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The Therapist
“The Therapist is a highly recommended read for fans of dark psychological suspense and personal drama tales.” - K.C. Finn for Reader’s Favorite
Judge. Jury. Therapist.
Twenty-five years ago, Larisa Bergman buried her past, and with it, the terrible secret she vowed to take to her grave. Now a successful real estate broker with a new identity, she has money in the bank, a charming apartment…and increasingly debilitating panic attacks. Then she finds Dr. Mila Thorton, who offers her the perfect solution—a new treatment with a startling success rate.
Therapist Mila Thorton sees the worst of the worst in her practice—patients who’ve done terrible things and are unable to control their actions. Referring these reprehensible patients to psychiatrist Dr. Blackmore as test subjects for a questionable new treatment seems like a favor to society, not to mention earning her a little extra money. But everything comes at a price…
When Leo’s longtime girlfriend dies unexpectedly, she leaves behind a note asking him to protect her daughter Mila…along with some startling allegations. Now it’s up to him to find out who Dr. Blackmore really is before it’s too late.
Three people—their lives irrevocably linked by a web of secrets—are drawn together in one explosive and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers turning the pages until the final shocking conclusion.
Judge. Jury. Therapist.
Twenty-five years ago, Larisa Bergman buried her past, and with it, the terrible secret she vowed to take to her grave. Now a successful real estate broker with a new identity, she has money in the bank, a charming apartment…and increasingly debilitating panic attacks. Then she finds Dr. Mila Thorton, who offers her the perfect solution—a new treatment with a startling success rate.
Therapist Mila Thorton sees the worst of the worst in her practice—patients who’ve done terrible things and are unable to control their actions. Referring these reprehensible patients to psychiatrist Dr. Blackmore as test subjects for a questionable new treatment seems like a favor to society, not to mention earning her a little extra money. But everything comes at a price…
When Leo’s longtime girlfriend dies unexpectedly, she leaves behind a note asking him to protect her daughter Mila…along with some startling allegations. Now it’s up to him to find out who Dr. Blackmore really is before it’s too late.
Three people—their lives irrevocably linked by a web of secrets—are drawn together in one explosive and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers turning the pages until the final shocking conclusion.
371 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2019
About the author
Kelly Holm
3 books11 followersKelly Holm is an author and photographer. In her free time, she enjoys live music, travel and hiking around Arizona and Laguna Beach, CA. Kelly grew up in Minneapolis, MN, and now resides in Phoenix, AZ, with her husband and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 4, 2019
The Therapist by Kelly Holm
Wait! What?!
This is one of those books that as I'm reading along I figure I knew what was going on and then......BAM! What?! Well written characters that you get to know, a protoganist that I had a hard time liking and I must say I am glad she's not my therapist! Definitely a book that will hold your attention. I received an advance copy and leave my opinion voluntarily. I am leaving 3 star but wish there were half stars as this should be 3.5 stars. Thank you to the Author for her rich imagination and to the Publishers.
Wait! What?!
This is one of those books that as I'm reading along I figure I knew what was going on and then......BAM! What?! Well written characters that you get to know, a protoganist that I had a hard time liking and I must say I am glad she's not my therapist! Definitely a book that will hold your attention. I received an advance copy and leave my opinion voluntarily. I am leaving 3 star but wish there were half stars as this should be 3.5 stars. Thank you to the Author for her rich imagination and to the Publishers.
September 30, 2019
This novel pulled me in from the very start. I love a good psychological thriller. The plot was amazing. The story is about 3 people who are to be trusted. This book was a fast paced easy read for me. I really enjoyed it!! The ending shocked me.
I was given a advanced readers copy on book siren, I am giving this review in my own opinion and honestly.
I was given a advanced readers copy on book siren, I am giving this review in my own opinion and honestly.
November 25, 2019
Everything about this book sounded like it was right up my alley. A therapist, a potential murder, and a twist.
So this book is told through 3 different POV's; Larisa, Mila, and Leo.
Now their lives are all connected, they just don't know it.
Lets start with Larisa. She's a real estate broker with a dark secret. At 18 years old, she accidentally killed her baby. She didn't know what to do and had no one to turn to, so she buried her child in the woods and has been having panic attacks ever since.
So Mila, oh my god. She's the dumbest therapist I've ever met. She loses her mother early on in the book. But for some reason she's only in town for like a day and a half and then hurrying back to her new home, new life, and new practice. It was painful reading her chapters because she ignores everything her gut is telling her and continues making stupid decisions.
