Sanity Test


Fiction - Short Story/Novela
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 07/05/2025
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Narrated through a series of emails between a psychiatrist and his patient, Sanity Test by K.E. Adamus is a psychological thriller novella. Hubert Kawka, a paranoid schizophrenic, sends an email to his former psychiatrist, W. Pawski, revealing how he had not been taking his medications for over a year and that he recently received a dog as an inheritance from his deceased aunt. Hubert wants Pawski to take care of the dog. Hubert also plans to profit from his illness by writing a book. Convinced that powerful people are after him, Hubert suffers from delusions of grandeur. However, as he becomes more deranged in his correspondence, Pawski begins to unravel as well. Soon, both of them are trying to outdo each other while their lives are crumbling around them.

Sanity Test reminded me of David Fincher's 1999 movie, Fight Club. And I say that as a compliment. Author K.E. Adamus has crafted a gripping narrative that has a hold on you from beginning to end. It is the kind of story where you don't need to think too much about the plot. Instead, it's better to take it one page at a time and savor the dialogue and the characters. Hubert and Pawski are both egomaniacs with an entitled sense of self-importance. I loved their constant back-and-forths, and the wry humor made the story even more entertaining. It was a joy to read. The ending was a bit ambiguous, but I liked it all the same. This is not a tale for everyone. However, if you enjoy darkly humorous psychological thrillers, you will have a blast with this one.