As the teens walk the maze of halls in an effort to escape their captors, memories of family, friends and tragedy flood their minds, revealing what brought the patients to therapy in the first place. Soon after the demands are made, some of the hostages sneak out of the room.

But before any counseling takes place, three armed men with masks enter the building and take the group hostage, demanding Aaron’s father come up with enough money to purchase the lot’s freedom.įrom here “The Masked Truth” by Kelley Armstrong slips back and forth between the minds of Riley, intuitive and resourceful, yet fearful of what’s to come, and Max, whom we learn is a loveable, schizophrenic Brit whose stream of consciousness plays song lyrics, recites definitions and argues with the ever-present voices he hears while trying to stay alive. There is Max, who repeatedly claims he’s “right as rain” with no reason to be there Aaron, an arrogant youth who’s happy to divulge every reason he hates his wealthy father Brienne, who knows all about Riley from the newspapers and a handful of others. Situated in a renovated warehouse with endless corridors and only two exits, the seven patients begin introductions. At the suggestion of her therapist, Riley agrees to attend a weekend therapy camp along with six other teens grappling with their own issues. When what she assumes will be a typical night of baby-sitting ends in a home invasion and double murder, 17-year-old Riley Vasquez finds herself dealing with a case of post-traumatic stress disorder and more publicity than she would like. “The Masked Truth” (Doubleday Canada), by Kelley Armstrong

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong