Fairhaven Falls

by M.T. O'Neill

Two men – separated by time but bonded by blood – fight for a brighter future in this tense, dark, gothic horror.

1895, Maine. Young immigrant Connor Kelly languishes in Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum, a godforsaken place which echoes with the screams of those trapped inside. He longs to rid himself of the violent and terrifying visions which plague him. When his only friend falls victim to the sadistic, prejudiced staff, Connor resolves to bring the asylum’s crimes to light. If he fails, he will die and the staff will continue their evil practices with impunity.

Present-day, Maine. Robbie Kelly has just returned to Fairhaven Falls to settle his estranged father’s estate. Soon, long-forgotten horrifying childhood sights begin to haunt him. While investigating the cause of the visions, he stumbles on an old ancestral curse and its connection to his notorious ancestor, Connor Kelly. Robbie must confront the curse to save his family from the same fate. As he slowly unpicks the truth from a web of myth and rumour, vengeful spirits target him more frequently, and a very human threat reveals itself.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

457 pages, ebook

Published October 2, 2023

About the author

M.T. O’Neill grew up in a small town outside Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1980s. He developed a passion for storytelling, which has followed him throughout his life. Writing to maintain his sanity, he ran a comedy blog and was a guest columnist for The Glaswegian newspaper. He selflessly gave up a career in the glamorous and prestigious world of online customer service to follow his dream of writing books.

Now living in Edinburgh, he is the husband of one wife, father of two sons, and servant of two cats. He loves football and movies, and spends far too much time playing PlayStation.

His latest work, THE FIRENZE VAMPIRE, is coming soon...

Reviews

[Dea]

I'm a massive fan of anything gothic but don't read much horror - and nothing says horror to me more than an asylum run by evil monsters. This was HORROR at its best - I had to stop reading this book before bed and save it for daytime reading. I generally don't like multiple POVs in combination with moving backwards and forwards in time, but it worked well here. This book was more than I was expecting, perhaps due to the very real horror that is human nature - when we think of fear, we tend to think of fictional monsters such as vampires, werewolves, and ghosts, but the most terrifying thing is often the horror that humans are able and willing to unleash on other humans.

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man what a fun read!!! I love asylum horror stories and this one has everything I like and more. The atmosphere is perfect. The story flows well between past and present and the characters are great too. It's not often lately that I find a story that has all the elements I enjoy.

I especially love when I can easily play out a story I'm reading in my head. There were actually a few times while reading this early in the dark morning, that I was scared by noises because I was so engrossed in the book 😂

Really great one for Spooktober! Highly recommend to those who love spooky reads. This isn't gory either, but does have some aspects that may make some queasy. Tis normal in a good horror book but this one isn't on the cringe side. It's balanced well between spooky and a tad what?! Haha

This gem is out now so grab a copy and enjoy! I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Gabrielle Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a complex SCARY read! I was NOT expecting anything like this from this book! Absolutely incredible!! You go back and forth from 1895 to present day. Everything ties together! Loved this!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly a great gothic read! All the elements are there including a creepy lunatic asylum, evil spirits, a family curse and supernatural occurrences. The setting for the story is chosen well. I found that to be one of the scariest elements….from the outside Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum was a grand structure, imposing and even beautiful. The beautiful facade however held deep secrets for the patients and their caretakers. I found myself picturing the dark interior, small barren rooms, and twisting corridors as Connor traversed the buildings. More prison than hospital for the mentally ill. One never knew what he might find just around the next corner. Some of societies most vulernable were imprisoned and experimented on in the name of science in these dark rooms and hallways. There is really nothing more frightening than to think on what one human being can do to another. True evil can lurk in the depths of some human hearts.

The story is told from the perspectives of both Robbie and his ancestor Connor. Both men have a gift or is it a curse to see what they see? Some of both I believe but I liked how they both eventually came to terms with their abilities to see what others do not. The hauntings were sometimes quite nerve wracking (what awful human experiments were carried out) and other times beneficial. I think this is what kept the story from being too harrowing for me! I was able to read it with the hope that evil might not win out in the end.

I found the dual timeline worked well and I liked how the story progressed. Sometimes the dialogue was a bit stilted but it didn’t keep me from enjoying the storyline.

I will definitely check out other titles by this author. I liked that he spun a creepy gothic tale that was not overly gorey. Good read…check it out.

I received this as a free ARC for my honest review so thanks to BookSirens and author for allowing me to read it.

[Kei ✨]

Maine 1895, Connor Kelly who is experiencing visions has landed himself in Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum, when his friend falls victim to the sadistic practices at the hands of staff. Connor resolves to bring the asylum’s crimes to light. If he fails, he will die and the staff will continue their evil practices with impunity. Meanwhile, in the present day Robbie Kelly has just returned to Fairhaven Falls to settle his estranged father’s estate. Soon, long-forgotten horrifying childhood sights begin to haunt him. While investigating the cause of the visions, he stumbles on an old ancestral curse and its connection to his notorious ancestor, Connor Kelly. Robbie must confront the curse to save his family from the same fate. As he slowly unpicks the truth from a web of myth and rumors, vengeful spirits target him more frequently, and a very human threat reveals itself.

I absolutely love asylum horror and this is one that did not disappoint. The jump between POV's and timelines kept my heart racing as I needed to keep rushing back and forth to find out what was happening. This is definitely one to read during the day time, the atmosphere was crafted well, and I found myself feeling like I was stuck in an old hospital. One of the scariest things in this book though is it's use of real life horror to add a level of creep. My only grievance is the conversations often felt forced or clunky, but otherwise - a standout novel.

I am genuinely surprised that more people haven't jumped on the M.T O'Neill bandwagon, because this one is definitely one of the better historical asylum horrors I have read. Thank you to Book Sirens and O'Neill for an advanced copy, Fairhaven Falls is available now.

[CaiReeds ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was one of the BEST gothic horror books I have read.

This book was incredibly immersive and engaging. While I was reading this I felt completely thrown head first into a gothic masterpiece. The author did an exceptional job at creating this uneasy feeling yet beautiful world that engulfed all of your senses and points of reason. Although the truth of insane asylums in history is horrifying in itself, this story did a unsettlingly sobering yet thrilling job of making those very real terrors, even more terrifying.

The characters were well thought out and I felt invested in every single one. The storyline itself constantly kept me guessing and when I thought I knew where this wild ride was going to end up, I was always wrong.

If you like these things in a book, this is for you:
Gothic Horror
Multiple POV
Past and Present Storylines
Horrifying Scenes
Parallels to Real Life
Asylum Backdrop

[Rach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of horrific elements to it, so I'm glad the author included the trigger warnings right from the start. I loved the characters introduced to us and their interactions with each other, especially Samuel and Connor. The switching timelines worked for this book as it seamlessly managed to bring the ending to a neat conclusion. My only criticism is that the dialogue is sometimes clumsy or forced in some places, while in others, the character interactions are smooth and enjoyable. It jars me out of the story for a moment. Other than that, I enjoyed the gruesome elements and the turbulent emotions highlighted in this story.

3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to BookSirens and the author for sending me a copy of this ebook.

[Horror Haus Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good gothic horror story especially one with an asylumas a backdrop.

This is a good example of past & present POVs done the right way. They flowed so well with eachother. Each character is written with such depth it made both past and present storylines intriguing.

Filled with supernatural horror as well as a look into the darker side of humanity, the subject matter in this book is DEEP so please put your seatbelt on and be mentally prepared for: Physical violence; racism & the slurs to go along with it, SA, suicide as well as other mental illnesses.

[Emily du Bois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with this book initially but after some thought I have to say it was intriguing.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun, especially is you like stories about haunted asylums (which I do), or stories that follow events in the past and the present to piece together a mystery (which I also do).

Connor Kelly is an inmate at Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum, committed because he sees people that no one else can see. As his time in the prison goes on, he begins to wonder if something more sinister lurks behind the doors of Fairhaven.

In the future, Connor's descendants grapple with the Kelly Curse. Tragedy sends young Robbie Kelly away from Fairhaven Falls, but the death of his father brings him back. Here, in the town he fled as a child, he must unravel the Kelly Curse, and the secrets of Fairhaven Falls, if he wants to save his life, and his son's life.

The plot was tightly put together, the characters felt real, and I appreciated the healthy level of skepticism that Robbie's wife showed when confronted with the supernatural. The two plots played together beautifully, not giving too much away, but allowing readers to guess what was coming next. The ending twists were surprising, but fit into the story well.

The biggest issue I had with this book was the language, particularly the use of the "n" word. It is framed in-story as a bad thing, and is used in a way that makes sense, but seeing it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I understand why it, and other swear words, were used in the novel. It just always unsettles me.

Making the reader uncomfortable is the point here, I know. We shouldn't read about the awful ways people treat each other and not feel unsettled. There are also scenes that are meant to unsettle the reader, like the descriptions of the lynching, of Wounded Knee, and some of the "care" that the inmates received. It does not feel gratuitous, and all fits in the world of Fairhaven Falls, but is still uncomfortable.

However, the author includes a comprehensive warning list of difficult topics in the novel. Be sure to read this list and take it seriously. Since the novel is set in an insane asylum and follows the life of one of the inmates, it stands to reason that the novel would deal with dark topics. These are covered in a long list.

The author, true to their word in the content warning pages, tries to approach each topic carefully and respectfully. Some scenes made me angry and some made me cry, but they all felt historically accurate. You find yourself inside the minds of the characters, and in some cases, this is not a comfortable place to be.

This novel is one to pick up if you like thriller/horror hybrids with a mystery and compelling characters. It has vibes similar to American Horror Story: Asylum, only also has dual timelines woven throughout and ghosts.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Javin Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

FAIRHAVEN FALLS by M. T. O’Neill takes an already gruesome part of history and adds an even more rotten layer underneath. This is a well-researched book that spans between the past and present day. It covers an enormous amount of ground, and delivers the characters and setting in great detail.

There was a nice tension woven between Connor’s perspective in the past and Robbie’s narrative in present day. The added supernatural horrors escalated the already creepy setting. There are moments of comic relief, too, so things don’t get too heavy. Looking at you, Bekky!

M. T. O’Neill does well to paint the inequality that Samuel faces from the other orderlies, and the betrayal the Lakota tribe suffers from the government, not shying away from the awful treatment many people of color faced in history. Sometimes, a history book is one of the scariest things you could read, and M. T. O’Neill nailed this fact.

I was drawn to Connor’s perspective since he was wading through the tribulations of being a young immigrant in America during a turbulent time, as well as a patient at Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum. He seemed the most whole character and jumped off the page as I read.

There were a few hiccups in the execution. Often, the story from Connor’s perspective would highlight something—an important person or event—and then it would be repeated, in detail, from Robbie’s perspective. It wasn’t overwhelming, but there were a few instances where the pace was dragged down by the intricate details and the regurgitation of information I already knew from earlier in the book. There were also a few places where Robbie’s name was switched to Connor and I was thrown off. But, after rereading the sentence, I figured it was just the wrong name instead of the past bleeding into the present.

Overall, FAIRHAVEN FALLS was a well-researched story, anchored in history (warts and all), that puts the utmost value on friendship and justice.

I was given the opportunity to read this book as an advanced review copy. All views are mine and given honestly and voluntarily.

[Elizabeth Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

* 4.5 stars *
Thank you NetGalley and KDP for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Fairhaven Falls by M.T. O'Neill is set in two times, one in 1895 following Connor Kelly in the Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum, and the other in the present day following his ancestor Robbie Kelly. As Connor Kelly tries to bring the crimes of the Asylum staff to light, Robbie, in the present day, is back in town settling his estranged father's estate when he begins seeing old visions that he hasn't had since he was a child. As Robbie investigates the reasons for these visions, he discovers more about his ancestor Conner Kelly and what he must do to help himself and those long gone.
Where to begin on all the things I loved in this story... the main characters are incredible people that you want justice for. Some parts of this book I will admit were hard to read because the care I felt for these characters made me want justice for them. The author did a very good job at making you feel the injustice of what was happening and the suspense of trying to bring it to light with the characters.
When I went into this story, I expected a horror thriller novel to be creepy and entertaining but what I got from it was so much more. I actually cried reading some bitter sweet moments which I do not do often with novels. The reunions and peace being brought to wronged souls was something that I really appreciated and enjoyed from this book.
The only reason I knocked it down a half a star is from the overt political statements. Politics are normal in all novels, but there was no subtlety in a few of the comments which took me out of the main point of the story. However the majority did relate to the story and built on the ideas conveyed by the other.
I definitely recommend this book to any adult I know that is ok with the darker subjects of this novel. I am going to buy a copy for my husband to read as soon as it comes out!

