Poking Lions by Keith Quincy

Poking Lions Reviews

• 
  Linda Strong

  Dr. William Melon arrives at Walla Walla State Prison to interview only one inmate. Eddie Dooley is dangerous; he’s been diagnosed as homicidal, psychotic, sociopathic. He is also dying.
  
  This book centers on these two characters. Extremely well-written, chapters are short and concise. One chapter will have their first session. Questions are asked, questions are answered …. Up to a point. While Dooley does not have a problem talking about his childhood, at this point his Vietnam experiences are out of bounds.
  
  Dooley’s childhood consisted of a sadistic mother, an absent father, the Priest who tortured him during school hours. He killed his first man when he was but 9 years old. Dooley has an extremely high IQ … he knows he’s done really bad things, some he even feels bad for. He wants to be good, but it’s not in him to be good. Or is it? His thoughts are that you always pay a price … he’s dying from multiple tumors due to his exposure to Agent Orange.
  
  Melon wants to make a point to the warden, to the mental health community. If he can ‘cure’ Eddie of his evilness, his medical reputation would remain intact.
  
  These two men are so far apart in every way … their upbringing, religious beliefs, moral principles.
  
  Eventually Dooley’s Vietnam stories come to light. Melon has never seen a military man with so many medals, yet all mentions of his heroics have been redacted. He was trained to be a sniper, an assassin. He was taught the best methods of torture, but undergoing torture himself. He was taught to bury all his emotions and to kill without thought.
  
  There were times when I felt such compassion for Dooley. He spent his entire life looking for a father replacement. He made so few friends, but gravitated toward older men, very intelligent men. There were many tender moments.
  
  On the other hand, he was a brilliant intellect … was he not brilliant enough to make better life choices? He did some horrific things, but bottom line … he had more control over his own life than he demonstrated … didn’t he?
  
  When it came right down to it, Dr. Melon wasn’t ready for Eddie Dooley …..
  
  Neither was I. Will you be ready?
  
  Many thanks to the author / Word Slinger Publicity who provided to me the book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
  
• 
  Boundless Book Reviews

  Dr. Melon is the new psychiatrist at Walla Walla Penitentiary. He is faced daily with a tough job of talking to dangerous inmates. One in particular stands out to him. Eddie Dooley is in for life and is a violent man. Guards and inmates alike have warned the doctor. Together in sessions he begins to see into this man's horrible past. This man was a decorated Veteran and labeled as psychotic.  This story tells a horrifying story from the mind of a killer. 
  
  It was a very psychological read. I guess I enjoyed it because I have studied Psychology and I find books like this very interesting and some what enlightening. This book was written very well and kept me reading. The ending was a big shocker to me. This story told a captivating, yet disturbing, tale from the eyes of a killer. Also,  from the view of the doctor that wants to help "cure" him, both mentally and physically. Along the way the doctor changes a little as well....Stormi 
  
  
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