Deprivation

by Roy Freirich

A 2020 Foreward Indies Best Book FinalistAfter a mysterious, silent child is found abandoned on the beach clutching a handheld video game, residents and tourists alike find themselves utterly unable to sleep. Exhaustion impairs judgment, delusions become hysteria, and mob rule explodes into shocking violence. Told from three Chief of Police Mays tries to keep order, teenaged tourist Cort and her friends compete in a dangerous social media contest for the most hours awake, while local physician and former Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Sam Carlson battles his guilt over a student's suicide and the blurriness of his own insomnia, to try to treat the sleepless--until he and the child must flee the violent mob that blames the child for the epidemic.

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Contemporary

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2020

About the author

Born in New York and educated at Beloit College in Wisconsin, author Roy Freirich has been Associate Editor for the nationally renowned "Beloit Poetry Journal," and for the national desk of "The New York Times."

He received a Master’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan, where he wrote and co-directed "Persona Non Grata," an Ann Arbor International Film Festival prize winner.

As a screenwriter, Roy wrote "City of Silence" for DreamWorks, "Frontin'," with his wife Debrah, for Fox Searchlight, and the screenplay for the Sony release, "Fragments," adapted from his own novel, "Winged Creatures."

“Fragments" stars Forest Whitaker, Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning,, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Hudson,, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Josh Hutcherson.

Reviews for "Winged Creatures".:


"...stark, impressive debut... a tightly knit ensemble drama... emotionally charged."

-- Publisher's Weekly


"A riveting debut novel about the aftermath of a mass shooting in a fast food restaurant. The author achieves the amazing feat of following an utterly disparate cast of dramatis personae through the vicissitudes of their lives as they are irrevocably scarred and changed forever. A sure-fire page-turner and, without question, has great movie written all over it, vividly reminiscent of Atom Egoyan's great The Sweet Hereafter."

-- Rex Pickett, author of SIDEWAYS

A lone gunman enters a fast-food diner, kills two patrons, and then turns the gun on himself. From that depressingly familiar scenario, first-novelist and veteran screenwriter Freirich spins a highly emotional story of how the survivors deal with the tragedy... As the narrative flashes between the survivors’ desperate attempts to cope and the fateful events of that day, Freirich employs a hyper, pop-culture-obsessed narrative voice to home in on the fleeting nature of existence. Soon to be made into a film, which will raise its visibility, this well-crafted debut packs an emotional wallop.

-- Joanne Wilkinson, on BookList


“When a life is shattered, what is left to hold onto? Roy Freirich’s group portrait of the aftermath of a random shooting delves into areas of the psyche rarely explored with such precision and delicacy. A relentlessly suspenseful and mesmerizing novel from a brilliantly original writer. Winged Creatures is an astounding debut.”

-- David Angsten, author of DARK GOLD

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A word of warning- don't read this thriller if you are experiencing sleep deprivation yourself. This book is so good in describing this state all too familiar to parents with young children that you will recognize its torture and empathize immediately. The story covers eight days, and although it is written in short chapters, I chose to read each day in its entirety and they seemed endless...

On a little touristy island of Carratuck a group of teenagers are playing a game: they are trying to stay sleepless for 48 hours. The participants send tweets every 15 minutes to let others know that they are still awake. Meanwhile an eight year old boy is found alone on the beach. He is obviously scared and refuses to talk. The local police chief Sam Mays suspects it is a misunderstanding and one of his divorced or separated parents is going to turn up and claim the child. He knows from experience that calling Child Services too early can turn out to be a nightmare for everybody involved. He asks the local doctor Sam Carlson give him a hand talking to and caring after the child. Just for a day. Sam used to be a famous psychiatrist in a different life before Garratuck, before he failed to save his patient from suicide.

Garratuck is a holiday resort with bars and discos and plenty of noise. A sleepless night or even two is something people can easily explain, but when it becomes clear that nobody can sleep, Dr Sam's clinic is suddenly full of people asking for pills, and there is no way to explain this epidemic. Sam is convinced this is a case of rare mass histeria and sooner or later it will pass and sleep will win over, but not everybody agrees. Some people blame the Boy. After all, his appearance on the beach coincided with the beginning of the Great Sleeplessness. What if he is the reason while they all caught it?

