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On the surface, Kathy Hepinstall's Blue Asylum tells the story of a woman wrongly confined to an insane asylum for her independence and willfulness. Told in vivid and melodious prose, the novel slowly uncoils the truths of its characters lives and the hidden secrets that damage them. This story is captivating and satisfying in and of itself. On a deeper level, the novel examines the nature of insanity and the often-tragic irrationality of love. It looks at the motivations and consequences of human decisions, and questions how we should define morality. And, most importantly, it still manages to surprise readers.