Author: David Laing Dawson
Genre: Drama
Publisher: Bridgeross Communications
ISBN-10: 0981003753
ISBN-13: 978-0981003757
Buy Link
Release Date: August 17, 2009
Paperback $15.56
Pages: 194
Heat Rating: Graphic language
Rating: 4.0 of 5.0
Piblisher Link
Product Description:
Four men, age 18 to 81, have murdered, and now share a room in the secure forensic psychiatry ward of a mental hospital. Who better to get inside their heads, and find both the tragedy and comedy of their lives than Canadian psychiatrist and novelist David Laing Dawson. Three of Dawson's previous novels, Last Rights, Double Blind, and Essondale have been published in seven European countries, the US and the UK. Dawson's novels have been described as a cross between Elmore Leonard and Seinfeld and as close to reality as it gets.
Review: This was definitely a different story than most of what I read. I chose it specifically to stretch my reading a bit. The language is very rough and crass since the story is told from the perspective of psychotic murderers.
The book gives us a look at the mentally ill as they await a determination if they are mentally competent to stand trial. I liked how the author reveals the murders as he tells the stories of each of the four patients. Memory flash backs and Doctor interviews are used to tell what was happening to the men, and what they were thinking, when the murders took place. Sometimes there is complete lucidity, sometimes confusion, sometimes drug induced psychosis and sometimes downright evil.
Henry is the oldest at 81 and sanest of the four. He has been accused of killing his long time companion who was suffering from cancer. Through his memories and observations we see that he is a caring man. A lot of the story of the other patients is shown through Henry’s eyes and thoughts.
David is the youngest man at 18 and clearly a schizophrenic mind lost in a drug haze. His behavior is compulsive and he gets agitated if he loses his routine. Can they figure out what really happened and can they help him suppress his demons so he can live a “normal” life?
Frank is a repeat criminal and pretty much a mean and evil guy. There is reason to fear this brutal man. Now that his 10 year sentence is completed, he is being assessed to determine if he can be released. Was there something in his past that caused him to be this way? If he can’t be helped with treatment has he gotten over his rage so that he can be released and not be a danger in society?
Joseph is a middle aged, insecure, paranoid, and depressed patient accused of beating his wife. He was convinced his wife was cheating on him and he couldn’t stand it. What can be done to help him see reality without the paranoid insecurities?
The author shows the mental psychosis and what the men are thinking as they go through their daily routines preparing for the review board hearings. This book presents an interesting picture into minds that are askew and how they cope, or not, with the world that surrounds them.
This well written book is not long, but it is not “light” reading. It seems real although it is fiction. It is mental and dark and good to help you see a different world where most of us are fortunate never to go. If you can handle the bad language I recommend this for the unusual perspective it gives into the criminally, mentally ill mindset.
The book was provided by the publisher through Bostwick.Communications.
