Cara Luecht

A heart wrenching tale of what sadly went on in mental institutions in this country, and we put a face to the horrors.
The author has given us a woman who is able to paint the future and people she has never met, and we also meet some of the people she has previously touched with her gifts.
We see life in Chicago in the 1890’s and we are there during winter’s harsh storms, we see people here who have a heart for the less fortunate, some with money, and some who have been there.
A compelling read, it will really make it think, and although it is fiction, it is based on fact, and that is really scary. Once you pick this one up you will be reading to the end, you will need answers.

I received this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to give a positive review.… (más)

When I started this book the words, eerie, dangerous and evil came to mind. The author captures a time and place that the faint of heart would not survive. As Rachel went down to the basement, I could feel a chill creep down my spine. Her eyes told the story of unspoken evil lurking in air. The writing is superior and takes you right where the story is happening. I can't imagine being in a place where you had to look over your should every few seconds.

I screamed as Rachel's freedom was suddenly taken away from her. How can such evil happen with no one to question the outcome? Have you been locked in a room unexpectedly with no way out? You find yourself panicking as tears stream down your face. Rachel seems to lose hope as each day passes . Will someone realize that she is missing? In the late 1850s asylums were like torture chambers. The evil that went on was unspeakable. Rachel is treated with little dignity. I was mesmerized by the details that the author wrote about the evils of asylums that existed long ago. It reminds me of the saying, "If walls could talk."

Jeremy is a character I found to be very intuitive. He was determined to find out what had happened to his sister. Wouldn't it be unnerving to have a family member suddenly disappear without a trace? There were times in the book, I wasn't sure I could continue reading. It wasn't because the story was bad, but because the story was so masterfully written that it seemed almost real.

Jenny is a very complicated character. Wanting to have a better life for herself and her son seems right in the grasp of her hands. Jenny is haunted by her past and the author gives us pieces of her tormented life with words that reach deep into the soul where darkness is at times. Her story is one that she feels ashamed of and my heart broke for her.

The story is very intense and weaves a tale of mind games that only the strongest can survive. Will Rachel be rescued before it's to late? What does she know that would cause people to want to hide her? I thought through the entire book how desperate Rachel felt as she saw her freedom slowly slip into oblivion. The ending is one that will have you on the edge of your seat and your heart pounding so loud you can here each beat.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (más)