I have been working on mindfulness. It is the idea of being in the moment – really in the moment. Focused, present, aware of what I am doing and completely attentive to that activity. So far it has not worked out so well. Although, I am always focused when I read; and I always have new books on my radar. That is a good thing. Recently, one of my favorite authors Janet Evanovich published a new Knight and Moon adventure, titled “Dangerous Minds.” I did an order with my local book store. But, in the middle of emailing my order I got distracted, and while I would like to blame it on Isabella my eternally barking Chihuahua – I cannot. She was snoozing on my foot, and it was my telephone ringing that did it. Of course, disregarding the mindfulness aspect of my life, I completed the book order while talking on the telephone. Never a good idea. Anyway, my order came in, I picked up several books at the same time, got home and discovered I had ordered “Dangerous Minds: A Cyrus Cooper Thriller,” by Xander Weaver. Yes, if the book is in the house I will read it. Oh, my. It really is a thriller. Cyrus is an agent of a secret law enforcement agency and he is trying to protect a neuroscientist from being murdered. However, Gertrude Waterford, the 74-year-old scientist, has no intention of being given a babysitter. Gertrude is the lead scientist on a series of secret experiments that are focused on genetically triggering mind control, remote viewing, and telepathic communication in a series of highly sensitive test subjects. Except the subjects keep dying, and now someone is trying to kill Gertrude as well. Some very seamy settings are included in this novel, along with double agents, top-secret agendas, and continually growing threats to both Gertrude and Cyrus. While Cyrus tries to figure out who is behind all of this and why Gertrude and her work is targeted for destruction, I got quite a lot of action, intrigue, amazing escapes while being kept wondering – is it another government power, a private corporation, or even a brilliant patient inside the test facility that is plotting all this? My only complaint: this is book one of a three book series. Now I have to order the other two, mindfully of course, so I can keep up with Cyrus! Now, part way through Weaver’s book I remembered, mindfully again, that I still did not order the Evanovich book. I went back to the computer and another email order. This time it was Isabella, my Chihuahua doorbell, who provided the break in my mindfulness. “Dangerous Minds” a new forensic psychiatry mystery series by Priscilla Masters came the next week. Once again, I picked up the books I had ordered, got home, and realized I didn’t have my Evanovich. Nuts!
But I did have the first in a new Masters series, and since I like her other series I was content. This book is also pretty unsettling, however. Dr. Claire Roget is a psychiatrist in an English clinic, who has taken over for a recently deceased colleague. Her patients range from sinister and frightening, to one with eating disorders, and one who is suicidal. The most disturbing patient, however, is Jerome Barclay, who is clearly guilty of several murders, that unfortunately no one can really prove. Eventually, Claire has to discharge him.
Rather than being the end of it, though, Claire receives a wedding invitation from Jerome several months later. The invitation comes to her home, an address Jerome should not have known, followed by home telephone calls as well. Then, Claire discovers that someone is getting to her other, most vulnerable patients. The pressure builds and Claire really openly fears for Jerome’s bride-to-be. The bride appears far too trusting, vulnerable, and clearly is devoted to Jerome even after what appear to be very violent, demeaning incidents directed toward her by Jerome.
But Claire has no proof of Jerome’s murderous intentions. The anxiety she experiences, the frights she endures, and the need to investigate who is after her other patients keeps this book moving right along. And the end really surprised me. I never saw it coming! I liked that a lot.
So, there I was at the end of the second book with the same title, and still no Evanovich in sight. This time I drove to my bookstore, walked in saying “Evanovich” over and over to myself, and picked it off the shelf. Whew! I got it. Was it worth it? Oh yes. “Dangerous Minds” by Janet Evanovich is the newest book in the Knight and Moon series. Emerson Knight, a charming, brilliant millionaire with a very eccentric personality, even more eccentric relatives, and the oddest mansion imaginable employs Riley Moon, a Harvard trained MBA, to help him with his odd investigations.
This one involves a Buddhist monk who just lost an island in the middle of the Pacific. The island simply disappeared. This would seem difficult as it has a volcano, a mountain, a rain forest, and several attractive beaches. Naturally, the Buddhist wants it back. It gets better. Emerson and Riley began to gather clues, and all of them point to a very evil, top-secret mystery kept by of all groups, the National Park Service – for over 100 years! Yes, this is slapstick, farce, humor, and clowning as only Evanovich can do. Riley, who is able to handle a gun expertly (she is from Texas, after all) gets to drive great cars, travel all over the world, and meet, greet, and sometimes shoot at more crazy people. Yes, the read itself is the treat. Emerson and his very nutty cousin Vernon are used to these adventures, but poor Riley just keeps trying to interject a sense of responsibility and reality into their behavior. This play of personalities is part of the fun and of course everyone survives. What could be better than hunting for an island, foiling the sinister deeds of a megalomaniac bureaucrat, exploring miles of lava tunnels, and delving into the disturbed minds of the criminally insane? I will not mention the rest of the adventures – you have to read them for yourselves. Just do it mindfully and with your full attention to the story.
Elaine Holden is host of The Holding Hour on WSMN 1590 radio, New Hampshire Director of the National Right to Read Foundation, Director of The Reading Foundation, Senior Lecturer Rivier University Graduate Schools of Education and Psychology.