Failing Minds

by Vinal Lang

What dark secrets may be hiding inside a couple of ordinary people, that could take them on a dark, twisted journey with an unbelievably shocking end? A dangerous mental illness. Endless, self-destructive drug abuse. Bottled up violence and rage. Chilling personal revelations. A cold-blooded murder.... or all of the above, perhaps?

To the outside world, Jill and James are the perfect couple: she’s a gorgeous curvy brunette and he’s a blond Adonis. Inside their small apartment, it’s a different story. Drug problems and convictions for petty crimes now mean that Jill cannot find work except in a local bar, while James’s bipolar disorder, when left unmedicated, leaves him too unstable to work. Jill is forced to work on occasion at a local strip club to make ends meet and to afford the medications that James needs to behave less like a physically abusive and violent control freak and more like the man she loves with all her heart. When James’s paranoia leads to his exploration of a government lab working on mind control and thought engineering and to the murder of one of the scientists supposedly doing the research, Jill realizes that she is permanently bound to James as an accessory to his crimes—a modern day Bonnie to his Clyde. She must depend on her stripper persona to get James to take his medications and remain the man that she can love and loves her.

Failing Minds is an edgy, gritty novel about how certain events can intertwine, otherwise separate, lives. A story that shows how small decisions, that you make every day, can affect other people's lives in ways, that you may have never imagined. A seductively dark ride through the lives and minds of ordinary people, being pushed into extraordinary circumstances.

This story follows up the book Keeping Minds, with a timeline that runs parallel to that story. This story will unmask parts of the first book in a new and intricate way, while providing its own fascinatingly dark, suspenseful story. Please be sure to read that book first.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2013

About the author

I am the author of stories for open-minded people that want something a little different out of a book. I try to unfold my stories carefully, in a surprising and extraordinary way, all while maintaining my unique writing style. My books could be best described as, true love stories at heart, told with the brains of a mystery, the guts of a thriller, introspect of a psychological drama, and the soul of a suspense saga, all carefully woven into one epic tale.

I focus on emotion in my writing and try to ensure that you, the reader, feel the story, not just read the words. My goal is to give my readers an amazingly emotional, unique reading experience every time.

I may offend some and I may enthrall others but I always remain true to the characters and the feeling of the story. I do not edit my writing to be popular or fit the mainstream. I do not limit myself by writing for a genre, I write stories about life and life spans every genre imaginable. As a result, my stories do not easily fit into limited genres as they tend to span many.

I live near the beach in sunny Dunedin, Florida and enjoy skateboarding and being outdoors. For those of you who don't know, my name is pronounced vinyl...like a record.

Please check my books out if you have a chance! Thanks for reading!

~Vinal


Keeping Minds (Book #1) - 2022
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GTAY6NC

Failing Minds (Book #2) - 2022
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HLXPT2S

Losing Minds (Book #3) -2022
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJ9N52VY

Reviews

[Desiree Streib · Rating 3 out of 5]

As promised by the author, this book is much darker than his first book. I really enjoyed how Lang was able to make the two books parallel each other instead of having a sequel or a prequel. While the lifestyle mentioned in the story is not one I can relate to 100%, I know that for many this book would really hit home. Substance abuse, domestic abuse, and mental illness are a grave reality for many, and this novel puts it all out there. I applaud Mr. Lang for writing a story many authors would not dare attempt, and I look forward to reading what happens next to Anna, Bern, and Jill.

[Paola Jaumot · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't know it could get worse than the first one but it did. My problem with these books is the writing, it's just badly written, there are a lot of errors. The author can't decide if he wants to write on first or third person, so he just does both and literally alternates between paragraphs... like what!!? It also changes perspective so much on the same chapters. The writing is also very basic, there is no depth to it and the characters are always saying the same stuff and expressions.

Apart from the writing, the story is so messed up and I don't think the author did justice to the deep subjects he was writing about, like mental health disorders and abusive relationships. A lot of scenes rubbed me in the wrong way because I could tell that there wasn't much investigation behind these topics.

As I said on my review of the first book, I will continue on with the series because I already have it.

**Thanks to Goodreads for sending me a copy of this book**

[Mkittysamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy from the author through Good reads first reads! All opinions are my own.

I kept on reading after Keeping minds because I had so many questions. I had heard that this book takes place alongside Keeping minds and it is the darker side. It was true, but there is also a light at the end of a tunnel and a story with another young woman named Jill coming to know herself, her mind and reality. There is parallels between both books between the characters and the minds involved. Each has a role to play, and a lesson to learn.
I can't wait for book 3! This was an incredible journey and made me question my own memories and beliefs about humanity.

I recommend both books to all reader although there is some graphic scenes.


<3 Stick hearts!

[Spring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the first book was amazing but I absolutely LOVED this follow up book!

It brought out so much of the first story that was overlooked. It is definitely darker but I see why it had to be. It was a very different reading experience.

I can't wait for the next one!