Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Published by Brilliance Audio, Montlake Romance on March 8, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Suspense
Length: 11 hours, 18 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Secrets worth dying―and killing―for, in a novel of suspense inspired by a horrific true crime by Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author Loreth Anne White.
When the battered body of a female jogger is found beneath the cliffs of an idyllic coastal community, these perfect neighbors suddenly don’t seem so perfect…
Lily Bradley is a respected psychotherapist married to a distinguished professor. They live in a dream house with their two children in close-knit Story Cove. Lily lives a well-ordered life. Or so it seems. As a therapist, she knows everyone keeps things hidden. Even her.
Then sensual and free-spirited Arwen Harper rolls into town in her hand-painted VW van, her sixteen-year-old son riding shotgun. Overnight, Story Cove’s secrets are no longer safe. Because Arwen might know her new neighbors better than they know themselves.
Now someone is dead, and it looks like murder. Brutal and personal. The death invites the shrewd eye of Detective Rue Duval. Rue’s job is to expose secrets. But she’s also an expert at keeping them.
As the lives of three women become inexorably entwined, one thing is clear: when it comes to survival, ordinary people can do the most terrible things.
I’m a big fan of this author and so it didn’t surprise me that I loved The Patient’s Secret. There are several families who are having various issues which add to the layers and make it unclear who the killer is. Everyone has secrets and motive.
Tom and Lily Bradley have children, Phoebe and Matthew. Lily thinks Tom is having an affair. She is worried her secret will come out and her children’s ages, as well as her daughter’s current choices are freaking her out. Tom finds the body and seems like a prime suspect.  Matthew is a star; I adore his role.
Simon and Hannah are neighbors and friends, also with children. Hannah also thinks her husband is having an affair.
Arwen and her son, Joe came to the neighborhood only a few months ago. Arwen has some issues, including seducing married men. She is writing a book about her past trauma and has experience with investigative journalism in the past. Joe is very worried about his Mom because of her drinking and drugs.
Phoebe Bradley is 12 and she is spending time and wants to date Joe, who is 16. Lily feels this is too big of an age gap. Phoebe and Joe really connect and become close friends.
Rue is the homicide detective. She has been working on a serial killer case which has similarities to this death, so she wants this case. She is also having problems in her marriage. Her son, Eb, is completely supportive of her.
This miasma of cheating and insecure to dissolving relationships goes nuclear when Arwen the seductress is found dead in suspicious circumstances. I won’t spoil the twisty path of everyone could be a suspect. None of the women want their husband to be the killer.
The children are key players in the story. Matthew, Joe and Eb are such great characters. They end up having to be very adult for the circumstances they face.
Narration:
I’ve enjoyed this narrator in the past and her performance worked well for me again. There is some dialogue but the stream of thought where we get their point of view seems to be mostly women – Lily, Rue, Hannah and Matthew. The voices were all comfortable for me. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
About Loreth Anne White
Loreth Anne White is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries.
A three-time RITA finalist, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall, in addition to being a Booksellers’ Best finalist, a multiple Daphne Du Maurier Award finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award winner.
A former journalist and newspaper editor who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing, you will find her skiing, biking, or hiking the trails with her Black Dog.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I really enjoy family dramas, this sounds great. Wonderful review, Anne.
It’s like a community is blowing up over secrets and deception.
I’m a fan of Loreth Anne White, too! Can’t wait to read this one. 😀
Her books tend to be dark but I always enjoy them. This one has pretty much no romance though she usually writes romantic suspense.
I want to get to this one at some point since I love her writing. It’s on Kindle Unlimited too, so that’s a plus. I just have so little time right now! Glad to see you enjoyed it, Anne!
yes I enjoyed it. I understand the no time right now issue.
I’m a big fan of the author and narrator, too, and am excited about this one. Excellent review, Anne💜
I hope you love it.
Wow, what a neighborhood. I am glad that my neighborhood is boring. This sounds like a good twisty mystery and I think that I would probably enjoy this one.
You never know! People are hiding their secrets. lol