Psycho-Tropics

Danny Teakwell #1

by Dorian Box

"Marrying humor with suspense is not easy, but it comes across masterfully ... A truly enjoyable read." — Writer's Digest Award Winner in Genre Fiction

A high school reunion unburies the past (literally) in this twisted mystery of revenge and redemption. Lottery-winning surfer Danny Teakwell seems to be living the life, but he's been hiding a terrible secret, punishing himself for two decades. Now he's hit rock bottom. So he thinks. The ghosts from his past show up at the reunion, launching him on a mayhem-filled race through the Sunshine State to save a missing woman. He broke a vow to her when they were kids. He won't let it happen again. The odds aren't good. He has three days and his only allies are a pill-popping lawyer, crusty barkeep, and seven-year-old embalming expert. Heart and dark humor combine with page-turning action and plot surprises that will keep you guessing until the end.

"An engaging thriller with plenty of humor, good characterization, and a memorable villain ..." — Kirkus Reviews

"Marrying humor with suspense is not easy, but it comes across masterfully ... A truly enjoyable read." — Writer's Digest Award Winner in Genre Fiction

"Psycho-Tropics is like riding Pipeline with a hangover. It's jaw dropping, heart thumping and addictively exhilarating, but with a hint of disorientation, dizziness and an unsettled stomach. But by the end you'll be smiling ear to ear and bursting to tell your mates how good it was." — Andrew Norton, Surfer Dad UK

"Clues are tossed out like bait, twisting and turning the storyline along ... The characters are brilliantly constructed ... The dark humor serves to lessen the tension in all the right ways before it heightens again ... Effortlessly captures the wonderful eccentricities of life in South Florida ...." — IndieReader Starred Review, Official Seal of Approval

Genres: Suspense

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2015

About the author

Dorian Box is the pen name for A.J. McClurg, a former law professor. He likes to blend dark themes with heart, hope and humor with a goal of evoking tears and laughs over the same book.

His novels have received awards and honors such as: Writer's Digest Award for Genre Fiction; Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Finalist in Mysteries/Thrillers (twice); IndieReader Discovery Award for Fiction; Feathered Quill Medal for Mystery/Suspense; Best Psychological Thriller of the Year and Finalist, Best Legal Thriller of the Year (BestThrillers); National Indie Excellence Award Finalist; and Readers’ Favorite medals in four different categories (Suspense, Legal Thrillers, Humor, and New Adult Fiction).

At one time or another his books have been Amazon No. 1 Bestsellers in categories such as Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers, Legal Thrillers, and Women Sleuths (for the Emily Calby Series), and General Humorous Fiction, Humorous Dark Comedy, and Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (for the Danny Teakwell Series).

His nonfiction books include an Amazon Editors’ Favorite Book of the Year. As an academic, he's been interviewed as a legal expert by National Public Radio, the PBS Newshour, and many other sources.

McClurg (or maybe it's Box) lives out his childhood rockstar fantasies singing and playing in Memphis cover bands.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic début thriller from the awesomely named Dorian Box. A good cast of characters and so many plot twists that will keep you guessing. There is a little bit of humour throughout the book that will have you smiling all the way to the end. I've read a number of thrillers in the past and there is always little bits that make you go "hmmmmm, that doesn't quite make sense" or "that's not believable" but Dorian has been meticulous in his planning out the story and during the editing, not once did I manage to find a plot hole, and I tried so hard to find a fault :)

I think Danny has to be my favourite literary character I've read this year, I really really hope there is a sequel on the way, it would be awesome to get to go on another adventure.

Blog review is here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2018...

[Rupert Dreyfus · Rating 5 out of 5]

One night our protagonist, Danny Teakwell, finds himself caught up in a heinous act while out partying with his high school buddies. There are many serious consequences to their actions, among which is the fact that Danny quickly loses the love of his life Sari. Not literally, but Danny's decision to come clean and tell Sari what has happened understandably breaks her heart and so their relationship comes to an abrupt end.

