Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

8 reviews

zayzay2's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The first murder mystery book I read, I was absorbed by this book. I wasn't expecting me to love it the way I did, there was a lot of mixed reviews and opinions and I wasn't sure where I would lay. I loved the pace of the book it was some what slow at the start and then started picking up in the middle and end, I was so eager to find out who the strange man was that was standing at the window and was following the fl was. It might have been obvious for most people but I was honestly shocked, usually books give hints of the killer or the mystery is hinted so people already figure it out and the plot is discovered but I didn't feel any hinting in this book. I was honestly rooting for the therapist, didn't understand why the fl kept attacking the therapist just thought maybe she didn't like talking to anyone but the reveal made sense, when the plot twist came everything made sense. I loved the ending, the book/diary in the painting was a smart move. Highly recommend and would lend it to a friend.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, and Violence

book_lover3103's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My jaw DROPPED at the end, it’s a must read and you won’t regret it 10/10 recommend 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

Minor: Drug abuse

brandywyne's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Murder, Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Mental illness, Stalking, Suicide, Car accident, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Grief, and Violence

sophiasoler's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

im really really conflicted about this book. the first four parts of it were alright. however

the plot twist  was absolutely incredible. in no way did i see that coming. BUT! a good plot twist does not a great author (or even a great book) make.

the book spends much of the beginning meandering and

trying to convince us that theo is a good, empathetic man and an invested psychotherapist. from the beginning, theo is a little too involved and, frankly, kinda weird. his relationship with alicia (even pre plot twist) is weird and obsessive, and is repeatedly called out by the other therapists. he crosses boundaries and breaks rules from the beginning and obsessively hunts down everyone in her life. his interest in her is never because of empathy or sympathy, but because of allure and mystery (and then later it’s discovered because of a perverted sense of being a savior and some bizarre form of guilt).

i think he (the author) has quite an inflated sense of self that rubs me the wrong way. a lot of his thoughts feel insincere and unfounded, and sometimes he’s SO corny!!!!!!!!!! bc why did i feel like i was   reading a 14 year old’s tumblr post??? it felt like he thought he was being really deep and emotional, but it’s just lame and not even going below the surface

“i’m dead. my dad just killed me.” YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING????? EMBARRASSING !!!!! it is so clear to me that he didn’t understand the myth of alcestis and what she suffered!!!! if this is your retelling, girl pls reanalyze.

i did (despite all this) enjoy the book, but i don’t think i’ll read anything of his again. not for me, and i have a feeling his other books are just going to be worse

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Stalking, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Blood, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Grief, Gore, and Misogyny

nasya_4567's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

WAAAAAW…. I did not see that coming. That’s all I’m gunna say…

…Actually no 😀

 The way the writing was structured was really clever, because that is was kept the reveal from being guessable. LIKE I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. 

The ending with the snowflakes was very cinematic if that makes sense 🧐😮‍💨👌

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Stalking, Medical trauma, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Suicide

pibblemama97's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Drug use, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

em_5460's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I would consider this book one of my all time favorites. The plot, pacing, characters, and twists are just brilliant. The writing and prose are incredible and it keeps you hooked throughout. I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I read it and I recommend it to everyone I know.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Terminal illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Confinement, Grief, Violence, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

sassyshark's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Ableism, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Gaslighting, Gore, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail