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A review by hardkaapi
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
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
1.5
This was such a disappointment. I picked this up to get myself out of a slump and I ended up having to force myself through just for closure. The plot is captivating but the characters are so weak. The 2 main characters are Theo "damaged boy" therapist and Alicia "misunderstood psycho" murderer. Theo is the most unconvincing therapist I have read about, even with the context. What makes him different from a detective? How do people just believe a stranger like that? Do people know what therapy is?
The whole book is full of cliches, there's the diary entries, the cheating spouses, unbelievable "us against the world" and extremely convenient plot points. It is a page turner in the sense that you just want to get it done with. The twist did not do it for me, by that time I was too tired to care. I can handle basically anything if it has strong character work but this one missed the mark entirely. Don't read this, read 'Never Tell' by Lisa Gardener instead, it has the same story but a much better end.
The whole book is full of cliches, there's the diary entries, the cheating spouses, unbelievable "us against the world" and extremely convenient plot points. It is a page turner in the sense that you just want to get it done with. The twist did not do it for me, by that time I was too tired to care. I can handle basically anything if it has strong character work but this one missed the mark entirely. Don't read this, read 'Never Tell' by Lisa Gardener instead, it has the same story but a much better end.