Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

237 reviews

simply_red_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I think the book was overhyped for what it was and therefore was somewhat dissapointing. The writing was well done but the plot was predictable and the ending for me personally fell flat and didn't wrap the book up nicely 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Murder

bbrewer14's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A psychological thriller with an unexpected twist, I never saw the path coming that the author veered down. Theo Faber is a psychoanalyst working at a secure mental hospital for violent offenders. His focus is on Alicia Berenson, a famous artist turned murderer who is locked in the secure ward. She has not spoken a word since the day she killed her husband. Theo’s goal is admirable and insane. He wants to get Alicia to talk despite her years of silence. He wants to know the truth of what happened the night Alicia killed her husband. This book is one that I didn’t want to put down. Some of the language and side stories supporting the behavior and reasoning of the main characters were graphic, but they are easily skimmed over to avoid the gratuitous language and pictures the author builds in your head. Ultimately I forgave the author on these little indiscretions when the plot twisted so completely that my jaw dropped. An excellent read and a great introduction to this author. I will be looking for more of his books. Highly recommend if you like mysteries, plot twists, and psychological thrillers. Great novel. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual content, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Body shaming, Violence, Confinement, Drug use, and Child abuse

annelisedreyer's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The twists at the end are truly mind blowing. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Murder, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Blood, and Toxic relationship

yananhai's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

holy shit this was soooo good, i swear i had no idea how this was gonna go and it was executed so well
i read this in ONE DAY, i have never read this fast before. it's absolutely amazing 10/10 would recommend

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Suicide, Alcohol, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Kidnapping, Car accident, Stalking, Self harm, Blood, and Toxic relationship

karen_lo's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Perfect for getting out of a rut! 
Wish it was longer since there were some things unanswered. But so good! Could not predict the end at all.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Drug abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Car accident, Abandonment, Blood, and Child abuse

coco78337's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Mental illness, Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug use, Gaslighting, Murder, and Stalking

yasaman's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Infidelity, Addiction, Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

lucylouise7's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, Police brutality, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Infidelity, Mental illness, Drug use, and Gaslighting

cdingler07's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A slow first ~100 pages but then it picks up. I was able to predict the ending however all of the details that led to the reveal were still holding my attention. A good thriller that didn’t feel too scary to sleep.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

kanthereader's review

dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This was an absolute masterpiece! The only reason it didn't get a five was because it wasn't as much of a thriller as I would have hoped/was anticipating.

I seriously cannot believe this is the author's first novel. It's incredible.

The book wasn't necessarily boring, but not interesting either in the beginning and middle. It felt like I was watching a documentary or a support group show where the people sit in circles. However, the ending made up for the slow paced beginning! I was totally taken by surprise.

Spoiler

I thought it was genius to put the book in Theo's point of view. I never would have suspected him to be Alicia's stalker. Alex has an amazing way of making certain characters seem so innocent and the least to be suspected. He did the same thing with Gabriel by putting Alicia's diary pages in there: another smart choice. Who knew a man who was willing to give his wife the world and wanted to make a family with her was both a coward and unfaithful?

Overall, this was such a good book! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Stalking, Gun violence, and Self harm

Moderate: Violence, Medical trauma, Death, Blood, Medical content, Infidelity, Suicide, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Cursing