The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum

by J.J. Carpenter

I am always there.
Perhaps I always have been?
Perhaps there is no end for me …

1910
The mentally unwell are considered dangerous and a blight to be kept hidden from family and society. The recently opened Kenmore Asylum is bursting at the seams. Amidst the churn, Nurse Harriet tries to make a real impact on her charges. But one of them, Alice, seems beyond anyone’s help…

1950s
Bonnie is a fresh, determined nurse trainee, out to prove herself and make her way into the world. But nothing is as she expected when the shadows are rife with the spirits of those who haven’t walked the halls of Kenmore in a very long time.

2021
The notoriously haunted Kenmore Asylum stands abandoned behind an easily circumnavigated fence. YouTube ghost hunters Aiden and Devin seek fame and fortune behind its walls—but something else just might find them first.

Inspired by true events and factual accounts of life at Kenmore Asylum, Goulburn, Australia.

Genres: Horror

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who slipped grief and emotion into this haunted asylum novel? Now I'm crying over how these patients were treated and how this was an accurate depiction of "care" during those times. 😭

Seriously though, The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum is spooky and heart-wrenching. I absolutely loved the 3 timeline format. I even put on my little detective hat to try to find out if and how all the timelines connected.

The characters felt so real and I sympathized with them all (especially Alice).

Not only is my heart going to ache for a few days after this read, but I'll be paying extra attention to tapping, footsteps, and other creaks around the house. 👀

[Horror Haus Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Inspired by true events and factual accounts of life at Kenmore Asylum, Goulburn, Australia.

I know I say this a lot about JJ Carpenter, but my gods does she have a knack for flawlessly blending horror with historical fiction. This is such a terrifying story and not solely because of the ghosts and hauntings but for the actual historical facts as well. The writing is magnificent here and the eerie, tense atmosphere of the story across different timelines really captured my attention. As a woman it’s always so sad to read about how we were treated in these sort of scenarios in the past, and it certain cases STILL to this day. Truly heartbreaking to even think about.

This is definitely my favorite book from this author to date and I highly suggest checking it out!!!

[Honey Dy · Rating 4 out of 5]

JJ carpenter gave us a treat with her latest release, the Haunting of Kenmore Asylum. It's literally 3 stories in 1, with multiple POVs this novel had me enthralled, grabbing a hold on me tightly and never letting go (well, not until it finished)

As someone who absolutely adores stories about haunted houses, hospitals, and asylums, The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum immediately caught my eye, and it did not disappoint.

The fact that it’s inspired by true events and real-life accounts from Goulburn’s Kenmore Asylum made it even more of a must-read for me.

When it comes to ghost stories rooted in history, you can say that I'm an absolute sucker and this book delivered everything I loved: a chilling atmosphere, unforgettable characters, and that perfect lingering sense of unease.

For those who are familiar with JJs work, and this happens to be my first, she knocks this one out of the ballpark, and I for one, can't wait to stop and let you know my thoughts!

JJ masterfully wove together three timelines, each one adding layer after layer to the asylum’s dark and tragic past. I found myself completely invested in Harriet’s compassion, Bonnie’s determination, and Aiden and Devin’s chilling exploration.

👻A woman in white or a woman in grey
👻Footsteps from the attic
👻Scratching in the walls, cold spots

These are just some of the eerieness that can be found in the haunting of Kenmore Asylum. The spirits of Kenmore feel heartbreakingly real, and the way the past and present collide left me absolutely haunted.

If you love ghost stories that feel both deeply human and deeply unsettling, The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum will be an absolute must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Booksprout and Graveside Press for the review copy.

I came here for a haunted asylum. The actual haunting takes a while to ramp up, not truly becoming apparent until the second half of the book. In the meantime, we get a haunting drama that serves to humanize both the nurses and the patients at the asylum, drawing from the real history of Kenmore, a notorious Australian asylum.

The story is told in three time periods - our main story involving Nurse Trainee Bonnie in the 1950s, who begins experiencing the haunting and sets out to find answers. Flashbacks to the 1910s, where Nurse Harriet, new to Kenmore, meets Alice, a troubled and violent patient who inspires many a ghost story in Bonnie's time. Flashforwards to Devin and Aiden in the 2020s: two teenage YouTubers spending the night in the now-defunct asylum, experiencing all the hauntings from years past.

For me, the most engaging sections were the main story in the 1950s, with the Alice/Harriet 1910s sections a close second. I was less engaged by the ghost-hunting YouTubers, but I think that's mostly a me thing, as it's a trope I tire of pretty quickly.

The story moves along at a quick pace, with everything tying together in a satisfying way. If you're looking for a straight-up haunted house type story, this might not quite scratch that itch, as it remains mostly a psychological drama until well past the halfway point. But if slow burn hauntings and psychological drama with creeping dread are your jam, this one will surely satisfy!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum
by J.J. Carpenter
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an entertaining and haunting thriller/horror book! The story was full of darkness, ghosts and deep pasts.
I loved the multiple timelines going on in the story. It was really cool to see the past in different time frames and then the present.

Early 1900’s- follows a patient Alice who is in Kenmore Asylum and she doesn’t get the best treatment.
1950’s- follows Bonnie, who is a nurse at Kenmore Asylum. She really does care and wants to help, but lots of things stand in her way. She witnesses odd things happening at the asylum.
2021- Aiden and Devin are making a you tube video of the Asylum to hopefully become rich and famous.

This story shows the harsh treatment that many received in the past; Along with all of the creeps and spooks that occur throughout.

This story is inspired by true invents!! Hearing that makes this story even more intense and scary!
I like the way J.J Carpenter tells a story. This one is very interesting!

Thank you to Graveside Press for a copy of this excellent book.

*It’s out now and is a great haunting read!!*

[Summer Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

This was super intresting and the writing was amazing, but I think I read it at the wrong time, can totally understand why horror readers would love this, just wasn’t my favourite ❤️

[David O'Mahony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told across three time periods, this is a creeping paranormal tale that very much holds its own in the haunted house genre (or asylum, in this case).

It's made all the more unsettling, and effective, by having its roots in history. Indeed, one suspects we'll all be haunted by how inhumanely we, as a species, have treated the vulnerable.

A satisfying, worthwhile read for anybody who enjoys ghost stories and haunted houses.

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

[Puisan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started off slow paced, and shifted between chapters the different eras of the asylum. The multiple POVs gave glimpse into the beliefs and assumptions of mental institutions of that time period. It was very raw, sad, depressing and devastating that people did what they did to those they claim to cherish and love, disposing them when convenient to a mental institution and an orphanage…but it was also heart warming to know that there are a rare group of men and women who will work hard to make the lives of these patients meaningful, comfortable and to some degree, purposeful. A good read, a bit of a scare, and a rare glimpse into what live at a mental institution was like back in the days.

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

[Rebecca White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jj Carpenter is my favorite author when it comes to historical horror. I’m a huge fan of her The Corner of Her Eye series so when I saw she wrote a book about a haunted asylum? I totally flipped!

I loved the multi timeline in this read. To give a true sense of a haunting, you need the history, and Carpenter beautifully executed that. I can’t decide which year was my favorite but I can say the kids in present day had me in stitches! The dialogue was just perfect.

If you are searching for an atmospheric, historic, and enigmatic read, you have to check this out.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thanks to JJ Carpenter and Graveside Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

JJ Carpenter definitely has a knack for making fantastic, educational stories based on historical events/places/people with terrifying twists. And while this was actually a very terrifying ghost/haunting story, it was also extremely sad and very eye-opening to the way women had been treated in the past (and sadly, still are to this day).

I loved how the three different decades all intersected, from the early 1900s with Alice's sad story and eventual horrific death, to the 1950s with women still being abandoned at the asylum for various reasons, and the strange occurrances linked to Alice's demise..to present day, where ghost hunters snuck into the haunted asylum to get content for their YouTube channel. Three different time periods, all overlapped and eventually brought together. It was very well-done. As I mentioned before, there were lots of terrifying scenes with the hauntings and ghosts, but the real horror was with how these women were abandoned and torn away from their families. I have to say it was nice seeing how this asylum was actually that, a sanctuary for these women, in spite of the terrifying hauntings. I loved the author's note about the research that went into this book - I feel like this was told very respectfully, as I felt the pain and suffering of the ghosts haunting the asylum. They were humanized and it really made me feel emotional.

I absolutely recommend this if you have a fascination with historical fiction and love a spooky tale. JJ's books blend the two genres together so well, making them refreshing and unique.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to JJ Carpenter for the ARC!

“The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum” is based on true events, which perhaps makes it that much creepier! Once I heard that, combined with its spooky cover, I knew I needed to read this one!

Told from multiple points of view, this novel has several storylines that all center around the asylum in some way. We have Roy, who was left at an orphanage; Harriet, the nurse; Bonnie, the nurse in training; and Aiden and Devin, who decide to explore the notorious “haunted asylum” decades later.

JJ has masterfully woven several storylines together and delivered a story so filled with a sense of unease I was on the edge of my seat reading. Even darker than the “haunting” factor is some of the horror that happened - the deep sense of anguish - that permeates the pages of this story.

Deeply atmospheric and unsettling, this book will make you second guess reading it at night!
I’ve been a fan of JJ Carpenter’s series, “The Corner of Her Eye” and I was excited for this standalone. She absolutely delivered

“The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading this book (just not in the dark)!!

I really enjoyed the multiple timelines, it made for an extremely interesting read.

This book was spooky, educational, eye opening, sad, emotive and thought provoking. There was a lot of frightening scenes, however the most frightening thing is that women in the past really would have endured similar scenes as described in this book.

I found the characters to be wonderful. The heart-warming friendships among the nurses and patients was really nice.

You can tell a lot of time, thought and respect has gone into this book.

Thank you to the author and Graveside Press for allowing me to read an Advanced Copy. This book will stay with me for a long time to come.

[Barbara (Booslittlehausofhorror) Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very beginning I was fully invested and immersed in this book! Based off of a real life location/ haunting, being based in reality is all the more terrifying. I felt so connected and equally horrified for all of the characters. The multiple story lines were perfectly woven together through time and I was transfixed. And the ending was amazing! Was absolutely not expecting that and it made me love it even more!

[Kaila Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC

This was a great story, I loved the 3 different timelines and how everything came together. It was very spooky and I loved the concept of this story. A great read if you like ghost stories!

[Chelcy Brumlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEWER'S NOTE: There are spoilers in this review, but I have separated them and given notice before you get there.

This was one of the best horror books I've ever read. More of a psychological thriller with horrifying events and a twist I did not see coming - until the very end. Carpenter blends three timelines together seamlessly and keeps you questioning as you turn every page looking for what will happen next.

I was creeped out, appalled, aghast, and absolutely surprised by different parts of this story. My heart broke in half for some of the characters, hardened to steel at others, and softened every time I read about bees.

I fell in love with the characters in the 1950s, they are the warm heart and soul of this novel - women with character, personality, and brightness. I really felt as though the author did a good job of portraying what it would've been like to be a woman in this time, at this place. The characters in the early 1900s were portrayed as harsh - an indicator of the times and culture they were in. I found it difficult to connect with them, but that may have been intentional on the author's part. The characters in the early 2020s were well-written and accurately portrayed for who and what they were. They brought the story forward and allowed the reader to really connect with the full timeline of events.

Before we get into any spoilers, I also want to add that as someone with a scientific background, I really appreciated the author's nod to real scientific literature with appropriate references in the correct places. Well done!

***SPOILERS AHEAD ***


I did NOT see the ending coming - not in the way you might think. The author very cleverly tells you Alice's story and has you wondering and speculating, almost with complete confidence, if she is the being responsible for the hauntings. Her story is full of fury, rage, and heartbreak - the perfect recipe for an angry spirit. However, the snippets of direct-to-reader thoughts from the haunting entity leave room for unanswered questions - who is really haunting Kenmore Asylum? Is it Alice? Helen? Alfred? Or one of the nurses perhaps? Or is it all of them.

***MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD*****
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*
*

The best part - and where my jaw dropped - was the very last entry in the novel, that comes from the haunting entity, and it turns out to be the Asylum itself. MIND BLOWN. Once I read that, everything clicked into place and I realized just how cleverly this story has been told. Consider me a life-long JJ Carpenter fan from here forward.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘I watch them come and go.’

Set across three different timelines Ms Carpenter’s novel takes the reader into the Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital in Goulburn, NSW. Part historical fiction and part horror, two threads shed light on the treatment of psychiatric patients in the twentieth century. The third thread takes us into Kenmore, now abandoned, with two intrepid YouTube ghost hunters.

The Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital opened in 1894, temporarily accommodating 140 patients. During the 1960s, more than1400 people were accommodated. The institution was closed in 2003. While I wonder what the future holds, it is the past that held my attention.

In 1910, Kenmore is full. Nurse Harriet is one of those working there, trying to do the best for the patients. Alice is one of those patients. Deemed unmanageable much of the time, Alice is often restrained. Her health suffers while her presence has its own impact on patients and staff alike.

In the 1950s, Bonnie joins Kenmore as a nurse trainee. The buildings seem to have their own uneasy lives, impacting on current residents and staff. Alice may be long dead but there are those who believe that her spirit is still active. How else can people explain the mysterious creaks and groans, the changes in temperature in certain buildings? Bonnie and the other nurses try their best to care for patients, to keep them clean, safe and warm.

And in 2021, after Kenmore has been closed for years, Aiden and Devin set out to explore the ruins of the building. They hope to make a video which, once it goes viral, will make them rich and famous.

The story shifts between these different timelines. Me, I wanted to spend more time with Alice in 1910, but I appreciate that the shifts between timelines were an important part of building suspense. And yes, there are connections between the stories. While I focussed on the people, the asylum itself becomes a central character. As the story unfolds, the building seems to become restless and unsettled. There are inexplicable events in each period, and it becomes easy to understand why some believe the asylum to be haunted.

By bringing Kenmore to life in this novel, Ms Carpenter reminds the reader of the challenges faced by those providing care to psychiatric patients as well as the at times questionable treatment afforded to those deemed insane. There’s a reminder, too, that it was once comparatively easy to have people locked away on (sometimes spurious) evidence of insanity.

I finished the novel and returned to the twenty-first century.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent ghost story based on a real place, the Kenmore Asylum in South Wales, Australia - rumored to be "the most haunted place" in Australia. Although I didn't feel the dread and suspense I expected (the author prefers to stress the human element of the story than its supernatural aspects), I enjoyed the book and finished it in a couple of sittings. It's told in three parts running in parallel: a nurse's story in 1953, the story of a couple of urban explorers in 2021, and the story of a mental patient in 1913. But for me it was essentially one woman's story - the mental patient's, Alice: she's sent to the asylum by her husband in 1913, gets abused for her violent behavior, never stops calling for her young son Roy, and ends up haunting the place - as the trainee nurse very slowly discovers in her own 1953 story. The haunting culminates in 2021, when two boys dreaming of becoming YouTube celebs visit the asylum, and have the worst kind of experience during their nightly exploration there.

The writing's very good, but plotwise, the story's kept under very tight control - perhaps too tight even, since Alice's story dominates, directly or indirectly, every detail of what's happening (even the two boys are revealed to be subtly related to her story), to the point that anything supernatural has to provoke some reminiscence about Alice or somehow tie-in to her story. As a result, the horror scenes lack variety: I wouldn't dream of counting how many times there was shuffling and whispering, and doors closing and opening on their own - to the point of exhaustion. This kind of repetition may feel occasionally realistic in a documentary, but in fiction it works against the reader, who soon loses interest in the manifestations of the haunting. At any rate, that's what happened to me.

That said, the book's an enjoyable read and will easily satisfy readers looking for something lighter than usual in relation to supernatural horror, but a bit heavier on the human side (both mental patients and nurses are portrayed realistically, and the author never holds back from pointing out the injustices of their treatment). Recommended!

[Maddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows 3 stories; Bonnie who is a trainee nurse at Kenmore Asylum in the 1950's, Devin & Aiden who are wannabe YouTubers in 2021, & Alice who was a patient at Kenmore Asylum in the 1900's - all of these characters are loosely based on real life people; Bonnie based on trainee nurses that JJ Carpenter spoke to, Devin & Aiden are inspired by the depths of YouTube that JJ Carpenter watched to get the inspo of these not-so-great human beings & Alice who was inspired by a real life patient who was treated worse than the character, Alice.

This book had me at the get go. I'm a sucker for books about hauntings, especially based on real life locations. I love how JJ Carpenter wrote all the characters & towards the end of the story; I just had to keep reading as it had me in a chokehold.
I would highly recommend this book if you want a story that could spook you while you're reading this at night.

[Jim Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never met a J.J.Carpenter book that I didn't like. I read the first two "The Corner of her Eye" books (just found out there are two more), and they were wonderful.
Well, the streak contnues with The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum, a multiple POV novel that is based on true events.
Ms. Carpenter has a way with mixing Horror into true stories, and she does it here to great success.
We learn of the history of Kenmore's tragic existence, going back to the early 1900s, through the 1950s, all the way to modern day, where a couple of would-be ghost investigators decide to enter the asylum.
But the asylum has memories.
And some of those memories are alive, and still walk the halls.
Kudos to J.J. Carpenter for giving us another wonderful novel, one with chills, thrills, and a lot of heart and emotion.
This was a 5 star read for me.

