The Madness is an excellent rendering of the Dracula mythos from a kickass female perspective. Dr. Mina Murray vacated her small hometown in Wales to pursue a career as a psychiatrist in London. The incident that caused her to her abandon her family and friends for going on twelve years remains a mystery.
The time is the present. Mina receives a text from her old friend Lucy from back home in Wales.. Lucy is very ill. Could Mina please come visit?
After a long drive north, Mina finds Lucy weakened with a strange rash. Mina's mother, "the witch on the hill," uses Welsh magic to ward off evil. She and Mina don't get along.
Then there's the brooding and damaged Jonathan Harker, nursing a broken heart for his old love Mina.
Dr. Murray discovers Lucy's illness mirrors one of her patients in London, a young girl found wandering the streets.
Could the two be related?
As Lucy grows weaker, Mina joins forces with her "mam," local policewoman Quincy Morris and a strange old woman named Helen Singer (yep, Van Helsing!).
Together, the ladies cook up a plan to enter the old castle where women are taken to never be seen again. Mina is the bait. Will it be her final mission?
Dawn Murtagich blends Bram Stoker with modern day feminism to brew up a bloody good and thrilling adventure. The Madness will have your heart pounding like a good vampire movie with a cast that drives a stake into the evil that men make.

This book is crazyyyy but worth the read 🤣🤣 I went into “the Madness” blind not knowing anything about the plot other than the cover intrigued me!!

The plot follows our FMC Mina who has escaped from her small town childhood and judgemental townsfolk in Wales, and made a successful career for herself in the heart of London, caring for and assessing mentally unwell patients.

I found the FMC gave me the feel of Freida Mcfaddens intelligent, STEM, quirky OCD characters who exhibit obsessive behaviours, and the familiarity gave me comfort whilst going into a darker horror style of mystery.

Mina is estranged from her mother, childhood best friend and boyfriend, yet drops everything to rush home when her old BFF tells her she’s sick and needs her help.

Coinciding with this, we have a Jane Doe at Minas hospital who is exhibiting mental distress and strange behaviour. We also have a back story from a different POV of a young girl entering an unknown world of the rich and salacious, blacked out vehicles and secret clubs.

How these stories will intertwine is up to the reader to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed the building of suspense and the Easter eggs dropped for me to connect the dots and guess as to what is going on here with all the strange Occurrences.

I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the Welsh superstitions and folklore, the essence of the boogeyman and things that go bump in the night. I loved the end climax where everyone comes together and also enjoyed the romantic side plot.

I would definitely recommend this book if you would enjoy any of the above!

Thank you to Dawn Kurtgaich, Harlequin trade publishing and NetGalley for the EARC

"The Madness" by Dawn Kurtagich is a modern retelling of Dracula. Our protagonist, Dr. Wilhelmina Murray, works in a psyche-ward for female trauma patients in London. She herself suffers from trauma and left home as a teen, leaving behind her dear friend Lucy, her mother Vanessa and her boyfriend Jonathan. But after a disturbing encounter with the patient Renee and a distressing email from Lucy, Mina returns as the prodigal daughter. She finds that Lucy is suffering from unpredictable violent seizures and an undiagnosable rash. With the help of Quincey Morris, Lucy's ex-girlfriend and the local police inspector, and the hacker Singer, whose own daughter is missing, she discovers an underground ring dealing in unimaginable horror. Mina realizes that it's going to take inner strength, healing and the trust of family to fight such formidable evil.

The story moves rather quickly, and leaves little room for character development outside of Mina. It is written with the assumption that the reader has already read Dracula. But even as a retelling, you still have to develop all the characters if the story is ever going to stand on its own merits. The male characters come off as one-dimensional and with minimal dialogue, even the villains. Despite being the love interest, Jonathan Harker is a passive character, appearing only to assist in Mina's growth. To be fair, Mina is dealing with trauma and admits that keeping people at arm's length wasn't a healthy solution. It goes both ways though, and her friends learn a valuable lesson about grudges and neglect. Problem is, Mina's characterization is "The Only One" trope, which I do understand is a metaphor for overcoming her trauma. She "knows" she's the only one who can save Lucy. The final confrontation was intense for sure, but I wanted more action from her companions.

Thank you Harper Collins and Graydon House Books for approving this one for me!

I’ll start by saying this was 100% NOT what I was expecting in the slightest, and I can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing. This type of horror just isn’t my cup of tea, so I know my review will be disagreed with! It is intended to be a modern spin on Dracula from what I understand, and I did enjoy a lot of the characters and the feminist aspect of it! For me the pacing was off. It took me awhile to get into it, then it picked up, then it lagged again, and then all of sudden it was over! I was left with questions! I’m not a fantasy or folklore person, so I know it will be great for some! I love this author, so I can’t wait to see what more they do! 😍

It is a great Halloween read and perfect for those who love monsters!

The Madness is out August 27, 2024! 🖤

Thank you to NetGalley and Dawn Kurtagich for the ARC!

