This was such a fun read and I was sucked in from the very first chapter. I was a little hesitant at first, since this was almost 450 pages long and I wasn't sure how a seemingly straightforward mystery would handle being stretched out for that long. However, I think Quinn did a great job of layering a few different plot threads as well as weaving these plots together at different points in the book.

I loved all the characters in this read - especially Meg. She is such an interesting and complex character. I loved how the mystery thread is intertwined with Meg's character development and how, eventually, Meg comes around to the idea that in order to find out what happened to her sister, she'll have to work on herself first.

Obviously, since this was set in a rehab clinic, there is a lot of discussion about addiction of various types. I don't personally have any experience in this area so I can't speak personally to the representation. However, there is a note in the book that says Quinn was inspired to write this book after her own experience in rehab.

On paper, this ending feels like it should be one of those off the rails endings that I absolutely love. However, it didn't quite land right for me. After giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that while I very much enjoyed the twist aspect (I certainly didn't see it coming), I think it deflated some of the character development we get throughout the previous 400 pages. But as with any twisty endings, results will vary reader to reader.

Overall, this was a good mystery with a great cast of characters. The topic of rehab/addiction is core to the story but felt like it was handled well. I loved Meg and her journey throughout the book. The ending didn't work for me as well as I would have liked, but I can see other readers liking it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC. Expected publication date is January 23, 2024.

In "The Clinic," we follow Meg, a casino employee in LA, whose life takes a dramatic turn when she hears about the death of her sister, Haley, a well-known actress, at a remote rehab facility. Struggling with her own issues, including an addiction to pain pills, Meg can't bring herself to accept the reports suggesting suicide. Determined to uncover the truth, she decides to investigate from the inside by checking into the same rehab facility.

As Meg grapples with her personal demons and faces the challenges of isolation, the story unfolds, revealing the complexities of her quest for the real story behind Haley's death. The narrative seamlessly blends Meg's internal struggles, her relentless pursuit of the truth, and the mysterious secrets hidden within the rehab facility's walls.

"The Clinic" is a gripping thriller that explores themes of addiction, family dynamics, and the lengths one would go to unveil the truth. The author creates a compelling story that keeps readers engaged, intertwining personal battles with a suspenseful mystery. It's a tale of deception, redemption, and the unyielding quest for answers in the face of tragedy.

When Meg learns that her sister Haley, a famous actress, has died at a remote rehab clinic on the Pacific Northwest coast, there are whispers of suicide, but Meg doesn't believe the rumors. Haley had been forced to go to The Clinic to get her addictions under control. Meg, who works at a casino catching cheaters, has been battling her own addictions. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check herself into rehab so she can investigate what really happened from the inside. But figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, far away from friends, family, and anyone who could help her.

With its remote and atmospheric setting, dual POVs, and short chapters, "The Clinic" is a bingeable thriller full of twists and turns. I enjoyed reading the story from the perspectives of Meg and Cara, the manager of The Clinic, because I never knew who or what to believe. The mystery surrounding Haley's death and the potential involvement of the other rehab patients kept me hooked, and I had many theories and guesses as to what really happened. At 448 pages, this book is not necessarily a quick read, and I do think some of the subplots could have been eliminated without taking anything away from the main story. Overall, a gripping and twisty thriller that addresses difficult issues in a genuine and thoughtful way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've officially DNFed my first book of 2024.

The chapters were short, so I made it about 40% before I decided to DNF. And I almost pushed through, but I want to spend my time on ARCs more intentionally and I couldn't finish this one just because it was an ARC.

One of the first problems I came across with this book was that some of the characters blended together for me. Specifically Dr. Max and Dr. Lutz and the local police officers. It was also hard to really like any of the characters. Cara grated on my nerves with her constantly thinking that people thought she was stupid. Typically I would have empathy for her character, but just something about the way she was written just did not make me feel connected to her in any way. If it turns out this is how the author meant to write this character, then she did too good of a job.

What finally made me decide to DNF was a specific scene. It just did not seem to make any sense and really just came out of no where. There was nothing inherently wrong with the scene, it just was a final "nope" moment for me.

The Clinic has almost 1000 ratings on Goodreads and it's hanging out at just under four stars. So I'm definitely in the minority for this one. So if you're looking for a thriller, you might still want to give this one a chance.

BOOK REVIEW 📖

The Clinic by Cate Quinn
Pub Date: Jan 23rd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Haley Banks was a famous country singer who died at a remote rehab in the Pacific Northwest. The Clinic labeled her death as an overdose, but her sister, Meg, and the local police think something more sinister is at play. Meg decides to check herself into the rehab undercover to try to find out for herself what really happened to her sister.

Thoughts: This was a super twisty psychological thriller that I would love to see as a movie! The first half of the book was a bit slower paced and took me a little while to get into, but once I got to the halfway point I was HOOKED. The overall concept was smart and unique and not quite like anything I’ve read before. There were a couple points that kept me from rating five stars - as mentioned, the pacing of the first half, and also the unlikable nature of most of the characters. However, I really loved the mystery, the setting, the pacing of the second half, and, most of all, the crazy twists! Highly recommend this to any thriller lovers. TW for mental health and substance abuse.

Read this if you like:
🧖‍♀️ celebrity gossip
🧖‍♀️ locked room mysteries
🧖‍♀️ creepy Pacific NW atmosphere
🧖‍♀️ morally grey characters
🧖‍♀️ twisty psychological thrillers

Thanks to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the eARC!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, NetGalley and author Cate Quinn for this ARC to read and review!

Holy unreliable narrator, Batman! I absolutely LOVE a psychological thriller trope where the people telling the story are a hot mess with secrets and a dark past and you second guess every single thing! Add in a creepy isolated setting and you got me! I also loved the quick and snappy chapters with dual POV … the writing style kept me flipping pages and totally engaged all the way thru! I had some suspicions to where this was going, but in the end was pleasantly satisfied with a few more surprises in the wrap up! Loved my first experience with this author … excited to check out more of her backlist!

ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ: After finding out her twin sister committed suicide in rehab, Meg goes undercover at the clinic to find out what really happened to Haley.

ᴍʏ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴇɴᴛs: This was such a great fast-paced thriller! The closed setting made everyone a suspect and I really had no idea where this book was going, but I could not put it down.

It takes place in a rehab called The Clinic, and gives a really good look at addiction and the battles people face while struggling to break an addiction.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ:
💊forced proximity
💊learning about addiction
💊closed-room mysteries

The Clinic by Cate Quinn was a very intriguing thriller.
This amazing book is very well written and the descriptions are brilliant. I felt I was in the plot with the characters. The characters were strong, interesting and believable. Very fast moving with a gripping plot. It captures you, compelling you to turn the pages until all of the words are used up.

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

When a celebrity dies mysteriously at an exclusive rehab center called "The Clinic", her sister (dealing with some dependency issues of her own), checks herself in to see if she can get to the bottom of her death.

As someone who lives in the PNW, the synopsis of this one really called to me. I was ready to be sucked in by the atmosphere of this eerie, gothic setting. The beginning was fantastic! I was pulled in by the prose, highlighting many an impressive sentence on my kindle. Unfortunately things kind of fell apart for me in the second half. Just a bit too outlandish and illogical. It was also a tad too long. That said, it was still an enjoyable read and I will definitely read what Quinn writes next!

Thank you Sourcebooks for the gifted eARC.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'll be honest I picked this book to read purely based on the cover. It has a creepy vibe and I was all for it. I was happy to find a murder mystery that I could not put down! I thought the use of different POVs helped to tell the story in a fast and quick-paced way. I didn't feel like there was ever much of a lull or dull point that I was just trying to push through. While there were a couple of scenes towards the end that felt a little disjointed to me, personally. I will say that I did not see the twist coming which always makes me happy. I found a new author to look out for!

Thank you Netgally for giving me a chance to read and review this book. The opinions and thoughts in this review are mine and mine alone.

Oh man! I have feelings about The Clinic and they aren’t pretty! First off, it took me eleven days to wade through this over the top, ridiculous novel! Every night, I’d settle in to read and fall asleep after about ten minutes. I just couldn’t get into this one! Plus- the main characters are unlikable and hard to connect with. This book was at least one hundred pages long! I wish I would have DNFed it! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my honest review. The Clinic comes out January 23, 2024.

The Clinic by Cate Quinn is about Meg who checks herself into a celebrity rehab clinic after learning that her famous sister Haley has died there. In addition to working on her own addictions, Meg eventually unravels a variety of secrets hiding at The Clinic.

