Kevin Davis's therapy business has not become the bustling operation he envisioned, but he still attracts steady traffic. The reason for his inconsistent clientele lies in his unconventional approach to dealing with them. Kevin's methods blur the lines between acceptable and outright illegal, but so long as they deliver results, he does not mind. That is, until he has to deal with Molly. Kevin thinks Molly's case will be like others before her, but he has no idea she has grand plans for him that will upend his once-quiet life in ways he never thought possible. Find out what happens next in Chris Wilkensen's Chats with a Charlatan.

Chris Wilkensen's Chats with a Charlatan is a psychological thriller that will make readers second-guess trusting any medical professional's advice. The dialogue initially takes on a casual tone, highlighted by Kevin's professional-sounding opening when chatting with his clients, gradually shifting to an unhinged tone, marked by Kevin's sometimes naive questioning of people's reactions to his outlandish behavior. One example is Molly's outburst during their session, which provides perceptive readers with clues to the exact details of Kevin's mystery formula. Wilkensen prioritizes attention to detail, emphasizing subtle elements such as the names of the police officers who visit Kevin and key characteristics of the different neighborhoods he visits, thereby immersing readers in the unfolding drama from the therapist's perspective. The author blends even pacing and descriptive storytelling with strategically placed dark humor, ultimately creating a suspense-filled narrative that touches on delicate contemporary social issues and feels realistic. I enjoyed reading this thought-provoking novel.

Chats with a Charlatan by Chris Wilkensen is about Kevin Davis, a therapist whose life and professional ethics are already barely holding together when the story begins. Kevin’s therapy sessions aren’t "typical". Kevin’s sessions are unpredictable, and mostly go the way he acts on impulse. He’s never sure if he’s helping his clients or just causing more problems. Life outside work feels very hollow. He keeps mentally replaying his divorce from Janine, his ex, and can’t seem to move past it. His routines seem meaningless, genuine connections are scarce, and complaints about his therapy soon get the attention of the authorities. As his fragile world begins closing in around him fast, he’s left scrambling to keep control of both his work and his life. How does his story end?

Reading Chris Wilkensen’s Chats with a Charlatan felt like being dropped into someone else’s unresolved mess and watching it slowly unravel. Kevin’s inner voice is sharp and observant, but it’s also impulsive and self-sabotaging, which makes his choices both understandable and frustrating. The therapy sessions show Kevin’s contradictions, especially with Molly, and his uneasy trust with Nick. These emotional moments make it clear how hard it is to tell care from control. The police questioning adds tension, keeping things stressful without turning the story into a full crime plot. The city of Chicago is depicted as busy and distant, which matches how isolated Kevin feels and how cut off he actually is from people. Overall, the book gives a candid look at a man dealing with the results of his own choices in a world that doesn’t forgive easily.

Kevin Davis has perfected the art of rationalization in Chats with a Charlatan by Chris Wilkensen. His unconventional methods, such as treating patients with drugs and alcohol, work brilliantly, or so he tells himself. His patients trust him. They need him. But when Molly, a client, walks into his office wearing dark sunglasses and a black rage, Kevin has no idea that his entire world has already been set on a path of destruction. Soon, Kevin is brought in for questioning, and his history with patients is dissected. The case becomes increasingly twisted. Kevin is unaware of how deep a pit he has fallen into and how treacherous the situation truly is. His world collapses, Kevin descends into paranoia, and the most dangerous threats are orchestrated by forgotten foes.

What begins as a simple case spirals into a psychological maze of manipulation, betrayal, and violence that threatens to annihilate everything. From the first session between Kevin Davis and Molly, Chris Wilkensen establishes a suspenseful atmosphere that only intensifies as the story unfolds. The genius of Chats with a Charlatan lies in its use of an unreliable narrator. Kevin's self-deception and blame-shifting reveal how disconnected he is from reality. He justifies unethical practices, dismisses warning signs, and romanticizes toxic relationships, all while the carefully constructed trap around him tightens. Wilkensen's control over the narrative perspective is absolutely masterful; the characters exist in shades of grey, and readers are left off-kilter as they are drawn into psychological suspense that exposes how one person can destroy another and everything they hold dear.