The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Book Review

Hi readers and welcome to my book reviews where every month I will be reviewing a book I have read, tell you information about the plot and my overall rate. So let's get started...

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Book Review; One word I have for this book... WOW!

I read this book about six months ago, and to this day, I still think about the ending and how jaw-dropping the twist and actual plot was!

Overview of the Book:

Published in 2019, written by Alex Michaelides the book is about a young married couple living their amazing life in London. Alica Berenson, a famous painter and wife to Gabriel Berenson, a famous fashion photographer, were both known for being madly in love and living their happy married life in London. However, one day Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot when Alicia shoots her husband five times in the face and never speaks a word about it, even when arrested and brought in for questioning.

Alica, throughout the years, refuses to talk or even explain the tragic situation of shooting her husband with no displays of emotion or communication. She is known for being the silent patient hidden away in a secure psychiatric hospital in North London known as the Grove.

Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, becomes intrigued and wants to have the opportunity to work with Alica, determined to get her to talk through a treatment plan and reveal the truth behind her silence and her killing of her husband. However, moving more into the story, we learn that Alica isn't mad but something drove her to shoot her beloved husband in the face and we find out the truth as to by Theo is so obsessed with Alica throughout the novel.

The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller filled with murder mystery, crime and suspense throughout. So if you love a good thriller whilst sitting on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you!

My Review of The Silent Patient:

I never normally read thrillers, but after seeing so many customer reviews online and on social media I wanted to give the novel a try. I am more into romance novels however when I read the blurb of the novel I definitely wanted to understand the murder of Gabriel and it was the best decision I made...

Each page is filled with large amounts of detail, descriptions and you really have a chance to live inside the mind of each cast of characters. You learn more about Alicia's paintings, her relationships around her and even what Theo is going through at home with his romantic relationship.

As a reader I began to see how obsessed Theo was getting through out the novel and the different emotions he experienced when faced in front of the silenced Alica. Even the minor characters such as Alicia's brother in law, her work colleague and Theo's girlfriend play a huge role with adding to the shocking twist itself and how each character offers hidden secrets.

I also loved how Alex Michaelides included in sections of Alicia's diary entries so as readers we are able to see why she acted the way she did and actually question if she was having a nervous breakdown OR if someone was harassing her (oops I'm trying not to give too much away)!

Now don't get me started on the plot twist! I did not expect that at all, I didn't realise the most innocent character in the novel was actually the most evil (still trying not to give too much away). Even her diary offered little messages as to why she murdered her husband then the truth suddenly gets revealed in the end with a simple sentence. Simple yet dramatic, nice work Alex Michaelides!

Why I Think You Need to Read This Novel:

The book is easy to follow and simple to read, so if you get distracted easily The Silent Patient is the perfect book to start with. Each chapter revealed a closer stop towards the truth and would leave you sitting on the edge of your seat throughout the novel (I promise you won't want to put the book down)!

You will become drawn in by each character and develop almost a type of sadness towards Alica with everything she was experiencing before the murder. You will get to experience the unexpected twists and even experience the first person point from the novel.

With that being said I would give this fantastic book a 4.5 stars out of 5!

Let me know in the comments what books you'd like me to read and review next...ew next...