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courtneyadh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia
jenniferropell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Murder
louxcy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
galaxy_creeper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Suicide and Abortion
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization
oceanwriter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Pedophilia
secre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story is dark. A pregnant woman has been murdered, her baby torn from her stomach and taken for ransom. The setting is dark; an asylum for dangerous criminals thought to be mentally insane and unable to be rehabilitated. And there is a ticking clock. The baby was forcibly delivered too soon. They are vulnerable and in need of immediate medical attention. Everyone is suspect and it's doubtful any of the patients could have managed it alone.
So Connie enters the ward by subterfuge. Her colleague is her patient. Yet the dehumanising way patients are treated is evident from the start. Connie needs to keep their cover intact, whilst also trying to find the newborn and keeping her colleague safe. It's an impossible challenge and the tension ramps up quickly. The ticking clock is forever in the background, even as Connie doubts her own sanity. If the baby isn't found, it will die. There's no doubt about that.
It's fraught. I felt my heart-rate spike at points and I couldn't put the book down, desperate to find out how it ends. It's full of tension and you never quite know what's going on. But it also shines a light on some of the darker practices in mental health. Those who have read Nettie Bly's account of being admitted will empathise. Practices aren't any cleaner and we're more than a hundred years on.
This is a fantastic crime thriller. It's got everything. And reminds me to read more of the authors works.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
emma6544's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
We follow the same characters from The Shadow Man and I enjoyed their return. I also enjoyed the plot of the book which is a set in a psychiatric prison on an island isolated by civilisation. I thought that this added extra suspense and risk to a common mystery plot trope.
I also enjoyed the use of weather at the end to heighten the tension
Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Child abuse
Graphic depictions of severe mental health struggles and poor treatment of vulnerable mental health sufferers. Please take care if you suffer with your mental health. For example,jackierobinson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Death of parent
mysteriesandhistories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexism, Excrement, and Death of parent
katiewhiteley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy