Book Review-Asylum-Jeannette de Beauvoir | Miki's Hope

Book Review-Asylum-Jeannette de Beauvoir

Monday, August 17, 2015


In the Author's Notes at the end of this novel she states

"Much of what my fictional protagonist Martine LeDuc learned about Montréal’s past is, unfortunately, true."

and what she reveals in this novel will have you shivering and shaking your heads. This is a definite page turner-but not one for the faint of heart. It should make you think about what really goes on or went on in that shadowy world of international intrigue where convenience comes before human values and that we never really hear about in real life. You will need tissues as you learn the fate of the Orphans and what they went through in the name of science and money.

Throughout this tale there is a sub tale written in italics by an unknown character who I really thought might be the killer of the 4 women who had been found staged on park benches. What was their connection-is this your usual run of the mill sex offender or someone a lot more sinister. The police department is trying to hide it under the rug but Martine LeDuc, the director of PR in Montreal and Richard, a police detective that nobody in his department thinks much of combine forces to find out the truth.

This book will resonate with me for a long time--and it will with you as well.

About the Book: (from Amazon)

Martine LeDuc is the director of PR for the mayor's office in Montreal. When four women are found brutally murdered and shockingly posed on park benches throughout the city over several months, Martine's boss fears a PR disaster for the still busy tourist season, and Martine is now also tasked with acting as liaison between the mayor and the police department. The women were of varying ages, backgrounds and bodytypes and seemed to have nothing in common. Yet the macabre presentation of their bodies hints at a connection. Martine is paired with a young detective, Julian Fletcher, and together they dig deep into the city's and the country's past, only to uncover a dark secret dating back to the 1950s, when orphanages in Montreal and elsewhere were converted to asylums in order to gain more funding. The children were subjected to horrific experiments such as lobotomies, electroshock therapy, and psychotropic medication, and many of them died in the process. The survivors were supposedly compensated for their trauma by the government and the cases seem to have been settled. So who is bearing a grudge now, and why did these four women have to die?

Not until Martine finds herself imprisoned in the terrifying steam tunnels underneath the old asylum does she put the pieces together. And it is almost too late for her...in Jeannette de Beauvoir's Asylum.

Read a chapter or two here

Purchase the Book here

About the Author: (from the author's website)


Jeannette de Beauvoir is a novelist, poet, and playwright whose work has appeared in 15 countries and has been translated into 12 languages.

She explores personal and moral questions through different literary genres and is the author, under various pseudonyms, of mystery novels, historical and contemporary fiction, an award-winning book of poetry, and a number of produced plays, as well as teaching workshops and classes in writing.

She grew up in Angers, France, and currently divides her time between Cape Cod and Montréal.

Authors Website
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Goodreads



I received an e-book version of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. For more information please check my Disclosure Statement. Our giveaways are in no way sponsored or promoted by Facebook.

23 comments :

Clara said...

Sounds like a mystery within a mystery which always make for a really good story.

Jess Benoit said...

Sounds like a very interesting read...even though it does have some truth to it, unfortunately.

Scott said...

Definitely not one for me, but my wife would sure enjoy it! She loves a good mystery!

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness. Not for the faint of heart? This one probably isn't for me. But I applaud her bravery in writing it!

I am Harriet said...

That does sound intriguing. I love a good shocker where you find something out like that.

Brandy M said...

I love a good twist to a book. I like guessing until the very end, keeps me awake all night just so I can finish the book!

Unknown said...

I love when the story of a book is unexpected. The cover on that one is really
capturing too.

Michelle F.

Lydia from Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen said...

Sounds interesting. I love a good thriller.

tm said...

It sounds like a good book, especially since there are some characters in the story that won't let crimes be swept under the rug. I will have to check this out.

jaime said...

This book sounds good, but I think it might be a little too intense for me. I have some friends I'll recommend it to!

Tough Cookie Mommy said...

It's great when you can get some insight into what inspired the author to write the novel. I'm very curious to learn more now.

Housewife Eclectic said...

I love a good mystery! Adding it to my to read list!

Laura O in AK said...

I enjoy reading mysteries, especially those that are rooted in reality. This one sounds like it is both.

Jaclyn said...

Asylum sounds like my kind or book - thanks for recommending it!

Unknown said...

I'm not a book lover, but this one makes my mind curious., seems interesting.

Crystal said...

Gosh, it sounds like something you certainly won't forget. It does sound intriguing though.

Unknown said...

Great book review, will definitely check this book out. So intriguing.

Mykidsguide said...

I don't read a lot of mystery books, but this one sounds very interesting. I will look for this book.

Dogvills said...

Sounds like a great read. I cannot resist a good mystery book like this.

Unknown said...

This sounds like an intense read! I love a good mystery!

Rebecca Swenor said...

This sounds like an amazingly interesting book indeed. To find out that some of this is true is heart wrenching. I will have to check it out for sure. Thanks for sharing.

Ckrusch said...

Sounds like a great book! I added to my must check list! Thank you for sharing it!

Jeannette de Beauvoir said...

Thanks to everyone who posted here. I'd love it if you'd all read ASYLUM ... and let me know what you think of it!

Also feel free to like my Facebook page, which I keep updated with mystery-type news: https://www.facebook.com/Jeannette.de.Beauvoir.author

 
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