Flame Tree Press, gearing up for an epic 2020, is rereleasing Brian Kirk's debut novel in just a few days, and I've just turned the last page of this breathtaking experience.

The novel revolves around breakthroughs in the treatment of patients at the Sugar Hill Psychiatric Hospital. If this new treatment is a success, it will change the way we look at mental health and schizophrenia in particular. Like any good story dealing with these types of topics, there is a lot of focus around the ethics involved. I appreciated the many discussions about treating the patients as human beings, and administering various treatments and therapies with these ideas in mind.

The story takes us places towards the end that, in my decidedly non-expert opinion, are in the realms of fringe science. Quick aside, I love books, movies, etc. that deal with fringe science. A very fair portion of the second half of the book is Brian Kirk messing with your mind, performed in an expert way. Take this as a mild spoiler, but most of these parts deal with various levels of hallucinations. Kirk makes it weird, but never loses the reader, even this part carries on for nearly 100 pages. Not an easy task.

The story is top shelf, but the characters are what really make it work. Dr. Eli Alpert and Dr. Alex Drexler are our main two characters. The two have different ways of looking at their jobs, and also very different motivations. It makes for some unique dynamics throughout, and ultimately is what makes We Are Monsters such a rewarding read. Kirk also does a wonderful job with Angela, a character that it seems we're set up to dislike, but proves to be a really strong addition to the story with compelling backstory.

I really enjoyed We Are Monsters. It's a psychological thriller that's a bit different than anything else I've read recently. It's also propelled Mr. Kirk's Will Haunt You up my must-have list.

I received an e-book from the publisher for review consideration.