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Dortmund Hibernate
Psychologist Dr Magnus Paul is tasked with the patients of Dortmund Asylum - nine criminally insane souls hidden from the world due to the extremity of their acts.
Magnus has six weeks to prove them sane for transfer to a maximum-security prison, or label them as incurable and recommend a death sentence under a new government act.
As Magnus delves into the darkness of the incarcerated minds, his own sanity is challenged. Secrets squeeze through the cracks of the asylum, blurring the line between reality and nightmare, urging Magnus towards a new life of crime...
The rural western town of Dortmund and its inhabitants are the backdrop to the mayhem on the hill.
It's Silence of the Lambs meets Shutter Island in this tale of loss, fear and diminishing hope.
Magnus has six weeks to prove them sane for transfer to a maximum-security prison, or label them as incurable and recommend a death sentence under a new government act.
As Magnus delves into the darkness of the incarcerated minds, his own sanity is challenged. Secrets squeeze through the cracks of the asylum, blurring the line between reality and nightmare, urging Magnus towards a new life of crime...
The rural western town of Dortmund and its inhabitants are the backdrop to the mayhem on the hill.
It's Silence of the Lambs meets Shutter Island in this tale of loss, fear and diminishing hope.
291 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2018
13 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Sutton
2 books12 followersC. J. Sutton is a writer based in Romsey, Victoria. He holds a Master of Communication degree and supports the value of study through correspondence. His fictional writing delves into the unpredictability of the human mind and the fears that drive us. As a professional writer C.J. Sutton has worked within the hustle and bustle of newsrooms, the competitive offices of advertising and the trenches of marketing. But his interest in creating new characters and worlds has seen a move into fiction, which has always pleaded for complete attention.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 23, 2018
4 Depraved Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
Criminally insane:
A mental defect or disease that makes it impossible for a person to understand the wrongfulness of his acts or, even if he understands them, to distinguish right from wrong.
If anyone is charge with a crime and is found to be criminally insane they cannot be convicted of the crime.
The character Jack Torrance from the Shining was criminally insane.
2
criminally insane
.a person who exhibits actions that could be a potential danger to him/herself or others.
The murderer was criminally insane.
This book was SO dark! And that is what is to be expected when you are reading a book about the criminally insane and a doctor with questionable ethics.... now this is where things are sometimes different when we read books that are not set in your own country, the laws are different in the US then other countries... also this is a hypothetical situation... to decide if these inmates are capable of rehabilitation or if they should be put to death... Well according to my above definition by the very definition of criminally insane they are incapable of being rehabilitated... sorry I’m thinking out loud, this book really made me overthink things! It also creeped me out and made me really feeling quiteslimy.... ‘another book that left me feeling as though I really needed to take a shower (and not a cold shower)... from this desolate town, to the disturb characters, to the dark subject matter, this book pulls you in... and nothing was held back! As we got to know these inmates we were introduced to the horrors of their crimes... and a lot of them were quite brutal and gruesome and we got details... The language was also very colorful, these men were not censored.... so if you are not a fan of violence or bad language this might not... OK is not the book for you...
This was a well-done psychological thriller filled with plenty of twists and turns that leant a little to the horror Side of the genre... if this is your thing I strongly encourage you to pick this book up and try to read it while the suns still up!
*** many thanks to the author and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
Criminally insane:
A mental defect or disease that makes it impossible for a person to understand the wrongfulness of his acts or, even if he understands them, to distinguish right from wrong.
If anyone is charge with a crime and is found to be criminally insane they cannot be convicted of the crime.
The character Jack Torrance from the Shining was criminally insane.
2
criminally insane
.a person who exhibits actions that could be a potential danger to him/herself or others.
The murderer was criminally insane.
This book was SO dark! And that is what is to be expected when you are reading a book about the criminally insane and a doctor with questionable ethics.... now this is where things are sometimes different when we read books that are not set in your own country, the laws are different in the US then other countries... also this is a hypothetical situation... to decide if these inmates are capable of rehabilitation or if they should be put to death... Well according to my above definition by the very definition of criminally insane they are incapable of being rehabilitated... sorry I’m thinking out loud, this book really made me overthink things! It also creeped me out and made me really feeling quiteslimy.... ‘another book that left me feeling as though I really needed to take a shower (and not a cold shower)... from this desolate town, to the disturb characters, to the dark subject matter, this book pulls you in... and nothing was held back! As we got to know these inmates we were introduced to the horrors of their crimes... and a lot of them were quite brutal and gruesome and we got details... The language was also very colorful, these men were not censored.... so if you are not a fan of violence or bad language this might not... OK is not the book for you...
This was a well-done psychological thriller filled with plenty of twists and turns that leant a little to the horror Side of the genre... if this is your thing I strongly encourage you to pick this book up and try to read it while the suns still up!
*** many thanks to the author and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my copy of this book ***
July 23, 2018
4☆ Very Dark Twisted Psychological Thriller
Dortmund Hibernate is a Very Dark and twisted Psychological Thriller that delves into the minds of the criminally insane.
Dr Magnus has been tasked to interview the prisoners of the Dortmund Asylum to see if they are sane enough to move to another location.
