A Justifiable Madness by AB Morgan
A fast-moving psychological thriller you won’t be able to put down
Can you really tell the difference between madness and sanity?
Mark Randall goes to great lengths to get himself admitted to an acute psychiatric ward and, despite being mute, convinces professionals that he is psychotic. But who is he and why is he so keen to spend time in a psychiatric hospital?
When Mark is admitted, silent and naked, the staff are suspicious about his motives.
Dealing with this, as well as the patients on the ward, Mark’s troubles really begin once he is Sectioned under the Mental Health Act. When decisions about his future are handed to Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Giles Sharman, Mark’s life goes from bad to worse.
Drugged, abused and in danger, Mark looks for a way out of this nightmare. But he’s about to learn, proving that you are sane might not be easy as it sounds…
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Author’s Bio
Alison Morgan lives in the corner of a field in North Bedfordshire, with wonderful hairy husband and dog (yes, they’re both hairy). Their children have long since flown the nest. Alison has 30 years of experience in the NHS, mostly spent at the sharp end of Mental Health Nursing where she specialised in psychosis, and pushed herself to achieve a Masters Degree in Advanced Practice (Nursing). With burnout fast approaching, an unexpected illness challenge came to the recue, and allowed her to free the writer within, and save the day. She is currently indulging herself in midlife crisis adventures, and the latest challenge is to learn to ride a motorbike. Her debut novel A Justifiable Madness is inspired by her life and career as a Psychiatric Nurse, and her fascination with the extremes of human behaviour. Her second novel is currently under construction. Wit, humour, mystery and intrigue lie within.
My Review
5 stars
A naked man, Mark, is at a train station handing out prayers in a strange language. Of course his is going to get noticed and subsequently hauled away to the local psychiatric ward. There he refused to speak but appears to be “normal”. He understand commands and conversations around him but can’t/won’t speak. Mark has a plan and he is delighted to have been sent to the ward and things progress well. Until he is sent to the Consult Psychiatrist, Giles Sharman. Sharman is a bully and not really liked amount the staff. This is where Mark’s plan goes haywire when Sharman thinks he knows him and exactly how to “cure” him.
For a first book, Alison Morgan has written an amazing story. Jesus Trainman, aka Mark, is taken to the local psych ward and doesn’t really fit in. He seems like he has some issues yet there is something about him that leaves at least one nurse questioning him. But his plan is quickly derailed when Dr. Sharman decides to follow his own rules and treat Mark like other patients. The question is if Mark is sane or not and if he can prove it.
When I first read the description of this book I thought about Nellie Bly, I won’t spoil it but definitely read her story. So, when it was clear that Mark was up to something I had a hunch what it was about. Although it was not exactly what I was thinking, it was still really good.
This is a great story and one that I strongly recommend checking out. I will be keeping my eyes open for other books from Alison Morgan.
I received A Justifiable Madness from Bloodhound Books for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
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