Among Predators

by Adeline Franklin

BLURB
Becky thought she knew her past, until the files arrive. Buried memories, obscure diagnoses, and unsettling truths lie scattered in the paperwork she's been given. As she pieces together fragments of her life, a chilling picture begins to emerge, one that will make her question everything she thought she knew. And the answers may be more dangerous than the questions.

Please visit adelinesdarkdelights.com.au for full list of content warnings.

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 23, 2026

About the author

Adeline Franklin is a twisted soul lurking in the shadows of rural Australia, crafting emotional labyrinths that weave through darkness, desire, tension, and terror. Her stories aren’t for the faint of heart—she thrives on creating heartbreakingly beautiful chaos, where love and horror dance in equal measure.
When she’s not conjuring nightmares or setting hearts ablaze, she’s indulging in her greatest obsession: pickles and chilli. Separately, together—any way she can get them. If there’s a way to add spice and tang to life, she’s already there.

Reviews

[Michelle Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adeline, you’ve done it again. The queen of messing with your mind and leaving you thinking WTF. I’m not kidding — I finished this book staring blankly out the window while it rained, trying to process what I’d just read. She absolutely toyed with my mind, and by the end I felt mentally warped and questioning everything.

Like her other books, I was pulled in quickly and immediately needed to know what was going to happen with Becky. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, she slaps you across the face with a plot twist so fast you need a moment to comprehend what you’ve just read. Incredible. 👏🏼👏🏼

Adeline’s books are dark, twisted, and guaranteed to leave you speechless. Highly recommended! However checking trigger warnings is a must before diving in.

As always, it was a pleasure being part of your ARC team. I can’t wait to see what you throw at us next.

[Ryn Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among Predators by Adeline Franklin grabbed me by the throat, whispered “trust no one,” and then turned off the lights.

This story had me QUESTIONING EVERYTHING.
Becky? Our FMC? Spiraling. Unhinged. One breath away from losing the plot entirely and somehow also deeply committed to her nuggs fixation. I oscillated between “girl blink twice” and “no wait… she might actually be onto something.”

And Jaxon ? That man just wanting to exist peacefully with Becky while being a little red flag energy like it’s a competitive sport. The doctors. The friends. The family. Every single one of them had me side-eyeing my Kindle like it personally betrayed me.

I was gripping that device so tight at one point I thought Amazon was going to send me a welfare check.

Adeline writes in this hypnotic, slow-poison way. She pulls you in softly, lets you get comfortable, then drops something so feral you physically recoil… and then you laugh. Because honestly? Sometimes they deserved it. And that’s when you realise you’re complicit. You’re 75% in. It’s 2am. Your eyes are dry. Your brain is fried. But stopping? Illegal. Physically impossible. Morally incorrect.

The twists weren’t twists. They were psychological backhands.

These characters broke me. I lived in their chaos. I breathed their paranoia. I felt every up, every haze-soaked spiral of doubt.

This is Adeline’s third book and she’s still out here rearranging my brain chemistry.

Well done.
I’ll be sitting in the dark whispering, “what did I just experience.”

[Bek ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Adeline, I’m not even sure where to start!

Did this book take me ages to get through? Totally! I mean, wow.
Could I have sped up the process? For sure, but seriously—wow again.

And then there's Becky, the main character—she's pure chaos and just a bit, okay I mean incredibly unhinged. I found myself questioning my own memories while reading her story!

And Jaxon? He’s definitely a walking red flag, but all he wants is to just be with Becky.

This book will grab you like nothing else. You’ll find yourself staring into space, trying to process everything and wondering if your brain will ever be the same. I really felt like I was right there alongside Becky with every twist and turn!

[Rashelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has read two previous novels by Adeline Franklin (Satan's Vessel, Satan's Demise), I knew I was in for some hard-hitting devastation when I was selected as an ARC reader for "Among Predators".

Please note, this review will contain some spoilers.

We follow Becky who clearly has some unresolved pain from a shocking upbringing that no child should ever endure. You can tell Becky is simply trying her best to *exist* until she suddenly has her childhood medical files within her grasp, setting her up for a tumultuous journey of learning about how horrible and depraved her mother and siblings really are.

Jaxon is introduced as an equally broken person who with a very similar past, sets foot right next to Becky as she is learning about her past - except he's not only a supportive dude, he's a dude who's willing to rain hell and fire in a bid to support Becky.

As we move alongside Becky as her past is laid out raw in front of her, we feel like the endless life changing news is not only Becky's, but *ours* - Adeline has a way of writing as if you are in the FMC's shoes, experiencing the dissociation, the realisations and the brutality of a "Shutter Island" level confrontation (more than once!)

For a fictional novel birthed from reality, Adeline creates stories that push the envelope of "did it happen, or is this made up?" and has you asking for more just so you can drown in the world that Adeline has created.

I can't wait to read more from Adeline as she continues to create heart-wrenching stories.

[_talanoas_bookish_journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️
This kind of book is not my usual type of read so I was not sure what to expect. It kept me well and truely on my toes. When I thought I had it all figured out, I get thrown another curve ball and I’m left second guessing everything I thought I knew.
Overall I had a great time and loved that it was continuously surprising me.

[Sarah Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among Predators by Adeline Franklin
Rating -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⚠️This book contains numerous dark themes and scenes that some readers may find distressing or disturbing. Check Trigger Warnings before reading⚠️

Upon completion, I felt completely disoriented, as if my mind had been thoroughly shaken, leaving me questioning the fundamental nature of humanity and my own sanity.

Becky's life, from childhood to adulthood, is profoundly impacted by the trauma and abuse inflicted by those she should have been able to trust and rely on for care and protection.

Jaxon may be a walking red flag, but he's also the one person who truly sees Becky, and he doesn't ever fail her.

Adeline Franklin is a must-read for anyone craving a dark, gripping, and intense experience that challenges perspectives and leaves a lasting impact.

I would like to thank Adeline for this fantastic opportunity. I received this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.🖤🖤

[Roxy Vernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be chosen to arc read Among Predators by the lovely author Adeline Franklin.
This book put me in a chokehold that's for sure. It was wonderfully written with so much raw emotion and heartbreak.

This book comes with twists, shock and also that ending to. It's a very super dark book that you might want to read the trigger warnings before you jump into it. But if you can stomach emotional and unhinged and even devastating characters check this one out.

This book was an absolute rollercoaster of a ride with this one. It had me hooked and definitely had wtf moments throughout it. I highly recommend this book if you are into dark themes and psychical impact that makes this book worth the read.

Adeline you absolutely don't disappoint when you write your books and can't wait to read many more books from you.

[Carlie Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Oh Becky, we’re all a little broken” - isn’t this the truth!

Adeline, you have done to again. Right from the start this book has me. We are all a little broken, some more so than others. This book is so relatable, growing up not knowing what in our past is real and what have we tired to (or forced to) forget. Among Predators had me chopping and changing between what is real, what is imagination and what is crazy! The chapters are short and to the point, no fluff or drawing out of the story. It was well worth the 3am bedtime to finish it

It’s an easy 5 stars from me.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written and absolutely heartbreaking. Becky was a lost soul who was continually let down by professionals and society. Trust no one was a fair mantra for her as everyone contributed to breaking her mentally. She was brave, she was beautiful but a persons own mind can be their worst enemy.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to receive this eArc from this author.

5 stars
That was such a super duper dark read, but I loved every aspect of it, it kept me on my toes and had me questioning where this story was headed.

(Please check trigger warnings before diving in)

[Jasmine Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thoughts - wholly shit… am I still imagining things or did this really just happen…. Is this still a delusion or reality…

[ChristinaB.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The anticipation I had for Among Predators was so high. I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Adeline so far, and this one was no different.
It was raw, heavy, dark, and a complete rollercoaster of emotions. I was glued to every page from the very beginning.

I felt every heartbreaking moment, every uncomfortable twist, and anxiety-ridden revelation. It’s the kind of story that pulls you so deeply into the character’s experience that you feel like you’re living it alongside them. I was right there with Becky through it all.

And that ending… I 10000% did not see it coming. It completely caught me off guard, but it felt right for the story and I loved it. I honestly would not change a thing.

⭐ Rating: 4.5 stars
Dark, emotional, and gripping in a way that lingers long after the final page.

As always with a book like this, please check the trigger warnings beforehand.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among Predators was honestly such a dark and disturbing read but I bloody loved it!

Poor Becky. My heart really went out to her. She is a lost soul who was damaged by the very people who were meant to care for her the most. Reading her story felt like experiencing everything right alongside her because the whole time I kept questioning everything....what’s real, who can she trust? It really plays with your mind in that way.

It’s definitely a heavy read but it’s written so well that you can’t help but get pulled into Becky’s world and her confusion.

