White Walls

by H.M.C.

Psychiatrist Jade Thatcher thinks that returning to her small, Australian hometown to start again, will be a healing experience - until her new job proves to be just the opposite. Her patients are linked in ways that she can’t explain, and the hospital has seen too many doctors come and go. It’s not long before she is lured by a well-guarded secret; one that sends her to a dark and dangerous place, with little hope of returning.

Genres: Thriller, Australia, Horror, Crime, Fiction

245 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2013

About the author

HAYLEY MERELLE (HMC)
Hayley writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction, including short horror stories and work that explores imagination, memory, and the darker edges of being human. She has degrees in psychology and education, runs Modern Waldorf Online, and is the founder of a charity supporting children’s access to education. Hayley lives and writes on the Gold Coast, Australia.

Reviews

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grateful for my signed copy but if I didn't enjoy the book I would have said so! ;)

Well, it was certainly easy to keep turning those pages (made my sick day a little less bleak which accounts for the fast speed through it). I liked that the mental illness patients were people before they were illnesses and that in fact there was an arbitrary line drawn between the "insane" patients and the "sane" everyone else. A lot of truth in that I think.

I wasn't mad keen on the romances, especially the one that was an insta-love switch from a sweeter one but they were kept light enough not to ruin the whole story- there was so much action and drama and fast changes and yet humanity was preserved- I was a bit worried about the whole thing becoming a blood bath at one point (which is not something I could have enjoyed) but within the chaos, key people were determined to stay human.

Characters were complicated enough not to be stereotypes, everyone had a back story but it wasn't allowed to hold the plot back so really the balance there was ideal. I wonder if the reason the "Australianness" of the setting didn;t particularly resonate with me was because I am from SA and perhaps the book is set further north in not my territory. The use of foreshadowing gave away some of the twists but only very gently so the reader feels clever rather than bored to see it coming- there were other twists.

If you like suspense but want to keep your humanity intact for the ride, this is a good one. Most readers would appreciate the romance even though I didn't. Jade was my sort of a girl apart from that!

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story will get you thinking twice about conspiracy theories...and mental illness.

The story is about Jade, a psychiatrist who after a failed marriage, takes on a job at a mental facility where not everything is as it seems. Filled with complex characters, the story is suspenseful, disturbingly realistic, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I never read anything from this author before- and I'm looking forward to reading more of her for sure !!

[Kim Cresswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a small Australian town, White Walls is a well-written psychological thriller filled with a cast of true-to-life characters. Some are flawed. Some are weighted down by personal bagage. Many are mentally ill. Others, downright frightening.

The story is about Jade, a psychiatrist who after a failed marriage, takes on a job at a mental facility where not everything is as it seems. Filled with complex characters, the story is suspenseful, disturbingly realistic, and will keep you on the edge of your seat. But what makes this book stand out...is the author's narrative voice that sets the tone for the story. Kudos! White Walls is a must-read for anyone who loves thrillers. This story will get you thinking twice about conspiracy theories...and mental illness. A truly fansinating read!

[Petra Be · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read. I found the writing slightly amateurish but the story was good. Given all the high ratings here, I hoped it would be more of an asylum story rather than an "American action movie set in Australia" thingy, but I enjoyed it.

Dr. Jade Thatcher was quite lucky because a lot of her plans could have turned against her and her friends. E.g. She called a policeman from a payphone in a hotel lobby but a baddy had got to him first and answered the call. Yet she drugged people that were there to keep her safe so that she could put her plans into action, and left those people defenceless where any good tracker could have found and killed them after tracking the phone call to the place. Oh well..
And one discrepancy - if Jade was married to a doctor Thatcher, how come her brother was also a Thatcher? Shouldn't his surname was something else?

[T.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are well written and endearing. The author clearly has a good understanding of mental health issues and treatments as the story felt very real and grounded.
What I really loved was the surprises. This story doesn't conform to expectation but travels its own path. I thought I had an idea of the story until it changed and became something different. I found this intriguing and enjoyed the twist. But the surprises didn't stop there. The story keeps surprising until a brilliant climax.
I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn't put it down. The writing is wonderfully descriptive but comfortable to read.
HMC is a writer to watch!