The book is extremely visual and cinematographic in its nature. The premise of an insominia epidemic is fascinating and plays on a very common experience and a very common fear of society collapse in the aftermath of a disease outbreak. Although I didn't particularly feel close to any of the characters, I could relate to their growing tiredness. The insomina caused them behave in different ways, some angry and selfish, others kind and altruistic, as any serous life-threatening experience would.

It was quite disconcerting to read this book, while the news keep giving reports of new cases of the current coronavirus epidemic. Deprivation does deal with the topic of fear and mass psychology. It also shows how we are all interconnected and how much we influence each other with our words, actions, and gestures. So let us be thoughtful and kind with no exception. Let us care and help each other in this time of need.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Meerkat Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mysterious child is found on the beach holding a video game. Afterwards, no one in the town is able to sleep, which turns into insomnia for all, and then hysteria and violence. Eventually the child is blamed for the epidemic and is put in danger.

As one would expect with horror, violence and gore were present, but the story was about so much more. There were some underlying messages about society I found profound. I enjoyed the characters and the writing. I’m glad I stretched my genres a bit by picking this one up. While horror is still not my regular thing, I found the book worthwhile and memorable.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleep deprivation is a unique perspective on mass hysteria and mass violence. This story is told from three characters (Cort, a teenage tourist, Sam, the Doctor, and the local Chief of police). It was interesting to see the crisis through their eyes. Different ages, different backgrounds, they experienced it differently. I felt guilty each night while reading this book, when I got too tired to continue to read, knowing too well how none of the characters on the island could sleep... And the book got more and more twisted as the days piled up, I was mesmerized by all the gory details.

Many thanks to Books Forward for the complimentary e-copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Residents and tourists alike hit the beach of this vacation island. This will be the vacation no one ever forgets.

Dr. Sam Carlson gets a call from his office. A young boy has been found on the beach. He won't talk or write and he's dirty. No one seems to know who he is ... where he came from ... where his parents are. He's clutching a handheld video game.

Dr. Carlson calls the Chief of Police to see about contacting Childrens Services. The Chief wants to wait until the following day ... he just really dislikes the idea of a young child being put into the system. Dr. Carlson is persuaded to take the boy home ... but Carlson has his own problems. He's battling guilt over a student who took his own life.

Ultimately the entire island is consumed by insomnia, unable to sleep at all. Exhaustion impairs judgment, delusions become hysteria, and mob rule explodes into shocking violence.

Things turn nasty when the violent-prone people blame the child for the epidemic. The island becomes a very dangerous place to be.

This is a well written thriller, almost horror in nature. As an insomniac myself, I was pulled in by the book's description. The very first was a little slow for me, but once it picked up, the story soared with suspense. The complex plot is told by three different perspectives which leads to an unexpected conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / Meerkat Press / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Seb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy Freirich's "Deprivation" is one of those books that could be described as a beautifully crafted trap. At first, the reader imagines that it will be one of those classic horror-thriller books, as all the ingredients are there - a vacation island, likable but life-scarred characters, strange events leading to random violence and satisfying gore. And yes, you can absolutely read "Deprivation" as a great beach novel, along with the latest Stephen King, Peter Straub or Dean Koontz. But, like I said, it is a trap as it conveys a much deeper and disturbing reflection on humanity, not far from Albert Camus's "The Plague", José Samarago's "Blindness" or Josh Malerman's "Birdbox". Beyond the mystery of the disease that turns people into feral but conscious zombies lies the question on mass hysteria, modern technology and the slowly dissolving of empathy in our society. Extremely well written, with precise and convincing descriptions, realistic characters and deep-reaching plot "Deprivation" is a must-read.

[Laura In Literary Land · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Books Forward PR for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book expecting a psychological thriller, but there are also themes about society, social media, and mass hysteria. One of the main plots of the book has to do with insomnia and how your mind reacts to the lack of sleep. I am a big fan of sleep and require quite a bit of it to function well so I thought that I'd really sympathize with the characters in this story as they struggle with insomnia. Unfortunately I didn't connect with anyone enough to really care and found myself quite confused over what was going on.

One reviewer described the writing in Deprivation as being like a screenplay. I'm new to that type of writing and based on my lack of connection to this book, it doesn't seem to be one that I personally enjoy. If you do enjoy reading that type of text than this novel may work really well for you. The book also contained too much violence, gore, and confusion for my personal reading taste.

The premise of this book is definitely fascinating. Had I connected with the characters and writing more I think I would have really enjoyed the read. Unfortunately this one seemed to be a little too far outside my preferences for me to appropriately appreciate the work.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deprivation is an interesting read with a unique storyline. It gave me a bit of a Birdbox vibe... in the sense of mass hysteria and aggressive behaviour.

Written in short chapters, it's a solid layout that held my attention. I found myself quickly turning pages to see what happened next. The descriptions are well written, convincing. I definitely found myself feeling a bit frantic throughout certain parts of the story.

Though I enjoyed the premise I felt as though one character in particular, who was a key part of the storyline had a disappointing conclusion. It felt much too rushed and I wanted more.

If you're a fan of well-paced action thrillers that will make you question your own sanity - pick up this book!

Thank you to Meerkat Press for my review copy!