The book definitely had several twists that kept me guessing about what would happen. Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

This is a new author for me. I picked up this book because the description intrigued me - checking yourself into some kind of rehab clinic gave me chills and the thought that you just might not be able to get out!

Description:
Meg works for a casino in LA, catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control.

There are whispers of suicide, but Meg can't believe it. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check in herself – to investigate what really happened from the inside.

Battling her own addictions and figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, far away from friends, family – and anyone who could help her.

My Thoughts:
This was a great thriller and I was engrossed from beginning to end. The book has a spooky cover that foreshadows what is inside. Unbelievable what was happening at that clinic! Meg had no idea what she was getting into. It took guts to do what she did - even while battling her own addiction. The narrator is unreliable in this one. The plot was tense and had good movement. The spa setting was over the top fancy. There are many twists and surprises to keep your attention focused. I recommend to anyone who likes a good psychological thriller.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication is January 23, 2024.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #SourcebooksLandmark for the book #TheClinic by #CateQuinn. This book is about addiction, abuse and illegal actions. It’s full of emotions, drugs and timid of manipulations I would suggest this as a recommendation.

The concept of a casino worker posing as a patient at a rehab center is engrossing and less than believable, but once I met the characters and both narrators, I was hooked. Meg finds out that her sister Haley has died suddenly at the rehab center and is determined to investigate her death. Once she has checked in as a patient, Meg is a dynamic undercover operative who has little sense of danger and no idea what she is doing. The other characters at the clinic are introduced quickly, the main one being Cara, the manager and the second narrator of the story. None of the characters is particularly relatable as I found all of them puzzling, particularly the unreliable narrators. However, they were each well-developed and mysteriously sinister at times. I must say that at times I felt totally clueless about what would happen next and the misdirection and twists were engaging if somewhat frustrating because they were frequent and not so much clues as total red herrings. I enjoyed the book, especially the premise of the plot, although I did not think it very believable. The plot itself was engrossing and the characters were dynamic and realistically portrayed. This novel was like taking a trip to the dark side of rehab centers, not convincing me that they are good places to go, but rather that perhaps there is a better way to get the help you need. Adjectives to describe this novel include dark, mysterious and addictive!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me a copy to read of this book. I found it intriguing and gave me the appropriate amount of creepy to want to keep reading. Four stars!

Big thanks to Source Books and Net Galley for this an advanced copy of The Clinic by Cate Quinn to read and review.

I love a good thriller, and there was a lot about this that I enjoyed. It hooked me quickly with an intriguing premise. ANd I generally enjoy books that have multiple perspectives.

The book really lost steam in the third act, and ultimately it wasn't as strong as I wished it would be. It got a bit convoluted and felt like the ending wasn't as crisp as it could have been. We had been working up to a real WOW moment, and instead, it fell a bit flat for me.

Overall I enjoyed it, but wanted to like it more.

The Clinic is a place for people with money, where they can go to deal with addiction and psychological issues. On the surface, anyway. When Meg learns that her sister Haley has been at The Clinic for rehab and turns up dead, Meg is determined to find out what happened. Nothing could have prepared her for what she finds once she spends time inside.

This is a story that deals with addiction and rehabilitation, questionable scientific practices, and personality disorders that drive character behavior. A phenomenal thriller with lots of shocking twists and turns right until the very end, this is sure to be a favorite of any lover of psychological thrillers.

4/5 stars! Wow I was hooked from the very beginning. There was so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It constantly kept me guessing. This book is released January 23, 2024. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Cate Quinn and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

James Bond is a sociopath.

Think about it. We love watching him on screen, but it would be really difficult to maintain a relationship in real life. Such is the life of our main character Meg. Childhood trauma and mishaps from her work life have her popping oxy and tiny bottles of Jack Daniels while on the job as casino security. A second POV is presented via Cara -- the straight-laced manager of "The Clinic." After Meg's big sister Haley dies while in rehab at The Clinic, Meg checks in so she can investigate. Getting herself sobered up at the same time will be a difficult side project. Since Cate Quinn has firsthand experience with rehab, this book gives much food for thought regarding addiction, trauma, and successful rehabilitation methods. A revealing and thought-provoking read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Includes a Reading Group Guide and interview with the author.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.