A Brief Lunacy Book

Cynthia Thayer writes about people we know. Or thinkwe know. They have secrets, closely held—out of shame or perhaps because of memories too painful to mention. In A Brief Lunacy, deep secrets are shaken loose as her characters are thrust into a situation both terrifying and, ultimately, revelatory. Jessie and Carl are a retired couple enjoying a quiet life in rural Maine, until a phone call one October afternoon informs them that their daughter has disappeared from the institution in which she resides. Then, as twilight falls, a stranded young man comes to their door seeking shelter, and thinking of their missing daughter who might also be in need, they invite him into their home. Slowly they realize he knows more about their family than they could dare to imagine, and as the threat of violence looms, they discover that the stranger has no intention of leaving. Here is a desperate threesome, embroiled in a trinity of madness, yet each struggling alone, searching for answers, for escape, and for sanity. Thayer’s insights into the human psyche make a gripping novel that raises questions about how well we know our loved ones; how we play out the roles expected of us; how far we will go to protect our children; and what it takes to cross the threshold into madness.Read More