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A Ghost Chases the Horizon
In 1999, urban spelunker Brittany Loughry has a paranormal encounter in the Weston Hospital. The event begins to unspool a thread of mysteries affecting the past, present, and future of the shuttered mental facility. Unknowingly braiding Brittany’s story are Henrietta Tidewater, a Black patient with a newborn falsely committed to the asylum in 1905, and Eugene Spangold, a ne'er-do-well farmer who self-commits in 1935 with delusions he has orders from the U.S. President. In the years beyond, Neil Hutchence, an adrift divorcee, tries to piece together their stories as the distinction between what is real and what is an illusion erodes his sanity.
What part of ourselves do we send into the future? These stories explore the relationship between time and spirit through the lens of the community surrounding the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The hospital has gone by many names throughout its history, and its troubled past is retold from the memory held by its thick, limestone walls.
What part of ourselves do we send into the future? These stories explore the relationship between time and spirit through the lens of the community surrounding the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The hospital has gone by many names throughout its history, and its troubled past is retold from the memory held by its thick, limestone walls.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 20, 2026
Being a fan of the various ghost-hunting shows that have been on the air for the past couple of decades, I am very well acquainted with the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. It’s an abandoned mental hospital in West Virginia that has been featured on a number of these shows over the years. It’s also at the center of A Ghost Chases the Horizon.
Events take place across the decades at the Weston Hospital, formerly known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. While it was open, it housed the mentally ill, although what constituted being “mentally ill” back in the day is much different than what we classify as that now. People were put in there for being homosexual, as well as other personality traits considered to be not normal, as were those with learning disabilities. In 1905, Harriet, a black woman, was falsely committed to the institution where she bore the child of a white doctor. In 1935, Eugene, a delusional farmer grieving over the death of his wife, self-commits before he is ordered to. In 1999, the hospital now closed down, Brittany, a local schoolgirl, trespasses one night and makes a startling discovery about the place. Finally, in 2019, Neil Hutchence is helping a friend research the property and the area when he finds a link to the past.
Each of these stories stands well on its own, but it’s all intertwined in a way the reader won’t discover until the end. Add in some narration by the building itself, and the book works quite well as something more than just a paranormal story. It’s also a study of the characters who inhabited the Hospital and whose lives were changed by it, one way or another.
I want to say the most compelling stories were between Neil and Brittany, but Harriet’s was quite good as well. Each time the story switches to them, there’s a little more revealed about what brought them to the hospital, either as patients or following the closure. It works well to build the story as well as changing how I felt about each of the characters. Eugene seems to be the most disconnected from the others, but his story is also a good one about families and a lack of communication.
To read my complete review, please go to A Ghost Chases the Horizon by M.L. Mallow – Unearthing Secrets in the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Events take place across the decades at the Weston Hospital, formerly known as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. While it was open, it housed the mentally ill, although what constituted being “mentally ill” back in the day is much different than what we classify as that now. People were put in there for being homosexual, as well as other personality traits considered to be not normal, as were those with learning disabilities. In 1905, Harriet, a black woman, was falsely committed to the institution where she bore the child of a white doctor. In 1935, Eugene, a delusional farmer grieving over the death of his wife, self-commits before he is ordered to. In 1999, the hospital now closed down, Brittany, a local schoolgirl, trespasses one night and makes a startling discovery about the place. Finally, in 2019, Neil Hutchence is helping a friend research the property and the area when he finds a link to the past.
Each of these stories stands well on its own, but it’s all intertwined in a way the reader won’t discover until the end. Add in some narration by the building itself, and the book works quite well as something more than just a paranormal story. It’s also a study of the characters who inhabited the Hospital and whose lives were changed by it, one way or another.
I want to say the most compelling stories were between Neil and Brittany, but Harriet’s was quite good as well. Each time the story switches to them, there’s a little more revealed about what brought them to the hospital, either as patients or following the closure. It works well to build the story as well as changing how I felt about each of the characters. Eugene seems to be the most disconnected from the others, but his story is also a good one about families and a lack of communication.
To read my complete review, please go to A Ghost Chases the Horizon by M.L. Mallow – Unearthing Secrets in the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
February 22, 2026
This book blends multiple genres into a unique and engaging story. One of the most intriguing pieces is that part of the narration comes from a piece of building, known as the Kirkbride. The shifting perspectives between the four main characters are handled smoothly, making it easy to follow as the connections between them unfold. I went into this story expecting a thriller with a ghost twist, but it surprised me by focusing on the ghost stories. The emotional depth caught me off guard, and with so much happening, you quickly become absorbed in the plot without overthinking the supernatural aspects. The setting-- Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum-- is vividly brought to life, incorporating real historical elements that add authenticity. This added a nice touch and lets more people know about the Asylum. While I enjoyed the overall story, I felt the ending lost some of its momentum. Certain sections became over wordy, and a few scenes especially those involving Eugene, could have been more precise. The ending could have been wrapped up in a shorter way afterwhile I just wanted it to be the end. Overall, this is an original, emotionally resonant read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews