Don't Look Down [Paperback]

David Laing Dawson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2009

Four men, age 18 to 81, have murdered, and now share a room in the secure forensic psychiatry ward of a mental hospital. Who better to get inside their heads, and find both the tragedy and comedy of their lives than Canadian psychiatrist and novelist David Laing Dawson. Three of Dawson's previous novels, Last Rights, Double Blind, and Essondale have been published in seven European countries, the US and the UK. Dawson's novels have been described as a cross between Elmore Leonard and Seinfeld and as close to reality as it gets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Bridgeross Communications (August 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981003753
• ISBN-13: 978-0981003757
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,315,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars `There are always a few pieces missing.', October 17, 2009

By 

J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Look Down (Paperback)

Four men, aged between 18 and 81, have murdered others and now share a ward in a secure psychiatric ward in Ontario, Canada. The four men are David, Joseph, Frank and Henry. David is suffering from schizophrenia; Joseph is severely depressed; Frank has completed a ten year prison sentence and has been remanded for a psychiatric assessment; and Henry is confused.

The intersection of these four lives has unexpected moments of comedy as well as tragedy. Their stories, both before they were hospitalised and their shared experiences, make for compelling and at times uncomfortable reading. In this comparatively short (174 pages) novel the author creates a world in which the best and the worst of human behaviour is manifest. I read this novel in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. This is not a comfortable read: exploration of mental illness rarely is. But for me, the novel was well worth reading and it still has me thinking about the characters, their circumstances and their behaviours.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

2.0 out of 5 stars Editor Needed, June 1, 2010

By 

Tania Hutchison (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Look Down (Paperback)

It's very hard to forget while reading this book that it was written by a Canadian psychiatrist. It feels real, and it's clear that the author knows what he's writing about. The problem is the writing - it's heavy, uneven and downright messy in parts. I really wanted to like this book (given the subject matter and the Canadian author) but I was repeatedly taken out of the story because of the writing. A good editor could have helped this book immensely.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read, thought-provoking story, November 30, 2009

By 

S. Deeth "Sheila Deeth" (OR, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Look Down (Paperback)

The idea of a novel by a psychiatrist, telling the tale of four murderers sharing a room, really intrigued me, and I was delighted to get the chance to read Don't Look Down by David Laing Dawson. As I read the opening paragraphs though, I wasn't quite sure what I was in for. Did I really want this kind of detail? The answer, as I soon learned, is yes, because you can't tell half a tale when the character's mind can only see a fraction at a time.

The truth of what the characters have done, and why, grows out of memories and interviews that slowly build to a whole. Henry's fractured memories start to return while Frank falls apart. David takes all the logical steps; it's just his logic that's wrong and not his self. And Joseph learns to separate truth from lies but doesn't like the result.

It all sounds so simple in simple words, but it's not. This novel builds convincing lives and involves the reader deeply in their resolution. Beautifully absorbing internal dialog blends with awkward questions and answers to create a vivid whole--four vivid wholes. And in the end it's hard to accuse the system of failing these men--more like failure was built into the pattern and healing is hard.

It's a sad story, but not too sad; thought-provoking and inspiring too; and one that I'm really glad I've read.