From the very first few pages I was hooked, shocked, freaked out and the hairs on my arms stood up.
I honestly can't imagine having someone putting a spider up a teens nose and killing them from the inside. Then feeding the other teen to an anaconda. My biggest fear is snakes so I was Shitting myself just reading it.
This book isn't for those of the feint hearted, it's graphic, disturbing and will get under your skin! Certainly not a book for the early hours as I quickly found out.
But I just couldn't help reading.
The plot is compulsive, it's not particularly fast but it's of a consistent pace that creates tension and plays with your mind. But I guess that's exactly what it's meant to do, after all you are being giving an insider's look into the criminally insane.
If you enjoy very dark, disturbing, graphic, compulsive page turning psychological thrillers that get under your skin.
Then you must give Dortmund Hibernate a read!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Dortmund Hibernate is a Very Dark and twisted Psychological Thriller that delves into the minds of the criminally insane.
Dr Magnus has been tasked to interview the prisoners of the Dortmund Asylum to see if they are sane enough to move to another location.
From the very first few pages I was hooked, shocked, freaked out and the hairs on my arms stood up.
I honestly can't imagine having someone putting a spider up a teens nose and killing them from the inside. Then feeding the other teen to an anaconda. My biggest fear is snakes so I was Shitting myself just reading it.
This book isn't for those of the feint hearted, it's graphic, disturbing and will get under your skin! Certainly not a book for the early hours as I quickly found out.
But I just couldn't help reading.
The plot is compulsive, it's not particularly fast but it's of a consistent pace that creates tension and plays with your mind. But I guess that's exactly what it's meant to do, after all you are being giving an insider's look into the criminally insane.
If you enjoy very dark, disturbing, graphic, compulsive page turning psychological thrillers that get under your skin.
Then you must give Dortmund Hibernate a read!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
August 5, 2018
Grim Consequences
Human psyche is a very tricky subject indeed. Is it a personal choice to be good or evil, sane or not quite etc.? This book raises some fundamental, but uneasy questions about the society we live in as well as its mechanisms of correction, law enforcement and punishment.
Very thought-provoking, but grim. Inevitably, one starts to think about the role of prevention and education at an early age. Otherwise, the consequences are apparent.
Human psyche is a very tricky subject indeed. Is it a personal choice to be good or evil, sane or not quite etc.? This book raises some fundamental, but uneasy questions about the society we live in as well as its mechanisms of correction, law enforcement and punishment.
Very thought-provoking, but grim. Inevitably, one starts to think about the role of prevention and education at an early age. Otherwise, the consequences are apparent.
July 22, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
This book had some fascinating characters and I found myself sitting and thinking about then after I’d finished the story and finally put my Kindle down – it really gave me the creeps!!
The story is very well written and the characters are superb and the author has achieved excellent characterisation. The setting is great and I loved the plot too – it is a very dark and disturbing book and definitely not one to read when you are home alone at night!
That said, don’t take the above at criticism, it is an excellent story and I can’t give it anything other than 5 stars – it is a fairly short read and packs a lot of punches – I was completely hooked from start to finish, it won’t be for everyone with the subject and content but I personally loved it!
This book had some fascinating characters and I found myself sitting and thinking about then after I’d finished the story and finally put my Kindle down – it really gave me the creeps!!
The story is very well written and the characters are superb and the author has achieved excellent characterisation. The setting is great and I loved the plot too – it is a very dark and disturbing book and definitely not one to read when you are home alone at night!
That said, don’t take the above at criticism, it is an excellent story and I can’t give it anything other than 5 stars – it is a fairly short read and packs a lot of punches – I was completely hooked from start to finish, it won’t be for everyone with the subject and content but I personally loved it!
July 17, 2018
Dr. Magnus Paul has recently been hired to work at Dortmund Asylum. He is tasked with interviewing nine of the criminally insane residents being housed there. His job is to determine if each is sane enough to be sent to a maximum security prison or insane enough to warrant their execution. Magnus believes that no one is ever truly criminally insane and he is determined to make sure that he can get through to the nine incarcerated because Magnus believes what they have is a sickness and a like all sicknesses they can eventually be cured. But, can he cure the insane? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind the doors of Dortmund Asylum?
Wow! This story just totally blew my mind. This is the type of story that starts off slow making sure you are hooked and then hits you with the ultimate shocking discovery that nothing is as it seems, but by then it is too late and you find yourself sucked into the story sort of frightened and yet totally exhilarated to read more. It’s pretty safe to say that I should probably NOT have started this story in the evening because the creep factor is on full force. Author C.J. Sutton has a very wicked mind and portrays the criminally insane with such accuracy that feels all too real. The nine residents of the asylum are written in such a way that their individual stories will give you the chills. I will be double locking all of my doors before I go to bed tonight that’s for sure!
