No Reason Is Reason Enough

On October 16th, 1998, a lone gunman entered Piney Hills High School and murdered thirty-seven people. It was then believed that the assailant took his own life, leaving many unanswered questions but nonetheless bringing a sense of closure to the community. Unfortunately, everyone was mistaken, and the actual gunman escaped both the attack on the school and any form of justice. Now an adult, Robert Higgins, the perpetrator of the worst school shooting in history, has decided to give a tell-all account of how he got away with his crime. Clearly a deeply disturbed individual, he relishes in describing all the stages of his planning and preparation, from obtaining the weapons used, to choosing his victims, to the actual framing of the teenager blamed for his own actions. But the story goes much deeper than that. In his recount, Robert reveals his bizarre inner-thought processes and gives clues as to what his ultimate motives were. Admittedly, Robert is a character that draws little sympathy. His acts are despicable, and as a person, he is unredeemable. Yet, like a horrific traffic accident that one cannot turn away from, his narrative draws the reader in and compels them forward. This is far more than a story of bloodshed; it is a look at how a monster is created and the terrible hatred that drives them to commit such acts of violence. The book offers commentary on the United States' lax gun regulations and other social policies that contribute to the prevalence of mass murders in the country. It also highlights the need for improved screening for and treatment of mental illness, especially among young people. While this is entirely a work of fiction, this novel sadly draws from events that are all too real. The violence depicted is graphic at times, but it is hardly exaggerated from what has been seen in many of the most recent mass-shootings. NO REASON IS REASON ENOUGH is somewhat difficult to categorize as a novel, but falls somewhere between the true-crime and psychological-thriller genres. Fans of Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho and Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club will particularly like this book, but it should find an audience with anyone willing to delve into the darker aspects of society.

About the Author :
Marc Anderson grew up in Spring, Texas, just outside of Houston. He attended St. Thomas High School, and went on to study biology and biochemistry at the University of Houston. After earning his undergraduate degrees, Marc spent several years bouncing around graduate programs (and a brief stint in vet school), before returning to the University of Houston and earning his Ph.D. in Cell Biology. The mind numbing title of his dissertation was "An Account of Chemical and Mechanical Regulation of TRPC6 Channels in Podocytes." Unfulfilled with conducting hours of research alone in a room without windows, Marc left science to pursue careers in both writing and web-design. Despite some difficulties, he still believes that this was a wise decision. Marc currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his two dogs, Sam and Bruce. He considers himself a pessimistic realist and is a real blast at parties.This is his first attempt at writing a novel.