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ellelainey's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
DNF'd at page 48.
This was boring, predictable and uninteresting. I honestly can't fathom how this is billed as "compelling" and "visceral". The characters were all one-dimensional, unrealistic and acted completely over the top and in ways that made no sense. It feels like it was trying to be The Silent Patient [book:The Silent Patient|40097951] but it failed to be that interesting.
Right from the start, I got nothing from Rose. She had no personality, and viewed everything through a clinical and impersonal lens. The arrogance of self-diagnosing people with various imagined symptoms was an unnecessary reminder that she was training to be a doctor, because...actually, it was mentioned nearly every page. Rose likes to think she knows everything, but she's such a snob that "nursing" would kill her if she failed her Drs exams... Um, do you hear yourself? Nurses are the backbone to every hospital. They do FAR more than most doctors, with less than half the credit.
Theo wasn't much better. While Rose had this ridiculous, convoluted backstory to reveal, Theo was a bland, struggling author, such a stereotype that he had to write his stories with a copy of Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' right next to him. *insert eye roll* The eventual relationship between Rose and Theo - which I didn't read long enough to read, but knew was inevitable and proved by skipping to the end - was pointless, made him shallow, and was a huge disappointment. Why can a man reporter not investigate a female prisoner without falling head-over-ass in love with her?
The POV swaps *really* weren't necessary. The Prologue is told in 3rd person, present tense. Rose is told in 1st person. Then Theo is told in 3rd person, present tense. Why?
The flashbacks of Rose meeting Daniel for the first time were...I just don't get it. It's not interesting, it's not important, and it really isn't needed.
Worse, this is where we get some really odd phrasings and conversations. "My gut inverted" - Lady, you need to see a doctor if that's happening. Honestly, I found most of her interactions with Daniel to be weird, but they were all So convenient! Half their conversations make no sense.
Worse, she met this guy, had ONE conversation with him and was *instantly* fascinated and agrees to go to dinner with him after work. She tells no one where she's going, gets into his car and THEN!! thinks about how she could be driven to a secluded place, kidnapped and raped?! Are you for real? Then, at dinner with this man she's just TAKEN TO HER HOUSE, she doesn't want to drink too much, because - kidnap, torture and rape.
When Theo finally meets her - and I say finally, because despite being the crux of the plot and the entire point of the blurb, it doesn't happen until around 30 pages in - he says "hearing it from her lips, the cast comes alive, names on paper become real." Well, I really wish I could say the same, but this book couldn't live up to even that quote.
Sorry, but Rose is just SO pretentious and bland, with zero personality, that I couldn't stomach reading any more.
This was boring, predictable and uninteresting. I honestly can't fathom how this is billed as "compelling" and "visceral". The characters were all one-dimensional, unrealistic and acted completely over the top and in ways that made no sense. It feels like it was trying to be The Silent Patient [book:The Silent Patient|40097951] but it failed to be that interesting.
Right from the start, I got nothing from Rose. She had no personality, and viewed everything through a clinical and impersonal lens. The arrogance of self-diagnosing people with various imagined symptoms was an unnecessary reminder that she was training to be a doctor, because...actually, it was mentioned nearly every page. Rose likes to think she knows everything, but she's such a snob that "nursing" would kill her if she failed her Drs exams... Um, do you hear yourself? Nurses are the backbone to every hospital. They do FAR more than most doctors, with less than half the credit.
Theo wasn't much better. While Rose had this ridiculous, convoluted backstory to reveal, Theo was a bland, struggling author, such a stereotype that he had to write his stories with a copy of Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood' right next to him. *insert eye roll* The eventual relationship between Rose and Theo - which I didn't read long enough to read, but knew was inevitable and proved by skipping to the end - was pointless, made him shallow, and was a huge disappointment. Why can a man reporter not investigate a female prisoner without falling head-over-ass in love with her?
The POV swaps *really* weren't necessary. The Prologue is told in 3rd person, present tense. Rose is told in 1st person. Then Theo is told in 3rd person, present tense. Why?
The flashbacks of Rose meeting Daniel for the first time were...I just don't get it. It's not interesting, it's not important, and it really isn't needed.
Worse, this is where we get some really odd phrasings and conversations. "My gut inverted" - Lady, you need to see a doctor if that's happening. Honestly, I found most of her interactions with Daniel to be weird, but they were all So convenient! Half their conversations make no sense.
Worse, she met this guy, had ONE conversation with him and was *instantly* fascinated and agrees to go to dinner with him after work. She tells no one where she's going, gets into his car and THEN!! thinks about how she could be driven to a secluded place, kidnapped and raped?! Are you for real? Then, at dinner with this man she's just TAKEN TO HER HOUSE, she doesn't want to drink too much, because - kidnap, torture and rape.
When Theo finally meets her - and I say finally, because despite being the crux of the plot and the entire point of the blurb, it doesn't happen until around 30 pages in - he says "hearing it from her lips, the cast comes alive, names on paper become real." Well, I really wish I could say the same, but this book couldn't live up to even that quote.
Sorry, but Rose is just SO pretentious and bland, with zero personality, that I couldn't stomach reading any more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Death, Grief, Cancer, Confinement, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Infertility, Mental illness, Murder, and Toxic relationship
readdrinkandbehappy's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
xomadisyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
coleminereads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Too predictable
lisam0183_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This was a gripping pyschological thriller.
Rose, a nurse, is in prison for murdering one of her patients. But did she do it?
Theo, a struggling author, is wanting to write her story. What will he uncover?
There was so much suspense and build up in this story and then everything starts to unravel from about 70% in and I devoured it to the end.
