beginning of the story was entertaining, but it lost me halfway through as it dragged too much for my preference. The plot was full of twists, but it failed to keep me engaged. Although I finished the book, I wasn't invested in any of the characters and read on to see if it got better, in true honesty.

I am sure that this will appeal to many readers, but unfortunately, this was not for me.

I loved the twists in this fantastic thriller. The build up is slow but in the best way, simply adding to the tension. Great characters and a fantastic read- I highly recommend it

The start of this book is brilliant, atmospheric and tense. The ending is good, however the middle is a bit drawn out and confusing.

Rachel is a GP who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, we know she has been called in for questioning but we are not sure what role she is thought to have played. The narrative jumps back and forth from present day to memories of recent events. And the transitions between the 2 are not always clear.

None of the characters are very likeable, although some become more understandable as the book goes on.

The middle was drawn out and overly complicated. The last part was good, if still a little confusing. We don’t fully learn everyone’s motives but we know enough to have some resolution.

I found The Patient to be a slow burning mystery rather than the page turning thriller I had expected. None of the characters were particularly likeable and, although I finished it, it just did not work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

A well written thriller, with a good beginning setting up the believable characters in a city setting and including just the right amount of hints as to what might happen.
However, the closer the book came to the convoluted ending the less interested I became as the unbelievable twists were piled on.
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book

I loved this book, at first I was a bit confused (only because I like to know what's happened haha) but as the story unfolded I quickly understood that things had not gone right. I loved how the pieces came together as the story unfolded and found I couldn't read it quick enough!

What happens if you fall in love with one of your patients? Would you risk everything for your new found love, and new found life? That's what happens to Rachel, when she meets Luc in her GP surgery one late evening. Her first thought is to help him, but then that help turns into something else when she discovers that they are neighbours.

How far will Rachel go to be with Luc, and how much does she really know about him?

The Patient is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing right until the end.

I was expecting a thriller nap but it was more of a mystery. I found it very slow and felt that none of the characters were very likeable and really nasty to each other, I did skim read a lot of this book, overall I was quite disappointed