CHRONIC NIGHTS
A man in a wheelchair crosses the path of a family in a van, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The ensuing wreck results in the deaths of a woman and her daughter, the surviving husband/father bent on a path of revenge toward men in wheelchairs, launching him into a lust for murder.
Bill Colón, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and forced to use a wheelchair on occasion, attends a support group whose members are falling prey to the crazed serial killer. His brother-in-law, Luis Ortiz is the homicide detective assigned to the case.
In time, Luis and Bill realize that Bill, too, is a target and must take action to bring this killing spree to an end.
The killer, his intended victim and a pair of brothers whose lives have traveled in opposite directions, all converge in a desolate warehouse to confront each other.
Feel the hatred of a cold-blooded killer and the fear in his victims, who have already been relegated to a life of loss.
*****
Chronic Nights was reviewed by Dr. Cynthia Clark, a Forensic Psychologist, for Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine. Here's what she said:
On the way to an afternoon concert with his family, a man swerves to avoid
hitting a man in a wheel chair in the crosswalk. This simple action causes a
wreck that kills the man's wife and child. Not able to get over his grief, he
blames wheelchair bound men, for what he calls the murder of his family. This
distorted views causes him to plot is revenge on the murder. But, he does not
know who that man was that was in the crosswalk that fateful day, so any
wheelchair bound man is a target.
Bill Colon is quite the accountant, having worked for the IRS. He now suffers
from MS which sometimes necessitates his need for a wheelchair. His brother
(in-law) Luis is a cop who drinks too much and has a miserable marriage. Rosa,
Luis's wife runs a genealogy business until she crosses paths with low life
criminal Ernest Thomas.
Luis harbors much resentment for Bill and secretly suspects or hopes that his
brother (in-law) Bill is either the killer or will be the next victim. But as
Luis and his partner solve the pattern to the crimes, Rosa decides she wants out
of her marriage (and not by divorce) and Bill feels he should help catch this
crazed killer, the many sub plots merge together in a heightened edge of your
seat way to keep you guessing what will happen next.
Frank Cáceres writes of Bill Colon with the passion and commitment of one who
truly knows as Frank was diagnosed with MS in 1996. He uses his own experiences
to add the touches necessary to make the book so real you'll feel you're right
there. Frank paints a picture of the disease, not in a preachy or poor me way,
but in an informative, hey look at me, I am a survivor kind of way. It's
uplifting and suspenseful at the same time.
CHRONIC NIGHTS is suspense with a twist. Excellent read.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.6!
Cynthia Lea Clark, Psy.D.
Visit Dr. Clark's web site at: www.cynthialeaclark.com
*****
Here's a review posted by Bookviews.com in its February 2007 edition:
Frank Caceres, PhD, got a jolt of bad news some years ago when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but he has turned it into fodder for a very interesting new novel, Chronic Nights ($20.95, iUniverse), one heck of a thriller that begins with a man in a wheelchair crossing a speeding van’s path. When the driver wakes up in the hospital, he learns that his wife and daughter are dead and embarks on a course of vengeance. Meanwhile Bill Colon has been forced to accept his MS, attending a mobility disabilities support group. He is shocked to learn that its members are falling prey to a crazed serial killer. When his brother-in-law, a homicide detective, gets assigned to the latest case, Colon feels compelled to get involved in the investigation. The question is whether they will find the killer before Colon becomes the next victim? This is a very well written and suspenseful story whose previous novels, "Because They Were" and "By Reason of Privilege" have gained him a growing group of fans. To learn more, visit http://www.novel-guy.com.
*****
Read a review by published author, Perri Nash:
Chronic Nights is a tight, well-constructed story with believable, wholly formed characters that I could relate to – warts and all. Frank Cáceres’ quietly informative, humorous handling of people with disabilities, especially the effects of MS, is remarkable for its telling without being a distraction from the conflict of the thriller – the mystery of the murders.
Perri Nash, Author of the Cassie Doolin Mystery Series
*****
A film production company has indicated that it wants to make Chronic Nights into a movie! Stay tuned for details as they become available. Order a copy of Chronic Nights now: they say the book's always better.
*****
Available now in hardcover and trade paperback formats. Click on "Order Books" to learn how to get a copy of this must-read thriller.