Alicia shoots her beloved husband several times and then never speaks again. Forensic Psychotherapist Theo is convinced he can treat her.

This book is so hyped and I was so excited to read it but it was a bit of a letdown. It is such a slow starter that I nearly gave up a few times. Honestly probably about 75% of the book was mediocre and struggled to hold my interest. I wasn’t really expecting the twist, however, it wasn’t a massive shock and it did give me more questions than answers.

The book is written from Theos POV with some chapters from Alicia's diary. I really struggled with the characters as none of them were particularly likeable and they were just a bit flat. Theos self-importance and obsession started to grate on me as well.

I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the best thriller out there.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A well written physchological thriller. I enjoyed reading this and there was an unexpected twist at the end. I would recommend this story.

Brilliant, I enjoyed this from the very first page.

What a twist, I did not see that coming! I was left absolutely open mouthed at that.

Best book I’ve read in a long time!

Excellent book! Loved the characters and it was a great storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

Alicia Berenson was thirty-three years old when she killed her husband. She never spoke again.

What starts as a slow burner - a good week or more to persevere through the first several pages - suddenly revs the ignition out of nowhere and takes off at light speed. Boy, am I glad I persevered. Told in two parts: The diary of Alicia Berenson, famous artist and infamous murderess, leading up to the death of her husband and famed photographer Gabriel; and the account of Theo Faber, a psychotherapist with a troubled childhood who deliberately transfers to The Grove psychiatric unit to encourage Alicia to break her silence, and ‘save’ her. A delicious mix of intrigue, unreliable narrator and Greek mythology build suspense perfectly.
There is so much more than meets the eye through this bit-part, twisted tale and the ending left me gasping - had I really read that correctly? Did this happen? Secondary characters are underdeveloped red herrings at times which enhances rather than detracts from the story. Theo’s unfaithful wife and his subsequent train of thought about his marriage make for a delightful side villain, and I desperately wanted Theo to get the life he deserved.
The Silent Patient leaves with an unfinished, potentially ambiguous ending, which delivers my wish beautifully. Michaelides has absolutely knocked the ball out of the park with this thriller and it took me on a ride I was not remotely anticipating.
I was given a copy of this book by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

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....

I'm not overly sure where to start with this review, without giving the plot away. All I can say is this booked had me gripped so I was reading wherever and whenever I got the chance!!

Thinking about this book, a while after finishing it, all I can say is this was an excellent 'domestic noir book, that has a very clever plotline and for once, an ending that I didn't see coming!

The silent patient # Netgallery
I enjoyed the book but there was just something about the main character Theo who got the job at the grove just to meet Alicia and to see if he could get her to talk. I just found Theo not to my taste he didn’t grab my attention as a main character. Somethings he thought and did I found him to be a bit boring. Although I did persevere because the one thing that really gripped me was Alicia’s story. After she was accused of killing Gabriel and not speaking to anyone at all, I genuinely wanted to find out if it was her and if so why. Alicia I was fascinated by her. Would I read again yes, definitely I do recommend the book because some how you are desperate to know Alicia’s story. Some might not find Theo boring it’s only my opinion he lacked spark for me.

I had heard a lot of good things about this book but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I found it dragged on so much and went into so much detail about things that didn't grab my attention or interest me. It was however well written and had a good twist in it,

Alicia Berenson’s husband Gabriel had been murdered, shot in the face while tied to a chair. Alicia was found stood by him, covered in his blood, a gun close by. Alicia doesn’t speak a word.

She is then found guilty of the murder and institutionalised, silent.

Theo, a psychotherapist, joins The Grove and shows an interest in helping Alicia, to get her to speak again. Maybe she wasn’t guilty after all. He is given her diary, which tells of an unknown man, watching her, but no one believes her as something similar had happened after the death of her father.

The story is cleverly written, by Alex Michaelides, with chapters from Alicia before the murder, and from Theo’s perspective as her therapist, along with his own personal issues.

I know this is a cliche, but I really couldn’t put it down and finished it late at night. There are some really original twists and turns with great characters in this fast paced psychological thriller. Brilliant.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest revivew

Not my usual genre but this book had me gripped throughout. Will be looking out for more of the same!

