Book Review – Painless – Marty Thornley

Painless by Marty Thornley

Genre: Thriller/ Psychological Horror

Published: January 18th 2018 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Swathi’s Rating: 4/5

Verdict: an intense, multi layered, gruesome story that I could only wish not to be true.

I think I should start by saying how terrified I am, to read or see horror books/movies. It creeps the hell out of me and leaves me insomniac for several nights together! When this book was recommended to me by the lovely JKS Communications, I admit to having second thoughts. Am I brave enough for such a genre? I wondered. But then, the plot was different and not a ‘paranormal’ one. So, I opted to read it and you know what? I read this book in ONE sitting! YESS! I mean, it was raw and bloody, but at least it did not have ghosts in it! I can manage the gore but never the ghosts!

Plot:

The debut psychological-horror novel from author Marty Thornley is a page-turning ride, a front row seat to a clinical trial gone horribly wrong.

For Greg Owens, this was supposed to be a chance to end years of back pain and escape his reliance on pain pills. If it all worked out, he could maybe even get back the life he left behind as the pills took control.

Instead, as the patients are cured of their physical pain, they encounter a different sort of pain building inside them – obsessive thoughts, depression, self-destruction. The side-effects grow worse, and the suspense ratchets tighter. The patients want answers and violent revenge, setting them on a collision course with a crazed doctor, determined to protect his life’s obsession.

Swathi’s Review:

What is the price to be “Pain Free” for life?

One hell of a question, especially to those who are in excruciating pain which is so unbearable that they want to take their own lives! Greg is in so much pain. He’d been in pain for so many years that his life is now without anyone to love or care. It’s only logical that he volunteers, when a medical clinic offers to conduct experiments that might relieve him of his pains and set him pain free for life.

The medical facility has several others ‘admitted’ already and undergoing ‘treatments’. Seems like, every one of them had been suffering from some kind of a pain that is intolerable. As weird as the place looks to Greg, the contradictions are the doctor and nurse who are more like mad scientists enjoying what they do!

Everything is normal as the procedure starts and even better after their surgeries, the patients feel an immense relief from their pains. Until all hell breaks loose and the patients start self-destructing and turning against each other. yet, they feel no pain!

We live in a world where there is a medicine for everything and we place our strongest trust in the fast growing pharmaceutical industry, ready to put in anything that could shut down the pain in the body! Is it crazy to imagine that every good thing has a down side? They say these meds have ‘side effects’ but are they so cruel enough to kill you?

Woah, watch out the bloodshed and gory scenes which are likely to look like Hollywood Sci-fi flicks. They are graphic and crazy to imagine. Marty writes an intense, multi layered, gruesome story that I could only wish not to be true. I highly recommend this book if you love watching movies like Hollow Man, Prometheus, The Experiment and could manage the gore required for the plot. It’s a quick read you could easily complete over a weekend!

Also, there is a rumour that the gorgeous white cover was in fact designed by Marty himself! Great writing plus a perfect cover design? Definitely an author to watch out for! Many thanks to the lovely people at JKS Communications for my copy of the book. All opinions are mine.

Author Bio:

MARTY THORNLEY spent 15 years in the film industry creating screenplays and short films, and 10 years as a web developer and software architect. He returned to New England after years spent in Los Angeles, dusted off one of his screenplays, and turned it into his debut novel. Painless is sure to delight horror and medical suspense fans with its action and gore, while probing into a deeper conversation about addiction and mental health.