Mindfield

by William Deverell

A psychological time bomb is triggered in Kellen O’Reilly as he begins to experience disturbing “flashbacks” to his unresolved and turbulent past. It is winter in Montreal. Dr. Satorius, head of Coldhaven Manor, a psychiatric clinic just outside the city, is taken to court by former patients. He is accused of conducting unorthodox drug-testing and brainwashing experiments there twenty-five years earlier. The much-publicized trial and the full-scale police investigation into a series of recent murders are among events which draw Kellen O’Reilly and the dynamic and Sexy Sarah Paradis ― trial counsel for Satorius's victims ― into an ever-widening web of intrigue and corruption involving the CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the police force itself. As events in Kellen O’Reilly’s own past become linked with uncovering secret government-funded psychochemical experiments, tables are turned and Kellen is running for his life.

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

William Deverell was born in 1937 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He put himself through law school by working as a journalist for the Canadian Press, Vancouver Sun, and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Deverell served as counsel for over a thousand criminal cases and is a founding director and former president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. He created the television series, Street Legal, and has written screenplays and radio plays. Deverell lives on Pender Island, British Columbia.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1998 – Trial of Passion – Winner
* 2006 – April Fool – Winner

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Deverell has dazzled fans with his wonderful writing on all things involving the Canadian legal system. However, he stepped back with this piece to offer up something quasi-psychological with a dash of mystery. Kellen O’Reilly has served as a police officer in Montreal for many years. There was a period of time spent spent in a psychiatrist clinic, where he was part of an ongoing set of tests, but his recollection of those events are fuzzy at best. Now, 25 years later, he is having horrible flashbacks about his time there, when mild-altering drugs were used to implant suggestions into his memory, including the death of O’Reilly’s own father. Meanwhile, Sarah Parardis is trying to bring suit against the doctor who ran the clinic, Dr. Satorius, claiming that it was the site of CIA testing over a long period of time. Seeking damages for many of the victims, Paradis is being stonewalled by the Agency and cannot produce any records, presumably because Satorius destroyed them when things got out of hand. When Paradis and O’Reilly come together on an unrelated labour dispute between Montreal Police and their union, pieces begin to come together. Might O’Reilly be the key to opening up the Satorius files? When someone fails to delete electronic evidence of these psychiatric tests, O’Reilly and Paradis sense they may have a chance to score a point for justice, but they will have to survive as they enter some very dangerous crosshairs in the meantime. An interesting read that shows the breadth of Deverell’s writing capabilities. Not one of his best, in my opinion, but still quite thought-provoking.

I have enjoyed many of the novels William Deverell has published over the years. While a few have been harder to digest than others, the reader is always given a serious topic on which to postulate and this novel was no exception. Kellen O’Reilly proves to be an interesting protagonist, though I did not find him to be entirely captivating. His past as the victim of serious mind experiments keeps the reader eager to see what he will be able to remember and how much of his ‘planted’ memories have become part of his personal backstory. There is an interesting mix of flashback moments with a little development as he struggles to piece it all together. Sarah Paradis offers some interesting flavouring to the story as well; a leftist lawyer whose love of labour disputes leaves her the hero to some and the enemy to others. She is seeking justice while coming up against The Man if ever there were a perfect definition of one. Seeking justice wherever she can, Paradis will stop at nothing to make sense of a world that does not offer up concrete solutions. While I sped through the book, I found myself lost or lacking complete connection at times. The premise is strong, but I felt myself looking for that gem amongst the tepid moments. I remember that I struggled with Deverell’s opening novel in the Arthur Beauchamp series, but came to love it, so I am sure that one book does not make the man. That being said, there was something lacking here for me, though one-off novels can sometimes prove to be hit and miss.

Kudos, Mr. Deverell, for another interesting piece. While not entirely my type of book, I am sure others will enjoy it and offer much praise.

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[Marc Leroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the audio version of Mindfield

Set against the backdrop of project MKUltra (a real program (1950-1973) that experimented with the behavioral engineering of humans by the CIA), Mindfield is the latest William Deverell novel brought to life by Steve Scherfand Maggie Scherf. Of the Deverell novels I’ve listened to as audiobooks, this has been my favorite. First, the setting is Montreal in the 1970’s, so listening to it was like a trip back to my youth. Second, it is a very well written book, engaging and satisfying. Finally it was very well read, making it easy and enjoyable to listen to.
Mindfield is the story of Kellen O’Reilly, a Montreal Police Detective, and the flashbacks he has to a time when he volunteered for a program that he thought would help him deal with the death of his father, also a Montreal Police Officer (and give him a bit of money on the side). O’Reilly finds himself on a case that has ties back to this program, and his flashbacks increase in frequency. The story covers his journey back to his past where he finds the clues to unlock his current case, and mixes in the backdrop of a Police strike with a newly found love interest. O’Reilly not only has to confront his own demons, but also deals with the death of a close friend and the bureaucracy of an urban Police Department.
The story is very well read by Steve and Maggie Scherf. The way that they bring the characters to life, and make it so easy to keep track of each character (and Mr. Deverall’s novels always have a large cast of characters), make it a joy to listen to.
If you haven’t been exposed to William Deverell’s novels before, this is a great place to start. If you are a fan of audiobooks you can’t do better than listen to this one.
Great book, fantastic narration, 5 stars.

[BJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept listening to this book hoping it would get better but it never did. It was didn't hold my attention and the narrator wasn't any help with his monotone voice.

[Jawher · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was like if my grandmother was trying to tell me about The Matrix.

[Ashleyy Allard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premise: cool
Execution: ugh

I was bored until it finally grabbed my interest halfway through. There was so much I just plainly didn’t care about (unions, police on strike, who cares?) I only hung on because of the “brainwashing” thing and that didn’t even turn out to have a cool twist or ending. Finished it just to finish, and only because it was short.