The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller narrated by Theo Faber, a psychotherapist. He is ostensibly out to help Alicia Berenson, a young woman accused of murdering her husband and who is now confined to a psychiatric facility known as the Grove.
Alicia was a famous painter with an equally famous fashion photographer husband, Gabriel. The novel starts after Alicia had been convicted of binding her husband to a chair and shooting him in the face several times. After the murder, Alicia refused to speak again.
The murder made headlines. Theo Faber seemingly became obsessed with the murder and, several years after the crime, he got the opportunity to work with Alicia. He was determined to get her to talk and get to motive behind the killing. In the process of providing her with his version of therapy, he meets with Alicia’s family and friends and quizzes them about Alicia’s past.
As the novel unwraps, we learn as much about Alicia’s past as we do about Theo’s past. Theo is trapped in a marriage with a woman he seemingly loves despite her affair. There was a final twist that I didn't see coming, which really made for a good thriller.
This novel was a page-turner. It was a very quick read and was just the ticket to get me out of my reading slump.
5 Stars
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