A novel of fear and suspense. A Question of Sanity is Katherine Black's darkest, most perverse and chilling work.
Author Ellie Erikson is dying. But that's just a walk in the park.
She's accused of trying to murder her boyfriend, her bank account is emptied, and every aspect of her life has come into question.
When hatred is born in a damaged soul, a wasting illness is the least of Ellie's troubles. And when her past comes calling, it opens a whole new chapter of secrets.
Intense and terrifying. At first, I thought this book was another predictable romance. Boy was I ever wrong. This story has so many levels of intensity, unexpected twists, and a deep-seated layer of madness, verging on horror. I appreciate the author's ability to write the brutal scenes and still capture the power of love in the fight of good over evil. Well done, Katherine Black.
2.5/5; I really wanted to like this. This book started off so strong and had really great potential, but it just faded off. It's a 500 page book that could have been told in 250 pages. There is so many run on details that I felt didn't really contribute to the story. Once the ending was presented it was obvious how everything would end. Once I got past 100-150 pages, everything up until the last 70 or so pages was hard to read. I would have DNF'd, but I was hoping it would get better.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this chilling and memorable novel.
She delivers a gripping and unsettling psychological thriller with A Question of Sanity. Ellie Erikson is a hauntingly complex character—fighting a rare illness, memory loss, and the terrifying idea that she might be capable of violence. The story keeps you questioning what’s real right up to the end.
While some elements push the limits of believability, the emotional tension and psychological depth make it a compelling read. Dark, raw, and thought-provoking.
Ellie was a writer recently diagnosed with TSD, a relatively unknown disease in adults but one that meant premature death. After receiving an anonymous letter then a devil's costume with no idea who had sent them, Ellie tried to return the costume for a clue but wasn't banking at all on the reception she received. From that point things worsened, she was guilty in everyone's eyes and she had to prove her innocence. Another fantastic book penned by the talented Katherine Black. A unique, creative plot, with surprising changes and more twists and turns than a mountain track! Sporadic snippets of humour appear throughout the book raising an occasional smile to this otherwise serious but compelling storyline. The ending was totally unexpected and just topped off a fantastic, unpredictable thriller. A must read, strongly recommended. Great job
Ellie is thrust into a nightmare when her boyfriend accuses her of trying to kill him. Is she going mad, or is someone framing her? With flashbacks, we experience Ellie's childhood and the relationship with her creepy mother. As her thoughts darken and fears intensify, we feel her pain and anguish. I love psychological thrillers. This story had me second-guessing my childhood. We all have days when we ask ourselves, "Am I crazy?"
Just Wow! This book had me hooked from the first page. The plot twists had me thoroughly intrigued as I went from baffled to blown away. I could not turn the pages fast enough in many points in the book. Katherine Black’s writing is full of masterful tension and suspense but also her delightful wit elevates the reader’s enjoyment. The characters, from Ellie to Matt to Rob to the antagonists and even Jake the dog, come alive here. I could picture them in my mind so well that I would have enjoyed the opportunity to have a beer with them (the good guys that is). This is the second Katherine Black book I have read. I will be reading more from this talented, delightful author. Highly recommend!
I really don’t understand the high reviews on this. I mean, maybe there’s some great reveal and explanation after page 183… but hard as I tried, I just couldn’t read further. The dialogue is so clunky… and Ellie and Matt have to be 2 of the dumbest characters I’ve ever read! ‘Oh, we were attacked by a twin, but hey, let’s go out with no signal to each other or mark to differentiate the 2’. I’m so bummed it’s this bad, as I was super excited by all the five-star reviews :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Woah—what a twisty, dark, and deeply disturbing story! A Question of Sanity was nothing like I expected, and I was completely shocked by the direction it took. Katherine Black weaves a chilling narrative full of fear, suspense, and buried secrets that keep unraveling until the very end. It's intense, unsettling, and impossible to put down.
Trigger warning: the story contains elements of animal abuse, but if you can handle the darkness, this book will leave your jaw on the floor.
I enjoyed all the twists and turns. Really disturbing. There are some editorial misses - incorrect names or words, etc that do force some unnecessary mental review while reading, but able to overlook that for the sake of the story.
Thoroughly enjoyable, with all the hallmarks of this author's unique skill at storytelling. Ellie, suffering from a degenerative disease, starts to experience impossible events. All of which she is apparently guilty of. Doubting her own memories, she sets out to discover the truth of what is really happening to her. And sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.
Plenty of intense twists and turns, an adorable side character in Jake the dog and an excellent build up makes this one for fans of thrillers. Read it; you won't be disappointed.
