“What did I just read?” These were exactly my thoughts after reading The Silent Patient. The plot twist was unexpected. Before reading, I had heard people talk about how unexpected the direction of the book went, and it was after I read it myself that I saw what everyone was talking about.
The Silent Patient by Alex is a book that, as the name implies, centers on the silence of a patient called Alecia in a hospital called The Grove. What started the silence? The murder of her husband. Who murdered her husband? You might want to read to find out.
Although she was the prime suspect considering the circumstance surrounding the death, nobody really knew what transpired and the reason for her husband, Gabriel’s death. The reason? Years after the murder, Alecia has said nothing to anyone. The only form of her expression since her husband’s death has been a painting she made before her arrest and subsequent admission to the hospital.
It is at this point that the psychotherapist, Theo, comes in. Determined to get the truth out of Alecia, Theo leaves his job and his promising career progression to work at the Grove. Through various means, he tries to know the truth surrounding Gabriel’s death. More importantly, he tries to figure out the reason for Alicia’s silence over the years.
However, this does not come without its challenges. Starting from his workmates to his unstable marriage, Theo realizes that intentionality is important for him to remain focused on his goal of making Alecia speak.
The Silent Patient is a book that explores mental health, family dynamics and untold secrets. It also navigates how a person’s childhood can affect one’s decisions in life. This was particularly evident in Alicia and Theo’s lives.
I rate this book a 8 out of 10. I liked how the past and the present of the characters lives were beautifully connected. Something else that was great was the unpredictability of how the story unfolded.
If you like well written thrillers, especially ones that explore the effect one’s background can have on one’s life, as well as a book that explores psychiatry, this is for you. It is a triple confirmation for you to read the book if you enjoy investigative thrillers. Like one of the characters in the book said to Theo, he was becoming more of a detective than a psychotherapist.
Was Theo eventually able to get Alicia to talk? What was the truth about Gabriel’s death? Was there more to it than what met the eyes? You will have to read to find out.
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