The Silent Patient

The core of this story revolves around Alicia Berenson, a once-renowned painter who decides to make her husband, Gabriel, the unfortunate centerpiece of her most shocking artwork by shooting him in the face five times. Cue the silence: Alicia hasn't spoken a word since. She becomes a puzzle that every psychiatrist has given up hope for—except for Theo Faber, a psychotherapist fascinated by Alicia's case. Determined to unravel the mystery, he takes a position at The Grove, a secure forensic unit in London. What follows is a gripping journey through the lives of Alicia and Theo.

This book was an absolute page-turner for me. It's easy to get swept up in the mystery if you don't dig too deep. However, for those who do, the novel raises numerous questions, leaving several threads tantalizingly loose. Despite these narrative loose ends, the major plot twist took me by surprise, making me appreciate the novel's structure all the more in hindsight.

Michaelides' story occasionally feels more like a detective story than a psychological thriller, especially in the way he has Theo quiz everyone who comes into contact with Alicia and follows every lead like Sherlock Holmes. (which is, of course, strange for a psychotherapist, but is one of the things you shouldn't worry too much about in this book. If you do, this book might not be your cup of tea.)

Overall, “The Silent Patient” offers a thrilling ride that might leave you with questions, but also delivers an enthralling experience with its unexpected twists and deep dives into its characters' darkest secrets. If you can overlook some of the logistical stretches, you're in for a compelling psychological puzzle that's hard to put down.

(3.75)