About the Book
A taut psychological exploration of obsession, betrayal and the dangerous relationship between a patient and therapist in 1960s London… The Model Patient is a historical psychological suspense book club novel perfect for fans of Abigail Dean, Clare Chambers, Florence Knapp and Miranda Cowley Heller.
‘Beautifully written and deeply unsettling’ ABIGAIL DEAN, Girl A
'Dark, humane and utterly absorbing. I could not put it down' JOANNA MILLER, The Eights
‘A truly captivating novel’ MATTHEW BLAKE, Anna O
‘Nothing is as it seems in this absorbing psychological thriller’ FIONA DAVIS, The Stolen Queen
‘Full of deep, dark surprises’ LYNDA COHEN LOIGMAN, The Matchmaker's Gift
In the quiet hush of her therapist’s office, Evelyn Westbrook finds herself revealing secrets she’d prefer to keep hidden.
Abandoning her successful modelling career to become a model wife for her husband, Henry, has left her days feeling empty. Her mother-in-law is pressing for a child that Evelyn doesn’t want. And her nights are haunted by a recurring nightmare in which she becomes a snake devouring its own tail.
As Evelyn’s sessions with the enigmatic Dr. Daley unearth more questions than answers, her interest in him turns into obsession. But is her therapist finally providing the care she needs, or is she being manipulated?
A compelling novel about identity, power, and the cost of playing the roles we never chose.
More praise for The Model Patient…
‘A gripping historical psychological thriller’ Amita Parikh
‘An extraordinary achievement of narrative and psychology’ Alis Hawkins
‘Begins as an elegant domestic drama and builds, quietly and inexorably, into a darkly devastating psychological thriller’ Brian Platzer
'Riveting, disturbing, compulsive - Ashe has crafted her finest novel yet' Bonnie-Burke-Patel
‘An unsettling, addictive read of obsession, anger, and the serpent that coils inside us all’ Sarah Clegg
‘A true original’ Cailean Stead
'Brilliantly observed, painfully awkward, and deeply unsettling’ Seth Insua
Review :
'A taut atmospheric psychological novel, Ashe explores identity, trauma and the dangerous cost of living a life shaped by others' expectations. It's an uneasy, riveting read you'll devour.' WOMAN'S WEEKLY
'A compelling take on power and obsession, this is chillingly brilliant historical thriller that will transport you back to 1963 London and leave you feeling deeply unsettled.' DAILY EXPRESS
'A gripping exploration of power and obsession, this is a chillingly masterful historical psychological thriller that whisks you back to 1963 London, leaving you deeply unsettled long after the final page.' DAILY MIRROR
'The story is set in the 1960s and Evelyn's relationship with Dr Daly gradually goes to very dark places. The tension revolves around how much Dr Daly's behaviour is crossing boundaries. Meanwhile Evelyn's own background reveals worrying evidence about her reliability as a narrator. But nothing is exactly as it seems and the author cleverly reveals and conceals just enough to keep the reader guessing. A thoughtful and, at times, alarming read.' DAILY MAIL
'Beautifully written and deeply unsettling' ABIGAIL DEAN, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of Girl A
'Crackling with tension and rife with ingenious plot twists, Ashe’s latest is an exploration of friendship, marriage, and female objectification, set against the backdrop of 1960s London. Nothing is as it seems in this absorbing psychological thriller—and you won’t be able to put it down'
FIONA DAVIS, author of The Stolen Queen
'A truly captivating novel. Brimming with tension, betrayal and devastating insights into the human mind, THE MODEL PATIENT powerfully explores what happens when the relationship between a patient and therapist turns into dangerous obsession' MATTHEW BLAKE, global bestselling author of Anna O
'Packed with colorful details of the swinging sixties, this twisty psychological exploration of marriage, deception, and desire will keep readers off-balance until the last page. An original and perceptive thriller, The Model Patient is full of deep, dark surprises' LYNDA COHEN LOIGMAN, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Matchmaker’s Gift
'Ashe's latest is a gripping historical psychological thriller that transports readers to 1963 London … What starts as a story about a woman trapped by societal expectations evolves into a dark exploration of manipulation and desire, building to a conclusion that will keep readers on edge until the end. As with her previous two novels, Ashe excels at immersive world-building. 1963 London comes alive through richly textured details like the drinks, fashions, and songs that place the reader squarely in the era. But beneath the atmospheric setting lies a provocative examination of transference and obsession. At its core, The Model Patient asks a chilling question: who truly holds the power in the consulting room?' AMITA PARIKH, author of the instant international bestseller The Circus Train
'Set at the fault line of the sexual revolution, The Model Patient is a taut, compelling exploration of beauty, power, and emotional dependency in 1960s London. With crisp, assured prose, Lucy Ashe examines what happens when a woman raised to perform for validation seeks refuge in therapy, only to find the roles shifting in disturbing ways and ethical boundaries crumbling. Brilliantly observed, painfully awkward, and deeply unsettling' SETH INSUA, author of Human, Animal
'A web of obsession, power and desire spins itself across nightmarish corners of the psyche in this darkly glittering tale of female vulnerability and strength' JENNIFER COX, Women Are Angry
'A chilling exploration of physical and psychological boundaries' NICOLE NEHRIG, author of With Her Own Hands
'An extraordinary achievement of narrative and psychology' ALIS HAWKINS, author of The Hunters Club
'A darkly devastating psychological thriller' BRIAN PLATZER, author of The Body Politic
