"The Silent Patient" was written by Alex Michaelides and published in 2018. I saw that recently it became a BookTok sensation, but I loved this book before it was popular because it is simply an excellent psychological thriller with a jaw dropping ending. I so did not see that one coming. Even now, two years after reading this book I still can't forget about it. It made a lasting impression.
The plot seems simple on the surface. Alicia Berenson has the perfect life, she is an artist and her husband is a photographer. They have a happy life together. One day she comes home, shoots him five times and then never says another word. Her case is a fascinating one. Theo Faber is a psychotherapist who is extremely interested in her case. She is in mental institution and he manages to get a transfer there and work on her case. He will become famous if he manages to resolve it, but there is also a personal reason for his interest. He becomes obsessed with the case which consumes him. But why did she kill her husband?
First of all, this book is written in a very appealing fashion. I read it in one day. Each chapter is very short, only a few pages long so if you are going through a reading crisis, or want to get into reading, this book is a great starting point. Also, the writing is just compelling. There is something about the writing style that just keeps you going, a page turner. Just like Theo, you too will want to know why did she do it? It is the million dollar question of this book.
The answers that you will get will shock you. I so didn't see this ending coming. I haven't read many thriller, but it is hard to find an ending that will leave you shocked. A surprising or original ending, yes. But this ending has stuck with me for years. I work in a book store and a lot of people want a recommendation for a book that is similar to this and honestly, there isn't one. It is pretty unique.
This book deserves all the hype that it is getting. Even if you are not into psychological thriller, you will love this book. Especially that shocker of an ending.
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