Back in July 2014, Michelle Muckley wrote a guest post on my blog on Being Adaptable as a writer, and I finally got the chance to read her book, Psychophilia. It is the story of Charlotte Astor, a 32-year-old real estate agent, who has just tried to commit suicide. Because she lost part of her memory, she doesn’t understand why her husband, Gregory, is so cold towards her, especially as she is pregnant. Soon, she realizes that he is having an affair with their beautiful housemaid, Ishiko. As she pieces her life back together, Charlotte discovers disturbing details from her past, but she is determined to have her husband back. By any means necessary…
Psychophilia was inspired by a scary episode that happened to Michelle Muckley when she ended up in the hospital for a week after having a strong reaction to prescribed medication. When she regained consciousness, she couldn’t remember the events of the previous week and couldn’t even talk. It was really hard for her and her husband. In the book, the author has an elaborate writing style and knows how to keep the suspense alive. In addition, she effectively draws the reader into Charlotte’s head. This unreliable, delusional and depressed narrator shares her thoughts and impulses without any censorship, and it can be deeply disturbing. In fact, I found the story to be dark and depressing, and the ambiguous ending unsettled me. However, there is no denying the author’s excellent writing skills, and Psychophilia will certainly appeal to horror aficionados.
Psychophilia was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
Fun facts about the author:
- Michelle Muckley was born in Warwick, England, and now lives in Limassol, Cyprus.
- Her favorite authors include Roald Dahl and Stephen King.
- Michelle’s husband came up with the title of the book.
- The author worked as a cardiac physiologist in a hospital for 12 years.
About the author and her work: Michelle Muckley’s Website.
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