(UN) SOUND MIND

In this psychological thriller, a lonely man starts to believe that his lucid dreams are predictions of future events, even as they start to implicate him in numerous crimes.

Post-divorce from his beautiful but manipulative wife, Myra, and in early retirement after a successful financial career, Franklin Jameson doesn’t have much to do but putter around his home in Pennsylvania’s peaceful Lehigh Valley according to the very specific routines he has set for himself. Lately, though, his quiet, comfortably repetitive existence has been interrupted by disturbing dreams that are so vivid that Franklin frequently can’t distinguish them from reality. It doesn’t help that the dreams often involve things like violent home invasions or that sometimes he wakes up outside of his house—even behind the wheel of his car. Eventually, he decides to consult a psychologist. At first, Dr. Ruth Klein thinks Franklin’s experiences are caused by a sleep disorder, and Franklin is inclined to agree. However, after one of his dreams accurately predicts a gruesome murder, right down to the tattoo on the victim’s hip, Franklin becomes convinced he’s psychic. Despite his claims and supposed evidence, Ruth and Lt. Sam Peirce, the cop investigating the murder, aren’t so sure. Is seemingly harmless Franklin covering up his own crimes, or is he really dreaming of events before they actually happen—and capable of stopping them? Mixing the violent content with healthy doses of witty dialogue to keep things from getting too dark, debut author Amico has a natural knack for creating colorful yet realistic (and refreshingly adult) characters whom readers will truly care about. Ruth in particular is delightfully imperfect, a woman who’s good at her job but still capable of some hilariously awkward exchanges with Sam, Franklin and others. The plot has numerous twists and turns, which do start to fray a bit by the end as they grow increasingly improbable. Yet the story’s major players will keep readers hooked and ready for more.

An entertaining, if occasionally outlandish, mystery populated by an enjoyable array of characters.