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A Sharp Scratch
We can fix you.
It's a promise that Betsy has heard far too many times. From the child psychologist, from her husband, and from the wellness trends that scream at her from her screen.
So far, it's been a lie.
But this time, she believes it. Because Betsy has been offered a place at Carn - a luxurious, unorthodox retreat, where healing really is possible. At Carn, she discovers that her imperfections make her unique, not weak. She isn't broken, just special.
All Betsy has to do is follow the rules . . .
It's a promise that Betsy has heard far too many times. From the child psychologist, from her husband, and from the wellness trends that scream at her from her screen.
So far, it's been a lie.
But this time, she believes it. Because Betsy has been offered a place at Carn - a luxurious, unorthodox retreat, where healing really is possible. At Carn, she discovers that her imperfections make her unique, not weak. She isn't broken, just special.
All Betsy has to do is follow the rules . . .
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2026
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May 6, 2026
"They can heal you, but at what cost?"
"A Sharp Scratch" by Heather Derwent follows Betsy, who has suffered from insomnia since childhood, a condition rooted in past trauma. Despite numerous attempts by friends, partners, and professionals to help, none succeed, leaving Betsy desperate. On her disastrous honeymoon, she finally realizes she needs a change and decides to leave her job. Returning home, she finds work at a local bookstore, but after fainting during her first week, she ends up in the hospital. It's here that a visitor offers her a chance to go to Carn—a place, she says, that will help Betsy heal.
Carn is an imposing house, set in sprawling grounds, accessible only via a bridge over a moat. Upon arrival, Betsy meets three other women, each with their own struggles and need for healing. The house itself becomes a character in the novel. While modern in some respects, it has the eerie qualities of a Victorian asylum: endless corridors, locked doors, basements that are off-limits, and sprawling wings where Betsy becomes convinced that other patients are kept. The staff, though nameless, are ever-present, keeping a constant watch.
At first, Betsy’s sleep improves with the help of medication and blood tests. As the weeks pass, her physical and mental health gradually improve, and she begins to look forward to the sleep-inducing tablets. But as her sleep deepens, so does her sense of confusion. Reality at Carn starts to shift—strange faces appear at windows, a patient goes missing, and the house, once a sanctuary, begins to feel like a prison. As Betsy’s grasp on reality weakens, she experiences unsettling events: she’s made to look ill, photographed, and put on display for a group of men who visit Carn. While she doesn’t report physical or sexual assault, her confusion makes it clear that something sinister is at play. Betsy begins to question what’s truly happening to her and realizes that she must leave Carn.
This novel raises an important question about health and medicine, particularly for those living with chronic conditions or pain. Vulnerable individuals can easily fall prey to those who might exploit them, especially when they're desperate for a cure. Through Betsy’s eyes, we see how far she’s willing to go for a peaceful night’s sleep. She believes she’s just taking a tablet and undergoing blood tests, but what are these substances truly doing to her? What is being put into her body, and how are these drugs affecting her, leaving her open to manipulation?
Heather Derwent has created a powerful, disturbing narrative that is both thought-provoking and chilling. The gothic elements of the novel—dark, atmospheric, and unsettling—perfectly capture the sense of confusion and fear that Betsy experiences as she grapples with her own vulnerabilities. This story serves as a reminder of how easily those who are in need can be exploited, and it forces the reader to consider the ethical lines within healthcare and the lengths some might go to for a sense of healing
"A Sharp Scratch" by Heather Derwent follows Betsy, who has suffered from insomnia since childhood, a condition rooted in past trauma. Despite numerous attempts by friends, partners, and professionals to help, none succeed, leaving Betsy desperate. On her disastrous honeymoon, she finally realizes she needs a change and decides to leave her job. Returning home, she finds work at a local bookstore, but after fainting during her first week, she ends up in the hospital. It's here that a visitor offers her a chance to go to Carn—a place, she says, that will help Betsy heal.
Carn is an imposing house, set in sprawling grounds, accessible only via a bridge over a moat. Upon arrival, Betsy meets three other women, each with their own struggles and need for healing. The house itself becomes a character in the novel. While modern in some respects, it has the eerie qualities of a Victorian asylum: endless corridors, locked doors, basements that are off-limits, and sprawling wings where Betsy becomes convinced that other patients are kept. The staff, though nameless, are ever-present, keeping a constant watch.
At first, Betsy’s sleep improves with the help of medication and blood tests. As the weeks pass, her physical and mental health gradually improve, and she begins to look forward to the sleep-inducing tablets. But as her sleep deepens, so does her sense of confusion. Reality at Carn starts to shift—strange faces appear at windows, a patient goes missing, and the house, once a sanctuary, begins to feel like a prison. As Betsy’s grasp on reality weakens, she experiences unsettling events: she’s made to look ill, photographed, and put on display for a group of men who visit Carn. While she doesn’t report physical or sexual assault, her confusion makes it clear that something sinister is at play. Betsy begins to question what’s truly happening to her and realizes that she must leave Carn.
This novel raises an important question about health and medicine, particularly for those living with chronic conditions or pain. Vulnerable individuals can easily fall prey to those who might exploit them, especially when they're desperate for a cure. Through Betsy’s eyes, we see how far she’s willing to go for a peaceful night’s sleep. She believes she’s just taking a tablet and undergoing blood tests, but what are these substances truly doing to her? What is being put into her body, and how are these drugs affecting her, leaving her open to manipulation?
Heather Derwent has created a powerful, disturbing narrative that is both thought-provoking and chilling. The gothic elements of the novel—dark, atmospheric, and unsettling—perfectly capture the sense of confusion and fear that Betsy experiences as she grapples with her own vulnerabilities. This story serves as a reminder of how easily those who are in need can be exploited, and it forces the reader to consider the ethical lines within healthcare and the lengths some might go to for a sense of healing
Displaying 1 of 1 review