I loved reading this book! I found the writing to be very insightful and interesting. I was intrigued by the premise and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

Madwoman by Louisa Treger weaves a fascinating true story of the world’s first female investigative journalist, Nellie Bly.

Pennsylvania, 1870. Elizabeth Cochran grows up in a nurturing environment. Her father, a judge, likes discussing politics and history. Thus, she is encouraged to form her own opinions and later to gather information for him as she has a knack for asking the right questions. Later, the witness of her mother’s mistreatment by her second husband makes Elizabeth even more determined to be an independent woman.

At twenty, she comes across an editorial – a diatribe against working women. With blood boiling, she writes a piece of her mind, which really gets editorial’s attention. Suddenly, reporting becomes something more achievable rather than becoming a lawyer. Plus, journalism would give her better maneuver to express complicated truths of life. She becomes a bone fide news reporter under a pen name Nellie Bly.

Nellie is a woman of strong will. She recognizes what people truly care about. It’s not reading about rich people; they care about their own lives. It sets her on a path to report about working women. Her reporting opens also her eyes to reality of many people. It takes her to slums where whole families do everything in one room, deprived of privacy and dignity. Children trained to work, virtually from birth. Her articles quickly become controversial, stirring the pot to a point where she makes a decision to leave Pittsburgh and move to New York – the nation’s publishing capital.

New York turns out to be a much tougher place, where despite the obstacles, she still dreams about working for Joseph Pulitzer at his newspaper – the World. She captures his attention with a dare-devil idea of pretending to be a madwoman and report about the asylum on the Blackwell’s island, known for the highest mortality rate, where proper investigation of conditions is needed. The reality of perishing there herself gives Nellie chills, but this assignment might be her only chance to break through in the male dominated world.

It takes determination and courage to fake an insane act in order to be admitted to Blackwell’s island. Then, the ordeal on the Blackwell’s island switches from determination to survival mode. In the process, revealing deplorable conditions, the mistreatment of patients by staff, the mental abuse that could drive sane person into insanity, hunger and cold causing distress. The rough, inhuman treatment, which is also humiliating is heartbreaking.

Nellie is a well-fleshed out character. We get to know her inside out. What shapes her to be who she is and what gives her fire to tread dangerous waters. She is determined to succeed, and she clearly sees it doing with articles that are personal and emotional, giving intimate glimpses into working class female workers.

The atmosphere on the Blackwell’s island is authentically presented, exposing women's mistreatment, invisible wounds and how some of them were wrongly admitted.

The storytelling of Nellie’s courage and willpower to succeed in what she believes in are realistically presented and keeping a reader on edge with her bravery.

This story of a pioneer woman is superbly and engrossingly presented.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

This novel is based on the first woman investigative journalist, Nellie Bly. We get a glimpse into her upbringing and follow her harrowing experience within the confines of the Blackwell Insane Asylum in 1880s NY.

The beginning/backstory was slow & I felt it could have been condensed. However, the story picked up pace once Nellie arrived in NY.

Although she was an experienced writer, Nellie struggles to find a writing job. The World newspaper gives her a chance when she decides to do an exposé on the rumored mistreatment of women in the insane asylum. But in order to do that, she would have to be declared insane and be committed herself.

It was not easy to read about the horrible living conditions, torture and emotional trauma the women faced. Definitely the stuff of nightmares! I knew of Nellie Bly before reading this book, so I obviously knew what happened in the end, but it’s still a great story about a remarkable woman.

Side note: Love the cover; so clever using a silhouette in lieu of a keyhole!


**ARC courtesy of @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is a historical fiction book about Nellie Bly, a trail-blazing late 19th century investigative reporter. The novel starts off somewhat slowly as we are introduced to Nellie Bly and her move to New York City. But the action picks up once Nellie succeeds in her plan to go undercover and have herself committed for 10 days to the infamous Blackwell's Island insane asylum. Conditions in the asylum and the treatment of the inmates (not all of whom are actually insane) are horrific and very disturbing. A thought-provoking, interesting read.

While I thought the start of this book was a little slow, by the time Nellie moved to New York, I couldn't really put it down. Nellie Bly was a very remarkable and driven woman and this book really brought her to life. I would definitely recommend. There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book due to the subject matter of abuses in the asylum, but if you are able, it's an important story to read.

*Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC*
This was the first piece of historical fiction I have read in a while, and I really enjoyed it. The headstrong protagonist and paced speed in which she navigates New York in the 1880’s felt very refreshing to read. Blackwell’s Island and it’s grey and hostile nature were a stark contrast to the city, and is managed very well by the author. Oh, and I loved loved loved the ending so much, it felt just right considering the character’s ambitions and growth!

Trigger warnings: forced institutionalizing, self- induced vomiting (not ed related), drugging, sexist notions, use of dated labels (“lunatics” etc.)