Magnus is not always a likeable character and especially now with being the deciding factor between whether the insane live or die really had me on the fence with my feelings. I found him, in the beginning, to be a strong character and professional with his dealings, but there was a certain point where I witnessed him spiraling and blurring the lines between what is real and what is false. Magnus does have a bit of a tragic past which shaped his beliefs today. I still was at odds with how he thought the criminally insane should not be condemned to death and that deep down inside they had a conscious and they could tell right from wrong. I mean just think about it, imagine yourself interviewing the likes of the Ted Bundy’s of the world or even Aileen Wournos and thinking to yourself “I can fix them if I know their triggers.” That is a definite no from me. Do I believe they should be interviewed and studied, sure, but after that straight to the executioners chair.
The plot really draws you right in from the beginning. It is incredibly disturbing on so many levels and the darkness takes center stage. The pace is slow and steady and before you know it you are heavily invested in finding out what happens. I knew there would be twists, but Sutton just hits you with them right out of the blue in places where you least expected them. It came to the point where my jaw dropped and I was all like “what in the world is going on…is this real? A dream? Are they all committed and it’s just one big mindf**ck. I need to know! Bravo on the suspense. I never saw what was coming and when everything was revealed, I was shocked!
Dortmund Hibernate is one of those books destined to live on a reader’s keeper shelf. With such a strong debut, C.J Sutton has established himself as a top contender in the psychological thriller genre. I cannot wait for more.
Wow! This story just totally blew my mind. This is the type of story that starts off slow making sure you are hooked and then hits you with the ultimate shocking discovery that nothing is as it seems, but by then it is too late and you find yourself sucked into the story sort of frightened and yet totally exhilarated to read more. It’s pretty safe to say that I should probably NOT have started this story in the evening because the creep factor is on full force. Author C.J. Sutton has a very wicked mind and portrays the criminally insane with such accuracy that feels all too real. The nine residents of the asylum are written in such a way that their individual stories will give you the chills. I will be double locking all of my doors before I go to bed tonight that’s for sure!
Magnus is not always a likeable character and especially now with being the deciding factor between whether the insane live or die really had me on the fence with my feelings. I found him, in the beginning, to be a strong character and professional with his dealings, but there was a certain point where I witnessed him spiraling and blurring the lines between what is real and what is false. Magnus does have a bit of a tragic past which shaped his beliefs today. I still was at odds with how he thought the criminally insane should not be condemned to death and that deep down inside they had a conscious and they could tell right from wrong. I mean just think about it, imagine yourself interviewing the likes of the Ted Bundy’s of the world or even Aileen Wournos and thinking to yourself “I can fix them if I know their triggers.” That is a definite no from me. Do I believe they should be interviewed and studied, sure, but after that straight to the executioners chair.
The plot really draws you right in from the beginning. It is incredibly disturbing on so many levels and the darkness takes center stage. The pace is slow and steady and before you know it you are heavily invested in finding out what happens. I knew there would be twists, but Sutton just hits you with them right out of the blue in places where you least expected them. It came to the point where my jaw dropped and I was all like “what in the world is going on…is this real? A dream? Are they all committed and it’s just one big mindf**ck. I need to know! Bravo on the suspense. I never saw what was coming and when everything was revealed, I was shocked!
Dortmund Hibernate is one of those books destined to live on a reader’s keeper shelf. With such a strong debut, C.J Sutton has established himself as a top contender in the psychological thriller genre. I cannot wait for more.
July 19, 2018
3.5 stars - Wow, this book is dark, exceptionally dark, Magnus really has his work cut out for him. Dortmund Hibernate started off as I expected it to, alongside Magnus, you meet these nine patients, you hear their crimes, your mind tries to comprehend their crimes but it can’t… yet, you keep trying, that’s humanity’s weird fascination with those who commit the darkest crimes, you want to learn more about these individuals because you want to understand how a person could commit such an act. If that morbid fascination doesn’t sit well with you, then this probably isn’t the book for you. If offensive language in novels doesn’t sit well with either, then you might want to give this one a miss. However, if you’re ready to enter the darkness, this is the novel for you.
“The mind determines what is real, and what is not. Alter a mind, and you can alter a reality”
Dortmund Hibernate contains some of the most depraved characters I’ve come across in fiction, this novel isn’t for the faint hearted. You have to have the darkest soul to become a patient of the Dortmund Asylum; the crimes the patients committed are brutal, their telling’s remorseless. This novel contains violence, sometimes with graphic descriptions. That’s your warning, don’t take it lightly when the blurb says, “Magnus delves into the darkness of the incarcerated minds.”
I don’t want to give anything away but this book certainly delivered more than I expected. The first half, I really enjoyed, it was as I expected it to be, a psychologist delved into the darkest minds. As the novel progressed, the tension heightened because someone, somewhere cannot be trusted, and that puts everyone in danger. Then a twist out of left field totally altered the course of this novel, and I must say I was mighty impressed with one of the ‘reveals’ in this novel, it was so clever. A psychological thriller this is, but it may also appeal to those who enjoy horror novels.
Dortmund Hibernate isn’t likely to win any prizes for poetic prose, but it’s not meant to, it’s dark, sometimes brutal, all the time suspenseful. Sutton used the small-town of Dortmund to enhance the atmosphere of this novel, the isolation of the town, alongside the events that were occurring created a real sense of desolation.