[Anthony Hulse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this wonderful thriller in two sittings, which is unusual for me. I was hooked from the first chapter and the mixture of odd characters captivated me. Mainly set in a psychiatric hospital, White Walls is deeply atmospheric and each patient has his or own story to tell. Jade Thatcher is drawn into an enigma of intrigue, which concludes with her discovering a dark, frightening secret.

HMC is a truly gifted writer and I was surprised to see that this is her debut novel. I foresee a great future for her and look forward to reading more of her books.

[Christina Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Walls, a suspense-thriller, by HMC drew me in instantly with an assortment of interesting characters. As the book opens, we get a peek at the possibly paranoid delusions of a very disturbed man, George Barter, an artist who won’t leave his home even to purchase art supplies. I knew I liked this book immediately when I could easily picture George arguing with the store clerk on the phone and then, in an angry tirade, tearing up his own art with a pair of scissors. Each character has a definitive voice that comes through in HMC’s artful and realistic dialogue.

HMC alternates the third person viewpoint skillfully to give readers a glimpse into the minds of several characters quickly. We meet Samantha Phillips, a young woman and daughter of a notable psychiatrist with a personality disorder, Dr. Jade Thatcher, the main character with issues from her own past, Anne, a light-hearted and friendly nurse, Freddie, a patient who has childlike tendencies, Dr. Clancy Green, a crotchety stickler for the rules, and Morty, a kind easy-going nurse, just to name a few, who will all have one thing in common, the mysterious Rowan’s Home Psychiatric Institution.

Without giving too much away, I will say that Jade Thatcher finds herself in a great deal of trouble, which she did not anticipate when she came home to Fairholmes, Australia to make a fresh start after her divorce. With the best intentions, she is soon immersed in Rowan’s shadowy past, unsure of whom to trust, and struggling to survive long enough to uncover the secrets that will allow her to finally help her patients to heal.

The more I read, the more intriguing the plot became. This book made me speculate about what was really going on and to challenge myself to figure it out before the end of the book. This book was great fun to read, and I didn’t want to put it down. HMC has a degree in psychology, which adds to the realism of the novel, but is also the source of my only complaint. I wish she would have given more details regarding the psychological aspects in the resolution of the book. Nevertheless, a great read, and I highly recommend it.

[Booksandlifewithandrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to thank H.M.C. for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book more like loved this book, I have read a few psychological thrillers but this one was different I think it helped that she has a degree in psychology.

Jade moves back to her small town of Fairholmes after personal problems and she takes up a job at the local psychiatric hospital where she meets her patients and things aren't what they seem but Jade thinks they are paranoid, delusional and suffering from the illness with which they are in there for.

Right from the get go you get sucked into the mystery surrounding the patients and the story behind them and the hospital. H.M.C. writes the characters with such love and precision, that you can't but love them as well, and it all gels together.

Twist after twist keeps you turning the page to see where it takes you and who is behind what and how it all comes together in the end, I loved the characters they have a voice of there own and H.M.C. executes it perfectly.

Congratulations on a wonderful debut you have a fan here who will read anything you write thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"White Walls" by H.M.C. is a truly excellent psychological thriller, set in the a mental health institution. Psychiatrist Jade comes with her own baggage and personal problems. The new job in her hometown is not proving as easy as she has had hoped for. Somehing just doesn't add up, suspisions and paranoia set in and trace beautifully the existing twilight or the grey areas if you so will between mental health and disease.
HMC has written some memorable and fascinating characters with great background stories of their own and plotted the main story masterfully. I found the reading experience somewhat hypnotic. I am not surprised the author has a background in psychology, the insights into the patients and into Jade show a very empathetic and knowledgable mind. The pace and the suspense are well kept throughout without ever becoming uncomfortable or over done.
Skillful and just right this is a remarkable debut novel.
Very impressive.

[Helene Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Walls is an intriguing debut novel from H.M.C. Set in the near past of the 1990’s in Australia, it delves into the world of psychiatric care facilities and explores the fine line between fact and fiction.

