The Silent Patient is a thriller, which is a new genre for me. I've read a couple lately, and this is a classic example of #bookstagrammademedoit.
Alicia hasn't spoken since she was arrested for killing her husband. Now, this painter lives at a psych hospital called The Grove, where she is kept on a lot of drugs. Theo is a psychiatrist who heard about Alicia's situation and wanted to help her, so he applies for a job at The Grove. He makes it his mission to get her to speak, and he doesn't think she killed her husband. Theo follows the trails and clue of her life, becoming more detective than therapist, and putting his job and The Grove at risk.
The book switches from Alicia's diary to Theo's narration a few times. I found the story interesting, but it wasn't really my type of story. I did not like Theo very much, and the twist made me like him even less. His motives are unclear for most of it, and he definitely is way too invested in Alicia. Alicia, herself, makes no sense in her diary and is boring from Theo's perspective. This is a classic thriller about mental health and murder. So if you are into that I recommend it. Otherwise, it's just fine.
****Spoiler part****
I was flabbergasted by the fact that the timeline was not linear. The fact that Theo finding out about his wife's infidelity was before Alicia's husband's death, and that Theo was the man watching her? Like he is a terrible psychotherapist! And he gets promoted in the end! What is that?! He killed Alicia to cover himself! I don't know what kind of lesson we are supposed to take away from this, but it does not jive well with me. I am concerned for all his past and future patients!
Also, Max, Gabriel the husband's brother, is underused. I get he is a false lead for the reader but like what is he doing with his receptionist girlfriend?
****Spoiler part over***
Romantic Subplot Analysis:
The only real romantic subplot is Kathy's (Theo's wife) affair. But that was just Theo following her around, we don't get anything else. They hint that people think that Theo has a crush on Alicia, but he does not. He SO does not.
Alicia hasn't spoken since she was arrested for killing her husband. Now, this painter lives at a psych hospital called The Grove, where she is kept on a lot of drugs. Theo is a psychiatrist who heard about Alicia's situation and wanted to help her, so he applies for a job at The Grove. He makes it his mission to get her to speak, and he doesn't think she killed her husband. Theo follows the trails and clue of her life, becoming more detective than therapist, and putting his job and The Grove at risk.
The book switches from Alicia's diary to Theo's narration a few times. I found the story interesting, but it wasn't really my type of story. I did not like Theo very much, and the twist made me like him even less. His motives are unclear for most of it, and he definitely is way too invested in Alicia. Alicia, herself, makes no sense in her diary and is boring from Theo's perspective. This is a classic thriller about mental health and murder. So if you are into that I recommend it. Otherwise, it's just fine.
****Spoiler part****
I was flabbergasted by the fact that the timeline was not linear. The fact that Theo finding out about his wife's infidelity was before Alicia's husband's death, and that Theo was the man watching her? Like he is a terrible psychotherapist! And he gets promoted in the end! What is that?! He killed Alicia to cover himself! I don't know what kind of lesson we are supposed to take away from this, but it does not jive well with me. I am concerned for all his past and future patients!
Also, Max, Gabriel the husband's brother, is underused. I get he is a false lead for the reader but like what is he doing with his receptionist girlfriend?
****Spoiler part over***
Romantic Subplot Analysis:
The only real romantic subplot is Kathy's (Theo's wife) affair. But that was just Theo following her around, we don't get anything else. They hint that people think that Theo has a crush on Alicia, but he does not. He SO does not.