Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Meg works for a casino catching cheating gamblers and loan sharks. After a shoulder injury she becomes addicted to opioids. Her sister who is a star is currently in an isolated rehab to try to get clean. When her sister turns up dead at the rehab Meg decides to go into the rehab to try to find out what happened to her sister. This is a locked room mystery. There are only so many suspects and everyone could be guilty? The story is told from two POVs. One is Meg and the other is Cara who runs the day to day operations of the rehab. Cara starts to have doubts about the owner and this adds to the story. The chapters are short but you will definitely want to continue reading to see what happens next. Since the author has gone through rehab it gives an authentic feel to the story. If you like locked room mysteries where you are reading to see what happens next then this is a book for you.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #CateQuinn, and #SourcebooksLandmark for a copy of this book.
#TheClinic

Was this review helpful?

This was a unique thriller that kept me intrigued from the beginning. Short chapters from two POV’s which kept me engaged even when I found it to be a bit slow at the beginning. The description of the inside of rehab and the withdrawal felt real and well explained (the author also spent time in rehab). There were just a few things that felt far fetch, but I was able to put it aside and enjoy the story. I did not see the twists and the ending coming.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley, Cate Quinn, & Sourcebooks Landmark Paperback for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Clinic By Cate Quinn.

Holy Cow! This book absolutely blew me away in the best way! I read the book in one sitting because I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The book was incredible! The characters, twists, & turns were captivating. I highly recommend this book! Five stars! ⭐️

Was this review helpful?

This was an interesting read, in both the good and the bad ways. It’s a thriller set in a celebrity detox center, and the people who are working to heal their addictions are the main players. I haven’t read many books where addiction plays an important role without being used primarily as a tragedy, and reading Cate Quinn’s disclosure about her personal history with it added another layer to this narrative.

As a thriller, I found that it was difficult as times to suspend my disbelief without sacrificing overall enjoyment while reading. Some of the characters’ behaviors didn’t make much sense (even in context of the setting). Also, I felt that portrayal of certain mental disorders may have been a bit…inaccurate? One dimensional?

Overall, this isn’t necessarily a book I’d purchase but I do think it’s a fun read if you’re a fan of thrillers. It’s set to release on January 23, so keep your eyes peeled for its upcoming appearance on bookshelves! And as always—thanks so much to the publishers for sharing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

I’m not sure if my famous sister died under mysterious circumstances in a creepy faraway clinic that I’d go undercover to find out why, but I do know when I read other reviews that say “Didn’t see that plot twist coming!” and “Omigosh, that ending!” that I might be committing myself to a one-sitting readathon. As I did…

There are two POVs:
POV 1: Card shark Meg works undercover casino security (a place that values her and forgives her drug and alcohol addiction issues). She’s excellent at reading people and she refuses to believe her estranged pop star sister joined the 27 Club by overdosing on heroin while at a secretive luxury rehab facility on the Oregon coast. Meg’s suspicions are supported by an unexpected voicemail that Haley left Meg before she died. In a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone scenario, her supportive boss agrees to foot the bill for Meg’s undercover stay at The Clinic. She might be able to kick her oxy habit while investigating Haley’s death.

POV 2: Cara, recently a hotel manager in LA who is escaping some kind of social media fiasco at her last place of employment, is now the housekeeper/general manager and our guide to the workings of the clinic. She’s mostly in the dark as far as patients are concerned, but something about Haley’s death is off to her, too, and Cara starts snooping as well.

The other characters that Meg and Cara are dealing with include the head of the clinic, Swiss Dr. Lutz (“let’s try poisonous blowfish sushi to treat trauma”) and British Dr. Max, who seems initially to be a competent sort. We also have the other celebrity patients as well, who tend to be chatty about Haley. On the outside, Meg’s friend Harry knows the real reason she’s at The Clinic, and a pair of police officers keep popping in, asking more and more questions about Haley’s supposed suicide.

Aside from the murder mystery, this is a tale about the ethics and efficacy of addiction treatment and how trauma shapes lives. As Meg and Cara are making discoveries simultaneously, the story takes a lot of unexpected twists and turns and WOW…just WOW! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Narrator Meg has green eyes that are usually bloodshot.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Not much landscaping mentioned, but Meg travels from pastel palm trees to dark fir trees.

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

The story takes place in a rehab clinic and is told from two perspectives: Meg, a mandatory patient who seeks to unravel the mystery behind her pop star sister Haley's death, and Cara, the manager of the facility.

There are several qualities that captivated me and kept my interest alive throughout the book. The short chapters and the riveting tone in the second half, where the pace intensifies and curiosity is awakened, compelled me to flip through the pages faster, eagerly anticipating the heart-throbbing climax. The author's approach to mental health awareness, addiction, sobriety, and the psychological issues that underlie these struggles, combined with her own journey to celebrate sobriety, made the story engaging and realistic. Additionally, the jaw-dropping and unexpected twists, which I never saw coming, heightened my excitement and raised my expectations

Was this review helpful?

Sisters might drift apart, but their bond can’t be broken.

Meg is shocked to find out her sister has died at a remote rehab facility. They haven’t been close in years, but Meg knows the rumors of Haley committing suicide are false. Determined to found out the truth she decides to enter the facility. Meg is surrounded by an array of suspects, yet facing her own demons to get answers might be her demise.

This novel started out with suspense and the need for answers. Yet, after a few chapters the story’s pace slowed down. I wanted action or something to keep me reading, but it took a while to reignite my interest. Meg and her determination were the highlight of this novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this e-ARC.

Was this review helpful?

WOW! I haven’t had a book grab my attention so fast and held it all the way through till the end. There were so many twist and turns in this book. Amazing story line and characters! Highly Highly Recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me this advance reader copy of The Clinic by Cate Quinn in exchange for my honest review - The Clinic is out right at the start of next year, January 23, 2024!

I was lulled into the plot of this one so hard by the premise, and we had a really good start - our protagonist Meg is an undercover poker player (she's not a cop, it's never really established?), but she also is an addict, pegging her as an unreliable narrator. This one flips back and forth between Meg's POV and the POV of a character named Cara. To be honest, Cara's POV chapters didn't add anything to this story - she had a half backstory that didn't really add anything to further the plot, so I had trouble connecting why she was going to become a character that gets her own POV. The plot starts off strong, with Meg going undercover as a patient to figure out what happened to her sister Haley, who mysteriously overdosed while a patient at The Clinic - after Meg arrives, things start to spiral out of control, including the trajectory of the plot. It was disjointed, confusing and got to a really unrealistic endpoint, that ultimately didn't wrap up. The ending was my biggest critique with this book, because everything wrapped up nicely in a little bow, and some of the "reveals" weren't followed through (ex - Meg's brain imaging etc.) and ended up meaning nothing to the end of the book. I'm really disappointed I didn't like this more, because I was really intrigued by the premise.

One thing the author does really well is talk about some of the feelings surrounding the cycle of addiction - I read in her acknowledgements that this book was derived from her own experiences with alcohol, and I'm really proud that she's in a good place and channeled this into a book, I just wish the execution would have been a bit different.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC - The Clinic is out 1/23/24!

Was this review helpful?

Theres not much better than starting a new book and not wanting to stop it! The Clinic had my attention and held my attention. I couldnt read it fast enough!

Was this review helpful?

Not sure how I felt about this book. Had started off greT with the casino part then got into the rehab abs I found it frustrating and too much going on with the people and the cops. Sometimes less is better.
The twists were good, but overall just an OK read.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

Was this review helpful?

A big thank you to Netgalley, publishers, and author, Cate Quinn, for allowing me to read an early copy of The Clinic. The review is mine with no outside influence.

The Clinic is about a rehab for the wealthy, run by a shady doctor, and comes under scrutiny when one of the famous addicts dies. While the premise is good, the execution could have used some work. First the cons: there are too many different storylines or elements all happening at the same time. Suspicious death, mysterious (possibly dangerous), addicts with all different backstories (most of which are not fully flushed out which would have helped the reader connect to the characters, but would have made the story even more complicated), small town police, questionable love (at least attraction) story, childhood trauma, drug/alcohol addiction, and I think there are a few I am missing that all made this story a bit convoluted. While all the idea and stories connected, a few were a reach at best and some were not needed at all.

It felt at times the story had trouble getting started. Some people referred to this as a "slow burn." in my opinion, it was not so much a slow burn, and more the author had a lot to say during the action, but just had trouble getting started. Once the action started, there was a massive dump of information that felt less thriller and more over share.

Here are the pros: Most of the characters (what you could connect with, anyway) were likable. Flawed, but human - relatable in many ways. The story was well written and did actually make sense once it was finishing. The twists and turns were fun. Comfortably predictable, but executed well. There was just a lot of the story that did not need to be included to make it a good read. It is a good thriller, a fun who-did-it, and as a whole, enjoyable! 3.5 stars

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for my copy of THE CLINIC by Cate Quinn, out 1/23/24!

This thriller is set at a remote rehab clinic. It follows Meg, who pops too many pills and catches cheaters at casinos, who discovers her famous sister Haley has been found dead at this clinic. With whispers of suicide or an overdose, Meg doesn’t believe it. So, she checks herself into the rehab to find our firsthand what happened.

While she battles her own addiction, she tries to figure out who she can trust as she seeks out the truth. This book is very readable, but it is ABSURD! I read it super fast because the chapters are short and choppy, but some of the female characters were hard to distinguish which made the plot twist less fun than it could have been.

Definitely interesting to learn that the author spent her own time at a rehab clinic, making some of the experience authentic and believable. The acknowledgements section is superb. The twist just makes you suspend all disbelief and I couldn’t get past it. Definitely a unique setting and story, so I’ll give her that!

Was this review helpful?

An excellently blended combination of suspenseful thriller. Meg learns her sister has died in a clinic that caters to the rich and famous. She is told her death is due to an overdose, but she refuses to believe it. So she checks herself in hoping to get more answers, but what she uncovers are secrets that people will kill to keep.

Was this review helpful?

I love me a good unreliable narrator trope and being a thriller set at an isolated rehab clinic on the coast, I was even more hooked. The very short chapters and frequently alternating POVs kept the story moving quickly and while I had some suspicions, I definitely did not guess how the ending would go overall. My first by Cate Quinn and definitely will not be my last.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my review copy!

Was this review helpful?

Very original concept that I enjoyed most of the way but the ending felt6 a tad far fetched.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller,
Meg is an undercover security agent for a casino. She becomes addicted to oxy after a tough case resulting in a shoulder injury. Meg’s sister Haley is a music star currently in rehab in a luxury rehab center. After Meg hears that Haley commits suicide - she can’t believe it. Meg checks herself into the rehab to find out what really happened.

There are so many twist in this story. I loved the short chapters and multiple view points. I didn’t see the end coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sorcebooks for an advance digital copy.

Was this review helpful?

The Clinic by Cate Quinn is a very thrilling suspenseful read. The book was simple and short which is exactly what readers need sometimes to get through reading ruts.

Meg finds out her sister has died in rehab and ends up becoming a patient there to find out the truth behind her sister’s death. Needless to say.. the clinic is full of secrets and not the most ethical treatments. Can Meg survive the treatments to find out what actually happened to her sister?

Thank you Netgalley for this read in exchange for an honest review. This is a perfect book for a gloomy weekend. The Clinic will be published on January 23, 2024!

Was this review helpful?

I give it a 3 outta 5.
A story of a luxury rehab facility that has a dark side. Rockstars, actors and anyone who can afford the cost of a beautiful rehab facility in the middle of a backcountry town. A death that not only rocks the residents and the town’s police department but the dead girls sister who an addict her self. She must find out the truth in her sister’s death. Not trusting a sole she must uncover her sister’s murder and the truth behind her own addiction before it’s too late. The book started out kinda slowly and then the end felt a bit rushed. But definitely kept you wanting to read.

Was this review helpful?

Cate Quinn's The Clinic is a captivating psychological thriller that delves into the dark side of the medical industry and the desperation of those seeking extraordinary treatments. The story follows Meg, a troubled poker player struggling with addiction, who is drawn into the mysterious world of Serenity Grove, an exclusive rehabilitation facility renowned for its unconventional methods.

Quinn masterfully creates a sense of suspense and unease, gradually revealing the sinister secrets that lie beneath the clinic's seemingly idyllic façade. The narrative is driven by Meg's internal struggles and her growing suspicion that something sinister is at play within the clinic's walls.

The characters in The Clinic are well-developed and complex, each carrying their own burdens and motivations. Meg is a compelling protagonist, a flawed but relatable character grappling with her own demons and wrestling with the ethical implications of the clinic's practices. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic staff members and the fellow patients, adds depth and intrigue to the story.

The novel's plot is tightly woven, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns. Quinn skillfully manipulates the narrative, keeping the reader guessing and maintaining a sense of suspense and uncertainty. The pace is brisk, with the story unfolding at a steady clip that never loses its momentum.

While The Clinic is a suspenseful and engrossing read, there are a few aspects that could have been further developed. The exploration of the psychological impact of addiction and the ethical implications of the clinic's experimental treatments could have been more in-depth, adding an extra layer of complexity to the story. Additionally, the resolution felt somewhat abrupt, leaving some questions unanswered and the overall conclusion slightly less satisfying than it could have been.

Overall, The Clinic is a well-written and engrossing psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The novel's exploration of the dark side of the medical field and the desperation of those seeking extraordinary treatments is both thought-provoking and suspenseful. While the ending could have been more developed, the novel's overall strengths make it a worthwhile read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Here's a summary of the pros and cons:

Pros:

Gripping and suspenseful plot
Well-developed and complex characters
Palpable sense of suspense and unease
Cons:

Psychological impact of addiction and ethical implications could have been explored in more depth
Abrupt resolution leaving some questions unanswered
I would recommend The Clinic to fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a suspenseful story with complex characters and thought-provoking themes.

Was this review helpful?