Secret Electric Mind: A Mystery

by Dave Parrish

“Secret Electric Mind” tells the tale of how a mentally ill newspaper reporter navigates the truth of his wife’s death, the demons that test him, and the mysteries he chases. Months after a car accident unravels Sam Carson’s life, he awakens to a reality without his beloved wife Claire. He is constantly relearning of the loss as his unreliable memory misdirects his recovery and grief. Sam’s bloodhound reporter instincts, mixed with mania, lead him on a meandering mix of mysteries of killer cops and missing college students, while coming to terms with what happened to Claire. Interwoven with his spotty recovery are interactions with forces that may be friend or foe. Sam struggles to unwrap who he can trust and decide whether he can create a life without Claire.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 25, 2024

Reviews

[Nicola McDonagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am not a huge fan of present-tense narrative, I became immersed in this tragic story of a man’s struggle with mental health issues and his quest to discover the truth behind the death of his wife. The present tense suits the narrative perfectly, since Sam experiences sporadic memory loss due to the trauma of losing his wife, Claire. Using this device creates a sense of urgency and confusion, which aptly reflects the protagonist's muddled mind.

Characters are well developed, and the backstory is neatly woven into the dialogue and flashbacks of Sam’s fragmented memory. His guilt at being told he killed his wife in a road accident fuels his self-loathing as he reluctantly takes on a job to track down a missing cop. As a journalist, he accepts the offer and so begins his nightmare journey into a world of corruption, painful lies, and intrigue.

On the whole, this book is well written with some lovely one-liners, such as ‘I once was a knife; now I’m a spoon.’ A simple sentence that says so much about Sam’s inner emotional trauma.

I did find some of the results Sam gets during his investigations somewhat too convenient. I wasn’t totally convinced that all of his ruses to get information worked out so perfectly. Often, people just blurted out exactly what Sam needed to know without much encouragement from him. Events seemed to fall into place far too quickly and at just the right time for Sam to connect the dots. This part of the story felt rushed and contrived. But that did not stop me from enjoying the emotional rollercoaster of Sam’s adventures into the shady side of law enforcement. 

The ending is both harrowing and deeply emotional when Sam finally learns the truth is not what he expected.

Fast-paced and full of action, this book is a great read for anyone who enjoys a gripping, psychological thriller with an intriguing mystery full of twists and turns that grabs your attention from beginning to end.

[B.T. Skylark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dave Parrish’s Secret Electric Mind is an offbeat, cerebral thriller that pulses with energy, eccentricity, and emotional depth. At first glance, it’s a mystery—yes—but beneath the surface it’s a layered exploration of memory, trauma, and perception, all filtered through a protagonist who is as unreliable as he is strangely magnetic.

The story centres on Blake, a man haunted by fragmented memories and cryptic visions that begin to blur the line between delusion and something more profound. Parrish constructs a narrative that dances between reality and illusion, where conspiracy, neuroscience, and philosophy intertwine in a way that keeps the reader slightly off balance—but always intrigued. The pacing is taut, the prose electric (aptly named), and there’s a surrealism that recalls the best of David Lynch or Don DeLillo.

What truly sets this book apart, though, is its voice. Parrish writes with a wry, sharp edge and an awareness of the absurd that gives Secret Electric Mind its charm. The mystery unfolds not only in plot twists, but in the slow unravelling of Blake’s consciousness—forcing readers to question the very nature of truth.

This isn’t a conventional whodunit—it’s more existential than procedural—but for readers who like their thrillers with psychological complexity, abstract undertones, and a dose of paranoia, Secret Electric Mind is a bold and rewarding read. A brain-bending noir that lingers long after the final page.

[Terrence Poppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Electric Mind by debut novelist Dave Parrish is an unusual mystery told from the point of view of a man suffering from severe psychosis triggered by his wife’s death from an auto accident. Finding out how it happened is the central question driving Sam Carson, the pill-popping protagonist whose memory has been fried by electroshock therapy inflicted on him in a mental institution where he ended up after the accident. He’s a former news reporter and gets pulled into investigations he hopes will clarify things for him. His obsession about finding how the accident happened serves to pull the reader into the story, and the ending, though tragic, is satisfying.

But not so the journey through the story: too many names, too many situations, too much back and forth traveling to distant locations, too many irrelevant side trips—making it a challenge to keep everything straight. The author perhaps inadvertently makes this point when he crowds nine cops into Sam’s hospital room after he’s been shot by a mystery assailant. Everyone wants something from Sam, but what he wants is to understand how his wife died. He agonizes over the thought that he caused her death. But how? He keeps that question alive throughout, pulling the reader along despite the excesses of the storytelling.

