Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Asylum

Rate this book
Like all children living at Rose Hill Asylum, Kyle Hampton wanted freedom from the abusive staff and violent residents. When at nine he was adopted into a loving family, he left his younger brother behind and didn't look back. Twenty-eight years later, his choices have returned to haunt him.

Now a family man, Kyle has hidden his true childhood from his wife, only to stir up the past when, as a lark, he revisits the underground tunnels and the abandoned asylum with a friend. A dark figure wants revenge and emerges ready to destroy Kyle and everyone he loves. But Kyle isn't going down without a fight—he's played in the shadows before.

Will his childhood, rooted in terror, be what saves him?

312 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2021

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Tamera Lawrence

10 books132 followers
Award Winning Author Tamera Lawrence loves to entertain readers with edgy thrillers and nonfiction paranormal. The following are some of her works.

Based upon the Mayflower Hall building, Pennhurst, GHOSTS OF MAYFLOWER I&II are based on true life encounters at the historical state school. Pennhurst had been open from 1908-1987 - shutting down over allegations of neglect and abuse. Tamera has been on several television shows about Pennhurst, including GHOST ASYLUM, A&E'S Worlds Biggest Ghost Hunt and new in 2021 PORTALS TO HELL (Travel Channel with Jack Osbourne & Katrina Weidman.) New in 2023 Sam And Colby Pennhurst episode

Other books
WRECKER CREEPER (thriller)
THE POND (paranormal suspense) Award winning
ASYLUM (horror suspense)
THE SERPENTS MARK

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
17 (29%)
4 stars
28 (48%)
3 stars
12 (20%)
2 stars
1 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for "Avonna.
1,271 reviews510 followers
September 24, 2021
Check out all my review at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

ASYLUM by Tamera Lawrence is a suspense/thriller standalone by a new to me author that left me guessing throughout. A creepy abandoned asylum, an atmosphere of fear and a history of violence and abuse all kept me turning the pages and keeping the lights on.

Kyle Hampton and his younger brother, Roy were both born at Rose Hill Asylum. As a young boy all Kyle wished for was to be freed from the abusive staff and violent residents. At nine, he was adopted, but he had to leave his brother behind.

Rose Hill Asylum has been vacant and abandoned for many years and it is about to be sold. Kyle wants to return to the place he was born one more time with is best friend, Randy who also grew up at Rose Hill and is a part-time urban explorer. The tunnels underneath the facility connect all the buildings and Kyle begins to remember the terrors they held for him.

A dark figure emerges from the asylum and wants revenge on all who wronged him. Kyle is one of his targets as well as all the people he loves, but Kyle will not go down without a fight.

This book gives you a building sense of dread and chills up your spine from beginning to end, but it is a slow start. I began this book thinking it would be a horror story, and it does scare you, but it is not supernatural. It is the horror of things that humans do to other humans. Kyle is a protagonist that kept my feelings in turmoil because at times I felt sorry for him and at other times I wondered how damaged he was from growing up in the asylum when he did not seem to connect with his wife. The author’s writing makes you feel the atmosphere of the abandoned asylum and the tunnels beneath as well as the menace and violence from the antagonist.

I recommend this chilling suspense/thriller and I will be looking into other works by this author.

4.5 out of 5 Stars (Rounded up)
Profile Image for Debbie.
273 reviews43 followers
May 16, 2021
This a story about two brothers who were born in the asylum in terrible conditions, and terrible things happened. One of the brothers was adopted and left behind. After 28 years later he starts looking for his brother. I received this e-book in a Goodreads giveaway for a honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for David Kempf.
Author 30 books27 followers
April 25, 2021

The inmates are not running this asylum. Sadly, the sadists in power are. The children living at Rose Hill Asylum wanted freedom from the abusive staff and violent residents.
And who can blame them?
What I like about Tamera Lawrence's novel is that it's not about the "people who aren't really crazy" somehow trapped in the system. It's about the lack of accountability in how society treats people who suffer from mental illness. I've worked in enough mental health facilities to recognize the dark truth in her tale.
Our protagonist Kyle was sadly put into a terrible asylum as a child.
Now twenty-eight years later, he is a tragic figure haunted by his past. He grows up to be a successful family man but there is a new menace that he must face even if it means returning to the horrific asylum.
The lack of control or outright indifference to him and the other children in the asylum shows us that the past is never truly dead. This is very different from other mental psych ward thrillers I have read. The inmates are not running the asylum but they are the only ones who can save themselves from its terrifying grip. Recommended.
Profile Image for Zelda FeatzReviews.
451 reviews25 followers
September 27, 2021
Asylum is an intense read, telling the story of orphan brother’s who lost touch, brothers who suffered during their early childhood and the scares that suffering left them carrying onto their adult lives. The storyline highlights the shortcomings of psychiatric facilities in the past, touching on how badly people in these facilities were treated.
The author keeps you on the edge of your seat as this sad, deeply moving story unfolds. Based on the badly run asylums which were commonly used as dumping grounds for anyone different, anyone who society did not understand, she weaves a gripping tale that leaves you amazed at what was once acceptable. I am new to Tamera Lawrence’s writing, I loved her consistent intensity with this book. While elements of the story was a little predictable I found it hard to walk away from this story.
Kyle had a troubled start in life. Born in an asylum to a mother who could not look after him, his future looked bleak. Suffering at the hands of bullies day after day while there was never enough staff members to keep up with what was happening, life was anything but pleasant. Until Scott Hampton walked into his life. After being adopted and finally having a family of his own, it was easy for Kyle to put Rosehill behind him.
Twenty-eight years later he has not forgotten his little brother and he is still haunted by having left him behind. When Kyle visited the deserted Rosehill all his old memories return. But more than that, strange things start to happen. He is obsessed with the old building and cannot keep away. Is it just memories haunting him, or is there a bigger danger awaiting him among the damp, crumbling walls?
Can you ever really escape your past?
The author told this deeply moving story beautifully. Highlighting the wrongs of the past and reminding us how easily communities turned their backs on people who were different, on people who did not conform or who did not fit into the norm of society. It broke my heart to think of the poor souls who suffer unnecessarily in places like Rosehill all over the world.
The author created a brilliant cast of flawed and troubled people. Each facing their own demons and doing their best to cope with the baggage of their past.
Kyle was consumed by guilt over a situation he had no control over, making him a likeable, realistic character.
This was a hard read, that was draining with the emotion that dripped off the pages, but what a creative storyline. Looking at past injustices and creating a gripping, edge of your seat thriller. I loved this book.
If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will leave you chilled to the bone as you turn the pages, this is the book you should reach for. Asylum is a dark, chilling read that is guaranteed to keep you intrigued as you race to reach the end.
Profile Image for Sandra Burns.
1,733 reviews32 followers
May 4, 2021
Great read, kept you guessing.

Two boys, born in an asylum where their Mom lived. One was adopted, the other not. Kyle grew up, had a life. Wife., kid and a good job and his best friend from the asylum. Sometimes, the past, comes back.
Profile Image for Candie.
186 reviews
August 24, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing the entire time. I did not see the 'who' behind everything that happened coming though.
Profile Image for Carrie .
1,011 reviews570 followers
September 27, 2021
(3.5 rounded up to 4)

So if you know me, the word asylum is one of the buzzwords that will get my attention and interest in a book, so clearly a book titled Asylum was going to get my attention and interest. And yes it did for the whole book.

Asylum takes place in the now, and the life Kyle Hampton is living as an adult. Rose Hill Asylum the place that both he and his brother were born in is the past, something he doesn't or hasn't been thinking about. Other then his recent searching for Roy his brother. He has lost touch with him since being 14. See Kyle was adopted out, and his brother Roy was not and eventually was moved to another group home when the truth of the horrible, disgusting, sadistic treatment that went on in Ross Hill was let known and the Asylum then closed down.

The building stands abandoned, and Kyle's best friend Randy, also a former resident enjoys urban exploring. Kyle likes to go with him to do so, despite his wife not happy with the idea of him doing things to risk himself. I just have to say, I don't like this pairing, I can't lie. I don't these two characters at all, I'm not sure if the author wanted us to, but I just couldn't even with them. If we were meant to be annoyed by them great job at portraying them as not likable.

Enter Stiches.

He wants revenge


Stiches, is a messed up "jester" he's an evil vile human monster. As someone with a clown fear it was surprising that it was his scenes that I enjoyed the most. Because he is sinister and creepy, and kudos to Tamera Lawrence on such wonderful job and making him so.


So with this being an honest review, I have to say I almost stopped reading this been early on, happy I didn't but I almost did. I did not like any of the characters. Other then Stiches, and I liked him because he was how he was suppose to be creepy, sinister and evil.

Asylum is written well and very fast read. Perfect for this time of year. If one wanted to they could possibly do it in a sitting. It could have been longer I feel as if I would like more flash backs in the actual asylum. But it kept my attention even when I was glaring at Kyle, Beth and Randy for some of the stupid things they said and did. But I think that is a thing/trope in psychological thrillers/horror, the annoying character.

I had my suspicions as to who Stiches was. I flip flopped a few times but in the end I was right my guess. There was a twist I did not see coming which made me go "hmmm was I wrong and the rest just red hearings?" I liked the twist, could have had more information with it but I liked it because I didn't see it coming and when we were nearing it I thought my initial guess were off base. So yet again kudos to Tamera Lawrence for keeping me on my toes.

Asylum was not the horror novel that I originally thought it was going to be, but it is horrific with keep you gripped.
But I guess then again it is a horror when you think about it. What the children of Rose Hill Asylum went through is horrific but that didn't create the human monster, sometimes someone is born that way.

I am interested to know what the authors other books are like.

First published on I Can Has Books?
Profile Image for Amisha Bahl Chawla.
71 reviews5 followers
September 26, 2021
Asylum.
A place of safe haven.
A place meant to be your sanctuary.
A place meant to protect you from the demons outside.

Imagine a world where your ‘sanctuary’ itself turns out to be your tormentor, your demon.

Asylum by Tamera Lawrence is a gut-wrenching thriller that explores the dark realities of the ‘homes’ meant to keep us safe.

Nine year old Kyle Hampton wants freedom.
Freedom from torture, bullying and violence.
Freedom from Rose Hill Asylum.
Freedom that comes at a cost. The cost of leaving his younger brother behind.

In the choice between family and self-perseverance ultimately it is his sense of survival that wins.
At a cost that will haunt him forever.
Adopted into a loving yet strangely secretive family, Kyle grows up to forget his past.
Save for one link, his friend from the asylum Randy.

All grown up with a wife and baby daughter, Kyle’s past returns to haunt him when he reads of the impending destruction of Rose Hill Asylum. Jolted into a desire to find his brother Kyle embarks on a quest to find the truth.
But truth always comes with a cost, doesn’t it!

Kyle’s quest into the labyrinths of his past through the tunnels of his mind and the tunnels beneath Rose Hill Asylum lead to spine-chilling scenarios that have you gasping for breath.

Terrifying scenarios keep unfurling at a pace that keeps threatening to make you lose your balance. With palpable build ups of horror (so like those of Edgar Allen Poe) this book will keep you on the edge of your seat from the get go. And don’t get me started on the villain. His devious, wicked actions might make the sturdiest lose their lunch.

Underneath all that horror and mayhem lies Tamera’s astute take on the adoption system and the fears, hurt and trauma faced by the children living in the system.

Tamera’s visual writing style makes this a book that is un-put-down-able. I hope they adapt it into a movie or mini-series. It will definitely be a hair-raising or hair-losing epic thriller.

