Of Sound Mind

A slow-boil, modern noir, Of Sound Mind finds audiometry technician Richard Keene settling into his new, center-city apartment just as he reaches his thirtieth birthday. Formerly confined to a mental institution, Richard struggles to adapt to a world of adult freedom. He possesses abnormally acute powers of hearing and suffers from claustrophobia, yet he feels unleashed to dare fate in high places — in short, he is a bundle of neuroses.

When he believes he hears a strangulation murder committed behind the closed door of a neighboring apartment in his high-rise, Richard confronts a chance for redemption that he knew would come someday. For the incident eerily parallels the defining experience of his childhood, the night he heard — through the walls of his row house — the death struggle of the little girl next door.

But just how reliable are Richard’s perceptions?

A former teacher and corporate personnel director, James Waltzer turned to writing in 1988 and has since written more than 700 features for regional magazines in the Northeast. In addition to his award-winning feature writing, he has authored six books, including novels and nonfiction titles. He lives in Pennsylvania.