Could the delusional ramblings of a mentally ill patient be real? Told from multiple points of view the story deals with issues of betrayal, self-worth and childhood abuse. More compellingly it raises the question of how far a researcher would go to prove their theory. Conspiracy theories make for good suspense stories and this one doesn’t disappoint.

The action ramps up along with the pace in the second half of the story as the plot twists and turns to a satisfying conclusion.
Who will this appeal to? Anyone who likes a dark suspense story with an optimistic ending.

[Liam Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally, I tend to steer clear of psychological thrillers. More often than not, I find them quite pretentious; just trying too hard to be as smart and clever as they can.

Then something happened that altered my view on this particular reading niche... I was introduced to 'White Walls', the debut novel by H.M.C.

I found this book to be a thoroughly enjoyable and compelling read. Although the pace did slacken a couple of times, most noticeably around the midway mark, the writing style, progression, and rich cast of intriguing characters carried this strong story along very nicely, leading to its extremely gratifying conclusion.

Congratulations go out to this fantastic new author, who has crafted an admirable tale and reinvigorated my interest in this genre!

[T.W. Lawless · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is not only a well- executed, well-written psychological thriller but also a great psychological study of people who work at and are inpatients of mental health facilities. Sometimes you don't know who the patients are. Is that why the staff wear uniforms? I should know, I worked in a notorious mental facility when I was a student nurse in the 1980's.
There are enough disturbed and complex characters and enough plot twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. That to me is a sign of a well-written book.
I don't like to make predictions but the author is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the psychological thriller genre.

[Alicia Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping page turner! Bleary eyed through most of a rainy weekend, I got to know the inmates and characters of this small town. They are believable and quirky and there are plenty of clever lines to smile over. The premise of the story is disturbingly realistic and will have you thinking twice about conspiracy theories. Jade is a hero you want to succeed but the story is so clever you're never really sure if she will. Great read and highly recommended.

[Kellee Gilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Walls was truly an amazing read. The characters were fascinating and drew me in immediately. The patients at this hospital had some real frightening, mental issues. Despite that fact, and what I really loved, was that they were each heroes in their own right. This novel is filled with twist and turns, and I found myself on the edge of my seat during the entire book. This is a must read for anyone that loves thrillers. I look forward to reading more from this truly talented author.

[L.L. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

White walls is an entertaining thriller by an Aussie author! If you love a good read by Aussie authors then I recommend White walls! I love the insight into what it would be like living inside a psych clinic, I found delving into the patient's minds hilarious! Although a little slow paced in the middle, the ending totally makes up for it! I wouldn't mind if there was a second book. Great job Hayley!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good! At times I questioned if what was going on was really real or just a group delusion, and that uncertainty really made me want to keep reading it to find out what was real and if all the characters were going to get out okay. And it was also wonderful to read a book set in my country. The characters were all so interesting, I like how they all had their little quirks. The cats also made me enjoy this a lot, although I did worry at times if they'd survive.

[Kim Ebner · Rating 3 out of 5]

My true rating would be 3.5 stars. I liked this book, moving towards really liked it. I would recommend it as an easy read and a bit of a page turner. A little unrealistic perhaps but then again, that's what story telling is. It is an avenue to stretch our minds and consider things that might be a little different or unlikely.

[Pam Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the type of book that will make you cancel all your plans and stay curled up reading. White Walls makes you question if we can really trust the ones who are meant to keep us safe (and sane)? Nail biting to the end. I can highly recommend this book to all those who like a story with a twist.

[Nicci Hartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to Come

[Gene LaViness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked it up kind of late the other night and finished it at four in the morning. It's the first book in a while that I enjoyed enough to read all the way through.

[Cinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review coming soon

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good fast thriller. Good for people who get bored easily like me. I would like to read a sequel please.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Psychiatrist Jade Thatcher returns to her hometown after the breakdown of her marriage. She thinks that starting again will help her move on, but something strange is happening at Rowan House. Her patients are talking about a conspiracy and Jade is unsure what to believe, but then one of the nurses is murdered.

