There isn't a word in the English dictionary for me to describe how incredible this book is
Michaelides had me fooled from the very beginning. As someone who occasionally enjoys murder mysteries, I thought I had curated a perfect picture of what was happening. In fact, by the time I got to part 3/4, I thought that this book was simply a personal journey disguised as a murder mystery, especially when the specific details of Fosca's childhood matched up with the text from the letters. I thought it was simply meant to be a book about how a woman who lost her husband would use this case that threatened her niece to find color in the world again.
Boy, was I wrong.
Before we talk about this absolutely mind-boggling plot, let's turn to the characters and writing style.
The characters were beautifully created. You could tell that every detail revealed to the reader was revealed with a purpose. It was so beautifully and intricately placed to make the reader believe something. Honestly, I had no expectations going into this book, but now I need to read The Silent Patient. If it's anywhere close the range this book is in, I know I'm in for a treat.
The writing style fit the story. It revealed just as much as it should have to keep the readers on their toes and going with the wrong conclusion, especially with the chapters that revealed bits of the letter. I thought they were revealing bits of Fosca's diary. Turns out, I fell right into Michaelides' trap.
*WARNING: SPOILERS*
That plot twist has to be the greatest I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Not only did the definite start of the book (first line: "Edward Fosca is a murderer.") indicate that, well, Edward Fosca was the murderer, but it made us go into Mariana's mind and experience the same confirmation bias phenomenon that she ungoed. In addition, Michaelides carefully added another suspect when he described Fred through Mariana's eyes as "vanishing", mentioning that he was writing a book, and using the word "premonition" in the final part of the letter. after Fred had just called Mariana and used the exact same word (I don't know about you, but that isn't exactly the most common way to talk about your intuition). When I read these, I was positive that it was either Fosca or Fred. And, Morris came in, and Mariana thought about the prospect of blackmailing, so I began suspecting that maybe Morris was doing the murdering, but Fosca was the puppetmaster.
Whist reading part 4/5, I began to suspect Zoe as the murderer, though I thought she might have done the murders because Fosca was blackmailing her or taking advantage of her wreck of emotions. While I got the "Zoe is a puppet for the murders" part, I never in a million years would have suspected the murderer (Nah, I'm not spoiling that much).
*END OF SPOILERS*
Basically, go read this book. Please. You will not regret it.
Boy, was I wrong.
Before we talk about this absolutely mind-boggling plot, let's turn to the characters and writing style.
The characters were beautifully created. You could tell that every detail revealed to the reader was revealed with a purpose. It was so beautifully and intricately placed to make the reader believe something. Honestly, I had no expectations going into this book, but now I need to read The Silent Patient. If it's anywhere close the range this book is in, I know I'm in for a treat.
The writing style fit the story. It revealed just as much as it should have to keep the readers on their toes and going with the wrong conclusion, especially with the chapters that revealed bits of the letter. I thought they were revealing bits of Fosca's diary. Turns out, I fell right into Michaelides' trap.
*WARNING: SPOILERS*
That plot twist has to be the greatest I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Not only did the definite start of the book (first line: "Edward Fosca is a murderer.") indicate that, well, Edward Fosca was the murderer, but it made us go into Mariana's mind and experience the same confirmation bias phenomenon that she ungoed. In addition, Michaelides carefully added another suspect when he described Fred through Mariana's eyes as "vanishing", mentioning that he was writing a book, and using the word "premonition" in the final part of the letter. after Fred had just called Mariana and used the exact same word (I don't know about you, but that isn't exactly the most common way to talk about your intuition). When I read these, I was positive that it was either Fosca or Fred. And, Morris came in, and Mariana thought about the prospect of blackmailing, so I began suspecting that maybe Morris was doing the murdering, but Fosca was the puppetmaster.
Whist reading part 4/5, I began to suspect Zoe as the murderer, though I thought she might have done the murders because Fosca was blackmailing her or taking advantage of her wreck of emotions. While I got the "Zoe is a puppet for the murders" part, I never in a million years would have suspected the murderer (Nah, I'm not spoiling that much).
*END OF SPOILERS*
Basically, go read this book. Please. You will not regret it.