Night Watch

by Jayne Anne Phillips · 2023

In the turbulent aftermath of the Civil War, twelve‑year‑old ConaLee and her mute mother, Eliza, seek sanctuary in the remote Trans‑Allegheny Lunatic Asylum of West Virginia. Delivered by a weary veteran, they leave behind a mountain home scarred by loss—their father vanished in battle, and the war’s lingering trauma haunts every soul they meet. Inside the asylum’s stark corridors, ConaLee assumes the role of her mother’s caretaker, while Eliza slowly confronts the silence that has held her captive. As the twin specters of war and race surface, the duo navigates a fragile community of patients and staff, discovering unexpected resilience and the possibility of a new beginning amid the chaos.