Summer Job: A Virgil and Cy Mystery

Virgil a fifteen year old loner fears he will become a psychopath if he relinquishes control of his mind to his cantankerous troublesome and vexatious other-self. Although he has coped to a better extent since his junior high days his other-self remains a relentless voice in his head-threatening to takeover his mind-perhaps to the point of him ending up in prison some day. Just when it seems there is no escape from solitary confinement with his other-self Virgil seizes the opportunity to go off on a farm job over summer vacation. During those eight weeks he is forced into friendships in the course of solving two mysteries-the first with the recluse gun toting hermit brother of Virgils employer to uncover three murders precipitating a suicide-the second with a feisty teenage girl who brooks no nonsense-showing she is equally adept with butcher knife or shotgun in the overriding mysterious disappearance of Virgils co-worker but are powerless to see justice done. By summers end Virgil has learned how to hold sway over his other-self while taking advantage of the second-think ability it was put there for to begin with; and also-that having meaningful relationships with others beats being a loner.