[Jason Pettus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't tell while I was reading this whether Roy Freirich is an MFA graduate who unwisely decided to try to write a genre thriller, or a genre author who unwisely decided to try to write an MFA literary novel; then I read his bio and realized he's neither, that he's actually an LA-based screenwriting and song lyrics veteran, who unwisely decided to try to write a combination of genre thriller and MFA literary novel and unfortunately failed at both. I don't want to give away any spoilers, for those who do decide to check this out, but let's just say that the surprises in this psychological horror story are simultaneously too slow to arrive and too rushed when they do, with an explanation behind it all that Freirich wants to sound rational and believable, but is too dubious and far-fetched to let him pull off the "it's horror but not really horror, ah-hah" magic trick he's trying to accomplish here. Meanwhile, the actual prose is badly overwritten and purplish, the kind of book that inserts a paragraph of banal musings about our current state of social media every time a character checks the messages on their smartphone; and like most older writers, his attempts here to write in the vernacular of teenagers (a story thread that takes up half of the entire manuscript) just ends up embarrassing both of us by the end, the literary equivalent of Steve Buscemi declaring "How do you do, fellow kids?" in that one episode of 30 Rock. It's not terrible, which is why it's getting two stars from me instead of one; but you have to really want to like this to get any enjoyment out of it, an "A" for concept but a "see me after class" for execution.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the August holiday season on Carratuck Island, New York. A young boy, clutching a handheld video game and either unable or unwilling to speak, has been found abandoned on the beach but no one knows who he is or where he has come from. However, his appearance seems to coincide with residents and tourists alike finding themselves stricken by crippling insomnia: unable to sleep and desperate for explanations, they start to blame the mysterious child for what is happening to them. As mass hysteria tightens its grip, exhaustion impairs judgment, delusions, hallucinations and paranoia become the norm and mob rule explodes into shocking violence.
This compelling story is told from the perspectives of four central characters – Chief of Police Mays as he struggles to keep order; teenager Cort, who, with her friends is competing in a dangerous social media contest for who can stay awake longest; Kathy, an island resident and girlfriend of Dr. Sam Carlson, a former Harvard psychiatrist but now the island’s physician. Battling ghosts from his past and the blurriness of his own insomnia, Sam attempts to discover the cause and a cure for the epidemic, whilst also trying to discover the identity of the Boy – quests which will eventually force him and the child to flee the violent mob which blames the child for the epidemic.
It’s hard to know where to begin with my reflections on this powerful, multi-layered psychological thriller because there are so many inter-linked themes and strands which contribute to the inexorable build-up of tension as the story becomes ever-darker and more complex and I don’t want to risk introducing any spoilers! So, in very general terms, here are some of the things which most impressed me as I became enthralled by Roy Freirich’s masterful story-telling.
He very effectively captured the disturbing and cumulative effects, both physical and psychological, of chronic insomnia and the desperate measures people will take to seek the oblivion of sleep, with its consequent emotional outlet through dreams. As he relentlessly ratcheted-up the tension, he graphically described how quickly fear and paranoia spread in this small community when people were faced with something which felt inexplicable and threatening and how easily they lost their capacity for rational thought and reasonable behaviour. The resulting state of anomie created conditions which provided fertile ground for mass-hysteria and mob-rule to take hold and, eventually, wield a terrible power. As I became engaged with the story I was reminded (almost inevitably, I think!) of stories such as Lord of the Flies, Mist over Pendle, The Crucible etc. However, that was as a result of the author’s psychologically credible portrayal of people who felt caught up in something which felt beyond their control, rather than because I thought that the story was in any way derivative. I found that the escalating fear and violence created such a palpable tension throughout the novel that there were moments when it felt almost unbearable, when I felt almost as desperate as the gritty-eyed and sleep-deprived characters to find a release from it but, as I needed a resolution, to stop reading never felt like an option!
Living close to a region which relies heavily on tourism, and where a very high proportion of local people are employed in low-paid service jobs, I recognised the author’s depictions of the tensions which are so often evident between demanding visitors and full-time local residents. With underlying resentment and ambivalence about their livelihoods being dependent on the holiday-makers simmering barely beneath the surface of their enforced interactions, the powerful sense of inequality can all too often result in various examples of passive-aggressive behaviour.
Equally well depicted were his observations on society’s increasing obsession with technology and social media, with the amount of time people spend looking at the screens of their mobile devices rather than engaging face to face with each other, or with the landscape surrounding them. How much does this level of detachment contribute to a lack of empathy, as well as a reduced awareness of the impact our behaviour has on other people?
I really appreciated Roy Freirich’s eloquent use of language to create such a compelling story, one which featured not only a cast of vivid, memorable characters, but also many highly-evocative descriptions of the island background against which the drama was being played out. I’m sure that his vast experience as a screenwriter contributed to this being a very visual story, but for me its real strength lies in the fact that it is so multi-layered, encompasses such a wide range of themes (guilt, regret, the search for redemption, post-traumatic stress, scapegoating, mob-rule – to name just a few!) and is so reflectively insightful.
I think it must by now be apparent that, from start to finish, I felt totally caught up in this powerful story, reluctant to put it down, even when that ran the risk of not sleeping! So, my recommendation that you should read it for yourself to discover just how good it is, must also come with a warning ... that there won’t be much chance of sleep whilst reading it as you won’t want to put it down, but that there will be a very real chance of insomnia afterwards … because you won’t be able to stop thinking about it!
With many thanks to Meerkat Press for allowing me to read this memorable novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for Summer 2020. While the world experiences social isolation brought on by COVID19, many find themselves trapped in a cycle of insomnia. Deprivation does not have Zombies, but it does feature the “Sleepless.” During the month of August, Carratuck, a small Island off the NY Atlantic coast, is frequented by tourists. Courtney ( Cort) and her teenage friends on the island begin a texting game wherein they try to stay awake for 48 hours. A young boy is found alone on the beach, traumatized and silent. The Chief of Police begins a search for the errant parents, while the local Dr., Sam Carlson, and his girlfriend Kathy are tasked with caring for the child until Social Services on the mainland can be contacted. Suddenly everyone on the island has trouble sleeping. The pharmacy quickly runs out of prescription & over the counter sleep - aid meds. Mass hysteria and violence erupts, centering the blame on the silent boy. Deprivation unfolds like a block buster summer feature film. Unputdownable, an easy-reading summer thriller.

[Joshie Nicole readwithjoshie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Books Forward Press for sending me a copy of Deprivation to read and review.

The story follows the plight of an east coast tourist town on Carratuck Island that is afflicted with the sudden onset of mass insomnia after a young, silent orphan boy is found on the beach, video game in hand. The story of the how and the why unfold through three perspectives: police Chief Mays, local doctor Sam Carlson, and teenager Cort who is a participant in #sleepless43 - a social media contest to see who can stay awake the longest. The reader watches as the once calm town turns into a landscape filled with blame, hysteria, and mob violence. What part does the child play in this inexplicable outbreak? Why can’t Sam figure out the cause or the cure? Can Chief Mays keep the peace without resorting to the extreme?

The premise of this book is unique in that it was inspired by the author’s own struggles with insomnia. The scenes that describe the physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion of lack of sleep are accurate and adept. I felt for the various characters; in particular, a sleepless mother of a young sleepless child (as a somewhat new mom, I felt this one very closely).

Just like The Walking Dead isn’t really a show about zombies, Deprivation is not really a book about sleep. It reads much more as an exploration of the human condition; the author is exploring not only sleep deprivation, but how technology like social media, our expectations (without empathy) of ourselves and others are eroding – indeed, depriving - modern day society of its essential foundations.

The prose, however, is a bit overwritten. I did not love this author’s particular writing style. I also felt that some of the scenes were rushed; some key scenes were over very quickly, while more time was given to other (in my opinion) less consequential scenes. Two stars because the writing style got in the way and distracted me from what was actually a very intriguing plot.

Read this if you are a fan of post-apocalyptic shows like TWD, or you enjoy a slow burn psychological thriller.

[William Wadhams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to obtain an advance copy of Roy Freirich's new book, Deprivation. As I began reading the book, I became one of the book's vacationers, arriving on Carratuck Island. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and getting caught up in the mystery of the story, told in rich, cinematic detail. Over the course of a few days, I devoured the book. I look forward to seeing the movie! (when someone is smart enough to produce it!)

[Kelly Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rage, Fear, and Insomnia

This is my first read during the Covid-19 scare and this story is a great look at how fear and illness foments into rage and crazy behavior. Very timely story. Fast paced. Lost one star as I don't care for multi-view points.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ GIFTED - not the biggest fan of the writing style/prose but the premise of this story is great and, I love the exploration of sleep deprivation and the build up of what is happening on this island.
Also the epilogue was a great conclusion that I really liked 😊

[Aimee Whatshername · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young, mute boy appears out of nowhere in a small beach town, residents and tourists are struck with a brutal case of insomnia. Dr. Sam Carlson desperately tries to find a cure before the entire town goes mad and turns on each other. At the same time, Dr. Carlson is trying to figure out the boy's identity. 

"Deprivation" is a compelling read, similar to the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I highly recommend this book if you're looking to read a suspenseful thriller that borders on horror.

[amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A not-so-guilty pleasure -- it achieves meaning and dimension beyond its thriller/suspense trappings. Vivid prose, by turns languorous and terse, bring a keen sense of a Martha's Vineyard-like island in tourist season, as hapless and heroic characters spiral into sleep-deprivation fueled delusion, and finally the entire island into mass hysteria. There's a simple truth under it all: the less sleep you have, the more misunderstood you feel.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it multiple times and felt I penetrated new layers each new reading. Really felt the collective despair and growing madness -- sleeplessness is itself a character in this book, among the other artfully portrayed characters. It's an antagonist whose motives remain ambiguous to the very end. This is the essence of the book: a small, trapped population, all put through the same ordeal by an inscrutable force, and the demons within themselves they must confront because of its stresses. I couldn't have been more absorbed. Truly vivid, visceral writing. Read it!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all begins with a child, alone in the beach and grabbing his little videogame like there is nothing else in his life. Suddenly, everyone starts losing sleep and too many problems starts surfacing. Sam, the local doctor, finds himself looking the abandoned child and, at the same time, trying to answer the increasingly desperate appeals of the temporary residents for something that makes them sleep. He is, however, also dealing with his own insomnia and a past that keeps haunting him. As the days pass and sleep continues to elude them all, sleep deprivation starts to cause more serious effects. And what started as a nuisance soon becomes a deeper darkness… and violence follows.
One of the most fascinating aspects in this story is how everything seems to start in a relatively light note – though with some ominous undercurrents – which is later succeeded by a gradual dive into darkness and violence. It seems to be shaped by the rhythm of the characters’ lack of sleep, first with minor conflicts and indignations, then with a full blown riot. And, in the middle of this all, there is the mystery of the abandoned child, of the past Sam carries with him and, above everything else, of the reason why everyone is losing sleep.
Also particularly impressive is how everything happens in just a few days and yet seems to last an eternity. It’s like the characters’ sleep deprivation is captured by the narrative itself, reflecting with absolute mastery the slow descent into the global chaos that takes control of the island. Also, it mirrors precisely what each character is feeling: in the absence of sleep, it all feels like an infinite day.
And then there’s the characters themselves with their quite fascinating internal complexity. Sam, running from the shadows of his past; the Chief, with a past decision haunting his present actions; the Boy himself, with his overwhelming silence. Their shadows shape their behavior and guide the narrative to a more defining darkness. In the end, their choices define also the ending: intense and full of surprises, but also fascinating in its natural ambiguousness.
A light that becomes darkness in the face of insomnia: such is the foundation of this fascinating and enthralling story. A tale where nothing – and no one – is just what it seems and where the mind and its labyrinths have a crucial role in the whole narrative. Intense, intriguing and unexpectedly deep, a book I’d definitely recommend.



** I received this book from Meerkat Press in exchange for an honest review.

[David Angsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Freirich delivers thrills and suspense in some of the sharpest writing of any American author working today. The language is so precise, the details and disparate collection of vacation islanders so acutely observed, that when the seemingly impossible happens—no one on the island can sleep—you never doubt for an instant that the living nightmare that follows isn’t terrifyingly real. Insomniacs be warned: this page-turner guarantees a very late night.”

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deprivation is an interesting, strange and a bit eerie reading experience. I must admit however, that I am not quite sure that I can state I liked the story as at times it seemed to stumble a bit.
Overall it was okay. 3 stars

My thanks to goodreads and the book's giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain and read a copy of this book.

[Kevin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, simple premise played out nicely. Made me feel crazy myself!

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deprivation by Roy Freirich is a recommended thriller about mass hysteria and sleep deprivation.

On New York’s Carratuck Island a traumatized, silent child is found alone, abandoned on a beach, holding his handheld video game. Physician Sam Carlson checks the boy out. He is dirty, but silent and won't tell anyone who he is. Police Chief Mays wants to wait before calling social services as he is sure the boy's parents will appear. Both Carlson and Mays are battling insomnia. At the same time teenage tourist Cort is playing a dangerous game on social media with her friends, competing to see who can stay awake the longest.

The plague of insomnia spreads as residents and tourists on the town find themselves unable to sleep and turn to Carlson to help. As the small clinic is overwhelmed with patients, he suspects some bio-hazard or external cause is affecting the island, but tests indicate there is no identifiable reason for the mass insomnia. Soon it becomes clear that mass hysteria and mob violence is taking over, making the island a very dangerous place to be, especially for the silent child.

The narrative is told through three different characters, Carlson, Mays, and Cort. Carlson is the best developed character and depicted more realistically than the other two, however he's not a wholly sympathetic character. He is very cerebral, but a bit distant. Chief Mays always felt unbelievable to me. Cort's character doesn't resemble any teen girl or younger person I know. First, her character didn't read like a teen. Second, she and her friends would not be using the social media platform Freirich chose. (They have moved on to something new and once we all catch up there will be something different.)

After I finished reading I was left feeling that this is a rather odd book. At times the writing was beautiful, but at other times it felt odd and over-written. The plot starts out strong, capturing your attention and interest, but then the narrative slows down and is drawn out too long. When things do take off, they explode and move almost too quickly. While I appreciate the underlying commentary on how social media and devices (phones and games) are slowly eroding our quality of life and values as a society in many ways, untoward mass hysteria is not something new to humankind nor does it require cell phones to propagate.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Meerkat Press.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/0...

