Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dawndiscusses 's review for:
The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 stars - The perfect page-turner
The Silent Patient, is a gripping psychological thriller effectively broke me out of a reading slump. With it's simple, fast-paced writing and the compelling mystery surrounding Alicia's refusal to speak - I devoured this book in days (quick for me).
While I could harp on the at times superficial characterisation, particularly with regards to the supporting cast, the ungrounded and simplistic depiction of mental healty facilities or the flimsy connections to Greek mythology - all of which led to an overall impression of the narrative being underdeveloped, these flaws were overshadowed by my sheer compulsion to uncover the truth. I found myself all too willing to suspend disbelief, driven by an insatiable compulsion to discover what had led to Alicia's silence and this book delivered on the twists! Perhaps more experienced psychological thriller readers could predict one or two of shocking moments, but as a relative novice, I was off the mark entirely and felt my jaw unhinge during one of the big reveals. Prose, characterisation, dialogue, hell even plot devices aside - I just found myself really wanting to know what happened and I felt the final reveal + conclusion, were well-executed.
Ultimately, while The Silent Patient has its share of weaknesses, Michaelides' storytelling prowess and the sheer propulsive nature of the mystery proved too compelling for me to dwell on these issues. I am even more impressed that this is a debut novel, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast, compelling narrative that doesn't require much from the reader.
The Silent Patient, is a gripping psychological thriller effectively broke me out of a reading slump. With it's simple, fast-paced writing and the compelling mystery surrounding Alicia's refusal to speak - I devoured this book in days (quick for me).
While I could harp on the at times superficial characterisation, particularly with regards to the supporting cast, the ungrounded and simplistic depiction of mental healty facilities or the flimsy connections to Greek mythology - all of which led to an overall impression of the narrative being underdeveloped, these flaws were overshadowed by my sheer compulsion to uncover the truth. I found myself all too willing to suspend disbelief, driven by an insatiable compulsion to discover what had led to Alicia's silence and this book delivered on the twists! Perhaps more experienced psychological thriller readers could predict one or two of shocking moments, but as a relative novice, I was off the mark entirely and felt my jaw unhinge during one of the big reveals. Prose, characterisation, dialogue, hell even plot devices aside - I just found myself really wanting to know what happened and I felt the final reveal + conclusion, were well-executed.
Ultimately, while The Silent Patient has its share of weaknesses, Michaelides' storytelling prowess and the sheer propulsive nature of the mystery proved too compelling for me to dwell on these issues. I am even more impressed that this is a debut novel, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast, compelling narrative that doesn't require much from the reader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Self harm, Car accident, Suicide attempt