Day: October 7, 2022

Only Child by Casey Kelleher is a psych thriller that messes more with the mind of the reader than that of the characters.

You know that there is something else going on in the story, but you can’t quite put your finger on it.

Without giving away the plot, let me try to explain.

This may be short….

As with many a psych thriller, the prologue sets the tone as a young boy stumbles across a gruesome scene. The reader is to assume that is in the past.  

The action then moves to the present, and it unfolds from two perspectives. First, we meet Tessa, who obviously has some issues. But the reader only slowly finds out why and what the issues are.

Then we meet Sherrie, who is an overbearing, watchful mother to Kayla (and wife to Richard). Sherrie seems too perfect, and there is a good reason for that feeling.

The story is told from these two alternate points of view, but it is apparent early on how they dovetail. And at one point a third perspective is added…but is it the present, or is it revisiting the past?

And what does it all have to do with Tessa and Sherrie?

That’s about all that I can say without giving things away. I did guess at one of the twists, but the author does a great job of keeping everything hidden (and dropping clues) along the way. But some of them I missed, so when it got to the big reveal, I was largely surprised.

This book is enjoyable because it explored the depths of insanity, and how easy it is to misconstrue something. Especially when dealing with a psychopath.

And no, I’m not saying who the psychopath actually is in this case.

Casey Kelleher has another winning psych thriller in Only Child. Don’t miss it.