VICTORIA, British Columbia, Dec. 04, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Living with a mental illness can be a debilitating ordeal that only those who suffer from it can truly understand. In Patrick J. Schnerch's new thrilling crime novel, Adrian (now available through 1stBooks), he captures the life of someone battling severe emotional and mental anguish.
Adrian is mentally and emotionally challenged and often suppresses his mental pain and suffering with alcohol. However, recent events in New York City force him to question how far his illness could push him.
A rash of rapes and murders has occurred in the city, and residents are terrified. The predator is convinced that his victims are gifts to God, and the whole city is part of his plan to fill God's kingdom. Police scramble for clues, and, due to his circumstances, Adrian is named the prime suspect. Fortunately, he finds shelter with people he can trust. Although he doesn't understand why the police are after him, he is not totally convinced that his illness hasn't caused him to commit the heinous crimes.
In order to maintain what little sanity he has left, he embarks on his own search for this madman, who seems to be following his footsteps. Could his illness have progressed to such intensity that he could commit murders that he doesn't remember? He is forced to dig deep inside the darkness and use his disabilities to his advantage. By utilizing his mental state, he holds the key to finding a mad killer. He must muster the strength and determination to open up to the darkness in order to save lives, including his own.
In writing Adrian, Schnerch drew from his own battle with manic depression and schizophrenia to accurately describe the life of someone suffering with a mental illness. After a lifetime of treatment and therapy, he hopes this novel will educate the public about the true face of mental illness. Schnerch lives on the west coast of Canada with his wife and dog. To further the efforts to help those fighting these illnesses, one dollar from each book sold will be donated to the Victoria Mental Health Centre.
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