Some twenty years later there's a bout of good fortune when Danny wins the lottery and spends his days surfing, drinking and lounging around a nice part of the Sunshine State. But his life gets tipped on its head one night during a high school reunion party and his past comes back to haunt him. He finds himself framed for murder which, to everyone on the outside, can only be his doing. Cue the funniest, sharpest thriller you've ever read...

There are so many things to rave about with this book. The plot twists keep coming right up until the very end and the characters -particularly the loveable Fink- will have you creased up with laughter. But top of my list is that Psycho-Tropics is reminiscent of all the top hardboiled crime writers I love (think Hammett and Woolrich) but with a darker, more humorous edge. The dialogue is immaculate and I really felt immersed in the Floridian heat to the point where I feel like I've been on holiday for the past month. It also had depth; the central relationship between Danny and Sari -which goes back to their childhood years- was moving at times and you could really feel Danny's regret for what he's done. I felt particularly sad about Enya's story and was thankful for the pay off.

The next step is that this book keeps growing in popularity until eventually the Coen Brothers turn it into the best movie they've ever made. I'm sure they'd have a hoot adapting this for the big screen. It's the sort of thing they'd enjoy.

An outstanding debut novel with a lot of heart and soul. So much so it's going in my top 10 reads for being an example of how good indie novels can be.

[Rebecca Gransden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This split me right down the middle. It reads like an extended episode of an 80s serial, with touches of a detective show or courtroom drama. One of those ones that incorporated subcultures to inject interest, the example here being beach living and surfer lifestyle. This is used in a peripheral way and the main plot revolves around the central figure of a guy named Danny. He gets mixed up in a bad situation and the novel follows him as he tries to find a way out of it.

Here’s where the mixed feelings come in. We learn early on that Danny was involved in the gang rape of a young woman when he was a young man himself. I would like to point out that I don’t think rape is in any way an out of bounds subject for exploration in fiction, as nothing should be. I am familiar with and a fan of some exploitation cinema, so am not overly sensitive to the themes covered here. I did however have a sense of unease that only grew the further I got into the book. I have no doubt that a rapist can be genuinely remorseful for his crime, and that this in turn can be a valid subject to tackle in fiction. Unfortunately, the feeling that the crime was minimised and the protagonist forever pleading his case was not overcome. I kept wanting the narrative to redeem itself, and I could feel the author wrestling with how to present a balanced portrayal of a conflicted central character, but there were too many missteps. One example that particularly struck me was when the character of Danny sent a letter to the person he had raped. The contents of the letter detailed how his life had been impacted by the crime in an extremely negative way, and how devastated he was that it had happened. Now, whilst this may be true for the character, the sequence of events and tone delivered didn’t ring true at all. For a character that I wanted to empathise with, I was left with the impression that he was self absorbed, as the letter was predominantly focused on him. Above that I find it hard to see the sending of a letter by a rapist to the person they have raped as anything but a traumatic event for the recipient. She reacted by offering Danny understanding, which he ends up accepting. This being implausible anyway, I think any reaction of someone in trauma should be taken as just that - potentially distorted by a state of emotional distress. The letter also contains the names of those who took part in the rape, and Danny states that the young woman is free to use it as evidence against him if she wishes, leaving the choice of whether to go to the authorities up to her. This is utterly selfish, and I lost any sympathy for him at this point. Abdicating your responsibility and transferring it onto a young girl in trauma is misjudged to say the least. This aspect might have been useful in illustrating a sense of growth, maybe an exercise in comparison between the younger Danny and the older Danny. Unfortunately, this was not addressed in the narrative sufficiently, and it was hard to root for him as I would’ve liked to at the end. I also had misgivings about the representation of mental health, which is incredibly dated, but I suspect that the author took this approach to give the narrative an authentic retro feel.

