The Therapist

By: S.A. Falk

Narrated by: Lauryn Allman

It’s my first day back at work, the grief I’m carrying is still with me, but I file it away and put on my professional face to greet my new patient.

As a successful psychiatrist and criminologist, I’m used to working with damaged minds. But I’m not prepared for Trent Davis. Sitting across the table from me, his warm brown eyes shine. He laughs easily and part of me can't help but like him, despite what his file says he’s capable of.

Then a package arrives for Trent, with my home as the return address.

And everything falls apart…

A shocking and pause-resisting thriller with a ‘didn’t see that coming’ twist. The perfect listen for fans of The Silent Patient, Mike Omer and Freida McFadden.

©2024 S.A. Falk (P)2024 Storm Publishing

Inaccurate

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Stephanie Fletcher has to be the worst forensic psych in the history of forensic psychiatrists. At one point I considered that perhaps she was actually a psych patient who thought she was a psychiatrist. That’s how bad she was.

Writer SA Falk either took a lot of liberty with the role of psychiatrists in prisons/forensic hospitals or she did no research. Hospital and prison forensic psychiatrists work for the justice system and patients aren’t guaranteed confidentiality, unlike they are in the private sector. HIPAA does not apply. Patients do not have the luxury of therapy, due to huge caseloads. Heck, most psychiatrists only dispense meds due to the way services are paid by insurance companies. Most importantly, forensic psychiatrists are not investigators unless they work for the police department (like Dr Skota on Law&Order). Their interests are diagnostic and medical, not investigated.

I saw the twist coming a mile away but still enjoyed the book despite its many flaws.

The Trigger Warning

WHAT AN ENDING!!!! While this book definitely falls under the definition of physiological thriller, it was very dark, disturbing and uncomfortable to read at parts.

It should come with a TRIGGER WARNING. If you’re thinking of reading it, know that it mentions (in detail) the following;

• multiple forms of physical abuse & sexual abuse
• child pornography
• endangerment of child/neglect
• graphic mutilation of animals
• graphic mutilation of humans
• murder
• self harm
• drugs & alcohol abuse/addictions
• mental disorders

Now I have to go scrub my brain and fill it with happiness.

Riveting Story

Great story!!! Could not stop listening to this great story and its twists and turns.

mixed feelings

I have very mixed feeling. I feel like the story started very strong and i was enjoying the development and story line, but the ending felt rushed and very flat. I feel like It could have been developed more toward the end to round it out and make it feel like we got an actual conclusion.

The psychology

The main characters were believable and lnteresting. A good view into the workings of a sociopath and how manipulations occur. A must if you are into psychology. I really lol d how the reader changed voices into the intonations of the serial killer’s mind and voice. A little grissly but not over the top. A major twist I didn’t see coming!!!