This book was a great read. So many twists and turns that I did not expect. I wish it moved a little faster though, there were some slow parts.

Review of Advance Reader’s Edition

While famed singer/actress Haley Banks struggles with her addiction at The Clinic, her alcoholic sister, Meg, works at Luckie’s Casino, catching cheaters. The Clinic, elite and isolated, is where Haley dies, a suicide victim.

Or is she?

Meg, unable to accept that her older sister committed suicide, checks herself into The Clinic in order to find the truth about Haley’s death.

What will Meg find? And will it be her final act?

=========

Told alternately from the viewpoints of Meg and Cara, the unfolding narrative, with its unexpected revelations, keeps readers guessing. Will someone really kill to protect those closely held secrets?

Short chapters help to keep the story moving as the suspense continues to build; the characters, often unlikable, evolve throughout the telling of the tale. With a strong sense of place . . . and a distinctly creepy factor . . . this tale of addiction and rehab is often compelling.

Readers who enjoy psychological mysteries and creepy tales will find much to appreciate here. But they are likely to be frustrated by the needless overuse of a particularly offensive expletive that lowers the rating for this book.

I received a free copy of this book from SOURCEBOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#TheClinic #NetGalley

Cate Quinn's 'The Clinic' stands out as a skillfully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable novel. The narrative unfolds with a strong emphasis on characters, presenting a diverse cast with histories that are both captivating and unique. Short chapters, a personal favorite, contribute to the book's engaging pace, ensuring the story constantly evolves.

The dual perspectives of two distinct characters add an intriguing layer to the narrative. Notably, Quinn's personal experiences in rehab lend authenticity to the story, creating a genuine atmosphere. The evident dedication to research, including consultations with experts and exploration of experiences similar to the characters', enhances the overall immersive quality of the book.

A highlight of 'The Clinic' is the array of characters with distinct personalities. Even initially unlikable characters, such as Meg with her snarky attitude, become endearing as the story progresses.

Quinn adeptly weaves reality throughout the narrative, leading readers to grapple with uncertainties alongside the characters. This element adds depth to the psychological thriller aspect of the story.

The book features several significant twists that maintain reader engagement, with the main twist executed particularly well and delivering a surprising impact. While some twists might test believability, they contribute to the thrilling nature of the story.

What sets this book apart is its responsible portrayal of addiction and positive depiction of neurodiversity. Unlike the clichéd portrayal of these themes as inherently negative, 'The Clinic' accurately portrays them without moral judgment.

This captured my attention really quickly and the short chapters kept the pace moving at a fast clip throughout.

Overall I found this to be a riveting psychological thriller and I thought the themes of addiction and the rehab setting was a unique plot line. I did find some of the twists and the resolution of the total story to be a little too “out there” for it to be a five star read for me, but it was unpredictable and enjoyable still!

This murder mystery, set in a closed environment -- an elite rehab facility -- leaves the reader guessing until the very end. The treatments seemed a little over-the-top extravagant and bizarre, but the facility caters to famous, wealthy people, and I've never been an addict, so how would I know?! The who-done-it reveal at the end was completely unexpected.

I gave this book a solid four stars. It would have been five except that the characters (author?) knew of zero ways of expressing anger, frustration, or surprise except by dropping the f-bomb. It exploded all over the place and thus lost its effectiveness and became wearisome.. A more rich and colorful use of language would have greatly improved the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Clinic is a worthy thriller if you love institutional deception mysteries! It is so clear that Cate Quinn took her time to really care about her characters and give them each a distinct, yet fluid, personality that evolves and reveals itself throughout the story. This is very character-driven, and I loved it. Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me an e-ARC for review!

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this story about people in a detox center and the harrowing mystery regarding a death in the center. I found some of the medical info regarding detox was incorrect as I worked in this field. Pick this up, it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc read in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Clinic by Cate Quinn.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the intriguing plot.

Meg who is an addict/alcoholic finds out her sister has died in a rehab facility. She checks herself in to try to find out what happened. It’s a wild ride trying to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth also while becoming sober herself.

I did not see the plot twist coming and was shocked at the ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

A physiological thrill mixed with dual POVs, great writing about facing addictions, multiple suspects, and a very unexpected plot twist!

This book has everything you’re looking for in a read that will have you hooked and finishing in one sitting. I started before bed, stayed up way later than I should, and immediately dived back in with my coffee the next morning.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book and submit an early review!

Meg is working in a casino when she finds out her famous sister Haley has died while in a rehab treatment facility. The facility is implying her death was suicide, but the explanation doesn't sit well with Meg. She decides to go undercover at the clinic to figure out what actually happened to Haley. Battling her own addictions turns out to be more difficult than she thought, and unwinding Haley's final days becomes more and more challenging.

I loved the suspense of this story, and the eerie setting adds to the overall feeling of this mind-bending story!

we stan a good unreliable narrator!!!! i loved this book- it kept me guessing and thoroughly enthralled. great read!!

I thought this was a good pyschological thriller that had a good mix of mental health awareness mixed into it. Thank you for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS landmark for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The Clinic is about a singer/star Haley, who is at a high end rehab clinic, and her sister Meg who works at a casino. They do not have a strong relationship, but when Meg sees a newsflash on tv that her sister died in rehab, she suspects foul play and wants to be admitted as a patient so that she can try to find out what happened to her sister, while also detoxing herself.

The story is dual POV, bouncing between Megan and the clinic manager, Cara. I loved that it had short chapters (115!), and was decently paced. It’s a very unique book, as I have not read anything like it. It kept my attention pretty well, and kind of felt like a whodunnit. I thought some of the story line was a little weird, may be triggers to people that have drug/addiction issues, but overall a good read. I would recommend to others to give it a read!

Whoa, this was a story that started slow but when it picked up I felt like I was on a skateboard going down hill.
Meg works in a casino catching cheaters and her sister is a famous Actress. Meg hears that Haley has died at the rehab clinic and she cannot believe her sister committed suicide. So she decides to check herself into the clinic to find out what happened to Haley.

Whether this is a smart decision or not Meg moves forward with her plan. Only to find that what she thought could be is far more sinister than murder.

I wish this title didn't have so many characters between that and each character telling their story at times it was a bit confusing, but don't let that stop you from picking up this title it's filled with suspense AND twist and turns

In exchange for my thoughtful and honest review I received a galley copy of this title

The Clinic is a psychologically thrilling masterpiece! From the theme of addiction and psychosis to the creepy setting of an isolated rehabilitation center, uneasiness abounds. Enter the strange world of Dr. Lutz, and the messed-up celebrities and our unreliable narrator. You will not know where to turn for the truth. An absolute jewel of a thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! The perfect level of mysterious and creepy. Cate Quinn wove in genuinely interesting information as well (shoutout to the neuroscience moments!), and had an interesting take on addiction and mental health. I’m looking forward to reading more by Quinn, can happily call myself a fan.

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Cate Quinn for the advanced copy of The Clinic. We are introduced to Meg who is suffering from addiction and is also hired to sniff out cheaters in LA casinos. Meg’s celebrity sister Haley is also addicted to substances and checks into the Clinic. Word gets to Meg that while at the Clinic, her sister died from suicide. Meg does not believe this at all and wants to get to the bottom of it so she checks herself into the Clinic to find out who killed her sister and why. There are 8 potential suspects who are all unreliable and to be honest, not very likable. I think this book had a lot of potential but the character development could have been much better. Overall, a good read.

An isolated luxury rehab clinic atop a cliff and a mysterious death. Meg’s job is catching cheaters at a casino in LA. She’s good at playing a role and figuring out tells and when reports of her celeb sister’s suicide arise Meg is not buying it. She decides to check in at the clinic she was a patient at and go undercover to find out what really happened. But battling with her own addictions and trauma means it’s not going to be easy.

I loved the setting and premise for this! The idea of this looming Victorian property on a cliff with luxury facilities and being stuck with a potential murderer was such a vibe. Short chapters kept the story moving at a quick pace and kept the pages turning. I enjoyed the alternating POVs of Meg and Cara giving both the patient and staff perspective and for me the characters were all interesting and I enjoyed unraveling their stories. I’m a fan of an unreliable narrator and felt it really added to the tension and kept the reader guessing. The story gets a bit disjointed towards the end and some plot points and twists are a little wild. To be honest I kind of wish it leaned a little more into it!

If you’re looking for a fast paced read while on holiday with a mysterious mood and some wild twists this would be a fun read to check out!

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Author Cate Quinn has given us a murder mystery/psychological thriller set in an isolated rehab clinic on the Oregon coast catering to the famous and/or wealthy who have become addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. While many advance copy readers have given it high praise, my reaction was decidedly mixed. I thought “The Clinic” was successful in some areas but lacking in others.

Protagonist Meg Banks is a very good gambler, so good that she works undercover for an L.A. casino catching cheaters at the tables. She’s also addicted to pain meds and alcohol. When it’s reported that her sister, world-famous singer Haley Banks, has committed suicide while undergoing treatment at the Clinic, Meg refuses to believe it. Instead, she flies to Oregon and checks herself in, determined to discover who killed her sister and why.

With Oxy and alcohol artfully secreted amongst her possessions, she arrives at the very expensive, somewhat experimental clinic to find five other patients watched over by the clinic’s owner, manager, chief psychiatrist, and a number of nurses and other staff. Meg soon confirms that her sister’s death was not self-inflicted and begins hunting among patients and staff for the killer. Will she succeed or will her sister’s killer come for her next?

So, “The Clinic” is a “who-done-it?” with eight possible perpetrators, a number of possible motives, and lots of opportunities for surprise.

Ms. Quinn does a very good job building the world of the clinic. Set in the middle of a boggy, foggy forest high above the Pacific, its isolation adds a good deal of tension to the story. As do the five patients who have little patience with Meg and her refusal to engage in rehab activities. Ms. Quinn fully explores the interrelationship between trauma and addiction as well as the nature of, and differences between, sociopaths and psychopaths. She also gives us a good sense of what it’s like to suffer withdrawal.

However, I found the characters to be not as compelling as they might have been. The addicted characters were not very likable. More important, the reasons for their addictions and how their addictions affected their lives and the lives of others were barely touched upon. I never got the sense that any of those characters had ever “hit bottom,” or that they were really trying to improve themselves. Their only motivations for attending rehab seemed to be saving their careers or avoiding some other negative consequence. None of the non-addictive characters were all that interesting—except for the clinic’s owner who was just creepy. All in all, I had trouble engaging with these characters; which, at times, caused the novel to drag.

Also, while the plot purports to contain a number of surprises, I’m afraid I found at least one or two all too predictable and others not all that believable.

So, for me, this was a three-star read, meaning I liked some of it but had problems with some of it.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Cate Quinn, and publisher Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

⭐️: 3.5 / 5

Publication Date: January 23, 2024

I want to thank Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The prologue does a great job at setting up the inviting incident with Haley that triggers the story which follows.

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, were the unreliable characters. Everyone is hiding something and the author does a great job at keeping you guessing who the murderer might be and what part of Meg’s past she’s trying to run from. I was also fascinated to learn at the end of the book that some of the inspiration came from the author’s own experiences in rehab.

As for my reservations, l was a bit underwhelmed by the twists and reveals. I’m not sure why but each of them feel a bit flat for me. I also found some of the changes in perspective to take away from the moment that was building for one arc to then shift to the next.

Overall I thought this book was an interesting look at trauma and addiction. The short chapters made it a breeze to read through but I was left feeling underwhelmed towards the end of the book.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Victorian houses
- Mysteries
- Short chapters
- Unreliable narrators/characters
- Books about addiction/trauma

⚠️ addiction, past trauma