Well looks like I’m the outlier on this book as I have been reading many glowing 5 star reviews. Maybe I’ve been reading too many thrillers lately. For me to love a thriller all of the characters have to be well developed and intricate to the story, the plot has to be a good one and have more to offer than just the “thrill”, or wow factor at the end of the book. I found the characters to be shallow and the plot seemed to run off in several directions throughout the course of the novel.

This was just an o.k. read for me, not bad but not great enough that I will be thinking of it long after I’ve finished or be recommending it to my friends.

One thing proved true, this book did have me turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen at the end. However while I was turning these pages quickly, I wasn’t really getting very much out of the story. I felt as though the fact that she wouldn’t speak was the main focus of the book rather than looking into whether she was really guilty or not. I know that she had been tried and found guilty but I had hoped that perhaps the doctors would find other issues worth pursuing regarding her guilt or innocence.

There are multiple characters introduced but none of them are really very well described. Dr. Diomedes is the head of the facility and he appoints a new doctor, Theo Faber, who has recently joined the staff to oversee Alicia’s care. She had previously been under the care of another physician but he hadn’t made any progress with her and so it is hoped that this new doctor will help to make her finally speak.

The book is narrated by Theo and then later by Alicia as we begin to read her previously hidden diary.

The book takes place in “The Grove” a private facility for psychiatric patients. Theo Faber transferred from another facility because he is obsessed with Alicia’s case. We do get to know him through his thoughts about his own marriage to Karen who seems increasingly “busy” and coming home late from rehearsals, she is an actress. This is a story line that is introduced and somewhat developed and then just left hanging. What really is going on with Theo’s marriage? He seems to be spending all of his time at the facility with Alicia.

Alicia had been a successful artist and Gabriel a photographer of some repute. There really is never any answer to the question of “why”, why would Alicia kill Gabriel. There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that they were unhappy or that Gabriel was unfaithful, there doesn’t seem to have been much research as to why she would kill her husband. She was convicted because she was found at the scene with the gun in her hand, covered in blood because she had slit her wrists in an attempt to kill herself.

The twist is a good one but doesn’t come until the last 20 pages or so. I had pretty much figured it out by then but I’m sure it will come as a surprise to many.

I would say read it without reading lots of reviews, decide for yourself if it is indeed “the debut novel of the year for 2019” as the publisher has written in the blurb for the book! After the last session that Theo had with Alicia he is writing everything down while it was still fresh in his mind and he states "As you will see, it's an incredible story--of that there is no doubt. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Will post to Amazon upon publication.

Thank you NetGalley, Alex Michaelides and Celadon Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Alicia’s life looked perfect, she married a fashion photographer and lives in a mansion with big windows overlooking London’s most desirable areas. But one evening, Alicia’s husband comes home and she shoots him in the face and then never says another word to another person. Her refusal to talk has turned this case into a bigger mystery that captures that public’s imagination. She is hidden away from the spotlight at The Grove a secure psychiatric unit. Theo is a psychotherapist who has waited a long time to be able to work with Alicia. His determination may just lead her to open up and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband.

I found that this novel started out a little slow for my liking to be able to get all the background on both main characters of the novel, but I did find that it picked up quickly. I found in the very beginning I was unsure of how I felt for Alicia, but when she begins to open up, I really enjoyed her, even though I knew that most of what she said was lies. I love reading Alicia’s journal entries and how it broke up the novel and let us in on a few little secrets of hers. I enjoyed reading this book through Theo’s point of view because his is so much different from the usual detective’s outlook. I was completely shocked by the ending and did see it coming at all because I didn’t really trust anyone in this novel because you don’t know enough about them to really get a good feel for them. Which makes it all the more interesting to read. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and how different it was from the other thrillers.

Pick it up February 5th!

A wonderfully crafted debute novel! The Patient buildup to an amazing climax could not have been better. I love a book that feeds your mind and does not just give you quick, easy, expected answers. I already am looking forward to a second Alex Michaelides book.

