Driven by anger and a destructive hunger for retribution, a young woman revisits her past, punishing the main culprits involved in her suffering and that of her mother’s and close friends in Debbie Boek’s suspenseful historical thriller, Maelstrom: A Victorian-era Tale of Revenge hidden under the Guise of Justice.

The baseless accusations of a wealthy man lead to Olivia and her mother’s confinement in a lunatic asylum. While there, the two go through horrific experiences. Her mother, Ada, is subjected to primitive, fatal treatments that drain her and exacerbate her worsening condition. Olivia is put through inhumane, demeaning punishments and experiences. She is also forced to conceal her true feelings to survive the traumatizing environment. After carefully plotting her revenge, she begins to execute her risky plans later in her life. But revenge comes at an unexpected and costly price.

The story’s backdrop, which is a critical element in the story, is described in skillful detail.  It expands the story, establishing the social barriers prevalent during the turn of the twentieth century, which has severe effects on the characters’ fate. Unable to defend themselves against Ada’s powerful employer, Olivia and Ada are forced to endure mistreatment in the asylum. The asylums back then were rife with all sorts of horrible mistreatments and abuse perpetrated on the suffering patients, poor living conditions and inadequate and crude twisted psychiatric treatments. Vivid, moving descriptions of the patients’ experiences are included. Frigid showers are used on the patients as common punishments by the head nurse. Patients also suffer psychological torture, sexual and physical violence. Olivia’s earlier experiences evoke intense emotions. Through unspoken thoughts, body language, and specific word choices, her strong emotions and the impact of her past trauma are brought out. Her well-thought-out revenge plans that are executed on each person responsible conclude in thrilling and sometimes surprising scenes when things do not end as expected.

Maelstrom is a tragic mystery thriller centered on a decades-long revenge plan and its unpredictable outcomes.   It is well-written, clever, imaginative and intelligent, stirring and touching. The characters are well developed and the various themes the author conveys are clear, relatable and intensely thrilling. Maelstrom: A Victorian-era Tale of Revenge hidden under the Guise of Justice by Debbie Boek is a very engrossing, suspenseful and captivating novel and comes highly recommended by Chick Lit Cafe. 5 Stars.