The award-winning psychological thriller from Chris K. Jones

What people are saying

  • “Jones paints a startling and believable picture of a part of pro sports that most fans neither see nor even imagine.”

    - Kirkus Reviews -

  • “Jones truly understands the deep psychological elements and the impact of childhood, trauma, societal pressure, career, and expectations in the world of elite athletes.”

    - Literary Titan -

  • “My heart lived in my throat for so long that it considered setting up a timeshare.”

    - Reedsy Discovery -

  • “Jones is wonderfully adept at fleshing out and making real the challenges and struggles of professional athletics”

    - Kirkus Review -

  • “This story is well-written, descriptive, and makes you feel as though you are part of the story.”

    - Readers’ Favorite -

  • “Jones paints a startling and believable picture of a part of pro sports that most fans neither see nor even imagine.”

    - Kirkus Reviews -

  • “This action-packed novel challenges the stigma of seeking help for mental health. Dr. Beck is like the James Bond of psychology.”

    - Reedsy Discovery -

  • “There is plenty of action and some twists and turns down many dark alleyways…an excellent choice for anyone who likes stories full of suspense and a unique take on the genre.”

    - Readers’ Favorite -

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Book Summary

A Sport Thriller You Won't Put Down…

He's the fixer for the world's most elite athletes. But his own mind is his biggest threat.

Dr. Andrew Beck is the golden boy of sports psychology. He's a celebrity shrink, the go-to whisperer for millionaire athletes battling trauma, addiction, and the crushing weight of expectation. From violent hockey stars to reckless power forwards, Andrew coaxes them back from the brink and into championship form.

He's got the perfect life: a beautiful wife, a house in Greenwich, an office on Central Park West, and a front-row seat to the world of professional sports. But beneath the veneer of success lurks a darkness Andrew can't outrun.

Haunted by the ghost of his own shattered athletic dreams and the twisted legacy of his abusive champion golfer father, Andrew finds himself drawn to a high-stakes world far removed from therapy sessions. A world of illegal gambling rings, ruthless operators, and a dangerous secret that could shatter his entire life.

A desperate wager. A brutal murder. A game of life and death played with the highest stakes.

Headcase: Shock & Denial is a gripping sport psychological thriller that plunges you into the dark underbelly of professional athletics. It's a story of ambition, betrayal, and the demons that lurk behind the bright lights of victory.

This is the ultimate read for fans of:

  • Sport thrillers

  • Sports dramas

  • Sports psych thrillers

  • Dark sports secrets

Dive into the twisted world of Headcase and discover why readers are raving:

“This action-packed novel challenges the stigma of seeking help for mental health. Dr. Beck is like the James Bond of psychology.”—Reedsy Discovery

“My heart lived in my throat for so long that it considered setting up a timeshare.”—5-Star Review

“Jones truly understands the deep psychological elements and the impact of childhood, trauma, societal pressure, career, and expectations in the world of elite athletes.”—Literary Titan Book Award Winner

Are you ready to go ALL-IN?