The DSM. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. A voluminous, invaluable tool used by psychotherapists the world over to diagnose individuals with mental illness. Referenced by Samantha Clark countless times throughout her career, never suspecting that one day it would save her life.
Samantha receives a seemingly innocent but anonymous letter, and overnight her world changes forever. She becomes a victim in a frightening game of cat-and-mouse, a nightmare that begins when her boyfriend, Todd, fails to return to the wellness retreat they own in the woods of Florida. Working closely with police, Samantha and two trusted friends discover that Todd’s disappearance is linked to a series of murders occurring in a nearby county. They soon find themselves prey to a mentally ill patient from Samantha’s past, bent on revenge. With time bearing down, they must weave together the clues found in a succession of ominous letters and the DSM to save Todd. Their mission to unravel the mystery behind the kidnapping plunges them into a terrifying maze of danger, deception, and madness.
My thoughts:
Samantha Clark lives her picture perfect life running a retreat in Florida with her boyfriend, Todd. All is well in Samantha’s world. Donnie is the product of abuse. His world is the antithesis of Samantha’s. Fueled by rage & hate, Donnie is intent on making others suffer. Until recently, their two worlds have been far apart.
Abruptly, Samantha receives an oddly phrased letter in the mail. From there, her world begins to spiral downward. Gruesome murders are occurring nearby. Todd ends up missing without any clues as to why. Two friends are now all Samantha has to lean on. She must use every ounce of training in the physiatrist field to unravel the game that is being played at her expense.
While Samantha tries to discover the whys, Donnie is trying to stay under the radar. Ruthless & merciless, he is creating havoc. Using others to help him in his plot, Donnie is bent on getting revenge. But why Samantha? So many people have used him & let him down. What is he trying to accomplish & how many more must die before he’s done?
Kathryne Arnold has knitted together one complex & engaging psychological thriller. She’s gone so in depth with why Donnie is who he is & does what he does. Truly, it’s a testament to her research & dedication. Although she created quite the villain with Donnie, she’s also provided us with a deep view of his psyche which made me feel really bad for him at times.
The letters he wrote were so well worded that it crafted an amazing mystery to solve. ‘The Fear of Things to Come’ is lengthy, but it needed to be in order to be complete. Great characters, amazing plot & world class writing skills deliver a perfect 5 of 5 star rating.
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| Author Kathryne Arnold |
Kathryne holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed mental health therapist and certified clinical hypnotherapist. Her extensive knowledge of the human experience, garnered from more than two decades in the mental health and social services fields, is reflected in The Fear of Things to Come, her second novel.
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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
Really does sound like such a fab read !!
ReplyDeleteLiz,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the fantastic review of my second book, The Fear of Things to Come! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and review my novel. I love that you gave me all 5* on the other sites as well. Take care and have a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Kathryne Arnold