A review by outsmartyourshelf
The Patient by Jasper DeWitt

dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

A short but definitely not sweet book, The Patient follows newly qualified psychologist, Parker, who has taken a job working at a mental hospital in New England. The book is written in the form of blog posts detailing Parker's contact with a patient named 'Joe'. Joe is a forty-one-year-old man who has been at the hospital since he was a young boy. Few people have any contact with him & he seems to be incurable, but Parker thinks he may be able to get through to him.

As the book is so short, it was difficult to get to know or really care about Parker & some of his decisions were strange. Parker's naiveite & youthful enthusiasm lead him astray & disaster is only narrowly averted initially. I can't imagine being that gullible to be honest. The writing style was okay but I think a slightly longer book may have fleshed out the characters more & given the reader more time to actually connect with the main character. It was a gripping read but can't say I actually enjoyed reading it due to some of the subject matter (trigger warnings below). 2.5 stars (rounded down).

TWs: suicide, sexual assault, animal cruelty/death, coarse language. 
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