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If The Bed Falls In: A Man in Two Minds; are Either of Them His?
"If you have never read any books by Paul Casselle, then you should know he ranks up along with the greatest authors of this genre. You just can't put it down. He is the new "King" of thrillers. I loved it! Janice." - Amazon Kindle Reader
“A scary look at drug abuse and the always corrupt government. It will twist your mind to keep up.” - Amazon Kindle Reader
"Paul Casselle is a story-teller who deftly weaves his tale into a thrill ride of a page turner...Casselle perfected a realistic world that is unparalleled in other novels." - The Hungry Monster Official Review.
"A superbly written novel..." Wendy Cartmell, Author of the Sgt. Major Crane Thrillers.
..........................
Not the usual psychological thriller...
After half a lifetime trying to come to terms with underachievement, a new terror has suddenly emerged. Tom Friday is now doubting his own sanity.
Maybe due to his past cocaine habit, he is having vivid hallucinations. He increasingly flips into an alternate reality where he is Joseph Miller, a renegade MI6 assassin.
The world is falling apart around him. Crazy conspiracy theories like 9/11, the Illuminati and the One-Percenters tightening strangle-hold on society seem totally real from the perspective of his alter-ego, Joseph. But who is real; Tom or Joseph?
Joseph has a plan to defeat the One-Percenters, but due to being forcibly injected with an experimental CIA drug, he cannot remember what he was going to do.
If he is Tom, he has a serious neurological problem, but if he is Joseph, the world may be on the brink of being enslaved by evil international banks and corrupt governments.
The clock is ticking as loudly as his addled brain. He is a man in two minds; are either of them his?
“A scary look at drug abuse and the always corrupt government. It will twist your mind to keep up.” - Amazon Kindle Reader
"Paul Casselle is a story-teller who deftly weaves his tale into a thrill ride of a page turner...Casselle perfected a realistic world that is unparalleled in other novels." - The Hungry Monster Official Review.
"A superbly written novel..." Wendy Cartmell, Author of the Sgt. Major Crane Thrillers.
..........................
Not the usual psychological thriller...
After half a lifetime trying to come to terms with underachievement, a new terror has suddenly emerged. Tom Friday is now doubting his own sanity.
Maybe due to his past cocaine habit, he is having vivid hallucinations. He increasingly flips into an alternate reality where he is Joseph Miller, a renegade MI6 assassin.
The world is falling apart around him. Crazy conspiracy theories like 9/11, the Illuminati and the One-Percenters tightening strangle-hold on society seem totally real from the perspective of his alter-ego, Joseph. But who is real; Tom or Joseph?
Joseph has a plan to defeat the One-Percenters, but due to being forcibly injected with an experimental CIA drug, he cannot remember what he was going to do.
If he is Tom, he has a serious neurological problem, but if he is Joseph, the world may be on the brink of being enslaved by evil international banks and corrupt governments.
The clock is ticking as loudly as his addled brain. He is a man in two minds; are either of them his?
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Published May 6, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 20, 2017
A really unusual book. What's real what's hallucination? Drug addled and confused. You need to read this to work out which life is actually the real life.
I enjoyed it and it definitely held my attention
I enjoyed it and it definitely held my attention
September 16, 2016
This book was awesome, and I truly enjoyed the thrilling twists & turns.
I love espionage and suspense books, so this one was right up my alley. The action throughout the book kept me glued to it, and there were often times I was surprised by what happened next.
This is by no means a predictable book, so it is best to read the entire thing without trying to figure out what is going to happen. I makes for a edge of the seat read, and I even found myself holding my breath at times wondering what was going to happen.
There is some strong language, so be aware; however, the story line was so good, that I was able to skip over the words that would otherwise have been offensive to me.
In my opinion, this would make an excellent movie. It would be a blockbuster I am sure, but I have been trying to figure out who would play the main characters. Maybe this will become a reality someday, and Paul Casselle with become a legend.
I love espionage and suspense books, so this one was right up my alley. The action throughout the book kept me glued to it, and there were often times I was surprised by what happened next.
This is by no means a predictable book, so it is best to read the entire thing without trying to figure out what is going to happen. I makes for a edge of the seat read, and I even found myself holding my breath at times wondering what was going to happen.
There is some strong language, so be aware; however, the story line was so good, that I was able to skip over the words that would otherwise have been offensive to me.
In my opinion, this would make an excellent movie. It would be a blockbuster I am sure, but I have been trying to figure out who would play the main characters. Maybe this will become a reality someday, and Paul Casselle with become a legend.
March 23, 2017
This book was quite unlike an psychological thriller I have ever read. You're never quite sure if the main character is real or SURreal. This was what I call a "thinker". You really have to pay attention to every little detail, which was not hard for me, because I was entranced by the plot. This was an extra large slice of twisted goodness topped with a heaping bit of crazy and liberally garnished with insanity sprinkles! For every question that you think gets answered, two more arise to take its place. Don't presume to know ANYTHING!