[Suzy Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.*

Deprivation by Roy Freirich is an eerie tale where I found myself constantly holding my breath. The suspense will hold you in it's grasp through most of the book, not letting go until the very end.

Deprivation tells the story of a small seaside town where it's residents and tourists alike find themselves unable to sleep after a little boy is discovered on the beach alone, clutching a handheld video game. Exhaustion impairs judgment, delusions become hysteria, and mob rule turns into shocking violence. The story is told from three perspectives: the Chief of Police,a group of teenage tourists, and a local psychiatrist, who, in the midst of his own delirium of sleeplessness, tries to treat others, and eventually has to flee with the boy from a mob convinced the boy is the cause of their unrest.

This was a well crafted thriller that delivers suspense with eloquent prose. The characterizations of the main characters was well done and the story played out nicely in an interesting setting and cast of characters.

Though intriguing, and an evocative mystery that will keep you turning the pages, I gave this book a 3 due to the anti-climatic ending. The story was strong but the end will leave most, unfortunately, disappointed.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is the mysterious child, and is he responsible for the horror that has enveloped the town? No one really knows. When a child is found alone on the beach, unwilling or unable to speak or write, along with being dirty, a doctor resident of the town must decide what to do. When he receives word of this, the local doctor, Dr. Sam Carlson, calls the town chief of police to help him figure out what to do. The chief is reluctant to call Child Services and stick the child into the system, so he persuades the doctor to take the child home. The doctor reluctantly agrees, as he is grappling with his own problems: coping with a student, who was also a patient, who committed suicide. Still, this is a child in need…Soon thereafter, the whole island is unable to sleep, and the growing insomnia drives people to the doctor for help. They then decide the child is the root of the problem. However, there is not much help coming, and mob rule takes over before you know it. What can the doctor and chief do to save the child from the mobs—or can they even save the child?

The story is told from three perspectives: the chief of police’s, the doctor’s, and that of a teenage tourist, which made the book interesting because, you got different perspectives about the whole thing. The descriptions of the town’s actions, its residents and of those involved were interesting and spot-on. I enjoyed reading, waiting anxiously to see what would happen next and how or if it would all turn out okay. I am pretty much an insomniac, so I also related well to the story in that respect. Sleep deprivation can and will do strange things to the human body and psyche, as the book demonstrates. The book did start a bit slow for me, but it picked up soon enough. The situation, though horrifying, was a bit far-fetched, to say the least, but not really beyond the realms of possibility. The whole plot was definitely different, and not like the plots of books I normally read. If you have difficulty sleeping, you may want to pass on this one, but you also may want to jump right in as I did to see how it goes and what happens. I received this to read and review from Library Thing.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Meerkat Press for the advanced reader’s copy. All thoughts are my own.

“How do you wake up when you’re already awake?”

3.5/5 This was an interesting read for me. When I received this book, I saw that it was a thriller, And got excited. It took me a while to get into it though. The set up was long and takes a bit to really see the toll that the lack of sleep was having on the area. It was probably about the halfway point, maybe a little before that, before the story took off and got more interesting. You really feel and see the human response, both emotionally and physically, when sleep is taken away. This is what I found to be the most interesting factor of the book.

I also liked Freirich’s writing style. The descriptions were great and you could visualize the environment and what was going on within the story. As Freirich does have a background in film and screenwriting, I can see how his style of writing is so vivid.

Something I wasn’t a huge fan on was the characters. I wasn’t invested in any of them. Like I cared for the boy and wanted him to be okay, but I didn’t feel a deeper connection to him or any of the other major players within the story. This on top of the beginning being slow made it a rough read for me.

Although this wasn’t a favorite of mine, I would recommend giving it a try if you like psychological thrillers. I do think that this was a unique story and provided some insight on what could happen if a human necessity is taken away.

This will be released on 03MAR2020. And please note I did receive an I corrected proof, so things may have changed from my copy to yours.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a copy of this book for free by the publisher for reviewing purposes.

Deprivation is a story set in the tourist haven island of Carratuck, whose only connection to the mainland is a once a day ferry. It covers a span of 8 days which begin with a child being found who is seemingly mute and abandoned, shortly thereafter those on the island report being unable to sleep and an insomnia epidemic unfolds.

People quickly become short tempered, aggravated, paranoid and begin to take their frustrations out on each other, meanwhile the island's only doctor is overwhelmed and sleeping tablets don't seem to be helping people. Soon a mysterious character in a surgical mask and gloves begins to circulate his own troublesome theories and things spiral out of control.

I thought the idea of the story was good, but at times felt it was a little let down by the manner in which the narrative unfolded. Overall though it was a decent read.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un pequeño pueblo costero vacacional, que me trajo a la memoria el pueblo de Jaws, es atacado por un enemigo aún más terrorífico: el insomnio. Habitantes, funcionarios y turistas no pueden dormir por días y noches sin fin. Una breve semana que se hace una eternidad, visto en sus diversos personajes.

Un libro con situaciones extremas, con las que se podrán identificar mejor los insomnes. Para pasar el rato sin pensar demasiado.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone with insomnia it made me think about what if everyone around me also had insomnia would this be how we would react ?! A silent and child shows up alone in the small tourist spot and abruptly everyone stops sleeping and slowly start losing it. They just think it’s something like a chain reaction of sort monkey see monkey do. It was a little hard to keep up the first few chapters because everything is go go go but once they story gets going you don’t want to stop reading !

[Joelle Egan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deprivation a new novel by Roy Frierich, describes an insomnia outbreak that occurs over the course of nine days on a small fictional island off the Atlantic coast. A trauma-stricken boy is found wandering the beach of Carratuck Island, where tourists and locals are busy starting their usual summer vacation rituals. Sam is the doctor in charge of the Urgent Care Center, and his typical caseload involves simple accidents and sun-related maladies. This perfectly suits the young physician who wishes to escape a past that includes the mysterious death of a patient in his care while he was still a practicing Psychiatrist. Most of his days are now spent on his boat, enjoying the temporary company of a local waitress and biking around greeting his fellow islanders. When the “Boy” is brought in, Sam enlists the Chief of Police to locate the parents so the child can be released from his care. Filthy, mute and obviously terrorized, the boy grips his hand-held game and gives no clues as to what has happened to reduce him to this state. The book introduces another storyline centering around Cort, the vacationing teen who was supposed to be employed as the boy’s babysitter. Instead, she has been spending her time hooking up with a local surfer, partying with friends and participating in a new social media game that involves pulling all-nighters. The Chief is a third main character, a man who feels solely responsible for keeping the peace but only on his own terms with minimal interference. Sam starts to notice that the people coming to his clinic are all suddenly complaining of the same malady- complete sleeplessness. As the situation continues unabated and some disturbing behavior emerges, Sam reaches out to the mainland for assistance. Is the insomnia due to a contagion of the viral, environmental variety or could it be caused by a mass-hysteria? Sam and the Chief struggle with their own physical limitations resulting from lack of rest as the island begins to devolve into chaos. Carratuck becomes a pressure-cooker of irrational beliefs and desperate acts, exposing the basic animal nature brought about when self-preservation becomes paramount. Freirich’s prose is a bit too elaborate and his phrasing and word choice are often repetitive—which can be distracting and irritating at times. Still, Deprivation does provide a unique perspective on how people react when unable to meet their basic needs and the resulting contagion of fear and paranoia. It is a timely book, published during a real pandemic that tests our own ability to cope with uncertainty and tested solidarity.

Thanks to the author, Meerkat Press and LibraryThing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[D Gillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great premise: a whole island of sleep deprived characters and a mysterious lost child. Roy Freirich took the story beyond a clever idea and really explored human nature and crowd mentality. As everyone becomes more and more exhausted, it becomes a struggle for the police chief and the doctor to hold their thoughts together long enough to figure out what’s really happening. I had to binge read the second half of this book, not wanting to put it down until the last page. It is beautifully written in a visual style and I highly recommend it.