1,000 Cuts

In the shadowy underbelly of institutional control, one woman's fragile grip on reality unravels into a fight for survival. Rebecca Chen thought she had escaped the clutches of her manipulative therapist, Dr. Allen Morrison, whose "treatments" at the Victoria Youth Custody Centre left scars that time couldn't heal. But when Morrison is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Rebecca is pulled back into a web of corruption spanning the Pacific Research Collective and Cerulean Therapeutics—a network peddling experimental drugs like RX-47 to silence the vulnerable. Inspired by real patterns of misconduct in British Columbia's youth facilities, as detailed in the BC Ombudsperson's report on systemic failures, this gripping psychological thriller explores the thousand small cuts of trauma: flashbacks that blur the line between memory and madness, coercive therapies disguised as care, and the quiet rebellion of survivors banding together. As Rebecca uncovers surveillance files, forged identities, and a conspiracy that preys on the forgotten, she must confront not just her tormentors, but the doubt they implanted in her mind. With vivid prose that captures the rain-soaked streets of Victoria and the claustrophobic halls of power, John Heisler weaves a tale of resilience amid despair. Perfect for fans of dark suspense like "The Silent Patient" or "Sharp Objects," "1,000 Cuts" delves into institutional abuse, mental health crises, and the unyielding quest for justice. Reader discretion advised for depictions of violence, self-harm, and references to minor abuse in custody settings.