Reviewed by Melanie Koopmans, September 2023
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides follows the main character, Alicia Berenson, a patient at a psychiatric institution due to the talented painter’s silence after shooting her husband multiple times. Theo Faber, a psychologist, becomes obsessed with what happened to her/what she did. As he dives further into Alicia’s case he, and the reader, discover new twists and dark turns.
This thriller by Alex Michaelides is full of plot twists and interesting plot points that keep readers on the edge of their seats. As with most thrillers, death, murder, and gore are some common themes throughout the novel, so if those are triggering, I would advise against reading. While this is true, the book isn’t necessarily scary. I don’t enjoy horror films/ books, but I really enjoyed this novel, so even if you aren’t a fan of the thriller/horror genre, I would suggest giving this novel a try.