Head Case

A Psychological Thriller

By: Bonnie Traymore

Narrated by: Robin McAlpine

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Not bad, but not great, either.

I wouldn't at all classify this as a psychological thriller. It was more of a murder mystery. The book was good, overall, but I was able to pretty much figure out who was behind everything very early on.

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.

Loved this book.

Entertaining story with likable characters. Exactly what I am looking for when I listen to a book.

Workplace drama, secret affairs, murder mystery

Traymore weaves several layers of intrigue into this story, which kept things interesting from the opening scene to the literal last sentence (no spoilers!). This is also my favorite protagonist of Traymore’s yet— I’d love to see this develop into a series!

Riveting suspenseful thriller

"Head Case" delivers a gripping narrative of suspense and self-discovery set against the eerie backdrop of the Catskill Mountains.

Teacher Cassie Romano's investigation into the death of coworker at Falcon Ridge Academy entwines readers in her intense personal evolution. Her own personal secrets deepen the mystery, while the story delves into themes of life choices and the tension between self-preservation and truth-seeking, making for a thrilling, reflective read.

The vivid setting, resilient protagonist, and intriguing plot weave together into a deeply satisfying story.