Alicia Berenson seems to have the perfect life. That is, until one day when she is found covered in her husbands blood, a shotgun at her feet and 5 gunshots in her husbands face. Alicia, presumably guilty, never speaks another word and is admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

This book was really, really good! It was very intense, with lots of mystery and foreshadowing that kept me anxiously flipping the pages. If I could have read this in one sitting, I absolutely would have.

I tend to always try to guess the twists, and, thankfully, I never guessed this one. I had a couple of theories and was quite relieved when none of them panned out - though they would have been intriguing twists, they weren’t original. And while the hook in this book wasn’t 100% original (I can think of at least one movie I’ve seen that used a similar twist), it was still very well done and not at all obvious.

The only negatives I can think of were that frequent parallels were made between characters and storylines, to the point of using the same dialogue, that didn’t always necessarily turn out to mean anything. And there were a number of consistent references to Greece/Greek things that sometimes felt forced (I realize the author is Greek, but the main character, as far as I could tell, wasn’t). I’m Greek myself, so it wasn’t something I disliked, per se, just something I noticed.

Despite these super minor things, this book was definitely a 5-Star read. What a page-turner!! It’s one that you’re definitely going to want to re-read as soon as you finish it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon who provided me with an advance review copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review appears on GoodReads, my Facebook page, and will be posted to retail sites once published.*

Wow, I'm still reeling from that ending! A mindblowing, to-die for twist!

A fast read that kept me intrigued from beginning to end, although the shocker came at the end. Wait......wait......what just happened? This was how I felt as a read the last few chapters!

Alicia Berenson is such a mysterious, intriguing character and I was trying to figure her out the entire novel. I kept asking myself, "What is up with Alicia?"She is a famous, talented painter and happily married to her husband, Gabriel. They live in London and have a cozy life.

Why would Alicia murder him and then never speak again? You want to know, right? Well, I did and couldn't stop reading until I found out. It is the feeling you have when you just have to know why!!

The novel is narrated by Alicia's psychotherapist Theo Faber, He is determined to " fix Alicia ". I was so invested in learning what the circumstances of Alicia's silence was and had to find out if Theo could save her. Would she ever speak again? READ IT NOW to find out!

Mark my words - this will be THE breakout thriller of 2019!

The Silent Patient is so clever and well-done, it's nearly impossible to believe this is a debut novel (yes, I feel myself saying that often lately, but it's so true in this case).

The less you know about this one, the better, but here are some key things:

Alicia has killed her husband Gabriel in cold blood. She sits in a prison mental health facility unwilling to speak.

Theo is a therapist who has taken an interest in Alicia's case, he seems convinced he is the one who can get her to talk.

There's more to both these stories than meets the eye. Be sure to pick up a copy to find out what that is...

Thank you to Celedon books for providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I decided to make this part of my December to be read and sure enough I picked it up and literally could not put this book down ( really...kids your hungry again? what, We need laundry done? 😂) all I wanted was to hurry and finish this book because I had to know what was going to happen!
I have to say this book had me hooked! The fastest book ever read by me. I wasn’t expecting that twist at all! I loved Alex Michaelides’ writing style and wow just an amazing dark psychological suspense story that I would recommend to those that love this genre. I had no clue how this story was going to pan out, as the author did a great job with all the characters and their development. Fantastic job done by the author!

4.5 STARS!!

Thank you to netgalley, celadonbooks, and alex michaelides for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A suspenseful thriller with a tight plot, The Silent Patient has one of the most surprising and unexpected last acts that I’ve read in a long, long time. Alicia Berenson unexpectedly killed her husband and then stopped talking. Theo, a psychotherapist, is so obsessed with her that he quits his job in order to get a position at the mental institution where Alicia has been committed. But getting through to someone who won’t talk is not easy, and Theo’s personal life is also in shambles. His wife may be cheating on him. There are excerpts from Alicia’s diary that little by little disclose the events leading up to her husband’s murder and Theo is also talking to all the people who saw her right around that time. Some twists are a little too coincidental but, in general, the rest of the plot is a work of genius. The ending was like a punch to the stomach. Five stars!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Celadon Books!

Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller.

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this. Read it today!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! It was definitely a book that kept you thinking! I would definitely recommend this book to fellow readers. Thank you!

Do you play chess? I don’t, more of a tic-tac-toe aficionado TBH. But I’ve always admired the ability to think 10 moves ahead when faced with a worthy opponent. Here we have 2 well matched MC’s, each with a plan & motive that may end up being their downfall.

Alicia Berenson used to be one half of a glamorous couple. She was a beautiful, successful artist deeply in love with her husband Gabriel. Which of course begs the question…why did she shoot him in the face 5X? You’ll have to come to your own conclusions because Alicia’s not talking. At all.

Not to the police & not to her lawyer during a well publicized trial. Her cool, silent demeanor earned her a verdict of diminished capacity plus a spot at The Grove, a secure psychiatric facility in London. Several years on nothing much has changed. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Alicia remains mute. But one man believes he can get her to tell her story & he’s about to get his chance.

Dr. Theo Faber followed the trial with interest. As a criminal psychotherapist, he became fascinated with the beautiful woman who wouldn’t speak. So when a job comes up at the Grove, Theo jumps at the chance to treat its most famous resident. Pull up a chair, dust off the chess board & let the games begin.

There are many secondary characters that add depth to the story. Some pop up briefly, several have recurring roles & others lurk in the background. Each brings something to the table, even in their absence. But make no mistake…this is the Alicia & Theo Show.

Alicia is an enigma from the start. In the present, she is a shadow of her previous self. But through her thoughts & memories, we begin to put flesh on her bones as we learn about her childhood & subsequent relationship with Gabriel. Friends & colleagues chime in with their observations & put a slightly different slant on her perfect life. Whatever your impression of her, one thing is clear…her voice may be lost but there is absolutely nothing wrong with her mind.

It’s up to Theo to carry the conversation during their regular sessions. And initially he’s more than up for the task. It’s not just about the professional satisfaction of helping a damaged soul. He’s well aware his colleagues have tried & failed to reach Alicia. If he can get her to speak, it would mean validation of his abilities & a huge feather in his cap. As time goes by, we watch as he becomes obsessed with cracking his famous patient & desperation leads to questionable judgement on his part. You begin to wonder if its a quest for professional glory or a classic case of hubris.

From the opening pages I knew that even if this was a poorly written hot mess (it’s not), I would read to the final page because I had to understand why Gabriel was snuffed in such convincing fashion. It’s one of those books where it’s best to go in blind. Although this is a first novel, the author has written screen plays & it definitely shows in the expert pacing & story telling. I can easily imagine this as a film. I had my suspicions about Gabriel’s death but the true motive is only revealed near the end. And what an end it is. There’s something really satisfying about a character getting what they so karmically deserve. If you’re a fan of psychological suspense, don’t hesitate to add this to your groaning TBR pile.

One of the most wonderfully twisted mysteries I've read this year. Alicia a gifted artist, is convicted to a sanitarium after her husband is found tied in their home, shot numerous times in the face, she herself dripping in blood and holding a knife. There are some who might support her but as she has spoken not a single word after the event, the outcome is inevitable. Every psychologist and psychiatrist at The Grove has attempted to elicit a response from Alicia with no luck. Until Dr. Theodore Faber joins the team and makes no bones about his desire to try to work with her. After a physical attack toward him, he re-news his efforts. Time seems to bring no breakthrough until he is given the journal that decribes all of her fears in detail. The journal reveals a mysterious man who has lurked in the shadows of her home and whom she has tried to talk to her husband about, but Gabriel does not take her concerns as more than her imagination playing tricks on her. Theo's interest is far more than altruistic however and the ending is perfect justice.

THE SILENT PATIENT is a fun, twisty ride through the world criminal psychology. Michaelides debut novel is dark, and full of red herrings and hard to put down. Some details stick out as not-quite-right (Theo sticks a piece of gum in his month while smoking a cigarette- no smoker would smoke with gum in their mouth), but still a fast and enjoyable read for fans of A.J Finn and Fiona Barton.

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!

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.