9780063115231
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The Patient audiobook

  • By: Jane Shemilt
  • Narrator: Hilary Maclean
  • Length: 9 hours 44 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: May 03, 2022
  • Language: English
  • (1236 ratings)
(1236 ratings)
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The Patient Audiobook Summary

A shocking and twisty novel of psychological suspense about a boundary-breaking love affair between a doctor and her patient, by Jane Shemilt, Edgar-nominated, #1 international bestselling author of The Daughter.

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.

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The Patient Audiobook Narrator

Hilary Maclean is the narrator of The Patient audiobook that was written by Jane Shemilt

While working full time as a physician, Jane Shemilt received an M.A. in creative writing. She was shortlisted for the Janklow and Nesbit award and the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize for The Daughter, her first novel. She and her husband, a professor of neurosurgery, have five children and live in Bristol, England.

About the Author(s) of The Patient

Jane Shemilt is the author of The Patient

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The Patient Full Details

Narrator Hilary Maclean
Length 9 hours 44 minutes
Author Jane Shemilt
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date May 03, 2022
ISBN 9780063115231

Additional info

The publisher of the The Patient is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780063115231.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Ceecee

October 23, 2021

Rachel Goodchild is the doctor, Luc LeFevre is the patient in question. He’s in desperate need of help, she writes him a prescription and gives him her number if he needs further help..... no one could have foreseen what would follow. Rachel’s marriage to Nathan is in free fall and her relationship with her daughter Lizzie is very strained. The story is told from Rachel’s perspective with a fusion of past and present which works very well. This is how you write an intelligent, unpredictable psychological thriller, it’s gripping from beginning to end! It’s very well written with a good pace, there are some excellent twists and turns with the whole package giving you prickles of fear right from the start. A sense of tense unease is conveyed effectively from the get go which deepens to become chilling and menacing which contrasts so well with some of the sensuality in the storyline. There’s a fantastic use of place with the novel being set in Salisbury. The cathedral and the cathedral close are used masterfully to suggest various things such as menace from the watchful gargoyles to comfort and clarity from the solidity of its embracing stone walls. The pretty town, it’s beautiful cathedral and it’s environs provide a stark contrast to the horror that unfolds. In addition, the author uses other locations to suggest various emotions such as the noise of a river or the deceptive calm of the surface of water with the unseen turbulence beneath. I love the art element which plays a large part both in the plot and in conveying moods and this is cleverly done. The character development is very good too, as several of those surprise and fool you, not just once either! Overall, this is a gritty, compelling and absorbing new novel from a talented author. With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Pat

April 01, 2022

This book was one of the ‘quiet’ reads that I sometimes enjoy. It was a slow burn but this time it worked for me. Rachel Goodchild is a 49 year old GP whose life is in a bit of a rut. She is married to teacher Nathan and has an adult daughter, Lizzie, who doesn’t really get on with her mother.One afternoon she gets a late patient, Luc Lefevre, who is crying his eyes out in her room. She listens to him which is all he really wanted and she prescribes some anti depressants. She feels strangely attracted to him but will never see him again. Soon, she and Nathan are invited to a housewarming party in the newly renovated canonry in old Salisbury. Rachel is surprised to learn that Luc and his wife Ophelia are the new owners. Luc draws Rachel out into the garden and it is clear these two are hot for each other even though Luc is younger and they are both married. They start a brief affair which has far reaching and disastrous consequences.This was beautifully written and the characters came alive for me. Most of them were not that likeable although I did have some some sympathy for Rachel. It is so easy for women of that age to feel invisible and undesirable. The story is set in Salisbury, England and a small village in Provence, France.While the build up was slow, there were definitely things happening. Rachel often felt that someone was following her, watching her. Only she is way off base about who it was. The story roars to a fast paced, shocking conclusion where murder is afoot, truths are told, lies are told and betrayals are rife. Just when you think you have worked out what is happening it gets twisted again. The story is ultimately an elaborate ploy in the service of naked greed. I think after a couple of fast paced murder thrillers this book was a pleasant counterpoint. There was, however, enough tension to satisfy those who enjoy a psychological thriller. I really enjoyed it. Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Summer

April 28, 2022

Rachel Goodchild is a 49 year old, married, menopausal woman who is a doctor at a general practice in Salisbury, England. One night as she prepares to head home, a young man named Luc enters her practice desperately seeking help. As soon as Rachel sets eyes on Luc, she instantly becomes attracted. Months later Rachel and Luc are both being detained for pending murder charges. How did this doctor and her patient end up in this terrifying situation? The Patient is told entirely from Rachel’s point of view, with alternating timelines. Part thriller, and part romance, The Patient is a slow burn novel centered around a mystery. Jane Shemilt did an excellent job creating the settings and characters in The Patient. I loved the fact that part of the story took place in southern France. The author’s descriptions on Provence made me wish I were there. I enjoyed the main characters, Rachel and Luc. Honestly they were the only likable ones in this entire story. Both Rachel’s daughter and her husband treated her very disrespectful so that cultivated a lot of sympathy for her. I loved the fact that the main character was made into a menopausal women because so many women in that age group feel unseen. Overall I enjoyed this unique story and I look forward to reading more of Jane Shemilt’s work. The Patient will be a story that I will kit be forgetting anytime soon. I can see both thriller and romance fans enjoying this one! The Patient by Jane Shemilt will be available on May 3. A massive thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Gwen

May 11, 2022

Lot of twists and turns but I had no trouble keeping’s up.

