A Darkened Mind

This book is a mystery/thriller/crime novel that takes place in New Orleans. John Bowman, a retired Federal Agent , returns, due to the death of his wife, to her family's dilapidated two-story antebellum home in Natchez, Mississippi. While there he receives a call from Capt. Aubrian of the NOPD requesting his assistance on a murder case.

Laurell experienced a long and lonely day because Tim was with his family at a Mardi Gras parade. The park was deserted. One can only spend just so much time on playground equipment and can throw just so many acorns against the trunk of a tree. He headed to a short cut through the golf course rough, to check his private pond before going home. As he walked clouds intruded between him and the sun and the building wind produced bitter cold . His tennis shoes squeaked on the sodden grass. He sat on the roots of a live oak, staring at his sneakers, with his elbows on his knees. It was no fun without Tim. He had thought he would sneak into the pond and wade for golfballs. Because of the weather it had been sometime since they had raided it. The pond would be literally filled with goflballs and Tim would be green with envy from the number Laurell wold likely find, but it was too cold to strip down. It was the worst time for Laurell than he knew. Someone was watching, waiting along the path through the woods to the bridge crossing the bayou....

Jerry Brown is an expert criminal psychology and case work. He has more than twenty years of hands on experience in various parole and probation duties of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, including more than seventeen years as the Chief Administrator of these functions for the court. His primary responsibilities included producing extremely detailed and intensive case studies , evaluations of every felon in the court, and monitoring their activities after release from confinement. His background also includes several years directly with various local and state agencies involved with children's protective services, youth welfare, and Human Services. He has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Mississippi , and Masters of Social Work from Tulane University in New Orleans. A Darkened Mind is his first novel.