Joshua and the Shadow of Death

by Gary McPherson, Amanda Ann Larson (Editor)

Overview

For a doctor to help his patient,

He must first stay alive...

Joshua is the leading doctor in handling Berserker syndrome - a disorder which sends someone into a blind and dangerous rage. With his expertise, he the natural choice for treating Harold - the unstable orphan and adopted son Richard Brown, a millionaire military arms manufacturer. Even so, Joshua finds that he's making no headway as a live-in psychiatrist.

But when Richard takes his own life, Harold's mental stability is not only worse but suddenly not Joshua's biggest concern. Quickly, the doctor finds himself plunged into a world of danger, blackmail, and corruption he never imagined. In the twist of events, he now must work alongside his unstable patient, not only to discover the truth of Richard's suicide and bring those responsible to justice, but also to survive...

Fast-paced, action-packed, and page turning, this phycological thriller is the first installment in the Berserker Series. Readers who enjoy works by authors such as Diane Moody, A. H. Wang, Richard Wake, Creston Mapes, and George won't want to miss Joshua and the Shadow of Death. Read it now!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781732337305
Publisher:	Gary McPherson
Publication date:	08/01/2018
Series:	Berserker Series , #1
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

Gary McPherson (1966-) was born in Sacramento, California, and spent most of his childhood in Westminster, Ca. For most of his adult life Gary has lived in North Carolina. He and his wife have lived in Charlotte, NC for the past twenty six years. Together they have traveled much of the U.S. and have been enjoyed visiting parts of the globe. It is Gary's love of travel and meeting new people and cultures that has led him to change his career from Computer Engineer to Author. He enjoys taking memories and moments to create characters that transition and grow as they work their way through a fictional world born from actual experiences. Gary's favorite writing genre is mystery/thrillers. His first novel, "Joshua and the Shadow of Death" is slated for release in the Fall of 2018

I read grammar books for fun and love the energy of creative collaboration that comes from working directly with authors. I am passionate about the tiny details of punctuation, delight in mentally mapping fictional arcs, and greatly enjoy analyzing the presentation of non-fiction information. I have been working professionally as a freelance editor for six years and edited non-professionally for fifteen years before that. I started out editing as a hobby for family, then friends, then strangers. I stalked fiction sites, critique forums, and writing groups, looking for anyone who needed a beta reader, and later, an editor. I crave diversity and variety, and after years of working with so many different types of books, I have become familiar with the standards for a wide range of genres and non-fiction categories. For me, editing is truly a passion, and my editing time was only limited by the pesky need to earn a living. Eventually, I realized the only way I could edit as much as I wanted was if editing paid the bills. I started out doing small paid jobs, sought out further professional training, completed my editing certificate, and then transitioned to professional editing, which allows me to give each author's manuscript the time and focus it deserves. Educational Background and Professional Memberships I have an editing certificate from UC Berkeley and am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. I have a degree in film and video communications, where I studied writing, story, character, and the development of non-fiction documentaries. I have also studied story through TheFilmSchool's intensive writing course. My other degree is in graphic design and illustration, where I studied typography, book design, and formatting as well as other visual arts. I worked as a freelance graphic designer for over a decade and continue to work in fine arts.

Editorial Reviews

2018-10-05

In this thriller, a military contractor's suicide note sparks an amateur investigation into a conspiracy.

Richard Brown was happily married to Barbara and a good parent to their adopted son, Harold. Back in 1999, the boy's violent rages seemed uncontrollable, but Dr. Joshua Zeev, a caring orphanage psychiatrist, developed a method to rein in what he called "berserker syndrome." Joshua was so uniquely, if partially, successful that the Browns convinced him to move from North Carolina to Malibu, California, to serve as Harold's dedicated psychiatrist. So when Richard commits suicide in 2017—in front of his volatile son, no less—Joshua is determined to understand why. In a note, Richard explains that his company has been "targeted by people I thought were our friends," and he asks Joshua and Harold to find out more by using other notes he's left behind. Guilt-ridden, Joshua questions his own abilities, but he aids Harold in probing the mystery with the assistance of Darla Johanson, Richard's company spy. Before long, business rivals and a corrupt senator stand out as suspects in a tangled scheme. Harold and Joshua endure more than one tragedy but gain allies in what could be a much longer fight. In his debut novel, McPherson combines psychological mystery with romance as Joshua acknowledges his 18-year crush on Maria, the Browns' housekeeper. At one point, however, Maria is said to have "the beauty and fire of all Hispanic women," a clichéd, stereotypical characterization. Some elements of the story, though, will pique reader interest, such as the berserker syndrome diagnosis and the overall political/corporate conspiracy. However, many loose ends are left at the end of this first installment, such as who's actually behind said conspiracy as well as the fate of Harold's half brother, Bill. The action is also slowed at times by unnecessary description, including the logistics of Barbara's funeral dress.

A novel with some intriguing elements that falters on characterization.

Kirkus Reviews