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Alex Madison #1
Trance
His victims are powerless. He is in control. This is his revenge—and he’s only just begun.
Three university scientists are found dead in a gruesome murder-suicide, and the only suspect in the case, Victor Lazar, is quickly captured. When the spate of violent suicides follows him to prison he is moved to solitary confinement, reserved for the highest-risk inmates. And then his assigned psychologist inexplicably takes his own life.
Alex Madison, a former forensic psychologist turned private therapist, is brought in to interview Victor. He suspects that Victor is controlling his victims, somehow coaxing them into a suggestive trance. It seems like science fiction, but as Alex digs deeper he uncovers a frightening reality of secret research and cruel experimentation—and the perpetrators are closer to home than he could ever have imagined.
Too late, Alex learns the true extent of what Victor is capable of—and who he’s after. With everything he holds dear at risk, can Alex take control of a dangerous mind—before it takes control of him?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
April 21, 2020
1.5 stars—“Trance” is the fIrst book I have read by Adam Southward. The book tells the story of Dr. Alex Madison, who is a private psychiatrist assigned to do a forensic interview on an inmate suspected of causing the death of several individuals. The inmate, Victor, appears to have the ability to control others by whisperIng commands to them and then makes them do things against their will such as committing suicide. It is an interesting premise, but it doesn’t take long for the story to detour into the land of the absurd with a backstory that is unbelievable and a main storyline that although interesting gets worse the more you learn about the characters. The book deteriorates even worse when the author delves more and more into mind control and what the vIctIm is experiencing during the period of control. Throw in some ridiculous characters from a secret organization that are brought in to save the day, and the book finally skids to a halt as one of the worst books I’ve read this year. The author is good at writing dialogue between characters but when adding supernatural elements to a suspense novel there is a fine line on how far the author can go before it reaches the level of absurd. Unfortunately the author reaches that point early on and never turns back. Stephen King was able to do this to perfection in “The Outsider” but I haven’t read too many other good examples of this beIng done successfully.
October 23, 2019
After having the author Adam Southward recommended to me, I could not wait to get started on the debut book in his Dr. Alex Madison series. Quick paced and entertaining, Southward does well to win the reader over in the early chapters. Dr. Alex Madison has been seconded to work within one of Britain’s prisons, helping with an odd case involving one of the inmates. After viewing the video footage, Madison is baffled as to what might be going on with Victor Lazar. After whispering something into the ear of a fellow inmate, the unsuspecting victim enters a trance and soon commits suicide by bashing their head into a wall. Lazar was originally incarcerated when he was found at the scene of three bodies, a pool of blood growing by the minute. While Madison wants to help, he has no idea what might be causing Lazar to telepathically suggest others to self-harm. Working with some of the other psychologists at the facility, Madison soon learns that there is more to the Victor Lazar story, which traces back to an orphanage in Romania. Discovering that Victor was part of a series of mind experiments in his youth, Madison must learn as much as he can and how to override the trance abilities. When Lazar escapes onto the streets of London, it’s a race against time to stop this killer and discover what’s fuelling his spree. A great first novel that will impress many readers with its unique perspective. Recommended for those who enjoy a quick-read thriller, as well as the reader with an interest in all this psychological.
While I was offered an ARC of the second book in the series, I thought it best to begin at the start. Powering through this novel, I am now eager to see what else Adam Southward has in store. Dr. Alex Madison proves to be an interesting character that many readers will likely enjoy. With a strong backstory, the reader can learn a little about the man’s past, living in the shadow of his academically-inclined father and the struggles in his personal relationships, including a failed marriage. Throughout the story, the reader can see some of the progress Madison makes, both in the case at hand as well as with his personal exploits. There is much to learn from the protagonist, which will hopefully be resolved in the coming novels. Other characters prove helpful in pushing the narrative along. Both the British and Romanian casts serve to shape the overall story, which is entertaining while also teaching the reader a great deal. In a quick narrative, the reader is able to learn a great deal and the themes presented will likely leave the reader wanting a great deal more. Psychological thrillers are good reads, particularly when handled effectively. Southward has a handle on them and I am eager to see what else Alex Madison will discover in the novels to come.
Kudos, Mr. Southward, for a great series debut. I am eager to get started on the second novel to see what else you have for your readers to enjoy.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
While I was offered an ARC of the second book in the series, I thought it best to begin at the start. Powering through this novel, I am now eager to see what else Adam Southward has in store. Dr. Alex Madison proves to be an interesting character that many readers will likely enjoy. With a strong backstory, the reader can learn a little about the man’s past, living in the shadow of his academically-inclined father and the struggles in his personal relationships, including a failed marriage. Throughout the story, the reader can see some of the progress Madison makes, both in the case at hand as well as with his personal exploits. There is much to learn from the protagonist, which will hopefully be resolved in the coming novels. Other characters prove helpful in pushing the narrative along. Both the British and Romanian casts serve to shape the overall story, which is entertaining while also teaching the reader a great deal. In a quick narrative, the reader is able to learn a great deal and the themes presented will likely leave the reader wanting a great deal more. Psychological thrillers are good reads, particularly when handled effectively. Southward has a handle on them and I am eager to see what else Alex Madison will discover in the novels to come.
Kudos, Mr. Southward, for a great series debut. I am eager to get started on the second novel to see what else you have for your readers to enjoy.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
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April 7, 2019Abandoned at about 80 pages. A great premise and lots of potential but I couldn't get past the clunky and rather flat prose.
April 18, 2020
This book is completely different what I usually read.Alex Madison is called to a case where victor who puts people into a trance this story about his background and how he was treated as a child.he was at at a scene during murders was he innocent or apart of it.he escapes his past haunts him.its an intriguing story.
May 6, 2021
After a bit of a slow start, this book really picked up, both in action and character development. I did guess one of the big plot twists but it was still quite intriguing. I would like to have learned more of the specifics about Victor's childhood and the other children.
I would definitely read more by this author!
I would definitely read more by this author!
September 8, 2019
Audio...5 stars
Story...4.25 stars
Story...4.25 stars
October 25, 2020
It is possible to be intrigued with a story but also be disenchanted with the arrogance of the main character, and such was the case here. Alex Madison is a philandering jerk, who seems to be aimless and without any sense of purpose. He's a miserable soul, and while I didn't like him at all, I still had to see how things would get resolved.
While I was somewhat caught off guard with a twist of one of the characters near the end of the story, I found most of the plot predictable. I didn't feel like the author explained the chemistry between a couple of the characters very well at all, and so I didn't buy into their relationship at all.
This was just an OK read for me, nothing spectacular.
While I was somewhat caught off guard with a twist of one of the characters near the end of the story, I found most of the plot predictable. I didn't feel like the author explained the chemistry between a couple of the characters very well at all, and so I didn't buy into their relationship at all.
This was just an OK read for me, nothing spectacular.
December 9, 2020
(Book Blurb) 3 scientists are found dead in a gruesome murder-suicide, and the only suspect in the case, Victor Lazar, is quickly captured. When the spate of violent suicides follows him to prison he is moved to solitary confinement, reserved for the highest-risk inmates. And then his assigned psychologist inexplicably takes his own life.
Alex Madison, a former forensic psychologist turned private therapist, is brought in to interview Victor. He suspects that Victor is controlling his victims, somehow coaxing them into a suggestive trance. (End Book Blurb)
It's a dark story of how one man can control so many minds. It starts as a crime fiction, but turns into sci-fi with the introduction of secret research and human experimentation. Add to the fact that the protagonist, a therapist, is also addicted to Xanax.
While well-written, I didn't like any of the characters. I didn't find any credibility, which is an essential check in what I like to read. I'm sure there are many others who will find this story amazingly good .. but not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 31, 2019
1.5 stars. Too predictable. The protagonist - the stereotypical psychologist with a broken marriage and an addiction to pills - was a whining prick with no redeeming qualities. I disliked him so much, I won't bother with the second book in this new series.
This had the potential for an interesting and exciting story but the way it was told with flashbacks, revelations and explanations, it lost all suspense. The ending was extremely lame.
Narration was ok except for the female voices.
This had the potential for an interesting and exciting story but the way it was told with flashbacks, revelations and explanations, it lost all suspense. The ending was extremely lame.
Narration was ok except for the female voices.
September 20, 2019
This one's on me.
I downloaded Trance because of all the positive reviews.
Dammit, when will I learn?
Trance was bad. I mean, really bad, mostly because the premise was not original and the main character was so unlikable.
I like unlikable characters.
There are plenty of them in literature; the thing is that most well written unlikable characters have, at least, one redeeming quality, one positive trait. Maybe he or she is brilliant or kind or love animals or children.
Dr. Alex Madison is a cad. A douche. He spends more time sleeping with women he doesn't care about than he does doing what he's trained to do. Psychology? Ha!
He's a highly functioning drug addict (natch!) and drives a flashy Porsche to annoy his father (Daddy issues!) and can't maintain any healthy long term relationships with a woman because, well, he's too busy daydreaming about screwing her, generally.
When Alex begins mooning about his colleague the moment he met her, I knew the story was going to do downhill.
I'll admit the story sounded intriguing because it sounded familiar; a man named Victor has the frightening power of suggestion, making people do what they don't want to do.
When Victor escapes from the mental hospital and goes on a revenge trip, it's up to the lame ass Dr. Madison to stop him.
That's when it hit me!
This dude sounds like Robert Patrick Modell from an X-Files episode!
Good episode, by the way.
But, Dr. Madison is no Mulder and Scully, not by a long shot.
Not even if you cover your eyes or knock yourself unconscious.
The book is short but it dragged on because the writing is poor.
Someone get Mr. Southward a dictionary and a new editor because his favorite word is tatty.
It literally appears on every other page to describe Alex's office, the hospital corridors, a suitcase, the carpet...you know what I mean.
Alex also loves perfume. There are numerous paragraphs describing how he is intoxicated by his colleague's scent and is unable to focus because of this fact.
Wow, I want an easily distracted man like this to be my psychologist. He's a real professional!
There's a silly twist you can see coming from a mile away. I called it the moment the person appeared on the page.
You know its a bad sign when you're rooting for the bad guy than the good guy.
I'm afraid to download any more Kindle Unlimited books.
I downloaded Trance because of all the positive reviews.
Dammit, when will I learn?
Trance was bad. I mean, really bad, mostly because the premise was not original and the main character was so unlikable.
I like unlikable characters.
There are plenty of them in literature; the thing is that most well written unlikable characters have, at least, one redeeming quality, one positive trait. Maybe he or she is brilliant or kind or love animals or children.
Dr. Alex Madison is a cad. A douche. He spends more time sleeping with women he doesn't care about than he does doing what he's trained to do. Psychology? Ha!
He's a highly functioning drug addict (natch!) and drives a flashy Porsche to annoy his father (Daddy issues!) and can't maintain any healthy long term relationships with a woman because, well, he's too busy daydreaming about screwing her, generally.
When Alex begins mooning about his colleague the moment he met her, I knew the story was going to do downhill.
I'll admit the story sounded intriguing because it sounded familiar; a man named Victor has the frightening power of suggestion, making people do what they don't want to do.
When Victor escapes from the mental hospital and goes on a revenge trip, it's up to the lame ass Dr. Madison to stop him.
That's when it hit me!
This dude sounds like Robert Patrick Modell from an X-Files episode!
Good episode, by the way.
But, Dr. Madison is no Mulder and Scully, not by a long shot.
Not even if you cover your eyes or knock yourself unconscious.
The book is short but it dragged on because the writing is poor.
Someone get Mr. Southward a dictionary and a new editor because his favorite word is tatty.
It literally appears on every other page to describe Alex's office, the hospital corridors, a suitcase, the carpet...you know what I mean.
Alex also loves perfume. There are numerous paragraphs describing how he is intoxicated by his colleague's scent and is unable to focus because of this fact.
Wow, I want an easily distracted man like this to be my psychologist. He's a real professional!
There's a silly twist you can see coming from a mile away. I called it the moment the person appeared on the page.
You know its a bad sign when you're rooting for the bad guy than the good guy.
I'm afraid to download any more Kindle Unlimited books.
August 2, 2019
This was almost a three star review but I decided at the last moment to downgrade it to 2 stars.
The plot premise had potential and was reminiscent of an early Dean Koontz. Sadly, that's where the similarities ended. Too much unnecessary description and introspective nonsense. None of the breakneck thrill ride you got from Koontz, none of the genuinely scary encounters, and most importantly none of the characters you were rooting for.
This last point is where the story fell way short for me. Dr Alex Madison is, not to put too fine a point on it, a narcissistic, whining, shallow arsehole. I genuinely found myself hoping for a grisly ending for him, which would have been exactly what he deserved. Completely unprofessional, caring only about who he can convince into his bed next and constantly bemoaning his unlucky breaks in life - most of which seem to have been of his own making anyway - there is not a single reason to like or relate to this character. Add it to his long standing pill-popping habit and you wonder how the writer has tried to make us believe this man would be allowed to keep the title of Doctor. There would definitely have been malpractice suits in his history.
Much of the plot may be a bit far fetched, but this in itself isn't an issue - after all, Koontz could always make me buy into it. No, the problems are the pedestrian writing and the lack of a sympathetic character. Even at the "climax", there is little to set the pulse racing. The telling part for me is how long it took me to finish the book because I found it far too easy to put down. I waded through it rather than was gripped by it. Alex Madison can go bury himself for all I care, I have no interest in reading his next "adventure". Sorry, 2 stars is all it warrants.
The plot premise had potential and was reminiscent of an early Dean Koontz. Sadly, that's where the similarities ended. Too much unnecessary description and introspective nonsense. None of the breakneck thrill ride you got from Koontz, none of the genuinely scary encounters, and most importantly none of the characters you were rooting for.
This last point is where the story fell way short for me. Dr Alex Madison is, not to put too fine a point on it, a narcissistic, whining, shallow arsehole. I genuinely found myself hoping for a grisly ending for him, which would have been exactly what he deserved. Completely unprofessional, caring only about who he can convince into his bed next and constantly bemoaning his unlucky breaks in life - most of which seem to have been of his own making anyway - there is not a single reason to like or relate to this character. Add it to his long standing pill-popping habit and you wonder how the writer has tried to make us believe this man would be allowed to keep the title of Doctor. There would definitely have been malpractice suits in his history.
Much of the plot may be a bit far fetched, but this in itself isn't an issue - after all, Koontz could always make me buy into it. No, the problems are the pedestrian writing and the lack of a sympathetic character. Even at the "climax", there is little to set the pulse racing. The telling part for me is how long it took me to finish the book because I found it far too easy to put down. I waded through it rather than was gripped by it. Alex Madison can go bury himself for all I care, I have no interest in reading his next "adventure". Sorry, 2 stars is all it warrants.
August 29, 2019
Trance is a very addictive thriller with an excellent speculative premise, it is tension fuelled and disturbing, with an interesting main protagonist in Alex Madison.
The story jumps between past and present as we learn about Victor, his childhood and weird ability while in the present Alex tries to discover his intentions not realising they are tied together in unexpected ways..
There are twists and turns plus some edge of the seat moments ending with a tense stand off and an excellent set up for the next book.
Very entertaining. Recommended.
The story jumps between past and present as we learn about Victor, his childhood and weird ability while in the present Alex tries to discover his intentions not realising they are tied together in unexpected ways..
There are twists and turns plus some edge of the seat moments ending with a tense stand off and an excellent set up for the next book.
Very entertaining. Recommended.
June 26, 2019
Despite a promising start this novel slowly devolves into a bad episode of the X files. A celebrated clinical psychologist, Alex, takes on the rare forensic case. He is to examine a strange Romanian prisoner who was found at the scene of a brutal murder-suicide. Seems like a lot of people kill themselves when this prisoner is around. But Alex has all the usual baggage., a divorced wife he still loves, a precocious brat, plenty of angst and guilt which he assuages with an addiction to Xanax. The case unfolds predictably with this supposedly brilliant man doing incredibly stupid things.
I was disappointed with this book. the prose is flat and Alex is a bore. The confinement of the prisoner is definitely not believable.. at most he was a witness and the immigration hold was just a sham and a weak one at that. The plot was one I've seen and enjoyed more on the X Files among others. There was potential but it was quickly lost. A slog to read through, pass.
I was disappointed with this book. the prose is flat and Alex is a bore. The confinement of the prisoner is definitely not believable.. at most he was a witness and the immigration hold was just a sham and a weak one at that. The plot was one I've seen and enjoyed more on the X Files among others. There was potential but it was quickly lost. A slog to read through, pass.
July 8, 2019
Finished reading: July 4th 2019
"We understand so much, yet so little. Delving into people's minds is an immature science, even for those of us who have studied it for years."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
December 3, 2019
Drie vooraanstaande wetenschappers worden dood aangetroffen en de enige verdachte, Victor Lazar, wordt al snel aangehouden. Dit weerhoudt hem er echter niet van om in de gevangenis nog meer slachtoffers te maken. Het personeel ziet zich gedwongen om Victor Lazar in afzondering te plaatsen, maar dan pleegt ook zijn toegewezen psycholoog zelfmoord...
Alex Madison is voormalig forensisch psycholoog en wordt gevraagd om zich over deze zaak te buigen. Het gevangenispersoneel lijkt doodsbang te zijn voor Lazar en niemand lijkt bereid te zijn om hem meer informatie te geven. Algauw bekruipt Alex het gevoel dat Lazar zijn slachtoffers in een hypnotische trance brengt waarna hij ze van alles kan laten doen. Dit lijkt vergezocht, totdat data van wrede en angstaanjagende experimenten zijn vermoedens lijken te bevestigen...
Toen ik de beschrijving van dit boek las was ik direct geïntrigeerd en het eerste deel las net zo creepy als de flaptekst doet vermoeden. Toch bleef ik achter met een wat dubbel gevoel. De personages, zeker de vrouwelijke personages, blijven vlak en forensisch psycholoog Alex is nogal arrogant en zelfingenomen. Ik heb niet per se een probleem met unlikeable personages, maar ik ben dan wel altijd extra nieuwsgierig naar wat extra achtergrondinformatie en dat miste ik hier een beetje. De opbouw in de eerste helft was spannend en geloofwaardig, maar naarmate het verhaal vorderde kwamen bepaalde twists voor mij iets te abrupt. Dit maakte dat ik me in de tweede helft van het boek een stuk minder met het verhaal verbonden voelde. Wat ik wel heel tof vond waren de scènes waarbij je in het hoofd van Victor Lazar zit, heerlijk, zo'n verwrongen brein!
'Trance' is een vlotte en spannende weglezer, bij vlagen ietwat creepy, maar mist soms net even wat punten qua geloofwaardigheid en diepgang.
Alex Madison is voormalig forensisch psycholoog en wordt gevraagd om zich over deze zaak te buigen. Het gevangenispersoneel lijkt doodsbang te zijn voor Lazar en niemand lijkt bereid te zijn om hem meer informatie te geven. Algauw bekruipt Alex het gevoel dat Lazar zijn slachtoffers in een hypnotische trance brengt waarna hij ze van alles kan laten doen. Dit lijkt vergezocht, totdat data van wrede en angstaanjagende experimenten zijn vermoedens lijken te bevestigen...
Toen ik de beschrijving van dit boek las was ik direct geïntrigeerd en het eerste deel las net zo creepy als de flaptekst doet vermoeden. Toch bleef ik achter met een wat dubbel gevoel. De personages, zeker de vrouwelijke personages, blijven vlak en forensisch psycholoog Alex is nogal arrogant en zelfingenomen. Ik heb niet per se een probleem met unlikeable personages, maar ik ben dan wel altijd extra nieuwsgierig naar wat extra achtergrondinformatie en dat miste ik hier een beetje. De opbouw in de eerste helft was spannend en geloofwaardig, maar naarmate het verhaal vorderde kwamen bepaalde twists voor mij iets te abrupt. Dit maakte dat ik me in de tweede helft van het boek een stuk minder met het verhaal verbonden voelde. Wat ik wel heel tof vond waren de scènes waarbij je in het hoofd van Victor Lazar zit, heerlijk, zo'n verwrongen brein!
'Trance' is een vlotte en spannende weglezer, bij vlagen ietwat creepy, maar mist soms net even wat punten qua geloofwaardigheid en diepgang.
June 12, 2019
Another one where the plot sounded intriguing and original but the writing didn’t live up to the promise. Victor was found at the scene of a gruesome murder-suicide and is taken into custody but things soon escalate to the point where he is able to control minds and escape.
So far, so interesting but the hero Alex, a former forensic psychologist who is brought in to investigate soon makes the storyline ridiculous. His Porsche gets a mention, plus his pill popping addiction, his problematic relationships with women and his distant relationship with his parents, ex-wife & daughter. He can’t cope with Victor’s mind control which sends him back to the pills. We then rush headlong into Victor’s childhood, there’s a mystery woman, then Alex’s distant father is involved so Victor is chasing Alex, the plot is going round in a few circles and although I managed to finish the book, I’m resenting the times I spent on it. Do yourself a favour and give it a miss!
So far, so interesting but the hero Alex, a former forensic psychologist who is brought in to investigate soon makes the storyline ridiculous. His Porsche gets a mention, plus his pill popping addiction, his problematic relationships with women and his distant relationship with his parents, ex-wife & daughter. He can’t cope with Victor’s mind control which sends him back to the pills. We then rush headlong into Victor’s childhood, there’s a mystery woman, then Alex’s distant father is involved so Victor is chasing Alex, the plot is going round in a few circles and although I managed to finish the book, I’m resenting the times I spent on it. Do yourself a favour and give it a miss!
June 19, 2019
Agonizing.....
I seriously struggled to finish reading this book after several chapters into the story. I was hooked on the storyline, too curious to learn how it ended to stop what turned into an agonizing journey. Maybe part of the problem was that it was so well-written that the descriptions were too detailed. The main vehicle used to carry the story along were the thoughts of a very damaged and completely self-obsessed main character. I really didn't warm to any of the characters but this guy was a whining loser and his thoughts were boring after the first few chapters.......I felt trapped on a hamster wheel of self-pittying rumination. Good plot idea, technically well-executed but using a character who was too flawed to care about.
I seriously struggled to finish reading this book after several chapters into the story. I was hooked on the storyline, too curious to learn how it ended to stop what turned into an agonizing journey. Maybe part of the problem was that it was so well-written that the descriptions were too detailed. The main vehicle used to carry the story along were the thoughts of a very damaged and completely self-obsessed main character. I really didn't warm to any of the characters but this guy was a whining loser and his thoughts were boring after the first few chapters.......I felt trapped on a hamster wheel of self-pittying rumination. Good plot idea, technically well-executed but using a character who was too flawed to care about.
June 13, 2019
I don't often review books, but this one struck me differently. I only got about 75 pages in before I had to stop reading it. The female characters were written in such a limited, shallow way that was almost offensive. The author failed to give even the assistant depth by instead relying on sexist notions to describe her and her interactions with others. I thought the premise of the book was pretty interesting, but the way the book played out was disheartening.
July 14, 2019
Maybe it’s a good story. Maybe not. What’s for certain is the writing sucks. Example: ‘Alex slipped on his suit.’ Being as the suit in question is not a boiler suit, how the heck did he SLIP it on?
Too many good stories written by competent writers out there to waste time with this.
Too many good stories written by competent writers out there to waste time with this.
June 2, 2019
Psychological crime fiction with horror + science-fantasy elements
3.5 Stars
The premise is original with a well-thought-out serial murderer storyline that includes: a villain that terrifies; a flawed, Xanax-addicted protagonist; and horror born of science-fantasy. The atmosphere is appropriately dark and sometimes desperate. As a whole, the writing is good, but I had difficulties with the flash backs/forwards, which were often awkwardly executed.
None of the characters were particularly likable, so I followed the creepy but often pitiable POV of Victor Lazar, the villain who suffered horrific abuse as a child. Victor survived his brutal life in an orphanage and became a formidable murderer.
Less interesting but necessary to the story: the soul-revealing POV of psychologist Alex Madison, the protagonist whose middle-upper class childhood ticked all the boxes for psychological scars. Long, angsty passages about Alex’s thoughts and feelings (about the three women in his life) highlight the fact that “Alex was a relationship car crash.”
I expected deeper background on Alex Madison’s father and his part in the “science” underlying the storyline.
The female characters are less developed, but IMHO had the author taken time to layer Sophie and Natalia’s characters, the story—especially the denouement—might have been more powerful.
Trigger warnings: Beginning on page one, there are graphic descriptions of people dying/being killed. The killing/bloodletting has a creepy, voyeuristic feel, especially from the killer’s POV. There are also graphic descriptions of child abuse—psychological and physical—because child abuse and murders propel the plot and adds credibility to the “science” behind the premise.
If you enjoy reading psychological fiction, please consider my review with a tablespoon of salt. I prefer mysteries/police procedurals and speculative fiction. “Trance” was my choice for Kindle’s June First Reads.
3.5 Stars
The premise is original with a well-thought-out serial murderer storyline that includes: a villain that terrifies; a flawed, Xanax-addicted protagonist; and horror born of science-fantasy. The atmosphere is appropriately dark and sometimes desperate. As a whole, the writing is good, but I had difficulties with the flash backs/forwards, which were often awkwardly executed.
None of the characters were particularly likable, so I followed the creepy but often pitiable POV of Victor Lazar, the villain who suffered horrific abuse as a child. Victor survived his brutal life in an orphanage and became a formidable murderer.
Less interesting but necessary to the story: the soul-revealing POV of psychologist Alex Madison, the protagonist whose middle-upper class childhood ticked all the boxes for psychological scars. Long, angsty passages about Alex’s thoughts and feelings (about the three women in his life) highlight the fact that “Alex was a relationship car crash.”
I expected deeper background on Alex Madison’s father and his part in the “science” underlying the storyline.
The female characters are less developed, but IMHO had the author taken time to layer Sophie and Natalia’s characters, the story—especially the denouement—might have been more powerful.
Trigger warnings: Beginning on page one, there are graphic descriptions of people dying/being killed. The killing/bloodletting has a creepy, voyeuristic feel, especially from the killer’s POV. There are also graphic descriptions of child abuse—psychological and physical—because child abuse and murders propel the plot and adds credibility to the “science” behind the premise.
If you enjoy reading psychological fiction, please consider my review with a tablespoon of salt. I prefer mysteries/police procedurals and speculative fiction. “Trance” was my choice for Kindle’s June First Reads.
June 6, 2019
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
Bleh. The story promises some sort of "supernatural thriller", but since the author explains the mysterious skill pretty early on, the "supernatural" element quickly vanishes. And for the "thriller" part? The story is quite predictable and you'll have it all figured out WAY before the end.
The idea behind the mysterious skill of the antagonist is pretty interesting. It sort of takes what we already know about psychology and pushes it to an eleven (or thirteen, but you'd have to read the book to get that joke!). There's a few Derren Brown shows out there that give you some insight into what is possible (that's the scary part of this whole book).
Unfortunately, the protagonist is a complete ass. Why would anyone want to read another book with him as the main character? He's selfish and annoying, but not in a redeemable way. It's actually hard to not actively root against him!
This book had a few interesting parts but was mostly about a guy trying to kill other people while the police try to stop him. The twists are obvious and the climax cliche. Boring!
Skip it!
Bleh. The story promises some sort of "supernatural thriller", but since the author explains the mysterious skill pretty early on, the "supernatural" element quickly vanishes. And for the "thriller" part? The story is quite predictable and you'll have it all figured out WAY before the end.
The idea behind the mysterious skill of the antagonist is pretty interesting. It sort of takes what we already know about psychology and pushes it to an eleven (or thirteen, but you'd have to read the book to get that joke!). There's a few Derren Brown shows out there that give you some insight into what is possible (that's the scary part of this whole book).
Unfortunately, the protagonist is a complete ass. Why would anyone want to read another book with him as the main character? He's selfish and annoying, but not in a redeemable way. It's actually hard to not actively root against him!
This book had a few interesting parts but was mostly about a guy trying to kill other people while the police try to stop him. The twists are obvious and the climax cliche. Boring!
Skip it!
June 6, 2019
A gripping read
This is quite a gripping read - even though I must admit the story did not feel new to me and I was able to guess the plot twists before they happened, it was well written and engaging nonetheless. Alex is a psychologist who struggles with his personal demons, addiction, a broken family and unable to hold a steady relationship. He’s a realistic character but his passion is for the mind. When he’s asked to evaluate a dangerous prisoner his life gets twisted into a disaster.
This is quite a gripping read - even though I must admit the story did not feel new to me and I was able to guess the plot twists before they happened, it was well written and engaging nonetheless. Alex is a psychologist who struggles with his personal demons, addiction, a broken family and unable to hold a steady relationship. He’s a realistic character but his passion is for the mind. When he’s asked to evaluate a dangerous prisoner his life gets twisted into a disaster.
November 19, 2019
An excellent primer in the usage of loathsome characters with as little depth as cardboard. Add these richly thin shapes to an overwrought plot filled with dime-store melodrama, psychobabble spy themes, and an incoherent conclusion, and the book is a perfect anti-universe reflection of all that is good in fiction.
I give it one star, which is the rating that I give to those unfortunate accidents of fate that would normally cause me to shred my copy, had I purchased a printed version. Fortunately, I read it for free on Prime, so it was worth every penny.
I give it one star, which is the rating that I give to those unfortunate accidents of fate that would normally cause me to shred my copy, had I purchased a printed version. Fortunately, I read it for free on Prime, so it was worth every penny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf-for-good
November 19, 201985% dnf.
June 6, 2019
Scary Stuff!
This book really frightened me, to the point that I had to take breaks from reading! Both the thought of the way the orphans were treated, and the darkness that was Victor, appalled me. I look forward to reading more in this series, but first, I need a break. I think I will read something light and silly now.
This book really frightened me, to the point that I had to take breaks from reading! Both the thought of the way the orphans were treated, and the darkness that was Victor, appalled me. I look forward to reading more in this series, but first, I need a break. I think I will read something light and silly now.
November 17, 2021
"Máš množstvo iných pacientov, ľudí, ktorým môžeš pomôcť. Vráť sa do svojho bezpečného sveta a na tohto muža sa vykašli. "
Kniha Tranz je možno autorovým debutom, no mňa úplne uchvátil. Je to kniha, kde sa čitateľ úplne ponorí do hlavy vraha, ktorý sa mstí za chyby minulosti a neľútostne zabíja. Teda... vraždy páchajú samotné obete, takže to je o niečo komplikovanejšie.
Hlavný hrdina, Alex, je bývalý forenzný psychológ, ktorý sa ešte sám nevyrovnal s vlastnými traumami minulosti, no prostredníctvom pomoci iným sa stále posúva ďalej. Potom, čo sa mu jeden prípad vymkol z rúk, rozhodol sa pre súkromnú prax, čo jeho otec považoval za sklamanie. Alex s tým ale bol spokojný, hoci hneď, keď sa mu ozve prokuratúra s novým prípadom, vrhne sa naň. Veď kto by nechcel zistiť profil vraha, ktorý donútil obete zabiť sa?
Knihu som prečítala za jeden deň, pomaly na jeden dych, pretože ju nebolo možné pustiť z rúk. Vrahove kapitoly sa striedajú s Alexovými, a síce vďaka minulosti sa už niekde v polovici čitateľ dozvie (ak je pozorný) jeden z plot twistov, i tak je dielo napínavé.
Štýl písania je pútavý, kapitoly primerane dlhé, no minulosť nebola vždy dobre označená, tak som sa párkrát stratila a musela sa začítať, aby mi došlo, na koho život sa v kapitole dívam.
Okrem toho ma však fascinovala celá vec s tajnými výskumami, Rumunskom, pádom ich režimu. Úplne som si dokázala predstaviť opustené miesto niekde v Rumunsku, kde sa niečo také mohlo diať. Wau.
V knihe sa vyskytuje veľa vrážd a násilia, neraz mi na tele naskákali zimomriavky. Autor si dal za úlohu čo najdetailnejšie všetko opísať, aby mal čitateľ pocit, že je v diele s postavami. Podľa mňa sa mu to podarilo na výbornú.
Zaujímavú a sviežu vsuvku do diela vniesol Alexov súkromný život, ktorý sa každou ďalšou kapitolou po troške poodhaľoval, no nebolo to skôr ako pred samotným vyvrcholením, než sme sa dozvedeli všetko.
Pre niekoho, kto má rád prekvapenia až do samého konca, sa motív a pohľad na vraha môže zdať zbytočný, ale podľa to boli práve vnútorné monológy, ktoré dielo robili jedinečným. Aby som to zhrnula, poviem asi len toľko, že toto je triler, ktorý sa oplatí prečítať si.
Taktiež dúfam, že autor príde s ďalšou tvorbou, pretože toto bolo skvelo desivé.
June 4, 2019
Trance
This story is exciting and disturbing. Anything about mind control should scream wrong specially when children and violence are part of the picture. That being said, I was unable to read this book straight through. I needed time away from children who are being severely punished when they do not conform to their expected standard.
The most disturbing aspect is the possibility this could happen. Some humans welcome complete control over others. If they are particularly drawn to young, helpless subjects we call them monsters. It's even worse when they create a world where the children are made into the monsters.
The core issue that stands out here is teaching children how to use mind control as a weapon. The story begins in Romania during a time of political instability. The experiments are done in secret and when discovery was creeping closer, all the children were loaded into transport trucks. Some understood the children must be destroyed. A few escaped and used their abilities to survive.
I'll stop the review here so nothing is revealed that might give away what happens. The writing is good and the main characters are well developed. There were a couple places where the excitement stalled a bit. If you can deal with the subject, you will probably enjoy this story.
This story is exciting and disturbing. Anything about mind control should scream wrong specially when children and violence are part of the picture. That being said, I was unable to read this book straight through. I needed time away from children who are being severely punished when they do not conform to their expected standard.
The most disturbing aspect is the possibility this could happen. Some humans welcome complete control over others. If they are particularly drawn to young, helpless subjects we call them monsters. It's even worse when they create a world where the children are made into the monsters.
The core issue that stands out here is teaching children how to use mind control as a weapon. The story begins in Romania during a time of political instability. The experiments are done in secret and when discovery was creeping closer, all the children were loaded into transport trucks. Some understood the children must be destroyed. A few escaped and used their abilities to survive.
I'll stop the review here so nothing is revealed that might give away what happens. The writing is good and the main characters are well developed. There were a couple places where the excitement stalled a bit. If you can deal with the subject, you will probably enjoy this story.
February 3, 2020
Good premise but a couple issues. 1. Very long winded with not great flow at times. I feel like the book could have been 50 pages shorter and gotten the same point. 2. Its labeled and "Alex Mattison book" but seems like you learned more about Victor than Alex. I don't think I'll read the next in the series.
July 18, 2019
To follow
July 3, 2019
Disclaimer: While I own this book I got it for free for being a Prime Member. It was one of the June books and I spent almost the entire month trying to decide before choosing.
As I have previously boasted; a lot like Bingley in P&P boasting on his terrible penmanship, I rarely read reviews before starting a book and occasionally even skip the blurb. This actually allowed me to sort of enjoy the beginning of the book because I simply believed that the narrator was 'unreliable'. I mean how could some one this unlikable, this self-centered, this misogynistic, this drug addled be a serious character? When other characters began offering their perspective on the story I thought ohhh he's creating these people and scenarios in his mind.
And then I realized I was wrong these bizarre behaviors, pompous actions and Xanax addiction actually are the main character. The unlikable, bullying, douchy main character. This guy is such an ass clown he should wear floppy shoes and honk a horn.
Victor Lazar, who is supposed to be the Hannibal Lecter of the story starts out as good, scary bad guy but the actor makes him instead a tragic vigilante who is out to right the wrongs he suffered as an orphan in Romania. Victor has an X-man level power which the author tries to explain but can't and then just leaves it with the guy mumbling and getting headaches.
During the 'dramatic climax' of the book I was bored out of my mind because I didn't care what happened to Richard or his family. The author attempts to show us what Richard is experiencing but he is such a failed character I was bored.
When I finished I realized that this was the first book of a series featuring this terrible, insufferable man.
Walk away
As I have previously boasted; a lot like Bingley in P&P boasting on his terrible penmanship, I rarely read reviews before starting a book and occasionally even skip the blurb. This actually allowed me to sort of enjoy the beginning of the book because I simply believed that the narrator was 'unreliable'. I mean how could some one this unlikable, this self-centered, this misogynistic, this drug addled be a serious character? When other characters began offering their perspective on the story I thought ohhh he's creating these people and scenarios in his mind.
And then I realized I was wrong these bizarre behaviors, pompous actions and Xanax addiction actually are the main character. The unlikable, bullying, douchy main character. This guy is such an ass clown he should wear floppy shoes and honk a horn.
Victor Lazar, who is supposed to be the Hannibal Lecter of the story starts out as good, scary bad guy but the actor makes him instead a tragic vigilante who is out to right the wrongs he suffered as an orphan in Romania. Victor has an X-man level power which the author tries to explain but can't and then just leaves it with the guy mumbling and getting headaches.
During the 'dramatic climax' of the book I was bored out of my mind because I didn't care what happened to Richard or his family. The author attempts to show us what Richard is experiencing but he is such a failed character I was bored.
When I finished I realized that this was the first book of a series featuring this terrible, insufferable man.
Walk away
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