Psycho: Sanitarium

The legendary Norman Bates returns

The original Psycho novel by Robert Bloch was published in 1959 and became an instant hit, leading to the classic Alfred Hitchcock film a year later. Norman Bates’s terrifying story has been seared in the public consciousness ever since.

It took Bloch 23 years to write another Psycho novel, revealing that Norman had been in a mental institution the entire time. But what happened in that asylum during those two decades? Until now, no one has known. It’s 1960. Norman Bates is in the State Hospital for the Criminally Insane and it’s up to Dr. Felix Reed to bring him out of his catatonic state. Dr. Reed must face both twisted patients and colleagues who think of the institution as a prison rather than a place of healing. And the greatest obstacle is the building itself, once a private sanitarium, rumoured to be haunted. A delicate peace is disturbed by the arrival of Robert Newman, Norman’s twin brother, taken away at birth after a doctor pronounced him brain damaged. As Robert and Norman grow to know each other, Norman senses a darkness in Robert, perhaps even deeper than that which has lurked in Norman himself.

Psycho: Sanitarium is an intense psychological thriller of murder and deranged madness, and marks the first new appearance of Norman Bates as a main character in over 30 years.

“A fresh, creepy and surprising addition to the Psycho canon, as cunningly contrived as Bloch’s originals.” Kim Newman, Stoker award-winning author of Anno Dracula

“This brilliant projection of a horror classic is also a surgical deconstruction, a look not only inside the mind of a maniac, but into the milieu of ’treatment’ of the criminally insane. There’s a million reasons to read this one, but the most compelling is the lesson it teaches: Real horror is real. And never that far from home.” Andrew Vachss, bestselling author of Mask Market

“Robert Bloch would be delighted with Psycho: Sanitarium. Chet Williamson has captured the Bloch ambiance in a twisty-turny terror tale that will keep you turning pages into the wee hours.” F. Paul Wilson, creator of Repairman Jack and author of Panacea

“A brilliantly compelling novel filled with mystery, humanity and dread.” Tim Lebbon, author of The Silence

“Fans of Robert Bloch rejoice! Chet Williamson’s Psycho: Sanitarium brings a 21st Century sensibility and edge while remaining true to the classic pulp spirit; a fun, smart, nasty, throwback. You’ll want to read in a single sitting with the lights on. But as always, beware of Mother.” Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and Disappearance at Devil’s Rock

CHET WILLIAMSON’ s parents took him to see the film of Robert Bloch’s Psycho when he was twelve, and he has been a reader and disciple of Bloch ever since. Now a successful horror and suspense author, his many honours include the International Horror Guild Award, and nominations for the World Fantasy Award, the MWA’s Edgar Award, and six times for the HWA’s Stoker Award.