The first part of this book was pretty rough for me and I didn't really enjoy it. Altogether, the summary of the books was really cool and attracted me to the story, along with the great cover. But the story itself didn't really deliver. Repetitive and slow moving.

I really enjoyed the setting of the story. I like Bill Thompson's style of writing and the way he develops his main characters and plot.
Deputy Sheriff Landry Drake uncovers a series of cold cases that go back over 30 years. When he refuses to give up his investigation, he is fired but decides to continue investigating on his own.
I had thought it was going to be a ghost story but it ended up being more of a serial killer story. All in all it was an enjoyable read.

This paranormal novel is absolutely enthralling! THE FORGOTTEN MEN is Book Two in the Bayou Hauntings series, and incorporates history, ghosts, serial killers, horrific prison conditions, the criminally insane, and pirate treasure. In 1820 a trader from New Orleans who has inexplicably gained wealth builds a grand hotel near Bayou Teche, Louisiana, and a small community forms around it, the town of Victory. Later he leaves the area, destination unknown; and the hotel is abandoned for decades, until it becomes the nation's first for-profit institution for incarceration of the criminally insane, who are brutally treated, starved, tortured, and beaten--then buried in an unnamed cemetery out back. Closed in 1907, the building remains occupied--although not by the living. Subject of adolescent dares, it also provides temporary housing for addicts and the homeless. Deputy Sheriff Landry Drake discovers a string of unsolved killings at the site, and determines to discover more, but is fired by the Sheriff. He is actually on the right track, though, as he will soon discover. There is more evil at the former Asylum than he could imagine: some deceased, some alive. THE FORGOTTEN MEN is a terrifying, engrossing, page-turner.

I received an ARC of this via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting more of a chilling ghost story with this one but I got an interesting history lesson with a touch of the macabre instead, which was fine, just not what I expected. This novel actually has 2-3 stories coming together at once while capitalizing the on the history of Victory's most famous landmark, The Asylum. Starting off as a hotel, then being made into a jail for the criminally insane, now an abandoned structure with the exception of a few supernatural occupants, this place really sets the scene for the novel.
A number of murders have taken place in the Asylum which coincidentally, all seem to happen around the same time of year. Landry, an investigative journalist/deputy/curious bystander has noticed and started looking into these strange coincidences. Is it the Asylum just a really evil place, devouring sacrifices once a year, or is there something a bit more sinister at work.
It's an interesting read for someone interested in a bit of the supernatural, a quick story, and a good mystery. I'm actually curious to read the first in the series since the author alluded to it towards the end.

Haunted Asylum and crime. Not a bad combination. I found this to be well-written and enjoyable. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Bill Thompson’s follow-up to the Bayou Hauntings series is an interesting read and one that hits all the right buttons. To be honest, I haven’t read the first book but this has not deter my enjoyment on reading this addition to the series.

Thompson’s strengths come from being able to give background information and keeping it interesting . This really comes to the fore when describing and going into the history of Variety’s turn of the century speciality hotel later turned into a criminal insane asylum with a horrific past. It is during these passages where the book really comes alive with the history and overall otherworldly presence.

The characters are very strong and although the book’s plot tends to hold them as a focus point for a number of chapters and then changes the view to another character. This works surprisingly well. He is able to make very likable characters of everyone and even the questionable of personality traits of the evil ones. This keeps the plot moving at a jaunty pace.

The plotting never feels forced although there are a few false endings to keep the reader on their toes. At times, some of the explanation does feel a little force and without revealing spoilers, is more prominent in the final chapters. Saying this, it does not take away from the overall enjoyment of the novel.

The main character of the piece is definitely the Asylum itself and this is where the book really comes alive. The explanation of the book and the reasoning behind what is happening really feed into the philosophy of the hauntings. This does lift the book to a higher plateau than most of the contemporaries who try to write for this market. He really exceeds in this.

Overall, there is a lot to enjoy and this is a mixed pot of genres which works surprisingly well. It is a mystery thriller on the background of a horror haunting historical ghost story. Thompson is able to mix these together to his advantage. This is an enjoyable book and should become a favourite for all readers who love to delve into the dark fiction market. Strong characters, engaging history and some dark corridors make this an exciting read.

This book is so cool in how it’s presented. In the beginning you are giving a sort of history lesson on how prisons worked 200 years ago. Then it goes to a young boy who is being dared to stay for an hour at this asylum in the area that is supposedly haunted, for $50. Years later that boy becomes a police officer and there were some deaths in the asylum. It causes him to research it even more and he realizes a lot of people were killed and a lot of them were unexplained as to how. Is it the ghosts that everyone is talking about or something more sinister? With the help of the owners daughter and the police officer they are trying to find out that very thing. Excellent book.

A powerful mix of horror and mystery. This book is enthralling and creepy at the same time and you'll not be able to put it down.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Ascendente Books and Netgalley for this ARC

This book blends history, ghosts, psychopathics and a detective/journalist who's searching for the truth. It's a powerful, interesting story. I do feel that the writing style is a bit jerky in the narration which can make it a little hard to follow, but it's definitely worth it. #ForgottenMen #NetGalley