Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
This book is a mystery and a psychological thriller that captured me from the very start. It was filled with insightful quotes and compelling characters. I blew through this 300+ page book in just 3 days.
The Analysis:
When famous artist Alicia Berenson murders her husband Gabriel and refuses to speak afterwards, it is clear that there is more to the story. After getting a job at the facility where Alicia is a patient, psychotherapist Theo Faber tries to get her to talk while attempting to figure out exactly what happened. While trying to help Alicia, Theo offers some very honest insight into the mind of a psychotherapist. He says, “I was on a quest to help myself…We study psychology to heal ourselves. Whether we are prepared to admit this or not is another question.” As Theo attempts to connect with Alicia, the line between therapist and patient becomes blurred as we discover the complexities and challenges in both of their lives.
The author, Alex Michaelides, did an amazing job of allowing suspicion to grow around many people in Alicia’s life. As Theo interviews her family and friends, complicated dynamics of their relationships with Alicia and her husband are revealed. I could not possibly figure out what Alicia’s motivations were and what exactly happened the night of Gabriel’s murder. Even as I began to suspect an idea, Michaelides kept me guessing and continued adding twists and layers. Honestly, I laid awake for a bit after finishing this book thinking about the absolutely insane ending (maybe don’t read this before bed if you want to actually sleep instead of doing some intense psychological pondering). The author has been a screenwriter and this shows in his first novel. The Silent Patient is filled with suspense and the plot has a cinematic feel. I was totally obsessed with this book as soon as I began reading it. I really liked that the Greek tragedy Alcestis by Euripides was intertwined in the story. (Don’t read it ahead of time, it is explained in the book). It was an interesting influence that provided a unique inspiration for the plot.
I did have a slight issue with a couple inconsistencies and events that didn’t seem exceptionally plausible. I also didn’t love the very last couple of pages of the book. Compared to the rest of the story they were just “meh”. Despite this, I loved the constant sense of intrigue and I was glued to my kindle the whole time. A bit dark and twisty for some, but for me The Silent Patient was fascinating and exciting.
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