The Night Counsellor

Title: The Night Counsellor

Author: LK Pang

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Chronos Publishing

Date Published: 2024

Book Length: 369

Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend

About Book: In the shadowy corridors of The Beaumont, a mental hospital haunted by its dark history as an asylum, a disturbing mystery unfolds when in 1953, a woman is found mute, naked, and drenched in blood on the outskirts of West Yorkshire. With no memory of her past and no one to claim her, she is dubbed Patient A and placed under the care of the institution's staff.

Counsellor Jane Galloway, is drawn to Patient A's case with a resolve to restore her ability to speak, no matter how unorthodox her methods appear to be. However, her efforts to penetrate the silence meet with stark opposition from the hospital's rigid hierarchy. The situation takes a spine-chilling turn when whispers in the night link Patient A to a recently discovered corpse.

As Jane edges closer to unravelling the eerie connection between her patient and the mysterious death, she must challenge a web of institutional resistance and hidden agendas. With time running against them, Jane's quest to help Patient A reclaim her voice grows desperate. But in the harrowing halls of The Beaumont, speaking up can be deadly.

Will Patient A find her voice before the shadows of her past come to silence her forever?

My Thoughts: The Night Counsellor by LK Pang was an intriguing psychological thriller set in the 1950s. Firstly, I wanted to mention what a beautiful cover. The story unfolded at a medium pace, but it was deeply emotive from the very start. The use of multiple perspectives in each chapter gave me a deeper understanding of the characters and their motives, which I found to be very effective.

The setting and themes of the novel—such as forbidden love, prejudice, and fear—felt authentic to the time period. What really stood out to me was how unorthodox methods were used to treat people, and this added a chilling layer to the story. The main character was incredibly believable, and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book, hoping she’d find a way through the challenges she faced.

One thing that really got under my skin was the silence of so many characters. It was frustrating to watch them stand by, knowing full well what was happening but choosing not to speak up. Despite my frustration, it made the story feel all the more real, as it reflected how fear and societal norms can often keep people quiet, especially in that era.

In conclusion, The Night Counsellor was a captivating, chilling thriller that kept me hooked. The combination of rich character development, historical setting, and tense emotional undercurrents made this book an unforgettable read. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with depth and emotional complexity.