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The Forgetting Place
Menaker State Hospital is a curse, a refuge, a prison, a necessity, a nightmare, a salvation.
When Dr. Lise Shields arrived at the correctional psychiatric facility five years ago, she was warned that many of its patients-committed by Maryland’s judicial system for perpetrating heinous crimes-would never leave.
But what happens when a place like Menaker is corrupted, when it becomes a tool to silence the innocent, conceal an injustice, contain a secret? Why is it that the newest patient does not seem to belong there, that the hospital administrator has fallen silent, and that Lise is being watched by two men with seemingly lethal intent? The answers are closer than she realizes and could cost her everything she holds dear.
When Dr. Lise Shields arrived at the correctional psychiatric facility five years ago, she was warned that many of its patients-committed by Maryland’s judicial system for perpetrating heinous crimes-would never leave.
But what happens when a place like Menaker is corrupted, when it becomes a tool to silence the innocent, conceal an injustice, contain a secret? Why is it that the newest patient does not seem to belong there, that the hospital administrator has fallen silent, and that Lise is being watched by two men with seemingly lethal intent? The answers are closer than she realizes and could cost her everything she holds dear.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
104 people are currently reading
3330 people want to read
About the author
John Burley
15 books183 followersJohn Burley worked as a paramedic and firefighter before attending medical school in Chicago and completing an emergency medicine residency at University of Maryland Medical Center and Shock Trauma in Baltimore. His debut novel, THE ABSENCE OF MERCY, received the National Black Ribbon Award, which recognizes a novelist who brings a fresh voice to suspense writing. His latest novel, SURRENDER THE DEAD, is available now. To learn more, visit his website at www.john-burley.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
December 5, 2015
Oh my giddy aunt!
This is one awesome read, I can't urge you enough to read this if you love a good edge of your seat thriller. I kid you not, I was biting my nails and so scared at times for people.
Menaker is a psychiatric hospital that homes people who are really bad, and I mean really bad. No one leaves.
Dr Lise Shields works there but this patient Jason Edwards is there and has no history, there are nothing in files about him, nothing. Where is the transfer order at least?
So she questions this and doesn't get any satisfactory replies which makes her suspicious.
Has Jason been put there for what? and why? and is he really guilty of the crime?
This is a book that really and truly messes with your head.
* My thanks to HarperCollins UK, Avon via Net Galley for my copy*
February 8, 2015
3.5 There have been so many good psychological thrillers published lately, and this one can certainly join those aptly. Lise a psychiatrist has worked at Mennecker Institution for five years when a patient with no medical history is presented to her. When the FBI gets involved things start moving quickly.
The first part of this book was rather slowly paced as we become familiar with the institution, Lise and this new case. The second part was non stop action as things start happening quickly and secrets are revealed. Things are not as they appear, there is much more than meets the eye.
Good twisty novel with some heartbreaking looks at mental illness and the havoc it can wreak in a family. I applaud the author from his effort to separate the illness from the person.
ARC from publisher.
The first part of this book was rather slowly paced as we become familiar with the institution, Lise and this new case. The second part was non stop action as things start happening quickly and secrets are revealed. Things are not as they appear, there is much more than meets the eye.
Good twisty novel with some heartbreaking looks at mental illness and the havoc it can wreak in a family. I applaud the author from his effort to separate the illness from the person.
ARC from publisher.
April 3, 2016
'Menaker houses the intractably psychiatrically impaired. It is not a forgotten place, but a place for forgetting - the crimes committed by its patients settling into the dust like the gradual deterioration of the buildings themselves.'
'There are individuals here who will never leave - who will never reside outside of these grounds. Their pathology runs too deep. They will never be restored to sanity, will never return to their former lives.'
This is a nice twisty tale of cat and mouse. The trick is to identify just who is the cat and who is the mouse!
Dr Lise Shields works with the most deadly criminals in America. At Menaker psychiatric hospital all are guilty and no one ever leaves. Then she meets Jason Edwards. Jason is an anomaly. No transfer order, no patient history, no paperwork at all. Lise feels a particular affinity for Jason, and is determined to discover the truth about his confinement.
Many years ago I trained as a Psychiatric Nurse. John Burley's portrayal of this environment is hauntingly familiar to me. He shows a deep understanding of psychiatric conditions and has brought to mind many patients I nursed all those years ago.
