The Silent Patient has received another major international distinction after being included among the 50 greatest thrillers of the 21st century.
The ranking was published by The New York Times Book Review, which asked 291 crime fiction writers, publishers, booksellers, librarians and readers to select the 10 best thrillers released after 2000.
Among those who took part were leading authors including Stephen King, John Grisham, Gillian Flynn and Lee Child.
The Silent Patient ranks 36th
The Silent Patient was placed 36th on the list.
The psychological thriller follows psychotherapist Theo Faber, who takes on the case of Alicia Berenson, a woman who stops speaking after being accused of murdering her husband.
Among the writers who voted for Michaelides’ work was American author Blake Crouch, whose novel Dark Matter was also included in the ranking.
Cyprus-born author’s international success
Alex Michaelides was born in Cyprus to a Greek Cypriot father and an English mother. He studied English Literature at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
Before dedicating himself to novels, he worked for several years as a screenwriter before turning to fiction.
The Silent Patient, published in February 2019 by Celadon Books, debuted at number one on The New York Times bestseller list and has sold more than 6.5 million copies worldwide.
The novel also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller in 2019.
Film adaptation and continued recognition
In July 2026, Sony Pictures acquired the film rights to the book, with Annapurna Pictures and Plan B Entertainment also involved in the production.
The latest honour further strengthens the international recognition of the Greek Cypriot author, placing his debut novel among the works that have shaped modern thriller fiction.
Following the success of The Silent Patient, Michaelides released his second novel, The Maidens, in 2021. The mystery thriller, set at the University of Cambridge, reached number two on The New York Times fiction bestseller list.
Also read: Demis Hassabis: The Cypriot Nobel laureate leading Google AI
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