The Silent Patient
eBook
- 2019
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller "An unforgettable—and Hollywood-bound—new thriller... A mix of Hitchcockian suspense, Agatha Christie plotting, and Greek tragedy." —Entertainment Weekly The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. 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....
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From Library Staff
Best Mystery & Thriller 2019
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Add a CommentLet me just say the premise of this book is Alicia Berenson kills her husband, and then becomes completely mute. LIKE WHAT. Alicia is then admitted into a psychiatric hospital where she talks to no one and leaves her husband’s murder a complete mystery. Theo Faber is a psychotherapist that is determined to figure out this mysterious murder. Little does Theo know, there is A LOT to unpack in this case. I will say it is a slow burn, but when you get to the last third, you can’t put it down. This was a rollercoaster ride I wasn’t for and honestly the complexities of it took me a moment to realize all that was being uncovered. If you are looking for a real psychological thriller, give this one a go and I promise you won’t see the end coming
I found this a good quick absorbing read. I selected it as it often appears on recommended reading lists and I can see why. A few discrepancies in storytelling detract from an otherwise great book with the ultimate twist saved to the end.
Loved it! A wonderfully written thriller that pulls you in from the start and ends with an absolute shock. Everything you could want in a fast mystery read.
A quick read. Chapters are short and the story moves quickly. A good psychological thriller. The author has a strong understanding of what makes people/characters act they way they do. The undercurrent of the story is how the things in our childhood have shaped us into our adult selves.
It took me awhile to get into this book and I felt like there was some lacking in certain character development. But overall it was an enjoyable read.
This story made me think at the end, which I really like in a book. It explored the human mind and the power other people and deep relationships have over individuals in a very unique and compelling way. The twist was interesting, but not completely shocking/mind-blowing.
My absolute favourite book to date. So many twists and emotions involved. Loved this!!!!
I suspected everything I read was maybe all in Theo’s mind but definitely didn’t see the ending the way it was which was a surprise.
I hated this book from start to finish.
Couldn't put it down!
Donna Murphy