Disclaimer: Please look up trigger warnings before reading this novel.

[Karin H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute masterpiece of the Gothic horror genre. As a devoted fan of all things Gothic, I was drawn to it, even though I don't typically delve into horror. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this novel offered an atmospheric and immersive experience that was perfect for evening reading.

The descriptions in this book are nothing short of brilliant. They create an atmosphere that is both chilling and captivating. The author's ability to transport the reader into this nightmarish world is truly exceptional.

One of the standout features of this book is the remarkable character development. The characters are incredibly well-rounded, each with their own depths and complexities. This added a layer of realism to the story that I found deeply engaging.

The use of multiple perspectives and non-linear timelines, which I often shy away from, was expertly executed here. It added an element of mystery and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat.

What struck me most about this book, however, was its exploration of the very real horrors that can stem from human nature. While we often associate fear with supernatural creatures like vampires or ghosts, the most terrifying horrors can emerge from the depths of our own humanity. This novel delves into these dark corners of the human psyche in a way that is both thought-provoking and spine-tingling.

In summary, this book is a tour de force in the world of horror literature. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates atmospheric storytelling, rich character development, and a narrative that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the final page.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Fairhaven Falls by M. T. O'Neill was a fast paced read. A fantastic mixture of modern and gothic horror. There are ghosts, generational curses, and a monstrosity of an asylum. Trauma, war, and tragedy lie around every corner.

This was the first novel I have read by O’Neill and I was impressed by the world building skills. Generally when you’re going into gothic horror the description is fantastic but sometimes the plot falls flat or is slow. That is not the case with Fairhaven Falls. This story starts with curiosity of a boy and the relationship with his brother. The chapters do flip between time periods and characters. This is pretty easy to follow and the dots connect well. The Fairhaven Falls lunatic asylum is described in detail as the reader follows around one of the patients closely. The horrors that unfold and in reality took place in many asylums are described in detail that make your heart break for the characters.

The relationship between Robbie and his father could have used some more description and explanation. The ending was a little happy go lucky as far as gothic fiction goes, but I’ll give that a pass considering this is modern day gothic.

While the writing needs a bit of polishing I still did enjoy the story of Fairhaven Falls and would be interested in reading another story set in this town.

Thank you to BookSirens for the Free ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alex E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of two men experiencing the horrors of an insane asylum - one, living it; and the other, experiencing it via the haunting of ghosts.

I was captivated by the two men the story was following; both were realistic characters, and ones I could identify with. I was invested in both of their stories, and curious to see what happens next.

I think ultimately why this gets a 4/5 (which for me is "good but not great") is because the STORY was excellent, but the WRITING was not. It was at times clunky, didn't flow, and especially the sentences of "thoughts" from a character felt weird.

If you are a fan of ghosts and/or asylum based stories, this one might be for you!

Note that there is some dark material in this book, and quite a few Triggers. MT O'Neill did an excellent job handling those issues with sensitivity (possibly one of the "best handled" authors I've seen within the horror community! Thank you O'Neill!), but do keep this in mind when picking up this book. (Including issues of violence, racism, sexual assault, ableism, suicide, and mental health hospitalization).

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is truly a masterpiece. It has portrayed the real horror of life. I am sure you haven’t read more terrifying book than this. The characters were intriguing. The book also has true villains. It has been narrated in past and present timeline. Kelly family has lived in Fairhaven Falls for 100 years. But it has experienced a real horror. In the town of Fairhaven Falls, an asylum was built in a neo-gothic architectural style. It was more like prison as the Irish immigrants were brought in there and the Indians were called Heathen Indians.

