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An End to Etcetera Kindle Edition

by Robert Conklin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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A boy. A shadow. A murder.

Or not?

Pathological liar? Sociopathic killer? Or just a troubled kid seeking attention? These are the questions that haunt therapist Selena Harris as she undertakes the most challenging case of her career.

Sitting on a couch two feet across from her is an ordinary-looking teenager who confessed in a text, inadvertently broadcast to his entire school, to murdering an autistic child left in his care. With no evidence to support Leal Porter’s testimony, authorities have referred him to Selena for counseling.

Challenging her professional distance is the emotional bond she develops with this lonely, isolated boy, whom classmates describe as “that scrawny kid who talks to himself at his locker.” Although Selena believes the alleged victim is the product of her client’s fevered imagination, she harbors one major doubt:

What if she’s wrong?

Selena can relate to Leal’s feeling of isolation, especially as she has returned to her small hometown on the heels of a divorce to take care of her father, who has suffered a debilitating stroke. In Leal’s case, however, he’s a school outcast due to his predisposition to tell tall tales to worm his way out of trouble.

Stepping outside the confines of her office in a quest for clues, Selena is determined to separate fact from fiction. But nothing in her experience prepares her for the harrowing revelation of the inner demon that lurks beneath the surface of Leal’s confession.

Katherine Burkman, author of April Cruel, writes: “What is fascinating about An End to Etcetera is the nature of the relationship between a psychologist and her thirteen-year-old patient. As a whodunit, we are not sure of what has been done or who is responsible, as we watch both patient and therapist evolve. Extremely well-written, the suspense involves more than that in your usual mystery, since it is the mystery of life itself. The writing pulls you in and won't let you go.”
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  1. Print length
    407 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 30, 2022
  5. File size
    640 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Finalist in Suspense Category - 2023 National Indie Excellent Awards

"An unusual and thoughtful novel, with a beautifully done unreliable narrator, or two." - Elaine Graham-Leigh, Reedsy Discovery

"Extremely well-written, the suspense involves more than that in your usual mystery, since it is the mystery of life itself. The writing pulls you in and won't let you go." - Katherine H. Burkman, author, April Cruel

"I like the style, weaving the themes, times, memories, and characters. I am drawn in on various levels, the topical nature of the story, the therapist viewpoint, which is part of me, as a therapist myself, for better or worse." - Justin Simons, Counselor, Yellow Springs, OH

"Those of you who love unreliable narrators (as I do) will have a field day with this story. I recommend this book to those who love beautiful writing, mind games, stories that make you dig deep into the psychology of the characters." - Olga Núñez Miret, Rosie's Bookshelf

"The whole narrative is superbly shaped and paced, a slow burn, but with a sense of disquiet that is built up skillfully." - Fiona Forsyth, Rosie's Bookshelf

"Fascinating psychological thriller!" - Robbie. Rosie's Book Review Team

"Focuses on a therapist's efforts to peel back all the trappings to find out the root of a troubled teen's problems—and it's a doozy!" - Amy Wilson, Novels Alive

"A fascinating slow-burner story with tension building throughout." - Anne-Marie Reynolds, Readers' Favorite

"I recommend this book to those who like stories with an edge." - Jayran Main, Review Tales

"The ending is a wild ride ... certainly an entertaining read." - Heather Barksdale, Heather's Bookshelf

"This book would be great of a psychology class to read and analyze." - Kristin, The Book Review Crew

"Successfully blends suspense with deep psychological insight." - Benjamin X. Wretlind, 2023 Indie Author Review Selection

About the Author

B. Robert Conklin (he/him/his) lives in Columbus, Ohio, where he enjoys the unpredictable moments of family life with his spouse, three kids, four cats, and two ferrets. His literary interests tend toward the whimsical, absurd, and quirky with light touches of magical realism. His writing generally travels along the margins of existence, where characters reside in the shadows and behind closed curtains, outside the mainstream of everyday life. In a different medium, he practices the craft of cartooning. You can follow him on Twitter @rbconklin1.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BM6KQBYL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Skip the Preface Publishing (November 30, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 30, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 640 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 407 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

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B. Robert Conklin

B. Robert Conklin

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B. Robert Conklin (he/him/his) lives, writes, and works, not necessarily in this order, in Columbus, Ohio, where he helps his spouse nurture the creativity of their three Gen-Z kids, who seem determined to take less-traveled paths of their own. In his leisure time, he takes nature walks with his family’s two ferrets and practices the craft of cartooning.

His credits include stories in Blue Moon Literary & Art Review, THAT Literary Review, and Kestrel, with another accepted for publication in The Strong Stuff: The Best of Fictional Café, Volume II. With a teaching background in composition and literature, he has also co-authored a college textbook to help emerging writers connect with their world.

Visit him on Twitter @rbconklin1 or at brobertconklin.wordpress.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
17 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

KHB
5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the usual mystery
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
What is fascinating about THE END OF ETCETERA is the nature of the relationship between a psychologist and her fourteen-year old patient. As a whodunit, we are not sure of what has been done, who is responsible, and finally how both patient and therapist evolve. In the search for the truth, boundaries are indefinite, and there is a search for the nature of truth itself. Extremely well-written, the suspense involves more than that in your usual mystery, since it involves the mystery of life itself. The writing pulls you in and won't let you go.
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Karl Fandkin
4.0 out of 5 stars A Deep Dive into Two Minds
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
Disclaimer: I read this novel as part of Reedsy.com’s Discover program in hopes that if I review a book, someone will review mine which I hope to have on Kindle by the end of February 2023. Other than that, I have no relationship with the author.

I did not like the way the novel started. I think the technique is called DeepPOV he/she, perhaps not, but it reads wrong, and so the this novel’s beginning. Were I shopping for a book in a store, I’d reshelve the book after the first few pages. Introductions are important, and this one should be reimagined.

If you find this type of writing as irksome as I, take heart. The story really takes off a little past halfway through the first chapter. From there, readers find themselves on an intriguing journey lead by at lease one unreliable storyteller.

There are two main narrators: Leal, a teenage boy in trouble at his school for inappropriate behavior; and Selena, his therapist. Despite advice from her mentor, Henri, Selena attempts to corroborate Leal’s story in hope that, once he reconnects with reality, she can help him.

From personal experience, I feel sorry for therapists (in my case couple’s therapists). Patients lie to them, or at least my ex-girlfriends. By the time I joined sessions, I was amazed at how different my ex-girlfriends were from the person the therapist thought they were working with. Their self fantasies pierced, they dropped out of therapy shortly after asking me to join.

Leal is not in couple’s therapy and he is free to spin his story. Like half completed jigsaw puzzles, missing pieces fill in the picture. Selena’s mentor advises her to gather all her information from the sessions, but time and finances are running out. Readers encounter sufficient foreshadowing to fill in the picture, with fuzzy detail, before Selena. Still, it is interesting to watch Selena work out the details while coping with a few personal problems of her own.

The ending, which really starts three chapters from the end, transforms intrigue to a thriller, and, for me, looses credulity. Although readers have enough foreshadowing to prop-up events, it seemed overcooked. The last chapter, which offers readers resolution, was so off base, I felt compelled to reevaluate Selena’s personal life narrative. Private jet? Really? Any idea how much they cost? Even private jets have to file flight plans, an arduous process, so no, I don’t believe an impromptu destination choice.

At least 90% of this novel is a good read, so 4 stars.
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llama llama
5.0 out of 5 stars Two of My Favorite Things
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
B. Robert Conklin unfurls a narrative around a fascinating cast of characters, among them a troubled teenager, Leal, and his therapist, Selena. Their story intricately weaves through an unnerving maze of truth and illusion, their professional relationship serving as a dramatic backdrop for exploring these elusive themes.

Each character brings a layer of intrigue. Selena Harris, despite her personal struggles, exudes a relentless humanity in her quest to help Leal, a character shrouded in mystery and charm. Their interplay creates a sense of unease that pervades the novel, pushing both readers and characters alike to question the authenticity of their depicted reality. The plot spirals towards a climax filled with unexpected twists, turning the narrative into a compelling exploration of motive and truth.

The book, despite its somewhat exaggerated conclusion, leaves a lingering impact. Conklin's narrative successfully blends suspense with deep psychological insight. An End to Etcetera stands out as a thoughtfully written tale that effortlessly keeps readers on their toes, immersed in a constant state of uncertainty. Its unique character interactions, layered narrative, and the relentless pull of its intriguing plotline ensure a captivating read from beginning to end.

I am a student of both psychology and epistemology, the study of the mind and the study of knowledge. When I selected "An End to Etcetera" as one of my for review, I did not expect to get both in one beautifully written package.
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