At first the book jumps around from one point of view to another, before settling down to mainly be from the point of view of Jade. There's an interesting idea for a book here but the narrative becomes very confusing and convoluted and at times I wasn't sure what was going on. It really needs more editing.

[Wendy Vitols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was third in my list of H.M.C books - I am pleased to say that it stunned me.
It is also responsible for keeping me up late at night - H.M.C creates narratives that you simply cannot put down.
I loved it - as with another reviewer, I also steer clear of psychological thrillers; this one, however, allowed my attachment to the characters. I had moments of true suspense in this twisting and turning tale, the setting was well described...basically, it was all very believable and recognizable.
The cover art is exceptional, it added to my decision to read this novel, usually outside of what I would normally read.
As with her other works, I especially liked the strong, independent female protagonist. H.M.C seems to have captured a niche in writing of strong willed young women, who do not compromise on their intelligence or internal resources.
The exceptional creation of empathy for the characters is a credit to H.M.C. Each chapter creates an insight into character and motive which is 'just right', not giving too much away, too early.
I worry that I have read all of the published works by this author now, and eagerly anticipate the next offering.

[Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

White Walls is an astonishingly brilliant debut novel for this budding Aussie writer. HMC displays so much compassion in her writing that one cannot help but bat for her created characters. I found it a fascinatingly heartful read - the relationship between Jade and her brother was particularly touching and very 'real'. I use the word 'real', rather than 'believable', because 'believable' connotes doubt. HMC executes its plot with precision, building suspense and providing comic relief in all the right places all the while with a very strong 'voice'. The level of insight, particularly on the topic of mental illness, tells me that Australia may have just birthed its very own Stieg Larsson, or a verson of Larsson in possession of greater word economy. It could easily be converted to the big screen. In fact, I can see White Walls developing into a series. I want it to. Where to now for Jade? C'mon HMC, tell us some more stories.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

White Walls tells the story of a psychiatrist who returns to a small town to rebuild her life after her marriage ends unhappily. Jade soon finds work at the local psychiatric facility and discovers that her patients are linked in more ways than one ... And more importantly, could the accusations of corruption by her delusional patients be real?

I thought that White Walls was a brilliant, insightful thriller. The author shows some real insight into the mechanics of mental illness and every character from Jade to Sam, a young woman with a severe personality disorder, is well plotted and well thought out. There were a number of surprising plot twists that kept me reading well into the night. It's difficult to say much more about this one without giving too much of the plot away, but it does make you question who you can trust, why and whose version of reality one should listen to.

[Simon Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Walls is a creepy, psychological thriller with a wide range of characters each different from the rest. It opens with George a very unique and likeable soul who has his own issues and then pans over to a young girl called Sam who also has problems. They will meet later at a mental institute with several more disturbing and engaging characters you will either love or hate.

Jade, a psychiatrist with her own problems, takes on a job at the mental facility under a difficult boss called Green. It's there where she realizes that not all is what it seems. The author is very talented in keeping you guessing as this tale gradually unwinds and takes you on an unexpected path. It is the first novel I have read by this author. It won't be the last!

[Stephen Ormsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

H.M.C introduces us to a cast of closet crazies before turning up the dial and dropping us deep into their world. This is when the book truly becomes a fun read. Full of suspense, I could not put it down and devoured White Walls all too quickly. I'm not going to reveal any of the plot as it should be discovered in all its glory by the reader. Suffice to say I thought this a very good debut read.

H.M.C is a wonderful new Australian talent that we will be seeing a lot more of in future.

[Pamela Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

White Walls is an excellent debut novel. The author introduced some of the characters early, and so well, that when the plot veered away from them for awhile, it was easy to keep them in mind for when they returned. The way the story is written, the conspiracy is believable, which makes it an even more intense read. This book has subplots that build a satisfying, multi-textured experience. I love how everything is neatly resolved at the end. Highly recommended!

[Earl Chessher · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Walls reads like a literary classic. The build is solid, provocative, the characters delightfully believable.
This story, by H.M.C., grows and grows, sucking the reader in over his head. A well-controlled jaunt into deceptions and crisis, with a believable and satisfying conclusion.
You really should read this writer from Australia. She's going to become one of your faves.
— Earl Chessher