[Shelly Neinast · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I didn't realize that Insanity was catching"

A well written fictional story inspired by true events of
life in a mental asylum in Australia during the turn of the century, generating into the twenty-first century.
The storyline was quite interesting and intriguing and kept my heart pumping until the very end.
The author, J.J. Carpenter did an exceptional job in creating a true horror taken from a true account and taking it to a whole other plane.
The continual date jumping made it a little difficult to stay focused on the chapter previously, and then you were taken to another time.
The characters were presented very well and were able to follow their thoughts and feelings along the way.
It was definitely a different version of a haunted house story.
I received a free copy of this book via Graveside Press and Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories like this — abandoned asylums, restless spirits, and a time-jumping narrative that ties generations together in eerie, unexpected ways. The moment I saw the setup for The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum, I knew I had to read it.

The time jump trope is one of my absolute favorites, and JJ Carpenter wove it in so well here. Moving between 1910, the 1950s, and 2021 kept the story fresh and unsettling, each era revealing more of the asylum’s sinister history. I was especially drawn to Nurse Harriet’s chapters — there’s something so haunting about the way those early asylum stories are told, and hers was no exception.

Atmospheric, eerie, and layered with tragic history, this book is perfect for readers who love gothic horror and paranormal suspense with a touch of generational dread. It had its unsettling moments and a couple scenes that genuinely gave me chills.

[Leith Dudfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a deliciously, spooky ghost story set in the very real history of Kenmore Hospital in Goulburn, Australia. The author keeps you on the edge of your seat as she weaves together the stories of the asylum set in three different time periods. Much of the story is set in the 1950s and follows the experience of Bonnie, a new nurse to Kenmore, but it also jumps forward and back in time as it explores how things came to be and where they are going. I think in some ways the spookiest thing about the story is the deep history behind it and realising that as dark as the story gets at times, it’s not all fiction. I so enjoyed the story and - while it is a stand alone novel, I hope the author revisits Kenmore and shares even more of their stories.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start with a review for this book, because I am so scared I won’t be able to do it justice. It is no exaggeration to say that this is in my top 3 favourite books of ALL TIME. And I’ve read hundreds, if not thousands of books. You’re taken on a journey through 3 timelines, each revealing spooky clues as to how things are all connected. The history is immersive and engaging. You feel like you know what it was like to be back then, with those people. The spooky bits? They’re deliciously spooky. 👻 the characters all have depth and detail. Some you hate, others you love, and it all feels so real.
Brilliant. No other words except read it!

[Cal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book scared my socks off...
The story covers 3 generations of people living in, working at, and visiting the asylum. JJ expertly weaves the timelines together throughout the book, increasing the tension slowly but surely until the climax that had my heart pounding. The characters are wonderful, you either love them or hate them. And each generation's story is brought to a satisfying conclusion, however the writing is so wonderful I was also left thinking & pondering long after.
I would suggest that you only read this book during daylight hours...but definitely read it!!

[Metal Megz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.
This book was a veryyyyyyyy slow burn. I kept hoping something exciting was going to happen but was let down most of the book. It has great ideas, characters, and themes; which is why I gave it a higher rating than I thought I would. I feel that this book could have accomplished more in much a shorter length. Overall, it was decent but it was a huge struggle for me to stay interested and invested in finishing it.
If you're looking for a haunting book that is very light on horror elements, this book is for you!

[Mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things I liked:
The history of the asylum, and details about attitudes and treatments of the time.
The writing was good, a weirdly misused word here and there, but otherwise good.

Things I didn't like:
The modern-day timeline with the ghost-hunting boys was not great. They felt like caricatures of boys, very overdone on the machismo and swearing, and I found myself skipping those chapters.

[Julie Juhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum by JJ Carpenter was a great chilling psychological horror story. At times I felt like I was in the story and this made the book even better. This is the first book I have read from the author and I look forward to reading more of her work.

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

[AMBER CLARK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by true events and factual accounts of life at Kenmore Asylum, Goulburn, Australia, The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum is a terrifying story of how people were treated for being "crazy" across multiple time periods. If you have a fascination with historical fiction and love a spooky tale, The Haunting of Kenmore Asylum will be an absolute must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!.

[Stephanie Whales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror isn’t usually my thing, but this book completely drew me in. Each story stood on its own, yet they all tied together in such a satisfying way. The atmosphere was eerie without overdoing it, and the tension kept building right to the end. I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much—but I couldn’t put it down. Creepy, smart, and well worth the read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would enjoy this book as I'm fascinated by asylums, ghosts, haunted houses...
I heard JJ carpenter speak about this/her book recently as was enthralled.
I wasn't disappointed when I read the book.
can't wait to read her series.
how incredible if she did a follow-up book but understandable if she doesn't