Suspended Life

Publisher Marketing: When Psychiatrist Mona Ionescu, a loyal communist and dedicated physician, decides to probe deeper into the strange relationship of the two cousins, she couldn't have imagined what an unexpected and dangerous turn her own life would take. It is Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's Communist Romania of the 1970s, a time when true feelings are best kept hidden, and Mona is not surprised that the cousins keep to themselves. Behind the Iron Curtain, Communism and personal openness don't mix; besides, the cousins have a lot to lose if they don't tread carefully, and not only because they are Jews. The last thing Maurice - who comes from a powerful communist family - wants, is to disrupt his privileged life. And his cousin Octav, who is rather from the humble side of the street, has no desire to give any more ammunition to a totalitarian government whose only acceptable future for him is immigration or exile. But protecting a good life or being fearful of authorities is one thing; having such convoluted feelings for each other, so long after their fall-out at the end of the high-school, is another. Psychiatrist Mona Ionescu feels compelled to decipher the cousins' entangled web of hate, love, betrayal, and revenge, and is ready to dig deep into their lives. She pours her heart into her mission, and for good reason: she develops startling feelings for the cousins and she's always there to help. But her journey into their past is fraught with unexpected dangers and, very troubling, pits her against a powerful Communist Party Official. An old foe of Maurice's family, his friendship or hostility may decide Mona's and the cousins' future. SUSPENDED LIFE is a suspense thriller about how absolute power and everyday life under Communism breed an atmosphere of paranoia which touches everyone and challenges love, friendship, and ideals. Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2014 (EAN 9781499152258, Paperback)