The story is compelling, and the writing, at times, achingly beautiful - 'I could hear the April night breeze pushing past the oaks on either side, making their newly budding limbs shift and sway as if finally awakening from a long sleep and realizing they had someplace better to go. I could hear the trees whisper to one another, spiteful old men with malevolence in their hearts...'
This is a true psychological thriller, and one I would not hesitate to recommend. I will be looking to read more from John Burley.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Avon and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
'There are individuals here who will never leave - who will never reside outside of these grounds. Their pathology runs too deep. They will never be restored to sanity, will never return to their former lives.'
This is a nice twisty tale of cat and mouse. The trick is to identify just who is the cat and who is the mouse!
Dr Lise Shields works with the most deadly criminals in America. At Menaker psychiatric hospital all are guilty and no one ever leaves. Then she meets Jason Edwards. Jason is an anomaly. No transfer order, no patient history, no paperwork at all. Lise feels a particular affinity for Jason, and is determined to discover the truth about his confinement.
Many years ago I trained as a Psychiatric Nurse. John Burley's portrayal of this environment is hauntingly familiar to me. He shows a deep understanding of psychiatric conditions and has brought to mind many patients I nursed all those years ago.
The story is compelling, and the writing, at times, achingly beautiful - 'I could hear the April night breeze pushing past the oaks on either side, making their newly budding limbs shift and sway as if finally awakening from a long sleep and realizing they had someplace better to go. I could hear the trees whisper to one another, spiteful old men with malevolence in their hearts...'
This is a true psychological thriller, and one I would not hesitate to recommend. I will be looking to read more from John Burley.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, Avon and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
July 21, 2019
A must buy must read.
I loved this novel so much, it certainly had my heart racing.
Jason Edwards showed up at Menaker psychiatric hospital with no court order, no medical records and no written documentation of any kind. Dr Lise wants to know Jason's psychiatric history.
Never mind the shops scanner saying unexpected item in bagging area. Here is a novel full of surprises and with truly unexpected twist and turns that you won't see coming.
I was endlessly so scared as not many people are safe in this story.
John Burley certainly is a legend that put a big sparkle in a wonderful psychological thriller. I will back for more thrillers by John Burley.
July 13, 2015
3 stars
My problem is this: I guessed the twist early on due to the heavy foreshadowing and from then on it was just a process of waiting for the end.
Nevertheless, the writing was exactly was you'd want in a thriller and the characterisation good. I'd certainly read more of his work.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harpercollins, Uk/Avon for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
My problem is this: I guessed the twist early on due to the heavy foreshadowing and from then on it was just a process of waiting for the end.
Nevertheless, the writing was exactly was you'd want in a thriller and the characterisation good. I'd certainly read more of his work.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harpercollins, Uk/Avon for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2015
The Hiding Place – A Lovely and Twisted Thriller
John Burley returns with The Hiding Place and once again he has written an excellent psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns it would give a tornado a run for its money. Even though the clues are dotted throughout the book when it comes to a conclusion the twists and turns will give you a surprise. It is all those twists and turns, the keeping you guessing that keeps you turning the pages as you get sucked deeper in to the book and the plot.
Dr Lise Shields is a psychiatrist working with some of America’s most dangerous prisoners at the most secure mental health facility, Menaker State Hospital, where all the patients have been found guilty with very little chance of ever leaving. She has worked at the hospital for five years straight after her residency completed her medical training.
Lise has a patient, Jason Edwards, who appears at the facility with no transfer documentation or any information about the crime he was found guilty of. Even though she complains to the director she carries on working with Jason as she tries to uncover his story and find out if this facility is where he should be. Lise has been advised by FBI agents that people will be looking for Jason that is why there is no paperwork as not to alert his hunters.
When Lise gets to work one morning all hell has been let loose as Jason has been disappeared and the authorities are seeking her too for possibly knowing too much. Lise has to escape from the Mental Health Facility while being sought for what she may or may not know. Lise recognises that to survive and help Jason she needs to keep running and get help where ever she can.
As the reader is taken on the journey through Lise’s eyes we feel every bump and every scrape the fear the envelopes her as the story goes on. What this does not do is prepare you for the twists and turns in the book as you really are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and fears. Burley really gets under the skin of the reader and then at the end you feel drained as you are dumped on your backside. You are left to work out if you really did pick up the clues throughout the book as they are there; you just have to find them.
