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Lessons of Evil
No longer Book was edited and re-introduced as Creation of Madness
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Linda B. Myers
22 books21 followersI won my first creative contest in the sixth grade for my Clean Up Fix Up Paint Up Week poster. After a career in advertising in Chicago, I traded in my snow boots for rain boots and moved to the Pacific Northwest. I am a coffee addict and am pushed around by my Maltese, Dotty. I write a monthly humor column for a home town paper, Sequim Gazette.
My newest novel is historical fiction set on the 1890s Oregon coast. In FOG COAST RUNAWAY, a young girl finds hardened loggers, sailors and wagtails less formidable than the family she must outrun.
LESSONS OF EVIL was my first novel and will soon be edited and updated as CREATION OF MADNESS. If I can figure out how to delete the old version I will!
FUN HOUSE CHRONICLES introduces a group of quirky characters who meet in a nursing home. It led to my mystery series about PI Bear Jacobs and gang. Yes they are old but they are smart, engaged, solve dark crimes and stand tall on their canes and walkers. I call these series cozies with bite. I am working on a fourth in the series.
In SECRETS OF THE BIG ISLAND, a cold case erupts in a tranquil Hawaiian village. This leads to chilling suspense amid hot tropical nights.
THE SLIGHTLY ALTERED HISTORY OF CASCADIA is a fantasy in which a spirit must figure out how the gods screwed up in the creation of humans and fix it. This is a funny quest, a fantasy for grown ups.
As long as you keep liking my stories, I'll keep telling them. Thanks for stopping by. Linda
My newest novel is historical fiction set on the 1890s Oregon coast. In FOG COAST RUNAWAY, a young girl finds hardened loggers, sailors and wagtails less formidable than the family she must outrun.
LESSONS OF EVIL was my first novel and will soon be edited and updated as CREATION OF MADNESS. If I can figure out how to delete the old version I will!
FUN HOUSE CHRONICLES introduces a group of quirky characters who meet in a nursing home. It led to my mystery series about PI Bear Jacobs and gang. Yes they are old but they are smart, engaged, solve dark crimes and stand tall on their canes and walkers. I call these series cozies with bite. I am working on a fourth in the series.
In SECRETS OF THE BIG ISLAND, a cold case erupts in a tranquil Hawaiian village. This leads to chilling suspense amid hot tropical nights.
THE SLIGHTLY ALTERED HISTORY OF CASCADIA is a fantasy in which a spirit must figure out how the gods screwed up in the creation of humans and fix it. This is a funny quest, a fantasy for grown ups.
As long as you keep liking my stories, I'll keep telling them. Thanks for stopping by. Linda
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 18, 2011
Write a book description that mentions psychology, cults and suspense and you'll probably have, at the very least, piqued my interest.
This book is set in Oregon in 1989. Laura Covington is a psychologist who has given up private practice to join a community mental health unit, moving from a city to a small town with her mother and 5 year old Wade, who she became guardian of when a client died.
Her new clients range from the slightly odd to the seriously ill. One of those at the latter end of the spectrum is David, who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder. While her boss doesn't even believe in this relatively new condition Laura is convinced he must have suffered some major trauma. Her digging, work with other clients and research by best friend Helen suggests a link to a cult set up in the desert nearby. When Helen dies in what Laura does not believe was an accident getting to the root of David's problems becomes urgent, and Laura has to decide how far she can go to protect herself and those around her. What happens to ethics when lives are at stake?
This book is written in the third person from more than one point of view, allowing the author to weave in more details about the cult and really build up the suspense. It launches into the main story relatively quickly and builds to a surprising climax at quite a pace. Laura has quite a complicated home life, with a stubborn mum, an unexpected child and a skulking cat to deal with, so I enjoyed seeing her deal with being a parent and was pleased to watch a budding romance grow.
I found the details relating to MPD and its acceptance as a proper diagnosis interesting, and the way the cult was manipulating members and its effect on the victims disturbing. The suspense built up kept me reading, but I also really enjoyed the way the author offset the tension a little with the development of some of the quirkier characters from the clinic.
This was a very good read which made me think, and definitely contained enough suspense to keep me hooked.
This book is set in Oregon in 1989. Laura Covington is a psychologist who has given up private practice to join a community mental health unit, moving from a city to a small town with her mother and 5 year old Wade, who she became guardian of when a client died.
