Excelsior Author Releases Thriller Novel

Lake Minnetonka's Dr. Edwin Dasso uses the well-publicized topic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans as the basis for his highly suspenseful novel, “Past Aghast."

Dasso’s novel interweaves current news and many of his personal experiences as a doctor to create a gritty novel highlighting the troubling reality of PTSD that many veterans face after returning from war.

“I believe these real-life events help ‘Past Aghast’ feel more vivid and authentic,” Dasso said.

Of six early reader reviews on Amazon, four gave the novel five stars and another gave it four. 

Army veteran Dr. Jack Bass served for two decades before PTSD from a major battle in Iraq sidelined him from further active duty. Now, as a chairman of the anesthesia department at a large, civilian academic medical center, he continues to struggle with his occasional PTSD-induced flashbacks where he loses awareness of his actions.

When events surrounding some strange deaths at the medical center appear to point at him as the responsible party, Jack is unwittingly drawn into the troubling investigation as a prime suspect. While working at clearing his name, he must simultaneously convince himself that he actually didn’t commit the murders during one of his flashback episodes as well as decipher who is responsible for the deaths. Dasso’s “Past Aghast” takes readers on a fast-paced, dramatic ride as the investigation unfolds and Jack uncovers a grant-money embezzlement scheme that may be related to the series of deaths.

“As a doctor, I’m aware of the struggles some people have with PTSD and felt it could be the basis for an intriguing work of fiction,” says Dasso.

Though his novel is fictitious, Dasso hopes that it brings awareness to the very real struggle of life with PTSD.

“Past Aghast” is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author:

Dr. Ed Dasso was in private practice, specializing in critical care, anesthesiology and pain management for nearly a decade. For the past 20 years, he has worked in the development of widespread health programs, such as corporate wellness and disease management, and several of them have won him awards for improving clinical quality. Dasso has been a speaker at many national health forums, has published numerous articles in scientific journals and has written an “Ask the Doctor” column. He is currently hard at work on the next chapter of the “Jack Bass Black Cloud Chronicles” series.