The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides

I won this book in a Children in Need auction. I'm not sure if 'won' is the right word. My bid was the winning one, perhaps, is more accurate. I've often seen these auctions but never before proffered a bid. Always the pessimist I assumed I'd be unsuccessful and I would do better just giving my intended bid straight to the charity. But last year I decided to go for it. I put in a number of bids on various books and this one was successful! A hardback copy personally signed by the author. I can't even remember what I bid! It doesn't matter. I was thrilled and sometimes you can't put a price on that. In addition to my pleasure there was the added one of knowing that hopefully my book acquiring and reading habit has in some way benefited somebody in need.

Why did I bid on this book? There was such a lot of positive buzz on social media. Numerous endorsements that infiltrated my susceptible radar. But since the auction was in 2019 why has it taken me so long to read it? Proofs and blog tours to put it simply. However in this pandemic lockdown physical proofs aren't on offer so I am taking the opportunity to rampage through my TBR.

For a book published over a year ago, a best seller with an abundance of reviews across the internet there's nothing new that I am going to be able to offer. Everything has already been said. So all that I can is proffer is my response.

Firstly I was very impressed by this as a debut novel. So often a writer falls prey to what I call the 'debut novel exuberance syndrome', over wording and over plotting. This story was an accomplished piece of plotting and writing. It's economic without being sparse. I think that's crucial in a psychological thriller such as this. There's a balance to be struck between reader and writer. If an author throws too much at the reader there's a danger of detachment for the reader because they can't maintain an angle on what's happening but if the novelist offers too little the reader gets frustrated. Pitching it right is necessary for this genre and this book is pitch perfect. Excellent pacing too.

There is no shortage of psychological thrillers out there. I'm constantly amazed at how authors continue to come up with the most fiendish and twisted of plots. There is something delightful in heading towards the conclusion of a book and finding yourself openmouthed at the twist. This book has a wonderful twist.

There are many reviewers out there who admit to reading a lot of psychological thrillers and therefore saw this twist coming. I can see that up to a point. You get locked into a genre of books. You get locked into the formula of such work and I suppose it becomes second nature to want to get the twist.
I am fortunate in that my reading tastes are eclectic. I've read lots of psychological thrillers but usually they're spaced out in between other genres so I don't get locked in. Possibly the twist delighted me more because of that.

It's hard to like the characters in the story. And I find that an important feature of this type of novel. As a reader you need to remain objective. If you find yourself engaged too emotionally with any of the characters your bias can cloud your enjoyment of the outcomes. But they are fascinating characters, Alice and Theo. I was in danger of sympathising with Alice at some points because I found Theo shallow and sinister.

I enjoyed the author's style, an intelligent narrative which, as well as offering us a story, invited the reader to consider mental heath issues and treatments. I also enjoyed some of the allusions to Greek mythology. The legend of Alcestis is fundamental to grasping elements of the plot.

So, would I enter a book action again? Yes, I would. Would I read another book by Alex Michaelides? Yes I would. Is he writing another one? Apparently it will be published in 2021!