Madness in Memphis by Patricia Gordon Stevens

Escaping an abusive relationship isn't the end of the story.

For many women, it's where a different battle begins.

The bruises may heal. But fear can remain long after the wounds have faded.

Shame can linger. And the quiet voice that asks whether you were somehow to blame can be the hardest thing to silence.

In Madness in Memphis, American-born counsellor, domestic violence survivor and author Patricia Gordon Stevens explores that hidden psychological journey through the story of Morgan Sage, a woman rebuilding her life after coercive control.

'Knocking. Hard knocks on the front door and Morgan's heart landed in her throat. Loud noises did that to her. She couldn't shake it. When someone dropped something or turned the radio or television up suddenly, she jumped. Her mind was on high alert. Her nerves were on end.' Madness in Memphis

More than a novel about domestic violence, it is a story about learning to trust yourself again"and discovering that the worst thing that ever happens to you does not have to define the rest of your life.

After surviving an abusive marriage herself, Patricia was determined to understand why people do the things they do. That search for answers led her to study Psychological Science and Sociology before completing a Master of Counselling. Today, through her counselling practice, Maxwell House Counselling, she helps others navigate trauma, grief and recovery with the insight of someone who has walked that path herself.

While Madness in Memphis is fiction, the emotional truth behind it is unmistakable.

Patricia captures the psychological reality of coercive control in one heartbreaking reflection from Morgan:

'...he had had enough of me enjoying a conversation or smiling too much, laughing or relaxing, feeling comfortable in my own skin, he would bend over, tell me to say good-bye to our host and to do so immediately. Those would be his last words I heard prior to departing every party we ever attended.'

Morgan Sage escapes an abusive marriage with her two children after a violent attack leaves her fighting for her life. But the man she calls 'The Monster' was far from gone.

'Morgan screamed or what she thought was a scream, but it was more like a growl. The garage door was down. How did he get in? Why didn't I hear anything when I was in the kitchen? Morgan tried to scream again. This time his hand was over her mouth, and he was wearing black leather gloves... He was already gone. He was in his zone and caught up in the madness he had created in his head...

As her ex-husband continues his relentless campaign of coercive control"through stalking, intimidation and violence"Morgan discovers that escaping him is only the beginning.

'Cold chills trickled down her spine and she felt instantly nauseated. He wasn't even around, but the simple thought of him could bring about negative, physical changes in her psyche and her body.'

Yet, Madness in Memphis never loses sight of hope.

It is a story about courage, compassion and the people who help us find ourselves again when we can no longer see ourselves clearly.

For Patricia, the novel is a reminder that recognising the warning signs, speaking up and reaching out to someone you love can change the course of a life.

Because while fear may shape a chapter, it doesn't have to write the ending.

Madness in Memphis

by Patricia Gordon Stevens

RRP: $34.99

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