I stayed up waaaay too late finishing this book.

Once it had me in its clutches I could not put it down.

Did it have flaws? Yeah, a couple little holes and the believability was not always there but damn if it didn't get my heart pumping and my brain trying to solve it.

It is about this professional poker player, Meg, who recently had an injury and has been adding quite a lot of oxy to her high alcohol consumption when her sister who is currently in rehab dies. It is ruled a suicide but Meg does not believe it and wants to investigate for herself. 👀

Even tho it’s not perfect I’d recommend it if you are interested in a thriller that makes you push bedtime back to finish it.

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an eARC!

Meg is forced to go undercover at a rehab clinic when her famous sister is found to have committed suicide. Meg is doing this not only to find out what happened to Haley, but potentially do some work for herself as well. An addict herself, she is forced to faced her inner demons as she is also feeling tracked by Haley's murderer as well. I enjoyed how you got Meg's perspective, as well as Cara, the manager of the facility. It provides more insight into the facility as they both are looking into what really is happening in the Clinic. Would definitely recommend if you love a thrilling whodunnit set in seclusion.

This was an entertaining thriller, but there were definitely some moments that the reader has to suspend their sense of belief. I find that this is true for most thrillers, however.

The author did a good job of fleshing out the characters, especially the main character Meg who is flawed but I was rooting for.

I also enjoyed the descriptions of the rehab clinic and treatments.

Overall this is an enjoyable, if somewhat far fetched read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

Really strong start. The characters are complex and the stage is set well. It kept me pulled in steadily through the first 80% but the twist was hard to swallow in my opinion. I had to really suspend disbelief and it wasn't anything I'd imagine. Was slightly disappointed by that but the story wrapped up well and the characters kept you guessing throughout. If prolly give it a 3.75 . I liked the background info on insurance scams and mental health. At moments it was preachy but not too overwhelmingly so.

Meg has trouble believing her sister committed suicide/overdosed in rehab. Without disclosing their relationship, she gets admitted to the same facility. It is full of celebrities with shady pasts. Meg becomes convinced that her sister Haley was killed by one of the patients. But then she starts receiving messages from her "dead" sister... Is she really dead or is someone pretending to be her. Not everyone is who they say they are. Many twists, very entertaining.

"The Clinic" by Cate Quinn is a riveting exploration of the complex bond between sisters, the haunting allure of addiction, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Set against the glamorous yet seedy backdrop of Los Angeles, this novel masterfully intertwines suspense and emotional depth.

Meg, a gritty and compelling protagonist, works in the shadowy corners of a casino, a world away from the glitz of her sister Haley's Hollywood life. Quinn skillfully portrays Meg’s struggle with painkillers, a coping mechanism for a life filled with disappointments and shadows. Her character is raw and authentic, making her journey a quest for truth and a battle for personal redemption.

Haley's sudden, mysterious death at a remote rehab facility is the catalyst for the story's gripping narrative. The author cleverly uses this event to delve into the dark side of fame and the hidden struggles of those living in the public eye. Quinn's writing shines as she explores the theme of addiction, not as a moral failing but as a complex, multi-dimensional challenge.

The novel's greatest strength lies in its heart-pounding investigation led by Meg. As she checks herself into the same rehab facility, the story weaves a complex web of deceit, secrets, and lies. Quinn's vivid descriptions of the facility and its inhabitants add a palpable sense of claustrophobia and suspense.

"The Clinic" is more than a mystery; it's a profound study of sisterhood, love, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. The narrative is beautifully paced, balancing tense action with deep introspection. Quinn's prose is elegant and accessible, ensuring that the readers are hooked from the first page to the last.

The climax is both surprising and satisfying, providing a resolution that is as thought-provoking as it is emotional. This book is a testament to Quinn's ability to craft an entertaining and meaningful story.

In conclusion, "The Clinic" is a must-read for fans of suspense and character-driven narratives and anyone who appreciates a well-told story. Quinn has delivered a novel that is a thrilling ride and a poignant reminder of the power of human resilience and the enduring bond of family.

⭐ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟(4.5)

Quick Synopsis: Meg has come to the Clinic undercover in search of answers in the mysterious death of her sister, Haley, a patient receiving treatment for drug addiction. Matters are complicated by Meg's own addiction issues and resulting withdrawal symptoms while searching for answers at the facility.