I read this novel over the course of a day, I enjoyed it, but I did find towards the end of the novel, the plot dragged a bit, it could have finished more succinctly. Dortmund Hibernate is Sutton’s debut novel, while the tension and suspense is always there, and I always welcome a journey into a deranged mind, the feelings of unsettlement and that lingering disturbing feeling weren’t always present, as you’d imagine they would be due to the content – I think that was due to me sometimes struggling to believe in parts of the narrative in the second half of the novel, therefore the chilling nature was lost at times. However, this is a very good debut novel, with a very strong first half, one that I recommend and one that showcases the potential Sutton has for future novels, who knows how deep into the human psyche he will dare delve.
*My thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources & Crooked Cat Books for providing me with a copy of this title*
“The mind determines what is real, and what is not. Alter a mind, and you can alter a reality”
Dortmund Hibernate contains some of the most depraved characters I’ve come across in fiction, this novel isn’t for the faint hearted. You have to have the darkest soul to become a patient of the Dortmund Asylum; the crimes the patients committed are brutal, their telling’s remorseless. This novel contains violence, sometimes with graphic descriptions. That’s your warning, don’t take it lightly when the blurb says, “Magnus delves into the darkness of the incarcerated minds.”
I don’t want to give anything away but this book certainly delivered more than I expected. The first half, I really enjoyed, it was as I expected it to be, a psychologist delved into the darkest minds. As the novel progressed, the tension heightened because someone, somewhere cannot be trusted, and that puts everyone in danger. Then a twist out of left field totally altered the course of this novel, and I must say I was mighty impressed with one of the ‘reveals’ in this novel, it was so clever. A psychological thriller this is, but it may also appeal to those who enjoy horror novels.
Dortmund Hibernate isn’t likely to win any prizes for poetic prose, but it’s not meant to, it’s dark, sometimes brutal, all the time suspenseful. Sutton used the small-town of Dortmund to enhance the atmosphere of this novel, the isolation of the town, alongside the events that were occurring created a real sense of desolation.
I read this novel over the course of a day, I enjoyed it, but I did find towards the end of the novel, the plot dragged a bit, it could have finished more succinctly. Dortmund Hibernate is Sutton’s debut novel, while the tension and suspense is always there, and I always welcome a journey into a deranged mind, the feelings of unsettlement and that lingering disturbing feeling weren’t always present, as you’d imagine they would be due to the content – I think that was due to me sometimes struggling to believe in parts of the narrative in the second half of the novel, therefore the chilling nature was lost at times. However, this is a very good debut novel, with a very strong first half, one that I recommend and one that showcases the potential Sutton has for future novels, who knows how deep into the human psyche he will dare delve.
*My thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources & Crooked Cat Books for providing me with a copy of this title*
July 22, 2018
My Review Dortmund Hibernate
by C.J. Sutton Dortmund Hibernate Full Tour Banner
#Goodgrief
This is a shocker of a book and I wouldn't want to meet this author within 2KM of a mental asylum.
The Good
This was something very different for me. A compelling and unique read. Not my first book on mental health or asylums but one that offered a different perspective - which was pretty horrific.
The Bad
Flashbacks of the Twilight Zone. I am not sure if I loved this book. It was too dark to love but too awful to put down. I wrote a review the other day about putting one hand over my eyes as I read... well with this one, I wanted to hide under cover to read it!
The Ugly
I think that the twist in the story was unexpected and great. I enjoyed each story -but I did feel that there were too many (9 I think). I would have preferred more depth to the ultra scary ones and being a woman, I am not sure why I loved the female inmate. She was so crazy, I wanted to see and hear more about her in all her glory - how did she kill, did she just bite the leg or eat something else.
5 Stars for being unique
4 Stars for being scary - the pictures BJ and AJ were also amusing!
5 Stars for the twist
3 Stars because I think that fewer inmates would have made this even creepier. I can see a prequel and sequel - or short reads on each of the inmates.
by C.J. Sutton Dortmund Hibernate Full Tour Banner
#Goodgrief
This is a shocker of a book and I wouldn't want to meet this author within 2KM of a mental asylum.
The Good
This was something very different for me. A compelling and unique read. Not my first book on mental health or asylums but one that offered a different perspective - which was pretty horrific.
The Bad
Flashbacks of the Twilight Zone. I am not sure if I loved this book. It was too dark to love but too awful to put down. I wrote a review the other day about putting one hand over my eyes as I read... well with this one, I wanted to hide under cover to read it!
The Ugly
I think that the twist in the story was unexpected and great. I enjoyed each story -but I did feel that there were too many (9 I think). I would have preferred more depth to the ultra scary ones and being a woman, I am not sure why I loved the female inmate. She was so crazy, I wanted to see and hear more about her in all her glory - how did she kill, did she just bite the leg or eat something else.
5 Stars for being unique
4 Stars for being scary - the pictures BJ and AJ were also amusing!
5 Stars for the twist
3 Stars because I think that fewer inmates would have made this even creepier. I can see a prequel and sequel - or short reads on each of the inmates.