Throughout I felt a tension between the lighter elements, filled with traditional but fun nods to the banter of tv machismo and entertaining retro violent action, and the grittier themes included. To me these shifts didn’t quite work which is a real shame as the author has obviously spent time on constructing a narrative that flows to great effect and is paced very well. Overall, I have more reservations than not, but I do like the writing style so will be intrigued to read more from this author.

[Andrew Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's a mystery/thriller with a lot of humor and a lot of heart, in addition to a good dose of darkness. The psychopathic killer is especially memorable. Box is an excellent writer with an usually broad range. He can convey real emotion without being overbearing or manipulative, and also does well at portraying a location, an era and a culture. He is consistently funny in surprising and imaginative ways. There is nothing cliche or predictable about this book. And of course, he handles suspense brilliantly. There are parts of the book where you want to know what's going to happen so badly that you find yourself racing through the pages.

All in all, this is a really good read, with a set of memorable characters in Danny Teakwell, Sari Hunter, the bumbling Fink, the odious Mangrum and the psycho, whose name I won't reveal because I don't want to spoil your fun.

[Amy Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I laughed, I cried, I cringed . . . a few times, I had to pick my jaw up from the floor! The story itself is excellent; it has a great plot. It kept me on my toes, and had a lot of unexpected twists. The book is dark in a way, but what set it apart from others I’ve read in the mystery/thriller genre was that it’s hilarious at the same time. I especially enjoyed the characters and dialogue (particularly Fink, the attorney).

I won't go into detail because I don't want to risk any spoilers. Let's just say that, in a nutshell, Psycho-Tropics is dark and intense, yet extremely funny and sweet, and I fully recommend it. I saw where one Amazon reviewer compared it to Carl Hiaasen's writing style, and I agree with that comparison. If you like Hiaasen-esque reads, you'll love Psycho-Tropics!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling mystery

'Psycho-Tropics' was an intriguing read. Pretty well written and well played out. Full of action, incredible mishaps, off beat characters and some timely humor. Danny is definitely lucky. His luck should have run out long ago, but he trucks along looking to help some one else. I enjoyed how this book played out. I look forward to reading more from Dorian Box. A great add to your tbr list.

[Susan Csoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to winning the lottery Danny Teakwell leads a life of leisure and luxury. So why was he arrested for murder? FULL OF INTRIGUE > SUSPENSE > and SCANDAL!!!!! THANKYOU GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!

[Paul McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a typical Florida crazy book a la Hiaasen, Dorsey etc. what a huge surprise it turned out to be. Great story and great characters, well told and believable. Fantastic book.

[Lisa Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 thumbs up

Head scratcher, heart pounding, page turning entertainment! With all the books out there based on crazy Florida headlines, it's hard to come up with a unique story but Dorian Box nailed it.

[Craig Grotzky · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lifelong avid reader and huge fan of mystery thrillers, Psycho -Tropics is the best I have ever read. It is a brilliant novel, masterfully written and constructed. It tells the story of Danny Teakwell, a surfer, who goes on a wild adventure to reconnect with the woman he has loved since childhood, but has not seen for twenty years, while a dark cloud of his past actions hangs over and impacts his every move. References to the best rock hits of the era reinforce the class of 1975 backdrop to the story. Also, the unique characters are ones that we have all encountered at one time or another and add both humor and depth to the story. The subplots are blended in perfectly and keep you on the edge of your seat until the end when all is revealed. You will finish this book with a tear in your eye, a smile on your face, and very glad you took the time to read this incredible mystery thriller.

[Laura Noeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are beaches in this hilarious, suspenseful novel, but don't call it a beach read.It's several notches above that because it also has a beautiful heart and a genuine soul. This book is a multi-layered feast of laughter, complex and quirky characters, intricate plot, surprises and exquisite writing. And oh yea, it's a sweet love story as well. And a story of forgiveness and redemption and self-evaluation. How can all of that be in one novel? Beats me, but, like a tumultuous wave, it tosses the reader all over the place before delivering a sweet landing ashore. No book has made me laugh as much or as loudly as this one. And few books I've read have made me love its characters so much, if not for their souls, for their ability to entertain. Tell your book club about this one, tell your friends and put it all over social media. Everyone will thank you.