[Matt Mememaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Electric Mind by David Parrish is a deep-rooted psychological thriller that will immerse you in the hazy, disoriented world of Samuel Carson, whose memories have been scrambled by the harsh jolts of electroconvulsive therapy. As he navigates the fog of his mind, he is haunted by the profound grief over his wife Claire's death and the shadowy accusation of a felony that he may or may not have committed. This psychological thriller grips you with raw, unfiltered emotion and a labyrinth of enigmas, one that may speak to the tortured mind of the author.

You need to imagine shady law enforcement officers lurking in the background, cryptic threats lingering like storm clouds, and unsettling questions about the true chain of events. Samuel's anguish and his sister-in-law Kerry's unwavering tough love propel the narrative forward. The dialogue can be awkward at times, however this in my opinion adds to the realism and the drama within the story.

Though not without its flaws, the genuine emotion and captivating intrigue compel you to keep turning the pages. Prepare for a slightly chaotic yet deep human journey that places a heavy emphasis on the characters' emotional landscapes. For fans of the psychological thriller genre, I would recommend this one.

[Nick Malara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Electric Mind by David Parrish is a dark, twisting psychological thriller that pulls you deep into the fractured mind of Samuel Carson, a man caught between memory loss, guilt, and a dangerous conspiracy. From the opening execution scene to the relentless unraveling of his past, the story keeps you questioning what’s real and who can be trusted.

The strengths are clear: Parrish’s gritty first-person writing makes you feel every moment of Sam’s paranoia and confusion, and the mystery surrounding his wife Claire’s death is genuinely compelling. The tension between Sam and his sister-in-law Kerry adds both heart and suspicion, keeping the emotional stakes high.

That said, the novel can feel overcrowded with conspiracies and side characters, and Sam’s repeated memory lapses sometimes slow the pacing. Still, the raw atmosphere and unsettling suspense more than make up for it.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators and a mix of noir grit and emotional intensity, Secret Electric Mind is well worth the read.

[Sean Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Secret Electric Mind while out camping, and the wild, shadowy forest around me couldn’t have been a better match for the book’s atmosphere. The rustling trees, distant animal calls, and flicker of the campfire felt like they were alive in the story, adding an eerie layer to Sam Carson’s already tense and disoriented world!

A gripping psychological mystery that blends grief, unreliable memory, and unsettling encounters into a journey I couldn't out down too easily. The twists are delightful, and the persistent uncertainty about who to trust added some good juice. I softly appreciated how the emotional weight of Sam’s loss was balanced with the intrigue of the mysteries he chases.

The pacing was crafted with good intention, and even in the gentler moments, I noticed an undercurrent of tension... By the end, I felt like I had been through something almost personally :) A powerful and atmospheric read for sure. I would recommend it.

[Nataliesimmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret Electric Mind is a haunting and brilliantly written psychological journey that had me hooked from the first chapter. Sam Carson, the main character, is equal parts tragic and compelling. His descent into grief, mania, and confusion is so vividly portrayed that it feels like you’re living inside his fractured mind.
The author does a fantastic job of blurring the line between reality and delusion, making you question everything just as Sam does. The unraveling mystery, tangled in police corruption, missing students, and the aching loss of Claire kept me turning pages late into the night.
It’s not just a mystery; it’s an emotional exploration of love, loss, mental illness, and resilience. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a dark psychological edge and a touch of investigative grit, this one’s for you.

[Gordon Blitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mystery writer, there are certain mandates I expect when reading a book. Dave Parrish’s Secret Electric Mind satisfied my expectations-especially a mystery that is character driven. The protagonist Samuel Carson is so well developed-warts and all, that he anchors the story compellingly. I don’t normally enjoy first person narratives but Parrish avoided those pitfalls by using first tense to rack up the suspense. His relationship with his wife Claire is beautifully drawn, too. A well earned ending despite multiple twists.

[Chad Clement · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Haunting and Unusual Mystery

Secret Electric Mind is not your typical mystery novel. It is raw, emotional, and at times unsettling as it dives into grief, mental illness, and blurred realities. The main character, Sam, is both sympathetic and frustrating, which makes the story feel very human. There were moments where the pacing felt uneven and the meandering style could be confusing, but that almost seemed to mirror Sam’s fractured state of mind. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and unique read that lingers with you after you close the book.

[Lunavera Casen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really got under my skin in the best way. Secret Electric Mind is raw, emotional, and totally unpredictable. Sam’s mental state makes every chapter feel like a puzzle, and I couldn’t stop flipping pages. Heartbreaking, intense, and beautifully written. Definitely worth reading.

[Gideon Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dialogue was a little heavier than I am accustomed to, and I am glad I stuck with it because the payoff at the end made the journey well worth the effort. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Would recommend to others.