This was quite interesting, although it was difficult to remember all of the characters. The author was writing about mental illness without lived experience, and some of that was offensive. Overall, I did want to know how the writer would tie all of the pieces together regarding mainly a dr. and a patient of hers who had a relationship to van Gogh. ( )

The Patient is about a doctor named Rachel Goodchild who starts a romantic relationship with her married patient Luc LeFevre with deadly consequences. Lies, love, murder and betrayal is packed into this slow burn creepy thriller and what a mix it is! From page one you know something is off and as the twists and turns come the more chilling and suspenseful the story becomes! It's beautifully written and the characters are mostly unlikable but they have depth and feel real. It's a dark, gritty and a compelling read that will have you looking over your shoulder long after the last page!
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The Patient by Jane Shemilt is a recommended novel of domestic suspense.

Set in Salisbury, England, Rachel Goodchild is a doctor, her husband Nathan teaches at an elite private school and their 24 year-old daughter Lizzie is a librarian. When French architect Luc Lefevre comes to her practice for a consult concerning his depression, Rachel is immediately attracted. She meets him again when his wife throws a party at their restored a historic home in Rachel’s neighborhood.The attraction between her and Luc continues at the party and turns into an affair. At the same time her daughter Lizzie is increasingly distant and hostile toward Rachel and Nathan has grown progressively more remote. Adding to her uneasiness are the footsteps and the feeling that someone is following Rachel all the time.

This is a slow-moving novel that really never picks up speed until the end. We know that Rachel is being held for committing some crime at the beginning but reaching more information about what happened and why is slow to be revealed. The story of the beginning of her affair with Luc seems related to the crime. It also becomes obvious that a whole lot of people are lying about something. The key to everything is knowing who is lying and the clues crawl to the resulting ending. This isn't a psychological thriller as much as it is a novel of domestic suspense.

Although it is an interesting story, it is not quite as suspenseful as one would hope. Readers are required to follow every thought that Rachel has in order to follow the plot. It is really about an affair and requires you to buy into all the excuses for a 49 year-old doctor to start up an affair with a younger patient. I know you are expected to approve of their relationship but there really is no reason given to do so. Neither are appealing characters. The events leading up to the ending are not especially intriguing and the ending is a little over the top and beyond belief. It is technically well written and the plot is thought provoking.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of William Morrow.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/04/the-patient.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4681452490 ( )