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04 February, 2021

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides - [Book Review]

Book Details:


Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides 
Genre:  psychological thriller, suspense, Murder thriller
Print Length: 336 pages
Publisher: Celadon Books




Blurb:


The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

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....

Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review :


This is a perfect psychological thriller. It doesn't seem to be the debut novel of the author as it seemed like the best work. The details about psychiatry, the different mentalities, the reasons for people's behaviors and connection to the past are well covered.

The story runs around psychologist Theo who tries to treat Alicia, who joins the hospital after killing her husband. She doesn't speak at all and no other doctor could make her talk. Other than displaying some violent behavior and suicidal tendency, she doesn't give any clue about her mental disorder making the treatment impossible for all other doctors.

But, Theo takes a special interest in her case, he even goes many steps further by talking to people close to her, investigating her past, her behavior, etc. The plot is engrossing, and I completed the book in one go even though it's a lengthy book.

The narrative, characters, the details, and of course the twists and a wonderful climax made this a joyful read.

My Rating: 5/5


About the Author:


Alex Michaelides was born in Cyprus to a Greek-Cypriot father and English mother. He has a MA in English Literature from Cambridge University and a MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. The Silent Patient is his first novel.

Until next time,


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