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Father

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A dark thriller novella.

David Raver is days away from starting a prestigious trauma program in D.C. He should be packing. Instead, a late-night delivery pulls him beneath a stranger’s house—into a room that feels more like a ritual than a crime scene.

A man lies strapped to an embalming table. Fingernails torn. Blood slick on metal. And his lips… meticulously sewn shut with thick black thread—each stitch precise, professional, obscene.

Before David can run, he hears a whisper behind him.

He wakes later in darkness, fighting a concussion and leaning on what he calls the Slip—a terrifying mental shift that drags him into the killer's mind and memories.

Some doors should always be left closed.

125 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2026

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About the author

Sandrine B.

2 books5 followers
Sandrine B. is a multi-genre author writing suspense, psychological thrillers, and darker, more sensual stories—known for intense atmosphere and characters who feel disturbingly real.
Her work explores secrets, power, obsession, and the pull of temptation.
She writes antagonists shaped by chilling internal logic, and protagonists who aren’t afraid to cross the line.
She’s fascinated by the inner logic behind darker choices, exploring how they’re justified, rationalized, and finally acted upon through her characters.

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5 stars
15 (51%)
4 stars
12 (41%)
3 stars
2 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Stacy.
247 reviews66 followers
April 9, 2026
ARC REVIEW

The very first chapter slaps you silly with violence - nice intro, right? This book has a delightfully creepy vibe throughout, and the descriptions of the “purifying” are ridiculously detailed. I do feel bad for Michelle, she got a crappy childhood deal. What happens to her is just tragic. Father is a few fries short of a happy meal - controlling, overbearing, and convinced his way is the only way. It's hilarious how that always seems to be the case. People like Father, who think they're doing God's work, always seem to be the most unhinged folks. I really enjoyed this fast-paced, well-written book.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
Profile Image for Lady MacDeath.
406 reviews203 followers
April 24, 2026
From the beginning of this novella, I was fully involved. It was creepy, eerie, brutal and chilling, and could very well happen in real life.

David Raver is due to leave for D.C. tomorrow to partake in a prestigious trauma program, but is tasked with doing one more delivery, for the pizza restaurant, in which he has been taking extra night shifts while being a med student. When he arrives at the address, he hears a noise, and rather than ignore it, he ventures into the house to investigate the source, where he finds a naked man, tied to a gurney, with his fingernails removed, and his lips sewn shut…then everything goes black.
When he doesn’t arrive to start the program, his dad Mike who is a Homicide Detective and his partner Holt, race against time, to find David, before his body is found.

This short but powerful read, packs a punch from the get-go, and the author never falters with the suspense throughout…I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.

Thanks to Sandrine B., and BookSirens, for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

4 ⭐️

Available: NOW
Profile Image for Carly.
106 reviews4 followers
April 13, 2026
Genre: Horror Thriller
Tropes: Mental Health, Death, Torture,
Father was a quick tasty read full of suspense and body horror. It’s not a cliffhanger but ‘to be continued’ and I can’t wait for more of The Raver Files! The MMC is written well and original in his mental processing. The relationship between father and son gives ‘Dexter’ feels – more in how father recognizes there’s something different in his son. The villain had me questioning things about them from the first chapter and being backed by religious belief made them that much scarier... The chapters are short which makes this great for readers to absorb books in bits, or if you’re like me – in one sitting. In all the horror that I have read, the only thing that makes my skin crawl is anything to do with fingernails…that’s the only warning you get! If you’re a fan of body horror, thrillers, phycological horror this one’s for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Author.
Author 3 books24 followers
May 17, 2026
A chilling and disturbing read.

This novel invokes a sense of justice and an overarching compulsion to contemplate the way one lives a life.  Centred on an overwhelming fear of impurity and a darker need for retribution, Father by Sandrine B. entertains the notion of spiritual transference in a sick and twisted attempt to control and rectify the sins of others through direct judgement.

It contains graphically described mutilation of those deemed to have sinned and the conduction of justice through a chosen and conditioned vessel.

The novella was well written, expertly executed, and chillingly visual. The portrayal of the characters' vulnerability and fascination with certain activities was commendable.

The fact that the content is something that has the potential to happen makes it all the more entrancing, and I struggled to find a suitable place to put the book down.

I was fortunate enough to have received an advance review copy of the book and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy thrilling, dark, twisted tales with a foot in the camps of reality and the macabre. Ending on a knife edge, I look forward to reading future releases in this series with interest and a hint of revulsion.

I thank the author and Book Sirens for the opportunity to read this eARC and leave this review voluntarily for the benefit of future readers.
Profile Image for Rosie O.
32 reviews
April 28, 2026
ARC REVIEW Father by Sandrine B is a raw, emotional look at family, identity, and complicated relationships. The writing feels intimate and honest, with moments that really linger.
The pacing wasn’t perfect, but the depth and realism made it a compelling read overall. A thoughtful, character-driven story that stays with you. The start of it goes straight into violence and that caught my attention right away.
Profile Image for Eunice Anne.
138 reviews5 followers
May 21, 2026
I am so incredibly glad I stumbled across this book! *Father* is the first installment of *The Raver Files* series, and it is officially on my radar as a new series to watch out for. If you love dark psychological thrillers with a horror edge, you’ll definitely want to pick this up.

What I Loved:

*Right into the Action: Since this is a novella, I was thrilled by how fast-paced it is. Sometimes even short books get bogged down with unnecessary filler or side plots that distract from the main story. Not this one. There's no playing around with appetizers here the author serves you the main course right from chapter one.

*​Right at the very beginning, there is a massive twist that completely messes with your head. The author plays a brilliant psychological mind game with the reader, introducing a fascinating supernatural or empathic element called "the slip." Our main character, David, has this unique ability to tap into a vision of past events, saying, "Show me what you see and feel." Experiencing the crime scene through this lens sets up a mind-bending connection between the detective father, the son, and a dark legacy that leaves you questioning everything.

*Bite-Sized Chapters: I am a huge sucker for short chapters. They give the book great momentum and make it so easy to say, "Okay, just one more chapter," until suddenly you've finished the whole thing.

*​Thoughtful Reader's Advisory: Huge kudos to the author for including trigger warnings/reader advisories at the beginning. Personally, I read a lot of dark genre fiction so I wasn't bothered, but I deeply appreciate that the author took the time to include this for readers who might be more sensitive to intense themes.

*​The "Edge-of-Your-Seat" Vibes: It’s all in the details. The tiny, atmospheric touches throughout the story really amp up the tension and keep your heart racing.


Room for Improvement:
My only real critique lies in some of the dialogue and descriptions regarding the medical side of things. The story features a medical student protagonist and some police procedural/morgue scenes which I usually love it feels like watching Forensic Files!. However, the author relies heavily on complex medical jargon, down to the specific types of sutures used on victims. While you can easily Google these terms, using such dense technical language in a fiction book felt a bit dry and pulled me out of the story's intense atmosphere. It would have felt a lot punchier and smoother if it had been written in layman's terms.

Aside from that minor speed bump, my biggest complaint is simply that it ended too soon! The book leaves you on a massive cliffhanger that will have you begging for the next installment. I can't wait for Book 2!
Profile Image for Elainie Force.
Author 4 books14 followers
Review of advance copy
April 11, 2026
ARC review

Rating: 4.2/5 Stars

I received this book for free and leaving an honest review voluntarily.

From the very first page, this book had me gripped. I was originally drawn to it because I really like this author’s writing style, and she didn't disappoint. The prose is simple and easy to follow, but the suspense she builds really makes you need to know what happens next.

I’m not going to lie: this was VERY VERY disturbing. It was a little too gory for me personally, and it was so brilliantly descriptive that I actually had to put it down several times. I even ended up skipping about 10 pages because I legitimately couldn't stomach how graphic it got! However, I don't grade based on personal taste, and the fact that I felt sick just means the author did an excellent job with the imagery. I was especially impressed by the medical terms; the level of detail made me wonder if the author has a medical background. The whole "Father" thing was extremely interesting and disturbing and had me shouting WTF several times a minute. This is DARK.

