Novels

Omaha, Nebraska. 1991.

Professional gambler Paul Pasternak, in a rare moment of impulse, makes a devious decision which upends his own existence.

It is not like Paul to act on instinct. His wagers are measured. He scrutinizes every horse in a race and treads lightly everywhere. Although a well known character at the race track, he is not celebrated. Solitary existence is key to his well-being. He feels invisible and likes it this way.

Frustrated in the wake of a heavy loss, Paul overreacts to a stranger on the side of the road, and kills him. Reeling with remorse, yet unseen as a killer, his crime goes unpunished, emboldening him to view the world through a new lens.

He places bigger bets on race horses with odd names, like Sudden Death and Eviscerator, and wins more than ever before. He tries other new things, like drinking in bars where he has never once set foot, striking up conversations with strangers, and meeting women. He goes shopping, out to the movies, samples nice restaurants, and eventually snares a new girlfriend he is happy to introduce to Mom.

His newfound success leads him to believe that anything is possible, and because nobody saw him kill a man, it also deludes him into thinking that he has the supernatural ability of invisibility. Then, just when everything seems to be going his way, Paul’s new girlfriend falls prey to another killer.

Questioned by the police, and released for lack of evidence, Paul is certain he can solve the mystery of her death. But when he finally closes in on his suspect, he discovers that he is chasing another invisible man.

Eternity's Grasp is my first novel, and Dark Harbor Press' first book publication.