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Personal Demons
In the quiet suburbs, everyone has something to hide…
Seth Verman returns home as an exonerated killer. Once condemned for a brutal double murder, now cleared and hailed as a symbol of justice overturned. With friendly smiles and backyard barbecues, the neighborhood cautiously welcomes Seth back into its fold. Yet behind picket-fence hospitality, whispers about the past grow louder. Is the handsome man next door truly innocent, or is a monster lurking behind his affable facade?
Aden Weaver is a disgraced writer clinging to the truth like a lifeline. Once celebrated for his sharp pen and fearless opinions, Aden saw his career crash and burn in the court of public opinion. Now, he’s obsessed with the one story everyone else wants to forget – Seth’s. Sifting through old case files and town gossip, Aden is determined to peel away the lies. He knows better than anyone how easily society crowns new heroes and buries its secrets. The deeper Aden digs, the more his fixation borders on mania, and the line between seeking justice and personal vengeance blurs into darkness.
As sleepless nights bleed into tense days, a slow, sinister unraveling of the truth begins. Long-buried evidence surfaces, marriages fray, and polite exteriors crack to reveal raw ambition and guilt. In this idyll of manicured lawns and PTA meetings, Aden and Seth engage in a deadly psychological chess match. Neighbors take sides, moral ambiguity reigns, and it becomes impossible to tell victim from villain. With each revelation, the stakes climb higher – and someone’s personal demons are about to come roaring into the light.
Fans of Gillian Flynn’s twisted domestic suspense and Bret Easton Ellis’s biting social commentary will be riveted by Personal Demons. This gripping psychological thriller lays bare the rotten core of suburbia, where secrets, lies, and the hunger for redemption collide in a finale as shocking as it is inevitable.
Seth Verman returns home as an exonerated killer. Once condemned for a brutal double murder, now cleared and hailed as a symbol of justice overturned. With friendly smiles and backyard barbecues, the neighborhood cautiously welcomes Seth back into its fold. Yet behind picket-fence hospitality, whispers about the past grow louder. Is the handsome man next door truly innocent, or is a monster lurking behind his affable facade?
Aden Weaver is a disgraced writer clinging to the truth like a lifeline. Once celebrated for his sharp pen and fearless opinions, Aden saw his career crash and burn in the court of public opinion. Now, he’s obsessed with the one story everyone else wants to forget – Seth’s. Sifting through old case files and town gossip, Aden is determined to peel away the lies. He knows better than anyone how easily society crowns new heroes and buries its secrets. The deeper Aden digs, the more his fixation borders on mania, and the line between seeking justice and personal vengeance blurs into darkness.
As sleepless nights bleed into tense days, a slow, sinister unraveling of the truth begins. Long-buried evidence surfaces, marriages fray, and polite exteriors crack to reveal raw ambition and guilt. In this idyll of manicured lawns and PTA meetings, Aden and Seth engage in a deadly psychological chess match. Neighbors take sides, moral ambiguity reigns, and it becomes impossible to tell victim from villain. With each revelation, the stakes climb higher – and someone’s personal demons are about to come roaring into the light.
Fans of Gillian Flynn’s twisted domestic suspense and Bret Easton Ellis’s biting social commentary will be riveted by Personal Demons. This gripping psychological thriller lays bare the rotten core of suburbia, where secrets, lies, and the hunger for redemption collide in a finale as shocking as it is inevitable.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 16, 2024
19 people want to read
About the author
Adam Cosco
9 books74 followersAdam Cosco is an award-winning author and filmmaker whose work dives deep into the shadows of the human psyche. A graduate of the prestigious American Film Institute, Adam cut his teeth in Hollywood before turning his focus to novels—crafting stories that blend horror, psychological suspense, and dark satire.
His novels—Little Brother, Say Goodbye to Jonny Hollywood, Lowlands, The Heart of a Child, and his latest mind-bending thriller The Dream Killer—have captivated readers with their atmospheric dread and sharp psychological insight.
Fearless, provocative, and impossible to ignore, Adam Cosco writes the kind of stories that leave a mark.
His novels—Little Brother, Say Goodbye to Jonny Hollywood, Lowlands, The Heart of a Child, and his latest mind-bending thriller The Dream Killer—have captivated readers with their atmospheric dread and sharp psychological insight.
