Irene wants to have a baby, but after several losses, she starts to doubt if she will ever be able to carry one full term. After becoming pregnant once more, Irene and her husband find a hospital located inside an old mansion that promises a cure for her miscarriages. The doctors that run the program are married and from the get-go, Irene has a bad feeling about the duo. But her wish for a baby outweighs her doubts, and soon she finds herself as an inpatient in the old mansion, surrounded by other hopeful moms-to-be.

What pulled me immediately into the world of The Garden was the mysterious and odd setting brought to life by the author's lyrical writing. It was like reading a distant dream, one that might deceive you at every corner. Though I did not seem to connect to the main character, I did enjoy seeing the world through her eyes. I simply found her too off-standish, but after losing baby after baby I might have felt the same way. To her, there just wasn't any point in pleasantries. I'm still not one hundred percent sure how the visions inside the story connected to the book. But in all, I truly enjoyed this sordid tale.

So well written so engaging historical fiction with a touch of horror.I was drawn in from the cover the description and I was not disappointed.An author a book I will be recommending.#netgalley #doubleday.

Clare Beams’ The Garden is a psychological thriller and horror story set in the 40s about a strange treatment center for pregnant women run by a husband and wife team, both doctors. Their claims of successfully handling women with multiple miscarriages attract desperate couples who want babies. Beams creates an aura of fear, suspense, and past secrets surrounding this diabolical place. What really happens behind closed doors when a woman gives birth? The reader is given a peek inside the delivery room, where the doctors do their magic.

Their rigid methods and lingering ghosts in the garden trouble the protagonist, Irene Willard, who has suffered five miscarriages. From the start, Irene doubts and rebels against their methods of multiple injections, therapy, and forced confinement from their husbands. Bored and curious, she discovers a garden and fountain where she sees haunting visions and conducts experiments on dead animals that seem to come alive.

The novel was based on a drug, designed to help pregnant women and given to them by two doctors (husband and wife). It was later found to cause birth defects. The reader senses the frustration and urgency of these women, waiting to give birth under adverse circumstances. The novel’s many levels, character revelations, and an eerie ghost from the past make it an engaging read. I thank NetGalley for letting me read and review this novel. #NetGalley #TheGarden #thrillers #horrornovels

i don't know what to say.

i feel paradoxical about this book. i liked it; i hated it. it was a quick read; it took forever to finish. i enjoy the feminist qualities of the text; the ending ruins any and all meaning within. i have nothing of value to say about this novel. it was incredibly frustrating and the writing was very plain. i didn't have a good sense of place nor atmosphere. and i sure as hell didn't care about any of the characters. the most compelling thing about this novel is the recurring image of a bloodied mouse.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly do not know if I liked this book or hated it!?! It was a relatively quick, fast paced read for me and it kept me engaged. There were many triggers dealing with infant loss and infertility that made it emotionally difficult to read at times. I loved the literary parallels and hints of magical realism between the classic, The Secret Garden. The historical connections of using women and their pregnancy for scientific experiments was both fascinating and shocking! The author did an excellent job with her writing and character development. This was a gothic haunting tale that will not soon leave my mind... or dreams!