The Forgotten Patient
Dr. Elias Thorne runs the Blackwood Institute for the Criminally Insane—until he wakes up in Cell 404. Stripped of his clothes and status, he is now "Patient 619," and his own staff treats him with pity rather than respect. When he finds commitment papers signed by his own hand years ago, Elias must face a terrifying reality: is he the victim of a dark conspiracy, or has his life as a doctor been a delusion all along?
- Dr. Elias Thorne - Director of Blackwood institute
- Clara - Elias’s wife, deceased
- Marcus - Orderly at Blackwood Institute
- Dr. Aris Vance - New director of Blackwood Institute
- Keys (Real name Dave) - Patient at Blackwood institute
- Aris tells Elias he has been locked up for three years, ever since he started a fire at his house that killed Clara.
- Elias remembers Aris encouraging him to sign a voluntary commitment form for the weekend so he could rest after Clara’s death.
- Keys tells Elias he used to be the janitor at Blackwood until he saw documents he was not meant to see about Tabula Rasa - a memory erasure program that Aris is conducting.
- Elias remembers arguing with Aris over Tabula Rasa before waking up in cell 404.
- Elias breaks out of his cell, goes to his former office, takes cash and blank ID’s meant for the erased patients from a safe, and discovers files detailing Aris’s corrupt activities.
If you have 20 minutes and need a quick thrill, pick this up. The Forgotten Patient is the definition of short and sweet. Black’s writing style is solid and pulls you in immediately. It’s incredibly fast-paced, and manages to deliver a surprisingly good twist given the length. This psychological thriller is perfect for a coffee break read or a palate cleanser between long novels!
- Kidnapping
- Torture
Publisher: Independently published
ISBN: 9798244668100
Publication Date: January 19, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.