The Asylum

A heroine awakes in an imposing Victorian asylum, with no memory of how she got there. There's a shadow of hereditary madness, family secrets, and mounting paranoia. Journal entries and old letters are gradually discovered. Will this all end with the manse-turned-asylum in flames one dark, foreboding night? Probably. In summary, this has everything you could want if you love Gothic mysteries. I enjoyed not quite knowing what was happening, and slowly getting new clues. The paranoia is absolutely infectious, and there are several scenes where I felt real physical tension as a sympathetic character tried to elude or escape capture. At the same time, there are some fun, winking references to great Gothic literature, from Aunt Vida (who's surely a nod to [b:The Thirteenth Tale 40440 The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1346267826s/40440.jpg 849453]) to someone named after Dracula's home-away-from-home.As is typical of Harwood, the ending accelerates quickly, and reaches heights of melodrama and action that may seem a little over the top. But I still loved it. This is the perfect book to read on a dark and stormy day, while sitting with a cup of tea before a crackling fire.