Six

by Tamara Butts, Kelley Long (Editor)

Clark always knew he was different. As a little boy he was plagued with recurring thoughts, repetitive counting, and the need for order. Murphy, Clark’s father, also suffered from obsessions of his own. Their idiosyncrasies were an extreme embarrassment to Clark’s mother, Lena. Her disdain for him and his habits pushed him over the edge, attacking his mind with vile hallucinations.

Now, as a grown man, his sole purpose in life is to rid himself of the evil premonitions. His violent attempts to relieve his mental anguish fall short, leaving him in constant pain and self-loathing. When he meets a woman at the local grocery store, Clark is mesmerized by the beautiful middle aged cashier who bears a striking resemblance to his mother. Clark is certain that Naomi is the answer he has prayed for his entire life. He would rescue her, and she would unknowingly save him.

Six is a captivating tale of family secrets and horrific obsessions. The unsettling story will leave you asking, Is hiding the truth of the past worth living a lifetime of tragedy?

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2025

Reviews

[paige glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

After growing up with Tamara for a lot of my life, I wouldn’t have guessed such a happy and vivacious woman could write such an eminently twisted and messed up thriller. She did, and she absolutely killed it.

Following the characters’ in-depth and incredibly well thought out lives sent me on a journey throughout the entirety of the novel. Every character was so personable, and their actions were very realistic and true to who they are.

I especially enjoyed reading from Clark’s perspective to see his internal battle as he tried to navigate through the trauma of his past and hope for the better. It was interesting to read from the point of view of someone that struggles with OCD, and I believe that Clark is a realistic representation of the disorder. Unfortunately, due to his unbalanced childhood and lack of mental health resources, this worsened his already prominent mental health issues. Between the warfare in his mind and his pompous attitude that was very funny at times, Clark was an incredibly engaging character.

Going off of this, Tamara’s attention to detail was impressive. There was not a single question left unanswered. It is easy to see that Tamara put her heart into this story. Her intentionality is my favorite part about the book as it makes the bizarre and suspenseful thriller exceedingly realistic and relatable. Six is such an intricately dark thriller, and I am so proud of Tamara for creating such an amazing novel.

[Heather Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! That could not put this book down, finishing it in one weekend! In this psychological thriller, Clark suffers from evil thoughts of killing his abusive mother. The way he deals with his “problem” is sinful and eats at his conscience throughout his life. As he learns to accept himself, his life takes shocking twists and turns that you won’t see coming ahead of time. Although it’s only her second novel, Tamara Butts’ easy writing style will draw you into a world beyond your darkest imagination.

[Macy Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tamara did it again!!! Six was an absolute page turner with plot twists making it hard to put down! Tamara’s beautifully dark imagination brought to life a story that highlights religious trauma and how evil is a product of its environment. The complex characters make the book so captivating to read and I found myself rooting for Clarke (the protagonist) even when it was unconventional. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a good physiological thriller.

[Mimi Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, could not put it down. If you like psychological thrillers this author is for you! You should also read her first book The Shed. Now to patiently wait for her third book!