July 19, 2018
I think it was the fact I have always been fascinated/interested in the criminally insane, maximum security prisons and death row so on that basis I agreed to join this blog tour to read Dortmund Hibernate. Just taking a look at the subject matter and the utter blackness of the cover should have been a big enough hint that perhaps I might need a strong stomach! Eventually I delved in telling myself all the time I could just put the book down if it all became too intense!
I have never hidden my fear of rats so that trigger was hit within a couple of pages along with a tendency not to like spiders lol … and as for my absolute fear of eyes that nearly finished me off … don’t get me wrong it was so gross and obscene it was almost addictive.
Dortmund Asylum pulls in the psychologist Magnus Paul who is convinced he can draw the conclusion to what insanity is, what drives a person to become insane and can they once diagnosed, be cured? There are only nine inmates but Magnus has the task of assessing them all within a six week period. What will he find and will anything substantial be revealed?
To gain the utmost disgust mixed with a riveting reading experience it’s best for me to allow you to judge for yourselves without me attempting to ‘sell’ it to you because I simply couldn’t give it the credit and atmospheric feel it deserves. Don’t just assume it’s the patients that are crazy you can’t possibly be in an environment like that and not be affected in some way.
Even after finishing Dortmund Hibernate I’m still a little anxious when it gets dark, maybe I need to see Magnus Paul. This is a debut novel from C.J. Sutton which I find hard to believe due to the quality. I will be keen to see what comes out of his dark twisted story telling ‘mind’ next time because he has set the stakes incredibly high.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Rachel from Random Resources for my copy. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
I have never hidden my fear of rats so that trigger was hit within a couple of pages along with a tendency not to like spiders lol … and as for my absolute fear of eyes that nearly finished me off … don’t get me wrong it was so gross and obscene it was almost addictive.
Dortmund Asylum pulls in the psychologist Magnus Paul who is convinced he can draw the conclusion to what insanity is, what drives a person to become insane and can they once diagnosed, be cured? There are only nine inmates but Magnus has the task of assessing them all within a six week period. What will he find and will anything substantial be revealed?
To gain the utmost disgust mixed with a riveting reading experience it’s best for me to allow you to judge for yourselves without me attempting to ‘sell’ it to you because I simply couldn’t give it the credit and atmospheric feel it deserves. Don’t just assume it’s the patients that are crazy you can’t possibly be in an environment like that and not be affected in some way.
Even after finishing Dortmund Hibernate I’m still a little anxious when it gets dark, maybe I need to see Magnus Paul. This is a debut novel from C.J. Sutton which I find hard to believe due to the quality. I will be keen to see what comes out of his dark twisted story telling ‘mind’ next time because he has set the stakes incredibly high.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Rachel from Random Resources for my copy. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
July 13, 2018
Wow. I’m speechless. After finishing this book I know I’m going to struggle to give it the review it deserves.
Usually I can blitz through a book pretty quickly. This took me extra time as I found the content heavy. Please don’t take that as a negative... I certainly didn’t. I found myself after reading a few chapters, closing my kindle and just thinking about the story, about the characters.
This is the story of nine criminally insane patients in Dortmund Asylum. Dr. Magnus Paul must assess each of them and determine if they go to prison or get the death sentence. We hear each of their stories in their own words as they tell Magnus why they are in the asylum. As each day passes he struggles with what to believe and who to trust.
This is one of those books I’d have loved to buddy read with as I needed to talk about it and didn’t want to spoil it for anyone.
I’ve read many books but I know this book will stay with me for a long time.
‘Their sickness was incurable’.
Usually I can blitz through a book pretty quickly. This took me extra time as I found the content heavy. Please don’t take that as a negative... I certainly didn’t. I found myself after reading a few chapters, closing my kindle and just thinking about the story, about the characters.
This is the story of nine criminally insane patients in Dortmund Asylum. Dr. Magnus Paul must assess each of them and determine if they go to prison or get the death sentence. We hear each of their stories in their own words as they tell Magnus why they are in the asylum. As each day passes he struggles with what to believe and who to trust.
This is one of those books I’d have loved to buddy read with as I needed to talk about it and didn’t want to spoil it for anyone.
I’ve read many books but I know this book will stay with me for a long time.
‘Their sickness was incurable’.
August 22, 2018
I'll be honest - this book scared the living daylights out of me, but I couldn't put it down! You can get the gist from the blurb already given, but it doesn't do the book justice. As I read I kept thinking that it was a different view of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' - Jasper making me think of McMurphy. Yet there were no redeeming or cosy characters here. I doubt you'd find a more insane group of people in one place at the same time. Even the doctor didn't seem to be "all there". I can't fault the quality of the writing, the way the author kept me glued to the pages, wanting to know more (and me a rom-com addict!), the depth of the characters - yes, you get into the most warped minds that you're unlikely to forget easily. What a book - it deserves to be listed amongst the best of psychological thrillers. Oh - and watch for the twists.
July 16, 2018
I’ll start by saying that I wasn’t sure if I would be able to read this book, one of the first chapters almost put me off, it was a bit gruesome and I’m not really one for gruesome books but I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and I’m really glad I did.
