Charlie's Ladder

From the moment Charlie Houden stepped into Dina Epstein’s office, on a chilled November afternoon, his brilliant plan for suicide was doomed. To his chagrin, this Jewish shrink had her own agenda…and myriad ways to compel Charlie to face his demons.

Unfortunately, exorcising demons comes at a price. For Charlie, that price will compel him down a path of unlocking doors, resurrecting nightmares and voices that haunt him.

Through their quirky – often humorous – relationship, Charlie reveals a shocking past filled with betrayal, profound loss, and trauma.

Facing his past requires of Charlie a journey for which he’s neither prepared, nor can any longer avoid: “Every time I swallow it down, it comes up harder. It’s as if my insides are on fire…like poison.”

Interweaving past and present, Charlie’s Ladder takes the reader on an emotional journey. It reveals what a man – who has survived childhood and adult tragedies – will risk to reclaim his sanity and his soul, as only a survivor could do.

One small problem: not all of Charlie’s demons reside within his head.

Critic's Review

"Reading this book was like cracking open a chest that had been sealed too long... The writing is raw, vivid, and fearless. It's not just storytelling, it's bleeding on the page."

 - Book Critic, Literary Titan - 2025