I finished it in about an hour, so it’s a great, quick read for a commute if you want something thrilling. No spoilers, but I’m very happy with how it ended.

I’m giving this 4.2 stars instead of 5 only because I felt like an additional 500–1000 words could have helped me connect with the protagonist a bit more. I wanted just a tiny bit more depth to really care about his fate. Overall, though, this was high-quality writing and a very intense experience!
Profile Image for Mandy.
27 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2026
Medical student David is making his last delivery before heading off to Washinton DC for an internship program. Yet when he arrives at the location, he finds himself drawn into something that will change his life forever.

I found myself immediately drawn in and fascinated with this world and it's inhabitants. I don't want to give too much away because...for one it's hard explain, but also it's best to go in blind.

I absolutely love stories that trickle feed you aspects of the world and it's rules. This does it really well, and even after finishing it, I want to know more more more! It's dark and twisted and confusing (in the best ways). I both loved and hated the connectivity of things, at first because I was like, nah, this is too convenient. But then I was able to be completely on board with it because of everything going on and the "rules" of this world.

The writing drew me in and kept the story moving quickly. While sometimes this can be like getting whiplash, it works extremely well for this story. I was on the edge of my seat wanting and needing to know what was going on, what was coming next. And I was truly thrilled that I was always kept guessing and never correct about what would happen next.

I would recommend and I will be following this author and reading what comes next.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sophia.
177 reviews13 followers
May 13, 2026
This was a great discovery for me and I am so glad I read it. Father is a relatively short story about a killer who leaves his victims disfigured. And they all have one thing in common…their mouths are sewn together with thread in a very precise way. By chance, David finds himself in the killer’s path and becomes a new victim…or maybe a new potential accomplice in the murder? David also has this ‘special power’, the SLIP, where he can see the mind of the person, parts of their past through their eyes. And seeing the world through the killers eyes may be or may not be a good thing.

The story is great. It is nothing new or unprecedented, but it is excellently written. There is an intensity throughout that makes the reader not want to put the book down. And it is written very simply so that the pages just slide one after the other. I was honestly delighted and hope for a sequel soon because all the doors were left open for that. I also like the impression the book left on me for days after reading it. I love things like that, when the story itself gives you reason to think further.

Big thanks to BookSirens and Sandrine for this advance copy and I am leaving my review voluntarily
Profile Image for Zoe Tasia.
Author 14 books20 followers
May 29, 2026
Father (The Raver Files Book 1) by Sandrine B. is a dark graphic thriller that immediately draws you in. The main character, David Raver, is a medical student delivering one last pizza the day before he leaves for D.C.to attend a trauma specialty program. He hears a scream. Ignoring the pizza company’s policy to never enter a customer’s home and his cop father’s advice to always trust your instincts, he investigates. He sees a tortured man tied to a table, and someone knocks David unconscious.
The narrative shifts between David’s imprisonment and his father’s investigation of a serial killer. The end of this short story left me with multiple questions that I assume the author will address in future books. I am most curious about David. Why is he having haunting nightmares? What is this heavy, familiar yet unwelcome sensation he experiences? What are David’s Slips? (The capitalization was Sandrine B.’s choice, not mine.) There’s much more, but I don’t want to spoil the book. It’s a spine-tingling, frightening, riveting read. If you aren’t a fan of books with violent torture scenes, pass, but if you enjoy J. A. Konrath’s dark thrillers, you’ll love this novella.
Profile Image for Stacey Robinson.
160 reviews22 followers
May 6, 2026
Father is not here to ease you in—it’s here to hit hard and leave a mark. This novella is brutal, bloody, and deeply unsettling, leaning heavily into body horror, so consider that your warning. It’s unhinged in the best and worst ways, and absolutely not for the faint of heart.

That said, beneath the gore is a tightly woven story. The author balances the shock factor with real substance, digging into themes of family, trauma, and cycles of violence. It’s well written, sharp, and relentless in its pacing—the kind of story that doesn’t let you look away, even when you might want to.

It’s disturbing, yes, but it’s also effective. It lingers long after the final page, which is exactly what this kind of horror aims to do. I’m equal parts hesitant and curious about what comes next… but there’s no denying this one packs a punch.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


508 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2026
Father is a chilling psychological thriller that wastes no time plunging the reader into darkness. Sandrine B. crafts an atmosphere thick with dread, where every detail feels deliberate, unsettling, and impossible to ignore.
David Raver is an excellent lead, intelligent yet vulnerable, and his connection to the Slip introduces a uniquely disturbing psychological element. The result is a story that feels both intensely personal and deeply unnerving.
The imagery is vivid, the pacing relentless, and the tension expertly sustained throughout. For readers who appreciate dark thrillers with psychological depth, medical intrigue, and a truly haunting premise, Father delivers with striking precision.
Profile Image for Chantal Segreto.
88 reviews
April 29, 2026
Father by Sandrine B is a short read that absolutely hits hard from page one 👀 It opens with a creepy horror scene that had my attention straight away.

Dark, eerie and intense the whole way through, with religious undertones that added so much to the atmosphere 😳 It also dives into some heavy family issues, which gave the story extra depth.

I love when a story goes all in and keeps that same energy the entire way through, and this one definitely does 👏 I’m really impressed with this author, so much so that I’ve already downloaded A Fatal Duet and can’t wait to read it. Also the cover is brilliant and such a draw card 🖤📚
Profile Image for Rae B.
44 reviews
April 25, 2026
Father is a quiet, atmospheric horror that leans heavily into psychological unease.

The tone is consistent and intentionally unsettling, creating a lingering sense of discomfort throughout the story. It’s more focused on mood and tension than fast-paced plot.

While I can appreciate what the author set out to do, the overall style and heavier elements didn’t fully align with my personal reading preferences, which impacted my connection to the story.

That said, readers who enjoy darker, more intense psychological horror may find this one more compelling.

⭐️ 3.2 stars
Profile Image for Jenna Scribbles.
681 reviews39 followers
May 24, 2026
The main character in Father by Sandrine B. might be considered a voyeur of death and torture. Before you start reading, consider what could lie ahead.

This short story starts with a long list of content warnings. Be advised each one is present. A touch of detective story of law enforcement officials trying to capture a serial killer. Short but packs a huge punch. The author can write some amazing descriptions. The action scenes are also very well done. Dexter ish with the gore turned up to eleven. No, fourteen. Read it if you dare.

ARC via NetGalley
Profile Image for Travis Butler.
131 reviews5 followers
April 25, 2026
Father
By Sandrine B.
Pub Date: Apr 13 2026

This book starts with a bang and doesn't let up. It short but packs a massive punch. This is body horror with religion under tones. Its brutal, dark, and violent. Such a fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and The Dark Thread Imprint for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Profile Image for Christina.
133 reviews4 followers
April 28, 2026
This if my first time reading anything from Sandrine B. and let me tell you I'll definitely be looking into her!

Father is a short fast-paced read that keeps you hooked from the first page and doesn't let up until the end! The cover alone had me hooked and wanting to read it!

Thank you Netgalley and The Dark Thread Imprint for the ARC to review
Profile Image for Lili Hill.
148 reviews4 followers
May 5, 2026
This was a fabulously creepy novella; If you like a little morgue situation, some horrific judgement for perceived sinners, a psychological twist, and look forward to the next installment in a series, start with this book here. Thank-you, The Dark Thread Imprint and Sandrine B., for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
13 reviews2 followers
May 29, 2026
Father is a dark, fast‑paced thriller that hooked me from the start. It’s graphic and disturbing, but the tension and mystery kept me turning pages. The world‑building is intriguing, the pacing is tight, and the story leaves you wanting the next book immediately. Not for sensitive readers, but definitely gripping.
Profile Image for James.
135 reviews3 followers
May 8, 2026
My kindle store recommended this to me and I'm so glad I chose to read this!! Wowww! That's how you do it 👏 short, quick, on the edge of your seat the entire time! Goosebumps at the end! Absolutely loved this.
14 reviews
May 6, 2026
Great book. The plot twist was crazy. I really wasn't expecting it. Great writing and quick read.

I was given an advance copy for my Honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews