THE SILENT PATIENT is a heart-stopping debut thriller about a woman's brutal and random act of violence against her husband - and the man obsessed with discovering why. Obsessed with investigating her crime, his discoveries suggest Alicia's silence goes far deeper than he first thought.Īnd if she speaks, would he want to hear the truth? Until, late one evening, Alicia shoots Gabriel five times and then never speaks another word.įorensic psychotherapist Theo Faber is convinced he can successfully treat Alicia, where all others have failed. She can't bear the thought of worrying Gabriel, or causing him pain. Believe the hype: THE SILENT PATIENT may well be the debut crime novel of the season. I won't write about that.Īlicia Berenson writes a diary as a release, an outlet - and to prove to her beloved husband that everything is fine. THE SILENT PATIENT is immersive and hypnoticthe 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. I love him so totally, completely, sometimes it threatens to overwhelm me. Finn, The Silent Patient is the international, multimillion-copy bestseller that you need to read this year. If you’re on the lookout for a gory horror novel, you may wish to skip this one.With film rights snapped up by an Oscar winning Hollywood production company, rights sold in a world record 43 territories, and rave blurbs from David Baldacci, Lee Child and A.J. A 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. Overall, I would recommend this book for those who crave a good murder mystery and have an affinity for understanding the behaviors and thoughts of others. The Verdict: A sly, hypnotic character study - a stellar debut. As previously mentioned, this book relies heavily on psychological suspense rather than thrilling action to engage the reader.
That said, I can understand why some readers might not share my enthusiasm. I really enjoyed this book and I often found it difficult to put down. I didn’t see it coming, and I’m willing to bet many other readers didn’t either. The twist toward the end of the book was particularly eye-opening. For those that are interested in psychology, The Silent Patient may be an interesting read. I was entranced in the mysterious behaviors and thought processes of the characters. This novel is more intriguing in a thoughtful, mentally engaging kind of way. Alicia was convicted, then admitted into a psychiatric unit in North London, where she has spent the last six years silent. If you need gripping action on every page, you might be disappointed. The Silent Patient is about Alicia Berenson, a famous painter in London, who murdered her husband and has been silent ever since.
The Silent Patient is very much a psychological thriller novel.
Reviews of the book are often mixed, while some reviewers found it slow and the characters flat, others couldn’t put it down and were shocked by the twist at the end of the book. The Silent Patient is a popular, compelling psychological thriller and a New York Times bestseller. Most of the therapists on the ward have all but given up on Alicia, but now a new therapist has joined the team – and he’s steadfastly determined to give Alicia her voice back. What’s even more bizarre is that she now remains silent- refusing to speak, signal, or display any form of communication for years. Investigators are unable to find a motive. Despite being successful and happily married, she brutally murders her husband one night. Once a well-known painter, Berenson is now confined to the wards of a mental health facility. Alicia Berenson is nothing short of a confounding mystery.