This book was very addictive- I could not put it down.

The plot and story line move nicely and the characters are well drawn. The heroine is strong and determined, and committed to finding the truth. I highly recommend this book. ( )

“The Secret Patient” by Vaughan W. Smith is a mystery-adventure novel in which the main character, Elizabeth Edmonds, is a journalist who pieces together a major story through a series of intersecting coincidences. From the beginning, Elizabeth is a serious hard-hitting news journalist eager to uncover a controversial story. Nathan Stenson is a patient at the local hospital who was undergoing treatment for months with no idea what his illness is and without any access to the outside world. Through an informant’s tip and by working on related stories, Elizabeth goes on a hunt to figure out what is being hidden in the hospital.

Smith does a great job of weaving the story together through Elizabeth’s various newspaper assignments, allowing the plot to progress naturally. By following the story, Elizabeth meets another patient at the hospital – Dean – who not only becomes a good friend, he is also a driving force to the story and offers a semblance of comedic relief whenever Elizabeth gets too caught up in her own issues.

Throughout the book, Smith develops intriguing characters (my favorite being Dean) and crafts a captivating tale with plot twists around every corner. “The Secret Patient” was well-paced until the very end in which once the case was solved, the resolution spun out a bit too quickly but demonstrated exactly where each character ended up.

Overall, “The Secret Patient” is a fun, fast-paced book with just enough mystery and adventure to keep you guessing until the final chapter. ( )

This is an engrossing well written book. The character development is not particularly deep but suits the story perfectly. The investigation unfolds at a good pace. The plot keeps the suspense to the end and ends with an interesting answer to why the patient is being kept secret. ( )