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The Contraption
The wedding was weeks away for two young lovers, who had counted themselves lucky to have found one another. Then, it was over, as one of them abruptly disappeared. Audrey was not abducted. Not exactly. She was not taken against her will. Rather, her will itself had been taken. Coerced and controlled. Deceived and derailed. Matthias cannot walk away from the catastrophe, though he has nothing to go on, and is in the dark beyond all personal darkness he has ever known . . .
The Contraption is a novel that deals with the challenges faced by a woman who has been recruited into a dangerous, coercive religious cult. Her fiancé is left not knowing even where she is. Her name has been changed and she has been relocated to another state. The cult, Church of the Mountain of Radiance, is an all-controlling psychological prison.
Audrey was lured in initially through the deceptive tactics, self-hypnosis and guided imagery rituals brought to her by a team of recruiters. One step leads to another, as her mind becomes totally occupied by the propaganda, bizarre rituals, arcane rules, and thought-stopping practices of the group. A new personality emerges, an artificial "cult self" to go with her new name. Unfortunately, even strong-willed, intelligent people can be susceptible to such an operation. Matthias launches a struggling effort to find her, aided by certain family members and some cult researchers they meet along the way. Matt leads the search, and says he "just wants to talk to her." But his great hope is to snap her out of whatever this is, and resume the life they had before this most abrupt, heart-rending separation.
The author, Barton A. Stewart is a long time student of the cult phenomenon, and The Contraption will be among the most realistic fictional depictions of the kinds of things that can happen in cases like this. Avoiding the sensationalism of so many novels on this subject, Stewart offers a look into another world, which unfortunately exists in the here and now.
First and foremost, this is a story of lovers separated in the cruelest of ways, and the all-out effort to restore that love. The title comes from a cult researcher's analogy of mind control as a "faulty, buggy, man-made machine, inserted by deception into a healthy psyche." Mind control is the ultimate pitfall. And mind control is - The Contraption.
A portion of the proceeds of the first edition of The Contraption will benefit ICSA, the International Cultic Studies Association, the nation’s oldest organization for educating the public on psychological abuse.
The Contraption is a novel that deals with the challenges faced by a woman who has been recruited into a dangerous, coercive religious cult. Her fiancé is left not knowing even where she is. Her name has been changed and she has been relocated to another state. The cult, Church of the Mountain of Radiance, is an all-controlling psychological prison.
Audrey was lured in initially through the deceptive tactics, self-hypnosis and guided imagery rituals brought to her by a team of recruiters. One step leads to another, as her mind becomes totally occupied by the propaganda, bizarre rituals, arcane rules, and thought-stopping practices of the group. A new personality emerges, an artificial "cult self" to go with her new name. Unfortunately, even strong-willed, intelligent people can be susceptible to such an operation. Matthias launches a struggling effort to find her, aided by certain family members and some cult researchers they meet along the way. Matt leads the search, and says he "just wants to talk to her." But his great hope is to snap her out of whatever this is, and resume the life they had before this most abrupt, heart-rending separation.
The author, Barton A. Stewart is a long time student of the cult phenomenon, and The Contraption will be among the most realistic fictional depictions of the kinds of things that can happen in cases like this. Avoiding the sensationalism of so many novels on this subject, Stewart offers a look into another world, which unfortunately exists in the here and now.
First and foremost, this is a story of lovers separated in the cruelest of ways, and the all-out effort to restore that love. The title comes from a cult researcher's analogy of mind control as a "faulty, buggy, man-made machine, inserted by deception into a healthy psyche." Mind control is the ultimate pitfall. And mind control is - The Contraption.
A portion of the proceeds of the first edition of The Contraption will benefit ICSA, the International Cultic Studies Association, the nation’s oldest organization for educating the public on psychological abuse.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2024
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 25, 2026
it was good, just not what i usually read so it took some time to get in to
June 12, 2024
If you’re into documentaries, cults, slightly obsessed with Scientology or have a general interest in psychology, this book should be added to your TBR list.
Audrey voluntarily goes missing out of her family and fiancé’s life, but Audrey knew exactly where she was going.
Her fiancé, Matthias, is forced into a rescue mission that his years of dedication to the military could have never prepared him for. Although Matthias has the strength and stamina to combat an assailant, an enemy of mind control is next level.
Audrey is slowly being unraveled mentally. There is a thin line between thought and emotion; love and fear.
Journey through the two main character’s endeavors to reunite.
The closer the characters get, the more their stories collide.
Personal Reflections:
Oh Matthias, you are a little bit cringe worthy with your pompous view of your physique. I much preferred Matt interacting with other characters rather than reminiscing on his previous war experience and physical strength.
