The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides was released in 2019 and catapulted to the top of the charts becoming both a New York Times and a Sunday Times bestseller.
Using his background in psychotherapy, Alex Michaelides’ tale is a psychological thriller that tells the story of an unexpected shooting and the aftermath that unfolds.
His work follows on the recent trend of this genre dominating much of the bestseller charts and literary awards.
As such, there is no shortage of books with similar themes, but with such a saturation in the market it can be difficult for readers to ascertain which are worth reading and which should be left on the bookshelf.
Hopefully, that is where this article can come in and help, as we list 19 books that are worthy to be compared to The Silent Patient.
This list of 19 books like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides contains:
- The Family Plot by Megan Collins
- The Other Wife by Michael Robotham
- The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
- The Night Before by Wendy Walker
- The Death of Mrs Westaway
- The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
- Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
- The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
- The Woman Inside by E G Scott
- I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
- The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda
- The Girl Before You by Nicola Rayner
- The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
- The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell
- The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent
- My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
- No Exit by Taylor Adams
- The Last Flight by Julie Clark
- The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
- 19 Books Like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – Final Thoughts
The Family Plot by Megan Collins
The Family Plot introduces Dahlia, haunted by her sister’s mysterious disappearance years ago. When her niece goes missing in similar circumstances, Dahlia returns to her childhood home to confront some dark secrets. The novel delves into family dynamics, past traumas and the chilling connections that tie generations together.
The Other Wife by Michael Robotham
The Other Wife follows Joe O’Loughlin whose life is turned upside down when police discover the body of a woman at his father’s home. As he delves into the depths of his father’s secrets and lies, Joe uncovers a disturbing truth that challenges his own identity.
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
In The Last House Guest, Avery is a local who befriends the wealthy Loman family and becomes entwined in their lives. When one of them dies under suspicious circumstances, Avery’s world unravels as she seeks the truth, revealing deceit, jealousy and an unexpectedly dark history.
The Night Before by Wendy Walker
The title character in The Night Before is Laura, who goes on a blind date that ends in the mysterious disappearance of her date. As Laura searches for answers, the novel unravels layers of hidden pasts and a suspenseful exploration of trust and the complexities of human relationships.
The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware
The Death of Mrs. Westaway centers on Hal, a struggling tarot card reader who receives an unexpected inheritance from a distant family. As she arrives at their eerie estate, she stumbles upon dark secrets that tie her fate to the deceased. The novel’s atmospheric tension and complex twists result in a captivating tale of deception.
The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
In The Wife Stalker, Piper befriends Leo and his wife Joanna, setting off a series of events that disrupts their lives. As the narrative alternates between perspectives, the story takes a deep dive into themes of obsession and manipulation creating a thrilling read.
Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
Georgina is haunted by her involvement in the murder of her best friend Angela’s boyfriend in Jar Of Hearts. Years later, the truth resurfaces as a serial killer’s trial brings back memories. The novel explores the topics of both guilt and the dark consequences of one’s choices.
The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda
Olivia was a child who survived a traumatic incident by sleepwalking into a storm drain in The Girl From Widow Hills. Years later, her past catches up when a new disappearance stirs memories. The novel touches on the unreliability of memory and the haunting effects of the past on the present.
The Woman Inside by E G Scott
The Woman Inside centers on Rebecca and Paul, a seemingly happy couple hiding dark secrets. As their marriage falls apart, the plot switches between their perspectives, showcasing both of their betrayals, manipulation and the dangerous lengths people go to protect their own interests.
I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
A fateful train journey connects multiple characters in I Am Watching You. A year later, they grapple with the aftermath of the disappearance of one of the passengers. The story confronts emotions head on, with guilt and suspicion coming under the spotlight.
The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda
The Perfect Stranger portrays Leah, a journalist who relocates to a small town after a scandal. Her new roommate, Emmy, goes missing, and Leah becomes entangled in the mystery.
The Girl Before You by Nicola Rayner
The Girl Before You tells the tale of Alice, who discovers her doppelgänger, Lydia, on a dating app. Intrigued and unnerved, Alice starts to investigate Lydia’s life, leading her down an obsessive path. The book discusses the complexities of online connections and how the reality can be blurred.
The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
In The Last Time I Lied, Emma returns to the summer camp where her three friends vanished fifteen years ago. Determined to get to the bottom of what happened, she has to deal with chilling memories and twisted relationships in order to find out the truth.
The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell
The Wife Who Knew Too Much is about Tabitha, who marries Connor, a wealthy widower. But when his first wife’s death is questioned, Tabitha starts digging into the past, unearthing a wealth manipulation and deception.
The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent
The Stillwater Girls focuses on two sisters, Wren and Sage, who escape from their abusive father and begin a new life. But when Wren goes missing, Sage becomes determined to find her, in the process unveiling disturbing family secrets.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
In My Lovely Wife, a seemingly ordinary couple are secretly engaging in dark and sinister activities such as murder. As their lives become entangled due to their web of lies and cover ups, the tale plunges into the depths of darkness and what humans are capable of.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
Darby Thorne is stranded by a snowstorm at a rest stop with strangers, in No Exit. When she discovers a kidnapped child locked in a van, she becomes trapped in a deadly game with the kidnapper. The novel’s relentless tension and race against time make for an intense psychological thriller.
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
The intersecting lives of two women, Claire and Eva, who are both trying to escape their dangerous pasts is the focal point of The Last Flight. They swap flights at the last minute, setting off a chain of events that tests their resolve and forces them to confront the choices they have made
The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
The Turn of the Key tells the story of Rowan, who takes a live-in nanny job at a high-tech home. As unsettling events unfold, she becomes convinced the house is haunted. Through suspenseful narration in letters to a lawyer, the book slowly reveals a sinister mystery.
19 Books like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – Final Thoughts
As we mentioned at the start, and as readers can see from this list, there are no shortage of titles within this genre, leaving readers spoilt for choice.
But it is important to be selective when picking one’s next read, and therefore this list should provide a good starting point for readers.
It is worth mentioning that this list is by no means exhaustive however, and every year more and more titles come out that are worthy reads.