Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Pain by Adam Southward is the second book in the Alex Madison Series.

A killer intoxicated by pain. Should Alex Madison stop her—or save her?

Such an engaging medical thriller. I read a lot of this genre and this story was very original. The characters are likeable and the plot was well paced. Macabre at times which made my inner horror fan happy. Highly recommend!

Really well written, interesting psychological forensic thriller. Good pace, well told well developed storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I recommend it!

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

this was a really interesting read, I liked how different it was from other mystery novels. The characters were great and I really enjoyed reading this.

This was quite the roller coaster ride for me! The bizarre action that never let up! Great psychological thriller with some horrifying actions that left my jaw on the floor. It just didn’t let up. Fasten you’re seatbelts for this one.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A sadistic serial killer who likes to inflict pain but cannot feel any and female to boost! That had me hooked from the start!
"Part of Mia's brain objected, screaming at her to stop, but the more primal part, the part that was damaged, was in full control."

A young woman is going around London killing people in hospitals in very gruesome and cruel ways. She is very clever in how she goes about doing it and forensic psychologist Dr Alex Madison is brought in to try and figure it out. Why is she doing this? Just for the fun of it or are there more to these horrific killings?

I liked the storyline and found it a quick and easy read. Alex is also an ordinary person with his own problems and it gives more flesh to the story. This is the second book in the series and I will definitely look out for more books by this author.

I would like to thank #netgalley and #AmazonpublishingUK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fantastic follow up to Trance, superbly written once again from Adam Southward. Genuinely excited to read the next novel from a brilliant writer.

Pain is a fantastic thriller and I would read more by this author. I will buy this book as a gift. Well written and interesting characters.

My first book by this author and oh boy it was a ride. Hard to put down, but the constant re explaining dragged for me.

I liked this one better than the first one. Alex is an ok protagonist I thought he seemed more competent in this one. It was a little too graphic for me.

Ooh, it seems I have an unpopular opinion regarding this one! Please keep in mind that Southward has clearly done something right to conjure all of these shining reviews, so my little black sheep opinion (which isn't really all that negative, anyway) should be taken with a grain of salt.

There's no doubt Southward is a talented author and the plot is super unique, but I felt like it could've been shorter. Is that really just me? I'm generally a pretty fast reader, yet it took me nearly a month to finish this book. A month! I enjoyed reading it when I got around to it, but as soon as I put it down I'd just.. forget to pick it back up again. When I'd finally remember, I'd be sitting there expecting the ending to come up since it felt like I'd been reading it for aaages, only to see I'm just halfway through.

The story brings up a really interesting moral dilemma which I haven't really thought of before. Should we punish somebody who continues to do something they know is wrong, or treat the factors that made them more inclined to do those wrong things? Both? It was cool to see how different characters interpreted it and how they came to their own conclusions, especially given their differing experiences with addiction and whatnot.

Overall, it was an okay read, but I won't be continuing on with the series. I do recommend you give it a try if you find the synopsis interesting, though!

Being a therapist myself, I love reading characters like Alex Madison who are exceptional at their job but have a slightly chaotic personal life! Added to this is the intriguing premise of a sadistic killer who feeds off other people’s pain. Alex is asked to consult by the MET as CCTV shows a woman inflicting so much pain on a waiting patient that she dies a terrible death. This is not the first case in London hospitals and so begins an exciting and intelligent thriller that was hard to put down.

We are also introduced to Mia. A killer who can’t feel pain but feeds off inflicting it on others. I became addicted to the twists and turns as she evades capture. It soon becomes clear there’s an even bigger mystery here. Who are the shadowy organisation that is assisting Mia and why are they so keen on targeting Madison himself?

This is the second book in the series and I can’t wait to read the first one, although I don’t think it was necessary to read it before this one. Despite being No2 in a series it does stand alone. Southward manages to pack so much information into his narrative and keeps the tension building. There are other characters and subplots to give some relief from the pace. There is Madison’s difficult relationships with his daughter and his estranged wife to start with and I would be interested to see how that develops in future books. Madison seems to split opinion in his professional life with some loving his insights while others see his opinions as out there or off the wall.

I couldn’t leave this book alone until the final reveal and the tension doesn’t let up till then. Southward has shown he is adept at handling psychological themes and police procedure in this novel and now I can’t wait for the next one.

Alex Madison #2

Alex Madison is a forensic psychotherapist. He is working on a new case alongside Detective Laurie. He is trying to help the police to find out who is murdering the patients in hospital. Mia does ot feel pain ut like to inflict it in others who are already suffering. It quickly becomes clear that there is much more to this. Alex has his own problems. He's currently going through a messy divorce along with a few other things.

Once again, I did not know this book was part of a series. Although there are references to the first book, it doesn't put you off enjoying this story. I've never heard of people who like to inflict more pain being an addiction before. There are some gory and nd stomach churning descriptive moments. The pace is fast and it help my attention from the beginning. The story is told from Alex perspective. The tension builds throughout the story. I don't k ow how I missed the first book in this series, but I will need to read it before I read anymore in this promising series.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Adam Southward for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of pain by Adam Southward. This book with people dying in hospital helpless to stop it is one of my worst nightmares so when I read the plot for this book I was almost to freaked out to request it but i did and I’m sure glad I did. It freaked me out but was such a good suspenseful book.

This is the Second book with Forensic Psychologist Dr Alex Madison. But it can be read as a stand alone novel. There appears to be a serial killer on the loose but not in the streets, it seems the killer is within the hospitals in London. This is a gripping book you just keep to want to read that next chapter and before you know it finished. The story is told through Alex’s viewpoint.

Alex is trying to help the police find the killer, he needs to understand what is motivating this person to kill the way she does. But Alex himself is a troubled soul addicted to Benzo’s, divorce. The police have CCTV footage showing a person sneaking into the A&E department of a London hospital and torturing a patient who is already suffering pain, but the torture continues until the patient is dead. Alex is trying to find the motive behind the killings. Why? This isn’t the first case in a London hospital.

Mia Anastos doesn’t feel pain, so she wants to inflict pain on people who are already in a lot of pain. Brutal painful murders are cropping up. She doesn’t even know why she does what she does. She hides in the shadows and claims she is on a mission to seek revenge for her pain. It’s an addiction.

At times this can be quite a gory book, with some graphic torture which leads to death. Not for the faint hearted. This is not what I would call a cosy read.

A fast paced novel a brilliant thriller that really holds your attention. Alex is a relatable character with human flaws, the relationship with his daughter. I think there is more to learn about Alex and as the series progresses, it will be interesting to see how he grows. There are other characters within the story and the plot, that keeps the tension growing throughout. I am going to have to read the first book now to get to learn more about Alex Madison.

Thank you to #netgalley and #ThomasandMercerpublishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

Interesting read. A killer who gets off on other people’s pain. There is a lot happening in this book and everything is fast paced and well written.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The premise behind this book is a new one on me. Pain is my addiction. A serial killer is at work in London and likes to work in hospitals. Once I started reading this book I could not stop. This serial killer cannot feel pain but is addicted to the pain of others. The police have no clues and have asked for the help of Alex Madison a forensic psychologist to find this sadistic killer. Alex is a very complex lady who has her own issues. Self confessed benzo addict who is going through a messy divorce. I must admit this is the first time I have felt empathy for a perpetrator. Brutal horrific murders, and tension and suspense which had me gripped. Now I need to read the first book in this series to find out more about Alex Madison. Almost five stars and highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Adam Southward, and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

When provided this advanced copy of the book, I wanted to get the full reading experience, so I turned to the series debut for some context. Devouring and thoroughly enjoying that piece, I knew that Adam Southward would be an author I would be adding to my ongoing reading list, with his captivating plot and well-paced narrative. It has been a year since Dr. Alex Madison handled a major case from the Met. While that one did not turn out as well as he expected, he has returned to consult once again. This case is a little different, but just as baffling. CCTV footage shows someone sneaking into the A&E of a London hospital and inflicting a great deal of pain to a waiting patient, so much so that it leads to an excruciating death. It would seem that this is not the first case of such an attach around London hospitals, but no one is entirely clear who this person is or what their motive could be. On the flip side, the reader is introduced to Mia Anastos, a young woman who can feel no pain, but revels in seeing it inflicted on others. She hides in the shadows and professes that she is on a mission to seek revenge for her pain. Mia’s targeted victims are only the first step in this complex web, as Madison finds her name on a list that matches her description. While Mia evades capture, she is being controlled by a larger group with hopes of neutralsing Dr. Madison themselves. As the psychology of pain comes to the forefront, Madison has a personal life in tatters that requires his additional attention. A great second novel in the series that keeps the reader hooked until the final reveal, leaving them begging for more. Adam Southward has great control over the series and its characters, tapping into the psychological and opening new areas of interest to the reader. Recommended to those who love quick thrillers, particularly the reader who finds matters of the mind of interest.

I powered through the first novel, in hopes that it would hold my attention enough to want to get to this ARC in quick order. Mission accomplished, as Adam Southward is able to mix a well-crafted thriller with strong psychological themes to keep the reader curious throughout. Alex Madison remains an intriguing character, easily liked by the reader. He is on point when it comes to his private practice and work with the police, though some find his insights too hard to comprehend or off the wall, thereby dismissing him. In a personal life that is anything but in order, Madison is forced to wrestle with a dark secret of his own, while trying to track down where to turn next in this highly unusual case. His relationship with his daughter is addressed yet again, as is the strained connection to his ex-wife. Madison has a great deal of growth to go and one can hope Southward will keep readers informed as the series grows. Other characters help to augment the excitement in this book, both with the case and through subplots that Southward uses to cut the tension. One can hope there will be some repeat appearances, as Alex Madison seems to have clicked its some and clashed with others. Southward uses a quick narrative, permitting the reader to learn a great deal in short order. The pain them resonates throughout and kept me wondering as the narrative built-up to a big reveal. Southward has proven he can handle psychological thrillers and police procedurals that mesh together effectively. I cannot wait to see what else is to come for Southward and Dr. Alex Madison.

Kudos, Mr. Southward, for another great ‘single day’ read. I am eagerly awaiting your next literary idea, but will be as patient as I must.