Books published by Richard Ferguson

When the novel opens, Michael Powers, schizophrenic protagonist (and narrator) of the first two novels of the series, has been institutionalized and is undergoing treatment by two psychiatrists. While the psychiatrists unsuccessfully try a variety of treatments, Powers projects his delusions and hallucinations onto them by engaging in complex mind games laden with emotional and psychological manipulations (spurred on by the insidious voices in his mind of God and Goddess). Using subterfuge, he escapes the institution and experiences a number of psychotic episodes while on the run. While he is gone, one of the psychiatrists begins to have hallucinations himself, and dies under mysterious circumstances. Powers is eventually located and returned to the institution where, shortly thereafter, the second psychiatrist also dies from suspicious causes. In both cases, the cause of death is determined to be natural, with no indication of criminal intent. A third treating physician, a specialist, is called in to investigate this extraordinary patient. He also falls under the powerful influence of Michael Powers, and helps him to escape again, only to die in the process. Autopsies have revealed all three deaths to be by natural causes, but the investigating detective believes there is some undetermined culpability on the part of Michael Powers. In an extended cat-and-mouse game, the detective pursues Powers, and himself falls under the strange spell of this schizophrenic, who may be a multiple murderer, or may, indeed, possess powers beyond the understanding of science and common sense. Is Michael Powers a murderer? Are the voices of God and Goddess hallucinations, or real? And should Michael Powers kill himself . . . or kill others?When the novel opens, Michael Powers, schizophrenic protagonist (and narrator) of the first two novels of the series, has been institutionalized and is undergoing treatment by two psychiatrists. While the psychiatrists unsuccessfully try a variety of treatments, Powers projects his delusions and hallucinations onto them by engaging in complex mind games laden with emotional and psychological manipulations (spurred on by the insidious voices in his mind of God and Goddess). Using subterfuge, he escapes the institution and experiences a number of psychotic episodes while on the run. While he is gone, one of the psychiatrists begins to have hallucinations himself, and dies under mysterious circumstances. Powers is eventually located and returned to the institution where, shortly thereafter, the second psychiatrist also dies from suspicious causes. In both cases, the cause of death is determined to be natural, with no indication of criminal intent. A third treating physician, a specialist, is called in to investigate this extraordinary patient. He also falls under the powerful influence of Michael Powers, and helps him to escape again, only to die in the process. Autopsies have revealed all three deaths to be by natural causes, but the investigating detective believes there is some undetermined culpability on the part of Michael Powers. In an extended cat-and-mouse game, the detective pursues Powers, and himself falls under the strange spell of this schizophrenic, who may be a multiple murderer, or may, indeed, possess powers beyond the understanding of science and common sense. Is Michael Powers a murderer? Are the voices of God and Goddess hallucinations, or real? And should Michael Powers kill himself . . . or kill others?

It is war-torn China in the 1930s. Nationalist forces, communist rebels and the invading Japanese army are seemingly everywhere. Amidst this backdrop, a group of pilgrims, accompanied by a schizophrenic American Named John Powers, search for a mysterious female known as Her. They bring with them a golden statue, the Precious Object, within which something is tapping undecipherable messages. As the travelers try to somehow survive, John hears voices arguing over his fate. The voices, apparently working in league with Her and the Precious Object, want him to conceive a son with one of the women in the group, a beautiful Chinese pianist. Who is Her? What is the Precious Object tapping? And why do they want the American and the pianist to have a son?