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The Mind's Appetite
When Elizabeth’s husband, Luc, dies in a tragic accident, her once-perfect life shatters. Isolated in their sprawling French estate, she struggles to rebuild her world while haunted by his memory. Determined to reconnect with life, Elizabeth hosts a dinner party with a carefully curated guest Dr. Marc, the calm and kind stranger who offers her solace; Paul, whose cryptic remarks cut too close to the truth; and Claire and Chloé, her oldest friends hiding secrets of their own.
As the night unfolds, the lines between reality and illusion blur. Conversations about loss and moving on trigger Elizabeth’s spiraling grief, and Marc’s uncanny resemblance to Luc becomes impossible to ignore. When she begins hearing Luc’s voice and seeing his face where it shouldn’t be, Elizabeth must confront a chilling is she losing her mind—or is something more sinister at play?
In this psychological thriller, nothing is as it seems.
As the night unfolds, the lines between reality and illusion blur. Conversations about loss and moving on trigger Elizabeth’s spiraling grief, and Marc’s uncanny resemblance to Luc becomes impossible to ignore. When she begins hearing Luc’s voice and seeing his face where it shouldn’t be, Elizabeth must confront a chilling is she losing her mind—or is something more sinister at play?
In this psychological thriller, nothing is as it seems.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2025
7 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Aurelie Duncanson
8 books22 followersI grew up in France and moved to the United States when I was 26 years old. I have been teaching French for ten years. I have a background in French Literature and was always an avid reader; I especially enjoy thriller books.
Fueled by a lifelong love for storytelling, I decided to create short stories that will be suspenseful and intriguing for readers who love psychological fiction and devoted my weekends crafting them. I have published four books: "The Mind's Appetite", "The Neighbor She Never Knew", "Whispers From The City of Light" and "La Dame Blanche" (The White Lady). There will be more to come!
Fueled by a lifelong love for storytelling, I decided to create short stories that will be suspenseful and intriguing for readers who love psychological fiction and devoted my weekends crafting them. I have published four books: "The Mind's Appetite", "The Neighbor She Never Knew", "Whispers From The City of Light" and "La Dame Blanche" (The White Lady). There will be more to come!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 14, 2025
Fractured Mind
Wow your mind can actually break and I guess allow you to make another reality hiding what you've done. Wonder if she will ever truly heal.
Wow your mind can actually break and I guess allow you to make another reality hiding what you've done. Wonder if she will ever truly heal.
February 1, 2025
The Mind's Appetite is a hauntingly beautiful story that dives deep into the complexities of grief and memory. Elizabeth’s journey after the loss of her husband, Luc, is portrayed with such raw emotion that I felt completely connected to her. Her attempts to host a dinner and move forward with her life feel both brave and heartbreaking.
Marc’s arrival brings an element of mystery that had me hooked from the start. His resemblance to Luc is unsettling, and it forces Elizabeth—and the reader—to question what’s real and what’s imagined. The tension between the characters at the dinner table is palpable, and every conversation feels like it’s hiding something beneath the surface.
The way Duncanson weaves together past and present is masterful. The flashbacks of Luc, the memories of her son, Samuel, and the shocking revelations toward the end all come together to create a story that is both emotional and suspenseful. This book is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the complexities of healing. It’s a story that I’ll be recommending to everyone I know.
Marc’s arrival brings an element of mystery that had me hooked from the start. His resemblance to Luc is unsettling, and it forces Elizabeth—and the reader—to question what’s real and what’s imagined. The tension between the characters at the dinner table is palpable, and every conversation feels like it’s hiding something beneath the surface.
The way Duncanson weaves together past and present is masterful. The flashbacks of Luc, the memories of her son, Samuel, and the shocking revelations toward the end all come together to create a story that is both emotional and suspenseful. This book is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the complexities of healing. It’s a story that I’ll be recommending to everyone I know.
April 5, 2025
Aurelie Duncanson delivers a haunting, elegantly crafted psychological thriller in The Mind’s Appetite. Set in a secluded French estate, the novel follows Elizabeth, a grieving widow whose attempt to reconnect with life through a dinner party unravels into a chilling descent into doubt, obsession, and blurred reality.
With rich atmosphere and layered characters, Duncanson masterfully builds suspense, leaving readers questioning what’s real and what’s imagined. As Elizabeth’s world begins to fracture—fueled by the eerie presence of a man who resembles her late husband—Duncanson weaves a taut narrative full of emotional depth and unsettling twists.
A compelling exploration of grief, perception, and the mind’s darkest corners, The Mind’s Appetite confirms Duncanson as a powerful new voice in psychological fiction.
With rich atmosphere and layered characters, Duncanson masterfully builds suspense, leaving readers questioning what’s real and what’s imagined. As Elizabeth’s world begins to fracture—fueled by the eerie presence of a man who resembles her late husband—Duncanson weaves a taut narrative full of emotional depth and unsettling twists.
A compelling exploration of grief, perception, and the mind’s darkest corners, The Mind’s Appetite confirms Duncanson as a powerful new voice in psychological fiction.
January 1, 2026
blurring the lines between what is real and what is not Elizabeth finds herself hosting a dinner party after the tragic loss of her husband Luc. Not completely prepared for this party she treks on anyway. What she isn't prepared for is the triggering conversations, the heavy moments of grief and the fact that she can't stop seeing and hearing her dead husband everywhere...but more importantly in the way Marc carries himself and the unmistakable resemblance between the two...what is actually going on? Is this real? Or is Elizabeth losing her mind? Or could it be something even darker? Aurelie Duncanson does a fantastic job keeping you guessing as to what is actually happening, what is in Elizabeth's mind and what is real versus what isn't. I would absolutely recommend this short novelette to anyone who is looking to question everything. Bravo my friend.
February 1, 2025
Book Review of - The Mind's Appetite by Aurelie Duncanson
The Mind's Appetite is an unforgettable tale of grief, guilt, and the struggle to move forward. Aurelie Duncanson has crafted a story that feels deeply personal and incredibly moving. Elizabeth’s pain after losing her husband, Luc, is palpable, and her attempts to create a sense of normalcy are heartbreaking to witness.
The dinner scene, with Marc and the other guests, was a standout for me. There’s an undercurrent of tension in every interaction, and the unspoken emotions between Marc and Elizabeth are beautifully written. Marc’s resemblance to Luc adds an element of mystery that had me questioning his motives and his connection to Elizabeth’s past.
The way Duncanson explores Elizabeth’s inner world is nothing short of masterful. The flashbacks of Luc, her confusion about Marc, and her growing detachment from reality all come together to create a story that is as suspenseful as it is emotional. By the time the final twist was revealed, I was completely captivated.
The Mind's Appetite is an unforgettable tale of grief, guilt, and the struggle to move forward. Aurelie Duncanson has crafted a story that feels deeply personal and incredibly moving. Elizabeth’s pain after losing her husband, Luc, is palpable, and her attempts to create a sense of normalcy are heartbreaking to witness.
The dinner scene, with Marc and the other guests, was a standout for me. There’s an undercurrent of tension in every interaction, and the unspoken emotions between Marc and Elizabeth are beautifully written. Marc’s resemblance to Luc adds an element of mystery that had me questioning his motives and his connection to Elizabeth’s past.
The way Duncanson explores Elizabeth’s inner world is nothing short of masterful. The flashbacks of Luc, her confusion about Marc, and her growing detachment from reality all come together to create a story that is as suspenseful as it is emotional. By the time the final twist was revealed, I was completely captivated.
February 7, 2025
Short Story Reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper
This is a great short story that is reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I love unreliable narrators and Elizabeth in this story definitely fit the bill. There was a lot of repetition that threw me off until I realized that the narrator was unreliable.
There were also a TON of italicized words and phrases. There seemed to be no reason or consistency, so I highlighted them hoping for a hidden message, but no such luck. That was probably the most distracting issue I had with this piece.
This is a great short story that is reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I love unreliable narrators and Elizabeth in this story definitely fit the bill. There was a lot of repetition that threw me off until I realized that the narrator was unreliable.
There were also a TON of italicized words and phrases. There seemed to be no reason or consistency, so I highlighted them hoping for a hidden message, but no such luck. That was probably the most distracting issue I had with this piece.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews