Book Review: ‘The Silent Patient’ by ‘Alex Michaelides’ – ‘Trauma, Silence and Mystery

 Source: Bookbub

The book traverses through the tale of two prominent characters whose life is entangled with each other. Childhood abuse and trauma are highlighted and how it has contributed to the storyline, as well as the personality of the characters.

Introduction

Book’s Name – The Silent Patient 

Author’s Name - Alex Michaelides 

Genre – Psychological Thriller 

Language – English

Synopsis – Non-Spoiler  

The story begins with Alicia, the painter penning down her thoughts in a diary gifted by her husband Gabriel, a well-known fashion photographer to help with her thoughts which are constantly nagging her. 

Fast forward, Alicia is arrested for murdering her husband. The brutal death of Gabriel and the silence of Alicia throughout the entire time made people raise their eyebrows, speculating her to be the murderer.  

On the other hand, Theo, a victim of abuse by his father during his childhood, feels empathetic towards Alicia and takes up the job in the Grover situated in London where she is being admitted. He manages to convince the management to let him handle the case. He believes that he can make her talk and she is being falsely accused. He begins the therapy sessions leading to the revelation of the murder mystery.  

The plot ends with revelation and justification of her silence interconnecting the lives of Theo and Alicia. 

About the Author

Alex Michaelides is a bestselling British Cypriot author and screenwriter, who was born in Cyprus in 1977. His debut novel, the psychological thriller The Silent Patient, is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, with over a million copies sold. His other works include The Maidens.

About the Book 

The murder mystery of Gabriel and the reason behind Alicia's silence was a controversial media trial and several people had put forth their opinion. Six years passed since the death of Gabriel and Alicia is still mummed. No emotion has ever crossed her face; neither guilt nor mourning.  

Theo, a psychotherapist who was constantly following up with the case wanted to help Alicia. He applies to the Grove hospital for the position of forensic psychotherapist where Alicia is admitted.  

The story progresses with Theo taking up her case with follow-up therapy sessions with the help of Diomedes who believes in him and his trust. The complexity of the equation between each character and how it contributes to the climax leaves the reader in a perplexed state.  

The book is a page-turner and the chapter length is short which makes it easier for the first-time reader. It is beginner-friendly and the language is easy to comprehend. 

Psychological Analysis 

The highlight of the childhood trauma that has outlined the character development of the characters speaks volumes that time can erase the scars but not the impact on the mind.  Emotions like love and affection are crucial for any individual. When received in an inadequate or no amount, a person tends to do unconventional things to achieve and sustain it.

The behaviour of Theo's father instilled the fear of separation and being unloved. The character goes to extreme lengths to keep the remained relationship intact, though, he is being betrayed. 

The same goes for Alicia's character. The constant wordings of her father wishing to be dead instead of his wife have left a deep scar in her mind. When she met the love of her life, Gabriel, she devoted her life to him.  

Famous Quotes

1. Mental illness is precisely about a lack of this kind of integration—we end up losing contact with the unacceptable parts of ourselves 
2. Love includes all kinds of feelings, doesn’t it? Good and bad.
3. —….. You know, Theo, one of the hardest things to admit is that we weren’t loved when we needed it most. It’s a terrible feeling, the pain of not being loved.” 
4. It was obvious what Alicia wanted. She wanted me to read it.

The Bottom Line  

The relationship between Alicia and Theo as a patient and a psychotherapist fails to balance out when Theo develops empathy and an urge to help her to come out of the silence and to reveal what must have happened that night. 

The peculiar interest of him in the case and all his possible attempts to revive her back to a sober state of consciousness connect the threads of the past baggage of their internal conflicts to their present. 

My rating for the book is 3.5 on 5

Get your copy from Amazon- The Silent Patient

Written By Durrah Ismail Nasir