If you like darker, psychological reads that mess with your head a little, this one might be for you 🖤

Thank you so much @adelinefranklinauthor for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Sonia Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adeline takes you on a masterful ride of suspense and exhilaration. She grabs you by the hand, and with a cheeky look at you over her shoulder, she runs, dragging you full tilt into her world.
She leaves you gasping and breathless while trying to catch up with her narrative.
There is no time to preempt. She twists and turns like a ballerina pirouetting, the stage her forte, the bright light hi-lighting the soul whilst darkness lurks in the shadows.
You emphasise, you forgive, you crave revenge and restitution. But in the end, your heart shatters for those broken, abused souls to whom darkness has touched.
I cried when I read Adeline’s ‘Afterword’ and ‘Acknowledgements’.
Evil does exist, but Adeline has soared high and shown those fuckers - don’t mess with me.
I will survive 💔

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among Predators had me turning the pages as fast as I possibly could. Just when I think I know what’s going to happen next BAM! No words. The ending left me feeling like I wasn’t ready to let go. As always Adeline has done it again! 🤌🏻This book is a work of art and I wish I could re read it for the first time again. The FMC Becky is such a strong powerful character in this story trying to figure out the truths buried beneath all the lies. “Some truths don’t set you free.” 🫣

Some topics can be a bit dark. Please make sure to check the trigger warnings before proceeding with caution. Your mental health is important! 🫶🏻

[Sola Blaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read a pyscholical thriller that will leave you shaking your fists to the sky screaming "what the f@#k just happened!!" then this book is for you.
Following Becky's journey will take you down roads you never even knew were possible and leave you wanting to re read again to try and the signs you might have missed the first time around
It is also a very important book for those who have never been heard and who needed support from those around them and even more important for those who may need to learn to listen when someone tells you something is wrong.
Read it! you won't regret it!

[emrwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in such a chokehold. I was so lucky to be chosen to read this as an ARC by the author.
It is written so perfectly and is just utterly brilliant with so many ‘trust no one’ moments.
It is raw, emotional, and absolutely heartbreaking and if needed, so relatable.
The twists, the shocks, that ending!
It’s super dark, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading, but wow- if you have a strong stomach and emotionally invested in unhinged and devastating characters, this is a must read!

[Samantha Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating from the first page, I held on for dear life while reading this book, unsure what to expect or where it was going- and there's a sense of abrasiveness to this story that makes it difficult yet alluring to read. Reading this is an experience in itself to be apart of.

Adeline writes some absolutely phenomenal dark, horror books and they make you're brain think and you question what you think and feel and read.

This is heavy, dark, and many triggers- ensure you read them prior to reading!

[•mikaela• :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Did I DEVOUR this is one sitting? Yes. 💁🏻‍♀️
Is my mind completely fucked up? Also yes. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This was a suspense filled pshycological head fuck that I honestly have no words for. Just wow.

Full of heartbreak and anger, a bit of horror and a good helping of trauma, it'll have you tripping into one plot twist and then falling into the next, just to be thrown back out and knocked about the head a little bit.

A TRUE psychological book about seeking answers and finding the truth, even if it doesn't set you free. 💔

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among Predators by Adeline Franklin is one of those stories that keeps you questioning everything you think you know.

There are so many layers woven throughout the narrative that just when you feel like you’ve untangled it all, something shifts and you start second-guessing the characters motives and your own assumptions. The unreliable narration is done fantastically, adding so much tension.

Becky is a character you can’t help but feel something for. There’s a sense that she was never really given a fair chance, which makes her journey all the more compelling and heartbreaking at times.

I especially love stories where you’re never quite sure who to trust, and this one absolutely delivered on that feeling.

If you enjoy layered storytelling, morally complex characters, and a narrative that keeps you guessing, Among Predators is definitely worth the read.

[mistys_bookobsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you okay, Becky? I'm not. Not even close.

I'm not ok. I was living this with Becky. I didn't know what was real. Who was telling the truth. Was I losing my mind? This book was so powerful. It was heartbreaking. It was gut wrenching. It was phenomenal.

Adeline you had me hooked from the very beginning to the end. You drew me in and wrapped me up like a nice warm blanket and then you blew my world apart.

[Chantell Bearham · Rating 5 out of 5]

* review coming in the morning *

[Amanda Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gutted me. It hit way too close to home, tackling themes of trauma, survival, and the dark side of 'family'. I felt every twist, every uncomfortable moment, every spark of anxiety.

Becky's story is a haunting puzzle that'll keep you turning pages, even when you want to look away. The way Franklin weaves real events into this twisted narrative... wow.

Among Predators is a haunting, unflinching exploration of trauma, survival, and the complexities of truth. Adeline Franklin's writing is masterful. It drew me in and refused to let go, even when the themes were deeply uncomfortable. I devoured it in one sitting, compelled by Becky's story and the dark puzzle of her past.

This book evoked so many emotions, anxiety, discomfort, empathy, some anger and I came out the other side feeling raw but grateful for the experience. If you're prepared for a challenging, thought-provoking read, that will rip your heart out and put it back together, Among Predators is a powerful choice.

Trigger warnings: childhood trauma, abuse, suicide, murder, gore, graphic sex, mental health challenges. Take care of yourself.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um… wtf. Adeline girl, we need to talk because tell me why you put me through that stress? I genuinely was on edge through so much of this book. This was so fast paced, easily read in one sitting, it kept me guessing while repeatedly saying to myself wtf.

Well done to you gf 😅