The Librarian's Husband's Book Club discussion

This area is for any discussion about the August 2023 book selection, The Silent Patient, while we are reading it.

Please make use of the spoilers function ([spoiler]...[/spoiler] but replace [] with <>) as appropriate to be sure we don't ruin parts of the book for others.

spoiler: (view spoiler)[ It looks like this :) (hide spoiler)]

Happy reading!

I'm listening to the audio book.
One thing I find intriguing are the parallels between Theo's and Alicia's worlds (Covent Gardens plays a part as does both of them describing someone else's body as a Greek statue come to life). I'm curious to see if these will mean anything.
I dislike the way Theo tells us things like, this will be a mistake. Is there a term for blatant foreshadowing?

When I started this on audio it definitely gave me the same vibes at The Puzzle Master. Perhaps it is the art related theme in both of them but both narrators kind of read in the same spooky/eerier voice. I will say it did make me not want to put the book down!

I must be a dinosaur! I'm reading the print version in a library book.
I think Theo's style of narration is very much confessional. He doesn't say it, but he's not so sure of himself. (view spoiler)[Why else would he still be going to a therapist when he's got the degree? (hide spoiler)]

I wish I could read peoples spoilers .I do not know what to write about in regards to the discussion because its mainly spoilers. I am re-reading it and enjoy it as much as I did the first time. Any suggestions on how to read others spoilers and to add the function to become a link.

Dawn wrote: "I wish I could read peoples spoilers .I do not know what to write about in regards to the discussion because its mainly spoilers. I am re-reading it and enjoy it as much as I did the first time. An..."
If you go back to my message (#4) and just click the green font that says "view spoiler" it should pop open for you. If it doesn't work on your smart phone or tablet, try logging in from your laptop or personal computer.

Started the audiobook today (it's all that was available at the library). Enjoying it so far.....intrigued.

Thank you Michael I can view it on my computer not on my Ipad

I'm now at Page 155. Theo is beginning to lose a little credibility with me. He doesn't appear to be that smart, or he just says and does the wrong things.
The story is beginning to read like a police procedural with a psychotherapist (Theo) doing the investigating and questioning instead of a detective. The scenes inside the clinic have been more interesting - - some intriguing characters there in addition to the mysterious Alicia.
The book is moving a little slower for me now, and I can easily step away from it for longer pauses before reading again. That's usually a bad sign. Hoping something happens to wow me in the next section.

Michael wrote: "I'm now at Page 155. Theo is beginning to lose a little credibility with me. He doesn't appear to be that smart, or he just says and does the wrong things.
The story is beginning to read like a p..."

Michael, I agree it does seem like he's doing detective work hahaha. It's keeping my attention though. I'm about halfway and reading quickly. I NEED to know what she says if/when she breaks her silence. It's keeping me going.

The author's main influences were classic Agatha Christie type novels so the police procedural vibe makes sense.

I just finished.....I enjoyed it. Very twisty and lots of red herrings.

Now at Chapter 26, page 172 right after Theo elicits a non-verbal, positive reaction from Alicia. So far, there are three suspects that I can identify for the murder, four if you count Alicia (I've already decided that's too easy).
One of them just became my #1 suspect after a new reveal. I'm going to hide it in the spoilers, just so I can say "I knew it" or "I was fooled" after the concluding reveal. So, don't look at this spoiler if you are still reading the book . . . . .(view spoiler)[Theo reads the play Alcestis where the cowardly husband asks someone else to sacrifice themselves to Death instead of him. His wife, Alcestis, does and when she is resurrected she goes into silent mode, probably because she's angry. I believe Alicia took the fall for her brother Paul. My other suspects are Max the lawyer and Jean-Felix the art gallery manager. If you're reading this you can either marvel at my deductive abilities or get a good laugh at my delusional conclusions. (hide spoiler)]

I finished this morning. The last 100 pages were the best. A very impressive debut novel, but not perfect. While I'm okay with the final outcome I do feel that the writer cheated a little bit. But he deserves credit for the crafty twists that kept me guessing through the entire plot. You can read my short spoiler-free review in the other link in our group read.
Marie, feel free to read the rest of my comments here - - as well as anyone else who has finished reading. Otherwise, stay away or I'll unintentionally spoil it for you. Readers need to be unaware for full appreciation.
(view spoiler)[ I admit to being totally fooled until the final reveal, but I feel a bit cheated for two reasons. 1) Theo is an unreliable narrator. I hate when characters do that to readers. 2) There are several flashback scenes here that don't indicate that they occurred in the past. But, if the writer put a time stamp on them it might have ruined the mystery.
Also, Michaelides did a very credible job of creating empathy in me for the two main characters, and then adding more details to make me question it, and finally the novel ends with me not liking either one of them. I feel bad for Alicia being manipulated but have nothing but dislike for Theo. Give the writer some credit. He could easily have messed the whole thing up but he skillfully held it together. (hide spoiler)]

I noticed only the people who enjoyed reading this book is joining in the discussion.

Is there anyone who does not like this book?

Jenny wrote: "I noticed only the people who enjoyed reading this book is joining in the discussion.

Is there anyone who does not like this book?"

I didn't like it. Don't be fooled by my star rating. I can never figure out what to do there.

Thanks for asking, Jenny. I'm with you, Marie. I was quite disappointed in this book. Like many psychological thrillers, the author has to pull a rabbit out of their hat to make their big twist work. It's not believable and it makes you question lots of stuff that happened throughout the story. Among the issues I have: why choose to tell Theo's story in the 1st person? It makes a LOT less sense when you get to the end, and it would have worked so much better if it was written in the 3rd person. Also, Alicia's diary entries are not written AT ALL the way someone writes in a diary. This book is like a Twinkie - tasty and fun, but quite unsatisfying (and kinda leaves a film on your teeth afterward). This was optioned for a movie back in 2019 that never got released, sadly.

I have to say that the ending lost me. For me this book was interesting at first but then fell flat as the pages turned.

I really enjoyed this.
And despite reading this during a week of rather hectic vacation I finished it on the plane home.

Kaitlyn wrote: "When I started this on audio it definitely gave me the same vibes at The Puzzle Master. Perhaps it is the art related theme in both of them but both narrators kind of read in the same spooky/eerier..."

I felt the same similarity at first but the psychological aspect of this book is more in my wheelhouse.

Michael wrote: "I must be a dinosaur! I'm reading the print version in a library book.
I think Theo's style of narration is very much confessional. He doesn't say it, but he's not so sure of himself. [spoilers re..."

Reply to your spoiler
(view spoiler)[
Professional therapists are encouraged to go to therapy or at least consult with a supervising/senior therapist, especially if they have a difficult case. (hide spoiler)]

Michael wrote: "The story is beginning to read like a police procedural with a psychotherapist (Theo) doing the investigating and questioning instead of a detective...."

I find in most fictional mysteries the non-detective main characters do an unrealistically large amount of detective work.
How else would the author manage to provide us with all the background information required? :0)

I loved the author's writing style and found this very easy to read. I will definitely be reading more of his work.

I can understand why some readers feel the twists were ' cheating' or a little disappointing but for me they were the reason I enjoyed it so much.
I like to be surprised so I rarely make much of an effort to guess 'whodunnit'.

(view spoiler)[ I found the author's use of the different timelines particularly satisfying and when we got to the twist my reaction was an pleasurable 'Ah, how clever!'
I felt the resolution was subtle, not a complete turn around. It had a psychological element that fit with the tone of the book and was in line with the concerns I had about Theo from the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

Michael wrote: (view spoiler)[" I feel a bit cheated for two reasons. 1) Theo is an unreliable narrator. I hate when characters do that to readers. 2) There are several flashback scenes here that don't indicate that they occurred in the past...." (hide spoiler)]

Answering your spoiler to clarify why I enjoyed this book while you didn't:
(view spoiler)["
1) I love unreliable narrators. If a review or blurb even hints it can ruin the effect but I like it when the author leaves subtle clues
2) I loved that the author played with our assumptions about the timelines and used it for twisty effect - you think you are one place and discover you are somewhere else - thrills!" (hide spoiler)]

In what ways do you think Alicia and Theo are similar?

Don't forget to use spoilers if it's reveling to the story.

BTW---I'm impressed with the use of that tool so far in this thread--well done :)

Esther wrote: "Michael wrote: [spoilers removed]

Answering your spoiler to clarify why I enjoyed this book while you didn't:
"
1) I love unreliable narrators. If a review or blurb even hints it can ruin the effe..."

Esther, I am totally fine with you liking the book for the opposite reasons as me. However, I never said I didn't like it. Just look at my review. I just felt cheated and said so.

Michael wrote: " I never said I didn't like it. Just look at my review. I just felt cheated..."

Sorry I wasn't clear , that was what I meant by saying you didn't enjoy it.

My point was that it seemed to me that the very elements that left you feeling cheated were the very reasons I liked the book.

I find it interesting to see what others look for and enjoy, or not, in their reading material.

NB I think you need to edit my quote in your post as it reveals the spoiler.

John wrote: "In what ways do you think Alicia and Theo are similar? "

They both have rather extreme and dependent attitudes to their romantic relationships because they are using them to compensate for childhood trauma.