Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery
Published: 2019
Plot Summary:
Alicia Berenson is a famous painter who seemingly has the perfect life—she’s married to Gabriel, a well-known fashion photographer, and they live in a beautiful house in London. But one evening, everything changes when Alicia shoots Gabriel in the face five times. After the murder, she stops speaking entirely and refuses to explain what happened.
Declared criminally insane, Alicia is sent to The Grove, a secure psychiatric facility, where she remains silent, never uttering a single word. The world is fascinated by her case, and her only response is painting a chilling self-portrait titled Alcestis—named after a Greek myth about a woman who willingly sacrifices herself for her husband.
Enter Theo Faber, a forensic psychotherapist obsessed with Alicia’s case. He believes he can get her to talk and uncover the truth about what really happened the night Gabriel died. As he digs deeper into her past, he discovers a web of secrets, manipulations, and unexpected connections that link him to Alicia in ways he never imagined.
Major Twists (Spoiler Alert! )
- Theo’s investigation reveals that Alicia had a troubled past, including an abusive childhood and a stalker who may have been watching her before the murder.
- Theo tracks down Alicia’s old acquaintances, learning disturbing truths about her relationship with Gabriel.
- In a shocking twist, Theo himself was the masked intruder who broke into Alicia’s house the night Gabriel was murdered.
- Theo had discovered that Gabriel was having an affair with his wife and wanted to scare him—but he never intended to kill him.
- When Alicia realized who Theo was, she recorded her final thoughts in a hidden journal before going completely silent again.
The novel ends with Theo’s deception unraveling, revealing that he is the true villain of the story.
Themes:
- Silence and Trauma – Alicia’s refusal to speak is both a survival mechanism and a form of resistance.
- Unreliable Narrator – Theo’s perspective manipulates the reader until the final twist.
- Greek Tragedy Elements – The novel draws inspiration from Alcestis, where silence plays a key role.