Dortmund Hibernate is definitely a slow burn type book, nothing happens at a fast pace but it actually benefits from that. I could read one or two chapters and then be thinking about them for a while afterwards, it is quite dense there is a lot to get through but I don’t mean that in a negative way, it really got me involved with the story.
The characters were all in some way dark and twisted, I don’t just mean the inmates, to be a guard at a place like that you are definitely no angel. Each of the nine was there for very different reasons and it was good that there was a clear divide between them, they have all done heinous things but they could be distinguished from each other and there was hatred amongst them for various reasons.
Magnus was an interesting one, at times he felt like the voice of reason and then I would start to wonder if he had other motives or if the asylum was rubbing off on him. For me, he always had a question mark next to him but it made the story more interesting for it and I liked that he wasn’t clearly defined as a good guy.
The story was clever, I will not say anything about it but it was very well crafted. Whenever I read psychological thrillers I am always expecting a twist but what I liked about this book was that there were a few and I didn’t expect them, I knew there was going to be some but I couldn’t guess what they would be.
Towards the end of the book it did become rather gruesome again by this point I was too invested in it to stop reading but if like me you aren’t that fond of gore then I’m happy to say you can skim around it without losing any of the story.
Even though it had a little more gore than I would usually like I’m glad that I gave it a shot, it is a very clever book that really does play on your mind after reading. I would be interested to see what C.J. Sutton comes up with next.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
Dortmund Hibernate is definitely a slow burn type book, nothing happens at a fast pace but it actually benefits from that. I could read one or two chapters and then be thinking about them for a while afterwards, it is quite dense there is a lot to get through but I don’t mean that in a negative way, it really got me involved with the story.
The characters were all in some way dark and twisted, I don’t just mean the inmates, to be a guard at a place like that you are definitely no angel. Each of the nine was there for very different reasons and it was good that there was a clear divide between them, they have all done heinous things but they could be distinguished from each other and there was hatred amongst them for various reasons.
Magnus was an interesting one, at times he felt like the voice of reason and then I would start to wonder if he had other motives or if the asylum was rubbing off on him. For me, he always had a question mark next to him but it made the story more interesting for it and I liked that he wasn’t clearly defined as a good guy.
The story was clever, I will not say anything about it but it was very well crafted. Whenever I read psychological thrillers I am always expecting a twist but what I liked about this book was that there were a few and I didn’t expect them, I knew there was going to be some but I couldn’t guess what they would be.
Towards the end of the book it did become rather gruesome again by this point I was too invested in it to stop reading but if like me you aren’t that fond of gore then I’m happy to say you can skim around it without losing any of the story.
Even though it had a little more gore than I would usually like I’m glad that I gave it a shot, it is a very clever book that really does play on your mind after reading. I would be interested to see what C.J. Sutton comes up with next.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
July 20, 2018
I've never read a book quite like this one. It's gruesome yet gripping, creepy yet compelling. I was pulled in from the very first page and as the intrigue built throughout the story I found myself having to drop everything and sit down to finish it. I knew beforehand that there were going to be twists, but I didn't guess them so was genuinely surprised when they were revealed. It's the kind of book that once you've finished it, you want to go back and read it again to see what clues you missed. Highly recommended.
January 29, 2019
My Review: 4/5
An asylum for the criminally insane. Would you enter? Not only does Dr. Magnus Paul enter, he immerses himself into the minds of the 9 prisoners. The affects are horrifying.
This book is dark. The crimes each prisoner committed are horrific, gruesome, and at times terrifying. But, can they be saved? Deep inside, is there still empathy….was there ever?
I enjoyed the darkness of this book. While I felt it was a tad long, the story had me hooked from the very beginning. It has a touch of Silence of the Lambs, but only a touch. It is a one of a kind novel that is different from anything I’ve read.
I find it very hard to believe that this is the first book from the author. The writing is captivating, keeping you gripped, entertained, while making you think.
If you enjoy darker psychological books, run out and read this one!
An asylum for the criminally insane. Would you enter? Not only does Dr. Magnus Paul enter, he immerses himself into the minds of the 9 prisoners. The affects are horrifying.
This book is dark. The crimes each prisoner committed are horrific, gruesome, and at times terrifying. But, can they be saved? Deep inside, is there still empathy….was there ever?
I enjoyed the darkness of this book. While I felt it was a tad long, the story had me hooked from the very beginning. It has a touch of Silence of the Lambs, but only a touch. It is a one of a kind novel that is different from anything I’ve read.
I find it very hard to believe that this is the first book from the author. The writing is captivating, keeping you gripped, entertained, while making you think.
If you enjoy darker psychological books, run out and read this one!
July 17, 2018
*I received a free ARC of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources blog tour. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
There is something very wrong up at Dortmund Asylum and crack psychologist Magnus Paul is eager to set things to rights. But right and wrong are increasingly indistinguishable as there is madness in the air.
Dortmund Hibernate is graphically and psychologically horrific. C. J. Sutton explores the ideas of criminal insanity as sickness and/or evil and pulls no punches along the way, ultimately leaving judgment to the reader.
