Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Publisher: Celadon Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery
Year of Publication: 2019
Date of Publication: February 5, 2019
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 1250301696
ISBN-13: 978-1250301697
Audiobook Narrator: Jack Hawkins and Louise Brealey
Summary of The Silent Patient
The Silent Patient centers on Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who is accused of murdering her husband, Gabriel. Gabriel was murdered six years ago. At first glance, Alicia’s life seems picture-perfect. She’s a successful artist, married to a renowned photographer, and lives in a stunning, luxurious home. But one night, Gabriel and Alicia’s lives change when Alicia shoots her husband in the face.
A neighbor called the police after hearing a gunshot. Alicia was found standing in front of a fireplace but appeared to be unaware of anyone’s presence. A gun was found next to her as well as a knife. She also had cuts on her and had to be taken to a a hospital.
After the murder, Alicia completely stops speaking and remains silent. Her only “communication” was a painting she made within a few days of Gabriel’s murder. It was a self-portrait titled Alcestis. Alcestis is a heroine from a Greek myth, who is famous for willingly sacrificing her own life for that of her husband. In Alicia’s interpretation of this, she creates a painting of herself standing nude in her home studio, next to an easel and a canvass and holding a paint brush that is dripping red paint that looks like blood.
Naturally, Alicia’s case becomes sensational in the media but things got even more complicated after the owner of the small gallery that represented Alicia’s work made a rather controversial decision to display the Alcestis. People lined up to see it, many coming to negative conclusions about her.
In the end, Alicia is admitted to a psychiatric facility called the Grove. She was spared a lengthy sentence and if she were to recover there was the possibility of her release. But years went by but Alicia remains silent and the question remained, why did Alicia kill Gabriel. Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, becomes determined to find out the reasons behind her silence.
Main Plot & Characters
- Alicia Berenson: She is a famous painter who is accused of murdering her husband and then stops speaking entirely. Her silence becomes the center of the novel’s mystery.
- Theo Faber: He is a 42 year old criminal psychotherapist obsessed with Alicia’s case. He gets a job at the Grove (the psychiatric facility where she is held) to try and help her speak again.
- Gabriel Berenson: He is Alicia’s husband, a well-known fashion photographer. He is found shot dead, tied to a chair, and his murder sparks the entire plot. On the day he was murdered, he spent the entire date at a photoshoot and did not return until very late at night.
- Jean-Felix Martin: He owns the art gallery where Alicia’s work is displayed. He is passionate about her art.
- Max Berenson: He is Gabriel’s older brother. He has a complicated relationship with both Gabriel and Alicia.
- Paul Rose: He is Alicia’s cousin and one of the few people from her past who appears to care about her. He has a difficult home life and a complex relationship with Alicia.
- Professor Lazarus Diomedes: He is the head psychiatrist at the Grove and the clinical director. He plays a supervisory role and is cautious about Theo’s methods.
- Yuri: He is the Head Psychiatric nurse at the Grove who works closely with both Alicia and Theo.
- Christian West: A fellow therapist at the Grove, not particularly supportive of Theo’s deep interest in Alicia.
- Stephanie Clarke: She is the manager of the Grove.
- Indira Sharma: She is a consultant psychotherapist at the Grove.
- Kathy (Kathryn): She is Theo Faber’s wife. Kathy is American.
- Elif: She is a patient at the Grove. Elif has a hot temper.
- Lydia Rose: She is Alicia’s aunty.
- Ruth: She is a psychotherapist that Theo Faber used to see.
Memorable Quote
“I want to help you – I want to help you see clearly.”— Recurring throughout the book
Writing Style
Michaelides tells the story from both Alicia’s and Theo’s perspectives. We really liked the fact that in many ways everyone becomes a suspect and appear to have ulterior motives. The chapters in the book are short and include a lot of cliffhangers that we found engaging but the best part was of course the final twist at the end of the story.
Final Thoughts on The Silent Patient
The Silent Patient quickly became an international bestseller. The book explores trauma, mental health, and sparks discussions about silence and emotional repression.
Our Rating of This Book
Characters ★★★★★ (5/5)
Plot ★★★★★ (5/5)
Writing ★★★★★ (5/5)
Book Cover ★★★★★ (5/5)
Audiobook (Narration Only) ★★★★★ (5/5)
Overall ★★★★★ (5/5)
What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it and did you figure out the twist beforehand? Let us know in the comments!
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