Official Apex Reviews Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐D. M. Schuler’s novel Someone Else is a powerful narrative about very heavy themes.Schuler presents the story from the point-of-view of a modern-day suicide survivor andvictim of child abuse while weaving in glimpses of characters from a previous century.Throughout the novel, the protagonist Collin must deal with the tragic circumstances ofhis youth while attempting not to succumb to the pressure of suicide again. His lovingfamily and supportive friends all surround him, constantly trying to coddle him and avoidfuture “accidents” as his mother refers to his suicide attempt. However, it isn’t until verystrange, supernatural events begin to occur that Collin begins to experience an innertransformation. When he randomly begins to see visions of strangers in seemingly real-life occurrences, Collin is filled with a burning curiosity to understand more. This propelshim on a quest in which he uncovers centuries old secrets. As he unravels the mysteriesof the past, he slowly begins to open up to his own loved ones about what reallyhappened to him as a child, what compelled him to attempt suicide.The entire narrative is an engaging read, drawing the reader in, leaving one with adesire to know what is next. The characters are realistic and likeable human beings, thekinds of people one would enjoy being friends with. The most remarkable feature of thenovel, however, is the way the author is able to write about such heavy topics withoutmaking the whole story too serious or overwhelming. Schuler interjects humor and levitythroughout, allowing the reader to absorb the tragedy with lighthearted elements.Someone Else is truly a valuable read and worth taking the time to peruse both forsurvivors of tragic events and for anyone who wishes to understand the pain andemotions that lead to suicide.