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The Demon Among Us #3

Mental: Book 3 of The Demons Among Us series

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Andrew Forsyth is a psychopath, a sadistic killer without remorse terrorising the small village of Bradwell in eastern England. On the verge of killing victim number 13, he is captured by undercover police. When he is sentenced to an indefinite time in Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane, at first he welcomes it; surely, it has to be better than spending the rest of his life in prison.
And yet, on his first day inside, he realises his mistake. Surrounded by some of the most twisted, sick individuals known to man, he tries to escape.
But no one escapes Northgate. Not since the last time when a brutal series of events occured causing widespread death and terror. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, Andrew hears his son has died tragically, and everything changes. Inmates start talking of ghostly noises, something stalking them at night when everyone is supposed to be sedated and asleep. The inmates talk of seeing ghosts and far worse. Things that attack them in their sleep...
Terry does not want to set foot in Northgate ever again. Nobody on the outside does. But soon, he will be left with no choice. Only this time it's going to get personal. Very personal.

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2026

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14 people want to read

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Justin Boote

71 books301 followers

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Madame Strange.
137 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2026
“Mental” - Absolutely Mental. I will be taking my showers with Holy Water so help me God!

★★★★☆

Once again I had the pleasure and privilege of reading this one as an ARC, I leave this review voluntarily and have not been possessed by Justin or Demons to do so.

If you are wondering “Can things get any darker in this series?” I can confirm “They can and they will!”. This story is intense from the start and the tension only builds from there. Being the 3rd book in the “Demons Among Us” series I can definitely say I am hooked and hungry for more. Honestly I need book 4 otherwise I might have to start summoning demons myself.
Profile Image for K D Davies.
296 reviews6 followers
January 12, 2026
Justin throws us straight into the action from the very first page with Mental. Andrew’s on the hunt… for his dinner that is. But dinner ends up in an indefinite stay at Northgate Hospital.
Poor Terry meets with his nemesis yet again and it isn’t good news.
I loved the world building in this one. It all felt so visceral, so real! Chapters are tense and anxiety inducing and I savoured every minute of this read! Justin’s writing as per is simply wonderful.
Profile Image for Milt Theo.
1,866 reviews155 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 7, 2026
Layers upon layers! Such a intricately crafted horror book, though the premise is deceptively simple: a serial killer gets caught and sentenced to life in a mental institution,, whereupon he gets demonically possessed and slowly turns the whole place into a perilous, infernal hellhole! Enter Terry, the demonologist-slash-exorcist, who will attempt to drive all evil influences away. What more would you like to know?

Well, this being the third volume in the "Demons Among Us" series, there are a couple of things you should definitely be aware of. First, the book is no standalone, it picks up right where Book 2 left off, and is meant to bring all outstanding issues to a close. Second, it takes place in the author's fictional Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane, a hellish place in which the sickest and most depraved criminal minds are confined. The hospital has its own backstory (thankfully, not necessary for reading this book). Taking into account that Terry himself has his own agenda, and that some of the criminals are also implicated in a wider story, the book soon becomes a thing of many, many sorrows.

I really like Boote's take on Terry; he's no superhero (Terry, I mean lol), he has his own flaws and a list of failures, he's always one step from giving up, but eventually never does. His supernatural enemies don't play around, yet Terry sticks to his guns (his crucifix and holy water, in this case) and tries to deal with each situation as it comes. And there's a whole variety of strange happenings in this book, from people dying in horrific ways to plans hatching inside other plans, and the story getting quite complex really fast, especially towards the ending.

