Review

The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich is a dark and addictive gothic horror that follows psychiatrist Mina Murray. Mina receives an email from her old best friend, begging for help. Mina makes the decision to travel back to the Welsh town she left behind. Mina soon discovers Lucy has a strange illness, similar to a strange patient she had back home. As Mina tries to unravel the mystery of Lucy’s illness, she must confront the past she left behind.

This is my second book by Dawn Kurtagich, and it was an utterly compelling, thought-provoking read. Dracula is one of my all-time favourite books, so I’ve read many retellings, and I must say this is one of the most unique I’ve ever read. Kurtagich has a really accessible writing style, and the story was incredibly tense and atmospheric. There are some really eerie scenes in this story, and some gruesome ones too, that definitely sent a shiver down my spine.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this story was the way Kurtagich wove Welsh folklore into the story. The Madness features some strong female protagonists, and I thought Mina was particularly fascinating. Kurtagich brings you the characters you’re familiar with from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but definitely not in ways you’d expect. This compulsively readable tale will have you on the edge of your seat, and if you’re looking for books for your spooky season TBR, this one should without a doubt be on it.