Diseased by SM Thomas

What would you do if you woke up to the question "Where is your husband?"

As you lay in a hospital bed, unsure of how you got there, would panic or denial hold you in that moment? And what if the people asking you that question repeatedly were Government Agents who should have no interest in your missing spouse?

All of this is faced by Paige Hanson when she wakes up in hospital after an accident she can't remember. Her husband Leo hasn't been seen since the night before and try as she might, she can't remember their last conversation.

Having had a photographic memory since early childhood, Paige now finds her memories hazy, unpredictable and confusing, and yet is willing to do whatever it takes to find Leo and bring him home - even if that means turning to the one person she swore never to rely on. All she has to go on is her gut instincts and the last two words that Leo secretly left behind.

But as Paige comes to terms with what is happening around her, she is suspicious of those interested in Leo and his disappearance.

In order to protect Leo, Paige is determined to uncover the truth and find out why this message had to be hidden. But once she starts on this murky road, is it too late to turn back or will it change the course of her life forever?

About the author

S.M Thomas; or Steph as she’s more commonly known, has been writing since she could hold a pencil. Even at a very young age she had an interest in the other wordly aspect of the written word and could often be found writing about aliens, magic and everything in between.

In 2018 she independently published her debut novel The Light - a dark, dystopian world in which the survivors of the human race are struggling against a foe they can’t see.

In 2022 she published The Diseased - a novel that has been described as reviews as a psychological, medical high tech thriller with a dash of sci fi. It follows Dr Paige Hanson as the mystery of her missing husband begins to pull the curtain back on the society, and people, around her.

For now she’s concentrating on continuing Paige Hanson’s story with Body Count due out in April 2023 and Maternal Instincts due out in the winter of 2023.

More details about Steph and her work can be found at www.smthomas.co.uk

Review

‘Diseased’ is a thriller with a twist - it is set in space! I found this to be a gripping read that held my attention throughout. It was an intriguing read with a very unique setting and set of circumstances. This book goes to show that you can set a thriller in any type of setting. Yes, this could also be classified as a sci-fi book due to it being set on another planet, but the heart of the book is the mystery behind the disappearance of Paige’s husband and her amnesia.

Paige wakes up in the hospital after being found half-drowned. The first question she is asked is ‘Where is your husband Leo?’ Paige is unable to remember the accident clearly and has no idea where Leo is. She is being questioned by her mother-in-law, but what is more important are the Government Agents who are involved. They normally wouldn't deal with this type of case. When she is released from the hospital she begins to look into what occurred and finds a two-word message from Leo ‘it worked’. Will she have to turn to the one person she doesn't want to in order to find out where Leo is, her mother?

This is a fast-paced and action-packed thriller that keeps the reader guessing. I read this in one afternoon and normally I would have gone straight to the follow-up but I'm going to save it for my holiday next week! I really resonated with Paige as a character and I can't wait to find out what happens to her! I loved that this is one of those books that are really multi genres, it is part medical thriller, sci-fi, thriller, and mystery and covers a range of themes outside this. This was a great read and I really enjoyed the writing style of the author.

Let me know if you pick this one up!