A unique spin on the ubiquitous Dracula tale, this book had its fangs in me as soon as I started. I really enjoyed this version of Mina Murray and one of my favorite horror tales, and rushed through it to see where the story ended up. Very atmospheric and gothic, it felt contemporary and new while also honoring the best parts of the original tale. Parts of it started to blend together in the middle, but I still had a fun time and would reread it in a heartbeat. (All the vampire puns intended.)

This one had me shaking my head…at myself.

It’s an absolutely fabulous homage to a classic and I missed it for far too long. All of a sudden, it was like the proverbial lightbulb went off over my head. *Ding Ding Ding* and that’s what this is based on.

It was absolutely a me problem.

Even before my personal enlightenment, I loved this. It was so creepy and mysterious. And once I figured out (again, wayyyyy slower than most readers will), I was creeped out and delighted at the same time!

An excellent read!

• ARC via Publisher

The Madness was a modern retelling/reimagining of Dracula. You can the feel of the original story but this one has a twist and is a bit darker, which I liked. It was like gothic horror vibes with psychological elements. I like when they include audio recording snippets, patient info, etc., that kind of stuff is intriguing to me. I may be the odd one out and say that this wasn't really my vibe. It was an alright read, I wasn't that hooked though.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ACR copy, my own thoughts.

A European setting is always an automatic draw for me, I love the culture and the edge it brings to an eery suspenseful story. This one is well crafted and carefully crafter to build suspense in all the right places. The strong female roles in the story help the reader connect and imagine themselves in a world where there are more questions than answers. The mental illness is debilitating at times and the reader feels for the women in the story. This was an excellent read and one that will sit with the reader far after the book is actually complete.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me digital ARC of The Madness. The minute I read the synopsis I knew I had to read this book. Although I have not read Dracula in its entirety (I know SHAME SHAME SHAME) I absolutely adore the film adaptions and gothic vampire novels in general so I knew this retelling/inspired by tale would be right up my dark alley.

(left, left, spiral down, right, right, spiral down, left, left, right, straight).

However, there was a word plaguing me the entire time I was reading—MORE.

I loved all the elements of horror, folklore and paranormal in the story, but I wanted there to be more of them. It felt like the murder mystery and thriller parts of the book made up the bulk of the story until the last act, so by the time they arrived, it made the story a little disjointed for me. I also selfishly would have loved more time with Johnathon and Mina together because I just loved how broody he was! The scene in Pride and Prejudice when it’s raining and Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth are having their intense exchange—that was their vibe to me the entire book and I ate it up!

The second chapter was sensational, the psychiatric tape session bone chilling, and the setting so gritty and furlong—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️‘s.

A story that starts in full force turned into something I truly wasn’t expecting.

I went into this totally blind so I didn’t know what to expect aside from my assumptions I made from the title and cover. This was incredibly well paced, so utterly compelling and definitely had me on the edge of my seat.

Mina doesn’t let her inability to function at her full capacity to limit her when it comes to caring for her patients. Not even her worst phobias hinder her, which is a huge feat considering the work she does.

When a blast from the past reaches out to Mina, she drops everything to go home to the place she left behind without a single lifeline. Lucy, her childhood best friend needs her help and she finds that Lucy is suffering from some of the same issues that a patient in her current home of London is exhibiting. Strange and alarming, the commonalities are vivid, but how are they so connected being so far apart?

What follows is a terrifying chain of events that bring past and present together, shining light on some dark truths that Mina has always tried so hard to ignore.

This was riveting and super gross, but I loved every minute of it. The end was perfection!

@htpbooks is truly the undisputed champion and prized publisher of my heart! So happy to be part of the @htp_hive and have access to some of THE best books that I’ve ever read (this one included)❤️🐝

Thank you to @graydonhousebooks for access to this review copy of The Madness by @dawnkurtagich ! It’s deliciously creepy (trypophobia warning…iykyk), slightly alarming, heart rate rising, and oh so entertaining…the way a true horror should be! Special shout out to the author for the oh so relatable OCD/intrusive thought rep!

I was totally sucked in and read it in under 48hrs and still I wanted it to be 5000 pages longer…the vibes were just righttt👌🏾

5.0⭐️

⭐️THE MADNESS out AUGUST 27TH⭐️(I’ll have a more in depth review closer to pub day!)

#themadness #dawnkurtagich #graydonhousebooks #htppartner #htphive

This was a pretty good Gothic horror with a lot of psychological elements. A twist on Bram Stoker's Dracula with a modern, almost feminist touch. Enjoyed that the main character, MIna, was a psychiatrist, which gave an interesting layer to the tale as it unfolded. Her character was interesting and well written. Some of the supporting characters were not, and felt a little bit thrown together. (Ex: Jonathan) The climax was great, if even a bit rushed to truly comprehend, but still held interest. Good pick for Halloween or monster lovers! #themadness #dawnkurtagich #netgalley #goodreads

3.75 stars

I loved this. It’s been a while since I’ve read Dracula but I’m familiar enough.
I loved the way the writing flowed and was easy to follow. Overall this was a good retelling.

