THE SILENT PATIENT
By Alex Michaelides
Chapter 1 & 2
Rating: 9/10
The Silent Patient is a perfect thriller book consisting of Alicia
Berenson, a famous painter and the main character of this story
and the protagonist, Theo Faber, a psychotherapist.
Alicia has been accused of murdering her husband, shooting him
right in the face. But it was just accusations. On the day of the
murder, police officers had found Alicia’s husband, Gabriel tied up
in a chair, completely disfigured. Alicia was standing by the
fireplace, showing no emotions.
During the trial in the courtroom Alicia has not even tried to prove
herself innocent nor most importantly said anything. Since the
murder of Gabriel, Alicia has not said a single word. But one thing
she did after the murder was ...drawing a portrait of herself naked
in front of an easel and holding a brush with red paint. There were
more details added to the self-portrait… and she named it
‘Alcestis’. A Greek mythology about a wife sacrificing her life for
her husband. Moreover, at the beginning of this story it was found
that Gabriel gave Alicia a diary where she wrote all her thoughts…
Also mentioned by Alicia at the start of the diary about how much
she loved her husband and she could not afford to lose him.
Since Alicia has not defended or should I say open her mouth
during the trial, she was titled as being a depressed patient by
Professor Diomedes, a forensic psychiatry and director of the
Grove, where patient supposedly like Alicia was admitted.
Theo, in the other hand was a lot more sympathetic towards Alicia
and when the opportunity was on the doorsteps, he didn’t hesitate
to get himself transferred to the Grove as, as per him he was in a
position of treating Alicia and unveiling the truth.
Would Theo be able to make Alicia to talk? Did Alicia commit the
murder? Why isn’t she saying anything? Did Gabriel deserved to
die?...
Chapter 3 & 4 & 5 & 6
Theo got accepted to the Grove after his interview with Indira
Sharma, a lady, maybe in her fifties. It has also been mentioned
that Theo was physically assaulted by his father when he was
younger, he felt he was a prisoner under the trap of a monster. He
was more than happy leaving that house when he got the
opportunity to study at a university. It was indeed true that Theo
was now free from his father’s imprisonment but however as per
him, he was still with him… in his mind. His father would not leave
him or should I say the thoughts his father implanted in his mind
would not leave him. Theo became distant … from himself … from
the world. And the only situation according to him was suicide, but
fortunately failed. He somehow understood that he needed to live,
he needed to see the world … so he took the help of Ruth, a
psychotherapist. Ruth was a grandmother figure to him and
thanks to her, Theo was able to overcome this depressing
situation. She played a big role in Theo life, and that’s one of the
reasons why Theo wanted to become a psychotherapist. Well, he
didn’t say all this in his interview. He more or less said that he
wanted to help people…and got accepted.
Before arriving at the Grove, Theo was warned by a consultant at
Broadmoor that the Grove might be axed and that Theo might as
well lose his job… Whatsoever, Theo was determined and firmed
about treating Alicia. Arriving at the Grove, Theo was welcomed
by Yuri, the head psychiatric nurse. He also met Stephanie
Clarke, the manager of that institute. She was described as firm
and strict towards all the rules set at the Grove for protection
purposes. He went to the community meeting, met Professor
Diomedes…, Christian, who also had been working at Broadmoor
before and also whom Theo didn’t get along very much And Alicia
Berenson. Alicia looked thin, unclean and highly sedated. Looking
at her, Theo knew he made the right decision by coming to Grove.
After professor Diomedes permission, Theo was allowed to meet
Alicia.