BLURB

HIDE AND BE:

You look exactly like your twin brother. Exactly. You think like him, for him, with him, cannot live without him. Cannot. Don’t want to. Don’t want to. Other kids play Hide & Seek. But you and he play Hide & Be. Your parents died when you were two. The foster parents were sometimes nice and sometimes awful. They could never tell you apart because one of you would hide; the other would just be. Be bad. Be blamed. Be good. Get the Jesus Strap. Get the ice cream cone. There were always eyes on you, then him. Wondering which one you were. There were always voices in your head, his. They can’t judge you because you could always be him, or you. You did not need friends because you are his and he is yours. You learn you don’t need anyone else; they can’t see you, just him. Or are they looking at him, not you? If one of you dies, the other will be. You.

MY BROTHER MYSELF

We are who we say we are. You think you see me-you don’t. You see us without knowing which of us you see. Your photographs, polygraphs, fingerprints, DNA hints, and courtroom theatrics don’t say who we are. We are who we say we are! You are his brother, your twin. You see me but not him now, don’t you? You are like us, identical twins, but you don’t love your brother like I do mine. He is myself, and I am him. Today is your birthday, his too. Why aren’t you with him? Don’t lie to us. We know why. You can live with him but not without him. Too late to choose. We are your redemption. You have a price to pay today. On your birthday. His too. Boo who. We are who we 

My thoughts:

If you are in search of a light thriller, this series may not be the right fit for you. The storyline is rife with unexpected turns and distorted perceptions, largely due to the protagonist’s struggle with schizophrenia. Initially, I entertained the notion of bipolar disorder, but upon delving deeper, it became apparent that the character’s affliction is schizophrenia. This is far from an effortless read, prompting contemplation on the author’s ability to craft such a narrative. It’s possible that the author’s background as a lawyer influences the intricacy of the plot. The lone character who piqued my interest is Dr. Socorro. I found myself commending her for the unwavering patience she displayed during her psychiatric evaluations of Arthur.

“While she didn’t tell Arthur, Dr. Soccorro used a few minutes of each session to test his reality. Was he grounded in the presents and could he relate past events without wandering off in his mind? Could he stay in the present? She’d ask about recent events but tie them to his current reality.”

I’m impressed with Gary L. Stuart’s skill in portraying the mindset of someone with schizophrenia. However, I feel that this could have been condensed into a single book. If you’re in search of a gripping thriller that delves into this topic, then this is the one for you.

Happy Reading Folks!