The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is a psychological thriller that explores several complex themes relating to the human personality. Though I have read my fair share of thrillers, this was my first dive into the psychological thriller genre, and it was indeed a very captivating read until the end. I was hooked on the plot and read it in almost a single sitting (except for breaks for food and natural calls).
Theo Faber, a 42-year-old forensic psychotherapist, narrates the story of a woman named Alicia Berenson. The story starts with a murder committed by Alicia Berenson. She was 33 years old when she brutally killed her husband Gabriel, a fashion photographer, six years ago, and “Alicia never spoke again,” and she “remained silent – but she made one statement. A painting.” “…The painting was a self-portrait. She entitled it in the bottom left- hand corner of the canvas, in light blue Greek lettering. One word: ALCESTIS.”
The defence for Alicia entered a plea of ‘diminished responsibility’ citing that – “Alicia had a long history of mental health problems, it was claimed, dating back to her childhood.” Based on the opinion of Professor Lazarus Diomedes, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Imperial College and clinical director of The Grove, a secure forensic unit in north London, the Judge accepted the plea of diminished responsibility,, and Alicia was subsequently admitted to The Grove for treatment thus becoming the titular ‘Silent Patient’.
Alicia’s case got extensive media coverage and caught our narrator’s attention; somehow, Theo “felt uniquely qualified to help Alicia Berenson.” And nearly six years after Alicia was admitted, the position of forensic psychotherapist became available at The Grove. As soon as Theo saw the advert, he knew he must follow his gut and apply for the job.
And soon, the story moves into two storylines and occasional revelations from Alicia’s personal diary. One storyline focuses on Theo’s attempts to strike up a conversation with Alicia to get to the truth of the incident, and another on the relationship between Theo and his wife, Kathy.
As the story progresses, we learn about Theo’s psychological baggage and the different psychological traumas faced by Alicia. Theo makes it a personal quest to uncover the truth and develop a communication channel with Alicia as he thinks ‘only he can make her speak.’
What follows in this quest is a thrilling psychological ride into the complex characters of Theo and Alicia, which is sure to keep the readers on their edge. A hair-raising and nail-biting twist follows the plot. Towards the end, readers learn the reason for Theo’s ‘unique qualification, ‘ which places him in a unique position to help Alicia. The way the stories of both characters are entangled and cross over is a central plot point that gives goosebumps to the readers.
The story has minor inconsistencies, and once the twist and central plot become clear, some plot points seem forced upon the readers. But these are minor inconsistencies that in no way ruin the plot’s thrill or overall entertainment value. Towards the end, Alex Michaelides provides a fitting and satisfactory ending to this thriller. The story will keep the readers entertained and on the edge of their seats.
My Rating:- ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Goodreads Rating: 4.18
The Silent Patient Book Reviewed On:
- Paperback
- Total pages: 342
- Genre: Psychological Thriller
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
saw the book everywhere and finally gave in. It’s good but not mind-blowing. Maybe I expected too much from the 4.18 rating.
After reading The Silent Patient, I started diagnosing everyone around me with a case of ‘mysterious silence’. What a book!
The Silent Patient is such a thrilling ride with a lot of unexpected turns. Love how the author kept me guessing till the end.
is this book good for someone who doesn’t read much? Looking for something to get me back into reading.
Totally! It’s engaging and not too complex. Perfect for getting back into reading.
Haven’t read The Silent Patient yet but seeing mixed opinions everywhere. It’s on my list though, hopeful it lives up to the hype.
I don’t get the hype around this book at all. Felt like the twist was too predictable. Maybe expected too much coz of the ratings.
Just finished reading The Silent Patient, and oh boy, what a masterpiece. The plot twist was something else. Totally deserves the rating.
While the rating is impressive, I’ve always found Goodreads ratings to be a bit inflated. Does anyone else feel the book’s quality might not always align with its rating?
honestly, everyone seems to love this book but it just didn’t click for me, idk, maybe I missed something. What makes it so good, anyway?
Read this book recently and absolutely loved it. Seeing a 4.18 rating on Goodreads just makes me happy. Great review, Vishal! You nailed the essence.
Hey Arjun, would you say it’s a fast read? Been looking for something gripping.