2024 the best book review

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The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him....

More praise for The Silent Patient:

“Absolutely brilliant… I read it in a state of intense, breathless excitement.”—Stephen Fry

“Smart, sophisticated storytelling freighted with real suspense—a very fine novel by any standard.”—Lee Child

“The Silent Patient sneaks up on you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street. Michaelides has crafted a totally original, spellbinding psychological mystery so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre.”—David Baldacci

Reviewer: LM-chilly
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: couldn’t put it down!!!
Review: Extremely well written! Every chapter brought more intrigue… worth every pennyYou will not want to put the book down!

Reviewer: Susan M. Baumann
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Chilling, Provocative and Surprising
Review: It is difficult to review this book without inadvertently revealing too much. I can usually see a startling plot twist or a surprising character disclosure on the far horizon, but the stunner plot twist genuinely shocked me. It was original and inventive, but disturbing. The reader embarks on a journey with the book. A psychological thriller that is equal parts detective story. It begin with an earnest forensic psychotherapist, who is hired to treat a mute patient at a facility, who hasn’t spoken since she shot and killed her husband several years ago. Theo is determined to be the one to reach Alicia, who was once a famous painter. He theorizes that if he can renew her desire to paint, perhaps he can break her silence and heal the trauma that’s impeding her voice. This is the crux of the tale. Why did Alicia murder her spouse and why won’t she speak? The reader is lulled into believing that the story will lead down a particular path, and then, suddenly, the narrative becomes something else entirely. I was disappointed that I’d been fooled by the misdirection, but this was cleverly done by Michaelides. Several red herrings were introduced by the author, making many characters into potential culprits, capable of misdeeds. I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the book, and found the discussions regarding early childhood development and trauma exposure to be compelling. This is a dark and atmospheric tale, in which art and weather figure prominently. Actions and motivations are as mercurial as the humid heat, the respite of falling snow or an angry, careless brushstroke. The book concludes abruptly, and is left open-ended, which is decidedly frustrating, given the powerful reveal that was the point of the entire endeavor. Michaelides mentions his wish to revisit Theo’s character again in the future, so perhaps more will be forthcoming. The story is already provocative. The ambiguous, unfinished ending just invites more intrigue, speculation and individual interpretation. This is a chilling mystery and a worthy debut.

Reviewer: MommaLayne
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Gripping and Unforgettable
Review: ** The Silent Patient"** by Alex Michaelides is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from the shocking opening to its explosive conclusion. The story revolves around Alicia Berenson, a celebrated painter whose seemingly perfect life is shattered when she murders her husband, Gabriel, in a brutal act of violence—shooting him five times in the face. Following this harrowing event, Alicia becomes mute, choosing not to speak a word or provide any explanation for her actions, transforming a domestic tragedy into a captivating mystery that grips the public's imagination.The narrative is propelled by Theo Faber, a determined criminal psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Alicia’s silence and her motivations for killing Gabriel. As he delves into her past and attempts to break through her emotional barriers at the secure Grove psychiatric facility, Theo’s own history complicates the investigation, drawing him deeper into the psychological web of Alicia's life. Michaelides masterfully crafts a story that weaves together themes of obsession, trauma, and the quest for truth, leading to a series of twists that challenge everything readers thought they knew. **"The Silent Patient"** is a brilliantly executed debut that not only captivates with its suspenseful plot but also leaves lingering questions about the nature of truth and the complexity of the human mind.

Reviewer: Kelly
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Definitely a twist but not jaw dropping
Review: ********some spoilers*******I liked this book a lot. When Theo was talking about why he wanted to work at the Grove and he admitted he just wanted to be there to help Alicia, I thought he’s selfish. I liked that, it humanized him. I liked Alicia’s diary entries and the way she loved her husband. Theo and Alicia loved their spouses so whole heartedly, and they were betrayed. I felt the loss, I felt the sadness. I found the book insightful and it made me feel something. The twist at the end, was a little fast. I had to reread it to really understand what was happening. When Theo started talking about watching this women, and standing outside her house, i thought to myself “wow that’s kind of like what happened to Alicia but it can’t be”, and then I kept thinking what if it is. And then it was. I liked the reveal that Theo is an unreliable narrator but I predicted it before it was revealed officially. Aside from all that I liked the narrative, the way the words were written, and the things it made me feel. Will read again

Reviewer: Asia Moore
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Easy 5 Star
Review: You know that moment when you’re reading a book and you just KNOW it’s gonna be a 5 star read?? I felt that FAST with this one and boy was I right! As a girl who often reads fantasy romance books written by women and who hasn’t read anything written by a man ALL YEAR— I was SO pleased with how immersive and gripping the writing style was. It was fluid in a way that kept my attention from start to finish and made me not want to put it down at any point in between. I loved how the author seamlessly hopped between diary entries told from the FMC’s point of view back to the male mc’s current recounts so flawlessly. The pacing was perfect. The dynamics of the characters between one another was so interesting to read and try to analyze. There was truly something to unpack about EVERYONE. I loved how dimensional ALL the characters were and not just the MCs. And everyone was flawed in such realistically human ways. There were so many parts that really hit so close to home, especially in the internal monologues. I love how the author portrayed the darkness and fixations of mental health. As a double psych major, drama lover, and thriller enthusiast, this book scratched all the right parts of my brain SO GOOD. There were some parts that I guessed would happen.. AND I WAS STILL TOO STUNNED TO SPEAK BC MY JAW WAS ON THE GROUND WHEN THEY WERE REVEALED. I had such a good time reading this and definitely recommend!

Reviewer: Natalia Pinilla Saavedra
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I loved it! It was a big surprise to me how the things could be change in life. Nothing is like should be…

Reviewer: Gail
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This was a fun read - an interesting psychological mystery. It was very well written and an easy read. We all liked it.

Reviewer: Rosy A
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Lo compré en versión kindle, en el idioma original. No podía parar de leer. Una lectura sencilla y que te atrapa desde las primeras páginas. Final inesperado

Reviewer: Bilal Shaikh
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Amazing book. Really loved it. Amazing suspense. Easy to read and comprehensive language!!

Reviewer: Julie Hellens
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I couldn’t put it down! A very unexpected ending…So good. It would make a great film. I would go and see it…