About the Book
ISBN: 9781335430489
Publication Date: November 5, 2024 Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Book Summary:
The Silent Patient meets Rebecca in this twisty debut about the mysterious death of a woman with congenital analgesia, a rare condition where she can’t feel any pain – and an obsessive journalist who will stop at nothing to uncover her most dangerous secrets.
Meet Eva, who can’t feel pain, and Anna, who can’t escape it.
Everyone has heard about the case of Eva Reid. Ever since she was born, she’s been immune to physical pain – she can get a paper cut, break a limb, and even give birth without feeling a single thing. Her rare condition has long-captivated reporters and researchers – including Dr. Nate Reid, Eva’s husband and acclaimed scientist renowned for his work in The Pain Laboratory. Also among them is Anna Tate, a ruthless journalist with a dark past of her own.
When Eva is suddenly found dead inside her home, it raises a flurry of questions around the last night of her life – and who might’ve been involved. Anna finds herself growing increasingly obsessed with Eva’s case: her cloistered, painless existence, her promising career as a psychotherapist, and especially her toxic relationship to Dr. Reid, whom she met and married as his former patient. But what other secrets could they be hiding?
When Dr. Reid embarks on the process of writing a book about Eva, Anna makes sure she’s first in line to work on the project with him. As she slowly inserts herself into their home and seeks to uncover what’s fact and what’s fiction, shocking discoveries await her – and not everyone may come out unscathed…
My Thoughts
What a chillingly delightful novel! The woman married to the pain specialist, Eva, is found dead under some rather mysterious circumstances. But what a complication! She cannot feel pain since she suffers from a congenital condition that precludes her from doing so. When Anna, a ghostwriter, enters the scenario, she is fascinated with Eva’s story and Dr. Reid’s obsession with studying pain. Anna is determined to find out what really happened the night that Eva died, but her quest is filled with some unexpected twists and turns as well as danger. This is a moderately paced novel, perfectly paced for the action in the story. The characters are compelling and dynamic and the research that is included in the story is absolutely riveting. I had trouble putting down the book, especially once Anna started her independent investigation. This book proves that one should not take anything for granted and that not all narrators can be trusted. With a web of deceit built into the story as well as a cleverly executed page-turner with some head-spinning twists, this novel captivated my attention and intrigued me with its profound revelations about pain and how it can be manipulated. Edgy and satisfying novel that is terrifyingly brilliant!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
About the Author
Emma Cook has been an editor at the Guardian for 16 years, commissioning on Guardian Weekend, editing her own section Do Something and now assistant editor and travel editor on the Observer magazine. She has written for a range of titles including the Guardian, the Independent, the Times, the Daily Telegraph, ES Magazine, Elle and Psychologies. She is an alumna of the Faber Academy’s six-month Writing A Novel course, and You Can’t Hurt Me is her debut novel.
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