Alicia Berenson shoots her husband five times in the face. Then she never speaks another word.
That's the hook. And it's a damn good one.
Theo Faber, a psychotherapist, becomes obsessed with Alicia's case. He takes a job at the psychiatric facility where she's held, determined to be the one who gets her to talk. What follows is a tightly-wound psychological game where nothing is quite what it seems.
Michaelides keeps the pages turning. The chapters are short, the revelations frequent. You think you've figured it out—then another layer peels back. The final twist genuinely surprised me, which doesn't happen often anymore.
This sits comfortably at three candles. It's dark—murder, obsession, manipulation—but it's not graphic. No gore, no extreme violence. The darkness is psychological, not visceral. Perfect for a Friday night when you want intensity without brutality.
The writing is clean and propulsive. Michaelides doesn't waste words. Every scene serves the plot. The dual timeline structure works well, though Alicia's diary entries occasionally feel a bit too convenient.
Four stars because it delivers exactly what it promises: a smart, twisty thriller that respects your intelligence. Not a masterpiece, but a thoroughly satisfying read that I finished in two sittings.