Grieving the loss of his wife and one of his twin sons, Matthew clings to his surviving son, Andrew, as they navigate their shared pain. While renovating their home, Matthew discovers a hidden photograph of a man from the 1800s, bound and lifeless in a coffin.
Young Andrew, who adamantly denies his twin brother's death, becomes fixated on the photograph. He insists that his brother is still with them—and soon, his attention shifts to the man in the picture. Andrew begins speaking of the figure as if it is not just an image but a living presence within their home.
As strange events unfold, Matthew is drawn into a horrific mystery. He must find the answers to save the only family he has left before it is too late. With Matthew's world spiraling into the darkest of nightmares, he finds connections far more insidious and closer to his family than he could ever imagine. He must battle the shadows of grief and the haunting ties that bind him to the ones he has lost before they consume him alive.
Jed Kent is a masterful weaver of psychological thrillers and horror, drawing readers into the shadowy depths of the human psyche with his gripping narratives. Residing in the picturesque Pacific Northwest (PNW), Jed finds himself surrounded by the region's natural beauty and enigmatic landscapes, which serve as the perfect canvas for his dark and intricate stories.
Alongside his wife and family, Jed lives a life that balances the tranquility of the PNW with the thrill of crafting stories that challenge the boundaries between reality and the macabre. His novels are not just books but portals to worlds where the line between sanity and madness is as thin as the paper they're printed on. Join him as he continues to explore the darkest corners of the human experience, leaving readers both haunted and eagerly anticipating what nightmares he will conjure up next.
Matthew Weiss along with his son Andrew are trying to go through the grieving process of losing part of their family - Matthew's wife, Hannah and son, Elijah. Both Matthew and Andrew are steeped so much in grief that they do not know how they will make it through.
Matthew decides that he is going to renovate the house and starts working in the bathroom. He finds an old antique picture of a man that is standing in a coffin behind the wall in his bathroom. This picture becomes something more than just a picture as there is something that slowly worms its way into the lives of Matthew and Andrew, but how far will it go to destroy their lives?
That is about all I can hand out on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you are intrigued then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This book has a little bit of everything - a haunting, an entity, and it has some graphic details with blood and splatter, but it also has quite a bit of an emotional upheaval as well with the grieving process that the characters, Matthew and Andrew endure. This was my first time reading this author and I was drawn into the story quickly as the pace of the story just rolls right along.
There is quite a bit to process with everything that happens in the story but I was able to stay on top of reading it as I kept wanting to see what was going to happen next. I have found another author to add to my horror author list and am looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future. Giving this book four "Twisted Terror" stars!
From start to finish this book was absolutely brilliant! The writing is fantastic and the story captured my interest from page one! This is my first time reading anything by this author, as I was lucky enough to get an ARC, it won’t be my last! 🫀🫀🫀🫀🫀
Wow! I absolutely loved this book! It was so good from start to finish. I would love to see this turned into a movie so that people who don't read can experience the greatness of this book. This was my first book by Jed Kent, but it definitely will not be my last. Read this book! You will not be disappointed!
Matthew lost most of his family in a tragic accident. After a discovery, his life gets even worse. What has he awoken? What does it want? Heart breaking psychological horror thriller. Full of amazing characters love, loss, hope.
This grief horror novel is raw, obsessive and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The horror is psychological and has supernatural elements making this a griping novel!
Kent’s writing style puts you directly in the scenes where you have a visceral response to the grief the Protagonist feels. It’s impossible to not feel connected to the characters and situations.
If you are looking for a novel to make you feel intense emotions, this is it!
I’ve been following Kent’s work from the very beginning, and I have to say, every story has been nothing short of phenomenal. His stories have evolved for the better. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this one, and holy hell, that ending! Don’t worry, no spoilers, but wow.
This is a visceral, grief-filled horror story that is as shocking as it is surprising. Kent has the ability to pull you into his world, wrapping you so tightly in the narrative that it’s impossible to look away. That said, my heart ached while reading this. My emotions were all over the place. At times, I was yelling at the pages (like Matthew the MC into the bathroom towel) in frustration, fear, and heartbreak.
What I’ve learned from reading Kent’s work is that you never truly know what you’re going to get, and that’s what makes his writing so exceptional. This novel hooked me from the very start, and I finished it in a single day. I simply couldn’t put it down. The story is equal parts fascinating, devastating, and stomach-turning, and by the time I reached the final page, I felt utterly hollow in the best way possible. I didn’t want it to end.
This is yet another holy sh*t masterpiece from Kent. How do you keep crafting such original, emotionally gripping stories? I love and hate you at the same time! Ready for your next one, whenever that is.
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me engaged throughout the whole book. It was emotional and scary. Thank you for allowing me to read your arc. I can't wait to read more of your books!!!
WOW…..🤯 what can I even say about this book? It starts out with such a tragedy that just sucks you right in to these people and their lives and what’s going on and then it just takes a dark twist that has you trying to decide if you should keep reading at midnight when you’re listening to every little creak of the floor and wondering what might be out there….AND THEN……. just when I take a breath and think I know where this is headed I’m completely I mean completely wrong. If you like dark twisted tales this is definitely a must read.
First, I want to thank you for the ARC for this book.
If I ever find a picture hidden in the walls, it will be left there! Jed tells a horrifying tale that is made even more horrifying by the descriptive details throughout this book. I won't give away and spoilers but there are so many scenes that will live rent free in my head for who knows how long!
"But what was peace when the heart was already a graveyard?" One of my favorite lines from the book.
Wow! This book started off great and had me hooked right away. I did find it got a little drawn out in the middle but I am so glad I kept going because the twist this book took threw be off my feet! Definitely worth a read! Great writing by Jed!
This story will definitely pull at your heartstrings. Well written. The characters have depth and originality. The entire story from start to finish was captivating. I loved it!!!
I love the horror genre but I tend to stick with the age old haunted house and ghosts (cannot go wrong with the classics). HOWEVER, I was so glad I gave Behind These Walls a chance, even with its limited reviews (which typically turn me off) I couldn't have been happier.
There is some spoilers in the last paragraph so read on at your own risk!
I love Jeds writing and the fact I know NOTHING about Jewish culture, he was able to tell a story while also educating on Jewish lore while not seeming to bore the reader or for it to seem forced.
You really are just thrown into a tragedy that felt so real as if you were actually watching from the outside in like Hannah and Elijah. Jed doesn't hold back at all in this book which was both creepy and amazing. The disclaimer was amazing and just got me in the spooky horror mood right from the get go.
My only question that I was slightly confused about was towards the end when more Rabbis came that were connected to Simon...just surprised that there wasn't more anger or distrust or something since the first ritual was basically used to obtain power to revive a dead rabbi and screw over Matthew and Andrew. I would have thought Matthew would've been hella pissed and slow to even listen to the men after what happened the first time.
Anyway, it was amazing and also living in the PNW I was just happy to read something new from a less known (hopefully that changes) author around my neck of the woods. Amazing work and cannot wait to read more of his work. Thank you for the scares and uneasy evenings when its not fall or Halloween time.
Behind These Walls by Jed Kent Released on March 4th
A chilling, atmospheric blend of psychological horror and supernatural suspense that burrows deep under your skin. From the very first page, I was hooked by the raw, emotional weight of Matthew’s grief and the eerie unraveling of reality within the walls of his home.
Matthew’s loss is staggering—his wife and one of his twin sons are gone, leaving him clinging to his surviving child, Andrew. But Andrew refuses to believe his twin is dead. His obsession with an old photograph of a bound corpse from the 1800s adds another layer of unease, and as he insists that both his brother and the man in the picture are still present, the line between mourning and madness begins to blur. Strange occurrences escalate into full-blown terror, forcing Matthew to confront something far darker than his own grief.
Kent masterfully weaves psychological tension with supernatural horror, making every shadow feel menacing and every moment unpredictable. The pacing is relentless, the atmosphere thick with dread, and the emotional stakes impossibly high. The father-son dynamic is heart-wrenching, making the horrors they face even more gut-punching. And just when you think you’ve figured it out—Kent throws in another twist that leaves you reeling.
This is the kind of book that lingers long after you turn the last page. It’s eerie, gripping, and deeply unsettling in the best way. If you love horror with a strong emotional core and an ending that hits like a freight train, Behind These Walls is a must-read.
This story follows a father and son as they try to come to terms with the accident that took the life of the wife and one of the sons. They come across a chilling image of a dead man in a casket, concealed behind a wall, that triggers a sequence of frightening events. You could feel pain that they were feeling while reading. I was hooked from beginning to end, and it was nearly impossible to put down. I found the book to be deeply unsettling, with its eerie tone causing me to frequently glance over my shoulder, as if expecting someone to be there. The ending of the story had a twist that I did not see coming.
