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The Silent Patient
Crime, Murder, Thrillers & Suspense
What could make a woman kill her husband—and then never speak another word? Alicia Berenson seems to have the perfect life until one night, when she shoots her husband Gabriel five times and falls completely silent. Her silence turns the tragedy into a mystery that fascinates the public, while Alicia is confined to a secure psychiatric unit. Years later, criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber becomes determined to uncover what happened and make her speak. But as he digs deeper into Alicia’s past, the search for the truth begins to reveal secrets that may change everything.
- Release Date
- 2019
- Length
- 336 pages
- Publisher
- Celadon Books
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Our Review
About the book
In Alex Michaelides’s debut psychological thriller, painter Alicia Berenson shoots her husband and then stops speaking entirely. Years later, forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber takes a job at the secure unit where she is held, determined to get her to talk and uncover why she did it.
Our review
A propulsive, twisty thriller built around a woman who will not speak, and a therapist who will not let go.
Michaelides keeps the setup lean and the chapters short, alternating between Theo’s narration and excerpts from Alicia’s diary. The premise is irresistible: a celebrated artist, a shocking act and a silence that turns her into a tabloid mystery. The psychiatric hospital setting adds claustrophobia, and the Greek tragedy echoes give the plot a pleasing sense of design. It reads quickly, and the momentum only builds once the central puzzle tightens.
Its weaknesses show more on reflection. Characters, especially the hospital staff, tend to function as suspects rather than people, and the prose is serviceable rather than distinctive. The portrayal of psychotherapy takes considerable liberties with professional ethics, which may bother readers familiar with the field. The famous twist is clever and divisive; some find it brilliant, others feel manipulated. As pure entertainment, it delivers.
What we loved
- Irresistible premise and quick, addictive chapters
- Diary sections add tension and mystery
- A memorable twist that sparks debate
Keep in mind
- Supporting characters feel thin
- Therapy depicted with little regard for real-world ethics
Read it if you like
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn, fans of fast psychological thrillers
The verdict
A slick, one-sitting thriller whose twist will either delight or irritate you, but will certainly be discussed.
