The readers of my blog should know that I usually don’t read psychological thrillers and am not a big fan of thriller novels. But I must admit that Alex Michaelides’s The Silent Patient did not disappoint and was a roller coaster ride. Without giving too much away, the novel tells the story of Alicia Berenson, a successful painter from London who murdered her husband, Gabriel, a fashion photographer, and then goes silent after the incident. It follows a criminal psychologist and therapist, Theo Faber, who becomes obsessed with getting Alicia to talk and uncover the truth behind the murder. Alex used flashbacks to Alicia’s past, interspersed with Theo’s present-day therapy sessions, to maintain a sense of intrigue and a steady pace. The plot’s twists and turns are skillfully executed, culminating in a satisfying and shocking ending. I recommend reading this book if you want to escape from reality for a day or two.
After reading this, you may be interested in The Maidens by the same author.
Here are some thoughtful quotes from the book
“We are made up of different parts, some good, some bad, and a healthy mind can tolerate this ambivalence and juggle both good and bad at the same time. Mental illness is precisely about a lack of this kind of integration - we end up losing contact with the unacceptable parts of ourselves.”
“Choosing a lover is lot like choosing a therapist. We need to ask ourselves, is this someone who will be honest with me, listen to criticism, admit making mistakes, and not promise the impossible”
“The aim of the therapy is not to correct the past but to enable the patient to confront his own history, and to grieve over it.”