A Madness So Discreet
| Author | Mindy McGinnis |
|---|---|
| Genre | Historical fiction, Young adult, Mystery |
| Published | 2015 |
| Publisher | Katherine Tegen Books |
| Pages | 376 |
| Awards | Edgar Award for Best Young Adult (2016) |
| ISBN | 978-0-062-32086-5 |
| Website | A Madness So Discreet |
A Madness So Discreet[1] (ISBN 978-0-062-32086-5) is a book by Mindy McGinnis[2] and published by Katherine Tegen Books (a subsidiary of HarperCollins[3]) on 6 October 2016 which later won the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult in 2016.[4]
Plot
Grace Mae is not insane. She does, however, reside in the Wayburne Lunatic Asylum of Boston with a neighbor who screams because of the spiders in her veins, and a vindictive orderly. Thrown into the asylum by her father, the same man who raped her causing an illegitimate pregnancy, she hides her sharp mind with her silence. Grace hasn't spoken since she entered the asylum, but her voice comes back with a vengeance one night when she feels threatened by one of the doctors. After being thrown in the cellar to waste away, Grace meets Dr. Thornhollow, a lobotomy specialist. Grace wants him to help her find oblivion, but Dr. Thornhollow realizes Grace possesses exceptional observation skills takers her with him to Ohio. There, they visit crime scenes and hunt murderers together, all while Grace pretends to be insane. In a new asylum, Grace makes friends with some of the other patients and has a chance at a new life without the ties to her family and their demons, but will ultimately have to confront those demons to survive.[5]
Reviews
"A dark study of the effects of power in the wrong hands, buoyed by a tenacious heroine and her colorful companions." -Kirkus Reviews[6]
"Though told from Grace’s perspective, the story gives insight into many characters, leaving none of them wholly good or wholly evil. While some of the time shifts are rather abrupt and a few plot twists could use fleshing out, overall, this frank historical thriller features flawed, yet sympathetic, characters and a unique setting." — Snow Wildsmith[7]
“A bountiful buffet of twisted, dark intrigue. While others are writing about relatively ‘normal’ heroes and heroines, McGinnis takes the less-traveled route to bring us a heroine damaged physically and mentally, and to the far reaches of her soul. McGinnis can surely tell a story.” -USA Today[8]
External links
- Book Review: ‘A Madness So Discreet’ by Mindy McGinnis
- Mindy McGinnis discusses the mental gymnastics of ‘A Madness So Discreet’
References
- ^ "A Madness So Discreet". Goodreads. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- ^ "Madness". www.mindymcginnis.com. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- ^ McGinnis, Mindy. "A Madness So Discreet - Mindy McGinnis - Hardcover". HarperCollins US. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- ^ "Category List – Best Young Adult | Edgars Database". theedgars.com. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
- ^ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24376529-a-madness-so-discreet
- ^ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mindy-mcginnis/a-madness-so-discreet/
- ^ https://www.booklistonline.com/A-Madness-So-Discreet-Mindy-McGinnis/pid=7534244
- ^ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-madness-so-discreet-mindy-mcginnis/1121030464#/
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