Sara and her husband, Sigurd, have inherited his grandfather’s old home. This is everything they have been waiting for. As an architect, Sigurd has great ideas and together the two draw up plans. Sara is a therapist and is now able to see patients at home in her private office over the garage. It’s been months now and very little of the renovations have been done, Sigurd is always tired from his job, and Sara feels unseen and lonely. When Sigurd plans a trip away with friends, Sara is a bit annoyed, and when he doesn’t show up for the weekend annoyance turns to worry. When Sigurd is found dead at his parents cabin, there are many unanswered questions. Sara is an unreliable narrator and her emotions don’t always fit the situation making the reader question her innocence. Sara and Sigurds backstory is slowly revealed in between chapters. The police investigation is ongoing, but very little is shared with the reader. Strange happenings start to surround Sara, but are they real or imagined? This book was quite a slow read and rather predictable, but it did have a satisfying conclusion.

A wonderful atmospheric mystery that I devouted in a few hours. Sara, a psychologist gets a phone call from her husband that he has reached a cabin he is vacationing at with friends. Instead he turns up murdered in the woods. Sara becomes a prime suspect. A wonderfully original story.

When Sara gets a mid-morning voicemail in between her therapy sessions saying her husband, Sigurd, has arrived at a ski cabin with his friends for a scheduled weekend getaway, nothing seems even slightly amiss. But when his friends phone later that evening to say he never showed up, she realizes something is very wrong. Her husband is later found outside a remote cabin belonging to his family, murdered. From there, Sara begins digging into her husband's life, realizing her steadfast, straightforward husband may be hiding a lot more than she ever realized. And those secrets may have been deadly.

This novel had a lot of suspense, as each new secret, from both Sara and Sigurd, was revealed, and I really enjoyed reading it. There were plenty of suspects and scenarios, none of which really stood out to me, meaning that I was waiting patiently until the end for the big reveal to see how things went down. And it was really quite a great ending.

But the way it was written was a little disappointing, I'm not going to lie. It was all very understated, perhaps because of Sara's nature as a therapist. She has a very stream-of-consciousness style throughout the book, and that continues through to the reveals. It makes them come through with a bit of a thud rather than a "bang!" Which was a shame, because everything had real potential in this one.

But I still liked some of the neat twists and turns the novel takes. There were some real OMG moments in there that really surprised me. The author was good about adding nuance and small details that added depth to the novel.

Overall, this was a good book, if a little clinical.

Thank you to Netgalley and Helene Flood for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

I ended up DNF'ing this book around the 100 pages mark. The story seemed to move so slowly. I have a rule that if by 100 pages I can't seem to get into a book and drag out reading if I will not finish. I appreciate what this author was trying to do just for me personally it did not entertain me.

I have a friend who obsesses over books that are considered "nordic" . Given the way she hypes these books out I wanted to see what I have been missing. I asked for a suggestion and without hesitation she blurted out "The Therapist" . So, here I sit with my jaw on the floor in complete awe over what I just read.

Why did it take me so long to request this book? I am so grateful it was recommended to me, so in turn I am going to pay it forward and recommend this book to EVERYONE!

This was a character driven, slow burn, psychological thriller. What I loved most was that I was drawn in early on and my interest peeked with the story line. I loved Sara. The character development was on point and satisfying. The ending was one I could have never anticipated and loved every bit of it .

I can not wait to see what Helene Flood comes out with next as I have become a true fan after reading The Therapist.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this e book in exchange for my honest review!
Synopsis: At first it's the lie that hurts. A voicemail from her husband tells Sara he's arrived at the holiday cabin. Then a call from his friend confirms he never did. She tries to carry on as normal, teasing out her clients' deepest fears, but as the hours stretch out, her own begin to surface. And when the police finally take an interest, they want to know why Sara deleted that voicemail. To get to the root of Sigurd's disappearance, Sara must question everything she knows about her relationship. Could the truth about what happened be inside her head? Translated from the Norwegian by Alison McCullough.

One of my favorite sub genres of thrillers are domestic and psychological thrillers; and this book is both! I also enjoyed knowing that the author of this book is a psychologist herself, it really added a layer into the book that I knew what she was writing about. Enjoyed this novel, and I didn't notice anything weird with the translation to english!

The Therapist
From the mind of a psychologist comes a chilling domestic thriller that gets under your skin.
by Helene Flood
Publisher Mobius books MacLehose Press
Release date: February 3, 2022

A voicemail from her husband tells Sara he's arrived at the holiday cabin. Then a call from his friend confirms he never did
She tries to carry on as normal, teasing out her clients' deepest fears, but as the hours stretch out, her own begin to surface. And when the police finally take an interest, they want to know why Sara deleted that voicemail.
To get to the root of Sigurd's disappearance, Sara must question everything she knows about their relationship.
Could the truth about what happened to be inside her head?