This absolutely delighted and riled up the conspiracy theorist in me. I am now happily hooked on Casselle's brand of crazy!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
This absolutely delighted and riled up the conspiracy theorist in me. I am now happily hooked on Casselle's brand of crazy!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
September 9, 2016
Thank you to author Paul Casselle for this Kindle copy of If The Bed Falls In. Also, thank you to Goodreads for hosting this opportunity through the First Reads program.
I had mixed thoughts on If The Bed Falls In. I liked the premise and story, and the action kept coming to keep me interested. Just a few areas I thought were a bit weak, and could use some firming up, but mostly a solid story. Perhaps a few to many characters, but once the link between characters on both sides of the mirror were made, it moved along pretty well. There are a several editorial issues in this Kindle version, and not to justify the oversights, there were not many compared to a lot of the e-reader books I've had.
Overall, I liked it and would recommend it to you. A good read. I just hope the Fiesta is OK, parked where it is!
I had mixed thoughts on If The Bed Falls In. I liked the premise and story, and the action kept coming to keep me interested. Just a few areas I thought were a bit weak, and could use some firming up, but mostly a solid story. Perhaps a few to many characters, but once the link between characters on both sides of the mirror were made, it moved along pretty well. There are a several editorial issues in this Kindle version, and not to justify the oversights, there were not many compared to a lot of the e-reader books I've had.
Overall, I liked it and would recommend it to you. A good read. I just hope the Fiesta is OK, parked where it is!
August 20, 2017
This is well written and there are some interesting characters but to be honest I just found it all too confusing. About 20% through I thought there was a breakthrough moment and I could relax and settle into the read but without wishing to give too much away, the plot flipped repeatedly and I just got lost. Even having finished the book and the epilogue I still have unresolved questions which it appears may be answered by reading the next book. I may return to it at some point but at the moment I need to read something a bit more straightforward.
March 27, 2017
Great book!!! Paul Casselle really knows how to bring the psychological suspense in spades. This story kept me turning pages. The way his characters Tom and Joseph are portrayed is phenomenal. Just when things start to make perfect sense another curve ball or monkey wrench gets thrown in! Can't wait to read more by this author.
September 4, 2016
What a fab story!!!
I couldn't put it down as I HAD to find out who Tom was. I'm recommending anybody who wants a thrilling tale to purchase this book and let Mr casselle lead you into a world of intrigue.
Well worth a buying!
I couldn't put it down as I HAD to find out who Tom was. I'm recommending anybody who wants a thrilling tale to purchase this book and let Mr casselle lead you into a world of intrigue.
Well worth a buying!
March 9, 2016
very good
January 22, 2017
Great reading! A surreal thriller that kept me guessing up until the very end.
Read
May 13, 2017read it, read it, read it, read it, read it, READ it! Oh My Gosh, read it !!!!
March 20, 2017
Oh My Gosh! I need more stars...
I think I've got a new favourite author.
Paul Casselle"s skill with detail is incredible.
He gives you everything you need without making it too busy to read.
It was like watching a movie in your mind!
Bits of humour through his characters' dialogue were perfectly timed.
There is always a risk of confusion when an author uses flash backs. Not here!
All the violence is graphic and matter of fact. No dragging it on until it becomes too messy. That's one more thing I appreciate.
Most of the characters can hold there own but his main male character ( or two , depending how you look at it) is brilliantly written.
Just when you think you know what's really happening a little twists make your brain go : Whaaaa????
His fictional interpretation of what is going on in the world can be quite unsettling.
I expect that to be the case in its sequel : AS Mad AS Hell
A review will definitely be made as soon as I can read this 2nd book of the 'Bedfellows Thriller Series'
March 20, 2017
Oh My Gosh! I need more stars...
I think I've got a new favourite author.
Paul Casselle"s skill with detail is incredible.
He gives you everything you need without making it too busy to read.
It was like watching a movie in your mind!
Bits of humour through his characters' dialogue were perfectly timed.
There is always a risk of confusion when an author uses flash backs. Not here!
All the violence is graphic and matter of fact. No dragging it on until it becomes too messy. That's one more thing I appreciate.
Most of the characters can hold there own but his main male character ( or two , depending how you look at it) is brilliantly written.
Just when you think you know what's really happening a little twists make your brain go : Whaaaa????
His fictional interpretation of what is going on in the world can be quite unsettling.
I expect that to be the case in its sequel : AS Mad AS Hell
A review will definitely be made as soon as I can read this 2nd book of the 'Bedfellows Thriller Series'
April 19, 2017
Utterly Unique!
Paul Casselle, author of If The Bed Falls In: A man in two minds; are either of them his?, Book One – ‘BEDFELLOWS’ series, has a unique capacity as a psychological thriller writer, in my humble opinion.
The idea that someone might have two personalities is not a new one. Neither is it new that he may not know which one is his true nature. But when Paul Casselle describes his main character - Tom Friday or is it Joseph Miller, it suddenly hits home that Tom has a totally different physic from Joseph. Each persona is at opposing ends of the personality, ambition, fitness, and intelligence spectrum. So begins the truly ingenious idea that you the reader are taking the same journey both personas are making.
Tom Friday is an ordinary single man in his middle years. He’s a photographer with a quirky group of friends. He struggles with depressive thoughts, his waistline, his fitness, and how life hasn’t dealt him anything too spectacular. Contrast this to Joseph Smith who is late thirties, still has hair, no beer table in front of him, and is an MI6 agent.
I haven't read any other books by Paul as yet, although I’m looking forward to it.
I found this to be a totally enjoyable read. I love the detail level and the twists and turns that are involved, but what I enjoyed most was the way it was written. The way the language is put together makes you want to read more.
I further think the book cover is amazing and captures the essence of the story, more so than the title for me.
My least favourite place in the book is the end. One reason, (I don’t want to give away plot here), is that simply put it didn’t resolve for me who he was. There’s a great deal of information at the end to process to help with this, but it didn’t really help me as the reader—I wanted this character for another story.
I would recommend this to other thriller lovers who like to be kept guessing from start to finish. The unique story set in a world similar to ours explores the complexities of our culture allowing one percent of the top paid to run things.
It is like falling down a rabbit hole trying to work out where you will land—and you get decide what’s gone on in the end. Bravo!
I received a free copy of the book for an honest and voluntary review.
Paul Casselle, author of If The Bed Falls In: A man in two minds; are either of them his?, Book One – ‘BEDFELLOWS’ series, has a unique capacity as a psychological thriller writer, in my humble opinion.
The idea that someone might have two personalities is not a new one. Neither is it new that he may not know which one is his true nature. But when Paul Casselle describes his main character - Tom Friday or is it Joseph Miller, it suddenly hits home that Tom has a totally different physic from Joseph. Each persona is at opposing ends of the personality, ambition, fitness, and intelligence spectrum. So begins the truly ingenious idea that you the reader are taking the same journey both personas are making.
Tom Friday is an ordinary single man in his middle years. He’s a photographer with a quirky group of friends. He struggles with depressive thoughts, his waistline, his fitness, and how life hasn’t dealt him anything too spectacular. Contrast this to Joseph Smith who is late thirties, still has hair, no beer table in front of him, and is an MI6 agent.
I haven't read any other books by Paul as yet, although I’m looking forward to it.
I found this to be a totally enjoyable read. I love the detail level and the twists and turns that are involved, but what I enjoyed most was the way it was written. The way the language is put together makes you want to read more.I further think the book cover is amazing and captures the essence of the story, more so than the title for me.
My least favourite place in the book is the end. One reason, (I don’t want to give away plot here), is that simply put it didn’t resolve for me who he was. There’s a great deal of information at the end to process to help with this, but it didn’t really help me as the reader—I wanted this character for another story.
I would recommend this to other thriller lovers who like to be kept guessing from start to finish. The unique story set in a world similar to ours explores the complexities of our culture allowing one percent of the top paid to run things.
It is like falling down a rabbit hole trying to work out where you will land—and you get decide what’s gone on in the end. Bravo!
I received a free copy of the book for an honest and voluntary review.
January 18, 2019
Wow! Brilliantly twisted! This book is an amazing psychological thriller that never lets up. Superb characters and detail. By the end I was beginning to doubt my own sanity! A must read!
February 8, 2019
The story made me so sad and uncomfortable that I couldn’t read past the third chapter. Obviously, excellent writing. Poor writing skills could never have reached so deeply into my heart.
January 13, 2019
WOW!!
October 9, 2017
This was my second go at this book. I first picked it up almost a year ago (the cover caught my attention), but set it aside after a few chapters. Although I can’t remember the specifics of why, it may have been due to the confusing start. And even the second time, I was scratching my head for a while. The first jump from Tom to Joseph was rather abrupt, but I found I enjoyed the convoluted twists that followed their dissociation.
Be warned: There were multiple instances of sex, swearing, and graphic violence. For me, it added a gritty realism to the story, but it definitely won’t appeal to everyone. Sooo…heads up, guys.
Mr. Casselle presented a lot of characters, which made it a little hard to keep track of who was when and where at times. But you’ll remember the truly important ones. One thing that did strike me as odd—and disconcerting—about the main character(s) was the fact that Tom and Joseph had very different physical appearances. It certainly served to remind the reader of their very different…well…everything. I’m pretty sure we were meant to be unsettled by that, actually…
As for writing style, the detail and intricacy of “If the Bed Falls In” was a level above many thrillers I’ve read over that last few years. I’m not usually a fan of novels with heavy political themes, but I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next in the series. Mr. Casselle has a way with words that was alternately pompous (“highly ambrosial tooth” for ‘sweet tooth’) and beautifully vivid (his description of how London devours its citizens). I found myself both frustrated and drawn in, which was a very odd experience as a reader.
In addition to an intriguing storyline and engaging characters, “If the Bed Falls In” was very well edited. If there were typos, they were few and far between and didn’t detract from the story. Thank you, Mr. Casselle, for your diligence and attention to this important detail.
The reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the ending. I can’t say much without giving away too much, but suffice it to say I was less than satisfied with where Mr. Casselle left us. There was a lot of rapid-fire information dumped in at the end…without really giving us an adequate resolution to the big questions and I vehemently dislike that feeling of being left hanging.
Bottom line: The beginning is a little murky and the ending will be frustrating for some, but if you stick with it, I promise you won’t regret the investment. I recommend this for lovers of unpredictable thrillers with heavy political overtones.
Review first appears on Notes from 'Round the Bend
Be warned: There were multiple instances of sex, swearing, and graphic violence. For me, it added a gritty realism to the story, but it definitely won’t appeal to everyone. Sooo…heads up, guys.
Mr. Casselle presented a lot of characters, which made it a little hard to keep track of who was when and where at times. But you’ll remember the truly important ones. One thing that did strike me as odd—and disconcerting—about the main character(s) was the fact that Tom and Joseph had very different physical appearances. It certainly served to remind the reader of their very different…well…everything. I’m pretty sure we were meant to be unsettled by that, actually…
As for writing style, the detail and intricacy of “If the Bed Falls In” was a level above many thrillers I’ve read over that last few years. I’m not usually a fan of novels with heavy political themes, but I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next in the series. Mr. Casselle has a way with words that was alternately pompous (“highly ambrosial tooth” for ‘sweet tooth’) and beautifully vivid (his description of how London devours its citizens). I found myself both frustrated and drawn in, which was a very odd experience as a reader.
In addition to an intriguing storyline and engaging characters, “If the Bed Falls In” was very well edited. If there were typos, they were few and far between and didn’t detract from the story. Thank you, Mr. Casselle, for your diligence and attention to this important detail.
The reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars is because of the ending. I can’t say much without giving away too much, but suffice it to say I was less than satisfied with where Mr. Casselle left us. There was a lot of rapid-fire information dumped in at the end…without really giving us an adequate resolution to the big questions and I vehemently dislike that feeling of being left hanging.
Bottom line: The beginning is a little murky and the ending will be frustrating for some, but if you stick with it, I promise you won’t regret the investment. I recommend this for lovers of unpredictable thrillers with heavy political overtones.
Review first appears on Notes from 'Round the Bend
December 26, 2018
I wasn’t sure if I would like this James Bond-like thriller at first from the subject matter (a little politics, CIA and other agencies, etc), but I found myself very quickly pulled into the story and looking for time to read it. The main lead finds himself being flipped back and forth between 2 different lives, one of an average overweight guy who used to be a drug user and is now leading a boring life just going through the day-to-day motions, and another as a James Bond-like character working possibly as a sort of double agent and dealing with constant action. All of his friends and acquaintances show up in both lives as different people, and he can’t figure out which life is his real one, and which is possibly a drug-induced hallucination, or even who he should trust in either life. Just when he thinks he’s figured out which one is the real one, something happens that switches him back to thinking it’s the other life. The book ends with a major cliffhanger to drive anyone mad to look for the 2nd book. I managed to find a free copy of this to try the author, but it’s well worth the money to buy it.
December 14, 2018
I was at first very confused, thought this may have been about a split personality. As I read further I understood the tangled web of lies, secrets, backstabbing and inane nastiness that held this plot from being instantly noticeable. The tale was perfectly crafted with believable events. The characters had their own love/hate battles and average issues we all wish we didn't that made them fully real people to me.
I never give spoiler reviews. Just buckle up and take the ride, it is a great read.
I never give spoiler reviews. Just buckle up and take the ride, it is a great read.
March 31, 2017
Because I read Casselle's non-fiction book, New World Order? No Way Out?, I was interested to see how he would handle those ideas in fictional format. I think he did a great job, but the sex scenes, swearing, and horrific violence don't appeal to me, hence the rating. If those kinds of things don't bother you, this is probably a five-star rating. It's worth reading as a political commentary (warning on content, so if you're squeamish, don't bother). I'm planning on reading his next novel because of the political information he shares. However, had I not started with his non-fiction book, I probably would have quit reading before the end of the first chapter. Yes, it's that graphic.
