Headcase

Clement, Book 4

By: Keith A. Pearson

Narrated by: Chris Clarkson

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Delusion is the ideal place to rest on a painful journey to the truth.

David Nunn considers himself a good man. Employed as a counsellor for a mental health charity in North London, his typical day revolves around broken minds and dysfunctional lives.

Then, one day in January, a young man staggers into the charity’s office; no appointment booked and seemingly in the grip of a drug-induced episode. David reluctantly agrees to see the young man.

It proves a brief but fateful encounter.

Within days of that meeting, two men gate-crash David’s life; their motives wildly different but each making a demand. What they both have in common is their propensity for violence and deep-rooted psychological issues.

As his world descends into turmoil, David must decide if one of those men can save him from the other. Perhaps more importantly, can he save a self-confessed headcase from himself?

©2020 Keith A. Pearson (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd

A Visit from Clement well worth your time.

I liked this book bunches. Clement is himself, and a welcome appearance he is for this reader. In terms of the familiar, he does the same outside the lines assistance to the (in this case) narrator that he did in the other volumes.

The specific problem and the details of the help are different. But anyone who reads a series values and expects this: in a mystery series, there will be at least one murder, the sleuth will solve it relating to police procedures, either outside as an amateur or inside/around as a police detective (of whatever rank).

Clement is fun, and ironically comforting in an uncomfortable way. Having said that, I didn't like his mission-person. The narrator is to me the least sympathetic of all four of Clement's aid-recipients. Normally I'm a push-over for an unreliable narrator. But in this case, I thought he was a jerk and self-deluded. That was funny considering he thought Clement was needing mental health treatment.

Anyway, the book is well worth the cost and the time. What else can you ask of any book?

Turns right when I was expecting left!

Tough going at the start - feels a little too familiar/formula? - but that's deliberate. So stick with it, as it sets up a very unexpected and satisfying conclusion. Right down the very last sentence

Oh dear God! Mr Pearson you've done it again!

Why oh why can't I have a Clement? I love the story and this character, totally. This is a work of fiction and yet I sit here blubbering like an idiot because Clem has gone yet again!!! when is he coming back? when can I get my next fix of Clem? This series will probably be the best feel good series of books you'll ever read and I love them ♥️

HEADCASE nicely completes the CLEMENT QUARTET

It was a pleasure to catch-up with the loveable rogue Clement. The book ends well. I was very pleased with the final outcome.

HOWEVER, Pearson does it again. He ruins it again by making David Nunn's character a pedantic bore and a whiner. He did the same with Sir Charles in book 2. Seriously, if I wanted to learn more about the counselling process, the political process, ethics etc. I would not choose the fiction genre. The writer drones on and on about the counselling process and Nunn's relationship with his wife and whenever the opportunity arises, is not slow to repeat in a boring fashion . Pearson's plots are enjoyed for being 'vaguely believable' so, why the need to be so laboriously correct regarding Nunn's profession???

I got Clement in book 1. I did not need to be told word by word, over and over how Clement eats, farts, walks etc. Pearson a lot more show not tell please?