Book Review: The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides

Book Review: The Silent Patient – Alex Michaelides

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….

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was actually the first book that ignited my love for thrillers. This book is amazingly well-written with its well-rehearsed plot combined and the intricate characters. It is a compelling read with its intense twist that I never saw coming. 

The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller revolving around the silence of Alicia Berenson, a famous painter with a seemingly perfect life. Her life is turned upside down when she is found standing over her husband, Gabriel’s bloodied dead body holding a gun. Ever since then her mouth hasn’t summoned any words, she hasn’t spoken for years. She was entered into a psychological facility, and here came Theo Faber. A psychologist with a certain fascination with Alicia’s case. As Theo dives deeper into this mystifying case, a web of lies and deceit starts to unroll.

I really liked how Michaelides wrote the character Alicia Berenson. She was always entangled in mysterious connections and her mysterious silence captivated me from the beginning, compelling me to uncover the reason behind it. As I delved more into Theo’s background in the book his story seemed to perfectly align with Alicia and her vow of not speaking. It was really interesting to see his struggle with Alicia and her psychological problems. 

The plot was fabulously written, and I was highly engrossed throughout every chapter. Each word was written meticulously, leading up to the unimaginable twist that left me pondering. The writing style of Michaelides is very sharp and witty, hitting every point in a tone that sends the message very clearly. The themes of betrayal, lies, deceit, and relationships were intricately woven, creating the perfect blend for a thrilling novel. 

“We’re all crazy, I believe, just in different ways.” ~ Alex Michaelides, The Silent Patient

The twist was obviously my favorite part of the novel as I wouldn’t have seen it from a mile away. It was something completely out of the ordinary that I would have never guessed. I loved how Michaelides made sure to leave very vague hints just barley pointing to what the ending would be. Almost like a puzzle, or a labyrinth the reader has to find their way out of. 

One thing I did not particularly enjoy about the book was the side story of Theo and his significant other Kathy. Their ending was the missing piece of the puzzle that I would have really liked to know about. 

Overall, The Silent Patient is the perfect novel for a rainy, thundering day. It’s the perfect concoction of twists and turns that will have you clenching the book and holding your breath every page flip. It’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers as it will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat.