The Capgras Shift

"The Capgras Shift" by Samuel Vaknin is a story that explores the mind and relationships. After some difficult times, a therapist starts over in a lonely place. He meets Isabel, an older woman dealing with the Capgras Syndrome, a condition that makes her think her family members have been replaced by imposters. Isabel’s beliefs come from the pain of losing her home and relatives because of a government plan. As the therapist works with Isabel, he gets drawn into her world of identity and trust issues. Tensions rise when Isabel holds a dinner, challenging her family’s true identities and leading to psychological games and questions about what is real, what is perceived, and how fragile the mind can be.