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
"The Clinic" set a gothic tone from the beginning with the introduction to The Clinic, an exclusive rehabilitation facility located in a Victorian mansion on the Oregon coast. The setting and atmosphere had a cinematic quality that had the story unfolding like I'd stepped into an old Hitchcock film, and I absolutely loved this old-school suspense vibe.

There were so many interesting themes in this book including a murder mystery, trauma recovery, and family dynamics as we learn about the relationship/history between Meg and her sister Haley. The ending does take a bit of pause to accept... part of it is so unbelievable (why I knocked it half a star) but the book is written so smartly and includes so much actual psychology/addiction recovery philosophy.

What I liked:
📚The pacing. The chapters were SO short and full of important information. I never felt like time was dragging or like we were wasting time with useless words.
📚The main character, Meg, was really intriguing. She’s kind of a badass, an unbothered gambler whose job is outing loan sharks and criminals. She’s been put in very dangerous situations at times and heavily uses oxycodone and alcohol to “cope”.

What I didn't like:
📚 The sister's past was never explained fully. We’re kind of lead to believe they had a very traumatic upbringing, and we understand their mother was awful to them, but we never get a glimpse as to what that actually entailed, and while I’m not saying I necessarily need or want on page violence/trauma, I did need more to fully feel what they were saying.
📚 There’s multiple mentions of a man with playing cards for eyes and the way that unfolded was pretty disappointing.

Overall, if you want a great gothic thriller (that kind of reminds me of "Rebecca" or "Psycho"), I highly recommend this book once it is published in January 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an eARC of this book (one of the most requested books of the year!). All opinions expressed are my own.

Thankyou Netgalley for the ARC. This story takes place in a rehab facility and is told from 2 different perspectives. Which I love! It's told by Meg, a patient who is trying to figure out how her sister died, and Cara, the manager of the rehab.

After the tragic death ruled suicide of her sister Haley, alcohol and oxy addict Megan decides to check into the luxury rehab where her sister spent her last days, convinced the suicide-overdose was actually murder.

I binged this one in one sitting till 2am so I guess that speaks for itself. It was on the long side but the breadcrumbs throughout kept me intrigued. Megan was the kind of unlikeable character that you can still be invested in and the general eerie vibe of the location really set the tone.

I enjoyed the two main perspectives as well as all the side characters who added to the depth of the story. As someone who has worked in an inpatient rehab facility, I thought the author did a great job with the authenticity of that aspect as well as all the various shades of being an addict - no surprise when I read at the end that she’s experienced it herself. The ending pushed the bounds of credulity just a smidge too much but otherwise I really enjoyed this one.

The Clinic by Cate Quinn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one had it all: unreliable narrators, morally gray characters, locked-in, remote setting, mental health awareness, science-infused ideas. And all the ideas played well with one another.

While it started slow, the short chapters allowed it to pick up speed quickly, and the second half of the book really was a page-turner. The plot was multi-layered: on one hand it was a look at addiction and the journey to sobriety & on the other hand, it was a twisty, whodunnit. This book had an authentic feel that will resonate with readers.

I took off a star because I had to employ my suspension of disbelief too much. There were several holes that seemed glaringly obvious to me - looking at you phone calls & security systems - to list one. While I didn’t dislike the ending, it did reach way past the realm of realistic possibilities.

All in all, fans of psychological thrillers, locked-in mysteries, and books with a focus on mental health will enjoy this one. I do recommend checking trigger warnings and take care of yourself before, during, and after reading.

This was a good psychological thriller that deals with mental health. The story takes place in a rehab clinic. A pop star Haley dies and her sister questions her death by checking in to the facility. I did feel the ending was a little rushed but enjoyable read.

I loved this book! I will definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book kept me on my toes. I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. It was wrote so well and the characters were okay - they had some character flaws

Overall, a good psychological thriller. I wasn’t to excited over the ending, it just seemed rushed and felt a little too unbelievable/ far fetched. I felt like the first half was a little slow and kind of hard to get through, it took me a while to get into it. The second half did pick up a bit, but I just wasn’t happy with the direction it went it.

I think The Clinic will end up bring a stand-out Winter Thriller for 2024.

