The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was a fascinating and very different book for me to read. I liked reading about someone who was a psychologist. The story begins when Theo Faber reads about an artist, Alicia Berenson who shoots her husband. SHe is tried and found guilty of murder but found psychologically disturbed and sent to a mental hospital called the Grove. Theo Faber is hired as there and expresses his interest in treating her. She stopped talking after the murder of her beloved husband. He is determined to get her to talk. SHe does begin to talk with him and everyone at the mental hospital is convinced that she is making excellent progress under his care. Then she is killed and the hospital is closed.. I correctly expected an unusual ending .

Theo Faber is a psychotherapist. He's been working at Broadmoor Prison but when he gets the opportunity to work at The Grove, a psychiatric facility that is facing closure, he jumps at the chance. One of The Grove's patients is Alicia Berenson, an artist who was convicted of killing her husband. The murder baffled everyone--Alicia and her photographer husband Gabriel seemed blissfully happy. Clarification is not forthcoming from Alicia, who has not spoken since the night of the murder. Theo has been following the case and is determined to break through Alicia's silence and uncover the truth behind the killing.

Theo finds Alicia more difficult than he had expected so he begins an investigation outside of the hospital. Interviewing Alicia's friends and family, Theo finds more questions than answers.

This is a really good thriller. It goes in unexpected directions and the ending was a complete surprise.

I really really liked this one - right up until the Big Reveal Twist, then I still sort of liked it but nowhere near as much... I know that rambles - which is a little ironic, since after the BRT the book abruptly closes up shop and wraps everything up tidily in a matter of dozens of pages, after the deliciously long slow build-up to get to that point. I think if Michaelides had kept the pacing/style more consistent, the BRT wouldn't have bothered me so much. It's not a bad plot contrivance - it's been done, but was managed well enough as a reveal and it did catch me off guard.

But what I loved so much about the earlier pages of the book was the way it simmered, the pressure building ever so gently while the bubbles rose to the top and waited to explode with what I knew were going to be wild revelations...

Rather than continuing in that vein, the story abruptly went from a rolling boil to a nuclear meltdown, and felt rushed as a result. Still, Michaelides is a talented writer - his characters are full of foibles and failings and deviousness in a rather delicious blend that makes you love to hate them (or at least love to be strongly displeased with them) and that leaves you guessing as to everyone's motivation and what *really* happens throughout the story. But many of those characters, whose build-up and lies and backstories contributed to the generalized feeling of tension throughout the majority of the book, just sort of melted into the background once the reveal happened. It was oddly unsatisfying - was the deception that they weren't actually deceptive? Or did their actions not matter in the face of the larger twist?

It was a thoroughly enjoyable read for the vast majority of the book and the very ending wrapped things up in a cool way despite the abrupt nature of the pages preceding it. I gave it four stars and will definitely read Michaelides again - he has a knack for painting human frailty with words and for pairing that with interesting circumstances and unusual characterizations - but if things had been just a little more consistently paced throughout, I would definitely have given it five...

Oh yeah, and I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the cover art here - how amazing is that?? It's a perfect representation for the story and one of the things that initially drew me to the book!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Yikes. Excellent mystery novel with a shocking ending.

Jaw. On. Floor.

There's that moment in The Silent Patient. The "Wait, what? What??" moment that you're so often promised on the jacket copy, or in blurbs stamped on the front, or--well, you know.

You get promised it, but you don't really expect it. And as I was reading The Silent Patient, which takes a while to really start firing on all cylinders (which is not a plus for a shorter novel like this), I thought, "Ok. It's a little sluggish, and if X happens, then Y will and then will get Z and--"

And then R happened and I was stunned. No Z! And out of the blue, although, thinking back....damnnnnnnn! R works, and that's the beauty of it.

So yes, jaw. on. floor.

The twist is that good, seriously.

The Silent Patient does take a while to get going, and every female character is either maternal and older or crazy, kinda crazy, narcissistic, etc. I would have liked to see at least one female character be a little more nuanced. This is especially true in the case of the female mc, Allison.