OMG!!!!! This book was good throughout but that twist at the end had me!!!!! A fantastic read, I couldn't have enjoyed it any more than I did, thank you for letting me read it!

The book brings lots of questions to the surface. What is madness? How can we push another person over the edge? Are we responsible for the consequences of someone else actions? How does our childhood affect who we will become? These questions are all raised in the Silent patient. This book makes you think and feel and questions how we treat people with mental health issues. The book makes you realise how lucky you are to have family and friends. A book filled with pace and it interweaves the themes of the story nicely between the two main characters - the helper and the victim. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of The Silent Patient. The story appears simple enough - psychologist Theo becomes obsessed with helping his patient Alicia recover her voice after years of silence following her conviction for the murder of her husband. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that there are more layers to this tale. I must admit I didn't see the twist coming at all.

An enjoyable read, I looked forward to finding out the conclusion and was easily drawn into the story. Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers such as Gone Girl and Girl on the Train.

Thank you to Orion and NetGalley for the advance copy.

As I sit with three empty diet Dr Pepper cans, empty carton of trail mix, headache obviously brought on by a book hangover, because I finished in one sitting, I’m searching my brain for the words to put together a review of a book that has left me speechless (disclaimer, I’m generally never accused of being quiet, lmao).
“”My name is Theo Fabor. I am 42 years old. And I became a psychotherapist because I was fucked up. That’s the truth - though it’s not what I said during the job interview, when the question was put to me””. If you’re looking for the perfectly paced read, with a heinous crime and a twisty ending, you NEED this book in your life. I cannot say anymore for fear of giving away spoilers. Just buy the book!! I’m anxiously awaiting anything else Alex Michaelides publishes.

Brilliantly clever and well written believable book. Enjoyed from first chapter. Full of twists and turns and an excellent twist at the end. Hard to put until the end, excellent and enjoyable.

Fantastic. Enjoyed the two aspects of this book- discovering the characters and their stories along with the well reflected explanations of their illnesses alongside discovering just how and why Gabried had died. This was fantastic on both respects.

Amazing book, really drew me in from the very start, I have an interest in Psychotherapy and I really enjoyed the explanations of the characters behaviour. It was fun piecing together the jigsaw of events leading up to Gabriel's death. With an ending I would never have guessed in a million years!

Loved it! The premise intrigued me and I really wanted to know just why Alicia shot her husband Gabriel, as does her psychotherapist Theo. So sure is he that he can succeed where others have failed that he takes a job where Alicia is being treated. What follows is a good little murder mystery that’s easy to read and satisfying with a pretty good twist that I actually didn’t see coming (I do try to just enjoy the ride and not guess ahead). Narrated by Theo himself (apart from Alicia’s diary) I too wondered why I needed to know so much about him and his life but it does all fall into place and make sense. I love a book that makes me look forward to going to bed (the only time I read) and this did the job perfectly. My thanks to Orion and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

WARNING: SUBTLE SPOILERS
The Silent Patient has one of the best hooks I've seen in a long time, definitely draws you in with a very intriguing premise. Given I'm a classicist myself I enjoyed the references to the myth of Alcestis and the parallel with Alicia's situation. However, I do think the characters and the events are all slaves to the plot which makes them slightly 2 dimensional and a bit unlikely, I liked the Gone Girl's idea of using a diary to aid the non-speaking character but Theo's voice feels too similar to Alicia's one in the diary entries with a mundane description of what she was doing that became repetitive very quickly. Theo 1st person POV was a big give away for me, (although I won't add anymore not to spoil the twist) but having had my suspicion on what really happened very early in the story I felt 80% of the book was mostly build as misdirection ploy.
The writing is very accessible, both the mythology and the medical conditions are well explain and I'm sure it will appeal to a wide audience as well as making a good movie.

Thank you Netgalley and Orion for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was completely drawn in to this story from the very beginning with a desperate need to know what happened. As I was reading I was trying to pick apart the various characters that are involved to see what hidden motives could be lurking but I can honestly say I didn’t see the ending coming. In the final chapters I began to start having a suspicion and when all the truths were finally revealed I found myself thinking ‘very cleverly done’.