Start gifting
Libro.fm for Business
Start a membership, get two free audiobooks
Almost ready!
In order to save audiobooks to your Wish List you must be signed in to your account.
Log in Create account
Limited-time offer
Get two free audiobooks when you make the switch!
Now’s a great time to shop indie. When you start a new membership supporting The Pointed Word with promo code SWITCH, we’ll give you two bonus audiobook credits at sign-up.
Make the switch
Gift audiobook credit bundles
You pick the number of credits, your recipient picks the audiobooks, and The Pointed Word is supported by your purchase.
Start giftingThe Darlings of the Asylum
This audiobook uses AI narration.
We’re taking steps to make sure AI narration is transparent.
Learn more
To marry is madness.To escape is impossible.
‘The Darlings of the Asylum by Noel O’Reilly grips like a vice’ Nicola Cornick
In 1886, a respectable young woman must acquire a husband. But Violet Pring longs to be a professional artist and live on her own terms.
When she turns down a desirable marriage proposal from an eligible Brighton gentleman, her family have had enough of her independent streak. Against her wishes, they lock her away in Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
Now at the mercy of the sinister Dr Rastrick, she must keep her wits about her if she has any hope of escaping.
This tantalizing Gothic novel from Noel O’Reilly tells a thrilling story of duty and desire, madness and sanity, truth and delusion from within a Victorian asylum.
Praise for The Darlings of the Asylum:
‘Always engaging and readable’ Sunday Times
‘The narrative rattles along irresistibly all the way to its suitably gothic climax’ Readers’ Digest
‘This darkly atmospheric psychological thriller oozes menace’ Women’s Own
‘Wow! I have been on the edge of my seat with this one! The Darlings of the Asylum… grips like a vice’ Nicola Cornick, author of The Winter Garden
‘Gripping’ Alison Stockham, author of The Cuckoo Sister
Noel O’Reilly was a student on the New Writing South Advanced writing course. He has worked as a journalist and editor at the international business media company RBI, and is now a freelance writer. His first novel is Wrecker and The Darlings of the Asylum is his second. He lives in Sheffield.
Reviews
Praise for The Darlings of the Asylum: ‘Always engaging and readable’ Sunday Times ‘The narrative rattles along irresistibly all the way to its suitably gothic climax’ Readers’ Digest ‘This darkly atmospheric psychological thriller oozes menace’ Women’s Own ‘Wow! I have been on the edge of my seat with this one! The Darlings of the Asylum… grips like a vice. I was totally invested in Violet's struggle in this chilling Gothic novel’ Nicola Cornick, author of The Winter Garden ‘Gripping’ Alison Stockham, author of The Cuckoo Sister Praise for Noel O’Reilly: ‘Written with a blazing energy and a Gothic edge’ Daily Mail ‘Full of secrets, suspicions and rumour’ Woman & Home ‘Perfect prose, a fast-paced, intricate plot’ My Weekly ‘A gripping historical tale … I loved it’ Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us ‘Noel O’Reilly’s lyrical writing brilliantly evokes the struggles of life in such a dramatic setting, as well as the hypocrisy and jealousy of society’ Sunday Express ‘With echoes of Du Maurier… a tangled web of fallen faiths, of sins, seductions and deceits’ Essie Fox, author of The Last Days of Leda Grey Expand reviewsThe Pointed Word is proud to partner with Libro.fm to give you a great audiobook experience.