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DEMONS
Detained under the Mental Health Act.
Drugged, violated, betrayed.
Madness isn't something you escape, its something you survive.
They said I was unstable.
They said it was for my own good.
They lied to me.
I had everything, wealth, security, and love.
But my charming husband had me detained under the Mental Health Act by stealth.
My world became a waking nightmare of sedation, torture, and betrayal.
They took my freedom.
They took my fortune.
They took my voice.
But they made one fatal mistake.
They didn’t finish the job.
Will I claw my way out of the system meant to erase me?
Or will the madness they forced on me, become my power?
Drugged, violated, betrayed.
Madness isn't something you escape, its something you survive.
They said I was unstable.
They said it was for my own good.
They lied to me.
I had everything, wealth, security, and love.
But my charming husband had me detained under the Mental Health Act by stealth.
My world became a waking nightmare of sedation, torture, and betrayal.
They took my freedom.
They took my fortune.
They took my voice.
But they made one fatal mistake.
They didn’t finish the job.
Will I claw my way out of the system meant to erase me?
Or will the madness they forced on me, become my power?
391 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2025
4 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Roxy Rich
23 books18 followersAuthor Bio Roxy Rich
Roxy Rich writes psychological thrillers that will mess with your head, in the best possible way. Loosely based on true events (because real life is often more twisted than fiction), her stories take a deep dive into social injustices, especially those faced by women. Expect grit, heart, and the kind of realism that makes you wonder just how close to the truth she’s really getting.
While most of her work explores the raw and often brutal realities of human behaviour, Roxy occasionally veers off into darkly sarcastic tales about serial killers. You know, for balance.
She lives in the wilds of Somerset where she home educates her kids, writes brutally honest fiction, and dreams of salt water and gills, because she’s pretty sure she was a mermaid in a past life. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her swimming, chasing sea breezes, or side-eyeing society's hypocrisy like it just spilled red wine on her white carpet.
If you like your thrillers bold, smart, and laced with a wicked edge of truth, Roxy Rich is your next favourite author.
Dive in, just don’t expect to come up for air anytime soon.
Roxy Rich writes psychological thrillers that will mess with your head, in the best possible way. Loosely based on true events (because real life is often more twisted than fiction), her stories take a deep dive into social injustices, especially those faced by women. Expect grit, heart, and the kind of realism that makes you wonder just how close to the truth she’s really getting.
While most of her work explores the raw and often brutal realities of human behaviour, Roxy occasionally veers off into darkly sarcastic tales about serial killers. You know, for balance.
She lives in the wilds of Somerset where she home educates her kids, writes brutally honest fiction, and dreams of salt water and gills, because she’s pretty sure she was a mermaid in a past life. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her swimming, chasing sea breezes, or side-eyeing society's hypocrisy like it just spilled red wine on her white carpet.
If you like your thrillers bold, smart, and laced with a wicked edge of truth, Roxy Rich is your next favourite author.
Dive in, just don’t expect to come up for air anytime soon.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2025
Phillips meets James at a charity dinner and they soon become a couple, but something isn’t right as he slowly erodes her sanity and she soon ends up a mental institution and the start of her fight against the system and the man who is supposed to love her.
A powerful and very emotional read, highly recommended.
A powerful and very emotional read, highly recommended.
October 27, 2025
DEMONS
By: Roxy Rich
Publisher: Independently Published
Published Date: October 28, 2025
ASIN: B0FWBV1Q83
Page Count: 393
Triggers: Gaslighting, institutional abuse, medical trauma, sexual assault, psychological manipulation
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 (it’s not horror, but your soul might need a support group afterward)
What Did I Just Walk Into?
A psychological gut-punch disguised as fiction. Demons isn’t about monsters under the bed; it’s about the ones wearing lab coats and wedding rings. Ms. Roxy Rich drags you into a padded cell of patriarchy and control, where “for your own good” becomes the scariest phrase in the English language.