Basic Details: Book Title: A Question of Sanity Subtitle: Author: Katherine Black Genre: Thriller Part of a series? No Order in series: Best read after earlier books in series? Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5... Overall score: I scored this book 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Short Summary of the book: This book is cleverly written and makes the reader fear as the main character does. Ellie is an established author and has a great life. That is, until she receives a diagnosis of adult-onset Tay-Sachs disease. Her lifespan is limited and not much is known about what will happen to her before her death. When strange things take place, Ellie and those around her question her sanity. Are Ellie and her loved once being stalked, or is Ellie losing her grip on reality? What I liked about the book: This book was action-packed, full of intrigue and twists and turns. What I didn’t like about the book: There was nothing I disliked about the book. My favourite bits in the book: I loved the entire book. My least favourite bits in the book: I enjoyed the entire book. Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author? I understand the author has written many other books. What books could this be compared to and why? The book finds itself in the category of psychological thrillers. It is written to a very high standard. Recommendation: In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No Young Adult Maybe Adult Yes
If you like suspenseful psychological thrillers, this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more by this author. Book Description by Author: A novel of fear and suspense. A Question of Sanity is Katherine Black's darkest, most perverse and chilling work.
Author Ellie Erikson is dying. But that's just a walk in the park.
She's accused of trying to murder her boyfriend, her bank account is emptied, and every aspect of her life has come into question.
When hatred is born in a damaged soul, a wasting illness is the least of Ellie's troubles. And when her past comes calling, it opens a whole new chapter of secrets. About the Author: .
This book is like Beethoven’s 5th. In fact, if it was a musical piece Katherine Black would become rich with the number of people downloading ringtones alone.
Ellie, Matt, Jake and Eve - ♪♫Da-Da-Da-Dum♪♫ - hardly any succession of notes is as famous around the world as the one at the beginning of Symphony No. 5 in C minor, and in ‘A Question of Sanity’ we see the same four notes.
Beethoven's secretary and biographer, Anton Schindler, described this as ‘The sound of fate knocking at the door,’ which is indeed the story in Katherine Black’s Sanity, but in ways that the reader can’t possibly imagine until each page of the book is turned.
Fate, indeed, plays a huge part in this book.
But why do I say it’s like Beethoven’s 5th? Because the storm that blows through the 5th is replicated throughout this story, as Black takes the simplest building blocks and constructs radically new, awe-inspiring works of insanity with them, and, just like the 5th, the story builds to a huge crescendo.
This wonderful story builds to a climax that climbs up and up, leading the reader imperiously forward into the spirit of madness!
The 5th must surely be the all-time greatest crescendo in classical music, heralded by punchy rhythms and probing themes, combining to hint that something is about to explode, and in ‘A Question of Insanity’ it certainly does
Beethoven himself said, ‘I want to grasp fate by the throat - it shouldn't bring me down completely.’ Well, I’m not going to place any spoilers here, but I will advise the reader takes a chance on this story. Read how fate grasps Ellie, the protagonist, by the throat, and see if the insanity in this tale brings her down completely.
At first glance this book came across as a psychological suspense thriller; a successful author who’s just discovered that she has a terminal disease being stalked by someone who’s playing sick mind games with her. All well and good; I read closely, trying to find clues as to who might be behind this.
However, when the perpetrator seems about to be unmasked roughly about halfway through the narrative, it seems clear that something else must be going to happen; and does it ever! I made a good guess at who that might be, but had no clue as to the history which this person shared with Ellie, the victim, and was fascinated as the story veered off into the realms of a different genre altogether; at which point any assumptions I’d made were turned on their head, along with the storyline.
Author Katherine Black certainly gives value for money with a narrative which takes place in the future, giving the opportunity for some interesting speculations on where medical science might go and how familial connections might be manipulated, and even takes us into the internal thought processes of a pet dog.
I’d have to sum this text up in the words ‘The book that just keeps giving’, and I defy anyone to untangle the threads of the different subject matters which are wound together within it. I’d like to have given more details here, but to do so could give spoilers and ruin what turned out to be a fascinating read of a frighteningly possible occurrence. Highly recommended.
Simply put, this book was fantastic. I love a story that doesn't stick to a single genre just for kicks. Whether Black meant to do this, or it was just my interpretation, I don't know. But it blends with tasty twists of horror, thriller, romance, and mystery! Great storytelling from start to finish.
Ellie Erikson finds herself in a strange situation while coping with a deadly degenerative disease in the near future, but this is only the start of her issues in this story. The perspective really helps lend to the mystery as you experience the strange events with Ellie and her boyfriend Matt, even Jake (the real hero here!) Personally, I love a great story that leads further down the rabbit hole with each chapter, it spends time with a couple of flash-backs to fill in just enough backstory that it will leave you guessing even more. It will leave you on the edge of your seat for sure. Black pulls no punches anywhere--the story is brutal, beautiful, and emotionally balanced against the intensity of the plot. That mother though...
I can't recommend this book enough!! If you are a fan of horror, thriller, or even mystery give it a try! You won't be disappointed! 5 STARS!
This wonderful compelling psychological crime thriller was a hard book to put down. It grows and grows as you read it, becoming darker and darker and complicated. Set some time in the future when the world has suffered a number of tragedies, wars and pandemics, Ellie is a successful author who is also dying of a genetic disorder. When strange things happen to her that apparently, she is responsible for, though she has no memory of them, she wonders if she is going mad. The truth when it emerges takes her on a dangerous journey into her past.
What emerges is a gripping thriller, with a suitable amount of twists and turns, that when you think you have your head around another change happens and a rethink is necessary. It really is edge of your seat thing and kept me interested right to the very end. The author has created a horrific world amongst the ordinary. It is a clever book and one that I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in this genre, or for that matter, anyone interested in a good read.
A Question Of Sanity by Katherine Black. Wow!!! What a crazy gripping horror thriller this one is. Ellie is a successful author and has the world in front of her. When suddenly things start falling apart, she is diagnosed with an illness and appears to be losing her mind. Strange things were happening, was it her in her disturbed state of mind, or was someone looking identical posing as her and stalking and threatening her. With nobody believing her innocence, she is living in fear. This book has so many twists and turns I didn't know what or who to believe. Katherine's realistic portrayal of the characters and settings is visually stunning. I was totally engrossed in this brilliantly written and disturbing horror story. I ever so highly recommend A Question Of Sanity. Totally deserving of my 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An insane psychological thriller that will make you question your own sanity
Ellie is diagnosed with a rare disorder that means she is slowly dying. On the tail of this things are happening that she has no recollection of. Is she going mad? Or is someone pretending to be her and is someone playing mind games with her. And who is the mysterious Creator? Ellis is plunged down a rabbit hole of insane twists and turns as she fights to find answers. But it puts her friends lives in danger and with the death of one loved one will Ellie have the strength to survive until the end? This is a truly mind bending story that will keep you guessing until the very end. I definitely recommend.
An insane psychological thriller that will make you question your own sanity
Ellie is diagnosed with a rare disorder that means she is slowly dying. On the tail of this things are happening that she has no recollection of. Is she going mad? Or is someone pretending to be her and is someone playing mind games with her. And who is the mysterious Creator? Ellis is plunged down a rabbit hole of insane twists and turns as she fights to find answers. But it puts her friends lives in danger and with the death of one loved one will Ellie have the strength to survive until the end? This is a truly mind bending story that will keep you guessing until the very end. I definitely recommend.
Thriller, full of plot twist! Every time I thought I guessed the plot twist, I was left for a loop to the point where after the fourth one, I just stopped guessing and went along for the ride. In the beginning you just learn about Ellie's predicament, and her boyfriend Matt is so sweet it's almost...too much. By the time the "villain" was revealed I thought for sure there wasn't a point in reading any further. But I'm SO glad I stuck with it. Eve is such a complex character I found myself wanting to know more about her life. How Black intersects the characters and adds on more and more layers really makes for a fabulous can't put down thriller. Great read!
Not my usual genre, but I really, really enjoyed it. After a slow start, it was full steam ahead until the last page. Ellie and Eve kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through the book. Eve was extremely creepy as you never knew what she was thinking about. Ellie was so weak; you couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. ‘A Question of Sanity’ is one of those reads where you think you know what’s going on, when in fact you don’t, and just when you think the story is done – it’s not. For those who enjoy reading psychological thrillers, I would recommend this book without any hesitation.
I absolutely loved this book! Somebody needs to make this into a movie. The twists never stop, nor does the suspence. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist popped up and threw me for a loop. I don't want to say too much about the story itself, because I don't want to give anything away, but this book had my adrenaline pumping throughout the entire story. Each time you'd think the circumstances couldn't get any worse for Ellie, they did.
I wish I could give more than 5 stars for this one. I highly recommend this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
At first she thinks someone is trying to frame her for all these minor crimes. Then she sees her attacker, who looks just like her, wielding a knife coming towards her, but so do 2 witnesses. Then she knows there is an identical twin that she never knew about. But the police check the knife and discover it contains only her fingerprints. That's when she knows she must be going mad, and maybe she has a split personality when she sleeps. It looks like a Jekyll and Hyde situation. But the truth, in the end, is even worse than that.
Wow,,, what a good book ! A Question of Sanity starts out with an intriguing prologue and gives you an in instant connection to the author herself. Then she takes you on a journey pulling you deeper and deeper into the story. You may think you have the plot figured out, but you have to be on your game to stay ahead of Katherine Black; try as you might, I think she will surprise you in the end. PUT IT ON YOUR MUST READS LIST
Ellie, who has a rare, deadly disease becomes a suspect in the attempted murder of her boyfriend who names her as his attacker. Questioning her sanity, Ellie looks for answers to a number of strange occurrences. As she digs into her past, she makes some shocking discoveries. This book had many unpredictable twists that kept my interest throughout. I would highly recommend it.
This book will keep you guessing right to the very end. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. I suspected every character of being the big evil player along the way, but I was wrong every time. The story line is so creative and the characters are fabulous. I absolutely loved it. This is the second Katherine Black book I’ve read and I’ve loved them both. Looks like I’ll be buying this writers back catalogue!
A fast paced page turning read, couldn’t put it down and had me guessing right to the end! Characters are so believable that you are drawn right into their terrifying world, an awesome plot & fabulous read
Not only was I not disappointed, I believe Stephen King would be proud of this story.
Loved this story. This is the second Katherine Black book I’ve read. Not only was I not disappointed, I believe Stephen King would be proud of this story.
This is the first book that I have read of Katherine's work. I really enjoyed it . Haunting and creepy with a good finish. I have ordered my second book of hers. I am looking forward to reading the next book.