When Cynthia Freitas, a mid-western girl seeks employment and excitement in the big city of San Francisco, she quickly learns that on a marginal salary, luxury living is not within her grasp. The Cairns Building, a run-down tenement, with bad plumbing, faulty wiring and archaic furnishings, is all she can afford on a meager salary. Long hours commuting and working preclude a flourishing social life, and she's beginning to wonder if moving to the big city was one big mistake. To top it off, someone is kidnaping and killing women in her very neighborhood... and the victims bear a striking resemblance to Cyn.

By coincidence, her neighbor, a handsome police officer, is assigned to the strange and baffling case. Their chance meeting over a Hefty-bag leads to a romantic encounter that ends on a shocking note and changes the way they both view they lives. Step into The Cairns and prepare for a jolt!

REVIEW

Beside Myself is an exhilarating, fun romp through a series of events sure to tickle the funny bone of all who enjoy light hearted sci fi coupled with a little romantic suspense. The problems faced by Cynthia and Alex as they struggle to find their way in one another's bodies and jobs while searching for some way to transfer back to their own selves without any one becoming the wiser are handled with sagacity and expertise. Writer Simpson possesses an obvious good sense of humor as she weaves an acceptable and compelling tale from a dubious circumstance.

Characters are well fleshed, dialog is fitting, at times gritty, but not specious. Reading of Alex's problems in trying to comb his/her hair or wear high heels while trapped in Cynthia's body brings first a smile then a giggle and finally a belly whomping gale of laughter. Cynthia fares as badly when she faces having to dress in uniform for the first time in the station house locker room.

Reader interest is caught immediately as Beside Myself opens with a view of the murderer sitting and brooding darkly to himself. Simpson's piquant writing style moves the reader right along from the suspense filled plot of the serial killer to the monumental dilemma of daily living facing Cynthia and Alex and back to the search for the killer. Twists of plot, spine tingling action, well-drawn characters, profuse struggle suitably resolved, potent dialog; Beside Myself has it all.

Writer Simpson's ready wit has taken an implausible notion and created a staggering tale sure to enthrall the most picky reader. Great book for a lazy afternoon spent in the hammock under the shade of a very large tree. Heads up, Simpson offers enough red herrings to trap the unwary.

Reviewed by: Molly Martin

EXCERPT

He sat alone in his dim apartment and thought about what he'd done. The tattered drapery blocked out society and created the perfect ambiance for his dark mood. His
curtains were never open; instead he kept the floor lamp in the corner turned down low.

In his mind, he tightened the electrical cord over and over, choking the last breath from each of his victims. Momentarily, he chastised himself, and then in a flash of sanity, supposed he should feel bad - but he didn't. His lips curled in a feral smile,
and an enjoyable feeling of power swept over him. For now, the hunger was sated.

His mind replayed the crimes. They all had it coming - every one of them. They shouldn't have fought me. He only wanted to show them love, but they wouldn't let
him. He scowled. Filthy women-all they do is play with a man's emotions and, eventually, destroy his ego and break his heart - and for what?- to move on and do it again to someone else? He reveled in his quest to end man's suffering. Each of his
victims begged for mercy, but he had none to spare.

The red tip of his cigarette glowed brighter as he inhaled. Safe in his comfort zone, he could relax. No one will ever suspect me.