Here’s What Slapped:
The writing is raw and unflinching, like someone tore open the diary of a woman wronged and said, “Here, bleed on the page.” The way Ms. Rich captures gaslighting and institutional abuse feels too real because it probably is. The protagonist’s voice is fire and fury, a descent into madness that turns into survival. Every page screams, “You underestimated the wrong woman.”
What Could’ve Been Better:
Nothing major, unless you count needing a trauma blanket and ten business days to emotionally recover. A few pacing dips in the middle, but they almost mirror the fog of sedation she’s trapped in, so honestly, maybe that’s the point.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
• Psychological thrillers that hit like a sledgehammer
• Girl, Interrupted with more teeth
• Feminist revenge arcs that make you want to burn the
system down
• Stories where survival is the ultimate rebellion
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
PS: This one lingers. You’ll close the book, stare at the wall, and question every “for your own good” you’ve ever heard.
By: Roxy Rich
Publisher: Independently Published
Published Date: October 28, 2025
ASIN: B0FWBV1Q83
Page Count: 393
Triggers: Gaslighting, institutional abuse, medical trauma, sexual assault, psychological manipulation
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀💀💀 (it’s not horror, but your soul might need a support group afterward)
What Did I Just Walk Into?
A psychological gut-punch disguised as fiction. Demons isn’t about monsters under the bed; it’s about the ones wearing lab coats and wedding rings. Ms. Roxy Rich drags you into a padded cell of patriarchy and control, where “for your own good” becomes the scariest phrase in the English language.
Here’s What Slapped:
The writing is raw and unflinching, like someone tore open the diary of a woman wronged and said, “Here, bleed on the page.” The way Ms. Rich captures gaslighting and institutional abuse feels too real because it probably is. The protagonist’s voice is fire and fury, a descent into madness that turns into survival. Every page screams, “You underestimated the wrong woman.”
What Could’ve Been Better:
Nothing major, unless you count needing a trauma blanket and ten business days to emotionally recover. A few pacing dips in the middle, but they almost mirror the fog of sedation she’s trapped in, so honestly, maybe that’s the point.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
• Psychological thrillers that hit like a sledgehammer
• Girl, Interrupted with more teeth
• Feminist revenge arcs that make you want to burn the
system down
• Stories where survival is the ultimate rebellion
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
PS: This one lingers. You’ll close the book, stare at the wall, and question every “for your own good” you’ve ever heard.
December 28, 2025
if I had to describe this book in one word, it would be, intense! poor phillipa, this poor woman dealt with so much. a bunch of triggers (review them), and definitely not for the faint of heart. it will upset you, make you feel things you wouldn't think a book could.
I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!
I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!
November 24, 2025
Detained under the Mental Health Act.
Drugged, violated, betrayed.
Madness isn't something you escape, its something you survive.
They said Phillipa was unstable.
They said it was for her own good.
They lied to her.
She had everything, wealth, security, and love.
But Phillipa’s charming husband had her detained under the Mental Health Act by stealth.
Her world became a waking nightmare of sedation, torture, and betrayal.
They took her freedom.
They took her fortune.
They took her voice.
But they made one fatal mistake.
They didn’t finish the job.
Will Phillipa claw her way out of the system meant to erase her?
Or will the madness they forced on her, become her power?
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.
Tropes: Mental Health, Asylum,
Demons by Roxy Rich.
What in the world did I just read?
Demons is a psychological heart-wrenching tragic story that’s been wrapped up to be disguised as fiction. Demons isn’t this story about monsters that live under your bed; Demons is the story of the monsters who wrap themselves in pristine white lab coats and even wedding rings. With Demons Roxy manages to drag us into a padded cell called patriarchy wrapped up in control, where the phrase “for your own good” becomes the most dreadful words that a person could ever say to another.
Demons starts out at a slow burn pace as Roxy sets up Phillipa’s story. This was a mix of my worst nightmare and pure horror mixed in one. While I was reading it, I was so mad, I was crying with sadness, and at the same time I found myself cheering Phillipa on, wishing that I could help her.
It’s at a charity dinner that Phillipa meets James. Very quickly they become a couple but you can tell that something isn’t right. James right from the start begins to erode Phillipa’s sanity.
And he wears her sanity down so quickly that Phillipa finds herself locked up in a mental institution. And it’s in this moment that her fight against the system and James – the very man who was supposed to love and care for her the most – has just begun.
Roxy’s writing is raw and she doesn’t pull back and she remains transparent in her writing, reading Demons is like Roxy ripped open a woman’s diary who has been wronged and screamed “Here, why don’t you bleed on this page”. Roxy perfectly captured the gaslighting and the institutional abuse and made it feel far too real, and that’s probably because for so many it is just that real. Through Phillipa’s voice we can hear the fire and the fury, and the moment that she descends into a madness in order to survive. You will hear screams on each and every page.
Demons is one of those books that is going to stay with you and linger on your mind long after you have finished the last word. It will have you thinking about institutional abuse, descending into madness just to survive and questioning every “it’s for your own good” that you have ever heard in your life. This book is not only one that will stay with you, it is also one that will really have you questioning things, I found it very thought provoking.
There are so many twists and turns that I never saw coming in this book. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride times 10. But, its raw, pure, and it’s true to the theme and this is a book that will have you questioning not only your own sanity but everything around you.
A must read if I have ever read one. I would give this 10 stars if I could.
Drugged, violated, betrayed.
Madness isn't something you escape, its something you survive.
They said Phillipa was unstable.
They said it was for her own good.
They lied to her.
She had everything, wealth, security, and love.
But Phillipa’s charming husband had her detained under the Mental Health Act by stealth.
Her world became a waking nightmare of sedation, torture, and betrayal.
They took her freedom.
They took her fortune.
They took her voice.
But they made one fatal mistake.
They didn’t finish the job.
Will Phillipa claw her way out of the system meant to erase her?
Or will the madness they forced on her, become her power?
YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and pay close attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. There is some content and scenes in this book that are not suitable for all readers and could be triggering for others. Always remember that your mental health comes first at all times. Reader discretion is advised. Intended for readers 18+.
Tropes: Mental Health, Asylum,
Demons by Roxy Rich.
What in the world did I just read?
Demons is a psychological heart-wrenching tragic story that’s been wrapped up to be disguised as fiction. Demons isn’t this story about monsters that live under your bed; Demons is the story of the monsters who wrap themselves in pristine white lab coats and even wedding rings. With Demons Roxy manages to drag us into a padded cell called patriarchy wrapped up in control, where the phrase “for your own good” becomes the most dreadful words that a person could ever say to another.
Demons starts out at a slow burn pace as Roxy sets up Phillipa’s story. This was a mix of my worst nightmare and pure horror mixed in one. While I was reading it, I was so mad, I was crying with sadness, and at the same time I found myself cheering Phillipa on, wishing that I could help her.
It’s at a charity dinner that Phillipa meets James. Very quickly they become a couple but you can tell that something isn’t right. James right from the start begins to erode Phillipa’s sanity.
And he wears her sanity down so quickly that Phillipa finds herself locked up in a mental institution. And it’s in this moment that her fight against the system and James – the very man who was supposed to love and care for her the most – has just begun.
Roxy’s writing is raw and she doesn’t pull back and she remains transparent in her writing, reading Demons is like Roxy ripped open a woman’s diary who has been wronged and screamed “Here, why don’t you bleed on this page”. Roxy perfectly captured the gaslighting and the institutional abuse and made it feel far too real, and that’s probably because for so many it is just that real. Through Phillipa’s voice we can hear the fire and the fury, and the moment that she descends into a madness in order to survive. You will hear screams on each and every page.
Demons is one of those books that is going to stay with you and linger on your mind long after you have finished the last word. It will have you thinking about institutional abuse, descending into madness just to survive and questioning every “it’s for your own good” that you have ever heard in your life. This book is not only one that will stay with you, it is also one that will really have you questioning things, I found it very thought provoking.
There are so many twists and turns that I never saw coming in this book. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride times 10. But, its raw, pure, and it’s true to the theme and this is a book that will have you questioning not only your own sanity but everything around you.
