The Medea Complex

1885. Anne Stanbury – Committed to a lunatic asylum, having been deemed insane and therefore unfit to stand trial for the crime of which she is indicted. But is all as it seems?

Edgar Stanbury – the grieving husband and father who is torn between helping his confined wife recover her sanity, and seeking revenge on the woman who ruined his life.

Dr George Savage – the well respected psychiatrist, and chief medical officer of Bethlem Royal Hospital. Ultimately, he holds Anne’s future wholly in his hands. 

The Medea Complex tells the story of a misunderstood woman suffering from insanity in an era when mental illnesses’ were all too often misdiagnosed and mistreated. A deep and riveting psychological thriller set within an historical context, packed full of twists and turns, The Medea Complex explores the nature of the human psyche: what possesses us, drives us, and how love, passion, and hope for the future can drive us to insanity.

I was familiar with Medea from mythology, so between the title and description I thought I had a fairly good idea what I was in for with this book.  I was surprised to learn that it was based on a true story, and also at the depth the story had. It is written from multiple perspectives and gives you insight into the mind of the mentally ill, their family members, and the doctor which blends together seamlessly to give a well rounded picture of the experience. In the past when I have read stories from more than two points of view it either gets confusing or just leaves you feeling like

Roberts executes the shift between four different points of view flawlessly. There is no fluff dialogue (or pointless inner monologuing). Every change in perspective serves a purpose and the writing doesn’t fall behind. Her insight into the state of mind regarding insanity and the general attitude toward women is incredibly insightful and unapologetic. One of the most interesting things about this book is the characters. They all have some qualities that make you feel sympathetic toward them, but you’d be surprised by how as the story unfolds you just wish they would get trampled by a horse or something. It really gives credence to the saying that nobody is perfect. The pacing of the story is great, it gives plenty of detail without being too slow and definitely keeps you reading. By the last couple of pages I was just like

 

Overall, this one is definitely worth reading. Can’t wait to see more from this author 🙂