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The Missing Stage
A home invasion.
One mother, two children.
An impossible choice.
You’re not ready for this. Expect TRIGGERS.
"The Missing Stage is a heart-wrenching tale of extreme horror in the vein of Sophie's Choice with a bitter, bloody twist.”
Erica Summers, author of Vanity Kills and Writhe
“The Missing Stage plunges you into the abyss. A grim autopsy of impossible choices, and their unthinkable results.”
Ryan Harding, author of Transcendental Mutilation
“If you enjoy disturbing fiction, this is one you do not want to miss. Highly recommended for fans of extreme horror!”
Brian Bowyer, author of AUTUMN GOTHIC
“Bleak and this made me feel like shit."
Megan Stockton, author of BLUEJAY
“A truly unforgettable tale which gives readers an uncomfortable glimpse into the darkest corners of human nature and suffering…”
Rowland Bercy Jr., author of Unbortion
“…has darkness that will carve an unwelcome niche into your soul with an emotional chainsaw and let it fester there for a very long time.”
Jeffrey Caston, author of Food
“Adler Tittle is the type of author that looks you in the eye and smiles as he gut punches you and rips your heart out through your ass with his writing.”
R.E. Sargent, author of ONE-STAR REVIEW
“This is horror without the need for gratuitous gore and visceral it’s a horror that’s going to keep the reader awake at night, frightened by all the implications of what they’ve read.”
Ashley Lister, author of CONVERSATIONS WITH DEAD SERIAL KILLERS.
One mother, two children.
An impossible choice.
You’re not ready for this. Expect TRIGGERS.
"The Missing Stage is a heart-wrenching tale of extreme horror in the vein of Sophie's Choice with a bitter, bloody twist.”
Erica Summers, author of Vanity Kills and Writhe
“The Missing Stage plunges you into the abyss. A grim autopsy of impossible choices, and their unthinkable results.”
Ryan Harding, author of Transcendental Mutilation
“If you enjoy disturbing fiction, this is one you do not want to miss. Highly recommended for fans of extreme horror!”
Brian Bowyer, author of AUTUMN GOTHIC
“Bleak and this made me feel like shit."
Megan Stockton, author of BLUEJAY
“A truly unforgettable tale which gives readers an uncomfortable glimpse into the darkest corners of human nature and suffering…”
Rowland Bercy Jr., author of Unbortion
“…has darkness that will carve an unwelcome niche into your soul with an emotional chainsaw and let it fester there for a very long time.”
Jeffrey Caston, author of Food
“Adler Tittle is the type of author that looks you in the eye and smiles as he gut punches you and rips your heart out through your ass with his writing.”
R.E. Sargent, author of ONE-STAR REVIEW
“This is horror without the need for gratuitous gore and visceral it’s a horror that’s going to keep the reader awake at night, frightened by all the implications of what they’ve read.”
Ashley Lister, author of CONVERSATIONS WITH DEAD SERIAL KILLERS.
- GenresHorror
43 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2024
1 person is currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 17, 2024
A Cautionary Tale of Terror
No spoilers. 4 1/2 stars. Blair Warner was unaware that someone watched her from behind some bushes while she tended her garden...
She had recently broken up with her husband...
Her six year old twins, Timmy and Lita, were upstairs napping. As she opened her front door, a man with a gun forced his way inside the house...
The man wasn't wearing a mask...
Blair silently prayed that her kids would continue sleeping so that the man wouldn't know they were there...
She had no idea how bad things were about to get as the man asked her if anyone else was home...
He told Blair: If you lie to me, everyone will get hurt, and there will be blood. There won't be any second chances to get it right...
Blair and the man woke the children together and took them downstairs to get them tied up...
Little Lita asked Blair: Who is the monster standing behind you, Mommy?...
The man told all of them that if they followed his instructions, he wouldn't hurt them. He said he never made false promises...
The man further told Blair: You're about to make a hard choice. You won't want to choose, but you'll have to. Everyone's level of pain will be up to you...
The man brought up pictures of young children on his phone, which made Blair realize just what this man was capable of...
Then the man told Blair...
This was a dark story of a home invasion. Home invasions are the kind of horror stories that cause me to lose sleep because of their prevalence in today's world.
This short story was well-written and grips the reader from the first sentence. It is a cautionary tale that will stay with you long after reading. The illustrations were a nice touch.
I wish the story had been a little longer to fill in some of the gaps, but overall, it was riveting and very chilling.
Warning to some readers: Child abuse and mental abuse are part of the story.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
No spoilers. 4 1/2 stars. Blair Warner was unaware that someone watched her from behind some bushes while she tended her garden...
She had recently broken up with her husband...
Her six year old twins, Timmy and Lita, were upstairs napping. As she opened her front door, a man with a gun forced his way inside the house...
The man wasn't wearing a mask...
Blair silently prayed that her kids would continue sleeping so that the man wouldn't know they were there...
She had no idea how bad things were about to get as the man asked her if anyone else was home...
He told Blair: If you lie to me, everyone will get hurt, and there will be blood. There won't be any second chances to get it right...
Blair and the man woke the children together and took them downstairs to get them tied up...
Little Lita asked Blair: Who is the monster standing behind you, Mommy?...
The man told all of them that if they followed his instructions, he wouldn't hurt them. He said he never made false promises...
The man further told Blair: You're about to make a hard choice. You won't want to choose, but you'll have to. Everyone's level of pain will be up to you...
The man brought up pictures of young children on his phone, which made Blair realize just what this man was capable of...
Then the man told Blair...
This was a dark story of a home invasion. Home invasions are the kind of horror stories that cause me to lose sleep because of their prevalence in today's world.
This short story was well-written and grips the reader from the first sentence. It is a cautionary tale that will stay with you long after reading. The illustrations were a nice touch.
I wish the story had been a little longer to fill in some of the gaps, but overall, it was riveting and very chilling.
Warning to some readers: Child abuse and mental abuse are part of the story.
My thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2024
Wow, now I feel all kinds of shit!! This was a powerful and heartbreaking short story. My heart broke from the first few pages, and didn’t let up. I’m now having 3 fingers of vodka to cope. Good little story but you won’t feel good afterwards.
Thanks to the author for providing me with this ARC, and for driving me to drink…only joking Adler!!! 😁
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to the author for providing me with this ARC, and for driving me to drink…only joking Adler!!! 😁
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 18, 2024
This short story packs a punch. It is a disturbing experience, so enter with extreme caution. The returns are grim, but not easily forgotten. This is an effective, dark little thriller, Adler Tittle. Many thanks for the ARC! I look forward to your future offerings.
June 1, 2024
Psychological Fear Fest!
Very small backstory:
A mother has to make a difficult choice between her twin children when a kidnapper wants to take one of them.
That is about all I can give out on a very small backstory without giving away spoilers as this book is super short so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
First time reading this author and I was surprised with how fast I was pulled into the story!
This story borders on the edge of a twisted mess of psychological depression and took me into the deep dark recesses of this author's mind! I will be curious to see what author Adler Tittle will be working on in the future as this book barreled along at a high rate of speed and crashed upon the walls of despair! Giving this short story five "Twisted Terror" stars!
Very small backstory:
A mother has to make a difficult choice between her twin children when a kidnapper wants to take one of them.
That is about all I can give out on a very small backstory without giving away spoilers as this book is super short so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
First time reading this author and I was surprised with how fast I was pulled into the story!
This story borders on the edge of a twisted mess of psychological depression and took me into the deep dark recesses of this author's mind! I will be curious to see what author Adler Tittle will be working on in the future as this book barreled along at a high rate of speed and crashed upon the walls of despair! Giving this short story five "Twisted Terror" stars!
June 5, 2024
Absolutely savage.
Some stories make you feel good.
This is not that story.
Other stories give you hope.
This is not that story.
Others still make you appreciate the human condition.
This is not that story either.
The Missing Stage, told with unique storytelling techniques and content, will make you despair. Then despair some more. And just when you think you've hit the bottom.
You realize you haven't.
I hold the opinion that to write the really dark horror takes a certain type of courage. To shed a light on the darkest of the dark of human psyche, to reveal it to those willing to see parts of the world that others either insist doesn’t exist or simply take the denial route and try to wish it away… that takes some guts.
Addler Tittle shows that courage and just blasts right past it like it was nothing. I had the privilege of getting an ARC copy and wow. This is dark. It’s not a boast or a joke. It just is.
It’s available on Godless.com. The opening warning on the site reads “You’re not ready for this. Expect TRIGGERS.”
Please take me at my word that nobody’s BS’ing on that.
Some stories make you feel good.
This is not that story.
Other stories give you hope.
This is not that story.
Others still make you appreciate the human condition.
This is not that story either.
The Missing Stage, told with unique storytelling techniques and content, will make you despair. Then despair some more. And just when you think you've hit the bottom.
You realize you haven't.
I hold the opinion that to write the really dark horror takes a certain type of courage. To shed a light on the darkest of the dark of human psyche, to reveal it to those willing to see parts of the world that others either insist doesn’t exist or simply take the denial route and try to wish it away… that takes some guts.
Addler Tittle shows that courage and just blasts right past it like it was nothing. I had the privilege of getting an ARC copy and wow. This is dark. It’s not a boast or a joke. It just is.
It’s available on Godless.com. The opening warning on the site reads “You’re not ready for this. Expect TRIGGERS.”
Please take me at my word that nobody’s BS’ing on that.
