Welcome to Meadowbrook, by Cassandra L. Thompson

A psychiatric facility. An upscale hotel. A casino. A place for wellness. A retreat. No matter the decade, the towering edifice perched on the top of a mountain inspires both awe and fear. Holding the secrets of all who have walked her halls (and those who haunt them still), Meadowbrook’s facade shifts with time. But there is one constant that remains unchanged—Meadowbrook makes her own rules. Told in a series of short stories from alternating viewpoints, each from a different era, discover the unique tale of a place that is much more than what it seems.

Yes, it's an anthology. Yep - horror, in a former asylum/hotel. But trust me when I say that you haven't read anything like this book before.

Sheer atmosphere seeps from the pores of this gothic goodness, drawing the reader in as inexorably as the unfortunate guests/patients. It's never clear quite what will happen, as despite (or because of) the author's clear awareness of this horror trope, they play with expectations beautifully, with unexpected scenarios opening up around every corner.

It helps that due to the short-story format, characters are drawn quickly and realistically. We don't have long to get to know them - and we do know that they're probably doomed! - but in just a few paragraphs, I found myself genuinely caring about what happens to these lost souls. Especially those who suddenly reappeared like a residual haunting... I wanted to know what happens next to some, and a novella or two wouldn't have gone amiss within this collection.

Having said that, I found myself having to only read 1-2 chapters at a time, purely because I had to pause and go find myself something comforting to drink or watch in order to pull myself back together!

Meadowbrook is deeply compelling, and while I would urge you to step inside if this sounds like something you'd enjoy, do prepare yourself. It's absolutely not for the faint-hearted.