The Hobgoblin of Little Minds by Mark Matthews

It is so hard to describe this book. From the cover, you would assume it's just about werewolves but you would be only half right.

Kori grew up witnessing her father's struggle with mental illness including seeing her father taken away to a psychiatric hospital where he later disappeared. Kori, now grown up, decides to trespass at the hospital where her father was treated to try to find some solace and peace. Northville Psychiatric Hospital is now abandoned but something unhuman lurks in the tunnels beneath the hospital.

At first glance, this is a horror novel but if you dig a bit deeper, you find that it is also an examination of mental illness. The way people who have mental illness are treated, and how it might feel and affect someone who does have a mental illness.

A book is all the more enjoyable when there is a deeper meaning to be found. I found the Afterword by the author to be poignant and informative in turns. Mental illness is so misunderstood by so many people. The correlation between bipolar episodes and folklore combined with biological biology was interesting. I have read about this possible connection before. People also criticize those who stop taking medicine. The author address a possible reason why people might stop taking it. The Hobgoblin of Little Minds turned out to be one of my favourite reads for 2021.

4/5 Stars