At its core, THE SILENT PATIENT is an exceptional character study: not just of the story’s titular patient, but also of the therapist who makes it his mission to treat her.
The real impact of THE SILENT PATIENT comes not in flash or drama, but in the quiet, methodical way in which Michaelides lays bare the innermost workings of his characters.
But the best part? The slow-burning journey to that reveal is just as rewarding as the reveal itself. And deliver on that promise, Michaelides does the patient reader will be rewarded with a mind-blowing reveal that more than satisfies. Michaelides’ writing is hypnotic and immersive, drawing you bit by bit into a mystery defined not by shocking twists throughout, but rather by the tantalizing promise of peeling back, layer by layer, the darkest secrets of an enigmatic woman.
THE SILENT PATIENT is a different beast entirely-though it’s no less addictive. When I hear “psychological thriller,” I personally expect to pick up something pacey, twisty, and perhaps even a bit juicy or dramatic. So, to that end, how would I categorize THE SILENT PATIENT? Rather than calling this a “psychological thriller,” I would call it a character study with a strong psychological focus. I realize I’m a stickler for categorization, and that may not apply to you as a reader, which is totally fine-but I consider categorization crucial to setting appropriate expectations and helping you figure out which books are up your alley. If there’s one phrase I use most often in my reviews, it’s got to be “expectations are everything.” (If you’ve been around CBTB for a while, you will know just how often I discuss this topic - but bear with me here!) Much of the early buzz I’ve seen for THE SILENT PATIENT refers to it as a “psychological thriller” - and while there’s certainly nothing technically wrong about this categorization, I do want to begin this review by offering up another lens through which to view this outstanding read. 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. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. 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. 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.Īlicia’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 SILENT PATIENT BOOK SUMMARY WINDOWS#
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. Believe the hype: THE SILENT PATIENT may well be the debut crime novel of the season.Īlicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. THE SILENT PATIENT is immersive and hypnotic-the kind of confidently drawn suspense story that doesn’t need big, flashy twists to keep you hooked… but that delivers an exceptional twist or two anyway. Rather than investigating a crime, THE SILENT PATIENT investigates the mind of a criminal - and what a gripping investigation it is. Just as his protagonist explores and unveils the mental state of his subject, so, too, does Michaelides methodically reveal to his readers the psychology of the characters upon which THE SILENT PATIENT is built. The impactfulness of Michaelides’ exceptional first novel lies not in mile-a-minute pacing or whiplash-inducing twists, but in the author’s masterful, methodical building - and breaking down - of his characters. Reading more like a character study than a psychological thriller, THE SILENT PATIENT is a maze-like exploration of the psyches of both a woman convicted of murdering her husband and the therapist determined to treat her. The Verdict: A sly, hypnotic character study - a stellar debutĪ gruesome murder, a woman held captive in her own mind, and a therapist determined to unlock her secrets - what’s not to love about Alex Michaelides’ THE SILENT PATIENT? This sophisticated debut suspense novel is every bit deserving of the effusive early praise it’s already receiving.
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