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Blue Damask
A madman and his therapist traverse the wilds of Syria during the Arab Revolt of 1921.
Three years after the end of a bloody world war, an Englishman in a straightjacket is dumped on the clinic floor of an Austrian psychologist, whose protégé, Elsa Schluss, is reluctantly engaged to treat the traumatized war veteran en route to Damascus where he is to perform one last service for his country. Elsa plans to use him as a case study, but the mysterious mission becomes deadly when they are attacked on the Orient Express. Elsa finds her Jungian training is needed not only to treat her patient, but to outwit the powerful men who threaten their lives and endanger the mind of the man for whom she is responsible. She discovers there is more at stake with this mission than one man’s sanity and a young woman’s doctoral thesis.
Three years after the end of a bloody world war, an Englishman in a straightjacket is dumped on the clinic floor of an Austrian psychologist, whose protégé, Elsa Schluss, is reluctantly engaged to treat the traumatized war veteran en route to Damascus where he is to perform one last service for his country. Elsa plans to use him as a case study, but the mysterious mission becomes deadly when they are attacked on the Orient Express. Elsa finds her Jungian training is needed not only to treat her patient, but to outwit the powerful men who threaten their lives and endanger the mind of the man for whom she is responsible. She discovers there is more at stake with this mission than one man’s sanity and a young woman’s doctoral thesis.
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 30, 2013
13 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Annmarie Banks
9 books27 followersAnnmarie Banks spent the first twenty years of her professional life as a bookseller specializing in out-of-print and antiquarian books. She currently resides in the state of Arizona.
Since then she has studied many books about the history of the quest for knowledge. Early Western scientists were alchemists and philosophers who were forced to learn about the secrets of Nature by hiding in locked rooms poring over encrypted documents. Their struggle was so fascinating to her that she wrote the book she had always hoped to find on the shelves of the bookstore, but never did.
Since then she has studied many books about the history of the quest for knowledge. Early Western scientists were alchemists and philosophers who were forced to learn about the secrets of Nature by hiding in locked rooms poring over encrypted documents. Their struggle was so fascinating to her that she wrote the book she had always hoped to find on the shelves of the bookstore, but never did.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 3, 2016
I really enjoyed the story because it was totally different from what I expected. Elsa Schluss is a woman that tries to overcome the difficulties of her gender being accepted in a field mainly took by men. She strives to make a successful career as a psychologist and is planning to make a dissertation in a conference were the most reknown psychologists are gathered. However her plans take a detour as she is trusted in Henry Sinclair, Lord Sonnenby's, path. He is a nobleman that has been diagnosed as mentally incompetent, insane as well as other words along those and Elsa is trusted by her superior, Dr. Engel to take care of him and make him mentally stable so he can be of use to the British government as a translator to bring peace between the country and factions that are in war in Damascus.
Along the story you'll find yourself, alongside Elsa, questioning the depth of Sinclair's role in this feud and the real meaning of his presence, I won't leave spoilers but it was an interesting turn of events. The setting of the story was captivating as well as the complications, internal warfare and overall situation of the countries involved in the fighting.
The focus of the story was mainly in the involvement of the main characters with each other and the situation they were thrusted in. It was not solely focused on the romance, but on the adventure, the struggle, the suffering and how their bond strenghtens through loss and understanding.
I wish the end had a little bit more to it and I wished I could put five stars but there were several grammatical errors that even if they were not overly important to me, I think were simple mistakes that could have been averted.
4.5 stars for this story I loved. Would not mind reading from this author and I recommend this book to those who like thriller, adventure, a strong female character and an interesting story.
Along the story you'll find yourself, alongside Elsa, questioning the depth of Sinclair's role in this feud and the real meaning of his presence, I won't leave spoilers but it was an interesting turn of events. The setting of the story was captivating as well as the complications, internal warfare and overall situation of the countries involved in the fighting.
The focus of the story was mainly in the involvement of the main characters with each other and the situation they were thrusted in. It was not solely focused on the romance, but on the adventure, the struggle, the suffering and how their bond strenghtens through loss and understanding.
I wish the end had a little bit more to it and I wished I could put five stars but there were several grammatical errors that even if they were not overly important to me, I think were simple mistakes that could have been averted.
4.5 stars for this story I loved. Would not mind reading from this author and I recommend this book to those who like thriller, adventure, a strong female character and an interesting story.
April 13, 2014
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads for an honest review.
“Blue Damask” takes place three years after the end of the Great War. It is a beautifully told story of Elsa Schluss, and Austrian woman who is studying and preparing to become a psychologist, and war-damaged Henry Sinclair, Lord Sonnenby. Elsa has had first- hand experience working with the wounded men as a field nurse during the war and her studies as the protégé of Dr Engel have prepared her to treat their emotional damage . When Lord Sonnenby is dumped on the floor at her feet, with the plea of the British government to prepare him for an important meeting in the Middle East, Elsa reluctantly agrees.
But the trip to Damascus is anything but peaceful. As Elsa attempts to use talk therapy to reach Lord Sonnenby, she is met with resistance first from him, then, more violently, from someone who doesn’t want him to reach the meeting. An attempt on his life in the train is thwarted by Elsa’s quick actions. But this is not the end to the danger these two face as they near their destination in Damascus.
This book is a thriller as well as a romance. It also provides terrifying insight into earlier techniques used on mental patients. It portrays Elsa Schuss as a strong woman who uses her wits and occasionally her strength to overcome her patients resistance as well as the outside danger that threatens the mission and the very mind of Lord Sonnenby.
“Blue Damask” takes place three years after the end of the Great War. It is a beautifully told story of Elsa Schluss, and Austrian woman who is studying and preparing to become a psychologist, and war-damaged Henry Sinclair, Lord Sonnenby. Elsa has had first- hand experience working with the wounded men as a field nurse during the war and her studies as the protégé of Dr Engel have prepared her to treat their emotional damage . When Lord Sonnenby is dumped on the floor at her feet, with the plea of the British government to prepare him for an important meeting in the Middle East, Elsa reluctantly agrees.
But the trip to Damascus is anything but peaceful. As Elsa attempts to use talk therapy to reach Lord Sonnenby, she is met with resistance first from him, then, more violently, from someone who doesn’t want him to reach the meeting. An attempt on his life in the train is thwarted by Elsa’s quick actions. But this is not the end to the danger these two face as they near their destination in Damascus.
This book is a thriller as well as a romance. It also provides terrifying insight into earlier techniques used on mental patients. It portrays Elsa Schuss as a strong woman who uses her wits and occasionally her strength to overcome her patients resistance as well as the outside danger that threatens the mission and the very mind of Lord Sonnenby.
February 23, 2019
Great book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical fiction and romance. I found this book to be very exciting and looked forward to reading it each evening. It was exciting from beginning to end.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical fiction and romance. I found this book to be very exciting and looked forward to reading it each evening. It was exciting from beginning to end.
November 14, 2019
AMAZING STORY!!
This is one of those stories that you don't want to end-exciting all the way. Henry and Elsa were made for each other. In strength and intelligence. Good read!
This is one of those stories that you don't want to end-exciting all the way. Henry and Elsa were made for each other. In strength and intelligence. Good read!
February 8, 2020
Sensational
I normally do not write reviews but I had to. I could not stop reading till the end . This is the best book, I have read in a long while.
I normally do not write reviews but I had to. I could not stop reading till the end . This is the best book, I have read in a long while.
October 19, 2025
WWI has ended. Elsa Schluss, who served at the front as a trained nurse, is working on her desertation. She intends to get her Phd in psychology and is employed under a noted Austrian Psychologist. Elsa reluctantly agrees to treat a traumatized war veteran as they travel toward Damascus where he is to perform one last service for his country. She plans to use him as a case study. This patient turns out to be the son of an English Lord, whose real father is an Arab Chieftain. The government needs Lord Sonnenby - Henry - to influence his desert family, guaranteeing British oil interest in the area.
This one week case study for her dissertation and treatment of Henry turns into attempted murder on the Orient Express. The entire trip becomes deadly. Elsa, Henry and assorted diplomatic men and other displaced characters, fight to stay alive and make sense of a world populated by persons who all seem to have ulterior motives and something to hide.
Annmarie Banks succeeded in creating characters that I became truly fond of, afraid of or hated. Strong emotions. She also made me laugh out loud and sit on the edge of my seat as I shared, what turned out to be, a great adventure through the Arabian desert with a beautiful, smart, strong Elsa Schluss.
I had so much fun reading this book. Escapism at its best!
And I think I am a little in love with Henry . . .
This one week case study for her dissertation and treatment of Henry turns into attempted murder on the Orient Express. The entire trip becomes deadly. Elsa, Henry and assorted diplomatic men and other displaced characters, fight to stay alive and make sense of a world populated by persons who all seem to have ulterior motives and something to hide.
Annmarie Banks succeeded in creating characters that I became truly fond of, afraid of or hated. Strong emotions. She also made me laugh out loud and sit on the edge of my seat as I shared, what turned out to be, a great adventure through the Arabian desert with a beautiful, smart, strong Elsa Schluss.
I had so much fun reading this book. Escapism at its best!
And I think I am a little in love with Henry . . .
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews