Mural is a taut and haunting work of literary fiction. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it won awards one day.
In Mural Stephen Downes explores the mind of a criminal. D, all the reader knows him by, is imprisoned for an unknown crime. He is asked by his psychiatrist Dr Reynolds to write a journal of his thoughts, his life's reflections.
Mural will appeal to readers working in the mental health industry and, with black & white images of artwork throughout, readers interested in the arts.
I will leave you with this review by Nick Haslam as it sums the book up perfectly.
"A gripping interior account of an unhinged and violent mind. The narrator, D, institutionalised and guilty of unnamed atrocities, directs an extended monologue to his psychiatrist that is in turn reflective, cultured and misanthropic. D is a memorable character, vividly painted; a sharp-edged combination of erudition and paranoia. Downes skillfully creates a growing sense of menace as D's thoughts twist and turn around his varied tics and fixations. This is a viscerally compelling portrait of derangement that will appeal to readers of quality fiction." Nick Haslam, Professor of Psychology, University of Melbourne and co-author of Troubled Minds.
My rating 3/ 5 ⭐⭐⭐
Publisher: Transit Lounge
Publication date: 1st September 2024
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 208
RRP: AU$32.99 (hardback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Quikmark Media
I read this book it was a short read I Did too feel it over my head some of the art was nice and loved the book cover
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