Her new clients range from the slightly odd to the seriously ill. One of those at the latter end of the spectrum is David, who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder. While her boss doesn't even believe in this relatively new condition Laura is convinced he must have suffered some major trauma. Her digging, work with other clients and research by best friend Helen suggests a link to a cult set up in the desert nearby. When Helen dies in what Laura does not believe was an accident getting to the root of David's problems becomes urgent, and Laura has to decide how far she can go to protect herself and those around her. What happens to ethics when lives are at stake?
This book is written in the third person from more than one point of view, allowing the author to weave in more details about the cult and really build up the suspense. It launches into the main story relatively quickly and builds to a surprising climax at quite a pace. Laura has quite a complicated home life, with a stubborn mum, an unexpected child and a skulking cat to deal with, so I enjoyed seeing her deal with being a parent and was pleased to watch a budding romance grow.
I found the details relating to MPD and its acceptance as a proper diagnosis interesting, and the way the cult was manipulating members and its effect on the victims disturbing. The suspense built up kept me reading, but I also really enjoyed the way the author offset the tension a little with the development of some of the quirkier characters from the clinic.
This was a very good read which made me think, and definitely contained enough suspense to keep me hooked.
December 30, 2012
The author sent me this book about 18 months ago and I tossed it into the pile as "just another thriller" with an uninspired cover. Okay, that may have been a mistake...
This was an awesome suspense/thriller. There's some tough topics in here dealing with child abuse, but it's not excessive for the reader. There is a lot of information about cults as well as Multiple Personality Disorder and I found that stuff really interesting - it really added to my understanding of both along with moving the book forward.
The writing was really good, although I caught a few grammar errors, it wasn't anything horrible. Her content though - her content is REALLY good. I'd put her content and style up against any of the big thriller writers out there, frankly. It was that well put together and thought out. It was obvious this author really thought about her plot lines and made sure to connect them all back together.
I read this one really quickly - it kept me turning the pages, waiting to see what would happen next. So, don't expect to pick this up and put it right back down again. It doesn't work that way, you will NEED to know what will happen next.
Highly recommended for thriller readers - esp those that might be interested in cults and/or personality disorders. Truly fascinating.
This was an awesome suspense/thriller. There's some tough topics in here dealing with child abuse, but it's not excessive for the reader. There is a lot of information about cults as well as Multiple Personality Disorder and I found that stuff really interesting - it really added to my understanding of both along with moving the book forward.
The writing was really good, although I caught a few grammar errors, it wasn't anything horrible. Her content though - her content is REALLY good. I'd put her content and style up against any of the big thriller writers out there, frankly. It was that well put together and thought out. It was obvious this author really thought about her plot lines and made sure to connect them all back together.
I read this one really quickly - it kept me turning the pages, waiting to see what would happen next. So, don't expect to pick this up and put it right back down again. It doesn't work that way, you will NEED to know what will happen next.
Highly recommended for thriller readers - esp those that might be interested in cults and/or personality disorders. Truly fascinating.
June 24, 2011
A disturbing début novel by Linda Myers.
Based around a cluster of multiple personality patients this story raises interesting and worrying questions about the influence of cults in our society.
Tense and surprisingly hard to put down, I was trapped in this book from the start. Not to say I read it in one sitting. The subject and the writing is intense and I needed some breaks from the emotional stress. Now, a week after I finished reading “Lessons of Evil”, it is still exercising my mind. I am looking at the many cults of which we are becoming aware with a new vision.
Laura Covington sets up in a community health clinic in Oregon and begins treating a patient who seems to have multiple personalities. Events lead to a remote religious commune and its leader, Abishua. Several commune members live and work in the town where unexplained murders begin to occur. With a rising death toll, the local Police Force seems unable to make progress and Laura’s son falls into danger.
Enough said. This is an excellent read and worth a lot more than what it costs.
Based around a cluster of multiple personality patients this story raises interesting and worrying questions about the influence of cults in our society.
Tense and surprisingly hard to put down, I was trapped in this book from the start. Not to say I read it in one sitting. The subject and the writing is intense and I needed some breaks from the emotional stress. Now, a week after I finished reading “Lessons of Evil”, it is still exercising my mind. I am looking at the many cults of which we are becoming aware with a new vision.
