Publisher's Synopsis
It's the early 1930's and we find four boys who are living their lives in fear, terror and shame. They are at the hands of sick and twisted adults in a cult in the Ozarks. The story unfolds with fascinating descriptions of how the boys cope with their early childhood trauma. Each escapes from the cult and goes their separate way. Tom, our protagonist, seems to be the healthiest of the four but he certainly has his demons.
Tom 'loses time' and we are taken on a wild ride as we wait to see if he was involved in a murder, or worse, if he committed the murder in North Carolina. Calvin is the most damaged by his childhood experience and we meet him in a mental hospital for the criminally insane. William is coping by suppressing. We learn more about his experience through his younger sister. And lastly, Luke describes his delusion as 'separating from himself.' He watches as this alternate personality engages in acts of violence with brute strength he normally does not have.
Becky is Tom's love interest. They meet in college and take the same psychology class with Dr. Gerhard. This is where the causes and symptoms of the Fregoli Delusion are fully presented. Both Becky and Tom are riveted during the lectures but for different reasons. Becky becomes a dedicated student of psychology and goes on to use it in her career as a police officer. Tom's interest lies in his recognition of the syndrome in himself as well as the other three boys he escaped with.
After military service, Tom embarks on a journey to reconnect with Calvin, William and Luke. For Tom, they were family and he hoped to compare notes on their experiences with the Fregoli Delusion. The manifestations for each are both intriguing and alarming.
We see Becky and Tom separate after graduating. They stay in touch for a brief period of time but then lose touch. They reconnect by happenstance and another terrifying episode of the Fregoli Delusion ensues at the hands of one of the four boys, now adults.
