Asylum

Patrick McGrath

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

Book Brief

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Patrick McGrath

Asylum

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

Book Details

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 1950s

Publication Year

1996

Audience

Adult

Super Short Summary

In Asylum by Patrick McGrath, Stella Raphael, the wife of a psychiatrist, becomes romantically involved with Edgar Stark, a patient at a mental institution. Their intense relationship escalates, challenging the boundaries of sanity and morality. The narrative explores themes of obsession, passion, and psychological decline within the confines of the asylum.

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Patrick McGrath's Asylum is praised for its atmospheric tension and psychological depth, showcasing vivid characterizations and a gripping narrative. However, some critics find the plot predictable and the pacing uneven. Overall, it remains a compelling read for fans of Gothic fiction and psychological thrillers.

Who Should Read Asylum?

Readers who appreciate psychological thrillers with dark, gothic elements, similar to Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane, will enjoy Patrick McGrath's Asylum. Fans of complex character studies and atmospheric, suspenseful settings, akin to those in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, will find this novel captivating.

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