THE SILENT PATIENT

by Alex Michaelides

I recently added this book to my reading list based on several recommendations and then I spotted it in a Little Free Library in my neighborhood. So, after slogging my way through Donna Tart’s The Secret History, I wanted a book I could fly through and The Silent Patient definitely delivered.

Set in London, the story is narrated by Theo Faber, a psychotherapist obsessed with uncovering the truth about a gruesome murder. His patient, Alicia Berenson is a famous painter who shot her husband several times and hasn't spoken a  word since. Theo navigates his own failing marriage while trying to treat Alicia at an institution that is more concerned with saving its funding that patient breakthroughs.

Michaelides writes a psychological thriller that mixes in romance and domestic drama with a good dose of mystery. I was captivated by the intricacies of Alicia’s mind as revealed in her journal, and the plot had several shocking twists and turns. Although the author missed an opportunity to go more deeply into the idea of what an artist can or should say through her art alone, The Silent Patient is entertaining and a very gripping read. (Lily)