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The Spin: A psychological thriller
In the Los Angeles suburbs, the Crawfords seem like the average American family. Leo is a rising star in advertising. His wife, Rose, is brilliant, restless, and pregnant with their second child. Their teenage daughter, Melinda, is already leaning toward rebellion.
Then Rose vanishes during a family vacation.
When she comes back, she’s not the same.
As time goes by, Rose seems to readjust to everyday life—until a new color television triggers a complete breakdown. She claims voices are speaking to her through the screen. Doctors call it hysteria. Her family feels terrified. And Rose is locked inside an institution where women are silenced, drugged, and erased.
Desperate to help his wife, Leo uncovers evidence that Rose’s breakdown might not be mental at all. Especially when he learns the truth about why she was institutionalized—a “research study” linked to his own advertising agency.
The deeper Leo digs, the more he realizes his entire family may be in danger.
Because what they did to Rose was only the beginning.
Then Rose vanishes during a family vacation.
When she comes back, she’s not the same.
As time goes by, Rose seems to readjust to everyday life—until a new color television triggers a complete breakdown. She claims voices are speaking to her through the screen. Doctors call it hysteria. Her family feels terrified. And Rose is locked inside an institution where women are silenced, drugged, and erased.
Desperate to help his wife, Leo uncovers evidence that Rose’s breakdown might not be mental at all. Especially when he learns the truth about why she was institutionalized—a “research study” linked to his own advertising agency.
The deeper Leo digs, the more he realizes his entire family may be in danger.
Because what they did to Rose was only the beginning.
326 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Faith Gardner
25 books1,402 followersFaith Gardner is the author of adult suspense and YA novels. She lives in the Bay Area with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 906 reviews
June 19, 2026
Four years ago I read my first (and favorite) Faith Gardner book Amen, Maxine (a perfect title that the publisher ruined and renamed The Prediction *yawn*. I digress …) I’ve had hits and misses with her books since, but her newest book The Spin has reminded me just how clever and good her writing can be!
When we first meet them, Leo and Rose Crawford are a happily married L.A. couple living in the Vietnam War era 60’s with a teenage daughter Melinda and a baby on the way. Leo is an ad-creative hoping to move up the company ladder at Century. In fact, Rose even performed a radio ad for VitaSmile, one of their client’s products, and participated in a consumer research study for another client. That study did NOT go well!
The reader only knows that Rose got kicked out of it for bizarre and aggressive behavior toward the doctor. Leo and Rose have been trying to put it behind them since. Now Rose is starting to talk to herself and show signs of being detached from reality. Things escalate until she’s briefly hospitalized at Woodward Neuropsychiatric Center.
Three years later the story picks up. Rose is seeing a psychoanalyst to talk about her thoughts and nightmares. When she starts behaving bizarrely again, talking about ‘The Dream Box’ and telling Leo and his co-workers that demons are working at Century, he fears she’s having another psychotic break and takes her back to Woodward - a hospital Century has ties with.
Is Rose just imagining things or is there something more to the ties between Century and Woodward? What is ‘The Dream Box’ she keeps mentioning? Will Leo finally hear what she’s saying and figure out answers before it’s too late?
There’s a lot more going on in this story than just Leo and Rose. In fact, Rose isn’t the primary focus of the book. This has a lot of historical fiction elements touching on involuntary hospitalizations and human experimentation in the name of ‘consumer research’, which is downright terrifying, but it’s also a look at some of what was going on in the 60’s.
The teenage daughter, Melinda, is a 17-year-old trying to navigate a war-time period without stable parenting and with the threat of losing her boyfriend to the draft. The story takes us to the free love, drug-infused hippie era culture of life in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco, which was fascinating in its own right. You also see the puritanical reaction to that of Leo’s mom Harriet, who was somehow both completely unbearable and hilariously self-righteous.
The author’s note is important to read, as Gardner shares the personal inspiration for this book. We see the unique POVs of Leo, Melinda, Harriet and Rose, which gave the story more emotional depth. Gardner put me in all of their heads, which wasn’t always a comfortable place to be, but it was so compelling! I can highly recommend this to those who enjoy a suspenseful psychological thriller with some historical fiction and family drama. It's now my second favorite Gardner book!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Mirror House Press, NetGalley and author Faith Gardner for this DRC to honestly review. It’s out now.
When we first meet them, Leo and Rose Crawford are a happily married L.A. couple living in the Vietnam War era 60’s with a teenage daughter Melinda and a baby on the way. Leo is an ad-creative hoping to move up the company ladder at Century. In fact, Rose even performed a radio ad for VitaSmile, one of their client’s products, and participated in a consumer research study for another client. That study did NOT go well!
The reader only knows that Rose got kicked out of it for bizarre and aggressive behavior toward the doctor. Leo and Rose have been trying to put it behind them since. Now Rose is starting to talk to herself and show signs of being detached from reality. Things escalate until she’s briefly hospitalized at Woodward Neuropsychiatric Center.
Three years later the story picks up. Rose is seeing a psychoanalyst to talk about her thoughts and nightmares. When she starts behaving bizarrely again, talking about ‘The Dream Box’ and telling Leo and his co-workers that demons are working at Century, he fears she’s having another psychotic break and takes her back to Woodward - a hospital Century has ties with.
Is Rose just imagining things or is there something more to the ties between Century and Woodward? What is ‘The Dream Box’ she keeps mentioning? Will Leo finally hear what she’s saying and figure out answers before it’s too late?
There’s a lot more going on in this story than just Leo and Rose. In fact, Rose isn’t the primary focus of the book. This has a lot of historical fiction elements touching on involuntary hospitalizations and human experimentation in the name of ‘consumer research’, which is downright terrifying, but it’s also a look at some of what was going on in the 60’s.
The teenage daughter, Melinda, is a 17-year-old trying to navigate a war-time period without stable parenting and with the threat of losing her boyfriend to the draft. The story takes us to the free love, drug-infused hippie era culture of life in the Haight-Ashbury area of San Francisco, which was fascinating in its own right. You also see the puritanical reaction to that of Leo’s mom Harriet, who was somehow both completely unbearable and hilariously self-righteous.
The author’s note is important to read, as Gardner shares the personal inspiration for this book. We see the unique POVs of Leo, Melinda, Harriet and Rose, which gave the story more emotional depth. Gardner put me in all of their heads, which wasn’t always a comfortable place to be, but it was so compelling! I can highly recommend this to those who enjoy a suspenseful psychological thriller with some historical fiction and family drama. It's now my second favorite Gardner book!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Mirror House Press, NetGalley and author Faith Gardner for this DRC to honestly review. It’s out now.
June 16, 2026
It’s the 1960s in LA, and Leo is working his way up to the top of his advertising agency, and he’s got the perfect nuclear family. Well, almost. During a vacation at a remote cabin, his wife, Rose, goes missing, and once found, begins to have hallucinations and paranoia. She’s convinced it has something to do with a study that she had years before, but Leo is telling her that is nonsense. Not knowing how to handle his wife, he admits her into a psychiatric ward. The more he starts looking into Rose’s so-called delusions, he begins to think there might be some truth to what she is saying.
The setting and time period were done very well and really set the tone of the novel. You see the struggles the family goes through as they deal with not understanding what is wrong with Rose. You can feel them completely struggling to come to grips with what is happening.
Where it lost a little bit of momentum for me was when it would flip to Harriet and Melinda’s point of view. It didn’t detract from the story necessarily, but I was more interested in focusing on Rose. If I’m being completely honest, Harriet could just have completely been dropped from the story, but her point of view does show the expectation put on women to be the perfect housewife and mother. I did appreciate how that storyline tied up.😏
This definitely was an intriguing mystery that did a really good job of focusing on the time period and the struggles dealing with mental illness. For some reason, I have been reading a lot of novels that take place in this era recently and this definitely is at the top of the list from an enjoyment perspective.
Thanks to NetGalley and a publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The setting and time period were done very well and really set the tone of the novel. You see the struggles the family goes through as they deal with not understanding what is wrong with Rose. You can feel them completely struggling to come to grips with what is happening.
Where it lost a little bit of momentum for me was when it would flip to Harriet and Melinda’s point of view. It didn’t detract from the story necessarily, but I was more interested in focusing on Rose. If I’m being completely honest, Harriet could just have completely been dropped from the story, but her point of view does show the expectation put on women to be the perfect housewife and mother. I did appreciate how that storyline tied up.😏
This definitely was an intriguing mystery that did a really good job of focusing on the time period and the struggles dealing with mental illness. For some reason, I have been reading a lot of novels that take place in this era recently and this definitely is at the top of the list from an enjoyment perspective.
Thanks to NetGalley and a publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2026
EASILY 5 stars - everyone go preorder! It’s out June 16
If you take one recommendation from me from my recent faves, let it be this one. I cannot stop thinking about it
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBFRT8QJ/
If you take one recommendation from me from my recent faves, let it be this one. I cannot stop thinking about it
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBFRT8QJ/
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5 ⭐
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
set during the late 1960s, the story follows the Crawford family during what was supposed to be a normal vacation until Rose suddenly disappears and comes back acting completely unlike herself. from there, things slowly begin spiraling as Rose becomes more unstable after giving birth to her second daughter and is eventually institutionalized with doctors claiming she suffers from schizophrenia. but the more the story unfolds, the more you start questioning if that’s really the truth.
one of my favorite things about this book was the multiple POVs; although the story is mostly told through Leo, i really liked getting Melinda’s perspective and even Leo’s mother’s because it showed how differently each of them handled Rose’s condition and everything happening around them... also liked seeing Leo slowly begin to realize that maybe Rose wasn’t imagining everything after all.
another thing i really enjoyed was the inclusion of the transcripts, doctor reports and Rose’s personal notes because they added so much to the story and made everything feel even more immersive and disturbing; and although the pacing is definitely on the slower side, it never felt dragging to me!! the writing kept me invested the entire time and the tension quietly builds throughout the novel in such an effective way.
what made this book even more heartbreaking was learning in the author’s note that it was inspired by her grandmother’s experiences; it adds such a painful layer to the story knowing how easily women were dismissed, controlled and institutionalized back then.
overall, this was such a haunting and emotionally heavy read that blends psychological horror with the very real fears surrounding mental health and the treatment of women during that era.
──── ୨୧ ────
pre-read:
i'm honored i've got the arc! thanks to Netgalley and Mirror House Press for the arc in exchange for an honest reniew. 💌
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
set during the late 1960s, the story follows the Crawford family during what was supposed to be a normal vacation until Rose suddenly disappears and comes back acting completely unlike herself. from there, things slowly begin spiraling as Rose becomes more unstable after giving birth to her second daughter and is eventually institutionalized with doctors claiming she suffers from schizophrenia. but the more the story unfolds, the more you start questioning if that’s really the truth.
one of my favorite things about this book was the multiple POVs; although the story is mostly told through Leo, i really liked getting Melinda’s perspective and even Leo’s mother’s because it showed how differently each of them handled Rose’s condition and everything happening around them... also liked seeing Leo slowly begin to realize that maybe Rose wasn’t imagining everything after all.
another thing i really enjoyed was the inclusion of the transcripts, doctor reports and Rose’s personal notes because they added so much to the story and made everything feel even more immersive and disturbing; and although the pacing is definitely on the slower side, it never felt dragging to me!! the writing kept me invested the entire time and the tension quietly builds throughout the novel in such an effective way.
what made this book even more heartbreaking was learning in the author’s note that it was inspired by her grandmother’s experiences; it adds such a painful layer to the story knowing how easily women were dismissed, controlled and institutionalized back then.
overall, this was such a haunting and emotionally heavy read that blends psychological horror with the very real fears surrounding mental health and the treatment of women during that era.