A very cool modern twist on a classic. The writing was easy to follow and the developments of the story leave you wanting more.

I did not see the ending coming on this one. I loved this book, and all of its supernatural and witchy elements. Would definitely recommend.

A gothic chiller.
Mina is a psychiatrist practicing in London. By helping women with deep rooted trauma, she avoids dealing with her own trauma. When she receives an email from an estranged childhood friend, Lucy, who tells her she is ill and needs her, she returns to Wales, her childhood home, and her estranged mother who is a practitioner of the old ways. Mina soon discovers a connection between Lucy's sickness and a patient she was treating back in London. She also realises there may be a connection to many missing young women.

This story is a gothic chiller. I really thought Mina was a well developed character. I could almost feel her personal trauma. I was definitely rooting for her. I loved how the author used character names that were a nod to a classic novel! However, I didn't find Mina's relationship with an old flame to be very believable. I also felt that the ending was rushed and could have been more fleshed-out.
I recommend to anyone who enjoys gothic type horror novels.

I received an ARC from Netgalley. The review is my own opinion.

A well done modern retelling of Dracula. Set mostly in Wales, and a little bit London, Dr. Mina Murray is trying to help these missing girls after coming across Renee who is displaying disconcerting symptoms at her job as a doctor helping women mentally who have been in bad situations. She, herself had an unusually bad experience and this rash of illness and disappearances is bringing those memories back. When her estranged best friend, Lucy also fall sicks and reaches out to her for help, Mina head back to Wales to discover the truth.

This story is nicely dark and has a fresh feel while still feeling a lot like the original tale. I liked that it took place in Wales as well and it drew upon the lore of that area to explain the strange and awful things that were happening to all the girls. I enjoyed it a lot as it was very easy to see with great descriptions. Plus I liked how Mina could break out of her self imposed cage, gather allies, and rise to the challenge of stopping this menace that has its fingers everywhere. She is super brave!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this to read and review.

This book is being considered by many a “remix” of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, with “familiar characters”. Considering I have not yet gotten around to reading Dracula—I know, I know!—I cannot speak to that. I find that I am not usually a fan of modern retellings on classics anyway so I think that that is for the best as I was able to read this story wholly on its own without drawing any comparisons.

Mina Murray lives a safe life, a predictable life. It’s the only way that she can tame the chaos and the fear. Working as a psychiatrist in a government-funded facility, she feels that she has the best of both worlds: she can support not only her bank account but her passion. Mina works with women suffering from extreme trauma which is where we met her peculiar new patient, Renee.
Shortly after, a new character is introduced to us… After twelve years of silence, Mina receives an email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, practically begging Mina for her “professional help”. It is with severe hesitation that Mina returns to her hometown of Tylluan to help her old friend but when she arrives, she is forced to face her past along with whatever strange illness her friend is currently suffering from which has odd similarities to her new patient.

Some epistolary parts—audio recordings, patient file reports, emails, etc—which I always find intriguing when done well in a story. The synopsis of this sounded quite fascinating but there were plot holes and conveniences that took away from the story for me. I had a difficult time getting in to this one and I had a difficult time finishing it. This one didn’t do it for me but it might just be the perfect spooky season read for you.

Dawn Kurtagich’s adult debut felt so different than her other books, and I lapped up every second of it!

We’re introduced to Mina, who is a psychiatrist with a clear case of PTSD and OCD brought on by a trauma she endured as a teenager that caused her to flee her small Welsh hometown. Mina’s habits are spot-on for anyone that suffers from OCD or knows someone who does. Very well written and described.

On the day Mina examines a strange new patient who was found naked on the docks who is anemic, light-sensitive, and has an appetite for flies, Mina also gets an email from her estranged childhood friend Lucy begging for help.

Mina hurries back to Wales – a cold homecoming for her from her witchy mother, the grown up version of the boy whose heart she broke, and the insular townsfolk she once knew. At first, the reunion with Lucy seems normal. Then her health begins to deteriorate rapidly – at the same time Mina is needed back in London for a downward turn of events with her patient.

As Mina begins to see similarities between her patient and Lucy she falls down the rabbit hole of the dark side of the web, conspiracies, and underground clubs with sinister motives as the list of missing and dead young women begins to multiply.

Mina must join together with her mother, Lucy’s ex-girlfriend Quincy, and a sharp as nails hacker named Helen Singer with a tragic link to the missing and dead – if she wants to bring down an ancient evil that is all too real.

This book was fantastic! It had mystery, a beautiful yet eerie setting, complex characters, romance, and the fierce bond of friendship and among women who couldn’t be more different brought together to defeat something bigger than they could imagine. I loved the folklore aspects that Mina’s mom believed in – it felt so right in the setting.

I’d read anything this author wrote. I love how she blends mental health and illnesses into the horror she writes, I always feel that it’s so well done. This is the feminist Dracula reimagining I didn’t know I needed. I can definitely see myself rereading this on a chilly, atmospheric October evening.

I am utterly obsessed with this book! Super fast paced and kept my attention from the beginning! Must read and must have a physical copy!