The Flip Side

Theo’s life had recently taken a harsh downturn where he went from leading a band on the brink of stardom to having a meltdown and being committed to a mental institution. The conditions of his release necessitate Theo to move back home with his mother and find a job. His aunt works at a senior living facility named Mossy Oaks and offers him a position as a personal care aide to the elderly and infirm. Theo takes the job with some trepidation as he is accustomed to being an introvert. However, Theo soon meets a few patients who help break him out of his solitude, like Lucy. Lucy is dying of cancer but doesn’t let her prognosis affect her affability when she helps Theo get acquainted.

Lucy and Theo connect with their affinity for music, particularly The Beatles, and their conversations spark a feeling of deja vu in Theo’s mind. This doesn’t sit well with Theo initially as previous experiences with the phenomenon had triggered Theo, and he doesn’t want to be recommitted. When Theo meets Lucy’s daughter, Olivia, his mind goes from overwrought to gobsmacked as Olivia is the spitting image of Lucy. Olivia is the owner of a local bar/music hall called The Lemonade Stand, where Theo’s band used to play. Olivia encourages Theo to play at the venue and though it seems a risky proposition, Theo takes Olivia up on her offer and finds his voice again.

When Lucy heard Theo sing a particular melody, her feeling surpassed deja vu. The song brought back memories of a love taken from Lucy in her youth. She was mystified at how Theo knew the song and pondered whether Theo was the reincarnation of her former beau Wyatt. When Theo decides to undergo regression therapy to provide Lucy with answers, a new question surfaces once Theo relates seeing Wyatt being murdered. With this devastating revelation, Theo wants to help Lucy find closure along with a killer but wonders if the police will believe him. In addition, time is of the essence as Lucy’s health continues to decline.

The Flip Side is an inspiring drama/mystery wherein true love is lost and found over a period of 50 years. Upon introduction, Theo is a lost soul in need of direction. While he views his job at Mossy Oaks as transitory, there is therapeutic value in talking to the residents. When juxtaposed, the romantic relationships of Lucy and Wyatt and Theo and Olivia are conveyed in a heartfelt and genuine way. The author’s appreciation for music is pervasive throughout the narrative and often influences the intriguing plotlines. Author Ted Richardson (Imposters of Patriotism) delivers an impactful and fulfilling novel from start to finish that will leave the reader with a song in their heart, if not their mind.