──── ୨୧ ────
pre-read:
i'm honored i've got the arc! thanks to Netgalley and Mirror House Press for the arc in exchange for an honest reniew. 💌
June 10, 2026
"The world. The world's mad, and I'm just trying not to breathe it in."
A stunningly immersive blend of 1960s California culture, rigid gender roles, societal expectations of females, and psychiatric care of the time—or lack thereof—this story had my mind twirling and emotions swirling! Rose is an intelligent woman as well as a loving wife and mother—but she has mental health struggles initially attributed to postpartum depression. She's seemingly recovered when she begins to unravel again; she hears voices and insists 'they' did something to her mind. Not knowing what else to do, her husband, Leo, has her admitted to a mental institution. When her condition steadily worsens, he suspects something is very wrong.
While the story is about Rose, it's told from the perspectives of Leo, Harriet (her mother-in-law), and Rose's teenage daughter Melinda. It's simultaneously heartbreaking and frustrating to see through their eyes—at times I wanted to hurl the book at the wall or jump in and shake or slap people—yet I also became teary. FAITH GARDNER masterfully evokes strong emotions with her poignant writing while keeping tension and suspense high—as always. This is a slow-burn character-driven tale, yet it's in no way slow—I read it so fast I was in danger of paper cuts! As the ending approaches, readers will be on pins and needles, waiting for the unpredictable outcome!
This insightful and captivating psychological thriller is equal parts an exploration of the feminist movement, the lack of autonomy, and a love letter to an unknown family member of GARDNER'S. Her author's note is everything and moved me to tears. For readers who love a sinister institution, a 'mad' housewife, and increasing paranoia, THE SPIN is a must-read—it's mesmerizing, horrifying, and bittersweet!
____
Thank you to Faith Gardner for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
A stunningly immersive blend of 1960s California culture, rigid gender roles, societal expectations of females, and psychiatric care of the time—or lack thereof—this story had my mind twirling and emotions swirling! Rose is an intelligent woman as well as a loving wife and mother—but she has mental health struggles initially attributed to postpartum depression. She's seemingly recovered when she begins to unravel again; she hears voices and insists 'they' did something to her mind. Not knowing what else to do, her husband, Leo, has her admitted to a mental institution. When her condition steadily worsens, he suspects something is very wrong.
While the story is about Rose, it's told from the perspectives of Leo, Harriet (her mother-in-law), and Rose's teenage daughter Melinda. It's simultaneously heartbreaking and frustrating to see through their eyes—at times I wanted to hurl the book at the wall or jump in and shake or slap people—yet I also became teary. FAITH GARDNER masterfully evokes strong emotions with her poignant writing while keeping tension and suspense high—as always. This is a slow-burn character-driven tale, yet it's in no way slow—I read it so fast I was in danger of paper cuts! As the ending approaches, readers will be on pins and needles, waiting for the unpredictable outcome!
This insightful and captivating psychological thriller is equal parts an exploration of the feminist movement, the lack of autonomy, and a love letter to an unknown family member of GARDNER'S. Her author's note is everything and moved me to tears. For readers who love a sinister institution, a 'mad' housewife, and increasing paranoia, THE SPIN is a must-read—it's mesmerizing, horrifying, and bittersweet!
____
Thank you to Faith Gardner for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
July 12, 2026
The Spin by Faith Gardner was surprisingly a very good book. I wasn’t too sure what to make of it at first but I really enjoyed it. Rose vanishes during a family vacation but comes back “acting like a different person”. She’s had some psychotic episodes in the past and is sent away to a psyche ward. I was vested in this book until I finished it. I almost read it in 1 sitting. It read like a memoir but is not one. I really enjoy memoirs so I’m thinking that’s why I really enjoyed this one.
June 28, 2026
I was really excited for this book because the premise sounded promising. The beginning hooked me in, and I liked that each character had their own POV. The pacing was also fast, which made it easy to keep reading.
However, I didn’t feel like this was a psychological thriller at all. To me, it felt much more like women’s fiction with a bit of mystery. There was very little suspense, and the events felt too ordinary to keep me invested.
There were several times when I wanted to stop reading, but I kept going, hoping for a big plot twist or something exciting to happen. Unfortunately, that moment never came.
I really wanted to love this book, but it didn’t live up to my expectations and ended up being a disappointing read for me 💔
However, I didn’t feel like this was a psychological thriller at all. To me, it felt much more like women’s fiction with a bit of mystery. There was very little suspense, and the events felt too ordinary to keep me invested.
There were several times when I wanted to stop reading, but I kept going, hoping for a big plot twist or something exciting to happen. Unfortunately, that moment never came.
I really wanted to love this book, but it didn’t live up to my expectations and ended up being a disappointing read for me 💔
June 16, 2026
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
The Spin by Faith Gardner
NOW AVALIABLE AND ON KU
Thoughts
I absolutely love reads like this!! The setting was so well done, it pulls you right in! Despite dragging in some places I loved how the mystery unfolded, I was so immersed into the story by the end it was so good! The focus on mental illness was handled very well. Genuinely one of those books that'll won't be easily forgotten! Highly recommend!
Plot Summary
The Crawfords appear to be a typical family living in suburban Los Angeles—until Rose disappears during a holiday and returns acting strangely. When she begins claiming that voices are speaking to her through the television, she is dismissed as unstable and sent to a psychiatric institution. As her husband Leo searches for answers, he uncovers a disturbing connection between Rose’s treatment and a secretive research project linked to his own workplace. What begins as a search for the truth soon reveals a far more dangerous conspiracy threatening his entire family.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC
My Bookstagram
The Spin by Faith Gardner
NOW AVALIABLE AND ON KU
Thoughts
I absolutely love reads like this!! The setting was so well done, it pulls you right in! Despite dragging in some places I loved how the mystery unfolded, I was so immersed into the story by the end it was so good! The focus on mental illness was handled very well. Genuinely one of those books that'll won't be easily forgotten! Highly recommend!
