The Night Nurse: a massage therapy thriller

by Tony Berryman

From author Tony Berryman comes a compelling, immersive story of a massage therapist whose brush with a serial killer nurse catapults him into a fight for his patients’ lives.

How does he convince them of murders only he can see?

Jackson sees patterns – the sway of trees, the flow of traffic, the design of the human body. It makes him a brilliant massage therapist. It also once landed him in a psych ward. Now he’s seeing a pattern behind his elderly patients’ deaths.

Nurse Wendy loves her secret calling. She knows a hundred ways to move her patients beyond their pain, forever. She’s never been caught: Rule Three says When They Suspect, Move West.

Jackson’s friends think he’s slipping. The police don’t believe him. But he won’t sit on his hands while more patients die.

Wendy is horrified that someone knows about her secret work in the night. But she will never stop. And she’s in Vancouver, all the way West. There’s nowhere left to run.

As their paths spiral closer, neither can let the other go. Jackson will have to let the patterns take him again, learn to use them as a weapon – or lose everything to The Night Nurse.

Fans of Riley Sager and Meg Gardiner will love this gripping page-turner of a psychological thriller.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2020

About the author

Tony Berryman writes mysteries and thrillers, two fingers at a time. His first massage therapy thriller, The Night Nurse, was published in 2020. The second, On Borrowed Time, was published in June 2025.

Tony also co-writes adventure stories under the name Trigger Jones with his partner and mystery plotting expert, Juanita Rose Violini. Trigger's first two books, Gravity Doesn't Lie and Atmosphere Meltdown, are available now.

Tony lives in a small town west of the Rockies.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost don't want to write this review. This book has such a good review streak and I'm about to ruin that.
This story did not work for me. Not from the insecurity of Jackson, nor that that only suspects were those in a room (out of sight, out of mind/not important/not a suspect?), nor the tanker story, nor the many descriptions of meals.....I could go on.
I'm sorry but this was not for me.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept is a good one -- a murdering nurse is identified by a massage therapist who works with the same patients, but can't prove anything. What really raises this book up from the usual whodunnit is the inventive approach to the massage therapist's condition, a type of obsessive compulsive disorder that allows him to see patterns in everything -- traffic, winds, waves, and even furniture arrangements. This proves to be both a handicap and a blessing when going head to head with a killer. The writing is excellent, and the characters are both well-drawn and memorable.

[Tracy Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute BEST thing you can do for authors is to shout about their books! I loved this book. I loved Jackson so much.

[Adele Trask · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a really hard time with the writing style at the start of the book but it did get better as I progressed through the book. The story had a lot of sub-plots throughout which kept it interesting but was definitely not a mystery thriller (as you knew who the killer was throughout). Overall I enjoyed it but not one I would recommend as a must read.

[嘉 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5★

I loved the pacing of the plot, and it kept me constantly anticipating the following parts. I really like the push-pull of strong suspicion V.S. no evidence, especially in the later half of the novel. The best part was that for a suspense novel, the characters were relatively smart and didn't do any of the common 'horror-movie fails.' There aren't any hugely-preventable errors from the characters, in other words.
The groups of people become complicated as more and more characters get involved, and I find the 1V1 with the main character and antagonist interesting enough. Would recommend, and would like to keep a physical copy when it becomes available.

[Michelle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a story, all around Vancouver, in traffic jams, protests and every day life. The nurse is a bad bad woman. The massage therapist has ‘a condition’, not an enviable one, but one quite useful at times. Good read!

[Roxy Boroughs · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edge-of-your-seat debut thriller, with a refreshingly unique hero and villainess. Love the way this author turns a phrase. Love the cover, too.

[Steve Mantyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read a book, I like to be entertained.
This book took me on a journey that I enjoyed.
I would recommend this book if you enjoy reading.
Thanks for putting it in print, Tony!

[Shizu Futa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one has spent any time at all living in Vancouver, B. C., this novel brings back memories. Mr. Berryman sets up several vignettes in a manner that captures one's curiosity. How do these diverse characters come together in one story? That idle curiosity is grabbed by the crux of the main plot which is laid out right from the get-go. There is, however, an overarching back story that is playing out at the same time. The novel is a fine illustration of how catastrophic events that affect an entire population impact apparently random individuals whose lives nonetheless cross in "6 degrees of separation".

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very suspenseful thriller. 6 know who the killer is right away. But there are so many little plots throughout the story. It will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I may be wearing of going to hospital at night now.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really different

This is so tightly written that you will be horrified one minute and laughing the next.This person is a very good author.

[Julie Fedorvich · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok.. not really my style of writing. Wanted to support a Canadian author.

[Trudy Jaskela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely read a thriller. This one was located in Vancouver area which is why it was recommended.

[Wendy Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murderous nurse, a massage therapist with second sight, a hired terrorist, a group of 4 hipsters and some savvy police officers all connect in this thriller. Well developed characters, logically thought out storylines and a smidgeon of West Coast Canada kept me interested throughout this entire book. I have Tony Berryman's next book in my TBR pile and am looking forward to breaking it open.

[Tony Berryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun writing this book! My aim from the start was to give you the best, most engaging, most excellent thriller I can. Enjoy the read.