The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

“She used to say we are made up of different parts, some good, some bad, and that a healthy mind can tolerate this ambivalence and juggle both good and bad at the same time. Mental illness is precisely about a lack of this kind of integration—we end up losing contact with the unacceptable parts of ourselves.”

Fun fact: I took this book with me for my hair appointment where I had to sit in a chair for three hours. I finished it within those three hours. As soon as I opened The Silent Patient, I was sucked in.

I became a huge fan of Alex Michaelides after reading his most recent novel The Maidens, so when I saw his debut novel in the bookstore, I just had to buy it. The Silent Patient tells the tale of Theo Faber and Alicia Berenson, but this is not a love story. Or at least, not in the typical sense.

Theo is a criminal psychotherapist who has been fascinated with Alicia's case ever since he heard about the woman who shot her husband fives times in the face and hasn't spoken since. He is determined to get her to talk and to explain why she shot her husband. In doing so, he finds himself wrapped up in Alicia's story.

Without spoiling too much, I will simply say that Michaelides creates such an enticing story, it's almost impossible NOT to get sucked in. His characters are unique, and the plot itself is beautifully constructed to a point where readers can appreciate the creativity on the author's part and the time it took to develop such an intricate plot.

Moreover, as a psychology student, I can really appreciate how Michaelides uses his expertise in the field to enhance his writing. Both of his books have made me more excited about studying psychology in college and have also helped clarify potential career paths for myself (not murder, don't worry, just something in the field of psychology).

I will forever recommend Michaelides' work and I cannot wait to see what else he writes.