The Silent Patient – Wow. It’s been several weeks since I read it, and it still blows my mind. As soon as the dots started to connect, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s my dream to be able to write something as twisty and shocking as this book.
The fluctuating timeline was the perfect touch to pull everything together. As you read, you get the impression that it’s linear, apart from the diary entries. *Spoiler* But when you realize the trouble he’s working with isn’t in the present, the blocks start to fall together. Can’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it. But !!! this twist.
The characters were also fascinating. The entire staff at the hospital had their quirks and the way they got along/didn’t get along added the perfect amount of tension. Theo comes across as a very well-meaning therapist. His only fault seems to be that he gets too attached to his patients. But when more is revealed about his personal life, the darker he gets. And the opposite happens with Alicia. You see her as the silent patient who accepts the guilt for her crime, but as the secrets are revealed you see how much she was really holding inside.
I loved this book so much, I didn’t shut up about it for days. And if given the chance, I would probably still be raving about it. I would like to hope it will get turned into a movie – but I also don’t want that to ruin the shock. If you haven’t read this book, I highly suggest you do.