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Hellrose
This is the 2nd Edition (Revised and Updated) of the Novel "HELLROSE" by Emma M. KingIt is an unusual, cleverly constructed thriller populated by characters so well imagined - Wall Street Journal"Chilling .....subtly layered..... unputdownable psychological thriller" - Publisher's Weekly , starred review"Impressive novel... intelligent and imaginative read." - New York TimesOver the past 150 years, HELLROSE psychiatric hospital has become one of America's most feared establishments.After being plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying past, a psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Williams, tries to repair her life by helping a new outlandish patient who has his own horrifying history.
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About the author
Emma M. King
7 books36 followersBorn in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Emma M. King graduated from Penn State University with a degree in journalism & psychology.
Her publishing story has been covered by the Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly. She has appeared on ABC's World News Now and America This Morning.
Emma lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her family. She enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the city’s best brunch options. She regularly blogs about her "writing life" at www.emmaking.co.
Her publishing story has been covered by the Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly. She has appeared on ABC's World News Now and America This Morning.
Emma lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her family. She enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the city’s best brunch options. She regularly blogs about her "writing life" at www.emmaking.co.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 6, 2021
Hellrose
by Emma M. King
Over the past 150 years, HELLROSE psychiatric hospital has become one of America's most feared establishments.
After being plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying past, a psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Williams, tries to repair her life by helping a new outlandish patient who has his own horrifying history.
Hellrose is a psychiatric hospital in Nevada where criminally insane convicted patients live out their sentences. It is also a place to evaluate patients to see if they are criminally insane or just lying criminals.
It is up to the main character, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Lisa Williams to do these evaluations.
After a horrific accident, Lisa is plagued with flashbacks. Going back to work she is assigned a new patient, Harvey Power that needs to be evaluated for the crime of murdering his family.
I will not give spoilers to the rest of the story.
Aside from the proofreading errors, this story is filled with tension, suspense, anxiety, and terror.
This story had a chilling atmosphere with great character development and a twisted plot.
Thriller
Suspense
Psychological
Horror
Murder
Mystery
by Emma M. King
Over the past 150 years, HELLROSE psychiatric hospital has become one of America's most feared establishments.
After being plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying past, a psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Williams, tries to repair her life by helping a new outlandish patient who has his own horrifying history.
Hellrose is a psychiatric hospital in Nevada where criminally insane convicted patients live out their sentences. It is also a place to evaluate patients to see if they are criminally insane or just lying criminals.
It is up to the main character, renowned psychiatrist Dr. Lisa Williams to do these evaluations.
After a horrific accident, Lisa is plagued with flashbacks. Going back to work she is assigned a new patient, Harvey Power that needs to be evaluated for the crime of murdering his family.
I will not give spoilers to the rest of the story.
Aside from the proofreading errors, this story is filled with tension, suspense, anxiety, and terror.
This story had a chilling atmosphere with great character development and a twisted plot.
Thriller
Suspense
Psychological
Horror
Murder
Mystery
September 28, 2021
3.5/5 stars
HELLROSE by Emma King is a novel set around a psychiatric hospital of the same name. It follows multiple characters who are going through mental disorders and are harming the people around them. It is a mystery whether these people are actually mentally ill or just cold-hearted criminals, and the psychiatrists at the hospital are trying to find that out.
The book follows Dr. Lisa Williams, a renowned psychiatrist of the mental hospital, who goes through a traumatic car accident. After she returns to work at the hospital, she is assigned a patient by the name of Harvey Power who starts terrorizing her.
The book offers a very thrilling experience. Something strange was happening to each character and I was constantly on edge to see what terrifying event would happen next. While the story was enjoyable with interesting plot lines for each individual character, the main twist was quite predictable. Also, some words like HELLROSE were unnecessarily capitalized which broke the flow of reading the book, and the dialogue was too formal in a few places.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller to read in one sitting, you can pick up this book.
