Genre: Psychological
Thriller
Description:
“Hank Pressman, MD has lived a messy personal life marred by
infidelity, alcoholism, and a surprising lack of self-awareness.
His professional life as a psychiatrist has been unblemished, until
now. When he meets a sad, young woman who somehow reminds him of his dead wife;
a downward spiral begins that threatens his career and the safety of those he
loves. Murder, blackmail, and violent assault force him to make a decision...one
that he doesn't want to make.”
Author:
Thomas Boxleiter is a semi-retired psychiatrist who lives in Dubuque,
Iowa. He and his wife have two grown children and a grandson. While at first
glance the protagonist of this, his first book, may make you think it is based
on him or one of his fellow psychiatrists he wants to ensure readers that this
isn’t the case, that the story truly is fiction.
Appraisal:
I’m amazed this is the author’s first book, at least the first book
that he’s published. The story has all the qualities you’d expect from a
psychological thriller, but in some ways it breaks or at least stretches the
norms. It’s a bit longer than a typical thriller, yet I never felt as though it
was bogging down, always eager to keep reading and figure out where the story
was going. There were surprises, as things the typical reader thinks they
understand turn out to not be reality. Hank, the protagonist, spends a lot of
time considering his life thus far, recognizing and coming to terms with
mistakes he’s made, and trying to change his life direction where it makes
sense. The changes and struggles Hank went through were a major part of the
story and a bit atypical of a thriller.
The pieces that made up the thriller part of the story have a bit of a
mystery element, as the reader watches Hank figure out the reality of what’s
going on and then is faced with a decision as to how he should proceed based on
what he knows. Things are complicated by Hank’s own personal demons, a desire
to make corrections in his own life, and a need to protect those important to
him. Some of those most important to him might be negatively impacted by his
decision which only complicates things more. Hank’s major choice and how things
shake out for all concerned is put off until much later than a typical novel, but
the story kept me engaged the entire time, eager to see how it all shook out in
the end.
Buy now
from: Amazon US Amazon UK
Format/Typo
Issues:
No significant issues.
Rating: *****
Five Stars
Reviewed
by: BigAl
Approximate word count: 120-125,000 words
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