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Member Reviews

I find addiction so fascinating and so a murder or suicide in a remote very secluded rehab—you got all my attention.

Haley’s sister Meg decided to enter this off the maps rehab after Haley committed suicide in the rehab. Meg finds it suspicious because she knows her sister wouldn’t commit suicide and then the concerning voicemail on Megs phone from Haley really confirms it.

Meg is a professional poker player and so everyone in rehab she reads like a hand or a poker game which was a fascinating way to write a mystery thriller.

This is not a sitting on the edge of your seat thriller. But it keeps you entertained and wanting to find out more. I was shocked by some of the twists. It did end with everything coming together and all loose ends tied up

The authors note was really vulnerable and I appreciated the story more.

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Like with most high-intensity thrillers, you have to suspend disbelief a bit (especially with the twists at the end). That being said, it was quite an atmospheric and tense read, filled with compassion and familial tensions.

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The Clinic by Cate Quinn
Release date: January 23, 2024

This thriller is set in a remote, state of the art rehab clinic in the Pacific Northwest. It follows Meg, a prescription drug addict and alcoholic, who is working undercover in casinos to nab loan sharks. She hears on the news her famous sister Haley has died in rehab. Although they have had their struggles, she knows Haley would never take her own life and so she admits herself into this mysterious and exclusive rehab clinic to find answers. In order to succeed, she must battle her own demons and form relationships with the other patients. Through dual points of view of Meg and the manager of the clinic Cara, this mystery plays out with chilling twists.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and thought it was written very well. It kept my attention throughout and I was surprised at the twists at the satisfying conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book for an atmospheric and entertaining thriller!

Thank you @sourcebooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to review this.

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I thought this was a really fun mystery even if it seemed to go a little far off the rails for me at the end. I really liked the characters and the switching points of view made the story move along well.

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All in all I thought it was a good murder mystery that had lots of plot twists, red herrings, and interesting side themes of rehab, mental health, and friendship.

There were parts that at times felt a little unrealistic, and Meg was more than a little high strung and reckless but that was the point of her character so it felt like it fit for me.

I liked how the sense of people needing each other and needing community was highlighted. It’s easy in thrillers and murder mysteries for them to be a sort of every man for himself and this didn’t do that.

It sort of had an escape room type of feel many times, and I thought it was a good, diverse set of characters. The scenes were well described and the addiction and withdrawal process was done in a realistic way that let me relate to what was going on, not making it too simple, but not overdone either.

Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was well written and thought out.

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This was my first book by Cate Quinn and while I'm not giving up on her, I was not impressed. You could tell by her writing style she was a fairly new author. Sentences that were just poorly written, making it hard to read. I loved the story line idea and felt like it had strong potential. Unfortunately, it was extremely predictable. There were very few shocking moments. The one thing I did enjoy was the unreliable narrator and implausible characters.

Thank you NetGalley, Cate Quinn, and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Great book! I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was happening next. The twist at the end was very unexpected.

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"The Clinic" by Cate Quinn is an absolute triumph in the realm of psychological suspense, a novel that seamlessly navigates the intricate web of addiction, family, and the enigmatic truths that bind them together.

Cate Quinn's storytelling prowess is nothing short of remarkable. From the very first page, readers are ensnared by the world she paints, where Meg, a casino employee with her own share of struggles, is thrust into a whirlwind of mystery when her famous actress sister, Haley, dies under suspicious circumstances at a remote rehab facility. The narrative crackles with tension and intrigue, and the sense of urgency is palpable as Meg embarks on a mission to uncover the truth, delving into the very heart of the rehab center that claimed her sister's life.

"The Clinic" is a masterclass in character development, offering a deeply layered portrayal of Meg as she confronts her own demons while seeking answers about her sister's demise. It's a testament to Quinn's ability to craft multifaceted, relatable characters who grapple with their own flaws and vulnerabilities.

The novel's power lies in its relentless exploration of addiction and the human condition, beautifully rendered amidst the confines of the rehab center. It explores the depth of human resilience and the complexities of familial bonds with a level of depth and authenticity that is nothing short of breathtaking.

Quinn's narrative is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, delivering twists and revelations that are as shocking as they are thought-provoking. "The Clinic" is an unforgettable journey that leaves an indelible mark, a testament to Cate Quinn's storytelling brilliance and her gift for crafting a gripping and emotionally charged tale. This is a must-read for anyone who craves a riveting, intricately woven narrative with characters that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.

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I enjoyed the ending of the book, but everything leading up to it was hard to get through. Although the experiences did seem genuine and the characters were lovable the book lacked the engrossment factor that I normally receive from reading books of this genre. I connected to Meg at some level (which is interesting since she’s a sociopath) but couldn’t for the life of me
Connect to Cara. The book lacked substance but was in general a good idea and had promise.

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A genre that never fails to captivate me is one featuring an unreliable narrator surrounded by characters of questionable reliability. The magnetic pull of the narrative gripped me right from the opening page. In this tale, Meg's sister meets a tragic end in rehab, officially labeled as suicide. However, Meg harbors doubts and opts for an unconventional approach – checking herself into the rehab facility to untangle the mysteries surrounding her sister's demise.

