>A Madness So Discreet is almost like an old-timey version of Criminal Minds. Set in an insane asylum, back when those were still a thing.
First, the scarily accurate representation of how people with mental health issues is disturbing at best. But this is a good thing, it means the author has certainly done her homework, and has managed to create this terrible, yet all too real atmosphere inside the asylum.
Things in the beginning are quite slow, and of course very depressing. Again, I think it really sets the tone for how Grace would have really been feeling, because the asylum was awful, and mundane, and endless. So it does work in the context of the story. In fact, even though it was a slower start, I still could not put the book down. Slow and depressing, yes, but also wildly captivating. When Grace finally gets out of Boston, things definitely get a bit more intense and lighter as she is joined by a much more jovial (and quirky) cast of characters.
Two major aspects of the story stood out for me:
- The evolution of psychology and the treatment of psychological disorders happening as the book progressed. While still in its infancy, the changes that will eventually come to the mental health field are evident. The Ohio asylum is sadly the exception, not the rule, but it's a hopeful situation, since as the reader, we know it does get better as history marches forward. Dr. Thornhollow is ahead of his time, and the ideas he has are invaluable.
- The characters were just brilliant. I loved so many of the people Grace encountered in Ohio. They basically proved a point that "crazy" is quite subjective. The characters in the asylum absolutely had issues and quirks... but so did the people who lived outside of the asylum.
There is a mystery, and while I enjoyed it from a psychological perspective, some of the other elements of the actual mystery bored me just a bit. But otherwise, I was completely engaged in the book, and couldn't wait to see what would happen next for Grace.
Bottom Line: I enjoyed this a lot. The psychological and historical aspects of it were super intriguing, but the slower pace may not be for everyone. If you have any inclination toward those things though, this is absolutely a book for you. Dark, yet with hope in strange, lovely places, I was hooked from the start!
*Copy provided by publisher for review