The Silent Patient

author: Alex Michaelides

format: hardcover

# of pages: 325

rating: 4/5 stars

notes: psychological thriller

An artist, Alicia Berenson, shoots her husband five times in the face, she then never speaks another word. She, the silent patient, is locked away for years in a secure psychiatric facility. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has finally been provided an opportunity to become staff at this facility and work directly with Alicia. He becomes obsessed with getting her to speak, but at what cost? He becomes consumed with the challenge of getting her to talk about her motives, but what readers uncover in the process is the most shocking of all.

I rarely read psychological thrillers, or anything other than chick lit really, so this was very much outside of my comfort zone- so I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself not able to put it down. Like the Greek myth Alcestis, by Euripides, of which it is inspired by- this book was fast paced, with many twists, turns, and shocking revelations. Alex Michaelides does a great job of keeping readers on their toes throughout the book by providing insights and clues about the murder while also distracting readers just enough to not solve it themselves. Although I did not entirely predict the ending, I had made a partially accurate guess of the ending while reading- so although it was still shocking, I was not entirely thrown for a loop.

If you have read this book and enjoyed it, Alex Michaelides has another book out entitled The Maidens.