The narrative skillfully oscillates between Meg's perspective and that of Cara, a member of the rehab staff. The author adeptly weaves two distinct plots, maintaining a seamless flow between them. What I found commendable was the absence of redundancy between the two points of view, a quality I highly value. The author fearlessly delves into the complexities of addiction and rehab, crafting a brilliant thriller laden with suspense and unforeseen twists.

The story confronts challenging issues head-on, providing a nuanced exploration of addiction and the rehabilitation process. Amidst these thematic layers, a masterfully constructed thriller unfolds, replete with suspense and unpredictable turns. The plot twists, in particular, kept me on my toes, defying my expectations and contributing to the overall unpredictability of the narrative.

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The Clinic is a captivating thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. I just kept thinking, “what in the world is going on here”. This story encompasses so many real-life subjects, such as addiction, mental disorders and unsavory business practices, yet it’s written in an eerily haunting prose.

When Meg finds out her estranged sister, Haley, dies at The Clinic, an elite rehab facility for the rich and famous, she makes the decision to investigate herself. Strings are pulled to get her into the The Clinic, and she must hide her identity, but the one thing she refuses to do is give up her own addiction to drugs. She manages to get a supply of oxycodone onto the premises so she’s never quite sure if what she’s seeing and believing is real. In order to find her sister’s killer, she needs to change her ways. She’ll need to befriend other patients and see if she can read people as well as she thinks she can.

This book is mind bogglingly brilliant! Honestly, I pride myself on solving mysteries before they’re revealed, but I didn’t even come close with this one. My rating is 5 stars for the excellent storyline, the well written characters and the thrill ride. Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy. This hits the shelves on January 23, 2024.

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I wanted to like this so much more than I did, but the incredibly slow start combined with alternating POV from characters I couldn't connect with made this one a DNF for me. I hope that it finds its audience, but I won't be recommending it.

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The Clinic by Cate Quinn is the perfect read for when you are craving dark, mysterious and moody. This is set in the Pacific Northwest and I felt like I was there with the atmospheric and descriptive writing.

I found the setting and characters to be well developed, but my only gripe was the length of this book. While at first glance the page count may seem low, it did feel a bit wordy. I think it could have been edited down, maybe even just 30-50 pages, and I think this would have been a 5 star.

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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.

I’m very guilty of requesting a book off Netgalley simply because I like the cover. This is one of those books, and lucky for me, this was a great story!

Meg knows something is up. She also happens to really need to go to rehab herself. Win win, right? Meg quickly realizes there are a lot of secrets going on within the walls of this luxury rehab clinic. Is Meg paranoid from detox from her addiction, or is someone really out to get her?

This one had me all over the place - I couldn’t figure out where this story was going or who was guilty. The twistS surprised me!

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7/10 - This book immediately captured my attention. The story takes place in a rehab facility, and the author takes you through the lives of each of the patients. The plot was intriguing and kept me interested. It did get a little confusing/far fetched at times, but the plot twist at the end was a good one. It’s a quick and easy psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks and Cate Quinn for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

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I was so pumped to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley. The books cover, title, and description had me intrigued right away.

And I was right. This book was a perfect thriller. It was full of suspense and twists from the first chapter. It was the type of book that’s keeps you questioning everything until the very end.

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The Clinic was twisty and kept you on the edge of your seat. Some of the concepts felt far fetched but overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4!

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First, I loved the short chapters that always kept me coming back for more. Every time I reached the last sentence I had to know what was coming next which lead to a lot of binge reading.

I thought this was a great thriller for spooky season! It ventured a little too much into sci-fi for my liking but I still enjoyed reading it.

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When Meg's celebrity sister mysteriously dies in an exclusive rehab she suspects foul play. In order to get to the bottom of the murder, and her own traumatic past, she must face sobriety and the other addicts at the facility herself.

***
3.5 stars

The complexity of this book is only undone by how little backstory is given to the actual trauma of its main characters. I appreciate what Quinn is trying to do, and I think the build up to the ultimate reveals are all well-earned. The twists all converge into a very believable conclusion. That being said, I wish more work had been done to dig deeper into what exactly happened to Meg, Haley, and even Cara went through.

Meg and Haley's backstory is not given the attention it needs in order for the reader to understand their motivations outside of "it's in their personality".

Cara is probably the most frustrating part of the book. I realize we need a way to get more inisight into the clinic and how it is run, however, Cara is severely underdeveloped. So she had an affair and ruined her career over it. Ok. So what? Why create an entire second narrator, dump random tidbits of their life into the story, and then just forget to explain to the reader what it all means?

All in all, it was a well plotted thriller that could stand a bit more depth. I look forward to see what Quinn does next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exachange for my honest feedback.

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I had such high hopes for this one because it had all the elements I like but it fell flat for me. Apart from being far too long and slow, the storyline was so unbelievable that I felt zero connection to anything or any of the characters. The twist totally jumped the shark and the overall premise of black market items of that nature just cheapened the concept of the book. It’s hard to give a proper review without spoilers so apologies that this might not make the most sense!

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