The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is a psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat for all 352 pages. 

Celadon Books published the novel on February 5, 2019. The Silent Patient quickly rose to popularity, having sold over 6.5 million copies, and debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list in 2019.

As someone who read this entire book in a single day, I can confidently say it is worth every bit of attention it has received.

The Silent Patient follows Alicia Berenson, an artist who has a seemingly normal life. One night, her husband, Gabriel, was brutally murdered, and Aliza was left standing with the body. She was accused of his murder and sent to a psychiatric facility, where she never spoke again. 

Her refusal to speak is a mystery to every psychologist she has ever seen, but Theo Faber, a criminal psychotherapist, thinks he will be the one to get her to talk. For years leading up to his meeting with Alicia, Theo had become obsessed with her case, and he thinks the key to solving the murder is to get her talking. As he dives deeper into Alicia’s past, he discovers secrets, traumas, and details that make him question his own sanity.  

When I first read this book, I did what most people try to do when they read a mystery–figure out how it is all going to end. And I really thought I had the twist all figured out, but I was truly shocked by how this novel ended. 

The way Michaelides writes is so unique; he draws you into the minds of the characters, making you empathetic with them, but he holds something back, which makes his writing feel suspenseful, often making me feel uneasy, but so invested that I had to keep reading. 

Michaelides writes from a dual perspective; one from the perspective of Theo and the other from entries in Alicia’s diary, which reveal things about her past leading up to the murder. 

I loved this approach to storytelling; it helped me piece together the story’s various elements and gain a deeper understanding of the main characters. 

Michaelides does a wonderful job portraying how our perception of events is not always accurate, and there are two sides to every story. 

This novel will keep you guessing until the very last page — and thinking long after you have finished. The Silent Patient is an amazing read that I will continue to recommend.