John Burley returns with The Hiding Place and once again he has written an excellent psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns it would give a tornado a run for its money. Even though the clues are dotted throughout the book when it comes to a conclusion the twists and turns will give you a surprise. It is all those twists and turns, the keeping you guessing that keeps you turning the pages as you get sucked deeper in to the book and the plot.
Dr Lise Shields is a psychiatrist working with some of America’s most dangerous prisoners at the most secure mental health facility, Menaker State Hospital, where all the patients have been found guilty with very little chance of ever leaving. She has worked at the hospital for five years straight after her residency completed her medical training.
Lise has a patient, Jason Edwards, who appears at the facility with no transfer documentation or any information about the crime he was found guilty of. Even though she complains to the director she carries on working with Jason as she tries to uncover his story and find out if this facility is where he should be. Lise has been advised by FBI agents that people will be looking for Jason that is why there is no paperwork as not to alert his hunters.
When Lise gets to work one morning all hell has been let loose as Jason has been disappeared and the authorities are seeking her too for possibly knowing too much. Lise has to escape from the Mental Health Facility while being sought for what she may or may not know. Lise recognises that to survive and help Jason she needs to keep running and get help where ever she can.
As the reader is taken on the journey through Lise’s eyes we feel every bump and every scrape the fear the envelopes her as the story goes on. What this does not do is prepare you for the twists and turns in the book as you really are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and fears. Burley really gets under the skin of the reader and then at the end you feel drained as you are dumped on your backside. You are left to work out if you really did pick up the clues throughout the book as they are there; you just have to find them.
July 5, 2015
The Hiding Place by John Burley is a superb psychological thriller which re-invents itself throughout as the story unfolds.
Lise works at Menaker - there she treats some of the most damaged patients, one day Jason arrives, no paperwork, no history, nothing. As she begins to delve into his psyche it becomes apparent that there is a lot more going on here and there may be real danger ahead..
The tale is fast paced and addictive as Lise uncovers a conspiracy and ends up fighting for her life. The author has constructed this in a really impressive fashion, starting as it does as a a character driven interaction piece as Lise and Jason start their therapy, then moving into crime and mystery as secrets start coming to light then morphing into a full on action thriller before retreating back to where it started. It keeps you on your toes, every element is perfectly placed to develop everything else and John Burley builds and builds the suspense until you are literally sitting on the edge of your seat.
Some real life issues are tackled very well, the ultimate resolution is pitch perfect whether you see it or not and overall this was absolutely top notch and comes highly recommended from me.
Happy Reading Folks!
Lise works at Menaker - there she treats some of the most damaged patients, one day Jason arrives, no paperwork, no history, nothing. As she begins to delve into his psyche it becomes apparent that there is a lot more going on here and there may be real danger ahead..
The tale is fast paced and addictive as Lise uncovers a conspiracy and ends up fighting for her life. The author has constructed this in a really impressive fashion, starting as it does as a a character driven interaction piece as Lise and Jason start their therapy, then moving into crime and mystery as secrets start coming to light then morphing into a full on action thriller before retreating back to where it started. It keeps you on your toes, every element is perfectly placed to develop everything else and John Burley builds and builds the suspense until you are literally sitting on the edge of your seat.
Some real life issues are tackled very well, the ultimate resolution is pitch perfect whether you see it or not and overall this was absolutely top notch and comes highly recommended from me.
Happy Reading Folks!
August 1, 2015
Dr Lise Shields is a psychiatrist who works with the criminally disturbed. When she is asked to take on a new patient, Jason Edwards, who arrives with no paperwork or history, for some reason she becomes drawn to him in this story which is fast moving and well paced; a quick read which really had me turning the pages. As events unfold she finds herself caught up in a web of lies and deceit with a very sinister injustice at the heart of it. There is a lot of action in this story which kept my interest right to the end. However, at the end of the read I couldn’t shake off a feeling of “déjà vu” as ultimately it is a story that has been done time and time again, even if it is a book that is entertaining and worth a look at. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
August 6, 2015
The Hiding Place (also published as The Forgetting Place) is John Burley's second stand alone novel of suspense.
Dr Lise Shields has always accepted that Menaker Psychiatric Hospital houses some of America's most dangerous criminally insane offenders, until Jason Edwards becomes her patient. There is something not quite right about his presence at the institution, and when her supervisor refuses to produce his file, Lise is driven to investigate. Her suspicions are seemingly confirmed when she is approached by two FBI agents who explain Jason is in hiding, and both she and her patient are now in danger.
With several twists in the tale, The Hiding Place is gripping novel. Whilst the story may require some suspension of belief during its reading, most nagging elements of discord are eventually resolved as the startling conclusion is reached. It may be a little slow to begin with, as Burley establishes the foundation for his story, the pace of The Hiding Place picks up considerably as the novel unfolds, building suspense that will keep you turning the pages.
"This, I realise, so often leads to our downfall. We press forward not because we want to know, but because we must know. It doesn't matter how terrible that knowledge is, or what price must be paid for it. And it is not until the moment of revelation that we scurry back in horror and dismay..."
Dr Lise Shields is an interesting character, we are told she has been a psychiatrist at Menaker for five years, and leads a rather solitary life. Her choice of profession was inspired by an uncle that suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, and Lise is desperate to protect Jason from his pursuers in a way that she was unable to protect her uncle from his.
"We belong to our past, each of us serving it in our own way, and to break the tether between that time and the present is to risk shattering ourselves in the process."
If you can avoid spoilers, The Hiding Place offers an impressive final twist, perhaps one I should have seen coming...but was neatly distracted from. This is a taut, page turning thriller.
"The past is what imprisons us. There are some things in this world that can never be undone. But they can be faced. They can be forgiven. And if we hold onto that, then there is a chance for us. A chance that someday...we will be free."
August 1, 2015
Dr Lise Shields is a psychiatrist in Menaker, a high-security hospital in America, she treats some of
the most dangerous patients in the country.
The story begins as Lise begins to work with new patient Jason Edwards. Lise is a little concerned that Jason has been admitted to Menaker with no paperwork and no details of why he has been admitted. Her superiors at the hospital do not seem too concerned about this lack of knowledge, but there is something about Jason's case that Lise feels uneasy about.
Jason begins to open up to Lise. He tells her about his childhood, and his sister who has always protected him, but she has been gone 'for around five years now'.
There is something unsettling about Lise, something about this story and the events that unfold that don't feel quite right to the reader. This could be frustrating, you could get annoyed and say 'hey, this is pants, this wouldn't happen', but you know, you don't. Why? Well, for me, it was because the air of mystery and the feeling of unease that John Burley so cleverly portrays with his writing is just so engaging that you find yourself completely caught up with the story.
One of my favourite authors is Dennis Lehane, and from about a third of the way into The Hiding Place I got the feeling that I got when I was reading Shutter Island. Sure, it could have been that both of the stories are set in a psychiatric hospital, but it's not just that. There is that real cold feeling of dread and anticipation running throughout the book that hooks the reader that both of these authors do so very well.
There are some pretty full-on action scenes, and at times Lise becomes something of a 'Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible' character. But, then again, does she? Does she really? There are questions running throughout the story, the reader will have suspicions about every character. Who are they, are they who they say they are? What the hell is going on?
All I can really say is; read The Hiding Place. Read it and enjoy it and then sit back and consider how incredibly clever it is. How thrilling and totally mind-boggling is that plot?
I really enjoyed The Hiding Place. I had no idea what to expect from this author, and really took a chance when asked to be involved with the Blog Tour, but I'm so glad that I did. I've now bought his first novel and can't wait to read it.
The Hiding Place is most certainly on my 'highly recommended' list.
April 30, 2016
I had a very hard time rating this book- I went from 5 stars , to 4 stars , to 3 stars - then the ending 2 stars at best- but having said that , I'm still glad that I read this novel. It is a book about mental illness. A great story- but at the end I was like HUH? or WHAT? I had to re-read the last chapter a few times. I thought it was very well written, glad I read it and a true eye opener to what mental illness can do to you .....
October 19, 2015
Brilliant...Review to follow
Because There are individuals here who will never leave-who will never reside outside of these grounds. Their pathology runs too deep. They will never be restored to sanity; will never return to their former lives. And the danger, I am afraid- and the great tragedy for those who love them – is to cling to the hope that they will.
Total brilliance-this statement is in the beginning chapters and in the very end. The same statement has a different meaning but also the very same. There lies the brilliance of this must read thriller.
Dr Lise Shields is the main voice in this pysco thriller. Having come from a background of abandonment and unable to have meaningful relationships, she takes her job at Menaker psychiatric hospital very seriously. When a patient Jason walks thru the doors of the hospital without papers and a medical background, she is certain that a deadly conspiracy regarding his case is about to unfold. She wonders who she can trust in the administration as no one seems to share her concern. Why is Jason there? What has he done? Why the apparent cover-up? She finds out thru her therapy with Jason that he has his own dysfunctional background. Dealing with his sexual identity and being bullied for it as a 14 year old. He was literally saved from his bullies attack by his older sister; he knows that his sister will always have his back. Will he have hers? Is that why he is there? When the FBI approaches Lise on Jason case, she knows that she will do anything to protect Jason no matter if cost her career and her life.
The narration goes back in forth to the present and the past with a surprising twist that left me speechless at the end. I did not see it coming. Just a note without spoiling the plot, there will be circumstances that will not make sense; however, the twist will make it all clear. The author does a fantastic job of leading his readers to the lonely world and the reality of mental illness.
A Special Thank You to Harper Collins UK Avon and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Because There are individuals here who will never leave-who will never reside outside of these grounds. Their pathology runs too deep. They will never be restored to sanity; will never return to their former lives. And the danger, I am afraid- and the great tragedy for those who love them – is to cling to the hope that they will.
Total brilliance-this statement is in the beginning chapters and in the very end. The same statement has a different meaning but also the very same. There lies the brilliance of this must read thriller.
Dr Lise Shields is the main voice in this pysco thriller. Having come from a background of abandonment and unable to have meaningful relationships, she takes her job at Menaker psychiatric hospital very seriously. When a patient Jason walks thru the doors of the hospital without papers and a medical background, she is certain that a deadly conspiracy regarding his case is about to unfold. She wonders who she can trust in the administration as no one seems to share her concern. Why is Jason there? What has he done? Why the apparent cover-up? She finds out thru her therapy with Jason that he has his own dysfunctional background. Dealing with his sexual identity and being bullied for it as a 14 year old. He was literally saved from his bullies attack by his older sister; he knows that his sister will always have his back. Will he have hers? Is that why he is there? When the FBI approaches Lise on Jason case, she knows that she will do anything to protect Jason no matter if cost her career and her life.
The narration goes back in forth to the present and the past with a surprising twist that left me speechless at the end. I did not see it coming. Just a note without spoiling the plot, there will be circumstances that will not make sense; however, the twist will make it all clear. The author does a fantastic job of leading his readers to the lonely world and the reality of mental illness.
A Special Thank You to Harper Collins UK Avon and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
June 28, 2015
For me, this book was just okay. The beginning was VERY slow and I felt like I was climbing a tall, tall, tall mountain reading it trying to get to some plot. I think when a book is that grueling on you, it's time to go to the next one. I did not and could not finish this book. I got 30% through before I unchained myself of this drudgery.
Thanks to Avon and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Avon and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2021
This novel, by an author I hadn't read before, started as a very slow burn. So slow, I wasn't sure I would ever get into it, despite the setting in a mysterious mental hospital and the psychiatrist protagonist, one of my favorite thriller/mystery setups. I was at the three-star point for a good while in, and then the suspense started building to an extremely dramatic finale. Five stars for the final 1/3, averaging to four overall.
February 23, 2015
I truly wanted to stretch this to a 3 star but I just could not. 2.5 star at the most. I was the wrong audience for this book, first of all. Having some years of work experience within Psychology and in training systems for advanced degrees toward fields closely related, I found the intake, operational and administrative aspects of this institute so far away from any realistic portrayal, that I had to push myself on from nearly the get-go. Apart from the structural processes, I found Lise herself difficult to connect with in any groove to imbedding within the story itself. She can't even abide 2 chocolate covered almonds or a small apple crunch duo and has to spit them out or discard while pretending she ate them? Anorexic and/or just unable to say no? Regardless, there was no tension for me and I skimmed the entire last 1/4. Really, I think authors should write about criteria to systems they more thoroughly understand in order for the balance to work. Pure make believe is fine in fiction, but I find this presentation in a modern setting, just too off.
The writing itself, its style, is at least a 3, and in parts, a 4. It's easy read and the descriptions excellent. But the author has a medical degree in emergency medicine and I expected much more of a Michael Crichton kind of accuracy. Disappointed!
The writing itself, its style, is at least a 3, and in parts, a 4. It's easy read and the descriptions excellent. But the author has a medical degree in emergency medicine and I expected much more of a Michael Crichton kind of accuracy. Disappointed!
March 6, 2015
Last year I read Absence of Mercy, which was the first novel for this author. It was pretty good, slow, but I liked it. I picked this up because the blurb on the back led me to believe that it was more on the same characters...not so. This story moved too slowly and was not realistic at all. I worked for a number of years at a state mental hospital as a Charge Nurse (RN), and was so annoyed at the descriptions and mistakes it was difficult to keep reading. But I did, and I am sorry. Without spoiling the ending, this is a "gimmick" book, and I resented it so much when I realized it that I nearly didn't even finish it. I did finish it, however I must say the ending was VERY unsatisfying and I doubt I will read anything else by this author.
January 31, 2015
Burley's novel of psychiatry, mystery, conspiracy and paranoia starts out slow, with meandering introspective phrases from our protagonist. It does get suspenseful towards the middle, keeping the reader turning page, but slows down again toward the end. An astute reader may guess at the twist coming because the foreshadowing and clues are pretty heavy-handed, but if you take things at face value, you may get swept up in this tale. I found it merely okay.
August 30, 2022
Read as 'The Hiding Place'. The start was very slow with far too many details and completely unrealistic dialogs. Absolutely nobody talks like these characters. I skimmed most of it, reading the last 50 or so pages properly. The main intrigue was quite interesting and the very final twist was a surprise and therefore it gets 2* though yesterday I contemplated not finishing it.
April 19, 2018
Dr Lise Shields.A psychiatrist at Menaker,an asylum.
Lise Edwards,CIA Agent,sister,murderer,and a schizophrenic
two different people,yet the same.lise edwards,is jasons's sister,and is a schizopherenic like her mother's brother jim,and very protective for her brother jason.she has been in menaker for five years now as a patient,but believes she is dr lise shields a psychiatrist.when she finally meets jason she believes that he is another patient and has no paper trail.her mind comes up with a story to cover what she did to amir,her brother's domestic partner and the story that unfolds,lives you on edge,wondering if everything will be okay in time.or if things will get worse.
Lise Edwards,CIA Agent,sister,murderer,and a schizophrenic
two different people,yet the same.lise edwards,is jasons's sister,and is a schizopherenic like her mother's brother jim,and very protective for her brother jason.she has been in menaker for five years now as a patient,but believes she is dr lise shields a psychiatrist.when she finally meets jason she believes that he is another patient and has no paper trail.her mind comes up with a story to cover what she did to amir,her brother's domestic partner and the story that unfolds,lives you on edge,wondering if everything will be okay in time.or if things will get worse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2015
In the tradition of Sybil and Shutter Island comes a psychological mystery that will leave you stunned and disbelieving. The Forgetting Place by John Burley is a study in the dynamics of pain, trauma, and grief and the effects they can have on the mental and emotional dynamics of the human psyche.
"...This is how it is for the majority-the lucky ones, whose illnesses have not claimed them completely-but it is not the case for the patients here. Too ill to be released into the public, or referred by the judicial system after being found either incompetent to stand trial or not responsible by reason of insanity, Menaker houses the intractably psychiatrically impaired. It is not a forgotten place, but it is a place for forgetting-the crimes committed by its patients settling into the dust like a gradual deterioration of the buildings themselves..."
Dr. Lise Shields joined the staff of Menaker State Hospital correctional facility five years ago. She understands that her patients are commited by Maryland's court system and for many, there will be no salvation or healing. Shields understands that for many, this is their last refuge. But she begins to sense that perhaps Menaker is being used as something else entirely. A place to hide some patient. To silence them. To conceal them from the world.
When a new patient shows up, Jason, with no transfer paperwork at all and no admission paperwork, Shields begins to question why he is at Menaker at all. her questions are met with silence from the administration and soon she feels she is being followed. Who is Jason and what is his secret. His lover was killed, but by who and why? And why is the FBI involved?
Shields must unravel the secrets and lies surrounding Jason and Menaker before she becomes another one of its victims.
The Forgetting Place is thriller that starts slowly and builds and builds until the secrets surrounding its true plot unravels bit by bit and you have an entirely different novel than the one you began with. And that is a good thing. The secrets behind Jason and his incarceration are at the core of this mystery and there are plenty of red herrings afoot. Burley does a terrific job of creating an original and well paced plot here. Plenty of mystery. Plenty of action and plenty of guessing what is going on, with an ending as exciting as it is sad.
A terrific emotional thriller.
"...This is how it is for the majority-the lucky ones, whose illnesses have not claimed them completely-but it is not the case for the patients here. Too ill to be released into the public, or referred by the judicial system after being found either incompetent to stand trial or not responsible by reason of insanity, Menaker houses the intractably psychiatrically impaired. It is not a forgotten place, but it is a place for forgetting-the crimes committed by its patients settling into the dust like a gradual deterioration of the buildings themselves..."
Dr. Lise Shields joined the staff of Menaker State Hospital correctional facility five years ago. She understands that her patients are commited by Maryland's court system and for many, there will be no salvation or healing. Shields understands that for many, this is their last refuge. But she begins to sense that perhaps Menaker is being used as something else entirely. A place to hide some patient. To silence them. To conceal them from the world.
When a new patient shows up, Jason, with no transfer paperwork at all and no admission paperwork, Shields begins to question why he is at Menaker at all. her questions are met with silence from the administration and soon she feels she is being followed. Who is Jason and what is his secret. His lover was killed, but by who and why? And why is the FBI involved?
Shields must unravel the secrets and lies surrounding Jason and Menaker before she becomes another one of its victims.
The Forgetting Place is thriller that starts slowly and builds and builds until the secrets surrounding its true plot unravels bit by bit and you have an entirely different novel than the one you began with. And that is a good thing. The secrets behind Jason and his incarceration are at the core of this mystery and there are plenty of red herrings afoot. Burley does a terrific job of creating an original and well paced plot here. Plenty of mystery. Plenty of action and plenty of guessing what is going on, with an ending as exciting as it is sad.
A terrific emotional thriller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2016
"A true psychological thriller!"
3.5 STARS!
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Yes! Not only was the story very intriguing, but there was also very in depth information about mental disorders especially bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The characters are all captivating and well thought out.
What did you like best about this story?
I best enjoyed the complexity of the story. Just like an onion, as the story progressed, you kept getting into different layers of the story from the mental disorders, mob wars, cover-ups, military hero, family secrets and more. How can I pick just one?
Was The Forgetting Place worth the listening time?
Absolutely! I knew it would be a great story from the moment I read the description.
Any additional comments?
If you enjoy psychology and true psychological thrillers, you will enjoy this book.
A tad bit predictable towards the end, but def worth a read!
3.5 STARS!
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Yes! Not only was the story very intriguing, but there was also very in depth information about mental disorders especially bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The characters are all captivating and well thought out.
What did you like best about this story?
I best enjoyed the complexity of the story. Just like an onion, as the story progressed, you kept getting into different layers of the story from the mental disorders, mob wars, cover-ups, military hero, family secrets and more. How can I pick just one?
Was The Forgetting Place worth the listening time?
Absolutely! I knew it would be a great story from the moment I read the description.
Any additional comments?
If you enjoy psychology and true psychological thrillers, you will enjoy this book.
A tad bit predictable towards the end, but def worth a read!
July 15, 2015
When Jason arrives at the psychiatric asylum, Lise isn't sure what to make of his lack of paperwork and lack of information about him in general. He doesn't seem to be mentally ill. But the closer she gets to Jason, the more secrets she uncovers...
So this book... I thought I had it figured out before I read page 100, then I thought it was going to turn into more of a political thriller. Then I realized I had guessed the ending right to begin with. I love books set in mental hospitals and especially books with a good psychological mystery, especially with an unreliable narrator. This worked well in a lot of ways, I just wish I hadn't been able to see the ending coming so far away. The writing had a nice flow and the flashbacks gave some added perspective, and it was good, fast-paced read.
So this book... I thought I had it figured out before I read page 100, then I thought it was going to turn into more of a political thriller. Then I realized I had guessed the ending right to begin with. I love books set in mental hospitals and especially books with a good psychological mystery, especially with an unreliable narrator. This worked well in a lot of ways, I just wish I hadn't been able to see the ending coming so far away. The writing had a nice flow and the flashbacks gave some added perspective, and it was good, fast-paced read.
February 18, 2017
SPOILERS.....
while this book was slow to start; you needed to get through all that to understand where it was going.
second half action picked up and i couldnt put it down
sadly i did realise where the end was headed early on.
it was well writtem and characters likeable.
i have 2 words fof this book.. HERE IS THE SPOILER
SHUTTER ISLAND.
yep so i give it 3 stars still good but extrememly simlar to the movie
while this book was slow to start; you needed to get through all that to understand where it was going.
second half action picked up and i couldnt put it down
sadly i did realise where the end was headed early on.
it was well writtem and characters likeable.
i have 2 words fof this book.. HERE IS THE SPOILER
SHUTTER ISLAND.
yep so i give it 3 stars still good but extrememly simlar to the movie
November 8, 2014
Got an ARC of this one which is due out Feb 2015. Great twisted psycho-drama. It is oddly predictable and yet surprising at the same time. I thought he did a very good job!
April 27, 2020
And on my 47th day of quarantine I finished my ninth book of the stay home stretch. This was a fantastic psychological thriller. It would be very hard to leave an earnest review without spoilers, so this is what I’ll say. If you crave some much needed excitement from the boredom that is quarantine this is the thriller for you. You really can’t expect the twists and turns this novel doles out, and the one thing it doesn’t is disappoint. If you need some adventure and a curve ball to excite your quarantine vibe, The Forgetting Place is an excellent way to start.
October 22, 2017
I will keep this short: i find stories about the human psychology very fascinating. And further stories that make you believe something in the beginning that turn out to be different in the end and sometimes even leave you confused and unsure of the end. I enjoyed this book, the story, the way it was written and would recommend it.
June 24, 2018
Here’s a fantastic book with surprising twists and eye popping events that kept me guessing until the very last page. A story of mental illness, delusion and a touch of CIA involvement kept me reading and reading past my budgeted reading time. Excellent book!
November 2, 2021
I think I just followed Alice down the Rabbit Hole or maybe I fell into the Snake Pit - that was quite a ride into a mental delusion I can’t even conceive of.
I’m off to pick up Mr Burley’s three other books that happen to be sitting on my libraries shelf. Hope they’re as good as this one 👍
I’m off to pick up Mr Burley’s three other books that happen to be sitting on my libraries shelf. Hope they’re as good as this one 👍
February 1, 2023
The book was written well, however, I could see the ending by about three quarters of the way through the book, if not, sooner. It reminds me so much of Shutter Island.
December 26, 2015
It is clear from the beginning of the story that Lise’s life is very structured. She stops by the same coffee place on her way to work and usually eats at the same restaurant on her way home. When a new patient is brought in for her care, none of the usual rules are being followed and Lise’s world is sent into a whirlwind of trouble now that she is involved. The patient is brought to the hospital for safety, but only brings trouble. The FBI and a terrorist group are involved, playing a game of cat and mouse that disrupts her once comfortable…and predictable life.
Burley’s writing is very fluid and keeps a pretty intense pace of unexpected action and psychological turns. I was hoping for something different when it came to the actual storyline and how the whole plot unravelled, but I truly feel that there are a lot of readers who will really enjoy how the story develops. The main character is feisty and strong willed, but I had a hard time really liking her personality. As she is running for her life, I could see myself making the same decisions that she made, and, understandably, she has a hard time trusting others.
When her life slowly begins to go off track, she meets my favourite character in the story, Haden, the knight in shining cowboy boots who is a gentleman and wants to help and protect her. Haden was pretty much the best part of the story for me: a little humanity in a messed up world of chaos.
There has been a lot of praise for John Burley’s first novel The Absence of Mercy and the writing style of this book has intrigued me enough to pick it up. The Forgetting Place is a book that I recommend for those that enjoy a fun suspenseful thriller.
Burley’s writing is very fluid and keeps a pretty intense pace of unexpected action and psychological turns. I was hoping for something different when it came to the actual storyline and how the whole plot unravelled, but I truly feel that there are a lot of readers who will really enjoy how the story develops. The main character is feisty and strong willed, but I had a hard time really liking her personality. As she is running for her life, I could see myself making the same decisions that she made, and, understandably, she has a hard time trusting others.
When her life slowly begins to go off track, she meets my favourite character in the story, Haden, the knight in shining cowboy boots who is a gentleman and wants to help and protect her. Haden was pretty much the best part of the story for me: a little humanity in a messed up world of chaos.
There has been a lot of praise for John Burley’s first novel The Absence of Mercy and the writing style of this book has intrigued me enough to pick it up. The Forgetting Place is a book that I recommend for those that enjoy a fun suspenseful thriller.
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