Provocative New Novel Explores Caseworker/Patient Relationship in Mental Health Treatment Hospital

A psychiatric caseworker grapples with the secret of an adolescent patient in Michael J. Flanagan's The Arboretum.

Sacramento, Calif. (PRWEB) April 25, 2008 -- The Arboretum, a new book by Michael J. Flanagan, is a thought provoking story about trust, betrayal, and the complexities that arise when one is committed to keeping a secret "no matter what."

Set in a university mental health facility in Michigan in the 1970s, The Arboretum is the gripping story of a psychiatric case worker who is entrusted with a young patient's secret. Gradually, he discovers that keeping her secret will not be easy; in fact, it threatens to turn his life upside down. His co-workers and the patient's therapist begin to be suspicious of him, and even the patient herself begins to doubt his ability to keep his word. In desperation, she turns to new friends she discovers living in the arboretum near the hospital grounds and designs a plan that will have serious repercussions for everyone.

Flanagan, who wrote his novel years after having first-hand experience working in a treatment center, has crafted a stunning novel about trust and redemption. Beautifully written and filled with complex and engaging characters, The Arboretum is as intriguing as it is entertaining.

For more information or to request a free review copy, members of the press can contact the author at mjflanagan1@sbcglobal.net. The Arboretum is available for sale online at Amazon.com, BookSurge.com, and through additional wholesale and retail channels worldwide.

About the Author
Michael J. Flanagan is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has a law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, Calif. He has been a lawyer in private practice for more than 27 years. The author lives with his wife in Folsom, Calif.

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