rdoskocil 's review for:

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
4.0

The author’s background in screenwriting is apparent in this book. It follows a gripping pattern of scene beats and conflict that keep the plot clipping breathlessly along. And I love a good page-turner.

I did find his writing a bit lacking. On a craft level, it feels stilted at times and under-baked. But it’s easy to overlook this when the story is so artfully assembled. As a psychological thriller, it gets high marks for its sharpness. I also appreciated the deep exploration of the lasting effects of emotional trauma.

Overall, a great read.