I liked Rose, but wow, she had gone through so much in her life and some of it she hadn't even known about. She did kind of have a Nurse Ratchett feel to her I found in some parts.
The only little downfall I found was that there are so many characters introduced in the first 20%, it was a bit hard to keep track of who was who until further in.
Rose, a nurse, is in prison for murdering one of her patients. But did she do it?
Theo, a struggling author, is wanting to write her story. What will he uncover?
There was so much suspense and build up in this story and then everything starts to unravel from about 70% in and I devoured it to the end.
I liked Rose, but wow, she had gone through so much in her life and some of it she hadn't even known about. She did kind of have a Nurse Ratchett feel to her I found in some parts.
The only little downfall I found was that there are so many characters introduced in the first 20%, it was a bit hard to keep track of who was who until further in.
amakaazie's review against another edition
4.0
A slow and steady psychological thriller that kept me glued to the book and eager to finish.
Mostly unpredictable.
This is a story about Rose a nurse who kills her patient Abe and is convicted of murder.
Theo, an investigative non-fiction author wants a story on her and visits her in jail to interview her.
As they interact, he uncovers more about both the victim and the perpetrator and begins to believe she’s innocent.
I love JA Corrigan’s writing style, easy words that flow well in the narrative.
The romance between Theo and Rose was too abrupt and didn’t work for me.
All in all, a captivating read. I recommend
Mostly unpredictable.
This is a story about Rose a nurse who kills her patient Abe and is convicted of murder.
Theo, an investigative non-fiction author wants a story on her and visits her in jail to interview her.
As they interact, he uncovers more about both the victim and the perpetrator and begins to believe she’s innocent.
I love JA Corrigan’s writing style, easy words that flow well in the narrative.
The romance between Theo and Rose was too abrupt and didn’t work for me.
All in all, a captivating read. I recommend
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
4.0
J.A. Corrigan is just one of those authors that just command your attention. The Nurse is a testament to her skill. Immediately upon putting it down I knew it had a compulsive energy to it. Think Nurse Ratchet vs Silence of the Lambs. Her characterisation is a crescendo to the senses. The validity, the moral dilemmas and the utter humanness leaves you in awe with the realism. My introduction to this author’s work has left me salivating for more and I can’t wait to try more of her delights. The Nurse is a book that I fell for because of the blurb! The cover stopped me in my tracks, but the blurb made sure I stayed for the ride!
It is a story that whispered to me…it promised the darkness and a mystery to solve and with a convicted nurse thrown into the mix. Once upon a time I trained to be a nurse, so this really felt nostalgic, to a point. There is nothing regular about this story. The opening chapter impacts like a heart attack and the shockwaves are felt through-out the story. Rose, a nurse, is on trial for the murder of Abe, she admits her guilt and consequently receives a sentence of twenty years.
A nurse is meant to be an individual with a caring disposition, its their vocation, their calling. Just what could push them to committing the murder of one of their patients? I loved the tone; it disrupts the status quo. The plot hit the ground running. I didn’t have time or space to breathe let alone question too deeply…but question is what the reader must do. A man in the gallery of the court is intrigued by her story…can he get to the bottom of it? Will Rose let him?
Theo Hazel is a bit of a broken man. His marriage has ended in divorce, he lost his teenage son, and his finances are in ruins. One more month and the bank will be foreclosing on his house. He has one last chance – writing a book about Rose and her supposed victim, Abe. He’s convinced his editor will love it and might just be his next big payday. She’s initially dead set against meeting with him but a chance meeting with a girl named Bella and it spins her world straight out of its orbit. Be prepared, intrigue, mystery, heartache and dysfunctional families play a central role.
Corrigan has created multiple layers that form a complex plot. The Nurse had an intelligent narrative and a mystery that would not quit. I was surprised the sheer force of the writing and the themes tackled with tact and understanding. It had quite the impact on me. The author has the unique skill of making sure I was never quite sure about anything.
The Nurse was a twisty tale of betrayal and dysfunctionality. I felt everything and I was immediately swept up into the story. Dark and intense.
It is a story that whispered to me…it promised the darkness and a mystery to solve and with a convicted nurse thrown into the mix. Once upon a time I trained to be a nurse, so this really felt nostalgic, to a point. There is nothing regular about this story. The opening chapter impacts like a heart attack and the shockwaves are felt through-out the story. Rose, a nurse, is on trial for the murder of Abe, she admits her guilt and consequently receives a sentence of twenty years.
A nurse is meant to be an individual with a caring disposition, its their vocation, their calling. Just what could push them to committing the murder of one of their patients? I loved the tone; it disrupts the status quo. The plot hit the ground running. I didn’t have time or space to breathe let alone question too deeply…but question is what the reader must do. A man in the gallery of the court is intrigued by her story…can he get to the bottom of it? Will Rose let him?
Theo Hazel is a bit of a broken man. His marriage has ended in divorce, he lost his teenage son, and his finances are in ruins. One more month and the bank will be foreclosing on his house. He has one last chance – writing a book about Rose and her supposed victim, Abe. He’s convinced his editor will love it and might just be his next big payday. She’s initially dead set against meeting with him but a chance meeting with a girl named Bella and it spins her world straight out of its orbit. Be prepared, intrigue, mystery, heartache and dysfunctional families play a central role.
Corrigan has created multiple layers that form a complex plot. The Nurse had an intelligent narrative and a mystery that would not quit. I was surprised the sheer force of the writing and the themes tackled with tact and understanding. It had quite the impact on me. The author has the unique skill of making sure I was never quite sure about anything.
The Nurse was a twisty tale of betrayal and dysfunctionality. I felt everything and I was immediately swept up into the story. Dark and intense.