The Silent Patient Book Club Questions & Discussion Guide

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In this guide, you’ll find Alex Michaelides’s The Silent Patient book club questions, a summary, best quotes and my top 3 recommended similar reads that will aid your book club discussion.

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The Silent Patient Summary 

the silent patient book club questions

One day when Alicia Berenson’s husband returns home after a long day at a photoshoot, Alicia shoots him five times in the face and never speaks a word again.

The only way she communicates is through other mediums. Theo Faber, a Freudian psychologist, fascinated by Alicia’s case becomes obsessed with uncovering her secrets. What seemed like a tragedy turned out to be something far more worse.

A dark twisted story on love, revenge and murder and a shocking thriller. Why would Alicia murder her husband out of the blue and why is Theo so obsessed with this case?

the silent patient book club questions
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The Silent Patient Book Club Questions 

  1. What were your initial expectations from the book before you started reading it? 
  2. Do you often read thrillers? If you do, how did this book compare to other thrillers you’ve read before?
  3. The book has 2 narrations, of Theo and Alicia. Do you think the author did a good job of managing two narrations while keeping the suspense? Share your thoughts on the narration of the Book. 
  4. Which character did you find the most suspicious and why? 
  5. Which character did you find the most trustworthy and why? 
  6. What are your thoughts on the reference to Greek mythology in the book? Share your thoughts on the way Alcestis is applied to the story in the book. 
  7. What did you suspect was the reason behind Alicia murdering her husband and what were your thoughts when you got to know the truth?
  8. Share your thoughts on Theo and Alicia’s relationship as therapist and patient. What boundaries do you think are necessary to keep in such relationships? 
  9. What were some of your theories as the story unfolded itself? Share those theories.
  10. Do you think the addition of diary entries and such worked well to narrate the story or the author did a good job at making it a part of the book?
  11. Would you be interested in the movie version of this book? What are your expectations if the book were to be turned into a movie? Share your ideas.

5 Best Quotes From The Silent Patient.

“…we often mistake love for fireworks – for drama and dysfunction. But real love is very quiet, very still. It’s boring, if seen from the perspective of high drama. Love is deep and calm – and constant.”

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

“You know, one of the hardest things to admit is that we weren’t loved when we needed it most. It’s a terrible feeling, the pain of not being loved.”

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

“Sometimes it takes courage, you know, and a long time, to be honest.”

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

“Choosing a lover is a lot like choosing a therapist. We need to ask ourselves, is this someone who will be honest with me, listen to criticism, admit making mistakes, and not promise the impossible?”

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

“Remember, love that doesn’t include honesty doesn’t deserve to be called love.”

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides

3 Books Like The Silent Patient 

1. Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

On the morning of their fifth anniversary, Amy goes missing.

Her friends say she was afraid of him, upon investigation it was found that his computer has odd searches which Nick claims he hasn’t made.

All evidence points towards Nick while Nick denies it all. What really happened? And who’s responsible for Amy’s disappearance? Or is someone trying to put all the blame on Nick..

Similar to The Silent Patient, this suspense packed novel is a perfect book to read when you’re looking for some mystery and suspense.

2. Into the Water, by Paula Hawkins 

A vulnerable teenager is found dead at the river, later in the summer, A single mother meets the same fate leaving behind a lonely teenager with no care.

Her only guardian now is her late mother’s sister, a stranger to her that ran away from the town vowing she’d never return.

They aren’t the first women that were lost to these waters but their deaths haunt the rivers. 

What’s the reason behind these deaths and how far do these go back? A twisted story with multiple POVs that captivates the readers until they know the whole truth.

A mystery filled thriller to read after The Silent Patient that’ll keep your attention until the last page. 

3. The Guest List, by Lucy Foley

When a luxurious wedding of a rising television star and magazine publisher goes wrong on a Scottish island that’s known to be haunted.

The groomsmen begin a game of drinking while the bridesmaids ruin their dress.

As the wedding is about to begin, greetings and well wishes get mixed with hidden emotions and jealousies.

A murder takes place but no one knows who the victim or the murderer is. Why would someone ruin their wedding day? 

This absolute page-turner that’d keep you on the edge of your seat is a great mystery to read after The Silent Patient.

Read More: 15 Thrilling Books Like The Silent Patient 

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