But overall (and especially because of that twist!) The Silent Patient is definitely interesting, especially for fans of psychological thrillers.

Alice is found standing in her living room, covered with blood. Her husband is sitting in a chair with his face blown off having been shot five times. All evidence points to Alice being the murderer and she is hospitalized in a facility called The Grove. Since the shooting she has not uttered one word. New psychotherapist, Theo, takes over her case completely sure he can help her. Why is Alice silent? Is she violent? Why did she kill her husband? This psychological thriller is dark, gripping and completely addicting once you start reading! It has a twist I never saw coming!

I feel like I should preface my review by stating that I have read A LOT of psychological thrillers, and coupling that with the fact that this was my most anticipated read of 2019 gave The Silent Patient a great deal of pressure. This will still be an overall positive review, but I felt I had to include some honest thoughts here as well for those readers who may need their expectations in line like I clearly did.

The premise here is simply incredible; we have a woman named Alicia Berenson who is accused of murdering her husband and proceeds to clam up and keep quiet for the following six years, living during this time in a mental care facility called The Grove for highly dangerous folks. Enter Theo Faber, psychotherapist extraordinaire and flawed individual. He already has a respectable job elsewhere, but decides to transfer over to The Grove, even though it is a sinking ship, because he is obsessed with Alicia and solving the mystery behind why she murdered her husband. Along the way, we get snippets into Alicia's diary leading up to the murder, alongside of Theo's POV.

I can't really give you anything more than this, because this is a novel that depends on you being fooled by the twist. You know, the big twist, the one where every blurb on the cover and every early review gives you a heads up, and perhaps that was part of the issue here for me. It seems these types of books that pull the wool over your eyes and take you by surprise are best enjoyed before anyone else has had a chance to read them. Let's come back around to the fact that I've been reading mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels for decades, way before Gone Girl was written and these domestic dramas with tricky slight-of-hand became all the rage. If you are new-ish to the psych thriller scene, and you whole heartedly enjoyed recent novels such as The Woman In The Window, you will adore this. It was a well written, compulsive, slow burning build up to an explosive ending. Structurally, it had everything you could ask for, as it was well researched, engaging, and the perfect length of "includes what we need without being overly winded".

Unfortunately, I've seen this particular twist done numerous times, so I was clued in fairly early to what the big twist would be, and without spoiling or giving anything away, the lay out of the narrative in the second half of the novel is what fully clued me in, because it was too neat and tidy to end any other way. I will say that I was so satisfied and pleased with the way the author chose to close out the final chapter, and regardless of being surprised by the twist or not, it was a classic wrap up that will stand the test of time over the years.

I think I'm going to wrap it up here, and please don't let my 3 star rating dissuade you from giving this one a try. Michaelides is talented, and his writing is gripping and keeps you turning the pages regardless of the big twist. I would be honored to read his next novel and will most certainly look for his name in the future. In the meantime I have found so much in this novel worth discussing, from the portrayal of mental health care to the inner workings of various marriages, and think this will make a great winter book club choice for readers around the globe.

Wow, such a compelling book, I cannot believe it is a debut book. The book was a quick read- well one I couldn't put down, I found the characters very interesting. And what an interesting dynamic between them- the psychotherapist and patient relationship where lines blurred. The book was very intriguing and I kept trying to figure out the why behind the story- Why won't Alicia speak? Why is Theo so interested in her? Why did she kill her husband or did she? The book was written so well and was very suspenseful with an ending I was not expecting! Well done! Highly recommend. I can't wait to see how the movie turns out. Thank you for the ARC Copy.

This very good mystery held my interest from beginning to end. The ending was unexpected and didn't just arrive at the last page. It started to creep up on you, and then you say, no that's no it, then maybe, but no again. Really keeps you guessing. Just one thing was a little off for me, I thought the writing toward the end was not as smooth. Doesn't take away from ending,I recomend this book.

Yes, yes, yes! Everyone who loves a thriller should read this book. The writing, the plot, the twist... It was all fantastically done!

