Safe Return Doubtful

Ellen, a gifted concert harpsichord player, has suffered a mental breakdown following her seduction as a student by a predatory folk-singer. At the start of the novel she has just left the institution in which she spent 3 years.
This is very much in the mould of Patricia Highsmith, who explores themes of mental health and schizophrenia quite frequently. In fact Bardin decides to pursue the mental health aspect rather than the crime angle, and, as fascinating as it is, that won’t be for everyone, especially those seeking more of what they loved about the wonderful The Deadly Percheron .
So, as the novel proceeds, the psychotic Ellen takes refuge from the real world in almost dreamlike sequences of aspects of her life that have affected her so negatively, despite attempts to ‘cure’ her from those around her. Her madness gains particular momentum from reappearances of the folk singer, whether real or imaginary, the reader cannot be sure.
This is a novel that was very much ahead of its time; I can’t imagine it went down very well on publication in 1948, with the expectation being a crime mystery (which is touched on, but not pursued – there are murders). Comparisons to Highsmith are inevitable, but not relevant – it was to be 3 years until her first novel (Strangers On A Train), whose brought that unique blend of the psychological and mystery.