When successful business-owner Kate Shaw realises she is pregnant, after a fling with a previous lover, she has life-changing decisions to make. She needs to be in control of her life. Pregnancy in her fifties was never part of the plan. It becomes her secret.
The risks of having a baby at her age are clear but she struggles with the idea of an abortion. No-one understands her increasingly erratic behaviour as the preoccupation takes over her life.
Her marriage is precarious; the relationship with her former lover uncertain.
Is this the way to madness?
This is a gripping story about dark choices, gnawing discontent and the uncertainties of love.
My Thoughts
A Prescription For Madness is the second book I have read by this author, and after reading her previous novel I certainly had high hopes for this latest instalment.
The storyline of this book is wonderfully unique, and really explores a subject in which I am sure others would often shy away from. I loved the authors writing style, and the way in which the various topics were explored were done so with sensitivity and detail.
In this book we are introduced to Kate, who – if you have read the previous novel you will already know a lot about her and her past. Kate is feeling rather unsatisfied with her life and her marriage, so when she hears from an old flame of her she quickly finds herself dashing across the country to meet him. Her best friend Becky has always been the person to cover for Kate when she disappears, sometimes for several nights at a time, but as Becky now has her own difficulties to face, she finds herself reluctant to offer her friend the support in which she never receives in return.
At the age of fifty, Kate doesn’t think much of it when she starts to feel unwell, putting it down to a bug she has picked up, however when she discovers she is in fact pregnant, her world if far from certain, and she really begins to feel the weight of the decisions she now has to make.
This was certainly an intriguing read. I found the premise of this story unique and engaging, with a storyline that really captures the readers attention. I must admit that Kate, the protagonist in this story is rather unlikeable, and often comes across as cold and uncaring which does make it somewhat difficult to feel any real connection with her. I did however find the cast of characters we come to know throughout this book interesting and complex, with each of them bringing something new to this story.
Wonderfully written, well detailed, and full of complex, well fleshed out characters. This book flowed effortlessly from the start and really captured my attention to the very end. This is certainly an unique story I would recommend to others.
You can purchase a copy of this book by following the links below:
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H729JLR/
US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H729JLR/
About the Author
Linda Fawke is an arts person who studied science but always wanted to write. Now retired, she indulges this passion, writing fiction and non-fiction, even occasional poetry, preferably late at night. She has now written two novels, ‘A Taste of his own Medicine’ and its sequel, ‘A Prescription for Madness’ using her background in pharmacy as the setting of both. These are easy books to read, suitable for Book Club discussions. ‘ A Prescription for Madness’ is more serious than the first book, dealing with such issues as pregnancy in later life and Down’s Syndrome.
She has been a winner of the Daily Telegraph ‘Just Back’ travel-writing competition and has published in various magazines including ‘Mslexia’, ‘Litro’ online, ‘Scribble’, ‘The Oldie’, ‘Berkshire Life’ and ‘Living France’. She was a finalist in the ‘Hysteria’ short story competition.
Linda blogs at http://www.linimeant.wordpress.com where her ‘Random Writings’ include a range of topics from travel to ‘Things that pop into my head’.
Social Media Links –
Twitter: @LindaFawke
Facebook: Linda Fawke
Victoria Wilks 
Thanks so much, Victoria, for this review. I’m delighted you enjoyed the book and are recommending it. Really appreciate your support.
Regards – Linda
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No problem at all, I truly enjoyed it.
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