[Robin Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big mystery fan. I enjoy hard boiled detectives and tea cozies, lone enforcers and humorous romps...but only if they're well written. I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book, but as someone else said, "it had me at hello." It's got it all: action, humor, pulse-raising suspense, pathos and warmth. This is a well written book with a solid plot and great characters. It has a unique setting (South Florida) and the characters and dialogue reflect the time period (1973 &1993) beautifully. I particularly liked the humor embedded in the book; it kept me laughing even as my heart rate ticked up to match the growing suspense of the climax. This book is a good read and I highly recommend it.

[Lauren Dostal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprise favorite for me. I don't read many thrillers, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, but I was well rewarded for stepping outside of my comfort zone.
The flashback scenes were definitely my favorite. Dorian created a devastatingly realistic portrait of the character's most haunting memories. I won't give anything away, but man! That first reveal haunted me for the rest of the book and then some.
The book is peppered with some pretty wild characters--I especially liked the undertaker's daughter; and the action rips from scene to scene, and always kept me on my toes. All in all, it was a really fun read, and highly recommended for all flavors of readers.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW you are a great writer . I couldnt put it down . such a great story line . I could read another one like this. good job

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected good read. The author twists together several story lines culminating in an unexpected ending. A truly enjoyable book, hard to put down, and sad to finish.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing two friends talking about Psycho-Tropics, a book very unlike what they typically read, my curiosity was piqued. I’m not one to read fiction, much less murder mysteries, yet Psycho-Tropics is so compelling, I finished it in three days. There’s an amazing assortment of well-developed, eccentric and oddball characters who’s personalities express the gamut from sweetness to sarcasm and they’re all portrayed in a variety of vivid, and sometimes graphically gruesome, environments. And the background music, oh the music…every song reminded me of a time I actually heard it. I know, it’s a book, but the author does such a great job harmonizing lyrics to so many scenes I could literally listen to the music!. I felt like a voyeur watching and feeling everything while I was reading. Seems Dorian Box has either personally experienced or obviously done his/her research about being a surfing musician with a philanthropic nature, a talkative young girl who loves the mortuary business, an inept and insecure attorney, an uber-intelligent, reactionary killer and an ever-elusive ex-girlfriend, just to name a few. Even though I had a feeling throughout that all would end well, not that anything in the book is at all predictable, it was an epic, roller-coaster ride just getting there. If the intriguing title isn’t enough to hook you, then I hope this review does.

[Andria Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sun, love, regret, and schizophrenia.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the first work of the author that I have read, and I am a fan! Written with a sense of humor without being ridiculous, the story takes you along on a tale of fate and resolution. Enjoy!

[George B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding, great blend of characters, within a few chapters you feel like you have been acquainted for a while. Dorian Box has a way of putting you in the location and the drama of the always moving plot. A must read.

[Keith Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Being in Florida makes this book believable. Enjoyed reading this book will look for more from the author. Have fun

[CHRISTIAN BOSWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Well written, acerbic and funny. The prose and the plot just gallop along. Protagonists you’re cared for and a really clever villain. Write more, sir. I’ll read it.

[Blaine Mooneyham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story was alright but characters were so-so. Surfer boy gets framed for one of his classmates murders at their 20 year reunion, yada yada, the end.

[Helena Bacellar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give Psycho-Tropics five stars! It is very well written. The author weaves in a complex plot with humor and suspense which are maintained through the very end of the book. Twists and unexpected turns are subtly introduced, keeping the reader interested. Characters are developed with depth, particularly the main character, Danny Teakwell, who is very likable in spite of the heavy burden he carries. The plot revolves around dark aspects of human behavior, yet there is sweetness, gentleness, friendship and deep love expressed by many of the characters in the story. This contrast adds a wholesome flavor to the book.

[Terry York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging read

Intricacy competently done. There wasn't a single detail that was weakly shored up or over -embellished. This author is a natural.

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with many mysteries and entanglements. Danny loves Sari, one of those deep kinds of love that can be platonic and sexual. One night on a beach he takes advantage of an opportunity for casual sex, but not with Sari. Mistake one. Then he tells Sari about it. Mistake two. This results in a long separation, one perhaps never to be repaired. While we are waiting to see how that works out, the-one-night-experience beach girl kills herself.... or not. Then we have a vengeful schizophrenic that wants to kill Danny, and proceeds to do so with an extremely elaborate frame for murders that can be pinned on Danny. What is his relationship to the girl on the beach? Why such elaborate planning? The answers to these questions can be found during an entertaining, fast-paced read of this novel. There is not much depth here, but the fast moving action is diverting. There is even an entertaining non-lawyer.
Because I teach English and the vocabulary in this book is sexually non-offensive, I would use it in a vocabulary development class. There might be those who disagree with me after reading the graphic murder scenes.

[Mickay'Leah-Symone Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle your seat belts for a thrilling time. For fans of the "Hangover" movie series, you will definitely get a kick out of this book. The humour is dark in some areas but the writing is excellent. Dorian Box ensures the reader is hooked from the first page which starts with a murder so strange, you cannot help but wonder what the motives are.

A lot of action with well-developed characters consistently appear through the story. The story is labeled as a mystery but of course, what good book does not have some love. Danny and Sari go way, way back. The memories of their romance are touching but the curiousity if there may be anything left had me rushing through the pages so I could get to the end. Eagerly awaiting another release from Dorian Box.

Reviewer Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Jonesy 23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book from beginning to end. Fun and funny, heartwarming characters, plenty on new one liners and similes for my vocabulary! The enduring love story intertwined with a schizophrenic killer with lots of great sub plots, I was thoroughly entertained. If you like Carl Hiassen's stories, you will love this book. First read from Dorian Box, but won't be my last!

[Tessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the overall story was entertaining, I couldn't get past the feeling that we're supposed to be sympathetic with the rapist protagonist.

[Energy Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had Psycho-Tropics for some time but have been putting off reading it as I wasn't ready to be finished with Box's back catalog. But as I've recently read his new release, Funeral Daze, I felt it necessary to go back in time and read this as it's the same world.

I like Danny. He's a good man who will go to the ends of the earth for the people around him. Nothing could go right for him, but he never stopped trying to prove his innocence. Fink is much more laid back in this one, which is saying something because he is quite the character with a big personality. (Somehow, it gets even bigger in Funeral Daze!)

One of the things I appreciate is that I didn't feel out of place or confused by reading the books out of order. They work well alone and together. I would love to see this series keep going, as it's an absolute gem. I loved getting to know these characters. Box is a master of comedic mystery.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing that I liked mysteries, a friend passed along her copy of Psycho-Tropics for me to read. I enjoyed it much more than I had expected. The author did a great job of developing the characters and the storyline. I'm a stickler for details and proper timelines; it appears that Dorian Box is too. The twists and turns kept me fully engaged and I was quickly turning the pages to see what would happen next. I found the use of humor to be the perfect offset to the necessary violence and I loved the little girl in the funeral home! Also makes me want to attend a high school reunion and try to figure out what secrets people are keeping. I would definitely read another book by this author.

[Terry Culkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

not only grips but holds on tight!

This is a superb read with fun, laughter, tears and joy as the well defined characters work their tortuous way through many heart stopping and scary, for them, situations. The nice characters you can fall in love with immediately and the less than nice …… well you certainly won’t like them. You may feel sorry for them at times but let’s face it, you’re human. A well written story told at tempo with twists and turns, shocks and worries galore and also a perceptive view of lifestyles. I loved this and read it faster than many other books, couldn’t put it down as they say.