Translated from the Norwegian by Alison McCullough

Perhaps parts of the book were Perhaps things got lost in translation. Hence, this is more of a problem than the authors! I am usually a mystery /thrill reader, I just did not find this was one I enjoyed.

Title: THE THERAPIST
Author: Helene Flood
Publisher Mobius books MacLehose Press
Release date : February 3 2022

Sarah is married to a man whom she deeply loves .. She is a therapist with a struggling practice but is ok with the number of clients she has.
Her much loved husband goes missing one day and she is falling apart trying to find out what happened to him. She can't decide who she can trust or if she can even trust her own mind.
Reading this book is very enthralling as you never really know for sure what is REALLY going on until the very end and that is when you'll get your AHA moment.
I loved this book and am looking forward to her next one .
Thanks to Netgalley and Mobius Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

“The Therapist
By: Helene Flood

When Her Husband Disappears, A Therapist Questions
Whether She's Losing Her Mind

Young married couple, Sigurd and Sara, busy with their individual budding careers, him as an architect and her as an adolescent psychologist, live in Sigurd’s deceased grandfather’s decrepit Oslo house while slowly renovating it in their spare time in Helene Flood’s debut Norwegian Nordic Noir who dun-it, “The Therapist.”

Life goes unexpectedly out-of-control for Sara the weekend that Sigurd leaves early for a weekend ski trip to the mountains with his buddies. Departing home around daylight, Sigurd phones Sara mid-morning leaving a voicemail stating that he and the guys had arrived at their destination.

Sara conducts a normal workday after she arises, seeing multiple patients for psychotherapy, followed by lunch, spin class and some shopping. Only later in the evening when she receives a call from one of her husband's ski party friends, does she panic.

Sigurd never arrived at the cabin that afternoon. It wasn't a morning rendezvous at all as he had told her. Sigurd also obviously lied on the voicemail. He also never answered any of the calls when she phoned.

Her questions continue to mount. What's going on with Sigurd? Where did he go? Why would he lie? The police certainly are interested as well? The number one suspect…? The wife, Sara, of course?

Not only is Sigurd missing, but it seems that someone, Sigurd?...is messing with Sara’s mind…or are they? Is she hearing noises in the house at night? Are things in the house being rearranged? Is Sara being gaslighted? And if she is, by whom and why?

“The Therapist,” is a well-structured and complex psychological thriller of the highest order with subtle nuances and twists coming that will surprise even the keenest mystery sleuths. As a practicing psychologist, Helene Flood understands the field intimately and has done a masterful job with this tantalizing noir.

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The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Therapist”
Author: Helene Flood
Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers |
Publication Date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Mobius Books, MacLehose
Translated from Norwegian by Alison McCullough

With Sincerest Appreciation to NetGalley, Author Helene Flood and Publisher Mobius Books, MacLehose for Providing this Advance Reader’s Copy for Review.

I enjoyed this book! It was obviously translated but I feel like it didn't take away from the story. I found it to be suspenseful, never saw the ending coming and thought the book was really good.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacLehose Press for the e ARC of The Therapist by Helene Flood. Apparently, I am not a fan of Nordic noir. Perhaps things got lost in translation. I started this domestic thriller of 336 pages on February 1, 2022, read almost every night and just finished tonight. You know how some stories are like fast speed boats - you start a great story and you hold on as you race through a thrilling, unputadownable tale that you cannot wait to finish? Well, this novel felt to me that I was on the slow speed boat that was dragging the anchor in circles. There were so many unnecessary details in this books, It was repetitive and so slow. The plot- Unhappily married couple, loneliness, deception, someone dies and then the police come into solve the murder. I really did not care who was guilty by the end. I just wanted it to end. Hard to recommend. 2 stars from me. #NetGalley

The storyline for this one was pretty decent when I thought it was building up to something good. Then, it just kind of flopped for me. The intense unfolding I was waiting for never really happened. The big moment lasted like half a page and then I really hated the twist and big reveal. And even the one liner on the cover doesn't even make much sense. "The truth about what happened is inside her head". I don't get that. I was really hoping of a more "Woman in the Window" vibes and It just wasn't there. I guess continues my kind of floppy 2022

I was so, so bored through most of this. First, I noticed that this had clearly been translated from another language, and then I nearly put it down because passages go on and on with flowery prose about things that have nothing at all to do with the main plot. I was never pulled into the story because the bulk of it was told in blithering monologue, so I didn't care about the characters or what happened to them. It was utterly frustrating.

