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Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
I read The Silent Patient a few years ago and I have never been able to find a mystery/thriller that got me the way that book did. Other books came close, but nothing surprised me like that twist. I read The Fury by Michaelides back in March I think, searching for that same WTF moment, but it did not impress... in fact, it fell so flat and horrible and so I thought that Michaelides was just a one hit wonder and didn't rush to grab this one. I came across it at the library over the summer and figured I'd give it a shot... I put it off for a few months and finally picked it up for spooky szn since it's dark academia and all that, and I read it in just a little over 24 hours. It FLOORED ME.
I liked all the characters. I was suspicious of everyone, feeling tense and putting my head in my hands very often. I was convinced certain people were the killer, but nothing compared to the truth. I had some inklings that the murderer was indeed the murderer, or at least an accomplice in some way, but... even my thoughts did not come close to what was actually going on.
I saw some people online say that the book was pretentious, but I never felt that way. I loved the whole Cambridge scenery and the nods to Ancient Greece and Greek mythology. It was perfect for cozy autumn reading which is exactly what I was looking for (if you consider murder/thrillers to be cozy like I do!). Other people said it was boring and drawn out, and I could not disagree more. I thought the writing was so smooth and it flowed so well, it was such a page turner and it left me wanting more after every single chapter. There was never a moment where I was bored or felt like a scene could've been cut out, especially knowing what I know now. I especially loved the random journal entries thrown in, giving a look into the murderer's mind. I get goosebumps looking back at them now and knowing... fuck, this book was SO GOOD!
There are some dark and heavy topics covered in this book and I would suggest reading the TWs before going in.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Abandonment
Graphic: Animal death, Murder
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use
It felt to me like the author had a really interesting concept in mind but struggled to execute it fully. Alternatively, the original manuscript was about twice as long and the author had to pare it down (and if this is the case, I think it was done poorly). There were also some aspects that I feel like "other" the reader: the Cambridge setting feels very surreal and elitist, as does the Greek tragedy... theme?
My biggest issue, though, is that the MC keeps sticking her nose into a police investigation very obviously and everyone just lets her. She is very clearly unwell and crossing so many professional lines and she doesn't try to hide her actions... but she just isn't called on it
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Abandonment
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Stalking, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse
Minor: Animal death, Sexual assault, Stalking