This supernatural novel delves into the depths of grief and the unsettling mysteries hidden within the Kabbalah. Matthew, a man devastated by the loss of his wife and son, struggles to navigate his shattered life while caring for his remaining son, Andrew. The discovery of a disturbing photograph of a dead man in a coffin, hidden behind a wall, sets in motion a series of some increasingly creepy events, compounded by his son's unsettling belief that his deceased brother isn't actually dead. At its heart, this is a novel about grief and the unraveling that comes with it. The supernatural element of Kabbalistic lore is almost secondary to the loss that this family is going through. I found the characters very relatable and a fairly steady pace throughout. I wasn't a fan of the ending, however. I found it a little rushed and too open-ended. I enjoy ambiguous endings but this just fell a little flat for me. 3.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the author. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this! This was actually my first horror novel ever so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought I’d be terrified the entire time but it was actually a nice story. It has love, loss and of course some torture. I was not expecting the end whatsoever. I literally shook my head in disbelief. Great story. My second Jed Kent book! Can’t wait to read more!
I really appreciated the writing in this book, but I’m not sure if this book was for me - which, to be clear, does NOT mean it’s a bad book. I’m not sure why, but I found myself a little confused throughout the book. It’s a slow burn, but the writing style and details were perfect! I loved the description in this book (when I wasn’t confused), and the plot twist at the end was completely unexpected. I would definitely try another Jed Kent book!
“Behind These Walls” is a grief supernatural horror novel. I’ve read a few of Jed Kent’s stories and have enjoyed every single one- but this is now my favorite! Highly recommend! The story is chilling, suspenseful, dark, twisted, and completely captivating. I will never forget it. I absolutely LOVED learning about Jewish folklore! I don’t want to give away any spoilers but… phew! Scary, scary stuff! A certain scene destroyed me emotionally and I had to stick the book in the freezer for awhile. (Keeping Kleenex brand in business *sniff sniff*). That being said, I’m very eager to read book two to see what happens next!
This book absolutely destroyed me in the best way possible. What starts as a story about grief slowly mutates into something deeply unsettling, emotional, and genuinely terrifying. It’s not just horror for the sake of horror, it’s the kind that crawls under your skin because the emotional pain feels so real.
Matthew’s grief is written so raw and vividly that you can practically feel the weight crushing him page by page. Losing his wife and one of his twin sons already feels unbearable, but watching him desperately cling to Andrew while reality starts slipping around them? Heartbreaking. Andrew refusing to accept his brother’s death made every scene involving him feel eerie and tragic at the same time.
And then there’s the photograph.
The second that image is introduced, the entire atmosphere changes. The dread builds so quietly and effectively that by the time the truly disturbing moments start happening, you’re already trapped in this suffocating sense of unease. I loved how the horror balanced psychological tension with supernatural elements without overexplaining everything. It makes the story feel even more haunting.
What really stood out to me was the emotional core. The father-son relationship grounds the horror so well that every terrifying moment actually means something. You’re not just scared for Matthew and Andrew, you’re emotionally invested in them surviving this nightmare.
The pacing was fantastic too. Every chapter reveals something new, and just when I thought I understood where the story was going, another twist completely pulled the rug out from under me. The atmosphere inside the house feels oppressive in the best way, like grief itself has become something alive inside the walls.
This honestly felt cinematic while I was reading it. I could picture every scene so clearly, especially the darker moments involving the photograph and the house itself. I would absolutely watch this as a movie.
If you love grief horror, psychological horror, or stories where the emotional devastation hits just as hard as the scares, this is a must-read. Creepy, heartbreaking, and impossible to put down.
This book nails the kind of horror that sticks with you because it’s built around something real: grief.
Matthew losing his wife and one of his twin sons is already brutal enough before the supernatural stuff even starts creeping in. The story does a really good job showing how broken he is without overdoing it, and the relationship between him and Andrew keeps everything grounded even when things start getting seriously unsettling.
The setup with the old photograph hooked me immediately. A bound corpse from the 1800s hidden inside the house is creepy enough on its own, but once Andrew starts obsessing over it and talking like the man in the picture is actually there, the tension ramps up fast. The book does a great job making you question what’s grief, what’s psychological, and what might actually be something evil.
What I liked most was the atmosphere. The house starts feeling wrong in that classic slow-burn horror way where every room suddenly feels heavy. The author knows how to build dread without relying on nonstop jump-scare moments. It’s more about the feeling that something terrible is waiting just out of sight.
The horror itself works because the emotional side works first. Matthew isn’t some generic horror protagonist, he’s a father barely holding himself together while trying to save the only family he has left. That makes the stakes feel real the entire time.
The pacing is strong too. It keeps moving, the mystery unfolds naturally, and the twists actually land. Every answer just seems to uncover something worse underneath it.
