As corpses bearing oddly-similar death masks accumulate, the police chief, a recovering alcoholic still troubled by a tragedy from his youth, begins to see a pattern . In the end, all is not as it seems, neither in Fir Creek, nor in end appraisal of this novel billed as psychological suspense, but also effectively blending elements of mystery and literary fiction. Even in a small town, life is not simple, does not lend itself to neat categorization Eyre seems to say, and neither does his book. The journey, however, is at turns poignant and disturbing, it is consistently absorbing, and, in the vein of all good books, readers are apt to find Catharsis resonating after the final page is turned. Which is the author's design.
Catharsis is intended to be commercial fiction, but it also explores serious themes.
I was also very interested in the role personal choices play in shaping people's fates. My experience taught that going forward requires letting go of the past, which is a cathartic endeavor. There seemed the makings of a good story in that, one many people can relate to, given the unprecedented scale and pace of change that now pervades all of our lives. Catharsis is the result. If you had tapped me on the shoulder ten years ago, and told me I'd now be a paralegal, have a college degree, and be publishing a novel, I would've dismissed you as nuts.