January 9, 2026
3.5 stars. The showstopper here was the emotional depth that the author went to with our lead, Blair. Very well done and made my heart weep at several points. The rest of the story just felt very rushed and abbreviated, which took away from the intensity of it all. It tried to tackle too many plot points in such a short runtime, which further made things feel jumbled. It either needed to simplify its approach or extend the story to full develop everything. The writing was fine and the premise was sound, but there were just a lot of pieces not connecting here for me. Still not a bad read.
June 17, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
If you for a minute have ever thought that monsters don’t exist…..This very short novella will quickly show you that they walk among us . Blair, a single mother and her two twin children Lita and Timmy, are faced with a home invasion. This book was not only violent, but it was a reminder that violence and hope do not discriminate. A true gut punch of a story. I highly recommend this short story to only those that can handle the extreme macabre of books.
If you for a minute have ever thought that monsters don’t exist…..This very short novella will quickly show you that they walk among us . Blair, a single mother and her two twin children Lita and Timmy, are faced with a home invasion. This book was not only violent, but it was a reminder that violence and hope do not discriminate. A true gut punch of a story. I highly recommend this short story to only those that can handle the extreme macabre of books.
August 10, 2024
Absolutely heart wrenching and disturbing...even though this book was very short I struggled to read through it at speed because of its content and the impossible choice this mother had to make! This book packed such a punch it sent me reeling and left me broken.
It made me cry...It made me scream...and as a mother myself it made me feel sick to the stomach! and the ending just shattered my already broken heart 💔
Adler Tittle is most definitely now on my most loved author list.
5 Huge Enormous Gold 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟's
It made me cry...It made me scream...and as a mother myself it made me feel sick to the stomach! and the ending just shattered my already broken heart 💔
Adler Tittle is most definitely now on my most loved author list.
5 Huge Enormous Gold 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟's
June 16, 2024
I was absolutely not ready for this story!
It's so dark and twisted without needing too many details!
This is a home invasion story with a sickening twist and a parent with a twisted choice to make and only hope to hold on to!
I dont know who this author is as he/she is writing under pseudonym, but i can't wait to see what else you bring to the reading community
Thank you for allowing me to read a ARC of your book
It's so dark and twisted without needing too many details!
This is a home invasion story with a sickening twist and a parent with a twisted choice to make and only hope to hold on to!
I dont know who this author is as he/she is writing under pseudonym, but i can't wait to see what else you bring to the reading community
Thank you for allowing me to read a ARC of your book
July 6, 2024
The story's a short novellette by a new author.
It's about a horrifying home invasion: a mother's instincts are tested in the worst way imaginable.
She and her two children face a human monster.
Hearts break, only bones mend.
Expect the language to be plain.
The horror is mostly implied, though certainly not always.
The atmosphere is cold, ominous, grim throughout.
The twist is genuinely shocking.
Consider yourself warned.
It's about a horrifying home invasion: a mother's instincts are tested in the worst way imaginable.
She and her two children face a human monster.
Hearts break, only bones mend.
Expect the language to be plain.
The horror is mostly implied, though certainly not always.
The atmosphere is cold, ominous, grim throughout.
The twist is genuinely shocking.
Consider yourself warned.
January 1, 2026
I had been meaning to read this basically all of 2025 and I kept putting it off because I knew, this story would hurt me. I was right....
As a mother... this story had my heart literally in my guts. That feeling never really let up either, it just broke me over and over until the very end.
As a mother... this story had my heart literally in my guts. That feeling never really let up either, it just broke me over and over until the very end.
June 8, 2024
A terrifying home invasion story where a mother ultimately loses her mind and is given a choice but will she stay compliant? 😱🫢😥🏠
Home invasion stories always scare the fuck out of me because these things actually happen😳
Idk who the author is as they wish to remain anonymous using a pseudonym but this was a dark and distressing read.
The pictures included were a nice touch to the story for sure, further painting the picture. Whoever you are, Adler Tittle, well done and I hope to see more stories from you in the future. ✍️📖
Home invasion stories always scare the fuck out of me because these things actually happen😳
Idk who the author is as they wish to remain anonymous using a pseudonym but this was a dark and distressing read.
The pictures included were a nice touch to the story for sure, further painting the picture. Whoever you are, Adler Tittle, well done and I hope to see more stories from you in the future. ✍️📖
July 10, 2024
"The Missing Stage" is a gripping and intense short story that dives into the terrifying world of a home invasion. The story revolves around a mother who finds herself confronted with unimaginable decisions, pushing her to the limits of strength and resilience. This book explores the depths of human emotions, as the main character is forced to make the hardest choice of her life, only to be confronted with an even more challenging one.
