Review: The Fractured Mind by Ottavio Lepore

As the old saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Ryan Stark learns that in the hardest way possible in The Fractured Mind, a tense and gripping new novel by Ottavio Lepore.

What begins as a harmless getaway spirals into a desperate fight for survival and sanity as Ryan discovers that not every good samaritan wants nothing in return. A tragic car accident sends him and his partner from the throes of a weekend trip into the intensive care unit, and Ryan’s life is turned upside down in an instant.

Facing a long uphill battle of recovery, and dealing with the tragedy of losing his partner, he is barely clinging to sanity, let alone good sense. When a complete stranger offers to pay his medical bills, in exchange for coming to live with him – a seemingly harmless old man – Ryan isn’t in any position to refuse. Upon his arrival, he discovers that he isn’t the only tenant in trouble at the massive seaside house, and not everyone is happy with the new arrival.

Uncertain what new world he has slipped into, Ryan tries to keep his head up and not make waves, but some of the tenants begin to disappear, and Cornelius slowly begins to show cracks in his altruistic facade. As Ryan gets closer to discovering the truth about his strange new surroundings, he also may get closer to revelations that could shatter his mind forever.

Lepore has created a brilliant and original plot that carries readers to the very edge before pulling the rug out from under them, making the experience of reading this book, at times, a psychological trek. With twists you won’t see coming and suspenseful sequences that will keep you on edge, The Fractured Mind is a deep dive into the psyche, as well as the emotional carnage of loss, death, helplessness and inner demons that never cease their haunting. Lepore’s insight into human nature and post-traumatic behavior feels sincere and engaging from the very first chapter.

While the plot is compelling, the execution of the writing is the weakest point of the novel. There are many instances where the inner monologue comes to the fore to express Ryan’s thought process, which is a somewhat convenient tool to further the story, as asking narrative questions to an unseen reader is a fairly clichéd device. The shifting of perspectives in certain chapters adds to the ultimate payoff of the novel, but can be a distracting element on a chapter by chapter level.

Additionally, the dictation of movement and action is not always engaging, as there is a notable lack of imagery or expressive language in key moments, where readers may want to slowly savor a scene with rich description. At times, it feels as though the writing is compromised for the sake of plot movement, which makes the story feel rushed, though the plot is interesting enough that it can afford to slow down.

As a whole, The Fractured Mind is a clever and immersive novel. Despite the occasional sloppy sections of poor storytelling, Lepore proves himself to be a master of mood, establishing disturbed characters and a perpetual sense of unease, for a novel that will shake your sense of reality.