This is the book that got me out of the reading slump earlier this month! Aaron read it last month and loved it so he wanted me to read it as soon as possible so that we could chat about it. I’m excited to share my review of The Silent Patient with you all today!
Synopsis
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…
Why did I choose to read this book
Like I mentioned above Aaron loved it and he knew I would love it too. I also asked my followers on Instagram which book I should read next and this one was a favorite.
Rating
5 Stars – This is an absolutely amazing book! Check out my rating system here.
My Thoughts
Wow! This is making my list of favorite thrillers ever. It was “unputdownable” and it helped get out of my reading slump. The hype is real! The writing is so good and I’m glad I finally read it. This book has everything I like in a thriller: short fast paced chapters, a creepy vibe, and an unexpected ending.
What made this book special is the twist. It’s hard to explain without giving anything away but trust me you won’t see it coming. I kind of want to read it again knowing the ending to see if I pick up different things from the beginning.
This would make for a great book club pick or a book to read with a friend because you’ll want to talk about this book with someone. I can always be that person if you need someone to talk about it with.
Content Warnings
Death, set in a psychiatric hospital with references to severely mentally ill patients, references to self harm and suicide, references to a brutal murder, addiction (including drug abuse and alcoholism), infidelity, childhood abuse (physical and emotional)
Get the Book!
Did this review of The Silent Patient convince you to read it? You can get the book from Bookshop.org here. Please consider ordering it from a Black owned independent bookstore. This list of Black owned independent bookstores accepts online ordering.
