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The Colony #1

The Pain Colony

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Six dead bodies with one disturbing similarity. An illicit genetic experiment. A secret society of true believers willing to do whatever it takes to become Pure.

And this is only the beginning.

DEA Special Agent Peter Malloy is no stranger to the devastating impact of drugs. So when six bodies turn up with surgical ports implanted in their spines, he's sure a potent new opioid is the culprit. But when lab tests show zero evidence of any known narcotics, he fears something far more sinister.

Allison Stevens thought she knew everything about her boss. But after he disappears, she's stunned to discover his secret genetic research in pain tolerance. When she becomes the target of the FBI's investigation, Allison has only one move. She must expose his illegal experiment. There's just one problem. Some secrets will be protected at any cost.

As Malloy and Allison get closer to the truth, they begin to realize they're about to uncover the most chilling medical discovery in human history.

If it doesn't get them killed.

The Pain Colony is a gripping suspense thriller--you'll be plunged into terrifying twists of modern science, chilling tension, and shocking revelations that will leave you breathless.

"A nail-biting page-turner you can't put down!" --BookTrib

"A shocking finale that even jaded readers won't see coming!" --BookLife

440 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2019

1099 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read

About the author

Shanon Hunt

4 books115 followers

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5 stars
467 (38%)
4 stars
448 (36%)
3 stars
195 (15%)
2 stars
78 (6%)
1 star
36 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
Profile Image for Kathi Defranc.
1,182 reviews497 followers
September 3, 2019
Amazing Introduction To ' The Colony', Where A Person's Life Is Changed

Wow, a very interesting story that takes a look at gene editing inside a human body, and shows what a person can become. A very different approach by some rich scientists who use a thesis from college by a young woman interested in the uses of pain. Her thesis comes to life with her unaware, and being used as a name involved in everything when in reality she has no clue!
A fascinating adventure that is intriguing and really makes you think of things that can happen as technology improves!
Profile Image for Amanda.
66 reviews3 followers
August 30, 2019
"You have something here, something that I can take away from you. You don't see it yet but it's here, all right."⁣

"Your name. It's mine now. What's your name?"

This book was so much better than I was expecting based on the synopsis. I would love to see it be made into a movie or TV show. The big twist at the end was so unexpected. 100% recommended.⁣
Profile Image for Tam.
2,179 reviews53 followers
September 9, 2019
WOW, what a read! The plot was intense, modern, edgy and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leapt off the page, and the tension was palpable. And, as if all of that didn't make this the perfect read, there's a massive twist at the end that I totally didn't see coming which left me reeling! If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you! I'm REALLY looking forward to the next one in this series!!!
Profile Image for Debbie Rosenberg.
34 reviews
September 4, 2019
This sci-fi mystery is great. I enjoyed this book so much I could not put it down. The Pain Colony has a great deal going on but Hunt manages to tie it all together into a fabulous story that twists and turns, keeping you guessing. I am really impressed by the way she developed the characters. Extremely well thought out plot! I highly recommend this book. A must read!
Profile Image for Kevin Potter.
Author 28 books153 followers
November 9, 2019
Here we have a beautifully written near-future science fiction thriller that is equal parts suspense, mystery, and terrifying science!

This is my first exposure to Erin deWard, but I've been a fan of Noah Michael Levine for a while now. Both narrators have a wonderful array of distinct voices and are phenomenal at both vocal inflections and matching their reading tempo to the tension in the scene.

While Noah is a bit better at opposite-gender voices than Erin is, she is an absolute master of emotional vocal inflections.

Listening to a book narrated by these two masters of their craft is an absolute pleasure.

This probably goes without saying, but I'm not normally a thriller reader. I enjoy Dan Brown, AG Riddle, and Thomas Harris, but not much else.

So I definitely went into this book unsure if it was something I would enjoy.

I am immensely pleased to be able to say that I was utterly blown away and currently in emotional recovery!

It took me a while to warm to Allison as a character, as she isn't the type of character I readily identify with. But Leyla and the detective both got my attention right away. They are both fascinating characters with really interesting perspectives on the world.

After a very short bonding period, the story jump starts into high gear and things get wild pretty quickly.

There are so many twists and reversals throughout that even when you finally figure it out, you still second guess yourself on whether that's really the end or if there's going to be one more huge twist to completely redefine the whole story yet again.

I'm not telling!

Suffice it to say that there's plenty to keep you guessing and there are more than enough shocking turns to keep the story moving.

And interspersed with all these exciting twists and turns, you'll also find plenty of topics for the philosophers to debate over for ages to come.

The technology that is the basis for this story is definitely terrifying and it really makes you wonder where the world is really heading.

Now, the closest thing I have to a criticism is there are some shifts into first person that don't quite mesh with the rest of the story, although they are used for a distinct purpose that works well. It's just a little jarring at times.

Now, the ending is nothing short of brilliant. We get plenty of final closure to the events of this story while still seeing wide open territory for a sequel.

This is definitely an author I'll be keeping my eyes on in the future!
Profile Image for Catherine Dawson .
10 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2019
The Pain Colony was the 100th and final book I read this year, and I genuinely couldn't have found anything better with which to round off my 2019 year of reading. I don't usually like when there are parts in a book where the reader is pulled from one time and place to another through flashbacks and memories, but each narrative in this story fit together so well and the twist at the end had me sitting at my work desk with my mouth hanging open in shock.

168 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2019
Had potential

This book started off with such a bang that I couldn't wait to get to the whodunit. But alas it meandered on at a snails pace until I lost all hope . Literally dragged myself to the conclusion. How could it all go so wrong? It's as if someone else took over the writing midway. Maybe a c!one!
1 review
August 24, 2019
I don't want to give away any spoilers so I won't say too much about the plot. I can say the story will keep you turning the pages and rushing towards the end. It reminded me of when I first read "Daemon"by Daniel Suarez. The world can be a tough place and this book does not pretend otherwise.
Profile Image for Deborah thompson.
78 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2019
Medical thriller

This book is part medical thriller and part cult Very intriguing and suspenseful This author wrote a great book that keeps you in suspense from first chapter Highly recommend if you like thrillers
Profile Image for Rebecka Jäger.
Author 6 books110 followers
August 28, 2021
Interesting original setting and the writer knows her pharmacology. But the book stuck at 50% point. Also too many POV characters in my opinion. I skipped some chapters. Otherwise, it's a good book.
Profile Image for Elena Alvarez Dosil.
869 reviews14 followers
November 29, 2019
This book is an amazing mixture of genres: not only a technothriller but also a dystopian novel. There are three main plots that intertwine forming a complex story: A girl living in a colony where pain is a mean to reach purification and find redemption; a DEA Agent investigating several murders in which the victims have died due to a new and unknown drug; and Alisson, who works for a pharmaceutical company, and whose boss and secret lover skips town leaving her as the main suspect in an embezzlement scheme.

This was an audiobook that I could not put down! It was clear from the start that these three stories had something in common, but what was it? Having three parallel narratives could have broken the rhythm of the book, but it was well planned and done carefully, and it just helped to get the listener more and more hooked to the story as details of the whole picture were slowly revealed.

There is an amazing plot twist towards the end that I dared to guess earlier in the story but it was so unexpected and edgy that I was not sure it could be pulled off… but it was, and masterfully! It left me astonished! I am sure it will surprise most readers.

The only aspect on which I would have liked a bit more development was the characters. I think the one I related to the most was Layla, even though her way of living was something I did not agree with. Perhaps I was able to forgive some of her mistakes because she did not remember her past, she was inherently incomplete. Allison, on the other hand, should have felt closer to me, but I had many troubles relating to her. She was a young and smart woman, but neither her head nor her heart seemed to be in the right place. Many of the things in this story went terribly wrong because she was either distracted or was pining for the wrong person, already knowing that he had betrayed her. There is a part of the story where her destiny suddenly changes, and it felt a bit forced, like during the first contact with the DEA. I guess Allison had some personal traits that contributed to this chain of events, but it is difficult for me to relate to somebody so careless. Half of the time I wanted to scream to Allison: “wake up, girl, this is a cruel world and the big fish are gonna eat you!”

At first, I had the impression that there were only women at the Pain Colony. I think it was because only female names were mentioned during the first part of the book. Somehow I missed male characters actively suffering and being victims, not just women. I know that there were male characters with a bad end but it was always quick and we did not have enough time to relate to them. It could have been because Hunt is a woman and she finds easier to describe women’s feelings, but I could not help but think about the woman in distress as a popular figure.

Erin deWard and Noah Michael Levine deliver a dual narration, as they have us accustomed to. I have to say that it perfectly matched the writing style and parallel stories, and both characters brought the characters to life with amazing interpretations. One minor setback that I would like to mention, and it is not the first time, is that deWard and Levine had slightly different speeds, and I found it a little distracting. I have experienced the same in other audiobooks narrated in the same fashion by both narrators. I know that each narrator has a personal style, but this speed difference was a bit noticeable and I had expected it to be better this time around.

The Pain Colony was a rollercoaster of emotions and events, and I am looking forward to a sequel!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Stacey Camp.
Author 5 books69 followers
October 4, 2019
Oh goodness, this book was absolutely impossible to put down!

I just happened upon this book while perusing the Amazon Kindle book selection and decided to try my luck with it after reading the intriguing description. I am SO excited to see that Shanon Hunt is writing a follow up to this book - it seriously cannot come soon enough for me!

WARNING - this book will keep you on the edge of your seat to the point you won't want to stop reading....and then when you finish it, you will want more!

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy speculative fiction, futurism, tech-thrillers, and dystopian novels. It opens with a mysterious first-person narrator who goes by the name of Layla. She is part of some mysterious, pain-inducing cult that is reminiscent of a medieval Catholic monastery. She is thankful to be a part of this religious colony (or is it a cult??), and seeks to be purified through torturous rituals performed by a "Father."

Layla's narrative is interrupted by the story of Allison, who falls head over heels in love with a pharmaceutical start-up bro named Austin. Allison's only problem is that Austin is married with kids....but little does she know that her problems are about to magnify. Austin's firm is raided by several government agencies for fraud and questionable research practices.

Austin conveniently disappears, leaving Allison behind to pick up the pieces and solve the mystery of what his start-up firm has really been doing behind the scenes and behind Allison's back. What Allison discovers on her quest for the truth will shock and terrify her to her core.

The other narrative in the book is that of a police officer trying to understand what Austin was doing and how Allison was involved.

Perhaps three competing narrators might seem excessive, but it worked really well in this book. The characters are fully fleshed out and seem realistic. Moving back and forth between their stories also helps build suspense, keeps the reader guessing and turning the pages, and encourages you to try to figure out how the characters are connected and related.

This book will easily be in my top 5 reads of 2019! I can't wait for the sequel!
Profile Image for Kari.
4,024 reviews95 followers
December 17, 2019

The Pain Colony was an unexpected surprise. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it at first, but I ended up really enjoying the story. The story is told through multiple perspectives in seemingly unrelated storylines. But as the story progresses, their link quickly becomes evident. The science in the book was interesting and the ethics of the CRISPR gene editing technology really made me stop and think. Being a scientist who works in clinical trials and will be involved in gene editing in the near future, this story really gave me some things to think about. I know it's fiction, there are a lot of truths in here. Pretty scary stuff.

I did call the twist in the end pretty early on. Despite that, I thought is was a clever twist. My only real complaint is that I would have liked to get to know the characters a bit more. There were many, so I never really felt like I got to know them all that well. The audiobook was done very well, Both narrators had a wide variety of voices that allowed me to easily distinguish whose perspective I was getting. I definitely recommend this thriller.
Profile Image for Rach.
656 reviews35 followers
December 8, 2019
Just wow, I really liked it ALOT!

The whole storyline sucked me in from the first chapter and kept me engaged until the very end. This was a suspense thriller with some futuristic scientific elements, it is labelled as a horror but I wouldn’t label it as that myself.
I really don’t want to give too much away as there is a lot of detail in the blurb, but I have not read or listened to anything like it before it was quite unique. The twists and turns were great although sometimes I did get a little confused with who it was talking about for a few seconds, although it did not stop from my enjoyment.

Shanon Hunt did a great job with this book, especially considering it’s her debut! I am eager for the next in the series now. But while I wait for the next instalment I will be buying a physical copy of the book to read too, It was that good.

Both narrators did a very good job, they were easy to listen to and they made the characters come alive.
Profile Image for Christine Saper.
23 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2019
Shanon Hunt's The Pain Colony is a compelling tale, and one whose themes of money, privilege, power and greed really resonate with me. Throw that into a mix of illegal medical experimentation and you've got a perfect storm. The Pain Colony is artfully told through a series of alternating events. The structure of Hunt's novel meshes seemingly parallel events and characters with just enough time and text on their respective segments, and allows them to ultimately merge. I have read so many books where the juxtaposition is either too short or too long or when I resent being pulled out of one place/time and tossed into the other - but I thought Hunt's decisions about length/timing/content made this story seamless.

I look forward to the sequel to The Pain Colony. Shanon Hunt has left us with a richly described world, one which offers a dangerously plausible future.
Profile Image for Lozzie.
659 reviews10 followers
September 8, 2019
The Pain Colony was an interesting and thrilling read. It was different to the other books that I usually read, but it really caught my interest, and I could not put it down.

The themes of the novel were intriguing. I loved the element of science within the thriller of the book. It was intricate and incredibly thought out.

There were times where I didn't know whose perspective was who, but it got easier after a while, and I loved how Layla's memories were written in first person; felt more personal.

As for the cliffhanger, incredible! I did not predict that ending at all. It has left me intrigued and waiting for the next book!

