The Silent Patient

“But why does she not speak?” – EURIPIDES 

Alicia Berenson loves her husband Gabriel uncontrollably, so much so that she would do anything and everything for him. This is why it was shocking that she murdered him! What follows is an interesting turn of events when Alicia remains silent, neither pleading against nor conceding to the crime.

Theo, a psychotherapist, wishes to break Alicia’s silence on the murder to get to know what led her from the colour of love to that of blood. However, their lives seem more intertwined than they should be!

The first thing I noticed as I started reading this book is its pace. The story moves considerably fast and the chain of events not only makes sense but also ensures that the reader is at the edge of their seats, biting their nails. The style of writing is simple and easy to read. One can see how the intensity of emotions can be expressed even through the simplest of words, in this book. The portrayal of the characters is another commendable achievement of this book. I was able to feel the nerve-racking tension between the different characters and imagine them talking to you!

This book is quite a rollercoaster ride! It gets right into the twisted web of stories without beating around the bush. This is one book where each page acts as a block, slowly building up the finale. The climax, on the other hand, shatters all that you had built up to that moment. It is a mind-boggling new building at the end! We might think that we know what is going to happen, but Alex Michaelides proved me wrong in the last 10 chapters. So, if you wish to read a book that plays with your mind, leaves your heart racing with each chapter, and makes you go back a few pages with its ending, you might want to pick this one up!