The Haunting of Hardstone Jail
The Haunting of Hardstone Jail
By Amy Cross
The Sexton’s musings (spoilers are likely):
An interesting setting for a hunting story. Seems that the place is run by either complete and total shitheads or complete saps. The format is a little jumpy so you have to pay attention to when things are happening per chapter. There is some strong language, mild gore and inferred sexual situations. There are several characters that are followed so this is not one of those books that is a mindless type of read.
Amanda Weir
Our main character and somewhat irritating. The crime she is in jail for is horrible but I think there is more to what happens than meets the eye. She killed her children. Just like Robin killed her co-worker and Emma killed her boy friend. There is definitely something dark behind these incidents. That dark is called Elenora. Who really ended up an angry, desperate spirit through no fault of her own. I see Amanda as being perhaps a mother figure to her. This is why she forced her to kill her own children...or did she?
Elenora/Leonora Blake
This is our ghost and she is pissed. Seriously pissed! For someone so young she is so very angry. Her history is not so clear at first. It's obvious that she was involved with a horrific incident at the prison at one point. The prologue is proof of that. How all of this came to be is mysterious for a very good clip. And the the mic drop happens and it's an eye-opening moment. Everything that she is said to have done she did. That little girl killed a whole mess of people before hiding herself away and essentially wasting away. This was Elenora not Leonora. They were born to the black sheep of the Blake family while she was in prison for theft. Leonora had the opportunity to get out of there and go live with her uncle. While Elenora was left behind. The uncle decided, after seeing Leonora thrive, to also take Elenora. Unfortunately he is a bit late with that decision. This then starts a ball rolling that will effect the lives of many people. Inciting them to commit acts that land them in Hardstone.
Dr. Deborah Bell
I have mixed feelings about this woman. She is definitely a sadist, grade A liar, and sociopath. She is also realtively intelligent and can't stand stupid. A complete and total asshole. Not unsimilar to the Nazi's in that she is conducting experiments on prisoners because she sees them as less than human. I think the word trash comes up a few times. This woman is ruthless but I suspect that this has to do with the fact that Elenore has been with her for most of her life. I believe that she is the most influenced out of all the people there. She thinks she's strong but really she is the weakest link. Hell she's seen the damn ghost all her life but she still refuses to acknowledge the supernatural. Oh and might I mention she murders Amanda’s husband after he refuses her offer of a one night stand. This woman is some piece of work. We find out later that she has a theory that there is a switch in the brain that can be flicked turning off/on the evil in man. Make a good person bad and a bad person good. In other words she wants to make herself good. To take away all of the evil that is inside of her. Nope not a sociopath at all. Turns out perhaps she was not all that bad after all.
Governor Alistair Windsor
Okay this guy believes in ghosts because he talks to his wife who has been dead for a good clip. It's like she never died. She does not leave the house of course but that's neither here nor there. It's like she never died. It's kind of strange. Okay it's really strange. However at the big reveal it makes perfect sense that he would still be seeing his deceased wife many years after her death.
Dr. Andrew Dunne/Grace
He's a hard read at first. Seems like a nice enough guy, who has good intensions. But there are suspicions, whispers about his conduct concerning some previous patients. Grace is the assistant to the Governor and just happens to be dating Andrew. I personally enjoy when Grace stands up for herself. She does so with both Andrew and Dr. Bitch but it does not last long. She apologizes soon after, but at least she does it. She's been under the thumb of her mother for most of her life and now she is free.
Robin
This is Amanda's cellmate. She really likes to talk. We do learn some of her back story too and really it sounds like she was influenced by the same darkness that Amanda was. It's an interesting parallel. I have to admit I can't blame her for doing what she did. I mean, I would have killed the boss but I guess her co-worker was the only one available at the time. Then we learn that all of the prisoners are there for a reason. Hand picked by Elenora.
Chris
While Christine does not have a big part as far as dialogue and interaction she does have an extremely important role to play after she gets attacked. We do get some back story with her and her drug addiction. Her relationship with her parents is strained. Her mother is a real bitch. I understand that dealing with an addict is difficult but damn, is she mean. Her dad is a little more reasonable and actually cares about his daughter. Unfortunately his life ends in tragedy. Funny enough she survives even with her meatloaf for a face. If anyone in this story deserves sympathy it's Christine.
Closing thoughts:
There are definitely some really good twists in this one. There are some touching moments near the end but ultimately there is a repeat of what had happened in the past. Elenora kills almost all of the prisoners. It really is a fascinating story. Something different from previous haunting books that I have read.