And finally, Leo. He dated Mila's mother, Krystal for almost 30 years. When she dies, he's distraught beyond belief. But soon he finds out a sinister secret about her death and dives head first into an investigation of his own.
So, I have some problems with this book (it is an ARC though so I'm hoping some of this changed before it was published). For starters, it doesn't make any sense in the world for a girl fresh out of college to be able to open her own practice and have a steady stream of patients that soon. It's just not logical. Then, something causes the author to change the name of her cat more than halfway through the book? I hope this was merely accidental because Milo and Smokey aren't names that make sense to be used interchangeably....AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD if you're writing a character investigating something how in the world do you think, "Oh let me take this thing from the scene of a crime in hopes that it will help convict said person in the future" LIKE HELLO IF IT'S NOT THERE HOW IS IT GOING TO HELP CONVICT THEM.
That ending was.....atrocious. So many loose ends, vital information isn't mentioned until the last 10% of the book, and an illogical trip to Thailand that apparently makes Mila finally realize everything she's a part of is dangerous, illegal, and heinous, only to turn around and do it again.
I love the concept for the book although it was incredibly predictable. It had good potential and some of the chapters are fantastic, but overall I was disappointed with the way it was written.
Huge thanks to BookSirens for sending me an advanced copy!
This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!
So this book is told through 3 different POV's; Larisa, Mila, and Leo.
Now their lives are all connected, they just don't know it.
Lets start with Larisa. She's a real estate broker with a dark secret. At 18 years old, she accidentally killed her baby. She didn't know what to do and had no one to turn to, so she buried her child in the woods and has been having panic attacks ever since.
So Mila, oh my god. She's the dumbest therapist I've ever met. She loses her mother early on in the book. But for some reason she's only in town for like a day and a half and then hurrying back to her new home, new life, and new practice. It was painful reading her chapters because she ignores everything her gut is telling her and continues making stupid decisions.
And finally, Leo. He dated Mila's mother, Krystal for almost 30 years. When she dies, he's distraught beyond belief. But soon he finds out a sinister secret about her death and dives head first into an investigation of his own.
So, I have some problems with this book (it is an ARC though so I'm hoping some of this changed before it was published). For starters, it doesn't make any sense in the world for a girl fresh out of college to be able to open her own practice and have a steady stream of patients that soon. It's just not logical. Then, something causes the author to change the name of her cat more than halfway through the book? I hope this was merely accidental because Milo and Smokey aren't names that make sense to be used interchangeably....AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD if you're writing a character investigating something how in the world do you think, "Oh let me take this thing from the scene of a crime in hopes that it will help convict said person in the future" LIKE HELLO IF IT'S NOT THERE HOW IS IT GOING TO HELP CONVICT THEM.
That ending was.....atrocious. So many loose ends, vital information isn't mentioned until the last 10% of the book, and an illogical trip to Thailand that apparently makes Mila finally realize everything she's a part of is dangerous, illegal, and heinous, only to turn around and do it again.
I love the concept for the book although it was incredibly predictable. It had good potential and some of the chapters are fantastic, but overall I was disappointed with the way it was written.
Huge thanks to BookSirens for sending me an advanced copy!
This review and more can be found at A Reader's Diary!
November 11, 2019
This was a good story with some suspense and interesting characters. It centers primarily around Mila, a therapist whose mother has recently passed away, and her relationship with her mother's partner and with a psychiatrist who may or may not being doing something unethical; and Larisa, a real estate agent who becomes a new patient of Mila's.
While the story overall was good and was a unique storyline, the pace was slow with a lot of repetition of words that seemed unnecessary (a lot of what she was thinking, then the sentiment repeated later in the page or chapter) and the narration of extreme details in some cases (like when Leo was ordering a burger in a restaurant and the waitress went through what sides were available and he picked one) while jumping over days or weeks in other areas (like when Mila went to Thailand for a whole month, which was brushed over in one sentence). There were also a couple things in the writing that just didn't make sense, like Smokey the cat being referred to as Milo in one chapter but then back to Smokey for the remainder of the book; a 98-year-old woman talking about wanting to live closer to her daughters and "grandbabies", though any grandchildren of a woman of that age would be grown adults; and the word "tough" repeatedly spelled as "tuff" throughout the book.
I found Mila not to be that likeable and wasn't sure if the author intended it that way. I would have connected more with her if she seemed conflicted about the bad stuff she was doing, rather than the callous manner in which she acted throughout the story. I also thought it was odd that she and Leo barely knew each other at all, despite the fact that he had been with her mother for her entire life and there was reference to trips to a vacation cabin together.
Overall, a decent story that could have been better with more connection to the main characters, and some clean-up of the narrative to make it more engaging and remove discrepancies. Thanks to BookSirens for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While the story overall was good and was a unique storyline, the pace was slow with a lot of repetition of words that seemed unnecessary (a lot of what she was thinking, then the sentiment repeated later in the page or chapter) and the narration of extreme details in some cases (like when Leo was ordering a burger in a restaurant and the waitress went through what sides were available and he picked one) while jumping over days or weeks in other areas (like when Mila went to Thailand for a whole month, which was brushed over in one sentence). There were also a couple things in the writing that just didn't make sense, like Smokey the cat being referred to as Milo in one chapter but then back to Smokey for the remainder of the book; a 98-year-old woman talking about wanting to live closer to her daughters and "grandbabies", though any grandchildren of a woman of that age would be grown adults; and the word "tough" repeatedly spelled as "tuff" throughout the book.
I found Mila not to be that likeable and wasn't sure if the author intended it that way. I would have connected more with her if she seemed conflicted about the bad stuff she was doing, rather than the callous manner in which she acted throughout the story. I also thought it was odd that she and Leo barely knew each other at all, despite the fact that he had been with her mother for her entire life and there was reference to trips to a vacation cabin together.
Overall, a decent story that could have been better with more connection to the main characters, and some clean-up of the narrative to make it more engaging and remove discrepancies. Thanks to BookSirens for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2019
The Therapist is the depiction of a perfect tangled web. The characters are interwoven in a way few novels have achieved. Read carefully and absorb the words and names, because you will want to understand all the interactions to fully appreciate the aftermaths. Larisa is a successful real estate broker with a secret past. Krystal and Leo share a secret and have found long-term happiness with each other despite Krystal’s past. Mila is a therapist who has found a way to become rich that is not ethical or legal. There are others, of course, who interact with these four people but they don’t share the depth of these four characters. If only the writing were better.
I wish Kelly Holm had been able to more dramatically craft The Therapist. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t really capture all of the feelings the story could incite. Events that should be dramatic are simplified and don’t invoke the emotions in the reader that the situation deserves. Some of the actions are so implausible they detract from the intended drama of the event. I found myself chuckling at the way some of the conflicts are written. Clearly the author writes about things of which she knows little. With the help of a good editor this novel could be outstanding.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I wish Kelly Holm had been able to more dramatically craft The Therapist. Unfortunately, the writing doesn’t really capture all of the feelings the story could incite. Events that should be dramatic are simplified and don’t invoke the emotions in the reader that the situation deserves. Some of the actions are so implausible they detract from the intended drama of the event. I found myself chuckling at the way some of the conflicts are written. Clearly the author writes about things of which she knows little. With the help of a good editor this novel could be outstanding.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 17, 2019
A definite psychological book that could possibly happen in today's world. Mila, a therapist, gets financial bonuses by referring some of her more troubled patients to Dr Blackmore, a colleague, who is doing research on different therapies. Even though Mila has reservations about Dr Blackmore and his principles, she can use the extra money. Despite Mila's concerns, it gets easier to justify her actions. The more involved Mila gets, the more she learns about the extent of the research. As the details of the real processes are revealed, the complexity of the operation is shocking. The patients that are involved, for the most part, are easily duped into believing everything they are told. The medical staff involved seems to have lost their code of ethics, easily justifying their participation in the process. I enjoyed the suspense of the story, there were times I felt that it was dragging and there were parts that I couldn't read fast enough. Thank-you to Book Sirens for an ARC in exchange for a honest review
October 20, 2019
This book started as the story of Larisa, a real estate broker having anxiety attacks and nightmares due to an event in her past, and Dr Mila Thornton, her therapist. Mila's mother Krystal has recently died, leaving behind her long-time boyfriend Leo. From there it got very twisted with so many connections between the characters you almost need a map. You need to pay attention to all the characters to appreciate the events as they happen. Your opinion of the characters may change as the book goes along. I won't say more to avoid spoilers. The style of writing is easy to read quickly. The story with all its twists kept me reading to discover what happens to the characters, both good and dastardly. By the end of the book the characters are well developed. I received an advance review copy from Book Sirens and the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I enjoyed this book and hope to read more by this author.
November 13, 2019
Thank you to Book Siren for providing a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Interesting premise for a book, but not executed as good as it could have been. I felt the flow of the book was off in several parts. While at the start of the book the author is very wordy and detailed, by 3/4 she start to just brush over things. I felt like the author looked at the page count and thought "I need to wrap this up before it gets too long." She writes a brief but about Mila in Thailand for a month, but very little about her trip. I was also disappointed in how at the end the author seemed to remember she needed to tie up loose ends with Leo and Larisa (2 other key players in the book) so their plot ending was just brushed over.
