Well I very much enjoyed this book - the suspense kept me guessing all the way through the book. I was eagerly waiting my train journey home after work to continue reading and find out what happens.
I felt I could really immerse myself in the characters. At times I got frustrated with the main character and wanted to shout at her to pull herself together, but I think that shows how well thought out the characters are because I felt committed to it.
I dont want to give away the ending...but wait for a twist.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advance copy. I devoured the book!

This was an ok book , I wasn’t keen on the characters but the story had just enough to keep you interested . Interesting ending that I wasn’t expecting but the book was just a bit lacking in places for me

The Patient by Jane Shemilt

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Uk and I am leaving this review voluntarily

She is his doctor. He will be her downfall.

The bestselling phenomenon returns…

When Rachel meets Luc, the attraction is instant.
But she is a doctor, and he is her patient.

She gives him the drugs he needs – but in doing so, risks everything.
And when a secret is exposed, they’re both in the firing line.
Not all patients are telling the truth.

A slow burn drama that unfortunately just didn't stick with me. I read the first 30% of this book rapidly and I was hooked - the remainder of the book seemed to take me hours to finish. The blurb for this book set me up thinking that this was a thriller, this was sadly not the case. Having finished the book I feel like too much has been left unfinished and so even though there was promise in the plot I feel that I have to mark it down.

Rating 3/5

What price would you pay for falling in love?
Rachel is a respected doctor who lives in a picturesque and affluent English village where her husband Nathan teaches at an elite private school. Competent, unflappable, and nearing 50, Rachel has everything in her life firmly in her control, even if some of its early luster has worn off. But one day a new patient arrives at her practice for emergency treatment. Luc is a French painter married to a wealthy American woman who’s just bought and restored a historic home on the edge of Rachel’s posh neighborhood. The couple has only recently arrived, but Luc is struggling with a mental disorder, and so he goes to the nearest clinic…to Rachel.
Their attraction is instant, and as Rachel’s sense of ethics wars with newly awakened passion, the affair blinds her to everything else happening around her. A longtime patient appears to be following her every movement, turning up unexpectedly wherever she goes. Her somewhat estranged adult daughter Lizzie is hiding a secret—or at least, hiding it from Rachel. Nathan has grown sour and cold as well—or is that merely Rachel’s guilty conscience weighing on her? But when one of her colleagues winds up murdered and Luc is arrested for the crime, everything Rachel didn’t know about her life explodes into the open—along with her affair with her patient—a disgrace and scandal that will have consequences no one could have predicted.

This is a thrilling read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.

This is the first book I read fr very this author and I had mixed feeling about it. Although the plot was very clever and the writing very good, the characters were not believable in my opinion and the model was a bit confusing. Overall I’d recommend this book.

I raced to the end to find who had actually done what - still not sure I'm completely clear! My hesitation in giving this 5 stars is over the depiction of Luc's mental illness. It was accurate that society does jump to conclusions and thinks a serious mental illness such as bipolar can mean the person is likely to be violent. Rachel, as a doctor and close to Luc, is convinced he wouldn't behave like this - having seen how he became more gentle and caring as he became more manic. Even though she was ill I can't see how Rachel didn't notice Luc's clearly manic state when he was with her in her home. That aside, there was plenty tension, creepiness and uncertainty over who was stalking, who was the murderer. The side story of the paintings and how they were hidden in plain sight was a good diversion that became a central theme. A good meaty thriller. There's so much more to it though with complicated family relationships all around. #netgalley #thepatient

Another brilliant novel from the excellent Jane Shemilt. Rachel is a doctor who happens to be at the surgery one evening when Luc turns up threatening to take his life. An unethical relationship develops and the consequences for both protagonists and their families are shocking. It is difficult to say much about the story without giving away stunning plot twists; suffice it to say that this book grips tight from the start and never lets up!

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.