In 1895, when a young immigrant Connor Kelly was brought in Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum due to famine in Ireland. He has nowhere to go. He witness and experiences the true horror and brutality but when he tries to bring the light upon the asylum’s crimes and evil practices being carried on by people over there, his journey becomes perilous. While in the present day, Robbie Kelly can see and speak with dead people just like his brother Joe but he don’t know the town’s history. He gets caught in the web of myths, rumour, supernatural power and ancestral curse. He must get to the bottom of the gruesome history and horror to unveil the truth.

Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum...may justice be done. Two men, Connor and Robbie, battle across time to fight the legacy of Fairhaven Falls. Connor, an Irishman from the late 1800's, is committed to the asylum by his wife after he admits to being tormented by ghostly visions. Robbie in the present day is similarly plagued from childhood into adulthood. Told from dual POV across two centuries, the men work to expose the horrible injustices that have happened at the Fairhaven Falls asylum.

Fairhaven Falls is the perfect mashup of two of my favorite horror elements, asylums and ghosts. The storytelling is well done. It is impossible not to sympathize with the plights of Connor, his fellow inmates, and Robbie. This book is chilling and heartbreaking in all the right ways. It nails the creepy horror vibe without being too much or overly grotesque, especially when dealing with some sensitive subjects as time. This is the perfect spooky read for the fall!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

[Pamela Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so engaging, compelling, and utterly horrifically accurate as to what was going on in insane asylums back in the days, not too long ago. . . that I can believe that this story is something that would have actually happened. It swings back and forth between the 1800s and present time, and how it all converges is simply amazing. I didn't see part of it coming. You think you know it all and have it all figured out. Nope, you don't. This book was unputdownable and a must-read for anyone interested in insane asylums and/or the extreme inhumane treatment of people, whether sane or insane. This story hit close to home with me because I had an ancestor who was placed in an insane asylum because he had a broken arm that wasn't set properly. He begged his family to send him clothes so he could get out. But he died there. Thank you to the author for writing this intensely believable book. You must read it.

[Pamela Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so engaging, compelling, and utterly horrifically accurate as to what was going on in insane asylums back in the days, not too long ago. . . that I can believe that this story is something that would have actually happened. It swings back and forth between the 1800s and present time, and how it all converges is simply amazing. I didn't see part of it coming. You think you know it all and have it all figured out. Nope, you don't. This book was unputdownable and a must-read for anyone interested in insane asylums and/or the extreme inhumane treatment of people, whether sane or insane. This story hit close to home with me because I had an ancestor who was placed in an insane asylum because he had a broken arm that wasn't set properly. He begged his family to send him clothes so he could get out. But he died there. Thank you to the author for writing this intensely believable book. You must read it.

[Caitlin Morelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairhaven Falls is cursed for the Kelly family. Their torture goes back ages to their first ancestor - Connor Kelly, a man locked inside the lunatic asylum for the ability to see spirits.

Robbie Kelly, the present day descendant, comes to remember his ability when confronted by spirits trying to ready his estranged late father’s house for sale. His curse leads him to a deep dive into the dark history of his family, Fairhaven Falls, and the asylum.

I have to say, the book started out slowly but I absolutely adored it. It was intense, building the rough history of Connor and creating the imagery of how dark it truly was at an insane asylum in the 1800s, where those with and without mental illnesses were brutally mistreated.

There was quite a few typos and errors in my copy, and paired with the slower start it did take a minute for me to get into, but it absolutely hooked me after a few chapters.

It definitely has its triggers, but the story is one I recommend highly!

4.25 stars

[Nichole Sells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fairhaven Falls is a dark horror story. The thing about this book is the reality that things like this have happened in the past. It may even be now. When those entrusted to take care of patients, betray that trust and inflict more pain and damage...that happens! It's pure evil.

In 1895 Connor Kelly intends to bring down the Fairhaven Falls Lunatic Asylum for it's evil insidious reality, after the staffhl hits too closeto home with his best friend. The staff are pure evil and inflict unthinkable violence and pain against the patients they were supposed to take care of. He vows to bring them down.

The book also comes to present day, where Conner's descendant Robbie Kelly goes to the Asylum to get some things. He starts having all these childhood visions. He is in a race Against time to break a curse to save his family. There are some very angry spirits that want revenge.

[Randi Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy abandoned asylum. Check. Ghosts in the graveyard. Check. Family curse. Check. Mad scientist doctors. Check. This book has all the elements of a spooky atmospheric gothic mystery. It is set in three time periods. Conner Kelly tells the story of the asylum in the 1890s. Robbie and Joe Kelly tell the story of the family curse when they were children. An adult Robbie Kelly ties it all together in the present. It tells a tale of abuse and horrific medical experiments. It shows that one person can make a difference. I enjoyed the characters in this book. The ones who were alive were believable as were the ghosts. The story was interesting and the ending was satisfying. I received a copy from Book sirens and am leaving this review voluntarily because I truly enjoyed the book.

[Kyann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my reservations at first about this book, I thought it would be just another haunted asylum tale filled to the brim with melancholic characters, scenes of dust and apparitions, with no real umph to be had. Boy was I wrong! Quite the tragic gothic tale spanning time and hard truths alike. O'Neill cleverly drags you into the dark slowly and then leaves you there alone hoping to crawl your way back out. The really horrifying moments throughout are the ones that we all know used to occur in real life in old asylums. The depravity of quack doctors and overly uncaring nurses are just the tip of the iceberg. This is going to be a book that lasts and becomes a favorite in the Gothic horror genre.

I gratefully recieved this book for free and my review is voluntary.

[Mariya⁷ Dimitrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to #NetGalley for providing this book to me. It is a really good ghost story, following Connor and Robbie and their curse to see ghosts. basically read the las 150 pg. in one sitting. In the beginning it was a little confusing, following a few points of view, but after that, absolute page turner. I also really appreciate, Boyan being presented as one of the good once, usually Bulgarians, don't have a very good role in movies and books (me being a Bulgarian), that was really nice! The one thing I could've go without is the same stories being explained or introduced twice. PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS!

[Paperwitches ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The initial concept captivated me, and I love olden style gothic horror and haven't seen any novels that also simultaneously focused on the horror's of asylums. I'm so glad this was a horror based entirely of the evils of people, and the monsters of humanity's ignorance and cruelty. There are a LOT of trigger warnings, which I appreciated were shown in the beginning. There's also a dual POV, which take place in different timelines - which was something I haven't seen before but did not seem forced or slow down the books progress. I really liked this story, and the amazing gothic tone it set.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely a winner, and I highly recommend it. If you're a Gothic fan, this should be your next read.
The book goes to the past and present, trying to deal with an ancestral curse. A very creepy asylum where people were treated badly. Of course, it's haunted. Spirits are not at rest. Secrets and mysteries are everywhere, but what's really going on. So you're on the journey with the characters, and they are quite defined. So you feel for them. So, hold on, your ride is about to start.
Once you start, you won't be able to put it down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kilgallen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burn build up, with a sprinkling of ghostly goodness, that leads the reader to a heart pounding and most satisfying conclusion. The dual timelines connect characters across history and tell the tale of life in Fairhaven Falls Insane Asylum and its continued influence on the descendants of both those working, and those imprisoned within its walls. A gem of a ghost story! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this title free of charge. I'm leaving an honest review voluntarily.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The connection between the different parts of the story of past and present took time to build and be revealed but didn't make me lose interest or deter me from wanting to keep reading. The ending tied everything together and wrapped everything up nicely.

There were a few spots that had me wondering where this story was going or what a particular passage or chapter related to the others. It was all revealed and tied together by the end. I would read another novel by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[luckykarmatx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a suspenseful, twisty horror that really holds your attention and does not let you go for a second. The story is told from multiple POVs and in shifting timelines, but at no time did I feel I needed to go back and reread because I was lost in the shuffle. I truly enjoyed this book and felt it has all of the elements of truly great horror. It was rich in detail, immersive, spooky, shocking, and just an overall fantastic read to kick off spooky season.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a horror novel. The writing was very dark, and it did contain some dark themes that may be distressing to some readers. Having said that, it was pretty absorbing. Chilling, ambiguous, and it did mess with my head, which is sometimes what I hope for when reading a horror novel.

Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.