Plot Summary
The Crawfords appear to be a typical family living in suburban Los Angeles—until Rose disappears during a holiday and returns acting strangely. When she begins claiming that voices are speaking to her through the television, she is dismissed as unstable and sent to a psychiatric institution. As her husband Leo searches for answers, he uncovers a disturbing connection between Rose’s treatment and a secretive research project linked to his own workplace. What begins as a search for the truth soon reveals a far more dangerous conspiracy threatening his entire family.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC
My Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had a hard time putting this one down. I had so may other pressing deadlines to meet, and yet this book kept luring me back!
Set in the 60's, when attitudes to mental health were brutally misinformed, Rose Crawford was isolated from her loved ones and given shock therapy treatments. Her loving husband, Leo, has his hands full with Melinda - his wayward teenaged daughter, who runs off to San Francisco with her low-life drug abusing boyfriend. Leo's uptight, left wing mother comes to stay and makes matters even worse: she was never Rose Crawford's greatest fan, by any means.
As the story progresses, we come to understand that Rose may well have been the victim of a botched medical drug trial. When she goes missing during a family vacation, Leo Crawford believes he has no choice but to admit her to a psychiatric facility. Little did he know that he had surrendered her to the "enemy" (a combination of powerful political and financial entities that had their own agenda for "neutralizing" and silencing Rose Crawford.)
Leo Crawford's subsequent attempts to remove his wife from this asylum kept me turning the pages of my ebook well into the night. Those powerful political and financial entities, shockingly, were able to use the law against Leo, and prevented him from liberating his wife from their dictatorial clutches. I read the last few chapters in a complete state of horrified outrage. No spoilers here, but: Go, Leo and Rose!
Five stars for this well-written, compulsive read! My thanks to the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Well done!
Set in the 60's, when attitudes to mental health were brutally misinformed, Rose Crawford was isolated from her loved ones and given shock therapy treatments. Her loving husband, Leo, has his hands full with Melinda - his wayward teenaged daughter, who runs off to San Francisco with her low-life drug abusing boyfriend. Leo's uptight, left wing mother comes to stay and makes matters even worse: she was never Rose Crawford's greatest fan, by any means.
As the story progresses, we come to understand that Rose may well have been the victim of a botched medical drug trial. When she goes missing during a family vacation, Leo Crawford believes he has no choice but to admit her to a psychiatric facility. Little did he know that he had surrendered her to the "enemy" (a combination of powerful political and financial entities that had their own agenda for "neutralizing" and silencing Rose Crawford.)
Leo Crawford's subsequent attempts to remove his wife from this asylum kept me turning the pages of my ebook well into the night. Those powerful political and financial entities, shockingly, were able to use the law against Leo, and prevented him from liberating his wife from their dictatorial clutches. I read the last few chapters in a complete state of horrified outrage. No spoilers here, but: Go, Leo and Rose!
Five stars for this well-written, compulsive read! My thanks to the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Well done!
June 24, 2026
I went into this expecting a 60s-set domestic thriller, but this ended up being so much heavier than that.
Rose disappears on a family holiday. When she’s found, it should feel like everything is resolved… but it doesn’t. If anything, that’s where the real story begins.
There’s this constant undercurrent of something not being quite right, and it builds in a way that’s subtle but deeply unsettling. It’s not relying on big twists or shock moments — it’s the slow loss of control, the way narratives get shaped by the people in power, and how quickly someone can be dismissed when they’re no longer seen as “reliable”.
The 1960s setting is what makes this hit as hard as it does. The unquestioned authority of doctors, the expectations placed on women, the way “care” could so easily become something else entirely… it’s confronting, and at times genuinely hard to sit with. You can feel how easily this could — and did — happen.
I loved the way this was told. The shifting perspectives, the fragments of records and outside voices, all of it adds to that sense that you’re only ever seeing part of the truth. It keeps you slightly off-balance the entire time, which works so well for this kind of story.
But the author’s note is what really stayed with me.
Knowing this was inspired by Faith Gardner’s grandmother completely reframes everything. Learning how she was treated, how her story was handled, and how much of her life was shaped by decisions made about her rather than for her… it’s heartbreaking. It takes what already feels unsettling and grounds it in something very real, and honestly, that made it hit even harder.
This isn’t a fast, twisty thriller — it’s much more character-driven, more atmospheric, and heavier emotionally. But it’s completely absorbing in its own way, and it’s the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve finished.
Rose disappears on a family holiday. When she’s found, it should feel like everything is resolved… but it doesn’t. If anything, that’s where the real story begins.
There’s this constant undercurrent of something not being quite right, and it builds in a way that’s subtle but deeply unsettling. It’s not relying on big twists or shock moments — it’s the slow loss of control, the way narratives get shaped by the people in power, and how quickly someone can be dismissed when they’re no longer seen as “reliable”.
The 1960s setting is what makes this hit as hard as it does. The unquestioned authority of doctors, the expectations placed on women, the way “care” could so easily become something else entirely… it’s confronting, and at times genuinely hard to sit with. You can feel how easily this could — and did — happen.
I loved the way this was told. The shifting perspectives, the fragments of records and outside voices, all of it adds to that sense that you’re only ever seeing part of the truth. It keeps you slightly off-balance the entire time, which works so well for this kind of story.
But the author’s note is what really stayed with me.
Knowing this was inspired by Faith Gardner’s grandmother completely reframes everything. Learning how she was treated, how her story was handled, and how much of her life was shaped by decisions made about her rather than for her… it’s heartbreaking. It takes what already feels unsettling and grounds it in something very real, and honestly, that made it hit even harder.
This isn’t a fast, twisty thriller — it’s much more character-driven, more atmospheric, and heavier emotionally. But it’s completely absorbing in its own way, and it’s the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve finished.
July 23, 2026
5⭐️ - I freaking loved this book! Faith Gardner has officially reached the point where I'll read absolutely anything she writes.
Set in Los Angeles in the early 1960s, The Spin takes that picture-perfect suburban life and peels back the curtain. Neat homes, happy families, dinner on the table every night. Meanwhile, women's mental health is being dismissed, young men are facing the looming threat of Vietnam and everyone is expected to keep up appearances no matter what.
The story centres on Rose Crawford, a mother who has been in and out of psychiatric institutions following a series of breakdowns. We never actually get Rose's POV. Instead, we see her through the eyes of her husband Leo and her daughter Melinda. It creates so much uncertainty around her character because you're constantly trying to work out whether Rose is being misunderstood, or whether there really is cause for concern.
I loved the multiple POVs. Melinda's chapters were probably my favourite. She's rebellious, questioning the world around her and pushing back against the expectations placed on young women at the time. Her perspective added so much to the story and really highlighted how differently each generation viewed Rose and her struggles.
I've always been fascinated by the way women were treated in the 1950s and 1960s, especially when it came to mental health and this book broke my heart. The research and attention to detail are incredible, particularly in the depiction of the hospital and the treatments Rose endures. Faith blends psychological horror, satire, family drama and social commentary so effortlessly that I flew through it.
And PLEASE read the author's note when you finish. Knowing how personal this story is to Faith made me appreciate the book even more.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the ARC.
Set in Los Angeles in the early 1960s, The Spin takes that picture-perfect suburban life and peels back the curtain. Neat homes, happy families, dinner on the table every night. Meanwhile, women's mental health is being dismissed, young men are facing the looming threat of Vietnam and everyone is expected to keep up appearances no matter what.
The story centres on Rose Crawford, a mother who has been in and out of psychiatric institutions following a series of breakdowns. We never actually get Rose's POV. Instead, we see her through the eyes of her husband Leo and her daughter Melinda. It creates so much uncertainty around her character because you're constantly trying to work out whether Rose is being misunderstood, or whether there really is cause for concern.
I loved the multiple POVs. Melinda's chapters were probably my favourite. She's rebellious, questioning the world around her and pushing back against the expectations placed on young women at the time. Her perspective added so much to the story and really highlighted how differently each generation viewed Rose and her struggles.
I've always been fascinated by the way women were treated in the 1950s and 1960s, especially when it came to mental health and this book broke my heart. The research and attention to detail are incredible, particularly in the depiction of the hospital and the treatments Rose endures. Faith blends psychological horror, satire, family drama and social commentary so effortlessly that I flew through it.
And PLEASE read the author's note when you finish. Knowing how personal this story is to Faith made me appreciate the book even more.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would love to get the audiobook for this thriller. So much of the ebook rings true, from historical evidence that we have today. It would be interesting to hear this dramatized, because this book is probably going to be adapted into a movie - very visual writing: I can see the action unfolding right in front of my mind's eye!
July 25, 2026
I thought this was an interesting concept. The idea of military mind control experiments—and how people essentially had no say in decisions about their own mental health—is absolutely terrifying.
I just wish the story had been told entirely from Rose's point of view from the very beginning. I wanted to know exactly what was done to her, how she experienced it, and how she suffered afterward. Instead, much of the story is told from her family's perspective, which kept me from forming an emotional connection.
I was also left wondering why the experiment was conducted in the first place and what the ultimate goal was. Maybe the mystery was intentional because it involved the military, but I think revealing a bit more of those details would have made the story more compelling.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a book I can recommend. It wasn't suspenseful or thrilling, the pacing was far too slow, and I honestly found it pretty boring despite the intriguing premise.
I just wish the story had been told entirely from Rose's point of view from the very beginning. I wanted to know exactly what was done to her, how she experienced it, and how she suffered afterward. Instead, much of the story is told from her family's perspective, which kept me from forming an emotional connection.
I was also left wondering why the experiment was conducted in the first place and what the ultimate goal was. Maybe the mystery was intentional because it involved the military, but I think revealing a bit more of those details would have made the story more compelling.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a book I can recommend. It wasn't suspenseful or thrilling, the pacing was far too slow, and I honestly found it pretty boring despite the intriguing premise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2026
“The Spin” - “If you’re happy and you know it it’s your meds.”
★★★★★
The moment Faith announced this novel and mentioned it being inspired by her grandmother, set in the 60’s/70’s and involving how women were treated for being “different” I knew I had to read it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This book was so much more than your average “Psychological Thriller” and it hooked me from the get go.
“The Spin” took me for a spin, down the rabbit hole and back.
It was beautiful, sad, intense and aggravating, knowing that the “methods” inside this book where actual treatment for women who didn’t fit the “Stepford Wife” mold is barbaric and horrifying. The horrors in this novel lie in the truth and have been turned into an amazing story with a personal “spin” only Faith Gardner could provide.
I for sure would have been institutionalised and lobotomised back in the day, but since I’m from the 80’s I have to power to recommend you to read this book!
★★★★★
The moment Faith announced this novel and mentioned it being inspired by her grandmother, set in the 60’s/70’s and involving how women were treated for being “different” I knew I had to read it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This book was so much more than your average “Psychological Thriller” and it hooked me from the get go.
“The Spin” took me for a spin, down the rabbit hole and back.
It was beautiful, sad, intense and aggravating, knowing that the “methods” inside this book where actual treatment for women who didn’t fit the “Stepford Wife” mold is barbaric and horrifying. The horrors in this novel lie in the truth and have been turned into an amazing story with a personal “spin” only Faith Gardner could provide.
I for sure would have been institutionalised and lobotomised back in the day, but since I’m from the 80’s I have to power to recommend you to read this book!
June 27, 2026
Not a psychological thriiler
IMO it reads more like women's fiction. It lacked depth of characters. I kept hoping it would get more dynamic but it didn't.
IMO it reads more like women's fiction. It lacked depth of characters. I kept hoping it would get more dynamic but it didn't.
July 3, 2026
In Los Angeles in the 1960s, the Crawford family seem to have the perfect life until Rose Crawford vanishes during a family vacation. When she returns, something feels... off. At first, her family tries to move forward, but after a terrifying breakdown involving their new television, Rose is labeled "hysterical" and committed to a psychiatric institution. As her husband Leo begins digging into what really happened, he uncovers disturbing ties between Rose's condition and a secretive research study linked to his advertising agency. What starts as a domestic unraveling spirals into a chilling exploration of power, paranoia, and the terrifying ways women's voices were silenced in the past.
This was such a sharp blend of psychological horror, historical fiction and feminist rage! The atmosphere was thick with tension from the beginning, and I loved how the story peeled back layer after layer of gaslighting and control. Rose's spiral was unsettling because you're constantly questioning what's real and what's being hidden from her. What hit hardest was how deeply the story explored the way women were dismissed and labeled unstable when they pushed back. It is rooted in the truth which made the horror of it that much heavier. Creepy, claustrophobic and simmering with dread, The Spin is one of those books that gets under your skin!
Thank you so much to Faith Gardner for sending me a copy of this beauty!
This was such a sharp blend of psychological horror, historical fiction and feminist rage! The atmosphere was thick with tension from the beginning, and I loved how the story peeled back layer after layer of gaslighting and control. Rose's spiral was unsettling because you're constantly questioning what's real and what's being hidden from her. What hit hardest was how deeply the story explored the way women were dismissed and labeled unstable when they pushed back. It is rooted in the truth which made the horror of it that much heavier. Creepy, claustrophobic and simmering with dread, The Spin is one of those books that gets under your skin!
Thank you so much to Faith Gardner for sending me a copy of this beauty!
June 28, 2026
The book had me hooked in the beginning because there's a lot of suspense and had the potential for a strong plot twist or a really good ending, but I was highly disappointed. The ending fizzled out and didn't bring any resolution or even leave you on the edge of your seat. Good build up with zero follow through unfortunately.
July 15, 2026
I enjoyed this one, but I have a small bone to pick with the marketing. This was promoted as a psychological thriller...in fact, it says it right on the cover and under the title. I kept waiting for the thriller part to show up, but alas, I was left hanging. There was no major plot twist or shocking reveal. It read much more like historical women’s fiction, which is perfectly fine...just call it what it is!
This one is set in 1960s Los Angeles, and it centers around married couple Leo and Rose. While they are away on vacation, Rose mysteriously disappears. She is eventually found, but she returns experiencing hallucinations, paranoia, and the unwavering belief that someone is targeting her because of a study she participated in recently. Leo dismisses her claims and, unsure of what else to do, he of course has her admitted to a psychiatric hospital several years later.
The story explores the impossible expectations placed on women during that period of time, along with the horrifying ways women’s mental health was treated. It was incredibly haunting because these things actually happened to women who were considered difficult, unstable, or unwilling to “fall in line.” It became even more infuriating after learning that the author based parts of the story on her grandmother’s experiences.
I did feel like the characters needed more depth, and I especially wished we had gotten more chapters from Rose’s point of view. Since she is the person actually experiencing the hallucinations, fear, institutionalization, and loss of control, I wanted to spend more time inside her head instead of primarily seeing her through Leo’s perspective.
Overall, this was a solid three-star read with an important and disturbing look at how women were treated during this period. Just do not pick it up expecting a twisty psychological thriller, because that is absolutely not what this is. This is straight-up historical women’s fiction, and honestly, the publisher should have trusted the book enough to market it that way.
This one is set in 1960s Los Angeles, and it centers around married couple Leo and Rose. While they are away on vacation, Rose mysteriously disappears. She is eventually found, but she returns experiencing hallucinations, paranoia, and the unwavering belief that someone is targeting her because of a study she participated in recently. Leo dismisses her claims and, unsure of what else to do, he of course has her admitted to a psychiatric hospital several years later.
The story explores the impossible expectations placed on women during that period of time, along with the horrifying ways women’s mental health was treated. It was incredibly haunting because these things actually happened to women who were considered difficult, unstable, or unwilling to “fall in line.” It became even more infuriating after learning that the author based parts of the story on her grandmother’s experiences.
I did feel like the characters needed more depth, and I especially wished we had gotten more chapters from Rose’s point of view. Since she is the person actually experiencing the hallucinations, fear, institutionalization, and loss of control, I wanted to spend more time inside her head instead of primarily seeing her through Leo’s perspective.
Overall, this was a solid three-star read with an important and disturbing look at how women were treated during this period. Just do not pick it up expecting a twisty psychological thriller, because that is absolutely not what this is. This is straight-up historical women’s fiction, and honestly, the publisher should have trusted the book enough to market it that way.
June 23, 2026
4.5 stars
“The only quiet woman is a dead one.” —Sylvia Plath
Ain’t that the truth.
I really enjoyed this. There were some parts where I feel like it dragged a little bit, specifically certain POV chapters, but it was a good book
Some (mild?) spoilers ahead....
Leo, Rose’s husband, really frustrated me at the beginning of this book. Classic case of a man not taking a women's mental health seriously and throwing her in the loony bin so he wouldn’t have to deal with it. Not to mention he pawned his infant daughter to anyone so he wouldn’t have to watch her. But he got better and I truly started to pity him. You could tell he really loved Rose, and his actions stemmed from what was expected from him at the time. A lot of women were being put in those “facilities” at the time, over things that didn’t even warrant it. He was progressive enough for the time he was in and made up for it later. Honestly, how much can you grow as a human, as a man, with a overbearing, weird mother like his?
Leo’s mother.... don’t even get me started on her. I believe that if she hadn’t been snooping and doing the stuff that she did, everyone’s story would have progressed differently. That's all I’m going to say about that hag
I didn’t really connect with their oldest daughter’s story. I get her rebellion from her parents, but at the same time I don’t. I get her wanting freedom but the way she took it threw me off. I think I know what the author was trying to do with her story (teen girl rebelling against the expectations of when she becomes a woman and eventually a wife) but it just fell flat. It turned into her obsessing over a man, who is very much a bum. I wished we saw more of how her mother's mental state affected her and her decisions. I just feel like it wasn’t discussed enough. I also wished she was involved with helping her father figure out what was going on. To me it just like she was... there? If her chapters were taken out, I don’t think it would have that much impact on the rest of the story
But overall, I liked how the story concluded. It definitely did not go the way I thought it would and I was pleasantly surprised. I finished this book at 4am with a smile on my face, and that's enough for me!
“The only quiet woman is a dead one.” —Sylvia Plath
Ain’t that the truth.
I really enjoyed this. There were some parts where I feel like it dragged a little bit, specifically certain POV chapters, but it was a good book
Some (mild?) spoilers ahead....
Leo, Rose’s husband, really frustrated me at the beginning of this book. Classic case of a man not taking a women's mental health seriously and throwing her in the loony bin so he wouldn’t have to deal with it. Not to mention he pawned his infant daughter to anyone so he wouldn’t have to watch her. But he got better and I truly started to pity him. You could tell he really loved Rose, and his actions stemmed from what was expected from him at the time. A lot of women were being put in those “facilities” at the time, over things that didn’t even warrant it. He was progressive enough for the time he was in and made up for it later. Honestly, how much can you grow as a human, as a man, with a overbearing, weird mother like his?
Leo’s mother.... don’t even get me started on her. I believe that if she hadn’t been snooping and doing the stuff that she did, everyone’s story would have progressed differently. That's all I’m going to say about that hag
I didn’t really connect with their oldest daughter’s story. I get her rebellion from her parents, but at the same time I don’t. I get her wanting freedom but the way she took it threw me off. I think I know what the author was trying to do with her story (teen girl rebelling against the expectations of when she becomes a woman and eventually a wife) but it just fell flat. It turned into her obsessing over a man, who is very much a bum. I wished we saw more of how her mother's mental state affected her and her decisions. I just feel like it wasn’t discussed enough. I also wished she was involved with helping her father figure out what was going on. To me it just like she was... there? If her chapters were taken out, I don’t think it would have that much impact on the rest of the story
But overall, I liked how the story concluded. It definitely did not go the way I thought it would and I was pleasantly surprised. I finished this book at 4am with a smile on my face, and that's enough for me!
July 4, 2026
I didnt realize the book would be from the husband's POV 95% of the time, and if I had, I wouldn't have read it. The story is about Rose, but we barely hear from her.
This wasn't the exciting, twisty story I was expecting. It barely scratched the surface of the conspiracies it centered around, which was very disappointing. It felt more like an outline of the story, like they hadn't put all of the details in before publishing.
But, I did like that the characters took time to acknowledge that women can/should be more than wives and mothers and that women deserve their own identity/hobbies/friends 🥰
This wasn't the exciting, twisty story I was expecting. It barely scratched the surface of the conspiracies it centered around, which was very disappointing. It felt more like an outline of the story, like they hadn't put all of the details in before publishing.
But, I did like that the characters took time to acknowledge that women can/should be more than wives and mothers and that women deserve their own identity/hobbies/friends 🥰
July 15, 2026
No I love when authors leave things completely unresolved 😍
June 23, 2026
4.5 stars.
For under 300 pages, this book really packs a punch emotionally and immediately when you start. There is an author’s note at the end which I think is important to be aware of before going in which highlights the author’s personal connection to the story and who the inspiration was.
The short chapters made me fly through it along with the 3 main POVs. The 1960s setting of LA was also different and had details that felt accurate to the time period.
What happens to Rose in this book, while being fictional, still leaves an impact as many women suffered through similar treatments and their after-effects.
For under 300 pages, this book really packs a punch emotionally and immediately when you start. There is an author’s note at the end which I think is important to be aware of before going in which highlights the author’s personal connection to the story and who the inspiration was.
The short chapters made me fly through it along with the 3 main POVs. The 1960s setting of LA was also different and had details that felt accurate to the time period.
What happens to Rose in this book, while being fictional, still leaves an impact as many women suffered through similar treatments and their after-effects.
May 24, 2026
Addictive start, soft landing.
When Rose Crawford vanishes during a family vacation and returns changed, her husband Leo dismisses the breakdown that follows as illness, until he uncovers evidence linking her institutionalization to a “research study” tied to his own advertising agency.
This one had me hooked early. Great mystery setup, sharp pacing, and an addictive pull that made the first half fly by. Then somewhere in the middle the story started to lag, and I found myself just waiting for it to get to the point. The ending didn’t deliver the kind of resolution I personally like in a thriller. It’s worth highlighting that this is a matter of taste, and readers who enjoy a more ambiguous landing may feel differently.
A quick, pleasant read with a strong start that ultimately left me a little disappointed. Worth picking up if you love retro-set thrillers with an atmospheric edge and don’t mind a quieter resolution.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Rose Crawford vanishes during a family vacation and returns changed, her husband Leo dismisses the breakdown that follows as illness, until he uncovers evidence linking her institutionalization to a “research study” tied to his own advertising agency.
This one had me hooked early. Great mystery setup, sharp pacing, and an addictive pull that made the first half fly by. Then somewhere in the middle the story started to lag, and I found myself just waiting for it to get to the point. The ending didn’t deliver the kind of resolution I personally like in a thriller. It’s worth highlighting that this is a matter of taste, and readers who enjoy a more ambiguous landing may feel differently.
A quick, pleasant read with a strong start that ultimately left me a little disappointed. Worth picking up if you love retro-set thrillers with an atmospheric edge and don’t mind a quieter resolution.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2026
My mind is going a mile a minute. I have to say that when the author shared her author’s note, I truly appreciated how she took situations from her own family history and brought it to life. As a person who has struggled with mental health, I was truly captivated on how the author shed light on how mental health was perceived and treated in the 60s. The suspense was there and it was thrilling at times. I wouldn’t consider this a psychological thriller per se, but more so a good old fashion suspense with some unhinged behavior. 🤣. You did your thing Faith Gardner. This was a good time. 4⭐️
June 24, 2026
3.5⭐
This horror is something that I'm truly terrified of.
Great in portraying the 1960s and the psychiatric era. The characterization was good, too. The writing and the atmosphere all were fine.
