They thought she was insane. But what if she was telling the truth?
1942, New Zealand. Edith’s been locked away for a long time. She was just five years old when she was sent to Seacliff Lunatic Asylum. Fifteen years later, she has few memories of her life before the asylum, but longs for one beyond it.
When she survives a devastating fire that destroys her ward, Edith is questioned by the police and a young doctor, Declan Harris. Intrigued by his beautiful patient, Declan begins to doubt the official reasons for her incarceration. Is she truly mad—or could the impossible stories she told as a child actually be true?
Time is running out. With Edie awaiting a new and permanent treatment, soon there will be little of her left to save. Meanwhile intrigue has tipped into obsession—Declan needs to uncover the truth, but in doing so he will risk losing everything. As he sets out to save her mind, will he lose his own?
C. D. Major writes suspenseful books inspired by events in the recent past. Cesca worked in television and teaching before writing full time. Alongside her thrillers she writes feel-good reads under the pseudonym Rosie Blake. She teaches creative writing and vlogs writing tips over on her website www.cdmajor.com. Cesca lives in Berkshire with her husband, son and twin daughters. She can be found on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and enjoys connecting with readers.
My Review:
I chose The Other Girl as part of Amazon’s First Reads a few months ago as the blurb appealed to me and I do like a book containing a Lunatic Asylum!
Set in the early 40’s in New Zealand, Edith (Edie) is a young woman who has spent her entire childhood and adult life locked up in an asylum and abandoned by her parents. The story begins after a fire has destroyed a large wing of the hospital killing 37 female patients and leaving only Edie and 1 other patient alive.
Young Doctor Declan Harris, newly appointed to the asylum spots Edith, feeling an instant connection he becomes determined to find out why she is in the hospital.
There is an element of the supernatural and the story is a slow burner, however this is an atmospheric and spooky tale with an element of historical fiction looking at how patients were treated in the early 20th century. The Other Girl is an interesting read full of fascinating characters.
