Butcher

Based on authentic historical documents, the novel Butcher (Knopf) explores the career of Dr. Silas Weir. Following a horrific medical procedure, Weir is disgraced and ends up taking a position at the New Jersey Asylum for Female Lunatics, where he repairs his reputation. The women in this asylum end up being the perfect subjects for Weir’s grotesque experimentations — as the state has turned its back on them, leaving Weir’s actions unchecked. Oates offers a nightmarish blend of fiction and fact to bring readers this dark thriller.