Fearless, provocative, and impossible to ignore, Adam Cosco writes the kind of stories that leave a mark.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 25, 2025
Personal Demons is a fast-paced, psychological thriller that’s full of unexpected twists and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story centers on Seth Verman, a man wrongfully convicted of a double murder, and his return to society after his conviction is overturned. While the world seems eager to welcome him back, writer Aden Weaver becomes obsessed with the case, convinced that something sinister still lurks beneath Seth’s charming exterior.
The plot is the standout here, full of twists and turns that keep you hooked. Every time you think you’ve figured it out, Cosco pulls the rug out from under you. While the story is solid and suspenseful, I did feel that the characters didn’t quite live up to the intensity of the plot. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing and don’t mind a bit of distance from the characters, it’s definitely worth reading.
The plot is the standout here, full of twists and turns that keep you hooked. Every time you think you’ve figured it out, Cosco pulls the rug out from under you. While the story is solid and suspenseful, I did feel that the characters didn’t quite live up to the intensity of the plot. If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing and don’t mind a bit of distance from the characters, it’s definitely worth reading.
December 6, 2024
This was a well written suspense with moments that will take you high and low while questioning who is telling the truth and who is fabricating the story. A really good read that will keep you locked in!
December 11, 2024
I am grateful to have received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I have read another book by this author and am impressed with the difference between the two; both fun reads by the way. This took a somewhat slower, smooth pace, which allowed for more development of the story and the opportunity to more deeply understand each character. Overall, it is a quick, entertaining cat and mouse type of tension and competition between neighbors, with a dark, murderous twist. Very fun!
December 26, 2024
A story best summed up by a direct quote from the text itself: "A monument to what happens when self-righteousness eats you from the inside out".
Our story takes place in the banality of a suburban street. It unfolds around the every day activities of it's residents until new neighbours move in and the street is forever transformed. Interwoven are the stories of the neighbours, but at its centre sit two men, each loaded with hubris. As we watch these two dance around the truth and fight for the upper hand, the quiet of the neighbourhood is shattered. Their hubris is their hamartia.
Our story takes place in the banality of a suburban street. It unfolds around the every day activities of it's residents until new neighbours move in and the street is forever transformed. Interwoven are the stories of the neighbours, but at its centre sit two men, each loaded with hubris. As we watch these two dance around the truth and fight for the upper hand, the quiet of the neighbourhood is shattered. Their hubris is their hamartia.
December 24, 2024
I received eceived a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. When a conspiracy theorist and a recently exonerated double murderer end up in the same place, sparks will fly. This was a gritty story with content that wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. I personally felt the narrative was rushed a bit but still a good read of you don't have a weak stomach
December 17, 2025
It made lots of sense to me when I found out this was adapted from a screenplay. Indeed, it reads very similarly. In novel format however, the story is a bit confused. Gotta love the tension of the two main characters, though. Reminded me of L and Kira (iykyk).
May 19, 2025
This story hooked me from the beginning and never let up. It reminded me of Needful Things on a smaller scale minus supernatural elements. A small neighborhood w dark secrets tearing each other apart. Highly recommend.
February 20, 2025
Thanks Reedsy for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Day the Devil Came to Town - What an apt name for the central thesis of this story. While this story hosts a cast of characters - some more important than others - the central tension revolves around two characters: Seth Vermin-uh-that's not right, Verman and Aden Weaver. Know that both are horrible people - and the author does not try to hide that by letting us into the characters intrusive thoughts; and interestingly, this is where the author excels. This is a character-driven story through and through and knowing the author's filmmaking background, this style certainly makes sense. However, I think this is where the other aspect of storytelling falters: the plot.
The plot centers on a small community in suburbia - Locust Avenue, where everybody seemingly knows everybody and everybody is in everybody's business. We follow the incredibly bored and extremely sociopathic Aden Weaver, who is the primary instigator for driving the plot forward. A former disgraced journalist, Aden comes across news of Seth Verman's exoneration and release from prison for the alleged murder of two children when he was young, leading to an obsessive spiral into Seth's life in the hopes of uncovering the truth of what happened 16 years ago. The obsession amplifies when one day Seth moves in across the street from Aden - hence The Day the Devil Came to Town - and the conflict unfolds, like Palestine and Israel, or Donald Trump and Greenland, or Donald Trump and Canada, or Donald Trump and Mexico.
