the silent patient reviews

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**THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**

"An unforgettable―and Hollywood-bound―new thriller... A mix of Hitchcockian suspense, Agatha Christie plotting, and Greek tragedy."
―Entertainment Weekly

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....

From the Publisher

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Publisher ‏ : ‎ Celadon Books; Reprint edition (May 4, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 125030170X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250301703
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.95 x 8.25 inches
Reviewer: Ja'Nae
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: What a twister
Review: The Silent Patient, Alex Michaelides’ bestselling psychological thriller, offers an intense journey into the depths of trauma, obsession, and betrayal. It tells the story of Alicia Berenson, a successful painter who is accused of murdering her husband, Gabriel, in cold blood. After the incident, Alicia becomes mute, refusing to speak a word about the murder. Her silence becomes a mystery that captivates the public and the media, earning her a reputation as “the silent patient.”Enter Theo Faber, a forensic psychologist drawn to Alicia’s case. Intrigued by her silence and determined to understand her motivations, Theo takes a job at the mental institution where she is held. His goal: to help Alicia find her voice again and unravel the mystery of what happened on that fateful night. However, as he delves into her life and psyche, Theo discovers that his own dark past and obsessive tendencies make him deeply vulnerable, and the line between therapist and patient begins to blur.Michaelides’ writing is atmospheric and gripping, layering suspense with carefully placed hints and misdirection. The novel’s pacing builds suspense beautifully, with short, sharp chapters that keep readers on edge. The narrative oscillates between Theo's perspective and Alicia’s diary entries, adding depth to the plot and a haunting quality to Alicia’s silence.One of the most notable strengths of The Silent Patient is its twist ending, which is both shocking and well-earned. Michaelides carefully constructs the story to ensure that readers are left reeling as the truth unfolds. This twist not only changes the perspective on previous events but also forces readers to question the reliability of the narrator—a hallmark of great psychological thrillers.Although some may find the characters slightly underdeveloped, particularly those on the periphery of the central mystery, Michaelides succeeds in making both Alicia and Theo complex and compelling. The themes of mental illness, trauma, and the search for truth are explored thoughtfully, though some aspects feel more surface-level compared to the novel’s twist-driven appeal.In summary, The Silent Patient is a thrilling read with a satisfying blend of suspense and psychological depth. Its success lies in Michaelides' ability to manipulate readers’ expectations, making it a highly recommended choice for anyone who enjoys thrillers with unexpected twists and complex psychological layers.

Reviewer: Lauren
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The Silent Patient
Review: I loved this book!! So many twists and turns for me! I really enjoyed the outcome I thought I knew but really didn’t but then actually did. The fact that Theo was extremely good at “his job” and used it to out smart Alicia and use her own trauma to do his dirty work. During the reading of the man and also seeing Theo’s POV of showing up to their home it never clicked to me that he was “the man”, I don’t know why it never once clicked! I liked the writing style it was easy to follow easy to read and kept me interested right from the start!

Reviewer: Ethan
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: "...contains all of the elements that I crave in a psychological thriller."
Review: “We're all crazy, I believe, just in different ways.”What's a book that you've read because everyone else was reading it? I've been reading a book a week for the last ten years, and every once in a while a title comes along that everyone, from seasoned book reviewers to friends who rarely read, agrees must be read. Over the years those titles have included Gone Girl, Ready Player One, The Hunger Games, The Midnight Library, and countless more. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides has been on that list since it was published in 2019. I tend to wait a bit before reading mega-hyped books, so it isn't uncharacteristic that I've waited this long to read this one. Now that I've read it, I finally see what all the hype is about.Gabriel's murder was a pretty open and closed case. The evidence against his wife Alicia was insurmountable. Responding officers found her clad in all white, the gun used to put five rounds into Gabriel's face resting at her feet. What went wrong with the happy couple? She was a successful artist, the rare individual whose creativity combined with business savvy to turn her passion into a lucrative career. He was an equally thriving fashion photographer, the perfect match for his talented wife. Despite all of the evidence that Alicia killed her husband, investigators are unable to ascertain one final piece of the puzzle. Why did Alicia murder Gabriel? They can't expect an answer any time soon. Alicia hasn't spoken a word since that night.Theo is a young psychotherapist trying to find his place in his new job at a secure psychiatric facility. He's intrigued by Alicia, who has been living in the facility ever since she was deemed unfit to stand a fair trial. He hasn't been officially assigned to work with her, but the puzzle of her case is something he is unable to ignore. As he navigates the perils of being the new guy in a place filled with peers who seem more inclined to further their own careers than to actually help their patients, Theo does everything he can to put himself in contact with the facility's most infamous charge. With enough time and access, Theo believes he can be the one to unlock her mind and find out just exactly what happened to bring her to this place.After reading The Silent Patient for myself, it is easy to see why the book has resonated with so many readers. Michaelides has written the kind of compulsively readable novel that contains all of the elements that I crave in a psychological thriller. His plot is efficient in its simplicity. One character is locked away in her own mind while the other attempts to unlock it. Shifting points of view between the two characters give the reader insight into each one while methodically revealing bits of information that ramp up the suspense and drive the plot forward. Michaelides steers the reader through the labyrinth-like narrative he's constructed, allowing us to attach to his characters while leading us to misdirection after misdirection. It all culminates in a climactic twist that not only shocked me but impressed me with the precision with which it was delivered. The Silent Patient has the goods. It is a complex narrative with a propulsive plot, provocative mystery, and empathetic characters that all come together into an expertly crafted read.

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: Mariana
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Brilhante, inteligente e sagaz. Me deixo presa do início ao fim. Mas nossa, o fim...que absurdo de bom. Melhor thriller dos últimos tempos. Recomendaria pra todos que gostam do gênero.

Reviewer: Miguel Moreyra
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Éste libro es interesante, te capta para que te mantenga leyéndolo y creo que es fácil de entender es de suspenso y si cumple con su función. Está muy interesante. Aún estoy leyendo lo tengo como un 20% y lo recomiendo.

Reviewer: klm
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I wasn’t sure about this at first as I kept putting off reading it. How wrong I was to dismiss it for so long. Love, betrayal, mental health issues and murder are the basis for this thriller the characters were so believable and each time I tried to guess the ending, another twist appeared to confuse me. Brilliant writing and a definite must read if you’re looking for a great thriller to read.

Reviewer: farhana
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Book came with perfect condition