‘Insane Train’ full of mystery, suspense

Oklahoma author Sheldon Russell takes readers on an adventure full of intrigue, suspense and even a bit of romance in his second book in the Hook Runyon Mystery series, "The Insane Train," set after the end of World War II.

Runyon has been summoned to Needles, Calif., to oversee the loading and transfer of mental patients from Baldwin Insane Asylum. The patients are the survivors of a horrific and suspicious fire that caused the death of more than 30 young men. The head of the hospital, Dr. Baldwin, and his associate Dr. Bria Helms, have no choice but to take the remaining patients, including some deemed criminally insane, to a facility Dr. Baldwin owns in Fort Supply, Okla.

Sensing there is more to the story of the fire than anyone is letting on, Runyon becomes suspicious when only two members of the former staff agree to travel to the new facility. He recruits a crew of homeless veterans to become attendants on this trip, which works out well until a couple of patients and an attendant are killed, making everyone more than a little nervous.

Runyon recruits nurse Andrea Delven, who also harbors suspicions, to help him in his investigation into the unusual fire and deaths. They soon find that there are a whole lot of secrets to be found among the passengers of this insane train.

Based loosely on actual events, “The Insane Train” is the perfect mixture of history, mystery and humor that will keep readers entertained to the last page.

Russell, a retired college professor, is a resident of Guthrie, Okla. He has previously won the Oklahoma Book Award and the Langum Prize for Historical Literature. “The Yard Dog,” the first Hook Runyon novel, was nominated for the Oklahoma Book Award and earned high praise as Russell’s debut mystery. He is currently at work on a third Hook Runyon book.