The Silent Patient is Maximum Sentence’s book of the month for February.

It’s garnered huge attention around the globe and is a favourite amongst the inmates. Still need some convincing on why you should make it your next read? We guarantee you’ll be buying it once you’ve read to the bottom of this list.

1. It broke publishing world-records before it was even published. It was sold to 43 territories (meaning it will be published in 43 territories), which makes it the most for any thriller pre-publication ever (more than The Woman in the Window and The Girl on the Train)!

2. It was picked by BBC Culture as Top 10 Books to Read in February. They said, 'The Silent Patient may be a first novel, but it has the pace and finesse of a master.' 

3. It has a chilling plot – a woman shoots her husband five times but hasn’t said a word since the fatal crime. Six years later what will her first words be? 

4. Multi-million copy bestselling author Lee Child said The Silent Patient is ‘smart, sophisticated storytelling with freighted suspense.’ 

5. The author, Alex Michaelides, was inspired to write it while doing a post-graduate course in psychotherapy and working part-time at a secure psychiatric unit for two years. 

6. Film rights for the book have been snapped up by an Oscar-winning Hollywood production company. 

7. The twist is brilliant. It’s a stop-you-in-your-reading-tracks twist.