THE CLINIC
From the critically acclaimed author of Black Widows comes a thriller set in a remote rehab facility in the Pacific Northwest.
Meg’s life is not at all what she thought it’d be. Working at a casino in LA, she spends her time catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly, reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control. There are whispers of suicide,
From the critically acclaimed author of Black Widows comes a thriller set in a remote rehab facility in the Pacific Northwest.
Meg’s life is not at all what she thought it’d be. Working at a casino in LA, she spends her time catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly, reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control. There are whispers of suicide, but Meg can’t believe it, and in her grief, she decides that the only way to find out the truth of what happened to her sister is to check in herself into the rehab clinic, and investigate her sister’s death from the inside.
But battling her own addictions and figuring out the truth will be much more difficult than she imagined, and now, she is too far from friends, family—and anyone who could help her.
- Sourcebooks Landmark
- Hardcover
- January 2024
- 448 Pages
- 9781464216213
Buy the Book
$27.99
About Cate Quinn
Cate Quinn is a bestselling historical thriller novelist in the UK under the name C.S. Quinn—her Charlie Tuesday series sold over 350,000 copies across four books. She is also a travel and lifestyle journalist for The Times, The Guardian, and The Mirror, alongside many magazines. She is also the author of Black Widows.
Praise
“Easily the creepiest setting for a suspense novel since the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining.” —BookPage
“A superior, creeping psychological thriller taut with tension and drama.” —The Seattle Times
“Set in the world of luxury rehab, this novel is punchy, pacy, and yes, completely addictive—a tense and twisty read.” — Emma Kavanagh, author of The Missing Hours
“A fast-paced, personal and twisty thriller that deals brilliantly with trauma and addiction while propelling us through the story. Loved it.” —Anna Mazzola, bestselling author of The Unseeing, The Clockwork Girl and The House of Whispers
“Cate Quinn’s propulsive thriller, The Clinic, reads like an edge-of-your-seat page-turner, with clever twists and turns and redirections, all while taking place at an unconventional rehab clinic in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest coast, but at its core this is a haunting story of addiction, long-lasting trauma, and the power of transformative change—I absolutely loved it.” —Ashley Tate, author of Twenty-Seven Minutes
Discussion Questions
1. After Meg learns that her sister, Haley, died in rehab, she decides to enter the Clinic to find out what happened to her. What did you think about this plan? If you were in Meg’s position, would you do the same thing?
2. What kind of treatment are the patients of the Clinic receiving? Did you think these methods were ethical? Why or why not?
3. At the beginning of the story, Harry tells Meg, “Sometimes it’s the hands you don’t play that win the game.” What did he mean by this, and how might the characters use this idea throughout the story?
4. As soon as Meg arrives at the Clinic, things are off, not only between the patients but also among the staff. What are some of the events that take place that indicate this facility is not what it seems? While you were reading, what theories did you form about what was going on in the Clinic?
5. Addiction is a central component of the story. How did it make you feel to read a story from their perspectives?
6. The Clinic is owned by the illusive Dr. Lutz. What is Cara able to learn about him, and what does she do with the information? In the end, what do we learn Dr. Lutz was doing?
7. Meg and Haley had a complex relationship. What are Meg’s feelings toward her sister at the start of the story, and how did they change throughout the narrative?
8. Meg tells Max that it’s best to live life at “zero tilt.” What does this phrase mean, and how does it explain Meg’s ability to act emotionless? Discuss how you feel about this concept and how it might play into the themes of trauma throughout the story.
9. Max tells Meg, “To solve your sister’s murder, you need to solve yourself.” What does he mean by this? Was Meg able to “solve herself” and figure out the source of her and Haley’s childhood traumas?
10. Trauma, along with addiction, is a vital theme throughout the narrative. Discuss the ways that trauma affects each of the characters and how it impacted the events of the story.
11. Meg formed many theories about what might have happened to her sister, but none of them were correct. Explain the ending. What actually happened to Haley Banks, and how did you feel after learning the truth?
12. This book is filled with twists and turns. Which one caught you the most off guard? Were you able to predict anything that happened in the story?
Interviews
This is not only a heart-pounding thriller but also a story that explores themes like trauma and addiction. What inspired you to write a story about these topics?
I had my own very personal journey with addiction, where I entered rehab having suffered with alcoholism for many years. The process of being with other addicts was completely transformative and allowed me to understand much more deeply how trauma is at the root of addiction. It was something I was inspired to bring into a fictional setting—with the obligatory murder, naturally!
Meg’s job is very unique. How did you decide to set her work in the gambling field?
I’ve always had an interest in the dark underworld of casinos and got quite close to training as a professional croupier at one point. Somewhere along the way, I was interested to learn just how professional casino security is. I was fascinated by the idea that casinos use professional card players to catch criminals, and the idea of Meg’s character—the shadow opposite of a police detective—was born along the way.
How did your story evolve over the course of writing? Were there any major changes?
This story evolved so much, in so many ways. About a quarter through, Meg’s character seemed to get a life of its own accord, and her personal reasons for addiction gave her a whole clinical personality type that wasn’t in my mind initially. At the end of the book, I completely changed who the killer was (readers can sign up to my mailer at catherinequinn.com/theclinic for more details on who I originally had in mind).
There are so many twists in this novel! What do you think makes a good twist, and why?
To me, the best twists are all about emotion. It’s not just that something unexpected happens (which is great) but also that full- body disbelief you get from an emotional sucker punch. Those are the kind of twists where you tell your friends: “You have to read this book!”