June 20, 2018
If The Bed Falls In is a 320-page psychological thriller by Paul Casselle. It is difficult to know how interesting the cover and title are until after reading the entire novel. It was difficult for me to engage with the novel until Chapter Four. After that point, the novel was both interesting, intriguing, and confusing. Several of the principal characters have at least two names. That supports the psychological thriller component. This novel is a spy novel, a fantasy, a psychological thriller, and has an element that strays into philosophy. All elements display flashes of understated, sophisticated humor. It spent too long on my TBR shelf because of its slow start. I began the novel a couple of times, but the beginning was not engaging. There was something in the author’s promotional email that caused me to get past the slow beginning and now I am a Paul Casselle fan.
Tom begins the story in a state of despair. It is a generalized state and has no specific purpose; it is despair about life in general. Tom is a photographer of models, actors, and celebrities but it is almost a placeholder occupation as if he were waiting for something else to come along. Sarah is a girlfriend and companion which means they don’t sleep together daily. Longtime friends, Sarah has witnessed Tom’s slide into and out of addiction to various drugs of which cocaine was only one. Sarah posits that it is his past drug addiction that accounts for his despair and occasional delusions about what is real. Sarah is a doctor and suggests MRI scans to see if there is a physical reason for depression and flashes of déjà vu. This feeling is the center of the psychological element of the story.
Tom Friday sometimes fades away to become Joseph Miller. Tom and Joseph are quite different physically. Joseph is the agent 007 archetype; he is a ninja, he has fighting skills, he can develop plans to get out of impossible situations at a moment’s notice, skilled in all types of weaponry and unarmed combat and possessing a youthful physique that allows him to function in a hostile world, Joseph always has a plan B. Tom is more middle age, he wheezes as he ascends the fire escape to his photography loft, and he is conscious of his middle-age paunch. Tom and Joseph fade in and out of existence at unpredictable times in disparate circumstances that do not have a common denominator. As the story proceeds, the two will become conscious of each other and there will be increasing bleed over of the two existences. This is where the psychological element encompasses fantasy.
A further element of fantasy is Joseph’s existence and adventures in his secret agent life. Joseph is presumably MI6 (British). He might be a member of a rogue cabal in MI6 called the Bedfellows. He might even be its leader, Spring, but he is not sure of that. These uncertainties lead him to violent incidents in opposition to MI6, the CIA, and other characters around him that may have wronged him in the past and are just out for revenge. Or maybe Joseph wronged them. Joseph has a need to figure this out because with or without Joseph the cabal Bedfellows is on a mission to assassinate the President of the United States. Does he support the idea? Should he be doing something to thwart the plan? This is the spy element of the story and will please fans of that genre. For those with experience in intelligence work, this is more fantasy than anything else. Events in this section are improbable in reality. Joseph will be able to gain access to assassinate the US president in ways that make the combined security forces of several agencies and several countries appear inept. That is fantasy.
Readers will have to pay attention to characters that appear in each world but have different names. This quote is a small sample. “The door opened slowly and a head peered around it. Joseph’s stomach flipped a number of times. Standing in the doorway, wearing a white doctor’s coat, was Tilda. “Ah, there you are, Sarah,” said Martha. Sarah smiled at Joseph. “Hi, Tom,” she said.” (Kindle locations 3815-3818). The quotation only involves the main characters. Joseph is Tom. Tilda is Sarah. All important characters in the story have alternate names. There are five people in the cabal Bedfellows. They have code names, such as The Pound and The Voice. Readers will have to match these to their real identities as they wind their way to their fates, many of which involve death. Who are the good guys? Who is doing the killing? Killers seem to come from outside MI6, the CIA, and Bedfellows.
There are many instances of profound philosophizing that drag the action down. Here is a sample of fuzzy thought that is repeated in several places. Tom is sometimes expressing himself to others and sometimes it is an internal dialogue within himself. I found it repetitious. This is in response to Joseph asking Cyril if Cyril thinks he (Cyril) is a bad person. Cyril says “no,” then Joseph responds with “People don’t. Even those that think they do, in reality they don’t. Everyone justifies what they do because they think they have good reason. Everyone thinks they stand firmly on the side of the righteous, but the truth is, there is no side labelled righteous; there is only what we choose to do and the consequences of those choices.” (Kindle Locations 2695-2697). A reader might think the characters are examining assassin angst over the necessity to kill without question. Not true. They are commenting on the Greek economic debt crisis.
However, the above hints at a one-line summation of the philosophy of the book. I would lose a friendship if someone said this to me in a social setting. “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” (Kindle locations 3895-3896). Again, this is repeated in slightly different guises throughout the story.
Following a model of repetition: I am a Paul Casselle fan. I will read more of his work because I like the way he embeds a lot of his situations in humor. I didn’t quote any of those instances because they would not survive out of context. I gave this five Amazon stars for the variety of plots, subplots, and the author’s writing style.
Tom begins the story in a state of despair. It is a generalized state and has no specific purpose; it is despair about life in general. Tom is a photographer of models, actors, and celebrities but it is almost a placeholder occupation as if he were waiting for something else to come along. Sarah is a girlfriend and companion which means they don’t sleep together daily. Longtime friends, Sarah has witnessed Tom’s slide into and out of addiction to various drugs of which cocaine was only one. Sarah posits that it is his past drug addiction that accounts for his despair and occasional delusions about what is real. Sarah is a doctor and suggests MRI scans to see if there is a physical reason for depression and flashes of déjà vu. This feeling is the center of the psychological element of the story.
Tom Friday sometimes fades away to become Joseph Miller. Tom and Joseph are quite different physically. Joseph is the agent 007 archetype; he is a ninja, he has fighting skills, he can develop plans to get out of impossible situations at a moment’s notice, skilled in all types of weaponry and unarmed combat and possessing a youthful physique that allows him to function in a hostile world, Joseph always has a plan B. Tom is more middle age, he wheezes as he ascends the fire escape to his photography loft, and he is conscious of his middle-age paunch. Tom and Joseph fade in and out of existence at unpredictable times in disparate circumstances that do not have a common denominator. As the story proceeds, the two will become conscious of each other and there will be increasing bleed over of the two existences. This is where the psychological element encompasses fantasy.
A further element of fantasy is Joseph’s existence and adventures in his secret agent life. Joseph is presumably MI6 (British). He might be a member of a rogue cabal in MI6 called the Bedfellows. He might even be its leader, Spring, but he is not sure of that. These uncertainties lead him to violent incidents in opposition to MI6, the CIA, and other characters around him that may have wronged him in the past and are just out for revenge. Or maybe Joseph wronged them. Joseph has a need to figure this out because with or without Joseph the cabal Bedfellows is on a mission to assassinate the President of the United States. Does he support the idea? Should he be doing something to thwart the plan? This is the spy element of the story and will please fans of that genre. For those with experience in intelligence work, this is more fantasy than anything else. Events in this section are improbable in reality. Joseph will be able to gain access to assassinate the US president in ways that make the combined security forces of several agencies and several countries appear inept. That is fantasy.
Readers will have to pay attention to characters that appear in each world but have different names. This quote is a small sample. “The door opened slowly and a head peered around it. Joseph’s stomach flipped a number of times. Standing in the doorway, wearing a white doctor’s coat, was Tilda. “Ah, there you are, Sarah,” said Martha. Sarah smiled at Joseph. “Hi, Tom,” she said.” (Kindle locations 3815-3818). The quotation only involves the main characters. Joseph is Tom. Tilda is Sarah. All important characters in the story have alternate names. There are five people in the cabal Bedfellows. They have code names, such as The Pound and The Voice. Readers will have to match these to their real identities as they wind their way to their fates, many of which involve death. Who are the good guys? Who is doing the killing? Killers seem to come from outside MI6, the CIA, and Bedfellows.
There are many instances of profound philosophizing that drag the action down. Here is a sample of fuzzy thought that is repeated in several places. Tom is sometimes expressing himself to others and sometimes it is an internal dialogue within himself. I found it repetitious. This is in response to Joseph asking Cyril if Cyril thinks he (Cyril) is a bad person. Cyril says “no,” then Joseph responds with “People don’t. Even those that think they do, in reality they don’t. Everyone justifies what they do because they think they have good reason. Everyone thinks they stand firmly on the side of the righteous, but the truth is, there is no side labelled righteous; there is only what we choose to do and the consequences of those choices.” (Kindle Locations 2695-2697). A reader might think the characters are examining assassin angst over the necessity to kill without question. Not true. They are commenting on the Greek economic debt crisis.
However, the above hints at a one-line summation of the philosophy of the book. I would lose a friendship if someone said this to me in a social setting. “We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.” (Kindle locations 3895-3896). Again, this is repeated in slightly different guises throughout the story.
Following a model of repetition: I am a Paul Casselle fan. I will read more of his work because I like the way he embeds a lot of his situations in humor. I didn’t quote any of those instances because they would not survive out of context. I gave this five Amazon stars for the variety of plots, subplots, and the author’s writing style.
October 22, 2016
Very well written with a flair for descriptive words that neither bore you or seem irrelevant to the story at hand. Is the man Tom, a middle aged portrait photographer or an MI6 agent named Joseph gone rogue ? The cause is either a party hardy history of cocaine or an experimental CIA developed drug. Is is real or is it all a hallucination ?
A book of fully developed characters who are so real that one begins to question who is who and what is what. There are many violent scenes and deaths as this MI6 agent moves forward to kill the President of the USA, or is the violence all in the drug addled and confused mind of a photographer? The language can be quite 'blue' and raw, but that goes with the reality, er, mindset of the character/s.
Paul Casselle has written a masterpiece of intrigue, internal struggle and delves into the unreal, or is it ? A book that I could not put down and spent the night wide awake and page turning while hoping the book would not quite end, not yet anyway. Thankfully there is book 2......... got to go, book 2 and Tom, or is it Joseph, awaits !
A book of fully developed characters who are so real that one begins to question who is who and what is what. There are many violent scenes and deaths as this MI6 agent moves forward to kill the President of the USA, or is the violence all in the drug addled and confused mind of a photographer? The language can be quite 'blue' and raw, but that goes with the reality, er, mindset of the character/s.
Paul Casselle has written a masterpiece of intrigue, internal struggle and delves into the unreal, or is it ? A book that I could not put down and spent the night wide awake and page turning while hoping the book would not quite end, not yet anyway. Thankfully there is book 2......... got to go, book 2 and Tom, or is it Joseph, awaits !
October 12, 2016
I enjoy a good book no matter what genre. Paul Casselle enjoyed writing this, it's clear from the characters he created, especially Cyril. He's my favorite. Keep imagining a young John Cleese here...
Tom, or is it Joe, well Tom is either Joe, who is a main assassin for the British dirty tricks department, and Joe, or is it Tom, is a middle-aged cocaine addict and a photographer, who seems to be having hallucinations about being Joe, the assassin. Quite a conundrum this. it takes on more than spies and tricks though. This is a commentary on life and a new world order as seen either by a very confused photographer, a very confused and single-minded assassin - or both. The action is brilliant and I would love to see this as a movie. Thank you to the author for letting me have a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I am hooked on Cyril and Joe/Tom and the very interesting lives they lead! Or is it the lives we lead...
Tom, or is it Joe, well Tom is either Joe, who is a main assassin for the British dirty tricks department, and Joe, or is it Tom, is a middle-aged cocaine addict and a photographer, who seems to be having hallucinations about being Joe, the assassin. Quite a conundrum this. it takes on more than spies and tricks though. This is a commentary on life and a new world order as seen either by a very confused photographer, a very confused and single-minded assassin - or both. The action is brilliant and I would love to see this as a movie. Thank you to the author for letting me have a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I am hooked on Cyril and Joe/Tom and the very interesting lives they lead! Or is it the lives we lead...
March 12, 2017
First off, I received this book from Paul Casselle for my honest review and also being a member of his team.
This story proved to be exciting and mind-boggling. One of those who is it really and what is really going on. One of those that makes you think and when you think you have the right answer, you find out it's not what you expected.
The story starts out harmlessly about a man, Tom who is a photographer. Then it switches to Joseph Miller. an agent. The story progresses and I tried to figure out if Tom was really Joseph or was Joseph really Tom. You really need to read this book to find out. It is not one of your average thriller-suspense stories. But it's one you have to read. And I highly recommend it to everyone.
This story proved to be exciting and mind-boggling. One of those who is it really and what is really going on. One of those that makes you think and when you think you have the right answer, you find out it's not what you expected.
The story starts out harmlessly about a man, Tom who is a photographer. Then it switches to Joseph Miller. an agent. The story progresses and I tried to figure out if Tom was really Joseph or was Joseph really Tom. You really need to read this book to find out. It is not one of your average thriller-suspense stories. But it's one you have to read. And I highly recommend it to everyone.
May 14, 2017
If The Bed Falls In by Paul Casselle is the first installment of the Bedfellows thriller series. Tom Friday, a middle-aged photographer and an ex-cocaine user, starts to have doubts of his real identity leaving him to wonder if he is indeed Tom Friday or a British secret agent.
This was a well written story with twists and turns throughout the book. I did find this story hard to follow at times because of the many times that I had to keep up with Tom's identity, as his identity changed quite often. The characters were well fleshed out, so it was quite an interesting read.
This was a well written story with twists and turns throughout the book. I did find this story hard to follow at times because of the many times that I had to keep up with Tom's identity, as his identity changed quite often. The characters were well fleshed out, so it was quite an interesting read.
February 12, 2017
STRETCHES YOUR MIND
This is one of those books when you wonder if you are going insane. It needs to be read slowly and inwardly digested as the plot twists and turns around the many characters, several of whom have two different names. The idea is intriguing, and the reader is left to puzzle who is telling the truth and who is lying. As a mental exercise it’s a good read so give it a try.
This is one of those books when you wonder if you are going insane. It needs to be read slowly and inwardly digested as the plot twists and turns around the many characters, several of whom have two different names. The idea is intriguing, and the reader is left to puzzle who is telling the truth and who is lying. As a mental exercise it’s a good read so give it a try.
December 8, 2016
Confusing
This book was hard for me to finish.. I kept at it because I hated to admit defeat! I'm still not sure who the main character is. Evidently this us not my kind of book, not sure if was too shallow or too deep!
This book was hard for me to finish.. I kept at it because I hated to admit defeat! I'm still not sure who the main character is. Evidently this us not my kind of book, not sure if was too shallow or too deep!
March 12, 2017
Excellent book!
Amazing twisted psychological thriller. Paul Casselle put a tale of a delusional man in a wild, but understandable format. I'm very impressed with the creativity and skill it took to bring this story to life. Well done
Amazing twisted psychological thriller. Paul Casselle put a tale of a delusional man in a wild, but understandable format. I'm very impressed with the creativity and skill it took to bring this story to life. Well done
March 14, 2017
An excellently written book about one man who's an artist and another who is an agent for the British SIS. Or...is it the same man? He either snorted too much cocaine or was given an injection of bad drugs by the American CIA. Confused? So is the artist and the agent!
March 20, 2017
Not available Kindle Unlimited, liked it but did get confused some {horrible at names, lot of names it seemed like} but overall interesting, but just liked it okay not loved it.
August 4, 2017
This was another read where I was confused as to whether or not I enjoyed it. The concept of one man trying to grasp reality and understand what is real and what is not was completely intriguing to me. In the beginning, there was definitely a sense of confusion of what was going on, but I believe that was intentional. I thought the author did a fairly good job on keeping the reader guessing on which storyline – a depressed photographer or an M16 assassin – is the true one. I know I was flip flopping throughout the read.
However, the writing was a bit bland and simple for me. There were several instances where every sentence in a paragraph began with either a character’s name or an article, which made the story choppy at times. On top of this, when Joseph the assassin, gave a couple of speeches/monologues under intense situations, I found myself rolling my eyes. I felt that the author was trying to show this man had a heart and compassion, but it didn’t feel genuine and it felt kind of out of character for him. There was also a scene where a number of agents come together to discuss the next step in their plan, and honestly, it felt like high schoolers trying to decide who had what role. Again, another eye-rolling moment.
Here is my full review:
https://bookloverblogs.com/2017/08/04...
*This was part of the OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day Program*
However, the writing was a bit bland and simple for me. There were several instances where every sentence in a paragraph began with either a character’s name or an article, which made the story choppy at times. On top of this, when Joseph the assassin, gave a couple of speeches/monologues under intense situations, I found myself rolling my eyes. I felt that the author was trying to show this man had a heart and compassion, but it didn’t feel genuine and it felt kind of out of character for him. There was also a scene where a number of agents come together to discuss the next step in their plan, and honestly, it felt like high schoolers trying to decide who had what role. Again, another eye-rolling moment.
Here is my full review:
https://bookloverblogs.com/2017/08/04...
*This was part of the OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day Program*
May 13, 2017
read it, read it, read it, read it, read it, READ it! Oh My Gosh, read it !!!!
Oh My Gosh! I need more stars...
I think I've got a new favourite author.
Paul Casselle"s skill with detail is incredible.
He gives you everything you need without making it too busy to read.
It was like watching a movie in your mind!
Bits of humour through his characters' dialogue were perfectly timed.
There is always a risk of confusion when an author uses flash backs. Not here!
All the violence is graphic and matter of fact. No dragging it on until it becomes too messy. That's one more thing I appreciate.
Most of the characters can hold there own but his main male character ( or two , depending how you look at it) is brilliantly written.
Just when you think you know what's really happening a little twists make your brain go : Whaaaa????
His fictional interpretation of what is going on in the world can be quite unsettling.
I expect that to be the case in its sequel : AS Mad AS Hell
A review will definitely be made as soon as I can read this 2nd book of the 'Bedfellows Thriller Series'
Oh My Gosh! I need more stars...
I think I've got a new favourite author.
Paul Casselle"s skill with detail is incredible.
He gives you everything you need without making it too busy to read.
It was like watching a movie in your mind!
Bits of humour through his characters' dialogue were perfectly timed.
There is always a risk of confusion when an author uses flash backs. Not here!
All the violence is graphic and matter of fact. No dragging it on until it becomes too messy. That's one more thing I appreciate.
Most of the characters can hold there own but his main male character ( or two , depending how you look at it) is brilliantly written.
Just when you think you know what's really happening a little twists make your brain go : Whaaaa????
His fictional interpretation of what is going on in the world can be quite unsettling.
I expect that to be the case in its sequel : AS Mad AS Hell
A review will definitely be made as soon as I can read this 2nd book of the 'Bedfellows Thriller Series'
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