Laura Covington sets up in a community health clinic in Oregon and begins treating a patient who seems to have multiple personalities. Events lead to a remote religious commune and its leader, Abishua. Several commune members live and work in the town where unexplained murders begin to occur. With a rising death toll, the local Police Force seems unable to make progress and Laura’s son falls into danger.
Enough said. This is an excellent read and worth a lot more than what it costs.
May 11, 2011
This was a fascinating thriller with more twists and turns than a NASCAR race. It took me a while to really get into it as the author had to develop a lot of characters and some aspects of psychology that most of us are unfamiliar with.
As the story progressed I found myself more and more sympathetic with not only the positive but also the negative characters. It was easy to identify with not only Dr. Covington and her family but the quirkly mental patients took on endearing characteristics as well. As the tension builds the author, in a gutsy move, has the protagonist making decisions which are totally outside both the training of her profession and the law as well. Then just as we think we have it all figured out, the tables are turned once again.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this thriller to anyone with an interest in psychology or just in well written thrillers.
As the story progressed I found myself more and more sympathetic with not only the positive but also the negative characters. It was easy to identify with not only Dr. Covington and her family but the quirkly mental patients took on endearing characteristics as well. As the tension builds the author, in a gutsy move, has the protagonist making decisions which are totally outside both the training of her profession and the law as well. Then just as we think we have it all figured out, the tables are turned once again.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this thriller to anyone with an interest in psychology or just in well written thrillers.
May 11, 2011
This chilling novel has an easy to empathize with main character with believable family members and friends and an intriguing description of Multiple Personality Disorder and how a psychologist might work with clients with horrific abuse backgrounds. The story darkens as it describes the realities of human evil and the purposeful abuse of innocents. The author writes with both humor and warmth about a mental health setting in the 1980's and with a steady and clear description of the psychopath/cult leader who challenges our very beliefs. I was reminded of Andrew Vachss's "Sacrifice" and Nevada Barr's "Hard Truth."
August 28, 2018
Pretty good!
Of course, when I first started the book I didn't like it, because I used to work in Community Mental Health and thought some facts and perspectives were "off". As I read on, realizing on a deeper level that this was the 80's, I let go a little and enjoyed the story. Very good plot, excellent twists, and some likeable and chilling characters. There was a lot I did not see coming, and other things I did figure out, but the author may have intended that. Not a hard core mystery by any means, but the author again writes about a culture pocket--counselors, and secondary about reporters -- not often delved into, with her own unique style.
Of course, when I first started the book I didn't like it, because I used to work in Community Mental Health and thought some facts and perspectives were "off". As I read on, realizing on a deeper level that this was the 80's, I let go a little and enjoyed the story. Very good plot, excellent twists, and some likeable and chilling characters. There was a lot I did not see coming, and other things I did figure out, but the author may have intended that. Not a hard core mystery by any means, but the author again writes about a culture pocket--counselors, and secondary about reporters -- not often delved into, with her own unique style.
May 27, 2011
A great book about situational ethics and the mysteries of human psychology. Featuring a number of well-developed, strong female characters, this book was a satisfying read.
It was so incredibly tense and evocative that I had to stop myself from reading this fascinating novel too close to bedtime if I wanted to get to sleep. I don't usually read books like this, but it was so compelling!
Note that at the end of Lessons of Evil there is a preview of Linda B. Myer's newest novel, Fun House Chronicles. It looks great and I can't wait to see where Linda B. Myers' talent will lead me next.
It was so incredibly tense and evocative that I had to stop myself from reading this fascinating novel too close to bedtime if I wanted to get to sleep. I don't usually read books like this, but it was so compelling!
Note that at the end of Lessons of Evil there is a preview of Linda B. Myer's newest novel, Fun House Chronicles. It looks great and I can't wait to see where Linda B. Myers' talent will lead me next.
August 24, 2011
This book deals with scary themes ... the side of 'good' has to fight very hard. And does it win? Maybe. There is humor when you most need it (gag me with a spoon!!) but mostly a heart thumping adventure.
August 29, 2011
This book wasn't so bad. And it built up as it went along.
August 18, 2011
A good read, starts a little slow to give reader the info you need, then really takes off. Fun to hear some of the 80s speak again, too. A tough female lead character that I'd like to hear more from.
March 28, 2015
implausible story of a cult leader who intentionally abuses children in order for them to split into multiple personalities and the psychologist who takes on the leader and his victims.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews