**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

WWII and the Holocaust are never easy topics to write (or read) about. Most people associate the Holocaust with the killing of countless Jewish people, but a lot of people either forget about, or in some cases never even knew about the eugenics aspects of war.

Seeing as how the book is based on true historical events, I would sometimes find my mind wandering, thinking about how I would react in those times. As the book jumps back and forth in time, it's not always easy to follow, but the author does a decent job of keeping you grounded in the story.

Overall, it's a heartbreaking, but well written story.

A story based on true family history. It made me cry to think of the suffering of forcing sterilisation on people with mental health problems. It’s a powerful read that will stay with me for a long time. I totally recommend this book whilst it’s not a book to ‘enjoy’ it is a worthwhile read.

Sylvia True has based her book on her own family history

Although we are used to the convention of novels structured over multiple timelines and various points of view requiring the reader to juggle between the distant past, the recent past and the present it does not always guarantee a smooth read. And so I found with this book. For some unknown reason I really struggled in figuring out who was who and what was their specific function/place in this particular structure/time. So many times I had to stop and think about who was who and I literally (obviously not but..) staggered through the pages, muttering to myself and thinking of abandoning the whole thing.

Then, thankfully the mist lifted and I was there, following the action, shifting from scene to scene, always pondering what was going to happen in the other strand of the story. At last!

The story has two main timelines, Germany in 1934 and the USA in 1984 and fundamentally it is about two sisters, Rigmor and Inga; the daughters of influential, wealthy Jewish parents. Rigmor the younger girl suffers from depression and anxiety and her sister is determined to find a cure for her, whilst her mother a somewhat domineering person, seeks to keep her close and not discuss the issue. This is set against the background of the Nazi’s rise to power, their ‘scientific’ solution to feeblemindness, and their intelligent examination of eugenics.

In 1984 in the USA Sabine (a descendant of the girls’ mother) is similarly affected by depression and anxiety not helped by the recent birth of her daughter; she agrees to become a voluntary patient of McLean Hospital not realising that this will in fact mean she gives up her baby for the period of her hospital stay.

This is beautifully, tragically written and as soon as I grew to identify and recognise the characters my heart and mind raced: it was clear what was going to come, alarm bells resounding ‘Run, Run’ - the inevitability of it all is heartbreaking. I read with horror of the development of the ‘solution’, the description of the shower and for the poor children – babies just neglected, left to die.

A powerful, powerful book, perhaps made even more so because it is so understated in places – the place of privilege the family lived in, the position of influence and wealth – in the end, it mattered not.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

I was kindly gifted this book as an ARC by John Hunt Publishing and Netgalley in return for an honest review. I thank both parties for the gift.

A story about two Jewish sisters in what will soon become Nazi Germany. Rigmor is a patient at Sonnenstein which was one of Germany’s best psychiatric institutes. As the Nazi’s rose to power Rigmor’s life is at risk as the Nazi cleansing takes hold.

Inga her sister is fiercely protective of Rigmor and the story links Inga’s battles for Rigmor and her Granddaughter Sabine many years later.

I have always taken interest in the atrocities that took place during Nazi ruling. I have read a number of books and visited a number of historical sites. Everyone of them has moved me the inhumanity never ceases to creep up on me and all of these stories need to be told and retold.

This particular story gave me a whole new perspective and another aspect to the horrendous acts that took place.

By far though this was a book about love, the love of sisters, mother and daughter one human to another. Truly the most powerful force. Inga at times was harsh and seemed unfeeling, as the story progressed and moved backwards and forward through the years it was clear Inga would do whatever was necessary for the people she loved.

I was moved many times and the fact this was a based on a true story increased the affect of the storytelling.

Despair, atrocities, mental health issues and suffering ran throughout but it was all overshadowed by the love and care that one human gives another.

Fabulous read and highly recommended

"Germany, 1934. Rigmor, a young Jewish woman is a patient at Sonnenstein, a premier psychiatric institution known for their curative treatments. But with the tide of eugenics and the Nazis’ rise to power, Rigmor is swept up in a campaign to rid Germany of the mentally ill.

USA, 1984. Sabine, battling crippling panic and depression commits herself to McLean Hospital, but in doing so she has unwittingly agreed to give up her baby."

This book explores eugenics in an extremely nuanced way; through the story of two women that feels immediate and relevant even today. It also details the history of the creation of gas chambers and complexities of the mental health system in Nazi Germany that doesn't feel too far-off from today. It is a story about people trying their best under extreme circumstances, of the privilege afforded to wealthy Jews fleeing Germany, and of the ongoing stigma of mental illness.

Between mandatory sterilization in the 1930s and child custody removal in the 1980s, this novel shows how little changes in the perception and treatment of the mentally ill, even when, in both of these cases, the women were self-admitted to institutions. This is a book that I have not stopped thinking about and that will stay with me for a long time.

"The doctors you have seen, what have they said?"
"She has a combination of hysteria and depression. [...] Their words mean nothing to me. What I see is a young woman who gets herself worked up over nothing. Sometimes she cries for days, pulling at her hair, and saying that she just can't carry on anymore. She would hardly be joining the party if she was in the middle of an episode."

