The Pain Colony by Shanon L Hunt

Six dead bodies with one disturbing similarity. An illicit genetic experiment. A cult of true believers willing to do whatever it takes to become Pure.

DEA Special Agent Peter Malloy is no stranger to the devastating impact of drugs. So when six bodies turn up with surgical ports in their spines, he’s sure a potent new opioid is the culprit. But when lab tests show zero evidence of any known narcotics, he fears something far more sinister.

Allison Stevens thought she knew everything about her boss. But after he turns fugitive to flee federal charges, she’s stunned to discover his secret genetic research in pain tolerance. Although the FBI watches her every move, she’s obsessed with finding what else he’s hiding.

Their search for answers leads them to a dark, disturbing cult, where true believers seem perilously addicted to suffering, devoted to becoming Pure.

Category: Hard Science Fiction