Beneath McPhearson

In August, 1983, mathematics graduate student, Drew Buchanan, accidently discovers a deep underground installation beneath the university’s chemistry building. When asked, others know nothing about the installation. Drew’s interest grows into an obsession, fueled by the murder of several friends and several attempts on his own life. Further investigation leads to more mystery, suspense, and conspiracy. Who are the people beneath McPhearson? Taking things into his own hands, Drew eventually encounters the most advanced technology the world will ever know. The cost for this discovery could be his life.

Beneath McPhearson is a fiction techno-thriller that takes place in the early 1980s. In 1983, there were few mobile phones and no smart phones, no texting, no social media, and no modern internet. Desktop computers were just becoming popular, portable computers were as big as a suitcase, and mainframe computers ruled the day. The main character, Drew Buchanan, is a normal person like anyone else. The extraordinary anguish and challenge he must endure is terrible. Psychologically he has to deal with leaving the comfort of his old life as he enters a new life filled with danger and plenty of ambiguity. The story is about a mathematics graduate student (Drew Buchanan) who accidentally discovers a secret underground installation a mile beneath McPhearson Labs, the university's chemistry building. No one has ever heard of the installation; building blueprints say it doesn't exist. Soon after Drew's discovery his roommate is murdered; the police are after him; two gunmen try to kill him; and the mystery beneath McPhearson persists. Meanwhile, famous scientists are disappearing; a senator's airplane crashes; and life within the secret underground installation is slowly revealed. With the help of some friends, including his girlfriend Sara, evidence of an unknown technology begins to emerge. Who are the people beneath McPhearson and what are they doing? Further investigation leads to more mystery, suspense, and conspiracy. Drew's obsession with learning more climaxes when he decides to go down beneath McPhearson himself, knowing very well that he may not return to the surface alive. Using ventilation shafts and air ducts, Drew's real investigation begins. By taking things into his own hands, Drew eventually encounters the most advanced technology the world will ever know. The cost for this discovery could be his life.

Dr. Insko is a Principal Research Scientist who currently works in the test publishing industry. He is an expert in the mathematical and statistical theories necessary to construct reliable and valid psychological assessments. Beneath McPhearson is his first full length novel. The story is permeated with Dr. Insko’s knowledge of psychology, research, and computers. The story takes place in the early 1980s and may provide a “blast-from-the-past” for some readers.