It is interesting how the author explains the machinery of the cult and then you follow Audrey experiencing the turmoil that was just described. The explanation isn’t forced.
This novel makes you wonder what would it be like to lose your perfectly sane and loved one to a cult. What lengths would you go to save them?
#thecontraption #netgalley
Audrey voluntarily goes missing out of her family and fiancé’s life, but Audrey knew exactly where she was going.
Her fiancé, Matthias, is forced into a rescue mission that his years of dedication to the military could have never prepared him for. Although Matthias has the strength and stamina to combat an assailant, an enemy of mind control is next level.
Audrey is slowly being unraveled mentally. There is a thin line between thought and emotion; love and fear.
Journey through the two main character’s endeavors to reunite.
The closer the characters get, the more their stories collide.
Personal Reflections:
Oh Matthias, you are a little bit cringe worthy with your pompous view of your physique. I much preferred Matt interacting with other characters rather than reminiscing on his previous war experience and physical strength.
It is interesting how the author explains the machinery of the cult and then you follow Audrey experiencing the turmoil that was just described. The explanation isn’t forced.
This novel makes you wonder what would it be like to lose your perfectly sane and loved one to a cult. What lengths would you go to save them?
#thecontraption #netgalley
March 8, 2026
COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES
BY KATHRYN CROWLEY
A series of unifying elements, with interwoven tales of love, lust, revenge, pain, guilt, and more.
The narrative commences with a Novella which gives the reader a glimpse into Fiona’s life. Her daily struggles and sole responsibilities for her ageing Mum. The joy, excitement and inquisitiveness she feels in her daily encounters with Mr Green and Black Lycra. On a sunny afternoon, one of these daily encounters takes an unexpected turn, altering her life forever.
Following the main narrative, the book includes a compilation of short stories.
Con, a dedicated and unique fisherman with a rather peculiar fear for his chosen career. He entertains his wife daily with trivia that is not particularly interesting. His wife, a passionate woman, grows increasingly frustrated with her strong-willed husband’s inability to heed her advice.
Best friends since childhood, Margaret and Eileen part ways, but sometimes life has its own plans, and they are drawn back together by tragedy. Eileen’s at home when there comes a knock on her door. Little did she know that her whole life would change once that door was opened.
Marian had little or no care for the havoc she caused—the breaking of a family unit, forever destroying it. Carefree, she openly welcomes a stranger into her home, but by doing so, has Marian opened Pandora’s box?
These are but a few of the wondrous tales enfolded within Kathry’s Collection of Short Stories. They are funny, sad, and inspiring, capturing the reader’s imagination, leaving them wanting more.
BY KATHRYN CROWLEY
A series of unifying elements, with interwoven tales of love, lust, revenge, pain, guilt, and more.
The narrative commences with a Novella which gives the reader a glimpse into Fiona’s life. Her daily struggles and sole responsibilities for her ageing Mum. The joy, excitement and inquisitiveness she feels in her daily encounters with Mr Green and Black Lycra. On a sunny afternoon, one of these daily encounters takes an unexpected turn, altering her life forever.
Following the main narrative, the book includes a compilation of short stories.
Con, a dedicated and unique fisherman with a rather peculiar fear for his chosen career. He entertains his wife daily with trivia that is not particularly interesting. His wife, a passionate woman, grows increasingly frustrated with her strong-willed husband’s inability to heed her advice.
Best friends since childhood, Margaret and Eileen part ways, but sometimes life has its own plans, and they are drawn back together by tragedy. Eileen’s at home when there comes a knock on her door. Little did she know that her whole life would change once that door was opened.
Marian had little or no care for the havoc she caused—the breaking of a family unit, forever destroying it. Carefree, she openly welcomes a stranger into her home, but by doing so, has Marian opened Pandora’s box?
These are but a few of the wondrous tales enfolded within Kathry’s Collection of Short Stories. They are funny, sad, and inspiring, capturing the reader’s imagination, leaving them wanting more.
July 5, 2024
This is the not the standard fare of a woman joining a religious cult and the attempts of her family to free her.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, various US locales
Characters: Sergeant Matthias Pleasant, recently discharged from the Army, his fiancé, Audrey Crane, her family, two expert cult observers, and various nefarious members of the Church of the Mountain of Radiance cult.
Overview: Audrey is deceptively lured into the cult and the rest of the story involves Matthias, family members, and the experienced cult trackers trying to find her and “rescue” her. Meanwhile, a seemingly ambivalent Audrey has been noticed by the cult leaders and continually vacillates between willingly staying with the church and becoming the leader’s “chosen one” to give birth – or – knowing her the cult’s values are basically wrong and attempting to leave.
Recommendation: I rate this book 3 stars
Extras: The main protagonist, Matthias Pleasant, is exactly that – pleasant, not a strong superhero and a character that mirrors the majority of the book, a tale without growing intensity or action. There were several opportunities for Audrey to simply flee as a member of a public singing group soliciting new members, but, with the devious nature of cults, stays and makes it difficult to understand her and for the story to build suspense, anticipating her resolution.
Thanx to NetGalley and Great Whale Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, various US locales
Characters: Sergeant Matthias Pleasant, recently discharged from the Army, his fiancé, Audrey Crane, her family, two expert cult observers, and various nefarious members of the Church of the Mountain of Radiance cult.
Overview: Audrey is deceptively lured into the cult and the rest of the story involves Matthias, family members, and the experienced cult trackers trying to find her and “rescue” her. Meanwhile, a seemingly ambivalent Audrey has been noticed by the cult leaders and continually vacillates between willingly staying with the church and becoming the leader’s “chosen one” to give birth – or – knowing her the cult’s values are basically wrong and attempting to leave.
Recommendation: I rate this book 3 stars
Extras: The main protagonist, Matthias Pleasant, is exactly that – pleasant, not a strong superhero and a character that mirrors the majority of the book, a tale without growing intensity or action. There were several opportunities for Audrey to simply flee as a member of a public singing group soliciting new members, but, with the devious nature of cults, stays and makes it difficult to understand her and for the story to build suspense, anticipating her resolution.
Thanx to NetGalley and Great Whale Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
July 27, 2024
3.5 stars
It took me a bit of time to get invested in this story; I just couldn't connect to the Matthias character the way I could with Audrey/Prindibin. Through most of his sections in the book, his characterizations felt very stilted and one-dimensional, and the narratives were overly verbose so I kept getting taken out of the story. But Audrey's narrative, where you got to hear about her personal experiences within the cult and her growing disillusionment, was actually quite captivating. Clear, concise writing will always enhance a story and too much verbiage can definitely distract; at certain points I kept finding that places, things, events, etc. were being described with so many rambling adjectives and similes as to make it distracting.
Overall, I found the book's story to be compelling enough to keep my interest despite my dislike of the specific writing style. It was a fairly quick read - I finished in a few days - and it was very informative. Clearly the author is a fount of knowledge about the topic of cults and deprogramming! Ultimately, to me, the book feels like a case of too much exposition getting in the way of a good story.
Thanks to NetGalley, author Barton Allen Stewart, and BooksGoSocial for this digital readers copy. All opinions are my own.
It took me a bit of time to get invested in this story; I just couldn't connect to the Matthias character the way I could with Audrey/Prindibin. Through most of his sections in the book, his characterizations felt very stilted and one-dimensional, and the narratives were overly verbose so I kept getting taken out of the story. But Audrey's narrative, where you got to hear about her personal experiences within the cult and her growing disillusionment, was actually quite captivating. Clear, concise writing will always enhance a story and too much verbiage can definitely distract; at certain points I kept finding that places, things, events, etc. were being described with so many rambling adjectives and similes as to make it distracting.
Overall, I found the book's story to be compelling enough to keep my interest despite my dislike of the specific writing style. It was a fairly quick read - I finished in a few days - and it was very informative. Clearly the author is a fount of knowledge about the topic of cults and deprogramming! Ultimately, to me, the book feels like a case of too much exposition getting in the way of a good story.
Thanks to NetGalley, author Barton Allen Stewart, and BooksGoSocial for this digital readers copy. All opinions are my own.
October 4, 2024
Cults and everything that comes with it are something that fascinates people and there have been many shows, documentaries and books about them. This was one of those that any fan of those would really enjoy. It was the kind of book that your mind gets completely lost reading. You imagine the fact that people actually live these situations which is terrifying.
This will definitely get in your head. A really good read, different from the norm, I enjoyed it immensely!
This will definitely get in your head. A really good read, different from the norm, I enjoyed it immensely!
October 24, 2024
Cultism is beyond my comprehension. I am such a black and white thinker that the ability to basically brainwash someone seems silly to me. It didn’t seem silly to Matthias when he realized how easily it happened to Audrey. One can only use mental strength to remove thoughts from another’s mind. So his journey is as intense as is this story. A good read.
August 31, 2024
I enjoyed this quite a bit. It was a novel idea and believable. Got some L Ron Hubbard vibes from it.
September 4, 2024
Found this book both enjoyable and informative. Barton Stewart paints a realistic view of cult culture and mentality. It only took the first three pages and I was hooked. Worth a read.
February 5, 2026
I was hooked immediately and couldn't put the book down. The story unfolded at a good pace, several literal jaw-dropping moments.
Great read!
Great read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews