Todd Morgan writes psychological thrillers, dark mysteries, and guided journals about resilience, healing, and rebuilding after hard seasons of life.
His books are shaped by real-life experience, emotional honesty, and a belief that struggle can be turned into something meaningful. His first title, Smart Strategies for Better Living, became a #1 bestseller during its free promotional launch, connecting with thousands of readers seeking practical, grounded advice.
In nonfiction, Todd is the creator of the guided-journal series Life, Rewritten, Toxic Ties, and Rebuilding After…, each designed to help readers feel seen, supported, and stronger as they work through change, loss, and complicated relationships.
In fiction, he is the author of the Greybridge Noir Mystery series, a seven-book collection of dark standalone stories featuring detective Jack Mercer, along with suspense novels including The Last Quiet Move, Northern Bite, and Message in the Mirror. His fiction is known for atmospheric tension, buried secrets, and the psychological cost of truth.
Across every genre, Todd writes with one purpose: to create books that stay with people.
What if the smallest details in your life started changing… and no one else noticed? Curious? Today I’m sharing my review of Message in the Mirror by Todd Morgan.
This book hooked me right away. We follow Maya, who starts noticing little things in her life that feel off—small shifts that don’t quite make sense. At first, she tries to brush it off, but that uneasy feeling keeps building until you’re right there with her questioning what’s real and what isn’t.
This book filled me with a delicious feeling of dread and paranoia. You know the feeling that something’s wrong, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? That’s what I felt while I was reading. In fact, I had to put the book down a couple of times just to ground myself in my reality—and then picked it right back up again.
This is a slow-burn psychological thriller, but it didn’t feel slow to me at all. I finished it in two days—even with a full teaching schedule—which says a lot. The tension builds in a way that just keeps pulling you back in.
I will say, the writing style wasn’t quite for me. It was short and choppy at times. However, this gave the story an anxious, out-of-breath quality that really added to the overall feel.
So if you like unreliable reality, creeping tension, and stories that make you question everything, this is a really solid pick.
Review from a reader who had access to an Advanced Reader Copy.
Message in the Mirror is a slow burn, psychological thriller that centre around our main female character Maya.
Our story opens with Maya going a seemingly normal and routine day. She begins to notice minor and slight things in her environment that seem off or not quite as she remembers them, but quickly dismisses it as a trick of the mind, fatigue etc.
However as time passes these seemingly small, trivial things begin to build up, becoming more frequent. Maya begins to document these things; but as it escalates it calls in to question Maya’s ability to trust in her own judgement and instincts. Is she spiralling or is someone altering her reality?
This story had multiple layers, that paralleled the layers of one’s own psyche. The deeper you delved the more convoluted and entwined the layers became, mirroring reality.
Todd had a flare for store telling and a way for setting a scene so vividly that it imprinted its virtual imagery upon you mentally and stayed with you well after the story’s conclusion.
The bulk of this story is told through the fmc’s inner monologue and I found that the style of writing Todd used for Maya’s innermost thoughts mirrored that of her personality, this was clever and expertly done.
If you were looking for a psychological thriller, with a gradual build that kept you on the edge of your seat, that sparked intrigue to the point where you want more than look no further. It had suspense, tinged with moments of paranoia and a perpetual feeling like the worst was yet to come. I cannot recommend this book enough, it is a must read.
I was given a copy of this story by the author in order to provide an honest review.
Todd Morgan is a Canadian author and has seen success with books such as “Smart Strategies for Better Living”. Todd has also written a crime series known as The Greybridge Noir Mystery series. Todd’s one goal when writing is to create something that matters and to keep going.
Maya is someone who has grounded herself in her instincts and truly trusting herself.
Yet lately Maya has been noticing little things that are not quite as they should be, out of the ordinary as it were.
But soon all these things add up and start to make Maya question herself and her ability to observe the world she is living in.
Are all these things really happening to Maya, is she truly just tired and stressed or could there be something a little more sinister at play.
“Message In The Mirror” is a psychological thriller that makes one question their understanding of the world around them. This story is truly a mind-bending story. Whilst it did take me a little bit to get my head around what was going on, but once I did, I really enjoyed the story. It was artfully written and such a unique read you cannot help but be pulled into the suspense and intrigue of it. Highly recommend this if you enjoy a good psychological thriller.
Message in the Mirror follows a young woman whose life begins to unravel after a strange experience with a mirror. What starts as subtle, off moments turns into unsettling reflections and messages that don’t match reality.
As she looks deeper, she begins to question what’s real, as the mirror seems tied to hidden truths and forces she can’t fully understand. It’s a psychological thriller about perception, identity, and how reality can’t always be trusted.
Personal thoughts:
Message in the Mirror is one of those reads that quietly pulls you in and doesn’t let go. The short chapters make it easy to keep turning pages, and the multiple POVs add depth without feeling overwhelming.
What stood out most is how the writing often comes in brief, 2–3 sentence bursts that feel like you’re inside the character’s thoughts. It creates this intimate, slightly unsettling connection, like you’re experiencing everything in real time.
It’s an easy book to finish you can get through it in one sitting, and it’s perfect if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump. The eerie vibe lingers just enough to stay with you even after you’ve put it down.
All through this book I kept thinking Maya, the FMC, was autistic or something, she overcompensated for everything, and noticed even the small things out of place. She wld text, email, or call someone to tell them about the things that were happening and they wld pass them off as she was tired and maybe was sending emails, and missing things, as being overwhelmed, then she notices things in her apartment that was moved or different, then she sees a messages in her mirror that she didn’t write and cldnt explain, she calls Josephine and tells her about everything that’s going on, they keep in close contact.
Maya is about to lose her mind, it someone she’s close to messing with her or is she really going crazy? That’s the question I kept asking myself reading this. The twist may just through you off.
I loved how we didn’t get much context of what had happened or what was going to happen, we were reading the story as things were happening we went through it with her. It was cool!
A conversation that never happened. Photos that shouldn’t exist. A life that no longer fits. Maya has always trusted her instincts, but lately, those instincts are screaming. It starts with the smallest things—details shifting just enough to make her question her own memory. She wants to blame stress. She wants to believe she’s just tired. But when the subtle changes turn into something far more disturbing, Maya is forced to confront a terrifying possibility: is her mind unraveling… or is someone quietly rewriting her reality? A tense psychological thriller about memory, manipulation, and the fear of no longer trusting yourself.
I was kindly given an arc by Todd in return for an honest review. When I started this story I was a little confused as to what was going on, it took me a while to get my head around the story. I definitely wanted to find out where the story was going. I really enjoyed the story in the end, it was well written and kept me intrigued, highly recommend this one Thank you once again Todd I gave this a 4⭐️
Thank you Todd Morgan for sending me an advanced copy of your book to read and review. I did enjoy this book and it was a quick read. I have rated this 3 stars and this is not a negative, this is my personal opinion. I found that this book did grab my attention and I was intrigued as to what was going to happen. Within the first few chapters, it was apparent that there was something happening in the life of the main character Maya but it was not yet clear what this was. I did find some of the story a little repetitive and for a while it felt like there was not much more happening. However I still wanted to keep reading. For me personally, this book lacked some of the twists and intensity that I look for in my thrillers. I was not quite as gripped or on the edge of my seat as I would normally like. As I say, I did still enjoy this story and I wanted to know how it was going to end. If you are looking for a book that keeps you intrigued throughout then this is one to read.
A quiet, unsettling, and deeply personal thriller.
Message in the Mirror hooked me from the start, not with shock value, but with the precision of Todd Morgan’s perspective work. Following Maya’s unraveling feels intimate in a way that only the most carefully crafted psychological fiction can pull off. Morgan leans into atmosphere over theatrics, letting tension accumulate in the smallest, most human details. It’s a slow burn in the best sense — the kind that rewards patience with emotional depth and a lingering sense of unease. For readers who gravitate toward character‑driven psychological thrillers that value mood, emotional nuance, and quiet dread, this one is absolutely worth putting on your radar.
The book follows Maya who starts noticing little things in her life disappearing from her memory. an email she doesn't remember sending, a date on the calendar she doesn't remember making, but as these little omissions grow more and more prominent, she starts spiraling. Is she going insane? Why can't she remember these seemingly innocuous snippets of her life? Her paranoia mounts,
Wow! This book puts the PSYCHOLOGICAL in psychological thriller. This book had me questioning my own sanity a few times. An absolute masterclass in paranoia, deception, manipulation. I devoured it. I found the format it was written in to be so deliciously clever!
Message in the Mirror is a psychological thriller that follows Maya, a young woman whose grip on reality begins to slip. She starts noticing subtle, unsettling inconsistencies in her daily life, causing her to question what is real. As these strange occurrences escalate, Maya finds herself spiraling toward the edge of her sanity, struggling to distinguish truth from illusion. The novel delves deep into the fragility of the mind and the haunting consequences of hidden secrets. A book I would recommend anytime, to be released on 6/04/20026.
This is the first Todd Morgan book and I can honestly say it didn’t disappoint. It had me hooked from the start and my mind jumbled in all the good ways. I was confused, exhausted, and intrigued from the very beginning. Message in the mirror is a psychologic thriller that follows Maya whom is normally well put together not a stray hair out of place kind of woman. She is slowly unraveling when she notices minor things start to change. Is she really noticing change or is it her mind going into over drive making her think she’s losing it forgetting things.
This is calculated & intentional evaluation with a goal of self preservation. The deceit simmers just under the surface leaning the FMC to watch for the inevitable break. Introspective & thoughtful, beautifully written generating an understanding of position. The flow of the story helps pages turn swiftly. I am proud of the ending & hope more of the story is to come. I would encourage readers who seek thought provoking thrillers to check this out !
Details… who pays attention to details? I didn’t realize how much I DID NOT pay attention to until I read this book. The author did a great job of keeping the reader in suspense. I literally had no idea how this book was going to end 3/4 of the way through. I think that is what kept me going. I continually thought “what is going on here?” . The ending was definitely a surprise to me. I truly realize after reading this book how much I miss around me in life
: A Powerful and Inspiring Reflection on Self-Worth and Healing
“Message in the Mirror” is a thoughtful and encouraging read for anyone looking for inspiration, comfort, or motivation. Todd Morgan successfully delivers a message about hope and inner strength that lingers long after the final page. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy reflective and emotionally meaningful stories.
A solid psychological thriller that kept me intrigued the whole time. I loved how it made me question what was real alongside Maya, and the uneasy atmosphere really worked. I just wish I knew more about Maya's background and I also wished the ending had a bit more impact for me. Still a strong 3.5⭐ read and worth picking up if you enjoy slow-burn, mind-bending thrillers.
This is a psychological mystery that will leave you constantly questioning and you might even feel a little uneasy. Well worth the read.. Bit of slow burn but definitely worth it in the end. Would highly recommend.
Absolutely loved this book!! Such a cool story, uniquely written. Introduces you into a calm world and slowly ups the level of suspense and mystery as you go. Leaving you with a sense of unease till the end. Full of feeling and emotion. Highly recommend this book!
I couldn’t finish this book. I got to 51% and it was the same thing over and over again. No twists or turns. I’m sure the repetitive aspect of the book has a meaning, but over 50% in and still going, I lost interest.
Todd always knocks it out of the park with his books. This is the second one I read by him and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Get ready for a ride with a mystery thriller.
I kept waiting for a big dramatic... something. It seems more unnerving, more thought provoking, perhaps to constantly be aware of such small things. it definitely made me wonder would I even notice most of those small nuances? It still has me considering my pillows.
This book at times had me a little confused but that is the story. I did not see the ending coming but I tried to guess who was making her feel like she was crazy. It’s a good read