Fantastic. Enjoyed the two aspects of this book- discovering the characters and their stories along with the well reflected explanations of their illnesses alongside discovering just how and why Gabried had died. This was fantastic on both respects.

Amazing book, really drew me in from the very start, I have an interest in Psychotherapy and I really enjoyed the explanations of the characters behaviour. It was fun piecing together the jigsaw of events leading up to Gabriel's death. With an ending I would never have guessed in a million years!

Loved it! The premise intrigued me and I really wanted to know just why Alicia shot her husband Gabriel, as does her psychotherapist Theo. So sure is he that he can succeed where others have failed that he takes a job where Alicia is being treated. What follows is a good little murder mystery that’s easy to read and satisfying with a pretty good twist that I actually didn’t see coming (I do try to just enjoy the ride and not guess ahead). Narrated by Theo himself (apart from Alicia’s diary) I too wondered why I needed to know so much about him and his life but it does all fall into place and make sense. I love a book that makes me look forward to going to bed (the only time I read) and this did the job perfectly. My thanks to Orion and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

WARNING: SUBTLE SPOILERS
The Silent Patient has one of the best hooks I've seen in a long time, definitely draws you in with a very intriguing premise. Given I'm a classicist myself I enjoyed the references to the myth of Alcestis and the parallel with Alicia's situation. However, I do think the characters and the events are all slaves to the plot which makes them slightly 2 dimensional and a bit unlikely, I liked the Gone Girl's idea of using a diary to aid the non-speaking character but Theo's voice feels too similar to Alicia's one in the diary entries with a mundane description of what she was doing that became repetitive very quickly. Theo 1st person POV was a big give away for me, (although I won't add anymore not to spoil the twist) but having had my suspicion on what really happened very early in the story I felt 80% of the book was mostly build as misdirection ploy.
The writing is very accessible, both the mythology and the medical conditions are well explain and I'm sure it will appeal to a wide audience as well as making a good movie.

Thank you Netgalley and Orion for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was completely drawn in to this story from the very beginning with a desperate need to know what happened. As I was reading I was trying to pick apart the various characters that are involved to see what hidden motives could be lurking but I can honestly say I didn’t see the ending coming. In the final chapters I began to start having a suspicion and when all the truths were finally revealed I found myself thinking ‘very cleverly done’.

I absolutely adored this book. As a fan of psychology, I have a great interest in the mysteries of the brain and absolutely loved how this played out. It reminded me of the novels by Irvin Yalom, There is a great pleasure in being hooked by a story and at the end realise you have actually learnt from it, and writing in such a way is a gift. Thank you

Absolutely brilliant. For about half of this book I was ready to give it 4 stars but it just grew and grew on me. Forget all those book headlines about twists and turns that turn out to be obvious - this book has several superb turns that you (I?) simply do not see coming. They turn your thinking of the ending completely upside down. I have to admit that timing of this book for me to read was perfect as I had just gone through the first series of The Sinner on Netflix (now on BBC4) and this superb TV series put me in the mood for this book where there is a murder that seems so obvious but someone gets involved in digging through the complexities that make the guilt for the murder not quite as it seems. I just could not put this book down so please don't miss it. Someone should be lining this up for a film/TV mini-series.

Absolutely loved this! It was a really well written story with no idea of how things are going to turn out. You feel genuine emotion for the characters and want to help them... But is it directed correctly....

Wow...read this in a day, well into the night. A fast read that kept me intrigued from beginning to end, although did not see that end coming. Loved Alicia's character. I don't know what to think of Theo.

Thank you for sending me this book.

Alex Michaelides who’s ‘day job’ is screenwriting has forayed into the realm of authoring a novel and what a novel! Alicia Berenson dotes on her husband, he is her everything but she ties him to a chair and shoots him 5 times in the face - talk about an ‘off day’! From this point she doesn’t utter a single word, 6 years later, Theo Faber is passionate about the case and is sure, as a psychotherapist he can unearth the truth behind Alicia’s silence.

Thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller The Silent Patient ticked all the boxes, well written storytelling, fleshed out believable characters and a great twist at the end. Highly recommended, Looking forward to seeing it as the major film it is promised to be.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Silent Patient is a very slow burning psychological thriller .It took me a long time to really get into the story but when I did wow ! The story very cleverly threads together and then I found it hard to put down .I really enjoyed the latter chapters of the book and the ending was pure genius ! Many thanks to the Publishers ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

Firstly, I’d like to thank Orion Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel. I’d like to thank NetGalley for facilitating, and also (last but not least), Alex Michaelides for an amazing read!

As usual I will not have any spoilers in my review as I feel that is unfair to the authors who put so much time into weaving their tales.

This book has an uncanny ability to grab your attention - by the throat almost - and hold it in a vice-like grip. Yes, quoting from the book there... but it is true nonetheless! Within a couple of pages I was hooked and I devoured this book in a day. It was incredibly clever. All the way through I was thinking that the answer - Alicia’s story was right in front of me - I just couldn’t see it. And I didn’t see it, until the very last moment. This book was not one of those slow burners (as a lot of psychological thrillers are), it really DOES grab you by the throat almost instantly.

I loved all of the characters and their intricacies, their secrets and stories. And I loved the way it highlighted how every one persons version of the truth - the same event will be different. Coloured by their own histories and perspectives. Everyone in this book was an individual - all were flawed in some capacity. It was very down to Earth in that respect.

The psychoanalysis aspect of this book and the insights given throughout made it a really interesting read as well, understanding the focus of the therapies and the methods taken to reach the root of a problem. I found it incredibly interesting.

This was so enjoyable to read - really a novel where you can play detective for a while, trying to unravel the truth from its tightly wound coil. I would definitely recommend this book as “The One To Read”. It was fantastic and I wish I could forget all about it and read it again for the first time!

The synopsis of this book intrigued me and it did not disappoint. Loved the interspersed diary entries throughout the book and the twist of the stranger at the end was totally unexpected. A great book.

A woman murders her husband and is sent to a mental institution. She has not spoken since that moment in time until a new psychotherapist starts working with her. Why will she not speak? The book takes us back in time and beyond the murder. I will not say more as would not want to give anything away. A really great read and so well written. Enjoy every word, I did.

The Silent Patient is deliciously dark and disturbing. This debut novel is a psychological thriller charting one woman’s act of violence against her husband and her therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. The problem is she won’t speak a word.

This book draws you in and has some great twists and turns. I can recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing and the author for the chance to review.

Reading the blurb of this book it promised a lot and it certainly delivered.
It’s a thriller and from the very first page I was engrossed into the story. As you get further and further into the story you are unable to predict what is going to happen next.
The style of written is so fantastic. The author keeps you guessing. I as a reader personally love books that takes you on a journey of the unknown.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Orion Publishing for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

A book that speaks about feelings, and lack of them. Love and emotions. Art and passion. Psychology and memories. And how our childhood might define who we will become.

I have never felt such urgency to read another chapter as I have felt it with The Silent Patient. Such impatience, such excitement. It’s a feeling I wish I can get with all the books in my life.

ALICIA

Alicia Berenson writes a diary as a release, an outlet – and to prove to her beloved husband that everything is fine. She can’t bear the thought of worrying Gabriel, or causing him pain.

Until, late one evening, Alicia shoots Gabriel five times and then never speaks another word.

THEO

Forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber is convinced he can successfully treat Alicia, where all others have failed. Obsessed with investigating her crime, his discoveries suggest Alicia’s silence goes far deeper than he first thought.

And if she speaks, would he want to hear the truth?

I love these types of books. Besides the mystery and thriller, the psychological part was an incredibly well-put together piece of art.

The beginning of the story is nice and slow, but with a temptation in it, that makes you flip the pages so fast. A great world and character building, and great character hopping from Theo to Alicia, from chapter to chapter.

Even though we don’t get to have Alicia talking in the book, she says so much. All her movements, all her reactions, or lack of reaction is so well written. Her lack of speaking doesn’t stop her from moving the story forward, and being the main protagonist here.

On the other hand, we have Theo, who we see and get to know more and more with each chapter. A complicated character, with a cute oddness to himself, a characteristic I find with many psychotherapists. He is the person we see at the front of the screen, presenting himself in the spotlight, together with Alicia.

A well-written plot, with an amazing cliff-hanger and a wonderful plot-twist in the end. I didn’t expect it, and I am awfully satisfied of how the authors decides to conclude the book.

I enjoyed this book so much, and I recommend it to all the psychological thriller book readers here. Don’t miss this one, and get your copy today. It’s so worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group, for providing me with an e-copy, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and completely unbiased.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This book had fantastic write ups and must be honest was not sure at the beginning and then it had me hooked. A fantastic read.

Alicia is a wild, beautiful , heiress from a troubled family who is also a talented painter. She has seemingly killed her photographer husband Gabriel in a frenzied knife and gun attack and has been committed to a psychiatric unit where she has steadfastly refused to speak Theo, our narrator and protagonist has an obsession with Alicia and is a psychotherapist who can't believe his luck when a job comes up at the unit and he gets it! He says he wants to help Alicia as he sees parallels between her and his own troubled background.

Theo's own marriage is collapsing as he suspects his beloved wife is having an affair and as his own life starts to unravel he is prepared to break every boundary governing the patient/therapist relationship to help Alicia. Finding the key to unlocking Alicia's silence involves Theo searching out Alicia's family and friends who all seem to be concealing something about the events leading up to the murder of her husband, even staff at the centre seem to be involved. Alicia's last painting is inspired by the play Alcestis which she went to see with her agent shortly before the murder. In Alcestis, the gods have called for her husband to give up his life but he allows Alcestis to sacrifice herself in his place. The Gods return Alcestis to the mortal realm but she remains silent, can the painting unlock Alicia's secrets. Is all as it seems and is Theo a reliable narrator?

I quite enjoyed this book - I can see it being made as a TV drama. I did have to suspend my disbelief in places and there were rather too many coincidences for the whole scenario to feel truthful to me but until the last few chapters it does keep you guessing and most of the inconsistencies and questions I had were resolved (except how Alicia was actually convicted of the murder given some of the other physical evidence) so for me there were a few plot holes left but it was an easy read and a bit different to the usual thriller.

Psychological thriller about a therapist obsessed with an incarcerated artist who has uttered not one word since being convicted of the brutal murder of her husband years earlier. The plot revolves around the interaction of the psychotherapist, Theo and the patient Alicia..

Whilst the development of their relationship is, initially, intriguing the pace at which the plot develops is slow to the point of being turgid. The praise showered on the book is difficult to justify - yes the much commented on twist prior to the denouement is neatly done- but perhaps overhypes the overall story.

I am sure that many readers will enjoy the book but, in common with others, the piece still reads like a screenplay rather than a novel