I could have used more explanation, though.
The ending was rushed and it was emotionally underwhelming, but maybe it's just a matter of personal taste.
3/30~4/2
This horror is something that I'm truly terrified of.
Great in portraying the 1960s and the psychiatric era. The characterization was good, too. The writing and the atmosphere all were fine.
I could have used more explanation, though.
The ending was rushed and it was emotionally underwhelming, but maybe it's just a matter of personal taste.
3/30~4/2
June 6, 2026
Absolutely no notes, this was so so good. It was deep and had me emotional at times. What a brilliant read! I loved the writing and the setting of LA in the 60s, a beautifully crafted story that had me completely gripped.
June 7, 2026
I had high expectations going in because one of my best friends rated this 5 stars, and I trust his judgment. I'm happy to report that this lived up to the hype I had in my head from his review.
To begin, the writing is EXCELLENT. I was hooked with every POV and I loved seeing the events from different characters' perspectives. I genuinely only put this book down when it was impossible to read on my kindle. (I even made pancakes while reading this). I would have finished this in one sitting had it been on audio, because it was that addictive. I was completely enthralled with the plot, the characters, and the pacing. I also think every woman deserves a husband like Leo because he fought so hard for his wife. Extra points for that!!
The one criticism I have was that the ending felt kind of rushed. I wish there were a few more chapters to flesh out the resolution because it was sort of abrupt. I enjoyed the events of the end, and we got an answer to the mystery, but for me it lacked the depth of the rest of the plot and left me wanting more.
Overall I would give this 4.75 stars. It was a wild ride from start to finish. I would recommend this to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and/or who enjoyed The Mad Wife.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
To begin, the writing is EXCELLENT. I was hooked with every POV and I loved seeing the events from different characters' perspectives. I genuinely only put this book down when it was impossible to read on my kindle. (I even made pancakes while reading this). I would have finished this in one sitting had it been on audio, because it was that addictive. I was completely enthralled with the plot, the characters, and the pacing. I also think every woman deserves a husband like Leo because he fought so hard for his wife. Extra points for that!!
The one criticism I have was that the ending felt kind of rushed. I wish there were a few more chapters to flesh out the resolution because it was sort of abrupt. I enjoyed the events of the end, and we got an answer to the mystery, but for me it lacked the depth of the rest of the plot and left me wanting more.
Overall I would give this 4.75 stars. It was a wild ride from start to finish. I would recommend this to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and/or who enjoyed The Mad Wife.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into The Spin, but the premise was too intriguing to pass up. I’ve read psychological thrillers centered around psychiatric institutions before, but I liked that this one took a familiar concept and gave it a fresh angle by weaving an entire family into the story. The short chapters kept me turning the pages, and the alternating perspectives made it easy to stay invested in what was unfolding. There were a handful of slower, drier sections, but for the most part the pacing stayed steady and kept me engaged. The ending took a slightly twisted yet believable direction, which I appreciated. It didn’t rely on an over-the-top reveal to leave an impression.
This was my first book by Faith Gardner, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’m already looking into what to read from her next.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into The Spin, but the premise was too intriguing to pass up. I’ve read psychological thrillers centered around psychiatric institutions before, but I liked that this one took a familiar concept and gave it a fresh angle by weaving an entire family into the story. The short chapters kept me turning the pages, and the alternating perspectives made it easy to stay invested in what was unfolding. There were a handful of slower, drier sections, but for the most part the pacing stayed steady and kept me engaged. The ending took a slightly twisted yet believable direction, which I appreciated. It didn’t rely on an over-the-top reveal to leave an impression.
This was my first book by Faith Gardner, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’m already looking into what to read from her next.
May 24, 2026
I really enjoyed the different POVs, along with the doctor’s reports, transcripts, and ledger notes woven throughout the story. The 1960s setting was done really well, especially the portrayal of gender roles and the way mental illness was treated during that time period. It was a very tense and gripping read that held my attention all the way to the end.
The author’s note really got to me too. Knowing the story was inspired by real experiences added an entirely different layer to it and made it even more impactful.
In the Los Angeles suburbs, the Crawfords seem like the perfect family until Rose vanishes during a vacation. When she returns, something is deeply wrong. After a terrifying breakdown, she’s locked away in an institution where women are silenced and dismissed as hysterical. As her husband Leo searches for answers, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Rose’s breakdown may not be mental at all, and whatever happened to her could put the entire family in danger.
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Mirror House Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date : Jun 16, 2026
The author’s note really got to me too. Knowing the story was inspired by real experiences added an entirely different layer to it and made it even more impactful.
In the Los Angeles suburbs, the Crawfords seem like the perfect family until Rose vanishes during a vacation. When she returns, something is deeply wrong. After a terrifying breakdown, she’s locked away in an institution where women are silenced and dismissed as hysterical. As her husband Leo searches for answers, he uncovers a disturbing truth: Rose’s breakdown may not be mental at all, and whatever happened to her could put the entire family in danger.
Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Mirror House Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date : Jun 16, 2026
July 23, 2026
Overall - I actually really enjoyed the story. We follow Rose who has seemingly suffered a breakdown and has been committed. We then also follow her husband Leo who tries to get to the bottom of what is really happening..
The story was good and did manage to shock me a few times. I just found we spent alot of time on things that didn't really add or contribute much to the storyline, and the things we needed abit more depth on - we didn't really get.
Like Melinda and her boyfriends storyline, I personally didn't understand the significance of that and why so much time was spent on it.
I wanted to hear more about what was ACTUALLY going on. I feel like we got a very vague explanation about it all.
Overall 3 stars for this one!
The story was good and did manage to shock me a few times. I just found we spent alot of time on things that didn't really add or contribute much to the storyline, and the things we needed abit more depth on - we didn't really get.
Like Melinda and her boyfriends storyline, I personally didn't understand the significance of that and why so much time was spent on it.
I wanted to hear more about what was ACTUALLY going on. I feel like we got a very vague explanation about it all.
Overall 3 stars for this one!
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