Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum

Reviewed by TJ Collins

STEPHEN PROSAPIO-THE UP AND COMING KING OF HORROR?
It is not very often, I am afraid, that I come across a novel these days that grips me from the start.
I am, therefore, pleased to report that I have discovered an up and coming new author who has managed to grab my attention, ignite my imagination and finally re-light my fire.
Fire being the operative word…..

Rosewood Asylum is one of the most haunted sites in Chicago with an erratic history of unexplained fires and suicides that has sparked the interest of paranormal investigators dying to unearth the secrets of the former psychiatric hospital. Protected by a gruesome, ruthless and unpredictable ghost, the hospital and its grounds have remained out of bounds and strictly off limits for hundreds of years. Until now.

Zach Kalusky, host of Sci-D TV’s Xavier Paranormal Investigators, cannot believe his luck when the local government lifts its ban and grants permission for his team to enter the asylum for forty-eight hours to film a Halloween Special. He is not, however, keen to discover that his team must join forces with the rival “Demon Hunters”- a less than ethical group of investigators renowned for planting evidence and tampering with thermal equipment to boost their TV ratings.
This is not, however, an opportunity to be missed and Kalusky, possessed himself by the spirit of his dead uncle, reluctantly agrees to join forces with his nemesis in order to unravel the secrets of the Asylum.

When Sashza, the Demon Hunter’s transvestite medium, calls for the group to join hands to call on the spirits and bless the investigation she is thrown violently to the ground, eyes white, body rigid, and head rolling. As she suddenly bolts upright and screams: “Someone is going to burn for their sins. I cannot be part of this. Someone’s lies are putting us all in danger”, Kalusky accuses the Demon Hunters of playing up to the cameras and realises this is not going to be a straight forward investigation. With tensions running high between the rival teams and time running out to solve the mystery of the Asylum, Kalusky is plagued by one burning question: Who can he trust?
The answer is simple; trust no-one. Except maybe Evelyn- the mysterious woman who arranges secret meetings with Zach at ungodly hours to tease his investigation along. What lies beneath the exterior of his deep, dark, evasive informant who refuses to be seen with him? What is she hiding?
Who is she protecting? And why?

Desperate to keep his own secret entity at bay from the others, he soon finds himself up against the antics of a saboteur, the wrath of Virginia Forster who refuses to let her son, Joey, talk about his imaginary friend “Boy”, and the terrifying possibility that Rosewood could be occupied by the most dangerous and most powerful demon of all- the Soul Snatcher. Will Zach face his demons alone, or will he have to induce an “episode” to enlist the help of his symbiotic Uncle in order to solve the mysteries of Rosewood?

Endorsed by Ron Fabiani of TV’s Paranormal Cops, Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum is a must read for all fans of horror, paranormal activity and supernatural phenomena. Prosapio writes in a crisp, intelligent, and absorbing manner that evokes a ‘Sixth Sense’ – come – ‘Drag Me To Hell’ ambience that will hold you captive the minute that door to Rosewood finally creaks open.

Discover the sinister secret surrounding the suicides, feel the fear that fuelled those fires, and absorb the terror as Kalusky finds himself in a race against time to save a soul trapped in the deep dark depths of the basement with the unleashed demon of RoseWood.
There is no escape.
Ladies and Gentleman.
Please.
Enter the Asylum.