Overall, this is a really solid mix of psychological and supernatural horror with a strong emotional core. Dark, tense, creepy as hell, and honestly hard to put down once it gets going. If you’re into grief horror or haunted house stories with actual substance behind the scares, this one absolutely delivers.
This was another great ARC read for me. This was not my first Jed Kent and I'm possibly a fan but either way, this was another fab read from him.
I feel so crazy getting to read these in "real time" as he writes, because honestly they are getting better and better, its like watching the story unfold.
I feel like I'm on a Grief horror kick, but I went into this blind, I just saw Jed and said yup. I was not prepared. By the time I realized where this was going, my heart was already shattering in a million pieces, screaming at a few scenes.
Loosing most of your family for some, might not be a big deal, but for Matthew, it was like a catalyst for his own personal hell. Being the lone survivors as husband and son, it ripped my heart wide open, and they lost a brother and mother, and a loss like that, just doesn't fill in over night, a loss like that is what leaves open the cracks for the worst things possible.
Finding a fucked up photo in the wall while renovating, after such a tragedy, I cannot imagine his mental state and trying to cope, but having a son left still alive, who is convinced his brother is "still with them "? Recipe for disaster.
This story really spiraled and I don't honestly know what I was expecting to happen, but that ending.
Behind These Walls, is now sitting at my favorite Jed Kent book. Congrats
Grief horror on the extreme side! Absolutely loved it! I found the story to be fascinating, you feel the pain of the main characters so well. This story was horrifically brutal at times with extreme detailed body horror. What I liked so much is that it had an interesting story but when it came to the horror it didn’t hold back any punches. I enjoyed the historical parts being blended into the story. It made it feel more relatable and real. As someone who has lost a person close to me I really connected to the feelings that the characters go through. The pain, the guilt, the empty void left. This is one of my top reads in a while. Glad to have been able to enjoy an early copy.
Need a therapy group after this read! Story is original and emotion fueled. This tale follows a father and son dealing with the aftermath of an accident that takes the wife and one of the sons lives. The grief is so real you can feel it. The story has an uneasy, dread infused direction with such an original storyline. I could see this novel being triggering to some. It’s graphic…very graphic descriptions. It’s heartbreaking…the pages come to life. It’s one of the best damn novels I have read in a long time! This is an indie win for all those who support the industry. Don’t hesitate! Read this novel!
I don’t even have the words to explain how incredible Behind These Walls was. Going in, I had a feeling I was in for something special because it was written by Jed Kent, but somehow this book still completely blew me away!
This is the kind of horror I want more of—creepy, intense, unsettling, and impossible to put down. Since page one this story pulled me. Jed took things to another level with this one and delivered exactly what I hoped for.
I honestly didn’t want it to end, and that’s probably the highest compliment I can give. The good news? The sequel is coming very soon, and I cannot wait to dive back in.
Jed is a super supportive guy, so it was an absolute pleasure diving into his work. BTW is a well-written psychological thriller and grief horror that delves into the intricate complexities of human emotions and their hidden secrets. Grief (and sometimes rage) jumps from every page and stays its course long after reading. Great suspense, well-developed characters and a sucker punch of an ending. As for the horror, it’s brutal in parts but never overshadows the unique storyline or dampens the slow build dread. I had a really good time with it.
This is what grief horror is all about! Absolutely stunning story. It has suspense, heartache, graphic horror in such a way that it pulls you right into the story. This novel would be an amazing movie! The visuals, the emotions you feel are like no other novel I have ever read. And that ENDING! Let's talk about that ending! Shocking as can possibly be! A must read story! I would give ten stars if I could.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Behind These Walls by Jed Kent I haven't read a book that had me this shook in a while! This was my first novel by Jed Kent, and he definitely did not disappoint. The story kept me hooked, the suspense had me turning pages late into the night, and I never knew what was coming next. I can't wait to see what else he has in store because if this book is any indication, I'm in for some amazing reads ahead! 📚🔥🤯💙
This novel is described as grief horror, a sucker punch to the gut with a tortured male lead character. It is gruesomely graphic in multiple scenes…I was warned…you have been warned. It captivated me, it made me gag (thanks weak stomach), it gave me a sort of readers whiplash and disturbed me in the best possible way. After warnings to the potential reader, I highly recommend
This was such a thrilling ride! I was pulled into Matthew and Andrew's story from the very first page. I wanted to hide my eyes whenever the mysterious photograph popped up (but I didn't, because that would mean ending my reading journey).
Kent expertly explored themes of grief, trauma, and fear. I highly recommend!