Trigger warnings for the book – graphic depictions of violence, rape
HELLROSE by Emma King is a novel set around a psychiatric hospital of the same name. It follows multiple characters who are going through mental disorders and are harming the people around them. It is a mystery whether these people are actually mentally ill or just cold-hearted criminals, and the psychiatrists at the hospital are trying to find that out.
The book follows Dr. Lisa Williams, a renowned psychiatrist of the mental hospital, who goes through a traumatic car accident. After she returns to work at the hospital, she is assigned a patient by the name of Harvey Power who starts terrorizing her.
The book offers a very thrilling experience. Something strange was happening to each character and I was constantly on edge to see what terrifying event would happen next. While the story was enjoyable with interesting plot lines for each individual character, the main twist was quite predictable. Also, some words like HELLROSE were unnecessarily capitalized which broke the flow of reading the book, and the dialogue was too formal in a few places.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller to read in one sitting, you can pick up this book.
Trigger warnings for the book – graphic depictions of violence, rape
September 5, 2021
‘Listen to the Silence. It’s telling the Truth.’
Wisconsin author Emma M. King earned her degree in journalism and psychology from Penn State University and makes her literary debut with HELLROSE, a novel that utilizes her training as well as her gifted creative skills.
The background for the novel’s exploration of the ‘criminally insane’ is offered in a gripping Prologue in which the concept of pleading insanity to a crime is explored well: ‘Detective Chris Watts had seen a lot of murderers in his time. This freckle–faced fellow with dashing red hair, seated across the black mahogany table in the interrogation room was no different. They always looked sober, putting up the guise of remorse and the mask of insanity. As if their victims had not begged to stay alive before being cut short by the cold death they wielded. The freckle-faced fellow, whose name was Tommy Wayans, was arrested on the night of the July Fourth celebrations for the murder of his mother, Caroline Wayans. Tommy, who was just approaching his mid-thirties, lived with his mother in the quiet town of Littleton, about ten miles from Lake Tahoe…’
As the novel opens we meet Dr. Lisa Williams in the Nevada locale of HELLROSE Hospital…’HELLROSE had always been a sickening sight for her. It looked like a federal penitentiary than a place of healing’...HELLROSE had always been the final stop for patients that have been deemed criminally insane by the court.’ The complex plot is condensed in the synopsis – ‘ Over the past 150 years, HELLROSE psychiatric hospital has become one of America's most feared establishments. After being plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying past, a psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Williams, tries to repair her life by helping a new outlandish patient who has his own horrifying history.’
Dr. Williams case, of course, is the Tommy Wayans of the Prologue, with the added history of a previously hospitalized murderer whose escape and after-actions act on Lisa’s mind, dredging up dark moments from her past, and the manner in which the story unwinds is sound psychologically, informative legally, and just plain intriguing as a thriller. Emma M. King makes an auspicious writing debut, alerting us of the presence of a novelist to watch closely.
Wisconsin author Emma M. King earned her degree in journalism and psychology from Penn State University and makes her literary debut with HELLROSE, a novel that utilizes her training as well as her gifted creative skills.
The background for the novel’s exploration of the ‘criminally insane’ is offered in a gripping Prologue in which the concept of pleading insanity to a crime is explored well: ‘Detective Chris Watts had seen a lot of murderers in his time. This freckle–faced fellow with dashing red hair, seated across the black mahogany table in the interrogation room was no different. They always looked sober, putting up the guise of remorse and the mask of insanity. As if their victims had not begged to stay alive before being cut short by the cold death they wielded. The freckle-faced fellow, whose name was Tommy Wayans, was arrested on the night of the July Fourth celebrations for the murder of his mother, Caroline Wayans. Tommy, who was just approaching his mid-thirties, lived with his mother in the quiet town of Littleton, about ten miles from Lake Tahoe…’
As the novel opens we meet Dr. Lisa Williams in the Nevada locale of HELLROSE Hospital…’HELLROSE had always been a sickening sight for her. It looked like a federal penitentiary than a place of healing’...HELLROSE had always been the final stop for patients that have been deemed criminally insane by the court.’ The complex plot is condensed in the synopsis – ‘ Over the past 150 years, HELLROSE psychiatric hospital has become one of America's most feared establishments. After being plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying past, a psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Williams, tries to repair her life by helping a new outlandish patient who has his own horrifying history.’
Dr. Williams case, of course, is the Tommy Wayans of the Prologue, with the added history of a previously hospitalized murderer whose escape and after-actions act on Lisa’s mind, dredging up dark moments from her past, and the manner in which the story unwinds is sound psychologically, informative legally, and just plain intriguing as a thriller. Emma M. King makes an auspicious writing debut, alerting us of the presence of a novelist to watch closely.
August 24, 2021
This novel was delightfully refreshing. I recommend it for the pure skill Emma King has in invoking an emotional response from her readers. It is constructed so cleverly that you won't know who you love or hate for more than 50 pages. The truth is eventually revealed so my advice is to have fun being manipulated and fooled along the way, second guess who done it and place your bets - it's an enjoyable ride and I guarantee you'll get a kick out of the ending.
August 24, 2021
Great Choice if your looking for a book that is entertaining. Once you start reading it you cant stop. If you like thrillers you will definitely be glad you purchased HELLROSE. Enjoy
October 21, 2021
The Review
This was a gripping psychological thriller! The author did an incredible job of delivering a tense and haunting look into the world of mental health and the criminal justice system, exploring how mental health can affect so many people, not just a particular group of people, and the shocking behavior and actions that can arise within someone so completely separate from their own personalities.
The character exploration was detailed and engaging in this novel. The protagonist’s personal struggles mirror the intensity of the environment around her, and the twisted cases that arrive on her desk daily. The mystery surrounding her new patient and the investigation that arises during his evaluation will have readers on the edge of their seats.
The only thing of note here is that some of the dialogue between characters can come across as less natural and more pointed, so my only critique would be taking a less “tell” approach to the character’s interactions and more of a “show” approach instead, but honestly this happens only a couple of times that I could see so the narrative overall feels powerful enough to overshadow those few instances.
The Verdict
An entertaining, chilling, and thought-provoking psychological thriller, author Emma M. King’s “HELLROSE” is a must-read novel for the fall 2021 season! Shocking revelations and a twist ending will take readers by surprise, and the novel showcases the depth and experience the author has brought to this particular genre of thriller, making the narrative’s tone feel authentic and more engaging.
This was a gripping psychological thriller! The author did an incredible job of delivering a tense and haunting look into the world of mental health and the criminal justice system, exploring how mental health can affect so many people, not just a particular group of people, and the shocking behavior and actions that can arise within someone so completely separate from their own personalities.
The character exploration was detailed and engaging in this novel. The protagonist’s personal struggles mirror the intensity of the environment around her, and the twisted cases that arrive on her desk daily. The mystery surrounding her new patient and the investigation that arises during his evaluation will have readers on the edge of their seats.
The only thing of note here is that some of the dialogue between characters can come across as less natural and more pointed, so my only critique would be taking a less “tell” approach to the character’s interactions and more of a “show” approach instead, but honestly this happens only a couple of times that I could see so the narrative overall feels powerful enough to overshadow those few instances.
The Verdict
An entertaining, chilling, and thought-provoking psychological thriller, author Emma M. King’s “HELLROSE” is a must-read novel for the fall 2021 season! Shocking revelations and a twist ending will take readers by surprise, and the novel showcases the depth and experience the author has brought to this particular genre of thriller, making the narrative’s tone feel authentic and more engaging.
September 5, 2021
I really want to like this book. It's a new book looking for legs and I try to be supportive to new talent. At this writing it has 13 reviews that are highly positive, which is something that I don't understand. Did we read the same book?
There are typos and clerical errors galore which is annoying, but forgivable if those are the only problems. However add to them, a POV that is so fluid it changes at odd times and to characters who play only minor roles in the story line. The sentence structure is, in an effort to be kind, unconventional. This is a nice was of saying either extra words are added randomly for no apparent reason, of words have been dropped randomly for no apparent reason. At least a dozen time, I would have to read and reread sentence to try to understand what was being described.
The voices of the characters, especially the lead character, Dr. Lisa, is really inconsistent. Sometimes, she sound professional, other times its like she's suckin' on a jay while shootin' the breeze with her homies. I know of no psychiatrist or psychologist that talks that way. They have a Phd and it makes it's presence know through their word choice.
Neither the characters nor the story plot are developed and presented in a way that compensates for the technical difficulties.
There are typos and clerical errors galore which is annoying, but forgivable if those are the only problems. However add to them, a POV that is so fluid it changes at odd times and to characters who play only minor roles in the story line. The sentence structure is, in an effort to be kind, unconventional. This is a nice was of saying either extra words are added randomly for no apparent reason, of words have been dropped randomly for no apparent reason. At least a dozen time, I would have to read and reread sentence to try to understand what was being described.
The voices of the characters, especially the lead character, Dr. Lisa, is really inconsistent. Sometimes, she sound professional, other times its like she's suckin' on a jay while shootin' the breeze with her homies. I know of no psychiatrist or psychologist that talks that way. They have a Phd and it makes it's presence know through their word choice.
Neither the characters nor the story plot are developed and presented in a way that compensates for the technical difficulties.
September 18, 2021
With themes of mental health and crime, in theory, this book should be right up my street. However, I did find myself a little underwhelmed.
The main issue, for me, is the lack of proofreading. I could have forgiven a few errors, but there were entire sentences that I read 4 times and still could not make sense of. The number of times the word “invincible” was written where I’m 99.9999% sure the intended word was “invisible” was infuriating.
The story itself, I didn’t mind. Maybe a touch predictable - I was able to figure out what was going on relatively early into the book. Nevertheless, I did find myself wanting to continue reading to see how it would pan out.
The author has the beginnings of a very good book here, however, I feel it could have been executed better. I was disappointed by the lack of evidence of research into the mental health conditions being mentioned. In my opinion, it feels like the condition names were being dropped in, almost like “buzzwords”. I could recognise easily what was happening because I have a fairly good understanding of mental health, schizophrenia and psychosis. Had I not had this understanding prior to reading the book, I would not have necessarily recognised or understood why what was being described would mean a diagnosis of the conditions. I am of the opinion that a well researched novel should enable the reader to gain all understanding required within its text.
The main issue, for me, is the lack of proofreading. I could have forgiven a few errors, but there were entire sentences that I read 4 times and still could not make sense of. The number of times the word “invincible” was written where I’m 99.9999% sure the intended word was “invisible” was infuriating.
The story itself, I didn’t mind. Maybe a touch predictable - I was able to figure out what was going on relatively early into the book. Nevertheless, I did find myself wanting to continue reading to see how it would pan out.
The author has the beginnings of a very good book here, however, I feel it could have been executed better. I was disappointed by the lack of evidence of research into the mental health conditions being mentioned. In my opinion, it feels like the condition names were being dropped in, almost like “buzzwords”. I could recognise easily what was happening because I have a fairly good understanding of mental health, schizophrenia and psychosis. Had I not had this understanding prior to reading the book, I would not have necessarily recognised or understood why what was being described would mean a diagnosis of the conditions. I am of the opinion that a well researched novel should enable the reader to gain all understanding required within its text.
October 19, 2021
🥀 Thank you to Emma King for my copy of Hellrose! Over the past 150 years, Hellrose psychiatric hospital has become one of America's most feared establishments. After being plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying past, a psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Williams, tries to repair her life by helping a new outlandish patient who has his own horrifying history.
Thoughts: I love how this book explores the idea of pleading criminally insane to a crime. This book is easy to read and hard to put down. There are some great twists and I love the psychological aspect of this book. The characters were also interesting and I liked trying to figure out what was going on. It was hard to tell if I liked this book, but it definitely kept my attention.
Thoughts: I love how this book explores the idea of pleading criminally insane to a crime. This book is easy to read and hard to put down. There are some great twists and I love the psychological aspect of this book. The characters were also interesting and I liked trying to figure out what was going on. It was hard to tell if I liked this book, but it definitely kept my attention.
January 28, 2024
**Goodreads giveaway
Tried to read this book but a few pages in and I was done. The prologue had a confusing couple of sentences, hoped it was a fluke. First few pages in chapter 1 and another major contradiction --
A man killed 10 children...... He was walking to the school with his gun..... He gets to the market....... He kills four people....
What?!?
Did he kill 10 children at a school or four people in a market??
If I'm reading it wrong or something please explain it to me and I'll try again.
Tried to read this book but a few pages in and I was done. The prologue had a confusing couple of sentences, hoped it was a fluke. First few pages in chapter 1 and another major contradiction --
A man killed 10 children...... He was walking to the school with his gun..... He gets to the market....... He kills four people....
What?!?
Did he kill 10 children at a school or four people in a market??
If I'm reading it wrong or something please explain it to me and I'll try again.
September 14, 2021
Insane
This book is an average take on the story within the story plot. Hellrose is a psychiatric facility housing and evaluating the criminally insane. The story centers on Dr. Lisa and her new patient. Two doctors want to develop a relationship with Lisa, but her new patient might have something to say about that.
This book is an average take on the story within the story plot. Hellrose is a psychiatric facility housing and evaluating the criminally insane. The story centers on Dr. Lisa and her new patient. Two doctors want to develop a relationship with Lisa, but her new patient might have something to say about that.
August 24, 2021
Suspenseful read. Emma's intuitive writing style makes every chapter more fascinating, as she exposes more and more of the minds and stories of these characters' personalities. A must-read if you are a fan of human story mystery/psych thrillers.
August 24, 2021
This book is very hard to put down, and I relished reading it in eagerness to find out what happens in the end.
Author Emma knows how to twist and turn plots that drag the reader screamingly forth into an intrigue ending with a haunting question not to be left without consternation.
August 24, 2021
Amazing book! I am usually not a "big reader" I don't have the attention span to sit and read novels and tend to leave them half-read. Not this book. I can't put it down. SO Well written. Amazing story. A must-read.
August 24, 2021
I just feel I must stand up for HELROSE, which kept me reading eagerly to the end, and it was an ending that left me well satisfied. the writer make it work within the world of the novel. I was well satisfied and think Emma King is an amazing writer.
August 24, 2021
Well, the moment I started reading it, I realized it would take a deadly earthquake for me to put it down. I don't like to give the plot away in my reviews, and sometimes even reading the dust jacket is too much information.
August 24, 2021
Sometimes, some books make you scratch your head. They leave me wondering, 'what is everyone else seeing here that I don't? Why is everyone heaping praise on this book? all the build-up moves like a freight train that I couldn't put down.
August 24, 2021
Very easy to read, and I enjoyed how the book was laid out. I was engaged to the very last page and loved every twist. I recommended this book to all my friends and family and they are all enjoying it! It is a must read!
September 11, 2021
awkward
This book was…awkward. The main idea is pretty good, but the execution needs a lot of work. It reminds me of those old horror movies that don’t make much sense. This is one of those in book form. If that’s your jam, then this is the book for you. If not, keep searching.
This book was…awkward. The main idea is pretty good, but the execution needs a lot of work. It reminds me of those old horror movies that don’t make much sense. This is one of those in book form. If that’s your jam, then this is the book for you. If not, keep searching.
August 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. The book is an easy and suspenseful read.
August 24, 2021
Really great novel by a really accomplished writer hitting her stride.
August 24, 2021
This book hooks you right from the start and never let's go. Worth Reading.
August 24, 2021
a fantastic read. Highly recommended.
September 9, 2021
I'm sure it's a good book but it just wasn't for me
Read
October 7, 2021What?
I enjoyed this story, Emma King's writing flows smoothly. But... Will there be a sequel? I certainly hope so. Dr. Lisa's story needs told.
I enjoyed this story, Emma King's writing flows smoothly. But... Will there be a sequel? I certainly hope so. Dr. Lisa's story needs told.
October 9, 2021
Held my interest throughout
December 10, 2021
Dark psychological thriller that is so very hard to put down but will give you nightmares.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews