The Caraway Estate - A Phsycological Thriller by Author Rebecca Helmer
The Synopsis
Shipwrecked and found nearly dead on the shore of a mansion in Bar Harbor, Maine, Natalie is rescued by Adam, the charismatic, yet elusive manager of The Caraway Estate. As she becomes captivated by the enchantment of Adam and his lavish mansion abode, she also becomes skeptical of the identity of the billionaire he works for. As she presses to learn of Adam's untold past, she is overwhelmed by the discovery of his harrowing, dark history. Natalie soon realizes that the Estate's perfect setting is shrouded in deceit in this psychological mystery thriller.
An Excerpt
“You ready?” David asked. He walked toward him in the scarce light of the moon and prepped him one last time. “Remember, this will make you sick. Chest tightness, nausea, your lips will start tingling. Then you’ll lose feeling in your body, starting with your legs, so make sure you’re warm out there. Make a pile of leaves to lay on and stay off the ground. Also, close your eyes so they don’t dry out.” he instructed. David could see, even in the dim moonlight, that Jonathan was starting to lose focus. “Are you okay? Look at me,” David said repositioning himself in his line of sight.
“Just give me a minute,” Jonathan replied, stepping away.
“We don’t have a minute.” David insisted. “Focus. You heard the call. The police are on the way.”
“I know, I know,” Jonathan said, his breathing quick and shallow. “Just… just give me a minute,” he repeated, shaking visibly now, looking as though his heart would rupture his chest.
“We don’t have a minute!” David said, attempting to reign him back in.
Jonathan shook his head slowly, not so much in debate, but with faintness of heart.
“This is everything we came here to do! I risked everything on you. You’re not going to fail me,” David said firmly, urging the drug-filled sleeve toward him. “Now take it!” he demanded.
“I can’t. I can’t do it.” Jonathan exclaimed.
“This cannot be happening,” David whispered out loud to the forest around him, as though it would have a solution. “There’s no time for this. We’ve been planning this for months. This moment right here. Everything depends on this.”
Jonathan’s fear was impenetrable. He was frozen in panic.
David improvised. He quickly switched gears from pressure to encouragement. “Think of why we’re doing this,” he said softly, taking him by the shoulders as would a friend. “This is our escape. You’re going to be rich. You will be able to live anywhere, be anyone, for as long as you live. Remember? Just do this one thing and everything will be yours.”
“What if it doesn’t work?” he fretted. “What if the real Caraway comes back?”
“We make sure he doesn’t,” David replied sternly, his lips numb in the cold. “We talked about this already. Let’s take this one step at a time. It’s your move now. Look at me.”
“I know. I just… I just don’t think I can do it. I don’t want to die. If something goes wrong–”
“You won’t die,” David replied factually, without wasting a moment. “I won’t let you die. I promise you that, Jonathan.”
“You’re already out. Maybe that’s enough. You’re free. Just run.”
“And then what?!” David demanded. “Then what are we going to do? What are you going to do? They will suspect you. Remember the plan. You’re going to be rich, Jonathan. Filthy rich. That’s the plan. That’s our plan, remember?”
But none of it worked. Jonathan was immovable, a solid stone of trepidation.
David cast away his rising regrets of having chosen Jonathan after seeing his lack of courage in the moment of trial. He jettisoned his thoughts of leaving Jonathan there like a baby and fleeing on his own in the stashed vehicle before the police would arrive. None of that would do him any good. He needed Jonathan for his plan to work. His mind raced, searching for a solution.
As the sound of sirens howled faintly in the distance, he only saw one logical option. He rushed at Jonathan’s middle and tackled him to the ground.
“What are you doing?” Jonathan cried out in surprise, sucking displaced air back into his lungs.
“I’m helping you,” he stated. He gripped Jonathan’s jaw, his fingers clawing into his cheeks to prevent his jaw from closing, and pressed the drug into his mouth. David was ready for the fight to rise up as Jonathan sent a blow to his jaw from the ground. He was expectedly strong, but David’s will was stronger still. Without losing focus for a moment, he held his weight on Jonathan’s ribs and forced the pill down. The choking sound indicated success and David released him. Jonathan shot up from the ground and careened toward David, seething with fury. He seized David’s jacket at his throat.
“Give me one reason not to tell the police everything as soon as they get here,” he growled.
David’s hands remained at his side, ignoring the clutches at his throat. He breathed heavily after the grappling, but remained calm. “I’ll give you a billion,” he replied under the dark forest canopy, prompting Jonathan to remember the oath he had made. “And,” he retorted, “You won’t be able to move your lips.”
The Dream
It all started as a dream.
When Rebecca Helmer began penning the complex adult mystery thriller, The Caraway Estate, she had no plans to write a best seller. However, after awaking from a dream one Halloween night, she was haunted with Natalie's story. She saw visions of underground waterways, a world of mystery and intrigue, and the unforeseen turning point of the book that would change everything. Helmer was flooded with the words that came spilling out on paper, until the novel had been recorded. The first draft of the book was written in thirty days.
The story grips the reader from the first page. The unexpected plot twists and turns throughout will keep readers on the edge of their seat, with an incessant desire to know what lies just around the corner in the elusive and compelling new novel, The Caraway Estate.
The Author
Rebecca Helmer was awarded the Art Bervin Award for her outstanding collegiate critical writing, and was the only author of those reviewed to be awarded all perfect scores.
She is an award-winning singer-songwriter and recording artist, and she currently resides in Tennessee with her husband and four children.
READ THE ENTIRE FIRST CHAPTER NOW