Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from William Morrow Publishing, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it
We've reviewed John's previous novel, The Absence of Mercy, and I'm thrilled to share his latest work, released this month!
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
A female psychiatrist at a state mental hospital finds herself at the center of a shadowy conspiracy in this dark and twisting tale of psychological suspense from the author of The Absence of Mercy.
Menaker State Hospital is a curse, a refuge, a prison, a necessity, a nightmare, a salvation.
When Dr. Lise Shields arrived at the correctional psychiatric facility five years ago, she was warned that many of its patients-committed by Maryland’s judicial system for perpetrating heinous crimes-would never leave.
But what happens when a place like Menaker is corrupted, when it becomes a tool to silence the innocent, conceal an injustice, contain a secret? Why is it that the newest patient does not seem to belong there, that the hospital administrator has fallen silent, and that Lise is being watched by two men with seemingly lethal intent? The answers are closer than she realizes and could cost her everything she holds dear.
In this chilling follow-up to The Absence of Mercy, author John Burley—a master at medical and psychological detail—showcases the many ways in which the dangers of the outside world pale in comparison to the horrors of the human mind.
Review:
John's first book was a page turner and I had super high hopes for his follow up book. While the book doesn't disappoint, it doesn't grab you like the first book, from the beginning. Rather about 4 chapters in, you start to see how the story will play out and by the end you are rapidly turning pages. But I wish the characters had been more likable, as I was close to not finishing the novel after the third chapter. Sophomore books can be tricky, when the debut book was such a huge hit. I'm sure John's next book will even out his writing style. This is a good book though for reading by the fire on a snowed in day!
About the Author:
John Burley grew up in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay. He worked as a paramedic and volunteer firefighter before attending medical school in Chicago and completing an emergency medicine residency program at University of Maryland Medical Center and the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. His debut novel, THE ABSENCE OF MERCY, received the National Black Ribbon Award in recognition of an author who brings a fresh, new voice to suspense writing. this is his second novel. John continues to serve as an emergency department physician in northern California. He is hard at work on his next project. Check your website for more info.
Giveaway:
One reader will win this review copy.
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