This is the third book of its kind that I've read, and the best. Still, while the form intrigues me, I'm not sure it really improves on traditional epistolary novels. This one has nice twists, a fair plot, very good design. ( )

As with the first reviewer I discovered this through a discussion on Librarything and after using the Amazon 'look inside' thingy was intrigued enough to break my rules, not only by buying it (as it's fiction by a living author), but then reading it at once. And it didn't disappoint.

I am addicted to classic ghost and gothic fiction but shy away from anything that's more recent than Blackwood, as I'm not a fan of gore but this book is subtle and creepy, rather than filled with blood. It reeks of Lovecraft (which is not a criticism but a recommendation), especially the literature and histories created by Stern that are completely convincing; I had to put Laszlo into Google to see if there was such a book - there wasn't. It also reminded me a bit of Le Fanu's 'Green Tea': the abuse of a substance removing the barriers and protection between us and the world/dimension beyond our knowledge.

The way in which the story is put together is what interested me at first - the use of transcripts from psychiatric sessions, photocopies of books, articles, sometimes with handwritten notes - you follow Dr Marsh's thought processes as he tries to make sense of what is happening at the Kriegmoor Institute. It is creepy, enthralling and I enjoyed it immensely. ( )