A must read if I have ever read one. I would give this 10 stars if I could.
October 28, 2025
You may think this book, Demons by Roxy Rich ( Zara Williams ) is a horror novel with blood and gore. You would be half right, it's a horror story based on a true story about psychological damage done to a woman. It's a psychological thriller/horror..
It starts out as a slow burn, setting you up for the story of Phillipa. This would be my worst nightmare. While reading it I was so angry, sad, cheering Phillipa on, wanting to help her.
The writing is superbly written, you feel like you're right there. There are twists and turns and so many wow moments, it's hard to stop reading! The twist at the end is brilliant, did not see that one!
How much can Phillipa take before she breaks?
Book Description:
"Detained under the Mental Health Act.
Drugged, violated, betrayed.
Madness isn't something you escape, it's something you survive.
They said I was unstable.
They said it was for my own good.
They lied to me.
I had everything, wealth, security, and love.
But my charming husband had me detained under the Mental Health Act by stealth.
My world became a waking nightmare of sedation, torture, and betrayal.
They took my freedom.
They took my fortune.
They took my voice.
But they made one fatal mistake.
They didn’t finish the job.
Will I claw my way out of the system meant to erase me?
Or will the madness they forced on me, become my power?"
Does Phillipa survive? A must read!
It starts out as a slow burn, setting you up for the story of Phillipa. This would be my worst nightmare. While reading it I was so angry, sad, cheering Phillipa on, wanting to help her.
The writing is superbly written, you feel like you're right there. There are twists and turns and so many wow moments, it's hard to stop reading! The twist at the end is brilliant, did not see that one!
How much can Phillipa take before she breaks?
Book Description:
"Detained under the Mental Health Act.
Drugged, violated, betrayed.
Madness isn't something you escape, it's something you survive.
They said I was unstable.
They said it was for my own good.
They lied to me.
I had everything, wealth, security, and love.
But my charming husband had me detained under the Mental Health Act by stealth.
My world became a waking nightmare of sedation, torture, and betrayal.
They took my freedom.
They took my fortune.
They took my voice.
But they made one fatal mistake.
They didn’t finish the job.
Will I claw my way out of the system meant to erase me?
Or will the madness they forced on me, become my power?"
Does Phillipa survive? A must read!
December 23, 2025
Y’all! This book wastes zero time pulling you straight into a nightmare where wealth, love, and security disappear in the blink of an eye. Detained under the Mental Health Act by her charming husband (hard pass), our heroine is drugged, violated, and betrayed. The fear is intense, the hopelessness crushing—you don’t just read it, you feel it. Madness isn’t something you escape here; it’s something you survive… and maybe even turn into power.
Roxy Rich’s writing style is sharp, dark, and relentless. The pacing is fast, the chapters fly, and the tension never loosens its grip. Character development is especially strong as we watch a woman stripped of her freedom, fortune, and voice slowly realize she hasn’t lost everything. The system meant to erase her? Fatal mistake.
Disturbing, gripping, and wildly addictive, Demons delivers psychological suspense with teeth. It’s the kind of story that makes you pause, shake your head, and immediately keep reading. Dark, emotional, and intense—this one leaves a mark. 🔥📖
Roxy Rich’s writing style is sharp, dark, and relentless. The pacing is fast, the chapters fly, and the tension never loosens its grip. Character development is especially strong as we watch a woman stripped of her freedom, fortune, and voice slowly realize she hasn’t lost everything. The system meant to erase her? Fatal mistake.
Disturbing, gripping, and wildly addictive, Demons delivers psychological suspense with teeth. It’s the kind of story that makes you pause, shake your head, and immediately keep reading. Dark, emotional, and intense—this one leaves a mark. 🔥📖
January 1, 2026
I read for the vibes & the vibes were ✨Haunting ✨
📕: Thriller
📗: Psychological Manipulation
📘: Betrayal
📙: Mental Health
📖: Based on True Events
📓: Single POV
You know when you’re reading a book and everything is fine, but you are waiting for the shoe to drop, for the bad thing to happen? That was me till about 23% in the book and oh god, Phillipa get behind me pls, I’ll save you. This book was haunting in a frightening, but interesting way. Everything just got worse as time progressed, but I’m glad to see Phillipa got her retribution. Usually, I can’t get into books that have a lot of internal thoughts & less dialogue, but this book does it beautifully.
