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The Cerebral Abortion Clinic : The Idol House
The year is 1942 and a former surgeon turned professor starts a clinic of his own inside the basement of his posh townhouse.
- GenresHorror
126 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2025
34 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 10, 2025
A great piece of 'Human Noire' from our Stuart that I thoroughly enjoyed. However I did feel that the narrative did seem to flow in a largely straight-forward and expected path, being a bit obvious and safe at times, which just lacked that little piece of mysterious magic and a final jaw-dropping twist that would have undoubtedly taken it up to a glorious full 5 star billing.
Rating: 4.3 inner-cranial dark stars of utter madness. One
little black gem, to be sure!
Rating: 4.3 inner-cranial dark stars of utter madness. One
little black gem, to be sure!
June 8, 2025
Well this was a nice, quick brutal read. I've always been hyper interested in mental health treatments in the 19th and 20th centuries, so this was right down my street.
Women were treated appallingly and they were committed and treated with labotomies. The change in personalities and side effects are what finally halted the procedure but in this story we see how mental health can be a tricky and complex mistress.
Women were treated appallingly and they were committed and treated with labotomies. The change in personalities and side effects are what finally halted the procedure but in this story we see how mental health can be a tricky and complex mistress.
April 13, 2025
this was a miss for me 💔 the storyline felt jumpy and hard to keep up with at times especially paired up with the grammar errors. i think it had good potential but the execution was just a bit off
May 17, 2025
Set in a time where people are quick to diagnose women's problems as mental illnesses and insanity, we follow a man working in an asylum, and later teaching the ways of dealing with and healing the insane. Whilst all along his own mental health is decidedly questionable, and he is hiding a deeply sinister, dark secret.
This is a short, fast paced, disturbing read, set in and around an asylum, with some very interesting techniques, experiments and morbid methods.
It's a chilling, disturbing look at schizophrenia and madness, and is full of twisted twists and turns.
Bray sets the scene perfectly, drawing you into the madness within the walls of The Idol House, leaving the screams bouncing off the walls of your brain, echoing for eternity.
This is a short, fast paced, disturbing read, set in and around an asylum, with some very interesting techniques, experiments and morbid methods.
It's a chilling, disturbing look at schizophrenia and madness, and is full of twisted twists and turns.
Bray sets the scene perfectly, drawing you into the madness within the walls of The Idol House, leaving the screams bouncing off the walls of your brain, echoing for eternity.
February 27, 2025
Picture it—
The year is 1942 and a former surgeon turned professor starts a clinic of his own inside the basement of his posh townhouse. What could ever go wrong with that?!
Ya know when you read a book and you can just tell how much passion the author put behind the writing / story? This is one of them. Bray delivers an absolute psychological mind fuck in this book and I’m here for it.
I feel like when people talk about Bray, we tend to talk about the Violence on the Meek or June series, etc. More of his extreme stuff if you will. But this writing style right here, for this story?! Yeah. It’s my favorite by him and I need more. Yes, I told him this already. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love his extreme stuff but oufff, this one just HITS in a totally different way—and I really seeing it being a book that a vast majority of the horror community would love.
The year is 1942 and a former surgeon turned professor starts a clinic of his own inside the basement of his posh townhouse. What could ever go wrong with that?!
Ya know when you read a book and you can just tell how much passion the author put behind the writing / story? This is one of them. Bray delivers an absolute psychological mind fuck in this book and I’m here for it.
I feel like when people talk about Bray, we tend to talk about the Violence on the Meek or June series, etc. More of his extreme stuff if you will. But this writing style right here, for this story?! Yeah. It’s my favorite by him and I need more. Yes, I told him this already. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love his extreme stuff but oufff, this one just HITS in a totally different way—and I really seeing it being a book that a vast majority of the horror community would love.
March 24, 2025
had potential… but not well written
There are so so many writing errors in this book, and it jumps around very quickly and had me rereading pages because I thought I had missed something. The story had a lot of potential, but it needs improved. And the end?! Ticked me off, why did it end so quick like that!?
There are so so many writing errors in this book, and it jumps around very quickly and had me rereading pages because I thought I had missed something. The story had a lot of potential, but it needs improved. And the end?! Ticked me off, why did it end so quick like that!?
February 20, 2025
Dearest Darlings of Darkness,
The Cerebral Abortion Clinic now, isn’t that a title that makes you do a double take? Oh, but trust me, it fits perhaps a little too well. Stuart drags you down rabbit holes you didn’t even know existed, and by
the time you claw your way out, you’ll be questioning everything, including your own sanity. If you, like me, have a fascination (borderline obsession) with the human mind, this book will have its wicked
little fingers wrapped around yours.
Now, a word of caution, my sweet summer child while this book isn’t extreme, it does have its moments. I don’t know your life, but if certain topics set your teeth on edge, do yourself a favour and check those triggers before they check you. We read responsibly in this household, after all.
This dives headfirst into the murky waters of mental illness, many of them, along with the oh-soquestionable treatments of the day. You know what I’m getting at. But wait, there’s more! We’re talking cultural norms, societal roles, and the heavy chains of expectation wrapped around the necks of its characters. A fascinating, disturbing, necessary read one that belongs on my shelf as a trophy.
No spoilers here, darling, but if you have a soft spot for American Horror Story: Asylum, Titicut Follies, and the eerie, unsettling truths hidden in history, this book is calling your name.
Go read it. Or don’t. (Whispers in your ear Go read it, though.)
Yours in madness,
E
The Cerebral Abortion Clinic now, isn’t that a title that makes you do a double take? Oh, but trust me, it fits perhaps a little too well. Stuart drags you down rabbit holes you didn’t even know existed, and by
the time you claw your way out, you’ll be questioning everything, including your own sanity. If you, like me, have a fascination (borderline obsession) with the human mind, this book will have its wicked
little fingers wrapped around yours.
Now, a word of caution, my sweet summer child while this book isn’t extreme, it does have its moments. I don’t know your life, but if certain topics set your teeth on edge, do yourself a favour and check those triggers before they check you. We read responsibly in this household, after all.
This dives headfirst into the murky waters of mental illness, many of them, along with the oh-soquestionable treatments of the day. You know what I’m getting at. But wait, there’s more! We’re talking cultural norms, societal roles, and the heavy chains of expectation wrapped around the necks of its characters. A fascinating, disturbing, necessary read one that belongs on my shelf as a trophy.
No spoilers here, darling, but if you have a soft spot for American Horror Story: Asylum, Titicut Follies, and the eerie, unsettling truths hidden in history, this book is calling your name.
Go read it. Or don’t. (Whispers in your ear Go read it, though.)
Yours in madness,
E
September 26, 2025
THIS BOOK!
i read this - truthfully, because of the title. had no idea what it was about. i went in completely blind; didnt read the blurb or anything. but holy i loved it. i’ve never read anything like it , it was extremely unique in a sense.
this story is set in the 1940s where mental health is …. yeah , questionable. you get an inside look at an asylum around this time & how schizophrenia works in the mind.
if you can get past a few grammatical errors & the fact that this is a pretty fast paced, brutal read, its a interesting story. it gives me vibes of american horror story, the brutal raw gruesomeness.
i read this - truthfully, because of the title. had no idea what it was about. i went in completely blind; didnt read the blurb or anything. but holy i loved it. i’ve never read anything like it , it was extremely unique in a sense.
this story is set in the 1940s where mental health is …. yeah , questionable. you get an inside look at an asylum around this time & how schizophrenia works in the mind.
if you can get past a few grammatical errors & the fact that this is a pretty fast paced, brutal read, its a interesting story. it gives me vibes of american horror story, the brutal raw gruesomeness.
May 17, 2025
Think of House on Haunted Hill when reading this. The crazed doctor and the wild amount of twist this one takes is a book that will keep your interest. This isn’t this authors normal writing style but it was a good thriller that I would recommend to anyone who asked. It’s never a disappointment when reading what he’s writes. The plot twist this book took though I didn’t see it coming in any way. I do however loved that the great doctor took his vengeance on people who deserved it. It’s a dark and twisted story of a vigilante you think is the villain.
June 10, 2025
This needs to be talked about more. the clinicians back in those times fascinate me with how quickly and horribly they treated women's mental health even if it wasn't mental health related. I don't care about the typos and grammatical errors because its easy to read beyond. people shouldn't let that get in the way of the awesome plot and story that this is. great story and I wish I had bought the psychical copy so I can give it to someone as a gift hoping they will read it and be shocked like me too
February 25, 2025
Worst clinic ever
This is pure insanity. (Literally) It’s swirling around like the water after the paintbrush has left it murky and changed forever. The ending was a complete surprise. Please keep me away from the Idol House, I won’t survive.
This is pure insanity. (Literally) It’s swirling around like the water after the paintbrush has left it murky and changed forever. The ending was a complete surprise. Please keep me away from the Idol House, I won’t survive.
March 6, 2025
loved the atmosphere and setting, etc. !
its biggest problem is, the editing needed some work, imo. grammar was wacky and technical stuff like that took away from its story greatly as i got confused and whatnot :(
besides that, its pretty good !!!! 7/10, do recommend!
( lobotomies <3 )
its biggest problem is, the editing needed some work, imo. grammar was wacky and technical stuff like that took away from its story greatly as i got confused and whatnot :(
besides that, its pretty good !!!! 7/10, do recommend!
( lobotomies <3 )
February 23, 2025
Stuart Bray, I've said it a billion times before, but you never cease to amaze me.
What a book! This one was DEEP and I loved every single second. You literally never miss.
What a book! This one was DEEP and I loved every single second. You literally never miss.
March 14, 2025
stuart i fear i didn’t love this one like i did the others
March 17, 2025
The main plot was a great idea but the story was all over the place in between.
March 17, 2025
Very nice book 👍📖
March 26, 2025
This was a huge change from Bray, but I'm all for it! I really enjoyed this book.
May 6, 2025
family values!
This was a great read, very twisted. A gruesome story of an insane man and his family! Recommended! I can’t wait to read more by the author!
This was a great read, very twisted. A gruesome story of an insane man and his family! Recommended! I can’t wait to read more by the author!
May 8, 2025
Like every other Stuart Bray book I’ve ventured to read, this is riddled with typos and mistakes. I’m done. I found the first typo ON THE FIRST PAGE. smh
August 13, 2025
This definitely had potential, but had way too many spelling and grammatical errors. 🙁
February 25, 2025
Stuart Bray presents a chilling tale that will leave you feeling claustrophobic and paralyzed. A plot so fresh, unsettling and visceral that I felt like I was being lobotomized myself. This epic story rivals that of a Robert Eggers film in written format!
This is his best book to date. One of the best endings I've read in a while, hands down!
Go get it!
This is his best book to date. One of the best endings I've read in a while, hands down!
Go get it!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews