“Both good medicine and good writing—a rare combination of scientific expertise and suspenseful storytelling.”
— JOHN KATZENBACK
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Addiction on Trial:
Tragedy in Downeast Maine
THE NOVEL
A compelling medical murder mystery set in a close-knit coastal Maine community, where the death of a young woman leads to the arrest of a recovering addict—and a trial that challenges long-held assumptions about addiction, guilt, and justice. Dr. Steven Kassels has decades of experience in emergency medicine, addiction medicine, and as an expert witness in drug-related criminal trials.
The novel combines the intrigue of a medical murder mystery, with a courtroom drama. Through richly developed characters and a gripping legal battle, Addiction on Trial explores the complexities of human behavior, the pursuit of truth, and the biases of addiction.
Dr. Kassels donates all proceeds from book sales and speaking engagements to treatment centers, homeless shelters, and organizations that support education about addiction.
FROM THE AUTHOR
Why I Wrote
Addiction on Trial
The simple answer? I wanted to.
Through my years of practice in Emergency Medicine and Addiction Medicine I have had the privilege to treat patients from all walks of life. From a medical perspective, it is very clear that we have differences but we are more similar than not – we all need hearts to pump in order to sustain our organs and to perfuse our brains. When we are sick, we all benefit from compassion and care. Society should not differentiate between diseases.
But who wants to read another scientific book about addiction? Not me! That's why I wrote Addiction on Trial as a mystery thriller to both entertain and educate through the depiction of the realistic struggles of addiction. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
“A page turning legal thriller/medical murder mystery while at the same time educating readers about addiction.”
— PAT OLSEN
AUTHOR OF
SOBER SIBLINGS
“This is not only an important story about addiction, but a gripping one as well, and masterfully crafted.”
— SARAH SMILEY
AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST, BANGOR DAILY NEWS