An End to Etcetera($9.99Value)

Description

A boy. A shadow. A murder. Or not? Pathological liar? Sociopathic killer? Or just a troubled kid seeking attention? These are the questions that haunt therapist Selena Harris as she undertakes the most challenging case of her career. Sitting on a couch two feet across from her is an ordinary-looking teenager who confessed in a text, inadvertently broadcast to his entire school, to murdering an autistic child left in his care. With no evidence to support Leal Porter’s testimony, authorities have referred him to Selena for counseling. Challenging her professional distance is the emotional bond she develops with this lonely, isolated boy, whom classmates describe as “that scrawny kid who talks to himself at his locker.” Although Selena believes the alleged victim is the product of her client’s fevered imagination, she harbors one major doubt: What if she’s wrong? Selena can relate to Leal’s feeling of isolation, especially as she has returned to her small hometown on the heels of a divorce to take care of her father, who has suffered a debilitating stroke. In Leal’s case, however, he’s a school outcast due to his predisposition to tell tall tales to worm his way out of trouble. Stepping outside the confines of her office in a quest for clues, Selena is determined to separate fact from fiction. But nothing in her experience prepares her for the harrowing revelation of the inner demon that lurks beneath the surface of Leal’s confession. Katherine Burkman, author of April Cruel , writes: “What is fascinating about An End to Etcetera is the nature of the relationship between a psychologist and her thirteen-year-old patient. As a whodunit, we are not sure of what has been done or who is responsible, as we watch both patient and therapist evolve. Extremely well-written, the suspense involves more than that in your usual mystery, since it is the mystery of life itself. The writing pulls you in and won't let you go.” Finalist in Suspense Category - 2023 National Indie Excellent Awards " An unusual and thoughtful novel, with a beautifully done unreliable narrator, or two." - Elaine Graham-Leigh, Reedsy Discovery "Extremely well-written, the suspense involves more than that in your usual mystery, since it is the mystery of life itself. The writing pulls you in and won't let you go." - Katherine H. Burkman, author, April Cruel "I like the style, weaving the themes, times, memories, and characters. I am drawn in on various levels, the topical nature of the story, the therapist viewpoint, which is part of me, as a therapist myself, for better or worse." - Justin Simons, Counselor, Yellow Springs, OH "Those of you who love unreliable narrators (as I do) will have a field day with this story. I recommend this book to those who love beautiful writing, mind games, stories that make you dig deep into the psychology of the characters." - Olga Núñez Miret, Rosie's Bookshelf "The whole narrative is superbly shaped and paced, a slow burn, but with a sense of disquiet that is built up skillfully." - Fiona Forsyth, Rosie's Bookshelf "Fascinating psychological thriller!" - Robbie. Rosie's Book Review Team "Focuses on a therapist's efforts to peel back all the trappings to find out the root of a troubled teen's problems—and it's a doozy!" - Amy Wilson, Novels Alive "A fascinating slow-burner story with tension building throughout." - Anne-Marie Reynolds, Readers' Favorite "I recommend this book to those who like stories with an edge." - Jayran Main, Review Tales "The ending is a wild ride ... certainly an entertaining read." - Heather Barksdale, Heather's Bookshelf "This book would be great of a psychology class to read and analyze." - Kristin, The Book Review Crew "Successfully blends suspense with deep psychological insight." - Benjamin X. Wretlind, 2023 Indie Author Review Selection B. Robert Conklin (he/him/his) lives in Columbus, Ohio, where he enjoys the unpredictable moments of family life with his spouse, three kids, four cats, and two ferrets. His literary interests tend toward the whimsical, absurd, and quirky with light touches of magical realism. His writing generally travels along the margins of existence, where characters reside in the shadows and behind closed curtains, outside the mainstream of everyday life. In a different medium, he practices the craft of cartooning. You can follow him on Twitter @rbconklin1.