Summary of Alex Michaelides's The Silent Patient

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The Silent Patient is a psychological thriller by Alex Michaelides about a dedicated psychotherapist trying to help his patient recover after she refuses to speak following the murder of her husband.
Alicia is the woman who killed her husband in cold blood. She is a talented painter who apparently snapped that fateful night. She has a history of mental health problems following her mother’s suicide.
Theo is the psychotherapist tasked with treating Alicia. He was exceptionally drawn to Alicia’s case following the news of her murdering her husband. Many believe Alicia is a lost cause, but this only inspires Theo even more to get her to speak, which she eventually does.
But from there, things become even more complicated. Theo and Alicia’s patient-therapist relationship continues to blur as Theo tries to find answers about the murder and Alicia herself.