Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Year of Publication: 2019
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Setting: Primarily in London, England

Summary: "The Silent Patient" is a gripping psychological thriller that follows the story of Alicia Berenson, a successful artist who is accused of brutally murdering her husband. Following the murder, Alicia stops speaking and is committed to a psychiatric facility, leaving her motives and the truth behind the crime shrouded in mystery. The story is narrated from the perspective of Theo Faber, a psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with uncovering Alicia's secrets and helping her regain her voice. As Theo delves deeper into Alicia's past and the events leading up to the murder, he becomes entangled in a web of deception, obsession, and psychological manipulation.

Major Themes:

• Identity and Perception: "The Silent Patient" explores themes of identity, self-perception, and the masks people wear to hide their true selves.
• Mental Health and Trauma: The book delves into the complexities of mental health, trauma, and the ways in which past experiences can shape a person's present behavior.
• Deception and Unreliable Narrators: As the story unfolds, the unreliable nature of the characters' narratives and their hidden agendas come to light.

Awards: "The Silent Patient" received widespread acclaim and commercial success. It became an international bestseller and won several literary awards, including the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller (2019) and the British Book Awards' Crime & Thriller Book of the Year (2020).

Legacy: Alex Michaelides's "The Silent Patient" has garnered significant attention and praise for its gripping plot, intricate character development, and skillful manipulation of suspense. The book's unexpected twists and turns, along with its exploration of the human psyche, have captivated readers worldwide. It has been praised for its atmospheric setting, clever storytelling, and the exploration of themes related to mental health and identity. "The Silent Patient" is often regarded as a standout psychological thriller and has left a lasting impression on fans of the genre.