I’m not sure why I expected this book to be sci-fi? Perhaps the cover? Regardless, I devoured this book in 2 days as I just couldn’t put it down!

We are following our main character Brian over the span of his adulthood, who although living a pretty straightforward, 9-5, married life; ends up experiencing some pretty exceptionally awful situations. After discovering a tumour on his pituitary glad, he is given a drug to fix the issue, but in doing so he has the unfortunate reality of experiencing a very rare side effect which will essentially change the trajectory of the rest of his life.

This book really makes you question your sense of justice and what you deem acceptable or forgivable depending on exceptional circumstances. The detached writing style made me care less for the characters in a way, but actually really helped keep the momentum of the story and kept me flipping pages as it really cut out unnecessary details. The author’s background in medicine really comes across in this book well without anything medical being over explained and I also especially enjoyed the dialogue in the early court room drama.

Overall, a really gripping read which is not something I might normally have gravitated towards but I’m certainly glad a copy found its way into my hands! Many thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although I thought I would enjoy this it just didn’t seem to hold my attention. I just don’t think this one was for me.

Impulses
by Jeremy Bending

Thank you to NetGalley, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers, and Jeremy Bending for this ARC.

A physician and author, Jeremy Bending has the experience to make Impulses a disturbing read. A simple but rare drug reaction causes far-reaching problems that prove to be unsolvable. I do indeed have all the warnings and what you can expect with the medicine flyers. Most think I am overly insane in doing this.
The book was a great read. Headaches lead to tragedy in Impulses, as Brian Stewart loses his health, his wife and family, his career, and his reputation. Diagnosed with a benign pituitary growth, the cause of his frequent headaches. Jermy was a good man, but the medicine was not.

This was different from what I was expecting. I wouldn't call it a thriller. But it's hard to place it in a different genre too.
The premise is a man who suffers some unintended consequences after taking medication for a benign tumour.
The book is an easy read and kept me turning the page until its conclusion. The author's medical background shines through and it's clear he knows a lot about health conditions, medications, and their impact. There is a lot of 'telling' and very little 'showing' but it doesn't detract from the narrative too much. I found this book to be like a campfire telling of a story. The narrative moves along fast and there aren't any scenes as such to ramp up the tension. And yet it compels you to keep reading.
I was conflicted about the situation as I'm sure most would be. SPOILERS.
I understand that Brian couldn't control his impulses through no fault of his own. However the women he raped were hurt anyway. They're left with lifelong scars and they didn't get justice. They cannot be blamed for their anger. If I were in their shoes, I would've wanted to pursue a civil claim instead of saying 'whoops not your fault, all good'. Brian should never have gotten his job back. Impulses or not he hurt people. If not prison he should've had other consequences at a minimum financial compensation for his victims.
Brian showed his character with his actions after. Refusal to accept responsibility, to think about the hurt his family and his wife had gone through. Their lives were destroyed and Brian was making out with his lawyer and banging his au pair. I lost all sympathy for him at that point and felt he deserved what he got in the end.

I have to say this was a very pleasing read.

The book brilliantly explores the thin line between madness and malevolence. I really enjoyed Brian as a character. As Brian's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, we can't help but wonder whether he's lost his mind or if something much darker lurks beneath the surface. The tension escalates as his loving wife, Marcia, delves into his secrets, uncovering a shocking trail of sexual assaults, including rape.

The author does an excellent job of keeping us on the edge of our seats, constantly questioning Brian's motives and sanity. It's a testament to the writing that even in moments that stretched the bounds of believability, I was still drawn into the narrative, eager to uncover the truth.

One minor quibble I had was with some of the dialogue, which at times felt a bit stilted and old-fashioned. However, this didn't detract significantly from the overall reading experience.

In the end, 'Mad or Bad' is a solid read, if not a masterpiece. It takes us on a dark and unsettling journey into the human psyche, challenging our perceptions of sanity and morality. If you're looking for a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, this one is worth your time."

Teacher Brian Stewart is a happily married man, content with life until he begins to suffer with acute headaches. Him and loving wife Marcia are relieved when he's diagnosed with something treatable with medication rather than the potentially terminal alternatives.

The previously respectable and fastidious family man begins to behave more and more erratically. A concerned Marcia finds evidence on Brian's laptop that things are a lot worse than she feared, and that's before she learns of the string of sexual assaults, including rape. Is Brian mad or bad, what made the previous pillar of society go completely off the rails?

This is a rather short but entertaining book. There were parts that didn't convince me, outcomes that I found hard to believe but it is after all a work of fiction. I found some of the dialogue rather strange with characters speaking in the manner of those in 1960's movies, somewhat stilted and old-fashioned.
That aside it's a good read, rather than a great one.

Headaches lead to tragedy in Impulses, as Brian Stewart loses his health, his wife and family, his career and his reputation. Diagnosed with a benign pituitary growth, the cause of his frequent headaches, Brian is prescribed a medicine to reduce that growth and return hormone levels to normal. This is usually a simple process. Until, in Brian’s case, it isn’t. His wife Marcia notices the changes first. Her calm, dependable husband is hiding addictions. As she desperately looks for causes, he’s arrested for sexual assault. Only an excellent lawyer and an honorable physician can help his case. More misunderstandings and setbacks await and Brian’s life will never be the same.

A physician and author, Jeremy Bending has the experience to make Impulses a disturbing read. A simple but rare drug reaction causes far reaching problems that prove to be unsolvable. Impulses is hard to forget and will stay with you long the last page. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cranthorpe Millner Publishers and Jeremy Bending for this ARC.