The Pain Colony is a thrilling, intriguing read with a scientific element that makes it all the more fun to read! It is a book that will pull you in immediately. Just incredible!
1,146 reviews7 followers
May 6, 2020
The rich and powerful join corporate and pharmaceutical interests and use desperate people as human guinea pigs for genetic experimentation. The subjects are desperate and join a cult-like organization which promises to lead them through pain to perfection. But some experiments run awry leaving behind dead bodies with mysterious ports in their spines. The FBI and DEA get involved but powerful entities have long tentacles and greed and self-interest often trump morality and justice.

This was an interesting book about the exploitation of science. Different stories converge; that of a young idealistic woman in love with her manipulative boss, assorted law enforcement officers, some who actually want to do the right thing, and a young woman, a willing member of the cult. A good read.
Profile Image for N.V. Cefalo.
162 reviews5 followers
July 17, 2020
*This book was given to me by the author at my request, and I provided this voluntary, unbiased review.*

4/5

I really like this thriller! It plotted and churned its way through nail biting scenes that had me at the edge of my seat. I had guessed a huge plot point about half way through it and was correct about it by the end; and I want to say that it was a really cool and great concept thought out by the author that worked as a perfect plot device used throughout the book. I was really impressed with the presentation/timeline of the story; I highly recommend this book and I will definitely be reading the next book in 'The Colony' series.
Profile Image for jboyg.
425 reviews4 followers
August 6, 2020
Good Story Until The End--Bad Case of Sequel-itis

First novel and quite well done with an interesting bio-science premise, a fast moving thriller plot line, strong characterizations, and a creepy, uneasy feeling throughout. I was convinced I had discovered that rarest of SF literary creatures: a strong stand alone novel. BUT NO! Just when I thought it was heading to a fitting and well-earned ending it goes all to shite. Cue the sequels and end my interest. She's a talent but sometimes less is more and more is less.
1,990 reviews23 followers
August 28, 2019
One bizarre story

If this is a glimpse into the world of tomorrow, may I leave this earth today. A scientifically altered society, where human beings must meet the criteria of profound perfection, devised by the few, under the guise of alleviating pain and suffering. Where minds are erased and alternate memories are created. No thanks. I'll stick with imperfection. One scary look into a future that just may happen.
37 reviews3 followers
September 6, 2019
Pain tolerance, dead bodies turning up all with 1 thing in common. Desperate to flush out the culprits and lies for drugs and secret research.
Allison is scapegoat, has FBI watching her every move, she is trying to find out what’s going on in her company. Involvement of a cult that deals with pain, The Pain Colony. Great story lots of twists, turns and secrets. Money, greed, illegal experimentation on humans. You have got to read this page turner.
83 reviews1 follower
October 10, 2019
Very enjoyable

From the look of things this is the author's first book. How do I know that? The book was so good it was impossible to put down and when I was finished I was hoping there was a sequel. This book was a great read and I highly recommend it. I really hope the author decides to continue writing more about the "Pain Colony" I would really like more on the characters and subject matter.
Profile Image for Artist_carrie .
708 reviews11 followers
September 12, 2019
Not really into science fiction books but this was awesome, however I like my "poison" life just fine. I can't imagine and this is not just fiction I mean what you read in here is basically what the government wants to do to us. I received this book from an ad on Facebook and have sence scripted to the Author all of the above is my opinion as I am voluntarily reviewing.
1 review
September 5, 2019
It was wonderful. I was surprised how fast I read it. The Pain Colony was one I couldn't put down. Can't wait for more.... Surprised at Jim's graphic description. What kind of book is his interests? Why did he bother to read it? Shanon, continue to write!
Profile Image for Janet.
16 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2019
Thought Provoking

I enjoyed this book. It is for open minded readers who will read without making judgements about science .
I'm not saying you won't cringe a time or two. This would be a great book for a progressive book club.
Profile Image for Lee Ann.
33 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2019
I read this is less than 24 hours. Suspenseful throughout and the ending had my jaw dropped. You think you know what’s going on, but you have no idea. I highly recommend this book. Awesome. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
Profile Image for Michele Zuniga.
59 reviews4 followers
December 30, 2019
Scientific Thriller

I base my 5 stars on the thriller category. The writing is solid, the story kept me interested, and the science was unnervingly plausible. Look forward for more from this author.
Profile Image for Cat Manning.
33 reviews7 followers
August 28, 2019
I admit it took me a little bit to get into the book but I'm glad I did! Well worth the read.
6 reviews
September 27, 2019
Keeps your attention from beginning to end

Very interesting story. The science of curing people through gene regeneration is fascinating. Keeps you o n the edge of your seat.
Profile Image for Brandie Lea Slicer.
337 reviews4 followers
October 12, 2019
Great medical/suspense sci-fi thriller!

This author’s writing reminds me of Robin Cook’s works! I enjoyed the plotline and suspense. It kept me guessing. Recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews

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