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The Queen of Bedlam

Name: The Queen of Bedlam
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781416551119

✍️ Robert McCammon

Reader Score

4.6

(2 reviews)

$21.99 ~~$30.00~~ Save $8.01 (26%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A magistrate's clerk investigates New York's first serial killer in 1702.

Robert McCammon, a New York Times bestselling author, returns with The Queen of Bedlam. This novel centers on Matthew Corbett, a magistrate's clerk in early eighteenth-century New York City. The narrative follows his investigation into the city's first serial killer during the year 1702. Corbett faces a complex case that challenges his understanding of justice and order. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a young colonial metropolis grappling with fear and superstition. Corbett contemplates working with an elderly resident of a local asylum to solve the murders. This elderly figure may hold the key to identifying the murderer, whose dark designs threaten the entire city. The plot weaves together elements of historical fiction, mystery, and supernatural dread. Readers who enjoy detailed historical settings combined with procedural crime solving will find this work engaging. Those seeking fast-paced action or modern forensic techniques may find the period setting slow. McCammon draws on the traditions of American historical fiction to create a tense atmosphere. The book is published by Gallery Books and contains 656 pages. It appeals to fans of gothic fiction and those interested in the origins of criminal investigation in America.

Key Themes

serial killer investigation asylum resident witness colonial New York

Literary Context

The book is set in New York City in the year 1702. It falls within the genre of American historical fiction and explores the early days of criminal justice in the colonies. The setting reflects the social structures and fears of that specific period.

Robert McCammon

📚 all books by this author (29) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Fans of gothic fiction · Readers interested in historical procedural crime solving · Those who enjoy psychological horror · Lovers of dark fantasy and true crime origins

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Gallery Books 📅 2007 📖 656 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781416551119

📚 This Book in Collections

🔪 Serial Killer & Slasher Fiction

📝 Description: The Queen of Bedlam

💎 Our verdict on The Queen of Bedlam

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Robert McCammon delivers a dense, atmospheric historical horror that demands patience from its audience. While the detailed period setting and procedural elements create a compelling sense of place, this book is not suited for readers seeking modern forensic techniques or fast-paced action. The eighty-something page count and slow narrative pace may deter those expecting immediate thrills. However, fans of gothic fiction and historical mystery will find value in the exploration of colonial superstition and the origins of American criminal investigation. It is a challenging but rewarding read for those willing to immerse themselves in early 1700s New York.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who appreciate detailed historical settings combined with the slow burn of procedural crime solving. It offers a unique glimpse into the early eighteenth-century New York City, where fear and superstition shape the narrative. Matthew Corbett’s investigation into the city's first serial killer provides a tense atmosphere that challenges traditional notions of justice. Those interested in the psychological aspects of horror and the historical development of criminal investigation will find this work deeply engaging. It appeals to those who prefer atmospheric dread over fast-paced action, offering a rich exploration of colonial life and supernatural mystery.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Readers craving richly textured historical atmospheres blended with supernatural mystery will find this deeply satisfying. If you prefer sleek, modern forensic procedurals or high-octane action scenes over methodical, period-accurate investigations, this slow-burn colonial tale may not hold your…

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 2 reviews

Robert L.

January 24, 2026

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. Highly recommend.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not particularly. The novel prioritizes atmospheric tension and historical detail over rapid action, making it a slow-burn experience for those who appreciate mood-building.

Yes, alongside its historical mystery framework, the plot weaves in supernatural dread and eerie encounters with asylum residents to heighten the sense of unease.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

McCammon situates his narrative within the superstitious undercurrents of early eighteenth-century New York, a time when fear often outpaced reason. This work echoes the lineage of American gothic fiction and historical horror, drawing parallels to tales where institutional madness and urban dread intersect. It revitalizes the tradition of procedural mystery by grounding it in colonial anxiety rather than modern science.