The ending! Action-heavy, and satisfying, but I don't think it really works as the culmination of a series. Is it meant to? Either way, I'd gladly visit Terry's world again, though hopefully not Northgate itself! Recommended!
Profile Image for Craig.
80 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 16, 2026
😈😈 Mental by Justin Boote 😈😈

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Release: 28th January

Andrew Forsyth is a psychopath, a sadistic killer without remorse terrorising the small village of Bradwell in eastern England. On the verge of killing victim number 13, he is captured by undercover police. When he is sentenced to an indefinite time in Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane, at first he welcomes it; surely, it has to be better than spending the rest of his life in prison. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, Andrew hears his son has died tragically, and everything changes. Inmates start talking of ghostly noises, something stalking them at night when everyone is supposed to be sedated and asleep. The inmates talk of seeing ghosts and far worse. Things that attack them in their sleep...

Terry does not want to set foot in Northgate ever again. Nobody on the outside does. But soon, he will be left with no choice. Only this time it's going to get personal. Very personal.

The fight between Terry and Baal continues in book three of the series and personally, the series is going from strength to strength. This one feels darker with even more tension than the previous two, something I wasn't sure was possible, but I was proved wrong. Even though the victim this time is a serial killer, Justin does a great job of making you feel sorry for him at times. The action is think and fast and there are twists in the story that you won't see coming. I'm excited to see what happens next, and with Justin releasing one book a month, I won't have to wait long.
Profile Image for Julie L.
3 reviews
January 28, 2026
Mental, the third installment in Justin Boote’s Demons Among Us series is a visceral dive into the darkest corners of the human psyche and the supernatural.

The story follows Andrew Forsyth, a calculated and unrepentant serial killer, victim count: 12, who is finally apprehended just as he’s about to claim his thirteenth. To avoid a lifetime in standard prison, Andrew maneuvers for a sentence at Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane. At first, he views the hospital as a "soft" alternative to a cage. He is quickly disabused of that notion. Northgate isn’t just a hospital; it’s a living nightmare where the patients are more dangerous than the guards, and the building itself seems to breathe with a malevolent history. The narrative takes a sharp turn when Andrew learns of his son’s tragic death, shattering his composure just as the hospital’s supernatural elements begin to bleed into reality.

​Justin excels at creating a sense of claustrophobia and impending doom. His writing is "stomach-turning and page-turning" in equal measure. His prose is functional and fast-paced, designed to keep the reader's heart rate up rather than to show off flowery metaphors. The violence is graphic, and the psychological torment is heavy.

​Mental is a must-read for fans of dark psychological thrillers and supernatural horror. It’s a grim, unapologetic look at what happens when a predator becomes the prey in a place where "insanity" is the only rule of law
Profile Image for Tanya.
643 reviews37 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 20, 2026
4.5 Stars

Mental, book 3 of the Demons Among Us series, written by Justin Boote. What a wild ride this series has been so far, but I must admit, this one is my favorite! You know it is going to be a good time when we visit Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane! The series is a progression of a storyline. Yes, it involves new characters, but there is one main underlying storyline that continues in each book. They should be read in order.

From the very first page, we are introduced to Andrew Forsyth, a psychopathic serial unaliver. Believing he is being protected by something, he has avoided capture thus far, making him messy and bold. On the verge of abducting victim number thirteen, he is captured by undercover police. He is sentenced indefinitely to Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Northgate is not a safe place, and Andrew is possessed by an otherworldly being that we are no strangers to. Enter Terry, the demonologist/exorcist, whom we have been following for a while. Baal.

This book does not let you rest! It is pretty action-packed and fast-paced. There are many excellent twists and turns at breakneck speed. Before you know it, the book is on its last page, and you want the next book in the series!

Thanks to Justin Boote for gifting me an eARC of Mental. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Ian Gielen.
Author 30 books76 followers
January 27, 2026
Another brilliant entry in the Demons Among Us series, this one takes us deep into Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane, a cesspit of evil even without the added Demonic presence that begins to infest it.

The story begins with a twisted serial killer Andrew who is on a hunt for his latest victim when he is brought down by the authorities. Preferring a life in the Northgate Hospital to that of prison, he gets his wish only for him to quickly realize that something besides inmates is making the hospital its home. This is where Terry, the demonologist comes in to try and decipher what is behind the gruesome events that begin to happen shortly after Andrew's arrival.