Trigger warnings are required for pretty much the whole book as it is permeated with blood, rape, and acts of pain and cruelty that seem almost unimaginable. I say almost, because not only will you imagine them, but I can assure you that I am writing this review in the small hours thanks to my rather vivid mental screenplay of this book!
Not only am I haunted by the pictures Sutton paints in shades of crimson and gun-metal, but I am haunted by the questions he raises and leaves unanswered. Questions about whether it is more pernicious to expose a child to drugs or violence, if they are the only two options available. Questions about whether the truly mentally ill can be ‘punished’ or ‘cured’ effectively. Questions about who and how judges that answer. And of course, the obvious question: if you take terrifyingly violent people and lock them up in isolation with only their own thoughts for company, treating them like rabid animals, then might not even the sane splinter?
Dortmund Asylum contains nine prisoners, four guards and now one psychologist. Can Magnus truly help any of them, including himself?
If you love Shutter Island, Identity or Lucky Number Slevin; enjoy plot twists that jump out at you like a Scream-masked slasher, and do not have a delicate constitution when it comes to eyeballs and appendages then you will find Dortmund Hibernate right up your dark alley. If you like your thrillers thoughtful and psychologically insightful then pull up a sofa, but be prepared to keep the lights on. Oh and be warned, you may never look at the reptile house the same way again…!
Dark work, to enter a room and face a human that does not trust the system.
You are the problem.
You represent a foul stench that wafts in through a grate and lingers, never more.
For the sickness rebels, and the rebellion is a battlefield that no man or woman can escape without a wound that seeps until the end of days.
Pay close attention, my friend. We’re all a little insane.
– C. J. Sutton, Dortmund Hibernate
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
There is something very wrong up at Dortmund Asylum and crack psychologist Magnus Paul is eager to set things to rights. But right and wrong are increasingly indistinguishable as there is madness in the air.
Dortmund Hibernate is graphically and psychologically horrific. C. J. Sutton explores the ideas of criminal insanity as sickness and/or evil and pulls no punches along the way, ultimately leaving judgment to the reader.
Trigger warnings are required for pretty much the whole book as it is permeated with blood, rape, and acts of pain and cruelty that seem almost unimaginable. I say almost, because not only will you imagine them, but I can assure you that I am writing this review in the small hours thanks to my rather vivid mental screenplay of this book!
Not only am I haunted by the pictures Sutton paints in shades of crimson and gun-metal, but I am haunted by the questions he raises and leaves unanswered. Questions about whether it is more pernicious to expose a child to drugs or violence, if they are the only two options available. Questions about whether the truly mentally ill can be ‘punished’ or ‘cured’ effectively. Questions about who and how judges that answer. And of course, the obvious question: if you take terrifyingly violent people and lock them up in isolation with only their own thoughts for company, treating them like rabid animals, then might not even the sane splinter?
Dortmund Asylum contains nine prisoners, four guards and now one psychologist. Can Magnus truly help any of them, including himself?
If you love Shutter Island, Identity or Lucky Number Slevin; enjoy plot twists that jump out at you like a Scream-masked slasher, and do not have a delicate constitution when it comes to eyeballs and appendages then you will find Dortmund Hibernate right up your dark alley. If you like your thrillers thoughtful and psychologically insightful then pull up a sofa, but be prepared to keep the lights on. Oh and be warned, you may never look at the reptile house the same way again…!
Dark work, to enter a room and face a human that does not trust the system.
You are the problem.
You represent a foul stench that wafts in through a grate and lingers, never more.
For the sickness rebels, and the rebellion is a battlefield that no man or woman can escape without a wound that seeps until the end of days.
Pay close attention, my friend. We’re all a little insane.
– C. J. Sutton, Dortmund Hibernate
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
July 29, 2018
Not sure where to start with this book – so much to say! My first tip, DO NOT start this book in the dark on your own!! This book creeps into your mind and lurks there waiting for dark – I don’t mind saying I was checking under my bed for monsters that first night.
I initially didn’t get on with the main character Magnus, I found him very self-centered and arrogant. As the book progresses you learn more about his background and motives and that certainly helps to make him more well-rounded to the reader. The side characters in this book are well written and all have a great part to play, of all of them, I especially liked Walter, he was good and honest with clean motives.
When you are first introduced to Dortmund and the asylum you get an instant creepy vibe – the descriptions of the place leave you with a very dark and desolate feeling that adds to the whole atmosphere of the book. In this first section you are also introduced to the ‘nine’ that inhabit the asylum, all of whom tell their story to Magnus. If you are not a fan of graphic violence and strong language I would probably avoid this book. There are scenes/retellings of torture, rape and murder and also some racial slurs which some may find offensive.
The atmosphere and tension really ratchet up though out this book and I struggled to put it down once I hit the half way mark as so much was going on and I was desperate to reach the conclusion. And boy does it deliver – several moments that made me go ‘how did I miss that?!’ I actually felt tense reading this book.
If you love a dark and twisty book this is one for you, thank you to the author and Rachel at random resources for a copy to review
I initially didn’t get on with the main character Magnus, I found him very self-centered and arrogant. As the book progresses you learn more about his background and motives and that certainly helps to make him more well-rounded to the reader. The side characters in this book are well written and all have a great part to play, of all of them, I especially liked Walter, he was good and honest with clean motives.
When you are first introduced to Dortmund and the asylum you get an instant creepy vibe – the descriptions of the place leave you with a very dark and desolate feeling that adds to the whole atmosphere of the book. In this first section you are also introduced to the ‘nine’ that inhabit the asylum, all of whom tell their story to Magnus. If you are not a fan of graphic violence and strong language I would probably avoid this book. There are scenes/retellings of torture, rape and murder and also some racial slurs which some may find offensive.
The atmosphere and tension really ratchet up though out this book and I struggled to put it down once I hit the half way mark as so much was going on and I was desperate to reach the conclusion. And boy does it deliver – several moments that made me go ‘how did I miss that?!’ I actually felt tense reading this book.
If you love a dark and twisty book this is one for you, thank you to the author and Rachel at random resources for a copy to review
September 24, 2018
A Brooding Dark Excellent Read....Very Creepy
Doctor Magnus Paul is a psychologist newly arrived at Dortmund Asylum..He is tasked with nine patients and must decide within a six week period which of the nine should go to a maximum security prison ..or under a new government ruling be sentenced to death.Upon his arrival he meets with the guards, one of whom Walter wants to help him understand the inmates within the Asylum...All of whom have committed crimes so atrocious that each of them is considered a danger to the outside world..But as he listens to the stories of each patient..the doctor feels there is Something wrong at the hospital...like the walls are closing in on him..Each of the patients seem to know his every move..When a body is found in a river..all clues point to the Asylum...From here there is murder, madness ..and as the story progresses...truths are revealed...With a shocking revelation...At first this reminded me a little of Shutter Island...except here at Dortmund...the insane...are so much more dangerous...The shocks keep coming....and coming ...A Brooding Dark Read into the world of the Psychopath....
Doctor Magnus Paul is a psychologist newly arrived at Dortmund Asylum..He is tasked with nine patients and must decide within a six week period which of the nine should go to a maximum security prison ..or under a new government ruling be sentenced to death.Upon his arrival he meets with the guards, one of whom Walter wants to help him understand the inmates within the Asylum...All of whom have committed crimes so atrocious that each of them is considered a danger to the outside world..But as he listens to the stories of each patient..the doctor feels there is Something wrong at the hospital...like the walls are closing in on him..Each of the patients seem to know his every move..When a body is found in a river..all clues point to the Asylum...From here there is murder, madness ..and as the story progresses...truths are revealed...With a shocking revelation...At first this reminded me a little of Shutter Island...except here at Dortmund...the insane...are so much more dangerous...The shocks keep coming....and coming ...A Brooding Dark Read into the world of the Psychopath....
May 10, 2020
A strange tale
I enjoyed this book very much, even though I found some parts of the story hard to believe. The characters were i trudging and interesting, as were their crimes. Some descriptions were a little hard to read. The story contains two really startling surprises, a real plus for me. Read it. You’ll enjoy it.
I enjoyed this book very much, even though I found some parts of the story hard to believe. The characters were i trudging and interesting, as were their crimes. Some descriptions were a little hard to read. The story contains two really startling surprises, a real plus for me. Read it. You’ll enjoy it.
October 29, 2018
Perfect Halloween read. Check this one out!
October 12, 2018
Dortmund Asylum houses the nine most dangerous killers in the country. Dr Magnus Paul is charged with the job of selecting which of the nine are suitable for admission to a maximum security hospital. The remainder will receive the death sentence under new government legislation.
It put me in mind of Clarice Starling's meetings with Hannibal Lecter, only ninefold.
I felt a strong sense of alienation for Doctor Paul from the Dortmund Asylum staff, and the Dortmund townsfolk, especially after a murder in town that put the good doctor loosely in the frame.
The premise was for me like nothing I have seen or read before, and there were twists that I didn't see coming. For that reason it merits a very worthy five stars.
It put me in mind of Clarice Starling's meetings with Hannibal Lecter, only ninefold.
I felt a strong sense of alienation for Doctor Paul from the Dortmund Asylum staff, and the Dortmund townsfolk, especially after a murder in town that put the good doctor loosely in the frame.
The premise was for me like nothing I have seen or read before, and there were twists that I didn't see coming. For that reason it merits a very worthy five stars.
August 31, 2019
The 9 worst mass murders have been locked away for years, now decisions have to be made... kill them, rehabilitate them or let them join the general jail population.
The descriptions of what each murder has done is very graphic
The descriptions of what each murder has done is very graphic
December 9, 2018
A fascinating psychological thriller set in a society where the criminally insane are put to death if they cannot be cured. The lead character is a psychologist trying to get into the minds of nine inmates at an insane asylum, their lives hinging on his study and conclusions. But his inquiry faces an unnerving contortion of reality, where the difference between "right" and "wrong" or "sane" and "insane" straddles along invisible lines. No punches are pulled here. This is not for the faint of heart. But if you are up for a rock 'em, sock 'em thriller about those whose minds are ruled by dark forces (perhaps beyond their control), Dortmund Hibernate is very good read.
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