Case Study

A London woman named Collins writes to psychotherapist Arthur Collins Braithwaite in 1965, seeking treatment for unexplained physical symptoms. Their sessions become the foundation for Braithwaite's manuscript "Notes on a Case of Hysteria," which forms part of this novel alongside other documents and accounts. The story moves between Collins' therapy sessions with Braithwaite and her life outside his office, revealing her complex relationships with her mother, roommate, and a charismatic photographer named Martin Grey. Braithwaite's own personal life and professional methods emerge through his case notes and other sources. Multiple perspectives and conflicting narratives create questions about truth, memory, and interpretation in psychotherapy. The novel takes the form of a literary investigation, incorporating case notes, memoir excerpts, and interview transcripts to construct its central mystery. These layered accounts explore power dynamics between therapists and patients, while examining how personal histories are documented and understood. The book raises questions about who controls the narrative of another person's life, and how different versions of reality can coexist.

Readers praise the book's complex narrative structure and psychological depth. Many note the clever use of multiple perspectives and unreliable narrators that keeps them guessing throughout. The writing style draws frequent comparisons to true crime documentaries. Positive reviews highlight: - Meticulous attention to period detail (1960s London) - Engaging blend of fact and fiction - Strong character development - Satisfying ambiguity in the ending Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Confusion about which parts are real vs fictional - Some find the narrative structure overly complicated Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (2,300+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (900+ ratings) "Like solving a puzzle while the pieces keep changing shape," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another on Amazon describes it as "a Russian doll of a novel that makes you question everything you've read."

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📚 The novel is structured as a collection of case notes, interviews, and memoir fragments - mirroring real psychological case studies from the 1960s 🎭 Though fictional, the book draws heavily from the actual practices and theories of controversial psychiatrist R.D. Laing, who challenged traditional mental health treatments in the 1960s ✍️ Author Graeme Macrae Burnet worked as a television researcher before becoming a novelist, which helped inform his meticulous attention to documentary detail 🏆 The book was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 2022, which celebrates literature that dares to enter dark and uncomfortable places 🌍 The novel's 1960s London setting was extensively researched through period photographs, maps, and documents to create an authentic portrayal of the city's intellectual and counterculture scene