The perfect remote, isolated Pacifica Northwest coastal setting for a luxurious live-in addiction clinic for the rich and famous. When a patient (and famous actress) is found dead, her sister decides to get admitted herself to the clinic as a patient to covertly investigate her sister’s suspicious death. Told between the alternating POVs of Meg (the sister) and the clinic manager, this fast-paced thriller was hard to set aside. Meg herself also struggle with substance abuse, making her POV frequently unreliable, but as she gets to know the other residents of the clinic who knew her sister, secrets start piling up. There is an eccentric doctor with unorthodox treatment methods, local cops who are also still working the case, and the clinic manager who has her own secrets to protect. Locked-room thrillers with characters with hidden identities are some of my favorite thriller tropes and I really enjoyed this one. It did require me to suspend belief in some sections, but overall it was a unique plot with all the winter thriller vibes I was chasing!

This is an author who I haven’t read before who’s written an emotionally charged mystery about one sisters search for answers. When Meg’s sister, Haley, is found dead she vows to uncover what really happened. She doesn’t accept the publicly released version of her famous sister’s death. I thought Meg had a cool job with a casino catching crooks. She works undercover and is very good with her skills. She also relies some substances to keep up appearances. She concocts a story with enough truth to get her admitted into the institution where her sister died. It’s an exclusive resort style rehab center for discerning clientele, deeply hidden away in the Pacific Northwest. The founder has very secretive methods and treatment. There is a diverse group of addicts at The Clinic, a rock star, singer, an actor and actress. Their maladies included alcohol, opioids and worse dependencies.
At times I found myself drifting, unfocused on the pages I was reading. The subject of addiction has affected most of us, whether in our families or friends. I appreciated the author’s perspectives. The plot however was somewhat fantastical and over the top. There were several well developed characters that I enjoyed getting to know, a mix of egotistical, vain, spoiled and needy personalities. I didn’t predict the ending.
An advance reader copy of “The Clinic” by Cate Quinn, Published by Sourcebooks was provided by NetGalley, expected publication Jan. 2024. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

PUBLICATION DAY: January 23, 2024

Meg has issues - with pills, alcohol, commitment - you name it. So when she discovers her famously successful (estranged) sister Haley died mysteriously while in rehab, she can’t help but want to find out for herself what really happened. And let’s be honest, a bit of rehab for herself wouldn’t hurt either. She resolves to go undercover at the clinic to see if she can find the truth. But once she’s there, in the grips of detoxing, will she be able to tell the truth from the lies? And will she live to tell?

PROS and CONS:
Good premise to this one - a death in a locked room type of setting, in this case a super luxurious and remote clinic. Was the death suicide? Murder? An accident? If it was murder, there are several suspects to consider including administrative staff, medical staff, and of course the fellow patients battling their own addictions. I found the flow of the story a bit lacking, with not much suspense, but there were a few good twists and overall it had a satisfying ending.

READ IT?
If you enjoy locked room mysteries in remote settings, then this one’s for you!

3.5 Stars

I was hooked on this book, not wanting to stop reading until the last page. The chapters were short and told from the perspective of two characters which kept me engaged. There is Meg, a patient and Cara who is the manager of the clinic.

Meg is there to find out what happened to her sister. The official story is suicide, but Meg knows this cannot be true and she is determined to get answers.

Here is the synopsis:

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.

If you are a fan of suspense books, you will want to get this one when it comes out on January 23.

3.5 rounded up. This is a solid thriller told in the perspectives of two very different women. Cara, the mostly by-the-book manager of a high end rehab clinic. And Meg, an opioid addicted poker player entering the facility to investigate the death of her sister in the clinic. There is a lot of childhood trauma discussed, a lot of psychology (some seemed like it was more pseudo-science than real) and a cast of other patients and doctors that made it a very colorful read. I raced through it, needing to know what happened and wasn’t overly shocked by the big reveal. I felt like it could have been buttoned up a bit sooner and even tho the chapters were short - 117 of them is a whole helluva lot.

This was a fun, fast-paced psychological read.

I flew through this book pretty quickly. I was intrigued by the setting, the plot, the characters, and the mysterious clinic. I usually don't prefer multiple POV's, but in this case I did not mind the alternating POV's between Cara, the clinic manager and Meg, the patient who is investigating her pop-star sister Haley's death. It was interesting to see POV's from both sides of the clinic.

Meg is a very flawed character with a lot of issues, and Cara was not necessarily a likable character, but I still enjoyed their narrations and the story-telling. I really enjoyed the plot and the atmosphere. The characters had depth and dealt with addiction, trauma, mental illness and other dramatic themes.

I will say that a couple of twists I anticipated while a couple others I did not, but I did feel that the end chapters felt rushed. Overall it was an enjoyable reading experience and I'd recommend for those looking for a fast-paced thriller.