I got this from @netgalley I was drawn in by the title (obviously) but I have to say this wasn’t for me - it wasn’t horrible or anything like that it was just overly detailed in non essential ways and a very slow long story - I finished five others since I started this because it just bored me or lost me in the mundane details - I honestly fell asleep twice while reading it …I will say I didn’t figure it out but I don’t know if that is because I got so lost In the wordy narrative or just lost interest …. Again it wasn’t bad it just isn’t my style or for me … there were some good parts and I highlighted two quotes that spoke to me and I hold true - I honestly hate inconsistent people or things and I too believe if you are forgetful there is less to question and less evidence to argue having a good memory makes the inconsistency more obvious and more suspicious lol

Sara’s husband leaves early in the morning for a weekend away with two friends. She gets a voicemail from him a few hours later letting her know that he made it safe and sound. But then his friends call her because he never made it.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this, but I read the entire thing in like 48 hours. It was great! It’s a psychological thriller/mystery set in Norway with a lot of twists and turns. I’m worried I’ll give spoilers if I explain more. Read it! Thanks #netgalley, @mobius_books, and @helene.flood 🥰

#bookcommunity #bookstagram #bookish #reading #bookrecommendations #thrillerbooks #mysterybooks #sundayvibes #relaxing #candlesofinstagram

I loved The Therapist, including the excellent translation by Alison McCullough. The first person narrative provides intimacy with the protagonist’s inner most thoughts and feelings that is effective in building a well-executed, entertaining mystery. I wouldn’t call this novel a thriller, but nonetheless it is still psychologically suspenseful. Readers will experience feeling like a detective throughout story, questioning if Sara is a reliable narrator.

The plot is a slow burn that gradually builds and unfolds to readers. The Therapist held my attention and I devoured the book in one day. I also loved the setting in Oslo, Norway. I can’t wait to read the author’s next book due to be published in English in 2022.

This book is translated from Norwegian and personally, I loved all of books that are translated from other countries. Nordic Noir authors seems to capture me more with their writing styles. Generally, domestic thriller is a hit or miss for me but unfortunately this one just didn't hit for me.

THE THERAPIST is a slow burning domestic thriller whose husband goes missing and she is trying to figure out what had happened to him. Sara, the main character, gets a voicemail saying he made it to his cabin trip with his friends however his friends called later in the evening saying he never made it.

The first few chapters of the book really drew me in! Sara's life began to unfold the minute husband left the house and when Sara got the voicemail. I also really enjoyed the last few pages of the book how everything tied together. Although throughout the book, nothing big drastic has happened and there was no major twist.

I really enjoyed reading this and the mystery behind everything. Trying to piece everything together before it gets revealed is one of my favorite parts!! I do however feel that the book could have been a bit shorter but overall i enjoyed the book.

“The Therapist, “ by real-life psychiatrist Helene Flood (translated from Norwegian by Alison McCullough), is an exciting murder mystery. Sara Lanthus is the main character, a psychologist. Sara’s husband, Sigurd, is an architect, trying to fix their old, inherited home. The repairs are never-ending, putting strain on both characters. Sigurd is heading out for the weekend with his two best friends, Jan Erik and Thomas, on an early Friday morning. He wakes Sara to tell her he’s leaving, and she goes back to sleep. Sara wakes a while later to begin her work day, having only three patients before her weekend begins. Sara realizes she has a missed call, but upon listening to her husband tell her he’s arrived at the cabin with his friends, and she believes all is well. She keeps her afternoon appointment, and is then done for the day.

After her patients, Sara attempts to call her husband back, with no answer. She’s bothered by this, and keeps trying to no avail. When she hears from his two best friends, the ones he was supposedly with, she panics, and tries too early to file a missing person’s claim with the police. Eventually, with a visit to and the help of her attorney sister, Annika, Sara marches into the police station to tell them what she knows.

In the meantime, Sara swears there is someone in her house at night. Little things appear and or are moved, things only she notices, and one night she hears footsteps on the floor above her, but there is never any sign of forced entry.

Though the book rambles a bit in places (this may be due to the translation into English), it contains an exciting plot, climax, and a satisfying ending. Fans of murder mysteries will enjoy reading this work. It is well-researched, and from Sara’s perspective, the fact that Helene Flood is herself a psychiatrist gives it authenticity. I’ve rated it four stars, because the NetGalley copy I was sent has a total of one-hundred-sixty pages missing or misnumbered, making continuity difficult. However, overall, it is a worthwhile read with gorgeous prose that will lure you into the plot, and encourage you to read more by Helene Flood.

Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this advance copy.

Really intriguing book- although I wouldn't label this a thriller, so if you're looking for that classic page turner you won't find that here.

However, I couldn't stop myself from bingeing this book all the same. The book follows Sara, a therapist with her own practice. She goes about her day as normal- when she starts to realize her husband, Sigard is missing. The rest of the book follows her story into finding the answers of what led her husband to go missing, what happened to him once he did, and who could be behind it.

There are a few twists and turns along the way but overall I just found it a very intriguing novel, and although I predicted the ending- the book still came together really great in the end!