And if you think that the previous similes appear out of nowhere, then you would be right. The writing is riddled with strange similes that a) serve to reference the real world, or b) feel forced (either to add to the word count or it is a recently discovered style at the start of the plot). For example, these are back-to-back, approximately 5 lines from each other: "... the occasional brushstroke like hesitant whispers" and "... a sixty year-old Middle-Eastern man, his skin weathered like a map that's taken too many wrong turns". I understand author's craft, but what do these even mean? Sometimes, these similes are so bang on the head obvious - as though the author is presuming that the readers are unable to understand what he is trying to say, like a child struggling to understand quantum physics or an ant struggling to understand the humdrum life of men, such as these lines, "David raises a finger, the universal gesture for hold that thought", or "... the end of his cigarette glowing like a dying star" or "the neighbors don't mix... like oil and water in a decorative vase". Given this review, one might think that the author may not have a good grasp of the writing process, but you are wrong in that there are amazing lines that show the author's creativity and skills, like: "Life churns forward, oblivious, and somewhere in the night, a new story is about to begin", which is such a beautiful line that is overshadowed by this writing style, and distractingly so. I did a quick count and chapter 9 has a STAGGERINGLY 19 such immediately obvious similes, some in immediate succession between paragraphs.
Away from the writing style and back to the plot, fortunately, both men have very distinct voices in their sociopathy. Unfortunately, the rise of their conflict is paper thin, and this has a huge impact on a plot that revolves around both men. As I progress in the story, I see the escalation of the conflict and to be very honest, I struggle to find the inciting incident that drives the escalation. I understand from Aden's perspective in uncovering the truth as a journalist, but the reciprocal animosity from Seth seems manufactured? Truly, I struggle to understand why Seth hates Aden to this extent: "Across the room, Seth watches. His gaze is a predator's... He sees the kiss, sees the way Aden recoils".
And OH! Johnny Depp is in the story - real-life American actor Johnny Depp, fresh out of his courtroom drama with Amber Heard, makes an appearance to deliver a line to a young girl that the author describes as "Skyler Freeman, a twelve-year old dressed in a Catholic school uniform. Skyler's got that preteen combination of hope and awkwardnesss":
SKYLER (BEAMS): I'm not an actor yet... I just applied for college, but I'm gonna take a minor in film for sure.
JOHNNY DEPP (SMIRKS): That's funny... because when I was in college, I filmed minors.
As a Republican sympathizer, perhaps there is a subtext that the author is trying to comment with these abhorrent, absurd (Trent Raznor appears for a second) and sometimes, tasteless (so does OJ Simpson) references, but one thing this reviewer thinks is that the art might not be too disconnected from the artist as many presumes.
PS: Love the style of paragraph numbers counting down to the eventual final conflict - great touch in storytelling. You have a typo for "about" - spelled "abput" - halfway through Chapter 6.
The Day the Devil Came to Town - What an apt name for the central thesis of this story. While this story hosts a cast of characters - some more important than others - the central tension revolves around two characters: Seth Vermin-uh-that's not right, Verman and Aden Weaver. Know that both are horrible people - and the author does not try to hide that by letting us into the characters intrusive thoughts; and interestingly, this is where the author excels. This is a character-driven story through and through and knowing the author's filmmaking background, this style certainly makes sense. However, I think this is where the other aspect of storytelling falters: the plot.
The plot centers on a small community in suburbia - Locust Avenue, where everybody seemingly knows everybody and everybody is in everybody's business. We follow the incredibly bored and extremely sociopathic Aden Weaver, who is the primary instigator for driving the plot forward. A former disgraced journalist, Aden comes across news of Seth Verman's exoneration and release from prison for the alleged murder of two children when he was young, leading to an obsessive spiral into Seth's life in the hopes of uncovering the truth of what happened 16 years ago. The obsession amplifies when one day Seth moves in across the street from Aden - hence The Day the Devil Came to Town - and the conflict unfolds, like Palestine and Israel, or Donald Trump and Greenland, or Donald Trump and Canada, or Donald Trump and Mexico.
And if you think that the previous similes appear out of nowhere, then you would be right. The writing is riddled with strange similes that a) serve to reference the real world, or b) feel forced (either to add to the word count or it is a recently discovered style at the start of the plot). For example, these are back-to-back, approximately 5 lines from each other: "... the occasional brushstroke like hesitant whispers" and "... a sixty year-old Middle-Eastern man, his skin weathered like a map that's taken too many wrong turns". I understand author's craft, but what do these even mean? Sometimes, these similes are so bang on the head obvious - as though the author is presuming that the readers are unable to understand what he is trying to say, like a child struggling to understand quantum physics or an ant struggling to understand the humdrum life of men, such as these lines, "David raises a finger, the universal gesture for hold that thought", or "... the end of his cigarette glowing like a dying star" or "the neighbors don't mix... like oil and water in a decorative vase". Given this review, one might think that the author may not have a good grasp of the writing process, but you are wrong in that there are amazing lines that show the author's creativity and skills, like: "Life churns forward, oblivious, and somewhere in the night, a new story is about to begin", which is such a beautiful line that is overshadowed by this writing style, and distractingly so. I did a quick count and chapter 9 has a STAGGERINGLY 19 such immediately obvious similes, some in immediate succession between paragraphs.
Away from the writing style and back to the plot, fortunately, both men have very distinct voices in their sociopathy. Unfortunately, the rise of their conflict is paper thin, and this has a huge impact on a plot that revolves around both men. As I progress in the story, I see the escalation of the conflict and to be very honest, I struggle to find the inciting incident that drives the escalation. I understand from Aden's perspective in uncovering the truth as a journalist, but the reciprocal animosity from Seth seems manufactured? Truly, I struggle to understand why Seth hates Aden to this extent: "Across the room, Seth watches. His gaze is a predator's... He sees the kiss, sees the way Aden recoils".
And OH! Johnny Depp is in the story - real-life American actor Johnny Depp, fresh out of his courtroom drama with Amber Heard, makes an appearance to deliver a line to a young girl that the author describes as "Skyler Freeman, a twelve-year old dressed in a Catholic school uniform. Skyler's got that preteen combination of hope and awkwardnesss":
SKYLER (BEAMS): I'm not an actor yet... I just applied for college, but I'm gonna take a minor in film for sure.
JOHNNY DEPP (SMIRKS): That's funny... because when I was in college, I filmed minors.
As a Republican sympathizer, perhaps there is a subtext that the author is trying to comment with these abhorrent, absurd (Trent Raznor appears for a second) and sometimes, tasteless (so does OJ Simpson) references, but one thing this reviewer thinks is that the art might not be too disconnected from the artist as many presumes.
PS: Love the style of paragraph numbers counting down to the eventual final conflict - great touch in storytelling. You have a typo for "about" - spelled "abput" - halfway through Chapter 6.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2025
Very interesting read!
3.5 stars, rounding up :)
Told by a slew of unreliable narrators, Cosco outlines an epic cat-and-mouse dynamic between two next door neighbours, in which their deadly competition to expose each other winds up exposing more about each of their own dark motives.
Though rich in plot, my favourite part of the novel would easily be the characters. Aden especially was my favourite. He was complicated, flawed, and vividly realistic. I absolutely loved how Cosco explored the relationship between anger and empathy, showing how they can work together and the dangers of one overpowering the other.
The writing was straight forward, which I felt worked both for and against Cosco in this case. Working with unreliable narrators, I can see how a more "telling-over-showing" approach may help to blur the lines between fact and perspective, which is essential to the creation of such narrators. However, I do wish there was a bit more 'showing' in the novel, to give readers more of a chance to infer and draw their own conclusions about the characters -- especially given their rich personalities and histories, a little more intrigue would have been nice, and would have boosted the novel from 3.5 to 4 stars for me.
In all, this was truly an enjoyable read. Though I don't usually read suspense/psychological thrillers, this novel was a wild and fun ride-- and it will certainly stick with me for a while.
Big thank you to Adam Cosco and Voracious Readers Only for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:)
-- Archie, J
3.5 stars, rounding up :)
Told by a slew of unreliable narrators, Cosco outlines an epic cat-and-mouse dynamic between two next door neighbours, in which their deadly competition to expose each other winds up exposing more about each of their own dark motives.
Though rich in plot, my favourite part of the novel would easily be the characters. Aden especially was my favourite. He was complicated, flawed, and vividly realistic. I absolutely loved how Cosco explored the relationship between anger and empathy, showing how they can work together and the dangers of one overpowering the other.
The writing was straight forward, which I felt worked both for and against Cosco in this case. Working with unreliable narrators, I can see how a more "telling-over-showing" approach may help to blur the lines between fact and perspective, which is essential to the creation of such narrators. However, I do wish there was a bit more 'showing' in the novel, to give readers more of a chance to infer and draw their own conclusions about the characters -- especially given their rich personalities and histories, a little more intrigue would have been nice, and would have boosted the novel from 3.5 to 4 stars for me.
In all, this was truly an enjoyable read. Though I don't usually read suspense/psychological thrillers, this novel was a wild and fun ride-- and it will certainly stick with me for a while.
Big thank you to Adam Cosco and Voracious Readers Only for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:)
-- Archie, J
March 10, 2025
Some books don’t just tell a story—they get under your skin. Personal Demons is one of those books. It’s the kind of psychological thriller that makes you second-guess everything, including your own instincts about people, justice, and the unsettling ease with which darkness can wear a charming face.
From the moment I met Seth Verman, I felt the unease creep in. He’s free, exonerated, a man who should be a symbol of redemption—but something about him didn’t sit right. Maybe it was the way everyone wanted to believe in his innocence, how the world welcomed him back so readily. And then there’s Aden Weaver, the once-celebrated writer who refuses to let go of the past, who can’t stop picking at the edges of a case that’s supposedly closed. I felt myself sinking into his obsession, flipping pages with the same restless hunger he feels chasing the truth. But the deeper he digs, the more distorted reality becomes, and soon I wasn’t sure who to trust—Seth, Aden, or even my own instincts.
Adam Cosco’s writing is razor-sharp, every chapter laced with quiet menace. It’s a story that doesn’t just explore deception—it thrives in it, forcing you to question how much of what we see is real and how much is the story we choose to believe. If you loved Gone Girl or The Silent Patient, this book will keep you up at night, not just because of the twists, but because it forces you to confront a chilling thought: what if the monsters aren’t just in the story, but lurking in plain sight all around us?
By the time I reached the final page, I wasn’t just hooked—I was haunted.
From the moment I met Seth Verman, I felt the unease creep in. He’s free, exonerated, a man who should be a symbol of redemption—but something about him didn’t sit right. Maybe it was the way everyone wanted to believe in his innocence, how the world welcomed him back so readily. And then there’s Aden Weaver, the once-celebrated writer who refuses to let go of the past, who can’t stop picking at the edges of a case that’s supposedly closed. I felt myself sinking into his obsession, flipping pages with the same restless hunger he feels chasing the truth. But the deeper he digs, the more distorted reality becomes, and soon I wasn’t sure who to trust—Seth, Aden, or even my own instincts.
Adam Cosco’s writing is razor-sharp, every chapter laced with quiet menace. It’s a story that doesn’t just explore deception—it thrives in it, forcing you to question how much of what we see is real and how much is the story we choose to believe. If you loved Gone Girl or The Silent Patient, this book will keep you up at night, not just because of the twists, but because it forces you to confront a chilling thought: what if the monsters aren’t just in the story, but lurking in plain sight all around us?
By the time I reached the final page, I wasn’t just hooked—I was haunted.
January 9, 2025
The premise of Personal Demons by Adam Cosco is undeniably intriguing—a freed convict whose charm hides unsettling doubts, and a disgraced writer spiraling into obsession. The blurb promised a gripping psychological thriller in the vein of Gone Girl and The Silent Patient, but unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
While the plot itself was well thought out, with twists and turns that reflect careful planning, I found the writing style frustrating at times. It disrupted the flow of the story and made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the narrative. Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters, which is often a key component for me in enjoying a psychological thriller. Aden's obsession and Seth’s enigmatic charm were compelling on paper, but they didn’t fully translate into characters I cared about or believed in.
Overall, while Personal Demons wasn’t a bad book, it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. It’s a story with potential, but for me, it lacked the gripping tension and emotional resonance I was hoping for. Readers who enjoy slower-burn thrillers with ambiguous characters might find it more engaging, but it was more of a "meh" experience for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While the plot itself was well thought out, with twists and turns that reflect careful planning, I found the writing style frustrating at times. It disrupted the flow of the story and made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the narrative. Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters, which is often a key component for me in enjoying a psychological thriller. Aden's obsession and Seth’s enigmatic charm were compelling on paper, but they didn’t fully translate into characters I cared about or believed in.
Overall, while Personal Demons wasn’t a bad book, it left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. It’s a story with potential, but for me, it lacked the gripping tension and emotional resonance I was hoping for. Readers who enjoy slower-burn thrillers with ambiguous characters might find it more engaging, but it was more of a "meh" experience for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 9, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this book and found it to be a nice little fast flowing read if your looking for a quicker read for a change of pace between books or an end of year read to read your Goodreads reading goal.
Whilst it is a very good and enjoyable read, I must note that I felt like it was very much a plot driven book and with most of the writing being done to progress the plot, which would be something to consider if you enjoy books with the characters and the relationships between characters to be a bit more fleshed out. At times I did get a little confused with want was happening due to the pace, but the author was able to write this book so something intriguing was just about to happen which made me eager to continue on
I finished this book quite quickly and would definitely recommend it as a relaxing Sunday afternoon or a fun short flight read for those who enjoy horror reads
Whilst it is a very good and enjoyable read, I must note that I felt like it was very much a plot driven book and with most of the writing being done to progress the plot, which would be something to consider if you enjoy books with the characters and the relationships between characters to be a bit more fleshed out. At times I did get a little confused with want was happening due to the pace, but the author was able to write this book so something intriguing was just about to happen which made me eager to continue on
I finished this book quite quickly and would definitely recommend it as a relaxing Sunday afternoon or a fun short flight read for those who enjoy horror reads
March 15, 2025
Is it Hollywood or Real Life?
This story is based on Seth getting out of prison early, due to a documentary that showed he did not kill the boys. That is the easy part of it. Because it then goes into the thoughts and what is real and what really happened. Wow! I loved adding Johnny Depp to the storyline, too.
The people closest to Seth, believe that he truly is innocent, and therefore deserves to have all of these now wonderful things that are happening to him.
Add in the fact of people not having sex only with their partner, but having an 'open relationship'. I do have a question on this one, when it is an 'open relationship' are there any exclusions to this and do you have to tell your actual partner who you have had sex with? I know, complicated!
I've heard the saying 'Karma's a Bi-ch'... sometimes it is.
Thank you, Adam Cosco, for a good story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
This story is based on Seth getting out of prison early, due to a documentary that showed he did not kill the boys. That is the easy part of it. Because it then goes into the thoughts and what is real and what really happened. Wow! I loved adding Johnny Depp to the storyline, too.
The people closest to Seth, believe that he truly is innocent, and therefore deserves to have all of these now wonderful things that are happening to him.
Add in the fact of people not having sex only with their partner, but having an 'open relationship'. I do have a question on this one, when it is an 'open relationship' are there any exclusions to this and do you have to tell your actual partner who you have had sex with? I know, complicated!
I've heard the saying 'Karma's a Bi-ch'... sometimes it is.
Thank you, Adam Cosco, for a good story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.
March 14, 2025
I loved this story! I feel like the pacing was perfect. Having the omnipotent narration allowed me to see everyone's thoughts and motives. The idea that everyone has secrets and no one is truly perfect is one of the best ways to put this book. The characters are portrayed as stereotypical suburban families. Everyone has a dark side, to the point of it being their inevitable down
Watching in real time everyone's individual facades and masks shatter was what left me needing more. I can't wait to read more of Adam Cosco's book!
Watching in real time everyone's individual facades and masks shatter was what left me needing more. I can't wait to read more of Adam Cosco's book!
December 17, 2024
I received this book as an ARC from Booksirens.
Respectfully, what the f****. Not at any time during this reading did I think it would get wilder, but it just kept getting more and more wild. Aden is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. He is a classic narcissist and egotistical man who in some ways gets everything he deserves.
I would definitely give this a read if you want something short, fun and murdery.
Respectfully, what the f****. Not at any time during this reading did I think it would get wilder, but it just kept getting more and more wild. Aden is the perfect example of an unreliable narrator. He is a classic narcissist and egotistical man who in some ways gets everything he deserves.
I would definitely give this a read if you want something short, fun and murdery.
December 19, 2024
Thanks Booksprout for the free ARC! I wasn’t able to get into this book. It started off great; I loved the dark humor, but unfortunately it began to get tacky. The writing was good, but the characters did a lot of smirking and I wish the author had found a simile so it wasn’t always the same repetitive action.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2024
I'm sure for some people this was a very good book, but it just wasn't for me. I hated how it changed between using 3rd person and 1st person. It refers to the main character as Aden and "he" and then in the next sentence uses "I" and then back to "he" again for the next. Because of all this POV shifting, I found it a very difficult read to get into and so I wasn't able to enjoy the plot either.
February 13, 2025
I feel a bit lost. This felt a bit rushed as opposed to fast-paced. I was lost about who some of the characters were and the relevance in the story. It's not that I didn't enjoy it but maybe if a little more time was taken to character building and joining it together it wouldn't have left me this feeling of incompletion.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Booksirens and this is a voluntary and honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Booksirens and this is a voluntary and honest review.
July 30, 2025
I really enjoyed getting to read this, it took the concept of being exonerated and made a unique plot in this book. I was invested in what was going on and how the psychological thriller element worked together to make this story well. I cared about what was happening and thought it was tense and worked overall. Adam Cosco has a strong writing style and glad I got to read this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 18, 2024
I just finished Personal Demons, and I have to say—it really stayed with me. The story feels so raw and unfiltered, and the way you wrote the characters made them feel so human—flawed and real. You didn’t shy away from the darkness, and it added so much weight to the story. It pulled me in from the start.
December 26, 2024
This book was a really intense book with great characters and a wonderful plot. It was full of twists and turns that kept you guessing what was actually going on and who was lying through their teeth. The emotions in this book actually got me a lot. I really liked it and would recommend it to people who like psychological thrillers and really intense stories.
January 6, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book for free. I am voluntarily writing this review. I enjoyed this greatly. It was a fairly short read, but suspenseful and it kept me hooked the whole time. I enjoyed the back and forth narrative of the story and different points of view from the characters. I would definitely read more from this author.
February 9, 2025
Another one that missed the mark for me. It failed to grab me and keep me interested. The characters were bland and the writing was jagged. It was hard to follow and unclear at times. It had a lot of potential, but it failed to deliver.
Thank you to VRO and the author for the free copy.
Thank you to VRO and the author for the free copy.
March 13, 2025
Left me wanting more
This story is good but I felt it needed more. Its hard to explain without spoilers but it was just like the book started everything happened and its done. You don't get any background or build up. Very predictable.
This story is good but I felt it needed more. Its hard to explain without spoilers but it was just like the book started everything happened and its done. You don't get any background or build up. Very predictable.
December 16, 2024
This is a suspense filled story about what hides behind the masks everyone wears. Full of tension amazing characters pulls you in.
December 16, 2024
This is a well written thriller about the sins we hide, and the lengths others will go to expose them. Curt is a former writer of note who is now in a self imposed exile with a new name, Aden. He longs to return to his former glory, if only he can find that one great story that will make people forget his prior mistakes.
Then that story comes to town.
Seth Verman has recently been released from prison, his double-murder charge overturned by the courts. He winds up being neighbors with Aden, who suspects that he should, indeed, still be in prison for the crimes. So he begins to write his story.
But Seth knows more about Aden's past than he thinks he does.
And now, their stories intertwine in a deadly dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Mr. Cosco has succeeded in keeping the reader guessing and sitting on the edge of their seat. It's an enjoyable ride to get to find out where this battle of wits leads, and who will stand victorious at the end.
I will be reading more from this author, and I recommend you grab this book as soon as it's available in your area.
Then that story comes to town.
Seth Verman has recently been released from prison, his double-murder charge overturned by the courts. He winds up being neighbors with Aden, who suspects that he should, indeed, still be in prison for the crimes. So he begins to write his story.
But Seth knows more about Aden's past than he thinks he does.
And now, their stories intertwine in a deadly dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Mr. Cosco has succeeded in keeping the reader guessing and sitting on the edge of their seat. It's an enjoyable ride to get to find out where this battle of wits leads, and who will stand victorious at the end.
I will be reading more from this author, and I recommend you grab this book as soon as it's available in your area.
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