Being a direct sequel to the first few books, it would be necessary to read those before diving into this one to get full enjoyment out of this. There are also references to the earlier events in the Ghosts of Northgate series but it isn't essential to read though it would enhance the story further if you did.

This one is a bit heavier on the gore then the others in the series and is definitely not for the squeamish but it is a brilliant addition which keeps things fresh whilst also continuing to build up the whole arc. I'm looking forward to the next few books in the series to see how it all ends!
Profile Image for Holly.
402 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 20, 2026
Just when you think things couldn't be more intense and unsettling, Justin Boote decides to prove you wrong with the third installment of The Demons Among Us Series, Mental!

This book will have you biting your nails on the edge of your seat! Boote did not hold back and from the get go throws readers into another intense and high stakes case of demonic possession.

Demonic possession and a hospital for the criminally insane is as chaotic, violent and brutal a crossover that you could never prepare yourself for. It was fast paced, and left me with my jaw on the floor for that god damn final scene. I am beyond stressed for our characters!

Easily my favourite book of the series so far! I'm hooked. I cannot wait for the next installment to see where our evil demon takes us next.

Thank you so much to the author for an advance copy of Mental! All opinions are mine and have been left voluntarily.
Profile Image for Helen Marie.
70 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 18, 2026


Book three and this series just keeps getting better. The fight between Terry and Baal carries on here and somehow it’s even darker and more tense than the last two. Northgate Hospital is a truly creepy setting (I adore all of Justin’s work that involves Northgate hospital!!) and there’s this constant feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Even though Andrew is a serial killer, he’s written in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable for feeling sorry for him at times, which I thought was done really well. The supernatural side of things really ramps up in this one, especially at night, and there were a few moments that genuinely caught me off guard.

It’s fast-paced, brutal in places, and there are twists I didn’t see coming. I’m fully invested in where the series is going now, and with Justin releasing books so regularly, I’m glad I don’t have to wait long for the next one!!
Profile Image for Heather Kirby.
117 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2026
5/5 Stars
First off, can we all agree that Boote absolutely nails this cover? It’s eye-catching in the most unnerving way (see what I did there?).
Three pages in, and I’m like: “I’m sorry, he does WHAT????” From that jaw-dropping hook, I was glued; I woke up early just to keep reading after nodding off the night before because I flat-out refused to put it down. This series deserves a movie adaptation, stat.
While the first two books were stellar, Mental is hands-down my favorite. The feelings it stirred? Uneasy, restless, downright sinister. I was excited to unravel what happens next, but sad to turn that final page. Now I’m counting down to book 4!
Thank you, Justin Boote, for the ARC; I’m thrilled for you and can’t wait to continue this wild journey.
Profile Image for VibekeN.
39 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 24, 2026
”Even outside, the place smelled like an abandoned graveyard, like Death itself had taken up residence there.“

Northgate Hospital for the Crimially Insane.

Andrew Forsynth–the Bradwell Cannibal, is hunting his 13th victim when his luck runs out. He ends up in Northgate, a place so vile, it puts fear in the heart of even monsters like him.

J.Boote knows exactly how to keep readers on edge. This series just keeps getting better–the pacing is merciless, brutal, grotesque, and emotional.
The characters grow more complex, and darker. The evil presence is so close. Personal. Inescapable.

I’d recommend Mental to horror readers who appreciate a good story to fuel their nightmares.

Read the previous books, or walk in blind. Ignorance won’t protect you.

-Vibeke 🖤
Profile Image for Matt Egan.
661 reviews8 followers
January 29, 2026
Demon horror doesn't get better!

Mental, book 3 in the Demons Among Us series, is about a serial killer/cannibal who is arrested and sentenced to a most likely life sentence in a notorious mental hospital, one where a horrible massacre occurred years ago. When Andrew, the murderer, begins acting strangely and unexplained events plague the ward, exorcists Terry and Agatha are brought in. Terry and Status are the returning protagonists. As Terry tries to understand the situation, things rapidly escalate, with guards being killed and inmates claiming the presence of ghosts/demons. Overall, 5/5 stars, fans of horror, especially the supernatural variety, will absolutely love Mental!!
17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 10, 2026
"Mental" by Justin Boote is the third entry in The Demons Among Us series. The entire series is excellent, however, this proved to be my favorite thus far. "Mental" is a deep dark plunge into the mind of a psychopath. It revisits the horrors lurking inside Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane. The novel follows Andrew Forsyth. This fellow is a remorseless serial killer who is captured just before claiming his thirteenth victim. Expecting a softer fate than prison, he quickly discovers that Northgate is far worse.

This book doesn’t shy away from the disturbing nature of its characters. The storyline is filled with mental‑institution horror which creates a deeply unsettling atmosphere. This is a gripping horror novel which thrives on tension and moral discomfort. Boote continues to expand his universe with confidence, delivering a third installment that is both chilling and compulsively readable. Not for the faint of heart!
Profile Image for Nicole Rubbo.
104 reviews7 followers
January 11, 2026

Andrew, a serial killer, is caught and sentenced to life in a psychiatric hospital. At first, he believes this will be paradise compared to prison. He is quickly proven wrong. Surrounded by some of the most mentally disturbed individuals on earth, Andrew finds himself immersed in a world of paranoia and terror. Patients speak of ghosts—of being attacked by unseen forces during the night.

When Andrew learns of his son’s death, reality begins to fracture. Grief and guilt blur the line between sanity and madness, and soon Andrew starts seeing ghosts himself—or at least believes he does.
Profile Image for SJ.
138 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 5, 2026
Arc review

Mental doesn't ease up. From the first page, the tension tightens and pulls you straight into the nightmare.

This one feels darker. More disturbing. The horror builds with every chapter, each moment carrying the kind of intensity that keeps the pages turning.
I started this book and couldn't stop. From the first chapter to the last, it keeps you pulled in, nearly impossible to step away.

112 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 14, 2026
Edge of my seat read once AGAIN!! When am I going to learn NOT to be eating while reading his stories. . .(forehead slap).
Poor Terry the demons just won't leave him alone. . .and then proceed to bring him back to Northgate hospital for the criminally insane. Terry struggles with his past on two different levels (his sisters death and a past case that still haunts him) Will he banish the demons this time. . .is he strong enough. . .pick up a copy of the book. . .I don't want to spoil it.
Profile Image for Steph Kneeland.
109 reviews7 followers
January 31, 2026
Well hot damn!!! I think this series gets better and better with each book that comes out!

Man, this one, oofff, it kept me on the edge of my seat. What a feat Terry and Agatha went through this time around! Some of the scenes made me so tight with anxiety that I felt like I was in the room with them! The smell of sulfer, the cells, the inmates, the demons.

If you are looking for an intense exorcism type of read, this series is it!
Profile Image for Alexandra Nisneru.
Author 3 books52 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 4, 2026
There's no words left to explain the level of dread Boote brings forth with every new book. Being the third book the series, it doesn't let the guard down at all, but it makes it even more scarier and horriffic. I can't stop not to be amazed in front of the sheer talent and inovation he brings with every new story.
Profile Image for Jessica.
67 reviews44 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 2, 2026
wow the way this story is progressing just makes me excited for the next book. I love the tie in from the other series with Andrew being possed but I didn't know about Tina also being the possessed one he was truly looking for. that ending omg
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for BookSplatterBritt.
64 reviews26 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 5, 2026
ARC review;

book 3 from the demons among us series. I would say this one was a bit more chilling. possession in a prison, brings a whole different level of creepy.
the ending? ugh talk about leaving us hanging! im hoping there's another that will be coming out.
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