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

Through vivid prose and dynamic storytelling, Reinelt captures Charlie's inner turmoil with raw authenticity. The evolving relationship between Charlie and Dina is central to the narrative—a dynamic marked by empathy, humor, and flashes of stark revelation. Her steadfast commitment to helping Charlie confront his past underscores the novel's message of resilience and human connection.

A gripping tale of survival, Charlie’s Ladder delves into the darkest recesses of the human mind, while touching readers with glimmers of hope and restoration. As Charlie navigates the labyrinth of his psyche, readers will also be compelled to confront universal themes of pain, forgiveness, and the quest for inner peace.

Readers will be eager for more of Charlie in Reinelt’s sequel, The Last Altar Boy.

 - Book Critic, BookLife by Publishers Weekly, BookLife Prize - 2024