Book Review | The Therapist by Helene Flood

Sara is a therapist working in her house which is currently under renovation. Her husband, Sigurd, is away on a trip with friends. He leaves a voicemail confirming his arrival at the holiday cabin. But later, his friends confirm he never arrived. As the police search for her missing husband, unexplainable events start happening at home. Sara must get to the root of her relationship – and possibly her job – to find the truth.

What’s important is to be able to distinguish the important details from the rest. If you remember everything, it’s harder to recall the significant things – the things you have to remember.

The Therapist is a psychological Nordic noir featuring an unreliable narrator and an intriguing mystery. Originally published in Norwegian, I thought the translation is excellent and the writing feels natural. The pacing is deliberate and driven by Sara’s thoughts.

As the protagonist, Sara is pensive but I found that her worries resonated with me. Her marriage is shown through flashbacks which helps provide context to their relationship before her husband Sigurd went missing. I thought Sara is an appealing character to root for, especially as people in her life seem to hide information from her. There are doubts about her marriage and Sigurd’s possible secrets. There is confusion about her feelings for her father who neglected her as a child but is supportive of her now. We also see her sessions with the patients, her complicated relationship with her in-laws, and her difficult interactions with the police.

The majority of the story takes place in Sara’s half-finished house and I thought it added to the feelings of discomfort. Are the strange things happening in her house real or only in her head? However, while I liked the suspenseful buildup, I was let down by the resolution. I was hoping for something more original and less predictable. It also feels implausible after such an intriguing setup. I wanted something more sinister. But I did appreciate the brilliantly ambiguous ending. It’s the kind of ending that makes you think – what would you do if you find yourself in this position?

The Therapist would be suitable for readers who love psychological drama with flawed characters and introspective storytelling.

I received a copy from the publisher and Netgalley for review purposes.

About the author: Helene Flood

Translated by Alison McCullough

Photo by Sigmund