Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Publication: February 5, 2019
Publisher: Celadon Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Mystery
Pages: 297
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.
Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.
Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him…
REVIEW:
When my book club picked The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides to read for our January book, I was excited. Mystery/Thriller novels are my absolute favorite and psychological thrillers are the top of that list.
From the start, The Silent Patient had me hooked. I finished the entire book in two days because of how intriguing and suspenseful it was. I thought I would be confused by the back and forth between viewpoints, but it honestly helped build the suspense and keep me guessing as to who the culprit in this book was. Usually you see books like this from the viewpoint of the patient only or other outside parties. Rarely do you find a novel that allows you to see both patient and doctor. The way Michaelides wrote these characters, I was instantly suspect of almost every single new character introduced. Each character had so many layers to peel back. I loved learning about Alicia even though she basically didn’t speak the entire time, and Dr. Diomedes was curious to try and figure out because he always seemed suspicious of others as well. Good guys became bad guys. Bad guys became good guys. Michaelides has you questioning your own judgement in The Silent Patient.
My only downfall to this book was I wanted it to be longer! I wanted to know what happen to each character in the end. While I can guess, there is no confirmation. Possibly that was Michaelides point to let the reader guess as to where everyone wound up and how the story tied up into a cute little bow? I just wanted a tiny bit more.
Otherwise I was thoroughly entrapped in the creative works of Michaelides in The Silent Patient. I could not put it down. Fantastic writing, unique plot, twists and turns at every angle. I cannot wait to go pick up another book by Alex Michaelides. Psychological Thriller lovers beware… this one will keep you guessing!
STAR RATING: 5/5
You can pick up your own copy of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. You can follow author Alex Michaelides on twitter HERE.
