This book was way too slow for me- I just kept waiting for the plot to speed up. The plot is good but not greatly executed. I struggled to finish it but persevered so that I could leave a review.

This book manages to create an unsettling and melancholic atmosphere throughout. As you delve into the story, you can't help but wonder about the true identity of James. Are his experiences mere hallucinations, or are they unfolding in reality? Is there someone toying with his mind? The enigmatic nature of the narrative also extends to James's sister, Janet—do you trust her, or does she harbor ulterior motives?

The story presents an array of intriguing questions that keep you on your toes. Just when you believe you've unraveled the mystery, another layer of uncertainty emerges. It's an absolute page-turner that had me gripped until the very end. I couldn't tear myself away from it! I'm genuinely grateful for the opportunity to read this book.

My first read by Cole Baxter and I am definitely going to be adding more of his books to my TBR.

The Patient is about James, a young adult who was recently discharged from an inpatient mental facility to probation after murdering someone. He cannot remember anything about the event or much about his childhood either. His sister, Janet, is determined to help him and try to make him become a better person. James hallucinates.. or does he? He is seeing things around his home that cannot be explained. The “twist” at the end was easy to see coming but still enjoyable nonetheless.

Enjoyed the book. Very much hated Janet. But there was a lot of suspense and at certain points, I was doubting everything I was reading too.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Patient will be published on October 8, 2023 - just in time for spooky season!

This book has an interesting premise but overall it was quite a slow paced read. I felt that the depictions of trauma, mental health and repressed memories were unrealistic, and the plot didn’t feel very believable.

Wow! This was another great read by Cole Baxter! Super dark and creepy with fabulous characters. So many crazy twists and turns that never let up. Stayed up way past my bedtime flipping pages.
Thank you NetGalley and Cole Baxter for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is both eerie and sad. You are wondering who James really is? Is he hallucinating or are these things actually happening? Is someone messing with him? Do you like his sister Janet? Or does she have the wrong intentions.. So many questions to be answered. It will surely keep you guessing and when you think you’ve got it all figured do you?it was a page turner for sure and at the end i couldn’t step away! Thanks for the opportunity to read this book !

I really enjoyed many pieces of this book- I just wish I had more detail instead of feeling like it was more surface level. Why do we only get one or two journal excerpts? Does Nick ever come by the house to spend time with James, or is that not relevant? I loved the twist at the end- the last 50 pages really had me going back and forth between Janet and Brianna being the ‘bad guy’. Overall I would say this is a 3.5 star read.

Super interesting read, what I like is that this thriller touches on current social issues including mental health.