The Dark Locket: Secrets of the Sanatorium by Chris Witt

The Dark Locket: Secrets of the Sanatorium by Chris Witt

Chris Witt published his first novel, A Memory's Web, in June of 2024 (as far as I can tell). Since then, he has published three more, with his most recent book The Seal's Secret being released in April of 2025. I usually do some research here so I can list any accolades an author might have earned, so I will start by telling you what Chris Witt says and finish by telling you what I found. Chris Witt's author biography claims that A Memory's Web is an Amazon bestseller, that The Dark Locket is being adapted for the "big screen", and that The Dark Locket is a "multiple-time Amazon Best Seller". I found that his four books have a total of 320 Amazon reviews between them, of which The Dark Locket claims 248. In addition, I found no evidence of anything being made into a movie although, to be completely fair, it could still be under wraps. It deals with bullying, child abuse, toxic relationships, blood, the death of a parent, and fire.

Harold's girlfriend (and hopefully soon, fiance), Emily, disappears while doing research for her dissertation. He finds evidence that she was last at Lyaeus Sanatorium and he sets out to find her. But as he searches, he starts to uncover memories that he'd unknowingly buried and pieces of himself that he didn't know existed. Because this is not the first time Harold has been in Lyaeus, he spent his whole childhood inside its walls. He finds a web of secrets that he must unravel alone, plus a locket that just feels like it means something to him. And in order to leave Lyaeus, he will have to confront the parts of himself that he has purposely forgotten.

I did not like this book. I found it incredibly confusing, for starters, not to mention that the characters were completely undeveloped and emotionless. The plot was so full of holes it was nearly nonexistent. I'm not even going to mention my small gripes, but the character consistently intuits things that cannot be deciphered through intuition - like a hidden door placed in a wall that is completely unnoticeable. And a hidden compartment in a desk drawer. And that a child's table can be opened to reveal secret treasures. One of those I could deal with but it happened multiple times. When Harold is not intuiting hidden rooms or compartments, he is using the locket to open rooms that don't exist or existed in the past. These are only some of the complaints that I have with this book, I do not have time here to enumerate the many issues that I have. I haven't even touched on the character's complete lack of memories from his childhood, the fact that he knows nothing about the woman he wants to propose to and his relationship with Emily, the way the locket makes him confront different versions of himself that are also completely monotone - to the point of being named after a singular emotion. If that sounded confusing when I described it, let me assure you it was worse as I read through it.

I'm giving The Dark Locket by Chris Witt 1 star out of 5, which is my lowest rating to date. Don't read it.

If you want to check out the author (although I would not recommend it), his website can be found at https://booksbychriswitt.com/

Pairs well with chicken croquettes and not wasting your time.

My favorite quote: "Nothing about the sanatorium made sense." So true.