An engaging and clever plot.
Feature image credit: DoctorZed Publishing
Dr Jack Giorgio is a handsome, accomplished, brilliant, forensic psychiatrist. He can’t believe his luck when he lands his dream job working with the great Professor Mortimer at the Tindal Centre in London, caring for patients who have committed horrendous crimes whilst not mentally stable. His dream starts to seem too good to be true when he is offered a posh flat for peanuts and a high-end Mercedes for the same price as a cheaper one, and starts dating a gorgeous and equally brilliant woman who he meets through the pharmaceutical networks. Giorgio soon realises that something is not quite right at the Tindal Centre. Why are there so many patients presenting with inexplicable psychiatric indicators? Is Mortimer all he is reputed to be? And is his delightful girlfriend really a pharma sales rep?
Adelaide writer Dr. Michael Schirripa has crafted an engaging and generally satisfying story, combining elements of the classic crime thriller, and those of dystopian science fiction. His protagonist is likeable, if lacking depth, and there are enough twists and turns to hold interest. Schirripa’s background in forensic psychiatry boosts the work with informative and one assumes fairly accurate portrayals of this arena of modern medicine, and some of the concomitant issues.
Mindhunt does get bogged down at times in too much dry information, and also far too much exposition by dialogue. Secondary characters are well-drawn although, like Giorgio, lacking depth. It is also an extremely male-dominated cast. And although the plotting is generally clever, there are some annoying lose ends left.
Overall, Schirippa has written a readable story, which raises some fascinating and relevant questions about modern psychiatry and our own meta-cognition. With a stronger editorial hand this could have been an even better work.
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
X: @TraceyKorsten
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: DoctorZed Publishing
Released: June 2024
RRP: $30.79
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