Mellisa

August 20, 2022

Rachel could never imagine how much her life would change when she meets her new patient, Luc. Rachel is looking for something new in her life, after her daughter is breaking away from her and her husband doesn't seem to have much time. Rachel will fall for Luc, but she doesn't really know him, and the secrets he hides...I do love a good thriller! This was brilliant, I was gripped the whole way through. Rachel was a character that was easily liked, but also made some decisions where I was like why?! Overall it was a fantastic read, and I would definitely recommend it!

Louise

April 10, 2022

3.5 stars rounded up to 4When Rachel meets Luc, the attraction is instant. But she is the Doctor, and he is the 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. Rachel, a GP, is in her forties. her marriage to Nathan is stale and her daughter is distant with her. When Luc turns up to her surgery, he's a new patient, he's clearly distressed. She helps him to calm down. The story is told from Rachel's point of view. The pace is slow. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't trust any of them either. It's quite a dark read but it's neither tense or thrilling. This story has a dual timeline with a few twists. I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't love it either.I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #JaneShemilt for my ARC of #ThePatient in exchange for an honest review.

Val

April 21, 2022

Wow, thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and Netgalley for the invitation to read The Patient. What a treat. I love it when you know or have been to the the location of a book and The Patient took me right back to the Salisbury Cathedral Close are of Salisbury, and indulges your imagination with the fantastic descriptive writing of Jane Shemilt. I started this book with no expectations as had never heard of or read a book or by Jane Shemilt before, but will definitely be looking out for more by this author and checking out previous books, as if they are anywhere near as good as this, I will thoroughly enjoy them. In this book Rachel Goodchild, a local GP meets Luc late one evening at the practice, 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. He's not only her patient but a neighbour too and there's a very tangled web to uncover. The book is told from Rachel's perspective and flits between the present and the past and flows perfectly. I loved It is an incredibly well written and unpredictable psychological thriller and really hard to put down as it is so exciting, and love the mix of betrayal, obsession and nervousness and 'its worth the wait for the fantastic twisty ending. My only negative was that I don't think the blurb really did this book a justice as there is so much more to it. than that.

Jo_Scho_Reads

May 08, 2022

Dr Rachel Goodchild is a GP, in her forties with a distant husband and daughter. She juggles everything, often not that well. But when Luc Lefevre visits her practice on a random evening, it starts a cataclysmic chain of events which will impact everyone’s lives - not necessarily for the better. He is her patient. She is his doctor. But is the attraction too strong to resist? This is a brilliant concept; we have the forty-something neglected wife and the charming yet deeply complicated Luc. Who on earth could resist? But this book is far, far more than a simple adultery gone wrong tale. Oh no there is much more to this story than originally meets the eye. As we get introduced to Luc’s family and wealth it becomes apparent that his life is very far removed from Rachel’s but destiny has still brought them together and destiny can tear them apart…The characters in this book were all wildly different; some I liked, some I hated. But they were all relevant to the plot and added suspicion and intrigue throughout. However what I loved best about this book was just as you thought you had the plot sorted, boom! There goes a great twist. And boom! There goes another. My head was spinning trying to work out who was telling the truth and who was double crossing who! Im happy to inform you I got it completely wrong! A fantastic psychological thriller that starts off quietly and then hurtles along at top speed keeping you guessing all the way. I read it in two days which is always a good sign. Thank you Harper Collins for my ARC. All views my own.

marnie | once upon a time book reviews

April 27, 2022

An intriguing tale of vengeance, betrayal, obsession and over stepped boundaries, The Patient is the first book I have read from Jane Shemilt and what a great introduction to her work. I really liked this book and devoured it in one sitting.The story pulled me in immediately and I was caught up in Rachel’s world. It gave me an uneasy feeling throughout and I had no idea how it would all unfold which I loved. There are so many psychological thrillers I have read where its intentions were made too early losing its thrill, so this was a welcomed refreshing change.The characters are well developed and not all likeable which I really liked and they play out their roles well. The story is very well written, executed and its tension is off the charts! The twists are thrilling and round up the story well.All in all The Patient is a very enjoyable and entertaining read and I look forward to reading more from Shemilt.Thank you to Jane Shemilt, Harper Collins and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of The Patient, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarilyWhere you can find me 😊💻 Blog: bit.ly/3gR3io8👩‍🏫 Facebook: bit.ly/3gVeC2B🐤Twitter: bit.ly/3BQk2Dl📷 Instagram: bit.ly/3wSv0Gj📌 Pinterest: bit.ly/3vS2HGX📚 Goodreads: bit.ly/3wQxUM3

Christina

October 23, 2021

A mesmerising tale of obsession, vengeance and betrayal, expertly unpicking the threads of a marriage and the lies that bind. Absorbingly atmospheric with elegant, lyrical prose and a brooding slow-burn tension, The Patient is utterly unforgettable.The story follows Rachel, a GP, who sees a patient one night and feels an unexpected attraction. She doesn't act on her feelings and instead gives him the drugs he needs, setting in motion a story that intricately dissects an unhappy marriage.Compelling, haunting and beautifully told, I loved the sense of place and Shemilt's attention to detail in her settings. A novel you won't want to miss.

Jennifer

April 28, 2022

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.

Sarah

May 03, 2022

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!

Zelda

September 25, 2022

This book popped up on social media and I found myself intrigued by the blurb despite not having read anything else by the author. I ordered a copy and what it read it has been. Reaching for this book you will find it has a slow start, but before you know it the story is galloping along delivering one twist after the next. It’s a story full of surprises that is sure to keep you flipping pages into the early hours.I am new to Jane Shemilt’s work and found myself enjoying the way she eases you into the story. Her mature characters are relatable and the twists she delivers are brilliant. I found it very difficult to put this book down once I reached the second half. After the slow start, the increase in pace kept me glued to the pages.Rachel is a respected local doctor whose life is stable and secure. She has everything under control and she is content, even if she is a tad listless and bored with the routine of her days. Until a new patient moves into her neighbourhood with his American wife. Rachel finds herself intrigued by Luc and before she realises what is happening this man is a part of her life and turning everything upside down. The relaxing start to the story left me with some doubt, but the more I read the more difficult it become to put this book down. I was wrapped up in the story and quickly forgot about the book starting slowly. It is a surprising read that delivers twists you never expected.Dr Rachel Goodchild has dedicated her life to her career. As she is getting older, she realises that she has maybe not spent as much time with her family as she should have. Her husband is distant and their relationship is not what it used to be. Her daughter is distant and prefers to keep Rachel at arm’s length. When Rachel meets Luc there is an awakening of her younger self and she experiences feelings long forgotten. This book is an intriguing read that eases you into the story, allowing you to relax, only to pick up speed, delivering twist after twist you never expected. If you enjoy a suspense thriller, then this book is guaranteed to have you reading into the early hours. I am looking forward to reading more of this author’s work.https://featzreviews.com

Laurie

January 25, 2023

I loved that you really weren’t sure who was crazy throughout the book. Very twisty… quick read

janine

August 02, 2022

I must admit that after reading the blurb I was expecting more of a thriller but found this to be more of a domestic drama/mystery which was slightly disappointing bit that was based purely on my own preconceptions. This one is definitely a slow burner but once the pace picks up it gets alot easier to read.Rachel is a doctor working at a General Practice and living in Salisbury. A married mother, going through the menopause and feeling completely unfulfilled with her life. Her marriage to Nathan is falling apart and the relationship with her grown daughter Lixxie is strained at best.At the end of a long day at the surgery in walks Luc... cue dramatic music. Luc is suffering with his ,mental health and suicidal thoughts. Rachel feels an instant connection with Luc and wants to help as best she can.Moths later Rachel and Luc are being detained charged with murder... how did a Doctor and her patient end up in this situation? *NO SPOILERS*Told from alternating timelines purely from Rachel's POV you'll find out just how Rachel and Luc's relationship forms.I really enjoyed the character development within this story. Rachel and Luc are really the only likeable characters and thanks to the way Rachel is treated by her husband and daughter is makes you feel sympathy towards her and garners more likeability to her character.Even though I felt the plot was plausible, relevant to this day and age with the basis of mental health and enjoyable enough read I couldn't help but feel that there were a host of loose ends just left dangling at the end. Personally if it's not a book series providing a cliffhanger or promise of another installment I like the books I read to be tied up tightly with a big bow at the end.3.5*With thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

Jane

May 04, 2022

Doctors and patients have a unique relationship, intimate but lacking in emotion until it isn't. Rachel is a GP, her encounter with Luc seems serendipitous, but fate isn't always kind. Rachel and Luc are complex, flawed and relatable. Each character in this psychological fiction is believable and purposeful, many are unlikeable, but they have a part to play in this poignant and twisty story.Every event told from Rachel's viewpoint adds to the intensity and suspense. The reader knows there is something profoundly wrong, and this sense of apprehension magnifies and develops into something dark and dangerous.The pacing reflects the twists, and these are surprisingly shocking. Themes of marital relationships, mental health and life changes define this memorable story.I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

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