The premise of the book intrigued me, but ultimately, it just wasn't my cup of tea. The beginning started off okay with Meg joining a strict medical study that requires complete physical isolation from the outside world except for a laptop and cell phone. The answers she receives from the medical staff are vague, and she starts doubting her own sanity. The ending was just a bunch of fever dreams (or real occurrences....I don't know) and the ending didn't provide much closure.

Thanks St. Martin’s press and NetGalley for this arc! I didn’t know what to expect as I went into this book blind. It did not disappoint! Great plot and great characters!

Meg is admitted to Graceview to trial a new treatment for her rare disease. As Meg starts treatment, one nurse cautions that she should back out before its too late. Before she knows it, there is pressure to continue the horrendous treatment. Soon she meets Victoria, a mysterious patient, who foreshadows Meg's fate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC if this novel.

“The Graceview Patient” took me quite a while to get through-roughly a week, when books of this length normally take me about 2 days. I’m not sure why.

I did find the initial chapters well-written and I was drawn in immediately. The initial chapters of the story give us a bit of background on Meg, what her life was like prior to the novel’s events, and the barest outlines of the illness she has and the trial protocol intended to treat it. The story moves quickly, but after the halfway point Meg becomes more and more unreliable as a narrator and every incident that occurs could potentially be a hallucination.

The ending…left me a bit cold. I’m not sure I “got” it and what was supposed to have been happening, or what will happen to Meg from here on out. I felt like it was left quite vague and, while I didn’t want it spoon-fed to me, I would have liked a BIT more detail.

All in all, this was a solid 3 star read-enjoyed the ride, was mildly irritated by the ending, and will probably never be moved to re-read it, but it was worth the time spent!

You are taken on a roller coaster ride of a psychological thriller with this book. I was never sure what I could or could not believe as it was reading it and it kept me turning pages late into the night! This will be a good one to read during spooky season!

Meg agrees to participate in a trial treatment for an illness that is keeping her apart from everyone. She is lonely and afraid, willing to do anything to get better. What she soon comes to realize is her treatments are making her sicker. She is told she has contracted tuberculosis. Not only has she been given a grim diagnosis, but those in the trials with her are dying.

I recommend this to those interested in medical suspense, or mystery thrillers in general! Great, suspenseful five-star book!

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Starling's writing creates a tense, oppressive atmosphere that pulls readers into Margaret’s terrifying journey. The novel expertly explores themes of trust, vulnerability, and the cost of scientific experimentation. As Margaret’s physical decline mirrors her emotional unraveling, the story evolves from a medical struggle to a haunting tale of survival.

With gripping pacing and a sinister setting, The Graceview Patient is a thought-provoking and unsettling read that will resonate with fans of dark thrillers and body horror.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

I received an invitation from St. Martin's Press to read and review a digital ARC through Netgalley. The synopsis sounded intriguing and like it would be a mix of horror, thriller, and suspense taking place in a hospital. Based on the cover alone, this is not a book I would have picked up in a store to even look at, but the synopsis was promising. The book started pretty good, but I expected a little more horror aspect from it. The book wasn't bad, but it wasn't something I was rushing home to read. There were some really good parts and parts that made me what to keep reading, but some of the book just didn't keep me interested. I wanted a little more closure in the ending also.

If you are scared of hospitals and doctors, this book is not for you. However, if you find such things absolutely fascinating, you should definitely read this book. Caitlin Starling is a wizard with words and will take you deep into the bowels of a hospital, a terrified patient, and those who are supposed to be taking care of her. I can't even begin to express how horrifying but absolutely incredible this book was.

First, thank you to #NetGalley for the digital ARC.
This book was a RIDE. This is medical horror to the nth degree. Really well-drawn characters, perfect pacing, solid science in the story. Creepy as heck. I won't be able to "unsee" a LOT of these scenes for a long, long time. Yikes!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the chance to read this ARC. But how can it end like that!!

This was literally a fever dream of a book. I don’t know what’s what or who’s who but mercy was the last few chapters a lot after the slow climb of the beginning. Yeah the slow parts were needed because it builds the story up but that unsatisfying ending was not fair to Meg, she deserved better lol.

This book only enhanced my fears of hospitals and their ability to take away your rights in accordance to what they deem right.

The story was wonderfully built and its metaphor for hospitals was well played when visually creating the monster. All I could picture was the scene from Evil Dead Rise when they all merge into one, iyktyk.

But again why did it end like that 😭🥹

This was a very interesting book for me to read as someone with many chronic illnesses and pain conditions (yes, that is how I manage to read an unbelievable amount of books).

Something I did appreciate about this book and also found really interesting was how this story of illness was told. We did not really follow our main character's suffering, but more so her experience within the medical system/hospital she's currently at. We see her condition change through her treatment, almost separating her from her disease and the pain she's going through. Books tend to focus on the individual's suffering, but this almost made me see her through the eyes of the medical system itself. I can appreciate that because I don't want to hear about pain when I am already in similar pain. And because I have experienced the hot mess that is the medical system, so I can understand dhow frustrating, cold (in a heartless way) and sterile it is.

I also thought it was cool how the medical charts were used as a storytelling device. That was so subtle and unique, especially towards the end when things ramped up a bit.

