Author with Morristown ties publishes third novel in 'Upcountry Series'

MORRISTOWN -- An author with ties to Morristown recently completed his three part “Upcountry Series” of novels.

Rick Doyan, 63, who spent the better part of eight summers at his cottage on the St. Lawrence River near Morristown and now resides on Howe Island, has penned a new novel called “The Beginning Game.” Rich with references to many locales ranging from Clayton and Alexandria Bay, it is the final installment in what he calls his “Upcountry Series.”

The first by that name was published in 2010, and it was followed three years later with “Thou Torturest Me.” All three novels follow the painful trials of an upstate New York family named the Schumachers and their friends as they suffer through violence, spousal abuse, prejudice, assault—and now, with The Beginning Game, intimidation, cruelty and revenge.

“Readers should quickly recognize and connect with some of Clayton's finest restaurants and shops, as well as its famed Opera House,” he says. "The same can be said about major scenes in and around Alex Bay's top nightclubs, as well as the Adirondacks and St. Lawrence University."

The Beginning Game's central character is Nicholas ‘Nicky Nick’ Wells, a shrewd yet disturbed 27-year-old man whom Doyon first introduced in Thou Torturest Me. Recently released from Attica Prison, Wells—now a martial arts expert—believes he is a changed man. He is polite. He is reverential. But it quickly becomes clear it’s only a ruse.

Returning to the fictional Morgan County, Wells begins to exact retribution against the most unlikely of targets—an elderly man afflicted with crippling terminal diseases. But is his target really a feeble old man? Or is it simply the beginning of a campaign aimed at those he thinks are responsible.

After the release of his two novels, Doyon felt he wasn’t finished with this saga. His desire was to bring closure to the family, their friends, and the rich characters he has created, but would leave it to his readers to decide whether he has succeeded or not.

So far, the reviews for The Beginning Game are good. The ex-Philadelphia Inquirer book reviewer, G.A. Bixler, called it “an explosive conclusion to an epic family drama! I loved the trilogy but this last book surely became a personal favorite for me. I didn’t see any of what happened in The Beginning Game coming! It’s an amazing read!”

Susan Weston Smith, editor of ThousandIslandLife.com, wrote: “Incredible twists and turns. The dialogue is powerful and, most of all, Doyon writes beautifully. Bravo!”

The Beginning Game is available in paperback at The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid and Brewer Books in Canton. It is also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Page Foundry, Scribd and other online site.