The Kinsman: a psychological thriller novelette

by Holly Sheidenberger

If your husband went missing, who could you turn to for help?

On a bright but cold January afternoon, Lara drives her husband Cameron to a mega-church in South Central Los Angeles. Cameron has plans to meet his recently widowed brother Jason – who also happens to be the church’s head pastor – for lunch.

But when they arrive, the parking lot is deserted and the church looks empty. Nervous to leave her husband alone in a crime-ridden neighborhood, Lara waits until Cameron is safe inside the building before driving away.

Hours later, Cameron hasn’t come home and he’s not answering his phone. When a late-night knock at the door brings shocking news, Lara turns to the only person who can help… her brother-in-law.

But is Jason as selfless as he seems, or does he know more than he ’s letting on?

For fans of B.A. Paris, Alice Feeney, and Freida McFadden.

55 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2023

About the author

Holly Sheidenberger is a former theatre actress. Her experience in creating roles for the stage inspires her to write juicy characters that you love to hate.

She has lived in misty Seattle, sunny Los Angeles, and now makes her home in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Holly is the wife of Hollywood composer and orchestrator Todd Sheidenberger and the mother of their four daughters.

Connect with her on Instagram @hollysheidenberger and Facebook @hollysheidenberger.

Reviews

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

At only 46 pages "The Kinsman" was a short yet very chilling read.

Lara and Cameron are young, and happily married, studio musicians living in Los Angeles, California.

When the unthinkable happens and Lara is widowed, she finds herself in a difficult position emotionally and financially. She turns to her husband's brother Jason for support. Jason steps in happily and declares himself Lara's 'Kinsman Redeemer', yet all is not as it seems...

This disquieting little story will be appreciated by most psychological thriller fans.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 46 pages this short story immediately pulled me in. It’s well written and developed nicely. It was a little predictable, but it was still so engaging. I’m excited to see what the author has in store for us in the future. I think a full novel would blow me away.

[Jamie Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short read. I was captured immediately and couldn’t put it down. The writing style was great, it all flowed perfectly together. I’m not normally a thriller reader, I’ve only just begun to read them here and there, and while this one had suspense it wasn’t so over that top that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Even hours later, after I’ve finished the read, I’m still thinking about it. For a book that was only about an hour read, I didn’t feel like it was too rushed or left out a lot of information. I’d definitely read from this author again. Thank you Holly for reaching out to be and sending me a copy of this book. I’m really glad I read it.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most days make absolutely no difference. But sometimes a single day can change your entire life forever.

A mother writes a letter to her daughter Camille a year after 5 significant days in the mother’s life in the past year - January 20, April 5, June 15, September 4, and October 3. As Lara writes the letter, she wonders if Camille will ever read it—a letter of truth. If Camille does read it, will Camille believe that Lara has written the truth? A truth only her mother knows.

After reading "Related By Blood," I wanted to read more of the author's writing and received this novelette after signing up for the author's newsletter. It is a compelling read. While finding it difficult to assign a star rating, I must admit that the story, although easily read in one sitting, is undeniably gripping and culminates in an unexpected ending.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great novelette. This isn’t more than 50 pages long, so it is a fast read. I was captured by the book immediately and wanted to know what was going on. I really think that the author has a great start to a full length novel with this book – or even just a novel that is longer. Because this is a novelette, the author focuses on the main story line and there isn’t backstory – which honestly, I prefer. That’s why I love novelettes like this – especially thrillers! I will saw that I was a little perturbed by Lara’s choices, but I won’t say what they were because I don’t believe in posting spoilers. Also, I thing the ending wrapped up a little too easily and quickly for me. I would have liked to see that part extended. Overall, a terrific novelette and one that any thriller lover should read!

[Bozena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story was a pleasant surprise.
Exciting, entertaining, and interesting thriller.

Lara's husband is missing.
Her brother-in-law is the only one who can help.
But is Jason as good as he seems to be or are his motivations of a different nature?

I hope the author will write a sequel to this story.
There are so many ways the story can continue. 
There are so many ways it could end. 
So maybe if we're lucky, this exciting story will be even longer.

Thank you, Holly, for this ebook ARC.
I can't wait for more of your stories.

[Eleanor Crookes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5?

[Roxanne Reniers · Rating 3 out of 5]

ik kan EINDELIJK eens zeggen dat ik EEN plot volledig doorhad ook al was het heel predictable, HOERA 🙏

[Jade Doodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captured my attention from the very first page, although short it was exciting with a brilliant pace throughout. The plot etc was great and personally I’d love to read a longer version of this story!

[Fireplace.Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dark, messed up, but quick read!

This one definitely reminded me of a modern Macbeth. I totally saw the twist coming from page 3 but I was okay with figuring it out. It was dark and I enjoyed how messed up it was. The writing style was okay, I wasn’t blown away but I didn’t hate it either. I almost wish this was a bit longer as the format wasn’t my favorite.

[Jeanie ~ Fables.and.fur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This psychological thriller was highly entertaining. I love novellas as they give you such a great sampling of an author’s work.

Lara is worried that something has happened to her husband Cameron. The last person she believed him to be with was his brother Jason. When the unspeakable occurs, she starts spending more time with Jason. At first it’s a comfort. But is it?

The Kinsman is a quick read, but there’s a lot of ground covered and if you love a good short story like I do, it’s a great read.

Thank you to the author for a digital copy of your novella in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!

Pub date: April 8, 2023
Pages: 46

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a psychological thriller in novelette form so I was wondering how Sheidenberger would be able to get enough into the story to make it creepy and cringe-worthy. She did it! I am a thriller reader so I can be a bit critical of them at times. I loved this one. At first I was wondering where we were going with it but about a quarter of the way through I knew.

Lara and Cameron are married musicians and have a great marriage. On occasion Cameron has dinner with his pastor brother Jason so when Cameron doesn’t make it home one evening, she assumes he is having dinner with Jason. Cameron ends up dead and there are no leads in the case. In walks Jason and as any loving brother-in-law would be, he takes care of Lara. His wife Alexis died in a terrible accident a year prior so he is expecting reciprocation from Lara as he is lonely and needs things as well.

Nothing is on the up and up in Jason’s world and his congregation seems to idolize him. They stand by his side through thick and thin. He is popular and powerful. He isn’t what Lara thought he was. She must make a decision about her life but the wrong decision can be deadly.

Due to this being a novelette, a lot of possible interesting aspects to the story couldn’t be added but I would have liked to have more. This is not a criticism but rather a huge complement to the constitution of the story. It was great and well thought out. Creepy enough to give some satisfying hair-raising moments.

I am looking forward to more from Holly Sheidenberger.

[Lotte_ladybird · Rating 4 out of 5]

*reklame- anmelder eksemplar / ad - pr product*

The Kinsman by Holly Sheidenberger ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Holly reached out to me, asking if I wanted to read her novelette. She thought I might like it, even though I’m not a thriller fan. She was right!

If your husband went missing, who would you turn to for help? When her husband goes missing, Lara turns to her brorher in law. But is Jason as selfless as he seems? Or does he know more about the situation than he’s letting on?

At 46 pages The Kinsman is a fast read, and I can’t say much about the plot without spoiling it. I will say, that I started reading the book before leaving for work. Not reading it in one go was a mistake - I couldn’t stop thinking about it while I was at work! I finished it as soon as I came home.
My only complaint is, that it’s too short. I want more!!

Holly, thank you so much for letting me read your novelette!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick 46 page novelette. I didn’t read the synopsis prior to accepting this book, I just knew it was a psychological thriller and dove in. Lara writes a letter to her daughter to explain their story. Her second husband Jason is a priest, but the story doesn’t take on much of a religious vibe. It mentions the church and congregation, but Lara wasn’t much of a church goer and the story focused on her. Her story is sad, with her first husband getting murdered, and her second husband being controlling. This novelette would make a great full book, but with the details given, it cut right to the point and made for a good quick read.

[Kaitlyn Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, fast-paced psychological thriller novelette. I really enjoyed the writing in this. It flowed well and I could easily see myself enjoying a full-length novel by this author. I found some of the story to be predictable, but not so predictable that it took away from my enjoyment/curiosity. Plus, I was pleasantly surprised by the unique ending. My only disappointment is that I wish this book was a little longer so that more could be explained about the background and intentions of the characters.

I was kindly sent an ebook copy of The Kinsman in exchange for an honest review.

[Christina (ChristinaBethReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 46 pages it was a short, quick read. The opening chapter was a letter from Lara to her daughter and really hooked me. The idea of the kinsman is interesting and a great idea for a domestic thriller. The story was slight predictable but it ended differently than I expected. I would have liked more details at the end as it felt a bit rushed. Read if you like creepy in-laws and questionable church-goers.

[Geneva.Bookdiary · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a novelette it was filled with so much story such a good quick psychological thriller.
The writing was good id love to see a full length novel. This is a book you can read on lunch break or while you wait for the laundry to dry.
I can totally see this story being very true in some cultures or religions believes. Totally creepy 😅

[Kalah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! There was so much potential to have a full length novel from this book. It is a great novella, but I want more about this couple and events leading up to what happened. Def will be reading more of Sheidenberger and hoping for a full length story soon!

[Lisset · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was the perfect short read of domestic and psychological thrill! I was sucked into the plot. Even though it was somewhat predictable, the suspense had me on the edge of my bed.

[Danyelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced quick novelette. A lot of suspense packed into 54 pages! Lara’s husband dies and all she has left is her brother in-law. He’s a pastor and loved by his church. He supports and cares for her when her world is flipped upside down. Lara is on a mission though to find her husbands killer, but she gets more surprises than she bargains for. This would have made a great full novel and I look forward to more reads from Holly!

[Mouna Abdellati · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 sterren. Het was een goede novelette. plot was echt wel snel duidelijk dus niet echt een schok moment gevoeld, maar wel leuke korte read.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fast paced, enthralling read. The perfect lunchtime thriller! This hooked me from the first page, and even though I saw the twist coming, it kept me hooked until the end.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this engaging novelette, Lara is beside herself when her husband, Cameron, goes missing. As she tries to uncover answers, she is met with obstacles. Her brother-in-law becomes her sole support, but she’s not quite so sure his motives are innocent.

This was an enjoyable read! I was a fan of the fast pace of this short story. Early on, I felt invested in the story despite guessing the ending. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thank you to @hollysheidenberger for a gifted ebook copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of The Kinsman by the author for free in exchange for my honest review.
•
The Kinsman by Holly Sheidenberger is a fast paced domestic thriller that is bite sized enough that you can finish it while drinking your morning coffee or on your lunch break. It instantly drew me in, even with some of the predictable aspects of it.
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I will say, for such a short story, it felt so much bigger (in a good way). This could have easily been a full novel or even a duology.
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Would definitely recommend this to my thriller loving friends. 🔪

[Arya Krishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a quick read .. Like the author claims it would take only your lunch hour or school drop off/pick up time to finish this book. The story is interesting and will keep you hooked till the end. If you are looking for a quick and easy read, go for it !

[Dan Lawton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good short psychological thriller. A wife gets the worst news possible: Her husband has died. Soon after she learns she's pregnant, adding to the drama. In steps her brother-in-law to help . . . or so she thinks. I'm looking forward to reading a full-length novel from Holly. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna May x · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this novelette! Had me hooked for sure, would make such a great longer novel

[Thriller Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a really quick read, which goes nicely with a morning coffee or a lunch break.

[Theresa Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book is short, but mighty! In just a few pages, you are drawn into a tense and chilling story of survival. Great character development and storyline. I wish it were longer!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lara is happily married to her husband Cameron, both are musicians. Jason , who is Cameron’s brother, is married to Alexis and a famous preacher. Jason’s wife died from an “accident “ while on vacation. Lara drives Cameron to Jason’s church to meet Jason for lunch but as time goes by Cameron goes missing. Police show up to tell her he was stabbed to death. Lara turns to Jason for comfort and Jason offers a proposition: to be her kinsman. A kinsman is someone who steps in to care for a family member. Jason proposes the idea of marriage and offers complete support of her. Lara who is broke and ready to be evicted plus finds out she’s pregnant agrees to it but hides the pregnancy.

The twists: Jason killed his wife on vacation so she didn’t accidentally fall. According to a friend of hers, she was being abused physically and mentally, controlling and was pregnant. She was trying to get her to leave him. She warns Lara who already has seen his anger. Lara finds Cameron’s missing phone in a drawer in Jason’s home office and sees a video where Cameron is stabbed to death and Jason did it. She goes to the police who search the house and get the phone. Jason is arrested but charges are dismissed. Jason confesses how he murdered his wife and brother and did it to have Lara. Lara ends up staying with Jason out of fear for her life and especially her daughter’s life. She writes letters to her daughter to read when she gets older where she explains everything including that Jason is not her father despite his lying to the church members that she is.

This was a short novelette and a domestic thriller. It has so much potential to turn into a full novel. I’d love to know more back stories of the characters and their relationships. The story deals with questionable church leaders, infatuation, murder, physical and mental abuse, deceit, lies.
It was dark and twisty