Stillness

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?