Summary

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. Until one night, when her husband, Gabriel, returns home late from work, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into a mystery that captures the public imagination. And she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids at the Grove, a secure psychiatric unit in North London.

Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is captivated by Alicia’s story and jumps at the opportunity to work with her. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband will take him down a path more unexpected and more terrifying than he ever imagined. 

Why I chose to read this book
I had seen this book on social media a few times and decided to find out what it was about. As a child, becoming a shrink was one of my dream careers. Although I gave up on the idea once I realized how truly messed up people are, I still studied psychology in college. Hence, my immediate interest in this book once I read the summary. 

Thoughts & Opinions

Reading The Silent Patient was a real pleasure. The intrigue is smart and makes you want to uncover the truth at any cost. For that though, you will have to wait. Alicia, locked up in a psychiatric unit for murdering her husband, has gone mute. Her psychotherapist, Theo, who sought her case out specifically, is trying his shot at making her speak.

I liked the slow pace as it set the foundation for what was to come. The narrator had a calming, although eerie, presence. The Silent Patient was like a mini-course in psychology and there were many references to Greek mythology which made the book even more interesting and turned it into an enriching experience for the reader. It also explores the powers of expression through art and writing. There are many thought-provoking reflections on the concept of crazy and evil people. It is also expressed that the reason most people enter the psychotherapy field is to find out what is wrong with themselves. Which reminds me of something my dad used to say. He claimed that he knew a few shrinks, and they were the most messed up people he’d ever met!