Overall an ok read if you don't mind some short falls.
Interesting premise for a book, but not executed as good as it could have been. I felt the flow of the book was off in several parts. While at the start of the book the author is very wordy and detailed, by 3/4 she start to just brush over things. I felt like the author looked at the page count and thought "I need to wrap this up before it gets too long." She writes a brief but about Mila in Thailand for a month, but very little about her trip. I was also disappointed in how at the end the author seemed to remember she needed to tie up loose ends with Leo and Larisa (2 other key players in the book) so their plot ending was just brushed over.
Overall an ok read if you don't mind some short falls.
October 6, 2019
Kelly Holm's "The Therapist" is a gripping and holds your attention right from the start. A dark psychological thriller, this book is narrated from the perspectives of three main characters; Mila Thorton, Larisa Bergman and Leo Mills. Kelly's ability to drive this complex and engaging plot while going back in time resulted in me having a very hard time putting this book down. Mila Thorton is a paradox, caught in the midst of an internal battle between her conscious and demons and low key gave me "Gone Girl" vibes. The unearthing of past secrets and the ending is very unsettling but fits perfectly in the context for this fast-paced novel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 14, 2019
Larisa is a real estate broker living in sunny LA, hiding from a horrid past that suddenly starts creeping up on her. Mila is a therapist, also living in California, and mourning the recent death of her mother. The two are on a crash course together, with Larisa needing a new therapist to deal with her past, and Mila being recently recommended to her. This book is filled with unique twists that is bound to keep the reader guessing.
I personally had a hard time finishing the book. There were a lot of grammatical errors, and most of the twists were pretty predictable. I think there is a great skeleton of a story here, but there is a lot of structural work and editing that need to be done to make it workable.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
I personally had a hard time finishing the book. There were a lot of grammatical errors, and most of the twists were pretty predictable. I think there is a great skeleton of a story here, but there is a lot of structural work and editing that need to be done to make it workable.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2019
I received an ARC from Book Sirens, and this is my honest opinion.
I havent read any books by Kelly Holm's before, and I found The Therapist at times was hard to put down. At places it did drag some but overall it was very well written and the storyline was certainly different. I had figured some of the storyline out ahead of time, I didnt care for Mila's character at all. So many people are willing to do anything no matter what the consquences are for others. The storyline is told from the prospect of three different people, I think for those that enjoy pyschological thrillers most will enjoy this book.
I havent read any books by Kelly Holm's before, and I found The Therapist at times was hard to put down. At places it did drag some but overall it was very well written and the storyline was certainly different. I had figured some of the storyline out ahead of time, I didnt care for Mila's character at all. So many people are willing to do anything no matter what the consquences are for others. The storyline is told from the prospect of three different people, I think for those that enjoy pyschological thrillers most will enjoy this book.
September 29, 2019
Interesting story, looking at the people that are supposed to be trusted professionals. I enjoy books that have a twist and this one was slightly predictable, still a good story. This book was pretty easy read, starts out as a story about 3 different people and their daily lives, then turns into a dark look as their lives intertwine.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 30, 2019
As a lover of psychological thrillers and a real estate broker I thought this book would be right up my alley - and I was right. The therapist in question uses dubious tactics justified by trying to redeem the unredeemable. The story is told through the eyes of three people with hidden central to the outcome. It’s a gripping, well written novel with quite a surprising explosive ending. I received an advance copy for free and I am Lea I g this review voluntarily.
November 10, 2019
Upon starting the book, it seemed like a typical drama. As it progressed, the storyline became more complex, as well as darker and disturbing. It had a slightly slow build but once I really got into it, was difficult to put down. I will post a full, more in depth review once the book is officially published.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 20, 2019
This is a psychological story if ever I read one. The characters are really messed up and go to a therapist. One therapist refers the 'really bad ones' to another therapist who has questionable ways to treat his patients. But when someone is killed during therapy, things take on a different light of day. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Book Sirens.
October 20, 2019
I really wanted to like this book but just couldn’t. I think the premise was pretty good but the writing was lacking and very repetitive. I also didn’t like any of the characters. The biggest twist was more creepy than exciting. The whole thing just left an icky tast in my mouth. Oh well.
September 4, 2019
I couldn't put this one down! The plot pulled me in from the first page to the last.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews