The Silent Patient

Style and Technique

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is written in the genre of a psychological thriller with elements of a detective story. The author's style is characterized by a tense atmosphere and a slow unraveling of the plot, creating a sense of mounting tension. The language of the book is clear and concise, facilitating easy comprehension. Michaelides employs the unreliable narrator technique, adding intrigue and causing the reader to question the reliability of the presented facts. The structure of the novel includes alternating first-person narration and diary entries of the main character, allowing a deeper insight into her inner world and understanding of her actions. The author also skillfully uses flashbacks and retrospective inserts to gradually reveal the backstory of events and create a multi-layered plot. Symbolism plays an important role in the book, especially regarding art and its impact on the human psyche. All these elements make The Silent Patient a gripping and unpredictable work that keeps the reader in suspense until the very end.