The Silent Patient

About

The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller novel written by Alex Michaelides. The book follows the story of a famous artist named Alicia Berenson who seemingly murders her husband, famous fashion photographer, Gabriel Berenson. After the murder, Alicia doesn't speak another word, and she is later admitted to a mental institution. Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, takes a keen interest in Alicia's case and decides to use his expertise to try and break her silence. He becomes obsessed with understanding Alicia's past and her motive for the murder. The book is told from the perspective of Theo in the present day and Alicia's diary entries leading up to the murder. The novel is enticing and keeps the reader guessing until the end. The Silent Patient explores themes of love, loss, trauma, mental illness, and the complexity of human behavior. The book was published in 2019 and has since become an international bestseller. It was also awarded the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller in 2019. Description by ChatGPT.