Model Child

by R.C. Goodwin

From the author of The Stephen Hawking Death Row Fan Club, named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2015, comes Model Child - a psychological thriller. Author R. C. Goodwin tells the story of a tormented father and the path that led him to take a life.

James Shannon, a middle-aged widower with no criminal background or history of mental illness, commits a heinous crime. Shannon confesses immediately and the crime lacks obvious provocation. For family and friends seeking to come to terms with Shannon's actions, the primary question remains: WHY?

Once incarcerated, Shannon becomes mute and refuses to talk to his family and his lawyer. After a transfer to a facility for mentally ill offenders, Shannon befriends Hal Gottlieb, a psychiatrist who slowly develops a relationship with him. As Gottlieb pieces together Shannon's background and the facts surrounding the case, it becomes apparent that things are not as they appear.

267 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2018

About the author

R.C. Goodwin has had 13 short stories published; 3 have won writing contests and 3 others were included in anthologies. His previous books are a prison-based collection of short stories, The STEPHEN HAWKING DEATH ROW FAN CLUB, and a novel, MODEL CHILD. His most recent book is memoir, MAKING GOD LAUGH. The title comes from a proverb: Do you know how to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans. His day job is psychiatry.

Reviews

[Bookclubct · Rating 5 out of 5]

Publisher supplied ARC. This page turner was a perfect way to kick off a new year of reading. We look forward to hosting author R. C. Goodwin HERE to talk about Model Child, his first novel, in April 7, 2018!

[Jessica Allard · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Psychological thriller" doesn't even begin to describe this book. Not only is it intensely thrilling, but it is also brimming with themes such as love and acceptance, guilt and heartache, and every nuanced shade of gray between good and evil. Goodwin, in his very first novel, achieves a superb balance between exciting plot twists and complex, profound character development. The characters truly come to life with all of the emotions and subtleties of real people. I believe that is what transforms Goodwin's fascinating story idea into an enthralling novel. A common, if not overused, way to describe a book is as "riveting" and "hard to put down," but there are times when these terms are the best way to describe the reading experience. I will, without fail, put a book down and forget about it if I do not love it, regardless of who the author is or how interesting the story may have sounded. It is huge that I was literally unable to put this book down and utterly incapable of stopping myself from thinking about it. At every single turn I just HAD to know what was coming next. I guarantee this book will make you think, it will break your heart, it will make you sick, and it will delight you. I might even go so far as to say it will enlighten you and guide you to see human nature in an entirely different light. Seriously, give it a read.

[Terry Willliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Hal Gottlieb, forensic psychiatrist, tackles the most difficult case of his career when he struggles to learn why a good guy, Mr. James Shannon—a person without the typical mental health or criminal baggage associated with folks he's seen over his illustrious career—has decided to kill his daughter in cold blood. But more than a fast-paced psychological thriller, this is a story about Hall Gottlieb, a guy who struggles with his own insecurities—about his marriage, his relationship with his adolescent son and how best to help Mr. Shannon avoid the lethal injection. Dr. Goodwin, whose experience as a forensic psychiatrist lends exquisite credibility to his story, guides the reader through his painstaking investigation to a surprising ending.

[Randomiris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received ARC from publisher.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read an advanced copy of this book. Great psychological study of good & evil.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller is my favorite genre and I expect a lot. MODEL CHILD by R.C. Goodwin did not disappoint. The first paragraph grabs you and by page two you know the details of the horrific crime, the victim, and the unlikely perpetrator. The rest of the story delves into WHY. I found the characters to be well-developed and believable, and I soon became caught-up in their daily true-to-life struggles even while the all-consuming case unfolded. If I had to criticize one picky, common oversight it would be too many characters names that start with the same letter, causing me a brief moment of confusion. That aside, I highly recommend MODEL CHILD as a well-written, gripping, shocking psychological thriller.

[Penny Goetjen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set apart from most mysteries—a whydunnit instead of a whodunnit—MODEL CHILD is a compelling story that imperceptibly wraps a firm grip around your wrist and refuses to let go. It was the first book in a long time I found difficult to put down. There’s an eloquence in R. C. Goodwin’s style of writing, allowing you to slip easily into the rhythm of his words. My next read will be his THE STEPHEN HAWKING DEATH ROW FAN CLUB.

[Sarah Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Model Child by R. C. Goodwin is a dark, unsettling psychological novel about a father who commits an unthinkable crime and the psychiatrist who tries to figure out why. It is slow-paced and thoughtful, rather than focused on action or twists. The story explores questions of morality, human nature, and the hidden forces that drive people to do the unimaginable. Overall, Model Child is a somber, thought-provoking read. Readers who enjoy psychological depth and moral ambiguity will love it.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - I really loved that the story felt possible despite having some truly shocking moments. At times the side story of Dr. Gottleib felt unnecessary but I do think it served a good comparison/mirror situation of what makes a “good” person do “bad” things. Overall I got sucked in and would absolutely recommend for anyone who’s a fan of psychological thrillers!

[Daphne Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. This is a different thriller, you are not figuring out who did it but why. Loved it. This book had me on the edge of my seat.

[cheryl holtman-mucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Model Child by R.C. Goodwin
I met Dr. Goodwin at a holiday market and purchased his books after an interesting conversation with him. This book caught me from the first page and drew me to the last. The book begins with the crime clearly identifying 'who' did it, but not why. Dr. Hal Gottleib is the Consultant Psychiatrist at the Greater Chicago Forensic Institute assigned to the case and the story chronicles his journey to find out the truth about the crime.

This journey touches on so many things; philosophy, theology, morality, love, acceptance and of course mystery. There is also a bit of romance. With all that is going on in this book, Dr. Goodwin managed to keep it focused and peaked my interest into further reading in these areas.

I am looking forward to reading Dr. Goodwin's other book (The Stephen Hawking Death Row Fan Club) as well as any future books he publishes.