Sidenote: the excerpts in between? Brilliant. Really adds depth to the story. Also, the description of her nightmares? Yeah nightmare fuel for me because wtf 😭
📕: Thriller
📗: Psychological Manipulation
📘: Betrayal
📙: Mental Health
📖: Based on True Events
📓: Single POV
You know when you’re reading a book and everything is fine, but you are waiting for the shoe to drop, for the bad thing to happen? That was me till about 23% in the book and oh god, Phillipa get behind me pls, I’ll save you. This book was haunting in a frightening, but interesting way. Everything just got worse as time progressed, but I’m glad to see Phillipa got her retribution. Usually, I can’t get into books that have a lot of internal thoughts & less dialogue, but this book does it beautifully.
Sidenote: the excerpts in between? Brilliant. Really adds depth to the story. Also, the description of her nightmares? Yeah nightmare fuel for me because wtf 😭
January 4, 2026
This book had me on the edge of my seat after the book got going. The beginning of the book I felt just dragged on. However, once the characters got established then the story line got really interesting. This book has me thinking of how often this really happens in real life. Spouse/family member is admitted into a mental institution while the supposedly loved one drained their bank accounts sold off their homes and businesses and pocketed the proceeds. I loved how the husband James and Dr Hawthorn thought they could get away with what they were doing to Phillipa by keeping her locked up. Little did they know she had help on the inside and in the end Phillipa got her revenge by taking out ex-husband James and Dr. Hawthorn. She watched as her vacation home burned down to the ground and she just walked away.
January 12, 2026
Trigger Warnings First Seriously!!!
This is Phillipa’s story, and it does not pull its punches.
Woven with mental health struggles, betrayal, real-life events, and chilling psychological manipulation, this book sinks its hooks in from page one and never lets go.
Every chapter drags you deeper into her nightmares the details are vivid, relentless, and devastating. Watching everything she endures is heartbreaking, and by the end, the story leaves a mark that lingers long after the final page.
This isn’t just a read it’s an emotional descent that will haunt you.
I’m ready for more from Roxy Rich.
Keep them coming.
This is Phillipa’s story, and it does not pull its punches.
Woven with mental health struggles, betrayal, real-life events, and chilling psychological manipulation, this book sinks its hooks in from page one and never lets go.
Every chapter drags you deeper into her nightmares the details are vivid, relentless, and devastating. Watching everything she endures is heartbreaking, and by the end, the story leaves a mark that lingers long after the final page.
This isn’t just a read it’s an emotional descent that will haunt you.
I’m ready for more from Roxy Rich.
Keep them coming.
December 12, 2025
This book delivers a gripping and unsettling look at manipulation, control, and survival. The story unfolds inside a system designed to break a person down, and the atmosphere is tense from beginning to end. The writing is raw and direct, capturing the fear, confusion, and rising determination at the heart of the experience. Although the pace slows briefly in places, it adds to the sense of disorientation and pressure. Overall, it’s a powerful, haunting read about reclaiming strength in the face of a system that tries to take everything away.
January 25, 2026
Holy Crap!!! I can’t believe what I just read! I was rooting for g for Pippa the whole time but man… I thought she was had.
I didn’t see the ending coming at all. I was like utterly shocked throughout the whole book!
Great job Roxy Rich for keeping me at the edge of my seat.
I didn’t see the ending coming at all. I was like utterly shocked throughout the whole book!
Great job Roxy Rich for keeping me at the edge of my seat.
December 19, 2025
Overall story is good. The layers of love, betrayal and escape are woven well. Story gets emotional as the realities surface. All in all a good read. Editing can be improvised though.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews