Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book. Trance released on 1 July and is now available for sale. I wish I could’ve enjoyed it more because the blurb had been incredibly promising. But there were some issues that just couldn’t be ignored in this psychological thriller.
Oh well… Let’s get right to the review of Adam Southward’s Trance.
Genre:
Psychological thriller, Mystery
Length:
336 page
Blurb:
Three University scientists are found dead in a horrifying murder-suicide. Victor Lazar is found outside the room and imprisoned as the only suspect. But soon, other inmates are driven to suicide. And then the psychologist assigned to Lazar kills himself.
Private therapist, Alex Madison, used to be one of the best forensic psychologists in the city until the events that led to his downfall, personally and professionally. When he’s called in to interview and diagnose Lazar, he knows it’s a chance at redemption. But the case forces him to look beyond everything he’s known and learned about psychology and psychiatry. Will Madison find his redemption? Or will he end up losing everything he still holds dear in the revenge saga that Lazar is building?
Overall Rating:
5 out of 10
Plot:
7 out of 10
Characterization:
5 out of 10
Primary Element:
4 out of 10 for the psychological thriller aspect, 6 out of 10 for its mystery
Writing Style:
6 out of 10
Part of a Series:
According to Goodreads, this is the first of the books in the series of the primary protagonist – Alex Madison.
Highlighted Takeaway:
The basic premise – if this had been explored more, it would’ve been a very different (and much better) read.
What I Liked:
The book doesn’t shy away from being violent and abrupt, making it a fast-paced read.
What I Didn’t Like:
- The psychological basis of the story was just a given, which takes away the entire mystery of, “How is this happening?”
- Characters were one-dimensional
- Plot twists were predictable
- The main protagonist, although probably one of the better parts of the book, could probably have done with a little more rationality. Although not as cringe-worthy and annoying, Madison’s character reminded me a lot of another confused character that I’d absolutely detested – Lorna – from Samantha Hayes’ Tell Me A Secret (review of that apparent psychological thriller is here).
Who Should Read It:
Anyone looking for a quick mystery, pseudo-thriller – as long as you’re not expecting a book that stays with you forever.
Who Should Avoid:
Anyone who likes psychological thrillers because of the depth they often offer into the human psyche – Trance has a good premise but does nothing to follow it up.
Read It For:
A fast holiday or non-serious weekend read option.
All in all, I’d say that Trance doesn’t have to be one your TBR list. Adam Southward is a talented writer who probably has some great ideas. I’d love to see them more fleshed out though so as to actually make for a compelling, memorable read. As for Trance… it’s a good option for when you want something fast and not too sensible.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read this review.
– Rishika
The Book Review Station 