I didn't find that there was much "action" in this book, but I get the feeling that it's supposed to be that way.

I'd be curious to learn if the author struggles with a chronic illness and what inspired this story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Caitlin Starling’s The Graceview Patient is a slow descent into medical and psychological madness, where the line between reality and fever dream blurs in unsettling ways.

At the end of her rope, Margaret Culpepper voluntarily enrolls in an all-expense-paid clinical trial, hoping for a cure to her rare autoimmune disorder and a chance to reclaim her life. Over time, she has distanced herself from family and friends, whether by her own actions or their slow withdrawal from her life. The trial offers a radical solution: completely dismantling her immune system and rebuilding it from scratch. But as Margaret’s health declines and the treatment intensifies, reality itself seems to warp around her. Are her terrifying visions simply drug-induced hallucinations, or is something more sinister lurking within the hospital’s walls?

One of the standout aspects of this book is Caitlin Starling’s meticulous attention to medical detail. The accuracy of the procedures, lab work, and even the daily rhythms of hospital life add a chilling realism to Margaret’s ordeal. The patient’s perspective—isolated in both body and mind—makes for a haunting read, especially for fans of psychological horror. (This book contains both psychological and body horror.)

However, I found the pacing slower than I’d hoped. The buildup to the more intense moments felt drawn out, and while the psychological horror was compelling, I wished it had expanded into something more tangible. Without giving away spoilers, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied, offering more questions than answers.

While The Graceview Patient wasn’t a personal favorite, readers who enjoy a slow-burning descent into madness might find it intriguing. Just be prepared to embrace the ambiguity and let the unease linger long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! Medical horror scares the crap out of me, holy cow! This had a creeping, sinister aspect to it that truly made it a gripping, suspenseful horror novel. You could truly feel the paranoia as well as the dread that the author was going for. It reminded me somewhat of Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer and that is a compliment. I’m spooked

In this story, Margaret's life is upended by a rare autoimmune condition that isolates her from the world. When she receives an enticing offer to participate in an experimental medical trial at Graceview Memorial, she hopes for a cure. However, the trial's grueling demands lead to the near-total destruction of her immune system, pushing her to her limits.

As Margaret's physical and mental state deteriorate, she uncovers a sinister presence within the hospital, blurring the lines between reality and medication-induced delusions. This book skillfully crafts a chilling atmosphere filled with tension and uncertainty, exploring themes of desperation, fear, and the quest for survival. With its gripping narrative and haunting revelations, this story is a compelling read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking conclusion.

Caitlin Starling’s The Graceview Patient is a chilling and immersive exploration of psychological and medical horror, set in the eerie confines of a hospital that seems to have a life of its own. Known for her genre-bending horror novels like The Luminous Dead and The Death of Jane Lawrence, Starling once again delivers a story that is both deeply unsettling and intellectually engaging.

The novel follows a woman confined to her hospital room after a mysterious accident. As she recovers, strange occurrences begin to unravel her sense of reality—cryptic messages, shadowy figures, and inexplicable gaps in her memory. The hospital itself becomes a central character, evoking the atmosphere of a Gothic manor with its labyrinthine halls, oppressive silence, and creeping dread. Starling masterfully blurs the line between the protagonist’s drug-induced hallucinations and genuine supernatural phenomena, leaving readers questioning what is real.

Thematically, The Graceview Patient delves into isolation, trauma, and the fragility of the mind. The protagonist’s struggle to piece together her fractured memories mirrors the reader’s journey to uncover the truth behind the hospital’s sinister secrets. Starling’s background in speculative fiction shines through in her meticulous attention to detail, creating a world that feels both otherworldly and grounded in visceral realism.

Critics have praised the novel for its claustrophobic tension and emotional depth. The protagonist is a compelling figure—flawed yet relatable—whose descent into paranoia is as heartbreaking as it is terrifying. However, some readers may find the pacing slower in parts due to the heavy focus on psychological introspection. Additionally, the ambiguity of certain plot points may leave those seeking definitive answers feeling unsatisfied.

Despite these minor critiques, The Graceview Patient is a standout work that cements Caitlin Starling’s reputation as a master of modern horror. Her ability to weave complex characters with richly atmospheric settings makes this novel an unforgettable experience. Fans of Gothic horror and psychological thrillers will find much to admire in this haunting tale.

For readers who enjoy stories that challenge perceptions of reality while delivering spine-tingling suspense, The Graceview Patient is an absolute must-read. It’s another triumph for Caitlin Starling, showcasing her talent for crafting deeply unsettling narratives that linger long after the final page.

I really enjoyed this book as for me, it was a unique take on hospital horror but with also a slight eerie dystopian feel. Great read!

Super creepy and a totally different take on medical horror. The FMC is the mother of all unreliable narrators. The whole book feels like a fever dream is a very good way. It didn’t take long into the book for the reader to also feel like they were losing their grip on what was really and happening and what wasn’t. The author did an incredible job and building dread throughout the book.

I was hooked pretty early on (before 15% of the way in). My only critique would be that I wasn’t really happy with the ending. I would have just wished for some more resolution, but that’s my preference as a reader.

Post-COVID hospital horror, a genre I’m really enjoying. This one was modern gothic, and I loved reading it. Thank you for the ARC.