The author skillfully weaves a tale that is both heartbreaking and disturbing, capturing the raw emotions and brutal reality of the situation. The intensity of the story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, unable to tear themselves away from the pages. This story is not for the faint of heart, catering to the tastes of more of extreme horror lovers.
"The Missing Stage" is a testament to the author's ability to create a captivating and thought-provoking story within the confines of a short format. It is a perfect choice for those seeking a quick but impactful read that will leave a lasting impression.
The author skillfully weaves a tale that is both heartbreaking and disturbing, capturing the raw emotions and brutal reality of the situation. The intensity of the story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, unable to tear themselves away from the pages. This story is not for the faint of heart, catering to the tastes of more of extreme horror lovers.
"The Missing Stage" is a testament to the author's ability to create a captivating and thought-provoking story within the confines of a short format. It is a perfect choice for those seeking a quick but impactful read that will leave a lasting impression.
July 5, 2024
Wow..!
This story packs a gut punch..! Having two kids myself, this was a tough tough read. Very well written! Like in films like Irreversible and Requiem for a Dream, you hate every moment you are seeing it, but find them to be great films nonetheless. Just not something you would rewatch, as they are taking its toll. I had the same feeling reading this story - hated experiencing what the mother had to experience, but appreciated the book when I turned the last page. This will sit with me for a while. Great story, tough sit, 5 stars!
This story packs a gut punch..! Having two kids myself, this was a tough tough read. Very well written! Like in films like Irreversible and Requiem for a Dream, you hate every moment you are seeing it, but find them to be great films nonetheless. Just not something you would rewatch, as they are taking its toll. I had the same feeling reading this story - hated experiencing what the mother had to experience, but appreciated the book when I turned the last page. This will sit with me for a while. Great story, tough sit, 5 stars!
August 12, 2024
What if you had to make a choice—a life-changing choice? A choice that will haunt you for the rest of your life.
What if you had to choose between your two children? Blair Warner had to make that choice when a strange gun-wielding man barged into her home.
This right here was a gut punch of a tale. Home invasion stories are scary, and this one was downright terrifying. Dark, frightening, and unforgettable. Adler delivers one of the best home invasion tales I have read in a long time. It grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. Well done. Don't miss it.
5 severed fingers out of 5
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July 7, 2024Available on KU!
June 1, 2025
I really need someone to talk about this book with. I haven’t read anything this stress and anxiety inducing in a LONG freaking time. This story actually freaked me out. And the ending… wtf. Please go read this then talk to me about it. 😭
July 23, 2024
Holy crap! I just sat here in a car park unable to move after I finished this. It’s short but reels you in, disgusts you and breaks your heart. Having a daughter myself this a tough read and I’ve never been so happy that she’s an only child.
I just sat here after finishing just staring at nothing, stunned. The brutality, the realism, the absolute nightmare scenario.
Prepare to have your soul ripped apart!
I just sat here after finishing just staring at nothing, stunned. The brutality, the realism, the absolute nightmare scenario.
Prepare to have your soul ripped apart!
February 8, 2025
Want your heart ripped out, stomped on, hacked up with an axe then set on fire? Because that's what you're going to get if you read this. Especially if you are a parent.
This is an intense psychological horror with themes of bad stuff happening to kids, but no outright descriptions of those bad things happening, it all happens "off screen".
Typically I don't give books this short 5 stars. But this deserves all five of those stars.
This is an intense psychological horror with themes of bad stuff happening to kids, but no outright descriptions of those bad things happening, it all happens "off screen".
Typically I don't give books this short 5 stars. But this deserves all five of those stars.
June 30, 2024
This short story packs a punch in so few pages! I was hooked first thing, liked the characters, and thought the story line was absolutely brilliant! I hope someday he fleshes the story out, makes it longer…there is so much potential! I loved it!
June 24, 2024
This was a real quick read. A dark terrifying story of a mothers worst fear! Home invasion meets taken, Blair is confronted by her home invader and given an impossible choice, she has to make the choice or an already horrifying situation will be turned into the very worst scenario. Once at the end of the book you may need a little time to process what you have just read. If you like your dark stories go get this one, available on Godless.
January 26, 2025
A quick read that made my heart race. Blair is a mother of twins, who recently split with her husband due to her cheating on him. Unbeknownst to her, someone was watching her while she was in her garden. When she returned to her home, a man with a gun, followed her in and made her make an impossible decision. One that would haunt her for the rest of her life.
The story kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. I hope this author writes some more in the near future.
The story kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. I hope this author writes some more in the near future.
June 24, 2024
A gut punch of a story! Highly recommended for regular readers of extreme horror. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work. Thank you for the review copy.
December 12, 2025
Most parents would struggle to live with themselves in the aftermath of being forced to make a decision like this. A horrific situation that has no real ending to the story, but how could it? Real life doesn't get a wrapped up ending, especially with most of these crimes.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews