I’ve read books that contain psychological and thriller aspects before. And yet, it’s only now that I’ve read a novel that has both. It’s not just any title, but it’s one that defines the term “psychological thriller.” You want to know what it is? It’s The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – a gripping story with unreliable, yet interesting characters.
The Silent Patient is about a woman who vows not to speak after killing her husband. Alicia Berenson has a great life. She’s a successful painter who’s married to an in-house fashion photographer. Also, they live in a home in one of London’s most desirable areas. And yet, when her husband comes home late from a photo shoot, Alicia shoots him five times in the face. Then, she never speaks another word. Her refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, transforms a domestic tragedy into something grander that captures the public consciousness. This casts Alicia into notoriety. Years later, she has been hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and find out why she murdered her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations. It’s a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.
The book is the textbook definition of “psychological thriller” for two reasons. One is that it analyzes the main characters’ minds and behaviors and how those are conveyed through their actions. With Alicia, it’s hard to understand why she murdered her husband Gabriel since she decides not to speak. Luckily, Michaelides is able to provide her perspective by including excerpts of her diary. These sections are tough to get through at times because it becomes clear that Alicia has been used by many people in her life like her brother-in-law and the gallery owner. Personally, I had to put down the audiobook for a bit after listening to those parts. And yet, one has to wonder if she’s telling the whole truth.
The second reason is how suspenseful it is. Throughout the novel, I was rooting for Theo to find a way to allow Alicia to talk without any repercussions. He was up against not only her, but also the Grove, which was on the brink of closure, and their practices. I won’t spoil what happens, but it became clear throughout that he had more nefarious motives. During the course of the book, Theo reveals that he came from an abusive household. Even though he sought treatment to confront his trauma and vowed not to be like his father, he ends up stalking his own wife when he suspects that she’s been cheating on him. The big twist almost caught me off guard.
Another aspect that makes The Silent Patient stand out was its use of unreliable narrators. Alicia is painted from the beginning as unpredictable and difficult by other characters. Christian – a Grove staffer who previously treated her – states at one point that she could be playing Theo, for she sees how much he empathizes with her. However, her diary reveals that she had a hard time standing up for herself because only a few listened to her, including Gabriel. She also compares herself to Alcestis – a princess in Greek mythology who sacrifices her own life to protect her husband’s, but refuses to speak after returning from the underworld. At the same time, when she tells the whole story about how the murder happened, Theo doesn’t believe her at all.
Then, there’s Theo. At first, he is portrayed as someone who wants to help others despite the trauma he’s been through. In other words, he seems reliable even though some of his colleagues at the Grove might label him as a do-gooder. As the novel progresses, layers of Theo’s personality get peeled off, and it becomes clear that he wants to get Alicia to talk for more personal reasons. With all of that being said, it’s fascinating to see who starts off as reliable/unreliable and how they intersect. It makes one wonder how truly trustworthy Theo and Alicia are.
As mentioned earlier, I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Louise Brealey and Jack Hawkins. Brealey has been mentioned on this website before since she helped record None of This is True by Lisa Jewell. She reads Alicia’s diary with meekness while sounding like she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This perfectly suits the character, who wants to be believed but can’t due to reasons she is well aware of. There’s no doubt that Michalides thought that she was extremely good since she recorded the audiobook to his follow-up The Maidens. Meanwhile, Jack Hawkins provides the strongest performance. He’s an actor who has appeared in movies and television shows like Call the Midwife as well as recorded audiobooks for “The Laundry Files” series by Charlie Stross, 1356 by Bernard Cornwell, and books by The Secret Barrister and British race car driver Jenson Button. Hawkins speaks like Matt Smith when voicing Theo. I don’t know if it was because he sounds like the Doctor Who actor in real life, or if it was a choice. Regardless, this makes Theo appear to be dependable at first, but there’s always an edginess and aggressiveness to it. This transforms Theo from what could have been a wolf in sheep’s clothing into something vastly more complicated.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is a top-tier psychological thriller. It engages with its story and characters in creative ways and remains compelling throughout. Other books in the same genre will have a hard time topping this one, especially through the use of unreliable narrators. Since I’m going to assume most of the people who’ve been on this website have read it, I will recommend it to anyone who hasn’t looked at it yet, especially to those who love psychological thrillers. There’s not another one like it.
Before I go, I want to let everyone know that returning guest Cheyne Nomura and I will discuss how we would adapt this book on an episode of the Adapt Me Podcast. That one will come out this fall. Keep an eye out for the link.
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Book Reviews by a Chick Who Reads Everything 