Published: Oct. 29, 2009
Words: 87848 (approximate)
Language: English

Short description

Argus Ward is a high-functioning paranoid schizophrenic charged with the psychotic murder of a billionaire. He escapes jail believing an unknown enemy had "weaponized" his disease to secretly assassinate the billionaire as part of a political conspiracy. Has Argus simply lost his mind again? What is "real" and what is only imagination in his story? Come lose your grip on reality. Read "Crack-Up."

Extended description

Best Mystery Novel, Red Adept Annual Indie Awards 2010

Argus Ward is a former U.S. Secret Service agent who runs a protection agency catering to the rich and famous. His best-kept secret--which he shares with lawyers and doctors and even psychiatrists--is his status as a high-functioning paranoid schizophrenic. One day, with little warning, he turns psychotic for the first time in twenty years. He lands in a secure psychiatric facility, charged with the murder of his most famous client, high tech industry billionaire John Helms, the wealthiest man in America.

Argus has no memory of the killing. A blood test suggests to him that some unknown enemy had switched his anti-psychotic medication with identical-looking dummy pills to purposely drive him insane.... (Read more) Best Mystery Novel, Red Adept Annual Indie Awards 2010

Argus Ward is a former U.S. Secret Service agent who runs a protection agency catering to the rich and famous. His best-kept secret--which he shares with lawyers and doctors and even psychiatrists--is his status as a high-functioning paranoid schizophrenic. One day, with little warning, he turns psychotic for the first time in twenty years. He lands in a secure psychiatric facility, charged with the murder of his most famous client, high tech industry billionaire John Helms, the wealthiest man in America.

Argus has no memory of the killing. A blood test suggests to him that some unknown enemy had switched his anti-psychotic medication with identical-looking dummy pills to purposely drive him insane.

A sign of lingering paranoia? His doctor thinks so. Even his wife.

Yet Argus escapes incarceration to prove his theory. With the law on his trail and a ticking time bomb in his head--due to a lack of medication--he discovers that his disease had been "weaponized" by a powerful group to secretly assassinate John Helms as part of a multiple assassination conspiracy of world-wide significance.

Or has Argus simply lost his mind again? What in the end is "real" and what is only imagination in his story?

And what is justice for the criminally insane?

Come lose your grip on reality. Read CRACK-UP.
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Tags

thriller, crime, suspense, mystery, psychological, action adventure, techno thriller, paranoia

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Reviews

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Review by: Elfwreck on March 12, 2012 :
Intense, riveting, and twisty. Heavy on the "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." Argus has a big problem: sorting out what's going on, which requires suspecting everyone of everything, while separating his own delusional paranoia from the facts.

Delightful read. Well worth taking a chance on even if mystery/thriller is not your normal genre of choice.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Vicki Tyley on Sep. 08, 2010 :
‘“Listen to me, son,” said the caller. My father? “Kill John Helms.” Then he hung up.’

What happens when the lines between reality and delusion start to blur? Paranoid schizophrenic Argus Ward sees and hears things, but how much of it is real? What about the voices telling him to kill his most famous client…

Crack-up hooked me from the start. By the end, I was almost as paranoid as Argus. A fast-paced, excellently crafted thriller, gripping from start to finish. I look forward to reading more from this author.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: GraceKrispy on May 31, 2010 :
This was a great read! The twists and turns kept me guessing until the end. The writing was fluid and very enjoyable and I was able to immerse myself into Argus' adventure. I think this book took a concept that's been done before (conspiracy theory-type books/movies) and really transformed it into something original and riveting. I hope there will be more coming...?
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

Review by: mores on Feb. 22, 2010 :
Crack-Up was one of the best books I've read in the last few months. The combination of a very well thought-out plot, a lot of twists and turns, as well as the excellent way the protagonist's mental issues are told in a first-person way makes this a page turner.
Never dull, always believable, funny a lot of times ... I have to say, this is a must-read!
I hope Eric keeps up his writing, he definately has the stuff it takes to make it to the top.
(reviewed within a month of purchase)

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