In a game of life or death, the seniors at Pondside Manor risk it all.
With help from Pondside Manor’s quirky, twentysomething kitchen worker Foster Kresowik, resident Robert Kallman creates The World of Pondside, a video game that delights the nursing home’s residents by allowing them to virtually relive blissful moments from days long past—or even create new ones.
One-legged Duane Lotspeich is overjoyed when he can dance the tango again. Octogenarian Laverne Slatchek cheers on her favorite baseball team from the stands at Candlestick Park with her beloved husband—who died years ago. Even the overwhelmed Pondside administrator escapes her job by logging into a much more luxurious virtual world.
Robert’s game enlivens the halls of Pondside Manor, but chaos ensues when he is found dead, submerged in the pond, still strapped into his wheelchair. If any resident witnessed his death, they’re not telling—either covering up or, quite possibly, forgetting. And it’s far from clear to anyone—including the police—if the death of this brilliant man, who suffered from ALS, was suicide or murder.
When Robert’s video game goes dark, its players grow desperate. The task of getting it back online falls to young Foster, who enlists help from a raucous group of residents and staff. Their pursuit—virtual and real—has unintended consequences, uncovering both criminal activities and the secret plans of Foster’s friend Robert. From Pondside Manor, this unlikely bunch of gamers embarks upon an astonishing journey—blissful, treacherous, and unforgettable.
Packed with sharp wit and compassion, The World of Pondside is a rousing, perceptive, and utterly unique novel.
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“Mary Helen Stefaniak’s excellent third novel (and her first mystery), The World of Pondside, takes readers inside the nursing home Pondside Manor, where residents are addicted to an alternate reality video game that allows them to relive the best moments of their lives…The World of Pondside has a bounty of well-drawn and eccentric characters…The nursing home is chaotic and chronically understaffed and Stefaniak skillfully imbues what could be a depressing setting with humor and fun. Foster’s search for Kallman’s killer is compelling, too, but the true treasure of The World of Pondside is its frank discussion of ALS, aging, and memory.”
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Mystery Scene