Caitlin Starling is one of the best up-and-coming writers on the horror circuit working today. With each novel, she has blended multiple genres together to show that she will be a force to be reckoned with for some time to come.

Starling's latest, THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT, definitely has elements of horror. It also has unrelenting suspense that features gaslighting at a level that almost brings new meaning to that word. Additionally, she takes us down the road through some graphic body horror that would make David Cronenberg proud. In short, this is a wonderful book that constantly keeps the reader guessing.

"THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT is a chilling read that Starling masterfully plots in such a way that the reader simply must expect the unexpected."

Margaret Culpepper is the newest patient at Graceview Memorial. The 26-year-old suffers from a series of serious maladies, the worst being Fayette-Gehret syndrome, a severe autoimmune disorder. During her time at Graceview, she has agreed to be involved in an experimental medical trial that is being managed by Adam, a consultant who works for the firm that is responsible for this treatment. The trial is called SWAIL, and the physical and mental impact it will have on Margaret could be far worse than what a chemotherapy patient endures.

Throughout the novel, we see Margaret's daily medical chart that outlines how she’s being treated, her pain level and her anticipated release date. She explores the hospital and finds that some of the employees seem a bit off and may be hiding something from her.

Dr. Santos is guiding Margaret’s treatment, and a team of regular nurses, like Isobel, get to form a relationship with her. She also confides in a fellow SWAIL patient, Veronica, who knows a bit more about what is going on. Just when Margaret starts to learn more about her situation, Veronica is suddenly taken away. She is told that Veronica passed away, but it would have no impact on her treatment. When Margaret discovers a redacted diagnosis about her own case, she wants to leave the hospital. Regrettably, Graceview is not done with her, and the horrific ride that she is on has only just begun.

When Isobel falls ill, Margaret becomes even more suspicious of Graceview's activities and what she's being told. Will she be able to escape the same fate that took the life of Veronica and others, or is she necessary to whatever alternate reality is unfolding around her at a hospital that is much more than it appears to be?

THE GRACEVIEW PATIENT is a chilling read that Starling masterfully plots in such a way that the reader simply must expect the unexpected. I was particularly impressed by her admission in the Acknowledgements that she named Fayette-Gehret syndrome after her mother, who succumbed to a fatal illness. Once again, it made me realize that the horrors of the real world are far worse than the fictional events found in horror stories.