Great Debut!

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Well, that was quite a debut for both Alex Michaelides and the latest division of Macmillan Publishing, Celadon Books!

This is, out of necessity, going to be a pretty short review. The Silent Patient is one of those twisty types of page-turners, that getting too deep into it would definitely result in spoilers. You’ll get the bare minimum here. Sorry, not sorry!

Told in two voices - through therapist Theo Faber and the diary of the troubled murderer, Alicia Berenson, silent since the day she murdered her husband, The Silent Patient skilfully throws twist after misdirect, misdirect after revelation, yet you’re never really truly certain which of our cast of unreliable creatures is truly integral to unraveling the mystery. Even if you do figure it out, the execution is still breath-taking enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. With pacing that is on point, and more than a few things going on (who can resist the art of psychotherapy with some good old Greek tragedy and even more old-fashioned domestic noir, all set in an insane asylum?), you will have trouble putting this one down.

Mr. Michaelides is a refreshing new voice in the psychological thriller game and I am very much looking forward to seeing more from him. I also can’t wait to see what more little gems Celadon have up their sleeves!