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TWISTED LIVES
TWISTED LIVES by Tamara Merrill is both a chilling psychological thriller and a profound exploration of motherhood and resilience. This gripping tale will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page is turned.
Amid a howling snowstorm, single mother Sarah Blake awakens to find her six-year-old son, Jeremy, missing. Desperately, she runs out of their cabin home and follows Jeremy's dog into the woods. When Sarah awakens days later in the hospital, she tumbles into a world of confusion and fear.
Too much time has passed. Nothing is as she remembers. Her ex-husband, Rodney, swears they never divorced and that the strange child living with him is Jeremy. Something evil is threatening.
Fearful for Jeremy's life and her own, and bombarded with deceptions and lies from those she thought she could trust, Sarah questions her sanity and the sanity of those around her. No one believes what Sarah knows to be true-Jeremy is missing!
Watched by their housekeeper, a mysterious man in the woods, and Rodney himself, Sarah finds herself a captive.
Determined to find Jeremy, Sarah navigates a treacherous web of lies, heartbreak, and betrayal.
Amid a howling snowstorm, single mother Sarah Blake awakens to find her six-year-old son, Jeremy, missing. Desperately, she runs out of their cabin home and follows Jeremy's dog into the woods. When Sarah awakens days later in the hospital, she tumbles into a world of confusion and fear.
Too much time has passed. Nothing is as she remembers. Her ex-husband, Rodney, swears they never divorced and that the strange child living with him is Jeremy. Something evil is threatening.
Fearful for Jeremy's life and her own, and bombarded with deceptions and lies from those she thought she could trust, Sarah questions her sanity and the sanity of those around her. No one believes what Sarah knows to be true-Jeremy is missing!
Watched by their housekeeper, a mysterious man in the woods, and Rodney himself, Sarah finds herself a captive.
Determined to find Jeremy, Sarah navigates a treacherous web of lies, heartbreak, and betrayal.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Tamara Merrill
18 books20 followersTamara Merrill has three happy places; reading, writing, and painting. When she was a child, she thought she’d grow up to live in a loft in Manhattan and spend her time doing all three. Tamara hasn’t done that but she does live in two lovely places, Coronado, CA and Wickenburg, AZ.
And, Tamara does read, write and paint.
During the 60’s and 70’s, Tamara published multiple short stories in the popular women’s magazines of that era. But then the need for cash intervened and she took a “real job” and stopped writing fiction. Fortunately for readers of fiction she is writing again. Her work includes historical fiction, psychological thrillers, and many short stories,
A dark tale of gaslighting at its worst, TWISTED LIVES plunges Sarah into a frightening battle to save her son, herself, and her sanity. JUST ONE MORE, a psychological thriller, tells the story of one young woman caught in a terrible situation. Her friendship with the crows provides her only support system and survival may not be possible. Tamara’s book, Shadows in Our Bones, is based on, real people and real events, this book explores the impact that a racial incident in Maine, 1912, has had on the descendants and society. DNA testing, racial tension, family dynamics, and eugenics are all examined in this award-winning read.
Tamara is also known for the Augustus Family Trilogy - a family saga that covers events from 1937 to 1980. FAMILY LIES 1937-1944, FAMILY MATTERS 1944-1960, and FAMILY MYTHS 1960-1980. Her short stories appear in anthologies and online.
Tamara is available to speak at book clubs, writers' and readers' events, and teaches writing skills in the adult education arena. Learn more about Tamara at: www.tamaramerrill.com. Follow her on Faceback TamaraMerrillAuthor or on Instagram @tmerrillauthor
And, Tamara does read, write and paint.
During the 60’s and 70’s, Tamara published multiple short stories in the popular women’s magazines of that era. But then the need for cash intervened and she took a “real job” and stopped writing fiction. Fortunately for readers of fiction she is writing again. Her work includes historical fiction, psychological thrillers, and many short stories,
A dark tale of gaslighting at its worst, TWISTED LIVES plunges Sarah into a frightening battle to save her son, herself, and her sanity. JUST ONE MORE, a psychological thriller, tells the story of one young woman caught in a terrible situation. Her friendship with the crows provides her only support system and survival may not be possible. Tamara’s book, Shadows in Our Bones, is based on, real people and real events, this book explores the impact that a racial incident in Maine, 1912, has had on the descendants and society. DNA testing, racial tension, family dynamics, and eugenics are all examined in this award-winning read.
Tamara is also known for the Augustus Family Trilogy - a family saga that covers events from 1937 to 1980. FAMILY LIES 1937-1944, FAMILY MATTERS 1944-1960, and FAMILY MYTHS 1960-1980. Her short stories appear in anthologies and online.
Tamara is available to speak at book clubs, writers' and readers' events, and teaches writing skills in the adult education arena. Learn more about Tamara at: www.tamaramerrill.com. Follow her on Faceback TamaraMerrillAuthor or on Instagram @tmerrillauthor
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 30, 2025
I received this book as a gift, and I am so glad I did! From the very first page, Twisted Lives pulled me in. I found myself completely engrossed in the mystery surrounding Jeremy’s disappearance—desperate to uncover what really happened. Tamara Merrill masterfully builds suspense while creating a cast of wonderfully flawed and deeply human characters.
What I appreciated most was how believable and cathartic the characters felt. Some I genuinely liked, others I felt indifferent toward, and a few—like the mother-in-law and the husband—I outright loathed. This emotional range made the story all the more engaging. Merrill doesn’t paint in black and white; instead, she explores the messy shades of gray that make her characters feel real.
The pacing is fast and the plot engrossing, keeping me guessing until the very end. While I anticipated some twists, the conclusion still managed to surprise me—enough to be satisfying, but not so outlandish as to be unbelievable. It felt authentic, compelling, and earned.
If you're looking for a psychological thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful, Twisted Lives is a gripping, thoughtful read you won’t want to put down.
What I appreciated most was how believable and cathartic the characters felt. Some I genuinely liked, others I felt indifferent toward, and a few—like the mother-in-law and the husband—I outright loathed. This emotional range made the story all the more engaging. Merrill doesn’t paint in black and white; instead, she explores the messy shades of gray that make her characters feel real.
The pacing is fast and the plot engrossing, keeping me guessing until the very end. While I anticipated some twists, the conclusion still managed to surprise me—enough to be satisfying, but not so outlandish as to be unbelievable. It felt authentic, compelling, and earned.
If you're looking for a psychological thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful, Twisted Lives is a gripping, thoughtful read you won’t want to put down.
Displaying 1 of 1 review