Head Case

A Psychological Thriller

A workplace rivalry. An isolated campus. A tragic death.

Never make a major life decision in the wake of emotional turmoil. Cassie Romano learned this the hard way, leaving sunny San Diego for a teaching position at a private school in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York after a painful break-up left her heart-broken and in need of a change. It all seemed so perfect in June when she came to interview. But now it’s December, and she’s stranded on top of a mountain surrounded by snow, ice, and acres of wilderness, lonelier than ever and bored out of her mind.

When a fellow teacher turns up dead and Cassie receives a cryptic letter from her a few days later, it’s clear to Cassie that something strange is going on at Falcon Ridge Academy. Everyone seems to be writing the death off as a tragic accident, but she’s not so sure.

Cassie has secrets of her own, though, so she’s initially reluctant to get involved. Torn between the urge to protect herself and the desire to investigate further, she decides on the latter.

And the consequences could be deadly.

©2023 Bonnie Traymore (P)2023 Bonnie Traymore

Would have been easier in written form

This is one that would have been better in written instead of audio form. With the various narration perspectives, it was difficult to figure out which perspective you are listening too. The narrator didn't change her voice for the different people telling the story. The killer was revealed way too early and that took away from the suspense in the story.

Deadly Test

Bonnie Traymore's Head Case takes listeners to an isolated private school in the Catskill Mountains. The school suffers Kim Choy’s death and the close call of another faculty member. The vivid descriptions of the old building used for staff quarters help ramp up the suspenseful elements from start to finish. Students, teachers, and events are realistic and relatable.

Cassie, the protagonist, is an English teacher who was close to Kim and recently came to the school to begin anew following a broken relationship. The secrets in her background sprinkled throughout the story define the framework for her viewpoint when sharing the events. Her life has not been easy and trust is a huge roadblock. There are delightful supporting characters like Ed and Dan.

Various story threads get succinctly related from the clearly defined multiple points of view. When students go home for the holidays and return to an advancing epic winter snowstorm, the killer decides to take matters into their own hands. The tension is heightened at a frantic pace until the unexpected conclusion.

Robin McAlpine masterfully delivered her stellar voice acting to bring depth and broadness to the story. There were no problems with the quality of this audiobook, complimented by the perfect pace and style of professional narration.
Fans of crime thrillers and mysteries will connect with Head Case and follow all the twists and turns. The well-done plot may have listeners convinced they know the guilty party—see if you’re fooled.

Overall a Good Story

Okay. So this one isn’t going to win any awards, at least I don’t think so. The writing is okay. It could be better. I am giving kudos to the storytelling and storyline. I’m not sure if the author, Bonnie Traymore, intended for the humor that shone through to me was meant or not. It was refreshing really to have a thriller with a humorous character, meant or not.

The hidden undercover

The narrator's voice was dry and emotionless, with only a female narrator used throughout, unlike the previous setup that included both male and female narrators depending on the part.

Not psychological, not a thriller.

The title and cover are misleading. This was a very straight forward crime novel. No real twists and turns. A relaxing listen if you are looking for a gentle crime fiction novel.