Confusion Has Its Cost by Jim Lively
At last Simon Steed has settled into an orderly routine. Regular assignments for court cases from a good-natured judge, no disturbances in his old neighborhood… until he gets a call from a mysterious woman.
She hires him to probate her father’s will and avoid conflict with her brother. Despite his suggestion for the usual retainer, she pays him over three times as much.
When Simon decides to confirm the father’s mental capacity at the time he signed the will, no one at the senior care facility ever met anyone except his son. Simon tries to locate the brother, but discovers he’s been shot.
Murder? Suicide? Police can’t locate the sister Simon recommends they contact.
One by one, strange events and people create confusion for Simon. He’s desperate for solutions, but at what cost? Confusion is more expensive than he imagined.
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Author Bio:
After practicing law for many years, Jim decided to pursue his passion full time as a visual artist, film maker and author. He received the 2016 Merrimack Media Outstanding Writer Award for his second novel, Punitive Damages. Arbitrary and Capricious is the fourth novel in a series. Choking on the Splinters is the third novel in a series, a Global Book Bronze Award winner for Mystery and Suspense. Surreal Absurdity, also a Global Book Bronze Award winner, is a sequel to his novel, Aberrant Behavior. Your Brain’s Still Flashing is a sequel to Never Ignore Monica, and winner of the 2024 Person of the Year Award for Suspense and Thriller and the 2024 International Impact Book award for Mystery and Thriller. It was also Finalist in the 2024 Storytrade Awards for Mystery Traditional Genre. I’m The Answer to Your Confusion is the third in this series and 2024 Global Book Award for Thriller-Psychological genre. Confusion Has Its Cost is the third novel in the series.
His artwork and art films have been recognized in numerous juried competitions, publications and film festivals. He has exhibited his artwork in several group and solo exhibitions across North America and Europe.
Eighteen of Jim’s films have been selected to various film festivals around the world. His art film, The Soul of Vinyl, Abbey Road Side 2. screened at the 2016 New York City Independent Film Festival. Jim’s film, The Case of the Deranged Sommelier won Best Experimental Film in the 2016 Directors Circle of Shorts Film Festival and the 2017 Lion’s Head Film Festival. His film, Still Mad as Hell screened at the 2017 New York City Independent Film Festival. His film, It’s Gonna Disappear screened at the 2021 New York Flash Film Festival. His latest film, Top Secret and Not So Confidential was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 San Jose Independent Film Festival. Jim’s film A Fashionable Glass of Chardonnay won best experimental in the 2025 New York Movie Awards.
Jim’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Level One Wine Sommelier Certification from the International Wine and Spirits Guild.
His website is www.jimlivelyart.com.