Book Review: 'Madness in Memphis' by Patricia Gordon Stevens

By Connecticut Critics Circle member and Patch Neighbor Nancy Sasso Janis

“Madness in Memphis” is a new novel by Patricia Gordon Stevens that takes a hard look at the silent epidemic of domestic violence.

It is a daunting statistic that one in four women in the wealthiest nations — including the U.S., Australia and the U.K. — will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Sadly, nearly half of those incidents will go unreported.

Licensed counselor and author Patricia Gordon Stevens brings this epidemic to life in her new book which involves well drawn characters drawn into a messy divorce. The story is at times gripping and emotionally charged, especially when “the monster” (the abuser) inserts himself into the story. The violence is balanced with lighter scenes of family life, often highlighted with a knowing look at the shame and fear that often define life with –and escape from –an abuser.

The author has drawn from her own lived experience to tell this story, and her clinical knowledge shines through the raw emotions that permeate the pages. Stevens shines a light on the realities of domestic violence as she slays the myths that often persist about the crime.

“People think they know about domestic violence, but they rarely understand how complex and isolating it really is,” Stevens said. “It doesn’t discriminate. It affects women from every background, every income level, every walk of life.” The author is originally from Memphis, Tennessee (now living in Kapunda, South Australia,) and therefore sets this story in her hometown.

Much of the story focuses on the resilience needed to live under supremely challenging conditions described on pages that rise to the level of a thriller. “Madness in Memphis” is a page turner that is a harrowing yet hopeful portrait of one woman’s fight to reclaim her life, and the safety of her young children.

Press materials describe the novel: “In Madness in Memphis, readers meet Morgan Sage, a devoted mother and successful stockbroker who longs to give her children the stability of a loving home. When she remarries, she believes she’s found that missing piece until her new husband’s charm gives way to cruelty. What begins as emotional manipulation escalates into stalking and physical terror, leaving Morgan trapped in a cycle of fear and self-doubt.”

The author also includes a small, but strong, circle of allies that fiercely support this devoted mother. Her mother, her best friend, and a brilliant work colleague all believably do everything they can to protect Morgan and her two kids. She also is blessed with a new, very compassionate attorney that steps in to facilitate the divorce, providing a highly improbable amount of resources to his client. However, his generosity drives the story arc to its surprising conclusion.

The main character has to dig deep to mine the strength to confront the male who vowed to love her and went on to attempt to destroy her. It is at times hard to read the spine-chilling realism that unfortunately reflects the lived experience of many women who manage to endure years of control by their abuser before they find a path to safety. Morgan’s story reflects this dark and relentless world, but also shows that it is not hopeless if a woman can surround herself and her children with the right support system.

I was interested to read the descriptions of the locations in Memphis, despite the fact that this tale could happen anywhere. Wine lovers will appreciate the details about the alcoholic beverages that are consumed, although it was wasted on me. The paperback copy of the book that I was provided has been published well, with a type that is easy to read and a strong binding with an appropriately dark cover.

It is worth noting that Morgan’s two young children are from a previous marriage and not the biological children of the abuser. If he did have parental rights, the attempt to co-parent would have added another layer of danger for their mother and possibly for them.

Steven’s debut novel “‘Madness in Memphis’ is both a page-turner and a call to awareness — a reminder that behind closed doors, too many women face unseen danger, and that empathy and education remain vital in ending the cycle of abuse.”

“Madness in Memphis”
Publisher: Hembury Books,
Release date: November 27, 2025

ISBN-13: ‎978-1923517332 (Paperback)

Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Madness...