The Patient by Cole Baxter

Release: 08 Oct 2023
Format: Ebook
Publisher: ‎ Inkubator Books
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

The things he fears the most are the ones inside his head.

Ten years ago, James Owens was convicted of a murder he couldn’t remember committing. Now, finally released from the mental institution where he’s served his time, he is placed under house arrest in the sprawling family home he has inherited from his father.

Living in isolation, visited only by his therapist, parole officer, and supportive but controlling twin Janet, he at least has something resembling peace. But he is still haunted by hallucinations, nightmares, and bizarre memories which may or may not be real.

Strange sounds in the house, and objects which disappear or are mysteriously damaged all add to his fear that he is sliding into uncontrolled insanity again.

But is he? Or is his fragile mental state being manipulated by someone with a sinister agenda of their own?

When tragedy strikes, James must go on a journey that will force him to confront the past – and the haunted depths of his own tortured soul.

The Patient – the terrifying psychological thriller perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, and K L Slater.

About the Author:

Cole Baxter loves writing psychological suspense thrillers. It’s all about that last reveal that he loves shocking readers with.
He grew up in New York, where there crime was all around. He decided to turn that into something positive with his fiction.
His stories will have you reading through the night–they are very addictive!

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

The Patient Review:

To start, I enjoyed how the author portrayed James. He’s just out of a mental institution, and you’re left wondering throughout the story whether his experiences are real or just in his head. The author keeps that mysterious vibe around James’s life, which makes the tale atmospheric. I also liked diving into James’s past through those flashbacks of his troubled relationship with his father and his mother’s diary entries.

Now, let’s talk about Janet. Oh boy, I couldn’t stand her. She keeps coming and going in James’s life, and you can tell something’s off about her. There were times when I wanted to give James a reality check for letting Janet mess with his head so much. Janet is one of the most infuriating characters the author created, which made the story memorable for me.

The side characters like Brianna and Dr. Sellers fit nicely into the plot. There’s always something interesting happening in each chapter, so it never gets boring. And there were some seriously spine-chilling moments, especially in the second half when James goes through some messed-up stuff (I won’t spoil it here). Overall, I had a great time with most of the book!

However, the twist at the end was easy to predict. With only a handful of characters in the story, it was easy to figure out what was happening. Also, the author could have explained some parts of what James witnessed, although most of it does make sense.

Nevertheless, the author had me glued to the pages as the characters go through crazy situations, making you feel claustrophobic to think about what they all experience in the house.

Overall, “The Patient” is a solid addition to the author’s collection, and I’m looking forward to reading more from them!