I found this book a struggle to read & really didn't get into it. The characters were annoying & it really wasn't difficult to work out where the storyline was going!!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

An immersive psychological thriller which leaves you constantly guessing and surprises behind every corner. It shows how self-doubt can really cloud your judgement of events. The portrayal of mental illness and how this can impact an individuals placing in society was accurate but sensitive, depicting how others can be judgemental based on a 'label' and sometimes you have to fight the system to show your opinion or innocence.

Overall this book is captivating with multiple twists and turns, the format of the book, especially the short chapters makes it an easy read, ideal for readers who want to start reading psychological thrillers but almost need a light hearted, easy read, then this is for you. I will definitely be looking to read more of Cole Baxter's books. 4/5 stars

This one of so good! Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I highly recommend!! Very spooky!

This was potrayed to me as something that was up there with Slader, and McFadden but I felt like it lacked something. It was a really simply written book and in some ways that made it worse. I think it could have potentially been a fantastic book if it had a little more depth. I was hoping for more and it just didnt do that for me.

I will never get fed up with this author, every time he delivers another cracking thriller. I will say this now, I think this particular book would have to be one of my favourites from him. The story is, a fella called James, he’s just been released from a psychiatric institution. Apparently James committed a murder, but poor bloke doesn’t remember.
When he gets released, he moves into his late fathers huge house. As you can imagine, it is a tough road ahead of him.
As I read on, James experiences unusual happenings. Cole Baxter has such an incredible imagination and the way he writes is mind blowing. His writing is highly addictive, and he will leave you proper freaked out. Another smashing book from talented author.

The premise of this set itself up for a real solid thriller, however I found it somewhat lacking. I stuggled to connect to James and at times, the storyline dragged. Sorry this wasn't for me.

This book was not for me. I was struggling to get through this book. I had difficulty connecting with the characters and the writing style of the author. I found the storyline lacking certain elements that made the book enjoyable to read.

"The Patient" by Cole Baxter is a riveting psychological thriller that delves into the mind of James Owens, haunted by a crime he can't remember. Released from a mental institution to house arrest, James grapples with hallucinations and mysterious occurrences, questioning his sanity. The tense atmosphere, complex characters, and a sinister agenda keep readers on the edge. As tragedy strikes, James embarks on a journey to confront his tortured past, leading to a spine-tingling revelation. Baxter crafts a gripping narrative, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, delivering a chilling exploration of the fragile boundaries between reality and delusion.

Cole Baxter's The Patient, unfortunately, was not the right book for me. James is "the patient," recently released from a mental hospital after, years ago, being declared unfit for trial for a murder he does not remember committing. James's twin, Janet, comes and goes in James's life, claiming to be supportive while throwing insults James's way, making him feel inadequate and unequipped for "real life," and just in general being a terrible human being.

Bright spots in the book are the parole officer Brianna and the court-mandated mental health expert, Dr. Sellers. For me, however, these positive relationships could not overshadow the negative vibe of the entire book, with James leaving behind a childhood in which he was abused, to replace it with an adulthood that is the same way.

I never enjoy books in which vulnerable people are taken advantage of, but The Patient was especially infuriating. Additionally, I felt like the writing style of the book was very simplistic, not in a way I found appealing. Also, beware of several flashbacks of abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really struggled with this book. I don't do great with books featuring characters that are having mental breakdowns, or being gaslighted into thinking they are, and that's all this book is. If you're into suspenseful books that keep you on the edge of your seat you'll enjoy it. Just not for me.

James is being released from the hospital for a crime he doesn’t remember committing and going back to his childhood home. When he gets to the house the memories flood back and threaten his fragile mental health and when his sister comes to help him things just get harder. As he adjusts with help from his therapist, parole officer and sister he has to learn if he can trust himself or any of them. Twists and turns will have you glued to each page - even after you are sure you figured out who James can trust because you have to know how his tormenter is achieving their goals. Great read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Cole Baxter and Inkubator Books for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

As my first ARC book and now review, I do have to say I was quite disappointed with this book. I've heard such great things about this author, so I was excited to get a first read before it was released.
I'm past the release date because it was just so hard to finish. I felt like I was reading from the mindset of a small child. From the very beginning of the book, I already knew how it was going to end and who the Villan was going to be. So, zero suspense leading up to the end.
The romance/sex part with the probation officer was so unbelievable. The time frame was so off. It was all very unrealistic, to say the least.
So I give this a ⭐️⭐️

Thank you, netgallery, for the opportunity to read this book.

This book started out strong and stayed that way for me.

A man, James, is released from a mental hospital/prison for something he does not remember doing. He is trying to get back to life in his family home. His sister, Janet, is a fairly bitter person. She's filled with lots of anger. James suffers from insomnia and trying hard to fit in.

It's hard to know what is real and what isn't. Is James a cold hearted killer or is he a victim? What part does his sister Janet play in all of this. What will the final outcome be???

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I enjoyed it but didn't love it.

3/5 stars

I love a good twisty book! This book had all the twists and turns. Is James as crazy as his sister makes him out to be? Go give it a read to find out. There were a couple things made too obvious but there were still a couple shockers for me. I think it was well written and I would read another book by this author.

A tad disappointed in this story.

Honestly, the issue is the writing. I keep waiting for it to get better but it never did. A chore to finish this one, but I did.

Brilliant Writing!!!

I was given the opportunity to read an early copy of this book and what a absolutely brilliant book it is!

This book has so many brilliant twists and turns I never saw coming! I loved it!

This book has it all, witty banter, suspense and incredible character development!

This masterpiece that kept me engaged the entire time!

Pick up this Phenomenal duet today!

No spoilers with my review! This is a must read for 2023!

I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

James is released from a psychiatric hospital and is out on probation for an unknown crime. He's dropped off at his childhood home and left to face his demons alone. When his sister, Janet, comes to check up on him, we start to wonder. Is James really as crazy as Janet is making him out to be or does Janet have ulterior motives in making him think he's unstable? really loved the idea for this book. It's easy to guess a big twist right away, but there's a lot of moments of doubt along the way. Some parts of this book were too unbelievable and it seemed like it jumped forward hours or days without warning which made it a little confusing.

This book is described as being a psychological thriller, which isn’t my usual genre of choice, but I made it through this read.
The initial mystery surrounding the main character’s psychological state and reason for incarceration was enjoyable and I found myself trying to puzzle it out.
I did find some of the plot points a bit cliche for the genre, which meant the end wasn’t as thrilling as it could have been. One point I did not enjoy was the author often ending a chapter or the character’s day with them falling asleep; this happens frequently in the story and isn’t a great way to move the story forward.
Fans of the genre who do enjoy the classic thriller tropes will likely enjoy this book.

What a rollercoaster of a book this was. It gripped me from start to finish. I found myself unable to put the book down and wanting to read more.

I really felt for James. I thought he was a poor soul having suffered with his mental health and accused of killing his teenage girlfriend without any real, raw proof. Doing the time and being told he didn’t remember it because of his head.

I questioned just about every character in the book at one point but I did guess who was messing with James quite early on. This characters attitude towards it was a dead giveaway.

I can’t say too much without giving it away but it was an easy, quick thriller but one I did thoroughly enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley, Cole Baxter and Inkubator books for allowing me access to this ARC.