“Therapy” is a bit of a surprise. Peter Clement has parlayed his two decades worth of experience as an emergency room physician into a literary career, building a strong fan base and impressive backlist of thriller novels dealing with a wide range of medical issues --- from hospital practice to bioterror. One does not reflexively think of Clement as an author of shorter fiction; his latest effort will go a long way toward changing that perception.

"With “Therapy,” Clement does more in under 30 pages than many authors do with 300-page novels."

“Therapy” begins on the day of John F. Kennedy’s assassination and introduces us to a very troubled boy who is the son of a kindly and understanding small town physician. We are not quite aware of the source or nature of the boy’s problems, at least not at first, other than they involve someone or something he refers to as “The Vulture.” Fast forward five decades, and the boy is now a psychotherapist, counseling victims of abuse and, as we come to learn, is in a position to take treatment a step or two beyond talking. As for his father, we discover the true depth of that gentle doctor’s love and sense of justice.

With “Therapy,” Clement does more in under 30 pages than many authors do with 300-page novels. The ending, while wholly satisfying, left me wanting to read more about the characters and their situations, not to mention the details of how they go about doing what they do and to whom. I have no doubt that “Therapy” will leave you with the same feeling, as well as the desire to explore Clement’s previous works, if you haven’t had the pleasure of doing so already.