Maelstrom

by Debbie Boek

How much injustice must one endure before being able to disregard their own actions, regardless of how heinous they may be?In the last decade of the 19th century, young Olivia Rose is unjustly committed to a lunatic asylum and only her desire for revenge sees her through until she can escape.Traveling through upstate New York, Olivia Rose plots to bring justice to those that harmed her and the ones that she loves, setting the stage, creating her plans and reeling in others to help her put them into motion.It isn’t until one of her victims turns the tables and retaliates that Olivia Rose learns the true cost of her desire for retribution.With a dark heart and blunted emotions, Olivia Rose must decide how much she is willing to risk in order to punish those that took everything from her. Will she put an end to her quest or disregard the danger and learn too late that the price of vengeance is simply too high?

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2021

About the author

Debbie Boek is an independent author who lives in upstate New York. Her most recent novel, Maelstrom, is a suspenseful thriller which takes place in the last decade of the 19th century.
She has published four historical romance novels, If Not For The Knight, When the Knight Falls, Winter’s Knight and Sommers’ Folly.
Debbie has also published five books in the Devereaux Chronicles series, Devil’s Bait, Devil’s Retribution, Devil’s Gathering, Devil’s Veil and Devil’s Jubilee. They are supernatural thrillers where ghosts, demons, witches, and even Bigfoot come to visit.
Devil’s Bait, as well as all three books in the Knights Are Forever series have also been released as audiobooks.
For more information, please check out her website at debbieboek.com

Reviews

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a women in the Victorian Era was awful. You were viewed as property and not allowed to make decisions. When Olivia Rose’s mother rebuffs her employer’s advances, the employer convinces her father to commit Olivia Rose and her mother to The Asylum. Olivia Rose was to keep her mother company while she received treatment. Olivia and her mother were placed in separate wards in separate buildings.

Olivia held firm to the belief that her father would come and bring them home. Olivia Rose witnessed the torture masked as treatment. She saw the sadistic nurses. She began keeping a list of those that mistreated her, her mother and her friends.
She wanted vengeance. To enact her plans, she would need to be away from the Asylum. Could she ever leave? How would she live without a home to return to?

This is an excellent book. The characters are realistic and evoke compassion. After understanding the terrible treatment at the Asylum, it is easy to relate to Olivia’s deep anger. Debbie Boek has written a story that not only keeps you reading, but also stays with you. I highly recommend this book - it’s Debbie Boek’s best book yet!

[Scott Sammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different from the rest.

Well written and thoughtful, some minor small word omissions and wrong word editing errors notwithstanding, it is well worth reading. E-books seem to get more of this type of errors, and are allowed to stay flawed for some reason.

I would.like.to read much more from this period with women as action characters. This is the allure of steampunk! The book at hand is a somewhat plausible (The Count of Monte Christo ) current timeline novel that satisfies that appetite for strong women doing the unexpected.

I will read more from this author.

[Amy Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

No ending!

I would have rated this book 5 stars, but I was so disappointed with the ending..
I was completely captivated by this story, and the author is truly gifted because each character came to life. But the ending left me at a loss.

[Barbara J Wicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really different love story

It certainly is an unusual tale. I'm also sure it portrays life in that time. Women were like owning a dog only useful to a man's needs. Life has changed for some.