The prologue to this book sets the tone of the story very well, it’s shocking and gritty without being gory and lets you know exactly what to expect from the book.

I’ve found that the majority of ghost stories take a long while to build up to the full level of violence and gore, which can lead to disappointment if you get halfway through and it’s not what you were expecting but this one set the tone right at the beginning so I knew that I was in for a treat.

This wasn’t the only pleasant surprise from the author, there were a few unexpected twists that I’ve never encountered before in the genre and I absolutely adore the fresh approach. These twists are used throughout the book, taking it in unexpected directions.

The story is set in both the present day and the late 1800s events in the Belle-Vue asylum, which has since been turned into apartments. The chapters alternate between these timelines and a variety of characters which builds a compelling picture of the occult, haunting and human betrayal.

The only downside that I found is that I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters; none of them particularly appealed to me (though I didn’t hate them!) and I was glad that the story was strong enough to hold my attention instead.

I would recommend this to fans of Gothic horror, it covers both a nasty paranormal element but also the horrible truths about how people were treated in mental institutions in the 19th century and how easy it was for someone to be committed. The story takes this classic trope in some unexpected directions and is well worth the read.

C. S. Alleyne grew up in Australia and originally trained as a hotel manager in the UK. After several postings in the Caribbean she changed tack and completed her MBA followed several years later by a PhD in Information Systems. She is a management consultant and also lectures in several universities.

With a lifelong love of reading, anything historical and a fascination with the supernatural and death, her vacations usually include visits to such places as the Pere La Chaise cemetery and the catacombs in Paris, the tombs in Egypt, the Popes’ crypts in the Vatican and any church yard with gravestones – you get the picture…

Cheryl was inspired to write Belle Vue by her daily journey past a block of luxury apartments that had been converted from an old asylum. Like her protagonist, Alex Palmer, she started to investigate its past and learnt that one of the inmates was murdered there in the late 19th century. The victim’s sister was hung for the crime. Cheryl was also thrilled to discover the asylum’s overgrown cemetery in her explorations of the area!

Belle Vue is her first, full length novel. Jonathan Myerson (Oscar nominated, Bafta and 4 Time Emmy winner) says he is ‘blown away’ by Belle Vue – ‘I am hugely impressed by this novel – it’s ambitious and daring and amazingly imaginative’.

Cheryl has a daughter and son-in-law who live nearby and a partner who, since reading Belle Vue, says he now sleeps with one eye open.

She is represented by Gandolfo Helin and Fountain Literary and Dramatic Rights Management.