Book excerpt: The Mad Hatter's Son is a gripping tale of love, friendship, betrayal, and unexpected twists and turns that leave you unable to pull away. Annie Collins is an OR nurse who is used to caring for others-both inside the operating room, and in her own personal life. So it isn't a surprise when she is drawn-albeit unwillingly-into the chaos that is her long-time friend Libby Crowder's life. The friendship between Annie and Libby began deteriorating after Libby met the cold and wealthy Edward Matheisen, and quickly ended after she married him. It's been four years since Annie and Libby parted ways. But now she's back and seeking Annie's help. With puzzling symptoms and a plea for help, Annie can't help but wonder: Is Libby really ill or is there more to the story than what Libby is saying? Annie's suspicions heighten when Libby's close friend is severely beaten and dies. Faced with Libby's own apparent suicide, Annie is beside herself with guilt and unable to stop asking questions to uncover the truth. But the answers to these questions don't come without a price. Annie finds herself drawn into a life that has derailed, and pursuing the mystery of Libby's illness threatens to derail her own life as well. Friends change, love betrays, and the end results are never what you anticipate.