Lost Nickel

by Christopher Stookey

Life is good for Bob Hansen, a happily retired physician who worked for thirty-seven years as a well-liked family doctor. He loves his wife, he volunteers at the local geriatric clinic, and he especially adores his two granddaughters, Chelsea and Shanna (ages five and seven). One day, ahead of a visit from the grandkids, Hansen goes to the bookstore at Center Mall to buy books for the girls. However, the routine trip to the bookstore holds a surprise for Dr. Hansen, a nightmarish surprise that, in an instant, turns his happy world brutally upside down.

11 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 9, 2014

About the author

For my day job, I'm an emergency physician, but I've been a book lover and avid reader all my life, ever since I discovered the Hardy Boy mystery books when I was 7-years-old.

I started writing stories of my own in my teens, embarrassingly bad tales of teenage angst and pimpled juvenile idealism. My medical career took me temporarily away from writing. However, over the past five years, I've returned to my earlier passion, and I've written two novels, both medical mystery/thrillers: Terminal Care and Where Death Is a Hunter. The novels are published by the small, Massachusetts-based press, Silver Leaf Books.

I've also written a memoir about my father who, at age 83, suffered a devastating stroke that left him conscious yet paralyzed, unable to talk and communicate. Do Go Gentle is the story of my family's anguished decision to stop further hospital treatment and bring my father home to die with dignity.

I love the outdoors, and I enjoy surfing and mountain biking. In addition, I am a hopeless animal lover (animals make frequent appearances in my books). I live in Laguna Beach, California with my wife and two shelter mutts, Kobi and Joshi.

Thanks for visiting.