The Mind of an Arsonist

The novel is a mystery intended for adult readers, interested in crime and psychogy. It is a story about the search for an arsonist and the innocent people w ho are caught up in the investigation. The central characters are a psychiatrist and his family, whose son is targeted by the police. The arsonist turns out to be a divinity student. The possible reasons for this development and the experiences of the psychiatrist in his practice provide a commentary on human relationships.

This is a story about arson, the individuals who become caught up in the investigation and the investigators who try to solve the crime. An asonist is targeting churches of all denominations in a small New England town. A community is split apart, hate erupts and the son of a local psychiatrist is accused of the arson. One of his patients seems to be a more likely suspect. The man is a violent psychopath who abuses his girlfriend and when she leaves him blames the psychiatrist.The abuser stalks the psychiatrist and his family, while the police pursue the son, who they believe is the guilty person. The arsonist turns out to be a very unlikely criminal, a man the community had considered to be deeply religious. The possible reasons for this development and the larger implications are explored in the concluding chapter of the novel. The psychiatrist continues practice while the family is under surveillance. Experiences with patients provide a running commentary on the story.

Austin McCawley practiced psychiatry for fifty three years. He is the author of numerous papers in professional journals and other publications, a chapter in "The Physician" (Appleton Crofts), articles in Open House (a United Kingdom magazine) and a memoir, "A Comb for a Bald Man." He was born in Scotland and came to the United States in 1954, on a fellowship. When he fell in love with the country and an American woman, he decided to stay and becaome a citizen.