The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

THE SILENT PATIENT

I reckon I’m one of the last people on the planet to read @alex.michaelides’ The Silent Patient. It’s sold a helluva lot of copies and has more recently become a @tiktok sensation.

The story is told from the perspective of Theo Faber, a forty-two year old psychotherapist who is intent on building up a rapport with Alicia Berenson. Six years prior, she shot her husband of seven years in the head. And she hasn’t spoken since.

Theo takes a job at The Grove where Alicia is a patient. He is certain he can get her to speak, to tell him what happened on that fateful day. The narrative is interspersed with extracts from Alicia’s diary, as well as Theo’s own account of his past. These strands combine to form the body of the novel.

As well as the fact that it has sold tons of copies, The Silent Patient has received brilliant reviews. It’s been called the perfect thriller and indeed, there’s a huge amount to enjoy (though that doesn’t really seem like the appropriate word given the plot). 

In all honesty, though, there were moments though where I felt that this was a tad contrived and predictable and I did guess the twist (it’s a pretty good one). That being said, I fully understand why this has been so raved about. I think it’s ideal for holiday when you want to switch off, zone out and read about all things murderous . You’ll find yourself absorbed, that’s for sure ~ S