Article contributed by Rosie Smith
You may already have heard of writer Alex Michaelides due to his previous success in screenwriting for the films The Devil You Know (2013) and The Con Is On (2018). Michaelides appears to seamlessly segue his previous themes of crime and secrecy into his first novel, The Silent Patient, which is an intense and shocking psychological thriller. Combining elements of Greek mythology, psychological sciences, and crime, The Silent Patient weaves these elements together to create a web of clues the reader will enjoy untangling, playing the role of detective.
What really happened that night in this idyllic household? A famous artist and top fashion photographer appear to have it all… However a sudden horrific shooting of Gabriel, Alice’s boyfriend, leaves Alice taking a vow of silence lasting six years. With no words to defend herself, Alice is convicted of the crime and sent to a forensic mental health unit. But did she do it?
Enter Theo Faber the psychotherapist, Alice’s last hope, he digs to uncover the truth and help Alice to talk again. Historically this is the part where we, as the readers, say ‘but all is not as it seems…’ Except nothing at all is what it seems. From the onset, there are mysteries that envelop your mind which will wonder if you can truly trust your senses. With the reader let in on little initially, suspense and curiosity builds immediately. I devoured page after page desperate to know each characters’ story, contribution ,and ultimately not just ‘who dunnit?’, but ‘why?’
The story is told from the point of view of the character Theo Faber, the flawed and therefore realistic, psychotherapist assigned to Alice. It seems that the Michaelides has really done his research with regards to psychology and therapy and employs actual psychological theories and real-life therapeutic techniques making for a realistic depiction of a mental health inpatient setting. He also provides commentary on the prevalent issues of overmedication and lack of funding and the effects of cuts on the patients. It was refreshing to read about an ‘asylum’ setting that wasn’t in the traditional gothic, horror house style but discussed more current and modern ‘scary’ issues.
As the story progresses, Faber’s feelings towards patient Alice begin to border on obsessive with him delving into her personal life, talking to her family and friends, and seeking out her paintings, leading the reader to begin having doubts about whether to trust Faber’s perspective. Simultaneously we begin to feel sorry for Faber when the reader is able to peer through the window into Faber’s somewhat difficult personal life and relationships. This tightrope walk keeps the reader engaged and turning pages rapidly. As this unravelled, revealing little slivers of clues, I began to work out the big twist everyone was shouting about and actually felt a little disappointed that the book was ultimately unable to shock me, and other avid crime/thriller readers may feel the same.
Michaelides uses Greek mythology within the novel, posing The Silent Patient as a modern day, metaphoric retelling of the tragedy Alcestis; whereby Alcestis sacrifices herself for her husband and is brought back to life by Hercules but is silent forevermore, just as Alice is. This adds another dimension to the story, setting it apart from other current psychological thrillers. Alice paints a picture entitled Alcestis and this coupled with her diary excerpts regarding her past and other paintings give Alice a voice throughout the book despite her verbal silence inviting the reader to listen to Alice and piece together her side of the story through drawing parallels to the Greek tragedy.
Overall, I would give this book 8/10 due to Michaelides fabulous ability to marry traditional psychological thriller together with Greek mythology while also examining modern day issues around abuse, mental health, the flawed professional and funding cuts. The movement between diary excerpts and ordinary prose is flawless as is Michaelides outstanding ability to play with suspense, perspective and time. The only reason this novel has not earned it’s 10/10 is due to my working out of the ‘big twist’ before the end, but then maybe that says more about how much crime/thriller writing I read, rather then the ability of the writer.
The Silent Patient is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be watching The Silent Patient? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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 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…
Nice review Rosie. I recently finished the book. Unlike you though, I wasn’t able to predict the twist. I give it an 8/10 too. My review here:
https://www.starvind.com/bookreviews/the-silent-patient/