The Silent Patient was a novel that kept you guessing the whole way. It's a dark book, takes places in an old building used as a mental hospital. The patient shot her husband five times and was sent to the mental hospital rather than prison. She hasn't spoken since the murder. A psychiatrist who has wanted to try and get her to speak for a long time finally gets the opportunity when he is hired for the private hospital. He meets opposition from the staff but perseveres with small sucesses of the patient.

The ending is not what you expected!

Wow! Oh, wow! Superlatives cannot accurately describe this thoroughly intriguing psychological read, and the unexpected ending is stunning. Although the setup took a while to develop, it transitioned into A MUST READ! Now I absolutely must research more works available to read by this talented, gifted author.

Erudite at times, psychological in scope, and thrilling in its structure, The Silent Patient is an enjoyable read from a voice I have just found. The book is clearly the product of an author who has invested time and thought.

The silent patient by author Alex Michaelides is a fast paced, intense thriller! Seriously one of the best books I’ve read lately. Really enjoyed reading!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Silent Patient in exchange for an honest review.

Holy moly, THIS BOOK IS GOOD. I have finally read a book that lives up to its hype!

Alicia Berenson has been rotting away for six years in The Grove, a secure psychiatric unit outside of London. She has been tried, convicted, and sentenced without uttering a single word of her guilt or innocence, thanks to society's need for a "fair" and speedy closure to a horrific murder. But did she really kill her beloved husband Gabriel?

Enter Theo Farber, a psychotherapist. Theo gets a job at The Grove and is determined to find out what happened to Alicia. He is obsessed with finding the truth, and because she won't talk to him, he immerses himself in talking to others in Alicia's past. He goes beyond the boundaries of patient protocols. I questioned his motivations.

The book is a great insight into the world of psychotherapy, and how adult human behavior is largely shaped by childhood experiences. The story is narrated by Theo but sprinkled with Alicia's journal entries, so we also have insight into her point of view. It's a fascinating look into the world of psychiatric facilities, patients, and their care team. I was fascinated by the politics of the place.

This book is excellent. It's twisty, and it kept this jaded thriller reader on her toes. It's rare that a book does that to me, and I loved it. The past and present eventually blend into one and all of my questions were resolved by the end. It's character-driven with likeable, fallible characters and an appealing protagonist. Oh, and THAT ENDING! It is shocking, unexpected, and left me with a book hangover. It's grip lit at its finest.

This had the atmospheric feel of a noir movie. I kept populating the characters with old time actors. The story kept pulling me along, turning page after page, to find out why Alicia would/could not talk. Theo is like a man-child, suffering his own troubles while trying to help Alicia escape her own. All the while becoming emotionally involved through the process of helping her.

Great read! Thanks to author Michaelides, Celadon Books and Netgalley.com for the opportunity to read and rate this intriguing mystery/thriller.

A great psychological thriller with a wonderful twist that I did not see coming! Even though I thought the side story of the doctor’s unfaithful wife was a bit odd and almost seemed liked an afterthought, I didn’t get it until . . .SURPRISE!
Well done and highly recommended.

Perfect book for those liking suspense, great characters, red herrings, and satisfying endings. The plot is just complicated enough to keep the reader guessing and reading!

This book blew me away! Wow! Talk about being totally sucked in right from the beginning! A great debut novel. A true psychological thriller. I loved it!

Six years ago, Alicia Berenson’s husband Gabriel was shot and killed and all evidence pointed at Alicia, a well-known painter. From that day on, Alicia was silent, never speaking a word to anyone. After substantial media attention and a highly publicized trial, Alicia was sentenced to The Groves, a locked mental facility in London. Theo Faber was a psychotherapist who was fascinated with Alicia’s case and felt that if he could become her therapist, he could get Alicia to speak again. He applied for employment at The Groves in the hopes of working with Alicia. Repeated tries at reaching Alicia through therapy combined with some amateur detective work to identify possible leads in Alicia’s story, finally led Theo to a breakthrough. No one was prepared for what came next. This twisty psychological thriller shows that things are not always as they seem and sometimes silence can speak volumes.