My Favorite Book (The Silent Patient)

The most favourite book is THE SILENT PATIENT BY ALEX MICHAELIDES. Now I will explain why this book is the most favourite book of me.  Now I am coming to the book.  The story is A gruesome murder, a woman held captive in her own mind, and a therapist determined to unlock her secrets The impactfulness of Michaelides’ exceptional first novel lies not in mile-a-minute pacing or whiplash-inducing twists, but in the author’s masterful, methodical building - and breaking down - of his characters. Just as his protagonist explores and unveils the mental state of his subject, so, too, does Michaelides methodically reveal to his readers the psychology of the characters upon which THE SILENT PATIENT is built. Rather than investigating a crime, THE SILENT PATIENT investigates the mind of a criminal - and what a gripping investigation it is. THE SILENT PATIENT is immersive and hypnotic—the kind of confidently drawn suspense story that doesn’t need big, flashy twists to keep you hooked… but that delivers an exceptional twist or two anyway. Believe the hype: THE SILENT PATIENT may well be the debut crime novel of the season.

Plot Summary:

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....

conclusion: 

There is so much I could write about THE SILENT PATIENT: about its immersive, confident prose, its self-proclaimed parallels to the Greek tragedy of Alcestis, its vivid imagery… but I’ve got to cut myself off somewhere, or this review will go on for ages. So, let’s leave it at this: THE SILENT PATIENT is an outstanding debut crime novel that forges its own path, delivering intelligent character study and masterful plotting, all wrapped up in hypnotic writing from which you won’t want to tear yourself away. THE SILENT PATIENT has already been optioned for film, and I cannot wait to see it on the big screen—but that movie sure does have a lot to live up to