I found this book a little slow to get going but once I got further into it I was really drawn into the story of all the various characters and their stories. I was both intrigued and horrified by the treatment of some patients in the psychiatric institutions. Inga tries so hard to help her sister Rigmor. It conveys the high price paid for repression and the very tough consequences paid by people who find themselves in these institutions at a time of the rise of eugenics. The fact that this book was based on a true story is both thought provoking and heart breaking. A must read book.

What a pleasant surprise this book was. Sometimes a title or cover catches my eye, or a description intrigues me, as happened with this tale.

I thought it might fill a space between books, was more likely one that my wife might enjoy, but i would give it a go.

I sat and finished it in two sessions. It was blinking fantastic! There was enough science, modern history and social commentary to fulfil the reader's sense of a book well rounded, with a really intense and gripping human interest, family relationship plot that just demanded to be read and enjoyed.

This book is well worth investing your time and effort in and it will reward you well for it.

When young mother Sabine checks voluntarily into a mental hospital in the early eighties out of desperation, she never imagines that 'voluntary' immediately becomes signing away her freedom and the right to be with her baby.
Her grandmother, who soon reads about the news from Switzerland, however, is quick to react, flying out to the States, to her rescue.
Everyone knows a Grandmother Inga: domineering, full of the kind of good advice that cuts like a bread knife, Sabine is soon ready to send her packing. Smile, be happy, she tells Sabine. Take a little trouble, show your hubby you really appreciate him. Grandmother also proves to be the best advocate Sabine could possibly have.
For Inga came of age in Nazi Germany, where her own sister Redmor, also suffered from mental illness. This is a Jewish family, but Inga's family is resourceful enough to be one step ahead of the authorities there. But her sister has already been committed to an asylum, by now, with the Nazi drive to rid the world of all those deemed to be a burden on society, now becoming an increasingly dangerous place to be. But will Inga be able to rescue her sister in time?
This novel is based on true historical events. The description of a pilot state-sanctioned murder carried out on three mental patient witnessed by Redmor's psychiatrist, and where he happens on a children's ward where the children are being starved to death, are reported as chillingly as might be expected. There is also the tacit reminder that this inhumanity towards other vulnerable humans still exists in part with the lack of dignity of Sabine's current position. There is little attempt, for example, to examine the stresses a young mother may have to endure if true support is missing for whatever reason. There are only padded cells and imprisonment, alongside stigmatisation.
This is also a tale about family secrets and traumas, and how they come to be reflected in more contemporary times, through the lives of the children, and those children's children. Yet, this story is one about bravery and heroism too, however originally unprepossessing this heroism and altruism may be encased in.

I actually don't know where to start with this book as there is a lot going on (mental illness, anti-semitism, homophobia, euthanasia) and a lot of heartache that could have been avoided if not for the rise of Nazism. But I really enjoyed it (although the subject matter was a bit gruesome at times, although handled with sensitivity) and I will be thinking about it for a very long time. The main character Inga is very headstrong and desperate to help her sister Rigmor. It made me wonder if I would have made the same decisions and with the beauty of hindsight I probably wouldn't have, but at the time (1930s Germany) the threat of Hitler was not clear. What a lovely character Arnold is, desperate to help Rigmor whilst also trying to help others in Sonnenheim and trying to warn the world of Hitler's plans. I wasn't so keen on the 1980s characters, mainly because the love between the family was not as apparent as it was in the 1930s. However the 1980s part is important to allow the truth from the past to come out.
I highly recommend this book if you want to feel grateful that you are alive now and not back then.

This book was... WOW. I have to say, WWII Historical Fiction is a sub-genre that is NOT short on books, and I do my best to read as many as possible. Knowing the context, I don't expect these stories to be light, and I'm often disappointed when they don't seem to fully convey the horror and tragedies that occurred during this time in history.

That said, this book certainly did not disappoint. I cannot claim to be well-versed in the history of mental illness, diagnosis, and treatment, so I won't speak to the accuracy of that. However, the story of these characters, what they went through in 1930's Germany, and the lasting impact those events had on the rest of their lives, was heart-wrenching. I was hooked as soon as this story started and I could hardly put it down until I finished. This is a true testament to the fact that the events of history have an impact on folks for generations, and the specifics of how that happened in this story are just horrifying.

I have read reviews of folks that did not like the main character, Inga, which impacted their opinion of the entire book. While Inga certainly wasn't lovable, I found myself sympathizing with her as she did anything and everything she could to try to help for those that she cared for. All in all, I absolutely recommend this book for a different and devastating look at this time in history.

Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Where Madness Lies" by Sylvia True is a fabulous book about a subject largely overlooked in historical fiction,. There are many books written about the Holocaust and the extermination of over six million Jewish people by the Nazis. This book deals with another, but lesser known, evil perpetrated by the Nazis; the sterilization and euthanasia of the mentally ill in order to assure that their "undesirable traits" won't be passed on to future generations of Germans.

The story is told through two timelines. In the 1930's, the book focuses on Rigmor, a young woman institutionalized for her mental illness. In the 1980's, the book focuses on Sabine, also a young woman coping with mental illness. The two timelines are linked by Inga, Rigmor's sister and Sabine's grandmother.

This is not a light read, but it is beautifully written with well-developed characters. The characters are imperfect and flawed and so very real. Readers will find themselves confronted with questions about ethics and the difference between being complicit and just following orders. This book is well researched and I loved all of the strong woman characters, especially those diagnosed with mental illness. The author does an excellent job showing that mental illness does not equate with weakness. This is a powerful and emotional novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to NeetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this fabulous book in exchange for my honest review.

Whilst I have read a lot of books set partially or fully in the Nazi era, this one is different. In my opinion, this book deals with fundamental issues in history that often get overlooked--and still manage to get overlooked a lot of the time now. This book is memorable and has some staying power. I'm still thinking about it weeks after finishing it.

One of the things that impressed me about this book, was that it unabashedly delved into topics that are still seen as taboo today. Dealing with the issues of eugenics, forced sterilisation, and mental health are easy subjects to cover, but I found that this author did so with grace. This book is very historically based, and although it is fiction, it is strong fiction based on facts.

The overall effect of this novel on me was very powerful. I felt as though I knew the characters personally and that the author's voice was speaking to me as a reader. If you are looking for something with some depth to read, this would be an excellent choice. I'm hoping for more from this author.

This review is based on a digital copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely loved this book! What a fascinating, wonderful, heartbreaking tale. 10/10 fabulous! A well woven tale of mental illness and how it was misunderstood and abused. Brilliant!

The Nazis are coming into power, and Inga is struggling to help her mentally ill sister. Inga narrowly escapes the fate of the rest of Jews only to be back in the mental hospital decades later. It's 1984 and this time she's in a mental health facility to support her granddaughter who's checked herself in voluntarily. Now, Inga has to revisit the events of the past to understand how they've influenced the future.

My top three thoughts on 'Where Madness Lies':
1. Every once in a while I'm completely thrown off by a book because I start it thinking it's going to be one thing and it turns out to be something completely different from what I initially assumed. I was expecting this book to be a light read. I don't know WHY I thought it because certain keywords like Nazi, madness, mental health should have been a dead giveaway that this book demands full attention. Even though the premise is heavy and talks about Nazis, Mental Health and abuse, this is still a fascinating read, especially since real events inspire most of the book.
2. 'Where Madness Lies' looks at hope, responsibility, family, forgiveness, and redemption. The writing is simple, and the story is one of fiction based on situations from the author's life. It looks at the Holocaust as well as the fictionalized account of a family drama. There are several settings in the novel that draws attention to questions around ethics, decisions and actions. I especially loved the focus on passing traits, thoughts and mindsets on to the next generation both genetically and culturally.
3. For a book based around very few characters (most of them were battling severe mental health conditions), it was tough to connect with the protagonist, Inga. I'm not sure if her circumstances painted her in that hostile and selfish light or it was the generation she was born in. It was hard to feel any empathy for her and look past her flaws.

Thank you to Netgalley, John Hunt Publishing and Sylvia True for the opportunity to read this book. I'm a big fan of dual timeline stories and this one intrigued and delighted me. Never before have I read a story on mental illness set in Nazi Germany. It's raw, emotional and heart-breaking. The depth of characters is fierce. It's a STUNNING book.

I found this story disturbing in a good way if that is possible. Very believable and true to what happened in this type of facility. Even today I think the stigma of mental health is worrying. As this story shows there are no easy fixes for people disabled by these problems. Well written.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book. I'm sorry to say, I did not finish it. The subject matter was appealing in theory. But then it kind of veered off in an unexpected direction, and that direction was...smutty. I stopped right after the sexual encounter between the manic-depressive and the closeted homosexual. It was just strange and I wasn't really enjoying the book. Sorry.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC in return for a honest review. When I saw the description of Where Madness Lies I was very intrigued and was hopeful to be able to read this ARC. The book did not disappoint. Going between the 30's and 80's and sharing the lives of two young women with mental health issues. The story is told from the standpoint of Inga (the sister and grandmother) and Sabine. I enjoyed learning about the history, although very disturbing and sad, of how individuals with mental health issues were treated during the time of Nazi rule in Germany. Also seeing the hereditary factors at play that continue through out the years. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by this fantastic author. Thank you so much!

I was really looking forward to reading this book. The description had me very intrigued. It’s a great story about mental illness in the time of Nazi Germany. A good depth to all characters and a brilliant storyline. I felt it started slow but I think the author was trying to give you as much information about all the characters to build that big picture. I really enjoyed the duel time aspect. A really great read.

I’m finding it difficult to begin to explain the experience this book has taught me, a true story from the authors own family.
It is an inter generational story about mental illness and the treatments available set in Germany in the 1930s and America in the 1980s. An extremely compelling story of a Jewish aristocratic family living in Germany during the rise of the nazi regime with insightful facts of how mental illness was viewed and the horrific tragedy that decided the fate of its victims.
Alongside this was the story of the granddaughters voluntary admission to a mental health facility in America and the way she was treated.
The struggles of the individuals is very real and some of the narrative is heartbreaking but I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it.