First Impression by Brad Bloemer

About the book

The year is 1978. Robbie Gipson is a typical twelve-year-old boy, living in a small, peaceful town in Missouri. Never before has he faced fear, until a new family moves into his neighborhood. He soon realizes that one of his new neighbors, seventeen-year-old Ricky Henry is very dangerous.

Robbie learns that Ricky has lived a troubled life. When he was just seven, Ricky witnessed the death of his father at the hands of a drunk driver. The driver was a wealthy, well-connected female attorney, who used her political influence to avoid punishment. Soon after his father's death, Ricky's mother remarried. His new stepfather abused him.

By the time his family moves to Missouri, Ricky is bitter and psychotic. He associates all women in positions of authority to the attorney who killed his father. He blames them for the problems in his life. His anger reaches a boiling point, and he murders a well-respected, female physician.

Robbie sees Ricky's dark side, first-hand, when he witnesses him killing an elderly neighbor's dog. Because he is afraid of Ricky, Robbie never tells anyone about the incident. He never suspects Ricky of the doctor's murder, though, because an innocent man is quickly arrested and wrongfully convicted for the crime.

Jim Bryant, the ambitious prosecutor in the doctor's murder case, bends the rules of evidence in order to secure a conviction. To support his political agenda, he then convinces the jury to impose a death sentence. Jim later obtains evidence that the man is innocent and that Ricky is the actual killer. Despite this knowledge, he allows the innocent man's execution to proceed in order to protect his own political career. Shortly after the execution, Jim is elected to the United States Senate. Senator Bryant is willing to do anything, including murder, to maintain his secret.

Many years later (2003), Robbie now lives in St. Louis with his wife and children. A recent series of murders has terrorized the city. Although Robbie hasn't seen Ricky in years, he begins to suspect him of the murders. The details of the St. Louis murders are eerily similar to the doctor's murder that occurred in his hometown many years ago. The description of the serial killer, provided by a surviving victim, matches Ricky. As Robbie sets out to prove Ricky's guilt, he also begins to obtain evidence of Senator Bryant's involvement. As a result, Robbie himself becomes a target. Before he has a chance to present his evidence to the police, he has a life-threatening encounter with both Ricky and an assassin hired by Senator Bryant.

Robbie finally convinces the police that Ricky is the serial killer. Thanks to Robbie's efforts, the senator is exposed, but he commits suicide before he can be arrested. After a long search, the police finally locate Ricky inside a house. With police surrounding the house, Ricky's sister convinces him to surrender. Despite being unarmed, Ricky is shot to death while attempting to surrender.

About the author

Personal:

Date of Birth: November 20, 1964
Married fifteen years; three children - ages 13, 10, and 7
Interests: coaching baseball, reading, writing, traveling, sports

Education and Credentials:

Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration - Southeast Mo. State University
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration - Southeast Mo. State University
Certified Public Accountant - licensed in Missouri

Professional Experience:

Aug. 1990 to Present: Employed by Missouri Delta Medical Center - Sikeston, Mo.
- The organization is a 190-bed hospital and a 19 member physician practice
- Chief Financial Officer - 1994 to Present
- Controller - 1990 to 1994

Jan. 1990 to Aug. 1990: Employed by Petrolite Corporation - St. Louis, Missouri
- Senior Internal Auditor

July 1987 to Jan 1990: Price Waterhouse (now PriceWaterhouse Coopers) - St. Louis, Mo.
- Auditor; clients included numerous Fortune 500 companies

Writing Experience:

- First Impression (2004) - fictional novel
- Redemption (in process) - fictional novel
- Impact of Clinical Pathways on Hospitals (1997) - graduate paper