So glad I got this ARC, it was a nail bitingly scary read. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.
Happy Reading:)
Profile Image for Wulfwyn .
1,142 reviews103 followers
May 26, 2021
This was my first time reading Tamera Lawrence. Asylum was excellent for me. I enjoy watching the YouTube videos of the exploration of old buildings. I love learning the history of them. I believe in ghosts. I knew going in, I would be scared.
Asylums have drawn my attention since I first learned of them years ago. The sadness and horror of them breaks my heart. The reasons for putting someone in one stun me. The fact children were in them chills me and angers me. The way they closed down was a double edge sword. On one side, they needed to be closed down as they were often badly run and did a lot of harm. On the other, they dumped a lot of unwell people, who had no basic living skills, into society, leaving them to fend for themselves. It was a no win situation.
In the book, we meet Kyle who grew up inside one of those places. Kyle was adopted and separated from his brother. The asylum closed and now is for sale. Kyle and his best friend, who also grew up there, go to check out the ruins.
The story moves along quickly and is a definite page turner. I gave the basics of the story because I don’t like to give away anything that will spoil things for a reader. I had chills while reading it. I could picture the building in my mind. I chose to read at night and was reading with the lights on. I was reading the Kindle version so lights weren’t necessary. Why I think lights will keep me safe, I don’t know, but they stayed all night. It took me a few nights because I would have to put it aside. I have a fear of clowns.
If your reading the reviews, you’re interested. I would encourage you to read this one.
*I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. A review was not required. I voluntarily wrote the review because I enjoyed the book. I hope you will too.*
Profile Image for Neil White.
10 reviews
September 24, 2021
Asylum is a tense psychological thriller from Tamera Lawrence that explores institutional abuse, stolen childhoods, and mental health. Weighty subjects, indeed, but written with compassion and with an eye to a Young Adult audience.
Rose Hill Asylum has been shuttered for decades but for Kyle Hampton it still elicits gut-wrenching memories of his childhood. Memories of abuse, and of a younger brother left behind, come roaring back when he begins to explore the tunnels beneath the asylum. There, his demon’s dwell, along with a killer with a score to settle.
Although I found the pacing somewhat ponderous at times, Ms. Lawrence does a masterful job in building the back story for the main characters and delivers a nice twist when the antagonist is unmasked. Definitely a good read for the teenager in your family.
I received a copy of this book from Blackthorn Book Tours for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Tonja Drecker.
Author 3 books210 followers
Read
September 29, 2021
Tension runs high as this fast-paced thriller shoves a man back into his childhood memories and let's everything play out in the dark shadows of a desolate and forgotten asylum.

Kyle was born in an asylum and raised there with his younger brother after their mother's death until his adoption. His brother was left behind. Years later, Kyle now is married and has a baby daughter. The family atmosphere along with a visit to the asylum's ruins...thanks to his best friend's urban adventure interests...has left him wanting to find out what happened to his brother and reconnect. But strange things start happening, and it soon becomes clear that someone is watching him and his family. And their intentions aren't only set on revenge...they are pure evil.

I love a well-woven thriller, and this one fits that bill. Kyle is presented as a normal family father, whose marriage is a bit rocky thanks to their new baby daughter. His past comes in easy to follow flashbacks, which present the harshness of his childhood in the asylum. These do hold clues, but they are foggy enough to keep the reader wondering how it all pieces together as things get more and more dangerous for Kyle. He remains 'a nice guy' throughout the tale, which made him easy to like and fun to fever for. His wife, father, best friend and other relationships come across very naturally and made the world that much more believable.

The descriptions of the characters give each one a distinct personality, especially the 'bad guy'. His personality holds a quirky chill, which grabs and leaves an off-balanced atmosphere. Since the story unfolds from different points of view (divided by chapters), the reader slowly gets to know him without really knowing who he is until the end. It kept me guessing and added twists and turns, which were hard to see coming.

Of course, the condemned asylum buildings and tunnels offer the perfect background for a creepy thriller, and the author does an excellent job at letting the dark corners hold all the necessary eeriness and then some. But even outside of the asylum, the thrills and chills remain high. It's well-woven, grabs from beginning to end, and leaves off with an unexpected surprise. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it quite a bit.
Profile Image for Kelly Okonski.
6 reviews
June 28, 2021
This was a quick and enjoyable read that I finished within 48 hours. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about reading it and wanting to know what happens! There are several twists throughout the story, one of which (the biggest twist in my opinion) really caught me off guard and surprised me! I love a good thriller, and my favorite is when an author is able to lead you in one direction and then flip the script, with everything beforehand suddenly laid out clearly.
Profile Image for Nancy Rundle.
221 reviews39 followers
July 19, 2021
You know, I'm not even sure how to review this book.
It wasn't horrible, it wasn't bad. Had decent writing style, easy to follow along with, and descriptions were well thought out. Even the plot line was good.
It was just a really...weird...read. Definitely a one of a kind for me.
So if you enjoy this type of read, go for it! I don't think you would be disappointed.
Profile Image for Sherri.
114 reviews6 followers
May 23, 2021
A great book for those who like a quick thriller that you won't want to put down until the last page. Thanks to the author and Goodreads for the chance to enjoy this one!!!
5,328 reviews62 followers
June 4, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A man raised in an asylum goes back there 28 years later. Bad idea.
Profile Image for Angel (Bookn.All.Night).
1,552 reviews37 followers
September 24, 2021
3.5 Rounded to 4

Kyle Hampton was born at the Rose Hill Asylum. His mother was a patient there and he has no idea who his father is. Eventually, he is adopted by one of the volunteers and leaves to a better life...

Years later, he and his best friend Randy go back to the crumbling and desolate Asylum to dig around and see what's become of their former home. Kyle finds a pair of boots, and on a whim takes them home.

Things begin happening in and around Kyle's life...all leading back to the Asylum. What is happening? Can Kyle figure it out before the evil he feels surrounding him turns into something real?

This is a good read for Fall. There is a darkness to it that, at times, will have you shiver. It has a slightly gothic feel while reading, which I loved. The characters are well written, and the writing flows well which makes this a quick read.

While this isn't horror, it has a darker mystery that is perfectly spooky. Aside from one part, the mystery itself was predictable, but I think it was written that way so, for me, it doesn't take away from the story.

All-in-all, a quick and satisfying Fall read. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Blackthorn Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
Profile Image for thereadingowlvina (Elvina Ulrich).
912 reviews45 followers
September 25, 2021
The Story: Twenty-eight years ago, Kyle Hampton left Rose Hill Asylum when he was adopted by a loving family, leaving his younger brother Rory behind. When the now abandoned asylum is about to be sold, Kyle returns to this place with his best friend. He finds a pair of boots in the asylum and things begin to take a turn for the worse.

My thoughts: I love stories with asylum setting, especially those with buried secrets, and this book definitely delivered all the creepy vibes. The abandoned asylum was described atmospherically and it was just creepy with all the underground tunnels and the backstories. Reading about the mistreatment of patients was really heartbreaking.

Although I did figure out whodunit, it did not deter my enjoyment of reading this book at all. I think what really stood out for me was the writing and the gradual build up of suspense through the different POVs with some unexpected twists.

In a nutshell, this was a good suspense mystery story and I am looking forward to reading more of this author's works.

***Thank you Blackthorn Book Tours and author Tamera Lawrence for this gifted copy to read and review and for having me in this tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
Profile Image for Anni.
42 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2021
This literary snack has the following ingredients:

- one dark and unfriendly asylum where children have to survive

- a few asylum staff members that simply don't get the concept of warmth and humanity

- one boy finally adopted by a loving family and leaving his brother behind

- fate catching up to him ..

What it tastes like:

Get ready for a wild ride on a tasty roller-coaster. You start with an ice-cold shocker of brutal asylum staff members who make children experience their worst dreams. The coldheartedness is absolutely vivid by the various descriptions and you really want to crawl into the story to save Kyle and his brother. I think every word connected to the concept of 'violence' would fit the narrated situations and keeping in mind that such situations still happen nowadays, makes them even more terrific. Fortunately, Kyle is adopted by a loving family. The literary taste gets sweet. Unfortunately, his brother needs to stay in the asylum - bittersweet taste. This constellation hints at what's about to come: pure bitterness. Nearly three decades later, Kyle's past becomes the terrorist of his present and he has to fight like he never fought before. So the final taste is...

Read to know it ;)

'Asylum' is definitely worth reading because the topic is of a high actuality and by the different connections and combinations of violence, helplessness and courage the author creates a unique type of suspense that forces you to read the book in one breath.
Profile Image for Susan van der Walt.
90 reviews4 followers
September 26, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Rose Hill Asylum (Pennsylvania) in 1984 wasn't a haven for any of its residents. Orphaned children often ended up here, as well as adults with mental illnesses, or even for just being different. All residents were treated harshly, and the children lived in constant fear of the bullies, cornering them in the underground tunnels of Rose Hill.

Kyle and his friend Randy decide to explore the now closed and desolate Rose Hill many years later. But they don't know that evil lurks in the dark tunnels. A twisted mind, set on revenge for events from the past.

Will Kyle be able to figure out the identity of this man lurking in the tunnels in time to save himself and his wife?

The book highlights the terrible abuse and conditions in many state-run institutions and the courage it takes to survive. The author manages to create a tense and spooky atmosphere with her use of descriptive language.

If you like spooky settings and haunted buildings, this one is for you.

Trigger Warnings: Profanity | Violence | Death | Abuse | Bullying


You can read my full review on my blog: https://rebrand.ly/asylym-tamera-lawr...
Profile Image for Jess | dapper.reads.
1,030 reviews9 followers
September 11, 2021
I want to preface this review by saying that I prefer to go into books blind. I do not read the synopsis. I base my book choices on three things: title, author and cover. If one of those things draw me in I’m sold. In this case it was title and cover - and in the future this author is on my list!

Alrighty - so I went into this with different expectations based on the cover. I was expecting a ghost story. This is not that, but it is still good! It’s a story about a currently abandoned asylum - and grown men coming to terms with their childhoods spent there.

When the abandoned Rose Hill Asylum hits the market, friends Kyle and Randy decide to go exploring their childhood home before it’s sold and demolished. This exploration brings back many memories and feelings that Kyle isn’t prepared to deal with. It shines a light on not only his childhood, but his adoption, the brother he left behind, his friends and even his childhood bullies. There are chapters dedicated to the POV of the bad guy (huge plus in my book) which make it easy to see into his mind but harder to decipher who he is. The book gives you so many people to choose from to be the bad guy that it’s hard to settle on one. In the end, I had it pegged but there was a twist that I didn’t predict in there as well (this is uncommon for me - huge plus!)

So why not 5 stars? Well I found a few inconsistencies in the story, there were several loose ends and the beginning was SLOW. 4.5 stars - rounded down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Profile Image for Kechi Otta.
14 reviews
September 26, 2021
A mind-blowing suspense novel.
It is set an asylum with a history of violence and abuse.
We are introduced to the main character, Kyle who was put into into this environment of horror. He later grows up to be a successful man but cannot seem to fight the battles and scars he had gotten when he grew up in the asylum.
He has to confront his past even if it means returning to the nightmare called a place.
This book had me flipping pages. It is something that grips you and leaves you guessing to the end.
I received this book with a request for an honest review.
34 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2021
I had hoped to win this book & I did, in May. Due some priorities I delayed. When I began to read it, it was around Halloween which happened to be the time frame used in the book. I really enjoyed reading it. I am not one that has trouble putting a book down, this is exception. If you should get it I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Profile Image for Teresa Lavender.
388 reviews78 followers
February 21, 2022
This novel has the feel of a horror novel. The story of former childhood residents of an asylum. Things definitely take a turn for the worst. Excellent novel. Pulls you in right at the start.
Profile Image for KarnagesMistress.
1,130 reviews11 followers
September 26, 2021
This book properly belongs in the horror section. Humans are the biggest monsters of all, and Asylum is full of them. There is an intensity to this story, and I did have some disturbing dreams after my second late-night reading session. The descriptions of the various parts of the old asylum left me with the need to take a shower. I thought that the story flowed nicely, carrying you right along with it. A quick read, but not an easy one-- Tamera Lawrence's characters are far too real. Rose Hill isn't real, but it is based on reality. Even without a traditional serial killer thrown in the mix, what happened in places such as these is the stuff of nightmares. That's another thing that Tamera Lawrence accomplished with Asylum: while this isn't quite a book about social justice, she made me think about these issues. This book will also satisfy the Watauga County Public Library 2021 Reading Challenge (ending 6/30/2021) categories: A Book with Something Broken on the Cover; Genre You Don't Usually Read. I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is autographed.
44 reviews3 followers
April 4, 2021
I recieved this book as a Goodreads ARC.
Overall I really enjoyed the book, and finished it in a couple days. It was an easy read, exciting, and with a few nice twists and turns. With the foundation of the story built around an abandoned state asylum and what that upbringing did to the children growing up there the mood was easily set. I liked the characters and the struggle the protagonist faced. Only downside was the ending was fairly easy to see coming even from the very beginning, that being said I would definitely recommend to anyone into this genre and will look into other works by Ms. Lawrence.
Profile Image for Rose.
537 reviews
April 11, 2021
Asylum is a story of children being sent to a home in Pennsylvania where terrible things happened. They survived the terrible conditions. This is the story of two brothers who grew up in this environment.

I live in Pennsylvania and have heard terrible stories of the Pennhurst State School & Hospital on which the book is based. The boys have scars from growing up in the environment and carry them into adulthood. The book has twists and turns and several surprises along the way. It would make a good screenplay for a movie. It was a good book.

Thank you to #goodreads, @TameraLawrence and @TheWildRosePress for a copy of this book.
#Asylum
Profile Image for Amy Walker  - Trans-Scribe Reviews.
902 reviews13 followers
September 30, 2021
Kyle was born into Rose Hill Asylum, a home for mental and physically disabled people, as well as the children born to them. He and his brother, Roy, grew up in the frightening, sometimes violent, institution, doing their best to have as normal a life as they could. Despite looking out for each other the two boys would often be on the receiving end of abuse from some of the older children in the asylum, and lived in a state of near constant fear.

When Kyle is adopted by one of the men who volunteers at Rose Hill he thinks that all his problems are finally behind him; but he faces something awful, as he will have to leave his younger brother behind. Afraid that if he were to keep asking his new family to adopt his brother too he'd lose his new home, Kyle and his brother drift apart until finally losing all contact with each other.

Now an adult, Kyle returns to the long abandoned Rose Hill with his lifelong friend, and fellow former Rose Hill resident, Randy, to take a last look through the ruined hallways and rooms before it's sold off to a developer. Seeing the place begins to stir up memories in Kyle, as well as feelings of guilt over having to leave his brother all those years before. Not only that, but it seems like someone has started to follow Kyle and his family; someone who want to hurt him and the people he loves.

Asylum is a stand alone mystery from author Tamera Lawrence that centres around a man as his past comes back to haunt him, pushing his relationships with his friends and family to the breaking point in the process. Lawrence sets the tone for the book early, having the very first chapter of the book set in Kyle's past as he and his brother face violence at the hands of one of the older Rose Hill residents. It's a grim and foreboding start, one that shows that even in the moments where these young children tried to carve themselves out a bit of joy there was always the threat of something awful hanging over them.

This was a feeling that would continue over the course of the book, and would mount as the story unfolded. The reader was never really given a chance to rest, and even the most benign seeming scenes in the book, such as Kyle going to grab a beer with his friend, or him coming home from a long day at work to spend time with his wife and baby daughter, would keep the pressure on as there would be small mentions of trouble that was building, or that you'd see the strain beginning to form within these bonds.

And that's one of the main focuses of the book, the bonds that Kyle has with the people around him. He's upset that his relationship with his brother didn't last, and feels an awful guilt around that. We also see how these feelings of self recrimination have begun to affect his life at home, and how his relationship with his wife is starting to strain because of this and the added stress of having just given birth. Even his relationships with his adopted father gets called into question when Kyle discovers hidden things in his fathers home (though due to his father having recently suffered a stroke he's unable to go into things with him), as well as his oldest friend, who keeps creating conflict as Kyle is having to chose between him and his wife at various times.

Even the villain of the book is all about relationships. At first it's very unclear who this person, simply referred to as Stitches by himself, is and what they might want. But as the book unfolds and we see more chapters from Stitches' point of view we see hints that he's also being driven on to target Kyle and him family because of a personal connections, and a bond that was broken. The book is quite good at playing its cards close to its chest in regards to the villain, and whilst it does feel like it's intentionally leading you to make a wrong conclusion as to his real identity there is enough evidence for readers to figure it out before the climactic reveal.

Asylum was an interesting story, one that kept me guessing, and managed its dark and dour tone well without it feeling too overwhelming. The characters felt a lot like real people most of the time, and I found myself wanting to see more of Kyle and his family as I was hoping that things would work out for them all. With the Halloween season coming up this would be the perfect time to give this dark thriller a go.
Profile Image for James.
236 reviews6 followers
Read
September 24, 2021
Tamera Lawrence is an author I’m going to look out for in the future. Let’s just get that out of the way. She has a way with creating deep, dark, pervading atmospheres; and her sense of place and character is quite simply breathtaking and intense.

The subject matter of Asylum is an uncomfortable one. Many countries have their own mostly hidden histories when it comes to mental institutions, orphanages, and how they treat the less entitled and vulnerable among us. I think I hit it on the head when I typed “hidden”, because that’s what happens to people who end up in these places: they’re lost to the rest of us. Just Google ‘Magdalene Laundries’ and ‘Mother and Baby Homes’ in Ireland and you’ll get the full picture.

Kyle Hampton was born and grew up in one of these places, Rose Hill Asylum, in Pennsylvania. His mother had a learning disability and was subject to a lot of abuse in her time there. When she died at a young age, Kyle was lucky enough to be adopted by Scott Hampton and his wife Florence. He left behind his brother Roy, who he hasn’t seen or heard from in decades. Married to Beth, with a young baby named Samantha, Kyle has kept many secrets and struggles in his adult life, as you would perhaps understand. His best friend is Randy, another former Rose Hill inmate, and together they explore the underground tunnels of the soon to be redeveloped former aylum. A chance encounter with a pair of boots set the novel on its path, leaving Kyle and his family heading into danger with someone by the name of Stitches.

Stitches, who’s eventual identity is both surprising and foreshadowed, is an intriguing character. You could write him off as being pure evil, but even evil has to come from somewhere. His appearance and actions brought to mind Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning role in the movie Joker. Stitches loves to dress up as a clown and act out his dark fantasies. If you’re looking for another reason to be fearful of jesters, then Asylum is definitely for you.

Kyle has to face up to his past and reconcile with his wife if he’s to live further than the end of the book. How Tamera Lawrence kept my attention was by allowing her characters to dictate the story. Yes, you will probably end up questioning why they do what they do, but we humans are invariable driven by the ghosts of our past and don’t always make the kind of decions that are in our best interests. Kyle, Randy, Stitches, and even Beth, are held captive by childhood memories, and as Asylum draws to its intense and perilous climax, the past and present collide violently.

Asylum rattles along at a furous pace, but Lawrence allows us important insights into each of her characters. You will be glad to have read this book, but horrified that events that occured in Rose Hill Asylum are not as fictional as you would hope. In fact, the truth behind many of these kind of institutions is worse than any writer can think of.
Profile Image for The Horror Report -Angela.
55 reviews3 followers
September 28, 2021
This was a novel I opted to read from the Blackthorn Book Tour folks. I was glad I chose this book. If there was ever a reason to find an old abandoned mental asylum creepy enough to want to stay away from it, this book gives that reason. This novel combines not only urban exploration and tales of urban legends, but also adds a very human element to such subjects in a most intriguing and enlightening way.

In this tale we have an average man in Kyle Hampton who is carrying an above average amount of weight on his shoulders for all kinds of things, some even stemming back to his childhood; a childhood spent at the Rose Hill Asylum in Pennsylvania. Although he has tried to forget about everything having to do with the asylum after being adopted there is one thing he cannot rid himself of. Thoughts of his little brother. The little brother he had to leave behind when he was adopted.

But as we all know, life goes on and Kyle eventually grows up and lives a normal life. He has a girl, a new baby, a job that pays but not as much as he would like (but where is that not the case anymore) and he has a home. A real home with a real family, as so many orphans put it. Kyle has a very close friend named Randy and although Randy is his bud, he seems to push Kyle more towards doing what is fun and exciting rather than what is sensible and right.

That’s all good and fine for a while but eventually things become a little complicated for Kyle and he has to figure things out before it all goes way too far.

I found this to be a really entertaining novel that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. I loved the way it was written as it switches back and forth between characters’ points of view. This keeps the pace going and keeps you wanting to turn pages. I got through this novel fairly quickly and even a few weeks later this tale is still on my mind. It’s the kind of thriller that sticks with you---because it is something that could really happen.

A fantastical thrill ride for any psychological horror fans!

RATINGS
5/5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.