The Mad Man's Tale

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Twenty years after the closure of Western State Hospital, Francis Petrel, once committed as a teenager for his erratic behavior, leads a solitary life in a cheap apartment, medicated to silence the voices in his head. A reunion at the now-abandoned institution awakens dark memories of the events that led to its demise. In 1979, Francis enters the overcrowded Massachusetts mental hospital, where he befriends a diverse group of patients, including a would-be Napoleon and a wise ex-firefighter. Their camaraderie is shattered by the shocking murder of a young nurse, prompting whispers among patients about a haunting “angel.” As the police investigate, they suspect an inmate, but the enigmatic prosecuting attorney has her own chilling theory linking the crime to a series of unsolved murders. As Francis grapples with his haunting past, he feels compelled to recount the nightmarish days spent in the hospital. However, the unresolved crime looms over him, and just as he begins to confront his memories, the killer resurfaces, bringing with them a wave of terror. This gripping narrative delves into the unpredictable mind of an unusual hero, keeping readers on edge with its suspenseful twists and turns.