Ezra's Secret

by P.D. Alleva

NYC. January, 1955.

Something is wrong with Ezra—and it isn’t the kind of wrong you can pray away.

Ever since her fifteenth birthday, the world has begun to slip. Questions about who she is are met with silence, while a strange hum follows her through the city and into her dreams. When a mysterious street vendor offers her a path to the truth, Ezra is drawn into the shadows of Central Park, where an ancient secret waits.

But some truths come at a terrible cost.

As Ezra peels back the layers of her reality, she uncovers a horrifying secret buried beneath years of silence and fear. And she soon learns that the greatest horrors aren't hiding in the shadows.

They're hiding in plain sight.

Ezra's Secret is a chilling psychological horror novel about identity, trauma, and the terrifying cost of uncovering the truth.

Genres: Horror, Psychological Horror

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2026

About the author

PD Alleva writes thrillers. Whether those thrillers are Sci-Fi Fantasy’s about Alien Vampires attempting to subjugate the human race, or steeped in a haunting mystery, or an urban paranormal fantasy, PD always provides readers with a profound, entertaining, and satisfying reader experience, in a new genre he has coined as alternative fiction. His novels blend mystery, conspiracy, psychology, and action with the supernatural, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Alternative fiction is PD's attempt at describing what readers uncover in any one of his books, a new discovery towards mainstream storytelling. He's been writing since childhood, creating and developing stories with brash and impactful concepts he describes are metaphors for the shifting energies that exist in the universe. PD lives inside of his own universe, working diligently on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Rose Vol. II, the urban paranormal fantasy series, Girl on a Mission, and Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, PD’s upcoming horror novel.

To receive the latest updates, sales, beta reading opportunities, book fairs, and giveaways, join PD’s mailing list: http://eepurl.com/gxKH7P

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scariest aspect of this horror novella is that the terrors that grip Ezra could actually happen, and probably have. The horror is in this unfortunate young woman’s mind and her abusive family is of no help at all. The story lets the reader follow Ezra as she slides deeper and deeper into madness.
I like how the author develops the character of Ezra. She does some terrible things but I couldn’t help sympathizing with her on some level. She is a complex character. This is a short read but well worth the time.

[Yahil Raven]

I have only read two books total from this author and I must say I have not been disappointed. This story sure had its way to hook me from the very star. I loved it. Amazing read.

[Lauren Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gutted me. My heart broke for Ezra. The amount of emotion that this short read packed in …had to give 5 stars!

[Renee collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to P.D. Alleva for letting me arc read this story!

This story follows Ezra a girl who suffers abuse from her family, I felt so bad for Ezra and I was rooting for her when she got her revenge on everyone that deserved it. This was another 5 star read from this author for me I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves horror just as much as I do!

[Don Anelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, there's a lot to like with this read. The fact that this spends as much as it does dwelling on the main girl, looking deep at the lifestyle she lives in, creates an immensely sympathetic portrayal as we follow along with her life and those around her. With everything here involving this working through the kind of secret-keeping and duplicity that others are creating, which allows the whole thing to be really intriguing as it goes along, the world-building that goes along here tries to piece together the way of life she has. The brevity it accomplishes this with is incredibly effective, using a series of events in the way to get this brought together, learning more about her so that the final half turns this into an immensely shocking and unexpected twist, which is one of the most harrowing concepts featured here to turn this around on its head. The idea of this is well-constructed and makes tons of logical sense within the narrative, making it even more effective as well, and about the only issue here is the reaction to the abuse and trauma this represents, as its openness to deal with such an issue might not be something all will be willing to dive into.

5/5

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books from this author, and I have never been disappointed. The first book I read from this author was Golem and it was fantastic. Since then, I read any book he has available.

In this story we are introduced to fifteen-year-old Ezra. Her world is falling apart, and she has no idea why. The adults around her that she is desperately seeking help and guidance from are hiding a dark secret. While seeking answers she is given a lifeline from a local street vendor. The instructions she's given are to go into Central Park, locate a statue and a cave and then the answers will be revealed. Will Ezra find the answers she's looking for?

I don't want to give too much away here. This being a novella you might think that it can't be in depth or intense. You would be wrong. As usual with his writings, this story is deep, a slow burn that will keep you hooked until the very end. I really cannot say enough good things about this story and as always, I very much look forward to more from this author. I received this book free from the author for an honest review.

[Cassandra Joy Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezras Secret

Ezras secret is fantastic.
Check your triggers.
This story has heavy subject matter.
This book, from start to finish, had me hooked. Ezras story will stick with me. What a rough go at life . Gives you a heavy heart while reading for sure.
I look forward to the next installment .
The item in the cave have had an interest in for sometime now and loved to see it incorporated into this story.
Trying to review a book this great with no spoilers is a hard thing to do .
Read the book ! ☆☆☆☆☆☆

[Amanda Ruzsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! Ezra is so desperate to understand what is happening to her that she becomes willing to look in places she probably shouldn’t, and that made her journey all the more unsettling. What a horrifying group of people she is surrounded by. The more she learns, the more I found myself wondering whether finding answers are always a good thing, or if sometimes ignorance really is the safer option. This was really creepy, enjoyed it a lot!!

[Linda Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh the 1950's when women had few choices, and young girls had even fewer choices. Ezra seems to have no one on her side. Her home and school situations are so volatile that she fends off the unimaginable the only way she knows how. Ezra is lured by promises that she will find not only comfort and freedom in a certain special place, but also answers to the questions that plague her in her shattered world. What will she find in the darkness, and can she find her way out again?

[Sarah N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra’s Secret is a haunting, beautifully written novella about a deeply troubled child failed by the people meant to protect her. P.D. Alleva captures your attention from the very first page and never lets go. Highly recommended—but be sure to read the author’s note before beginning.

[Cindy Scurlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75, this is a very quick audio listen. The closer I got to the end I felt like maybe I missed out on something. Turns out I did, I may have to go read the other book now. Turns out Wren may be a pretty intense evil being. 🤣

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once Ezra turned fifteen, her entire world turned upside down. Struggling with her own identity, she sought guidance from the adults around her, only to be met with an unsettling, absolute silence. It became clear that the adults in her life had been harboring dark secrets from her for her entire existence. Desperate for the truth, Ezra received an unexpected lifeline from a local street vendor who promised her the answers she so desperately sought. To find them, he claimed she only had to venture into Central Park, find a hidden cave, and locate a specific statue. Then, and only then, would everything finally be revealed.

As her family and community began claiming she "had the devil in her"—threatening to institutionalize her for a medical procedure meant to force a cure—Ezra fled. This terrifying ultimatum drove her straight into the shadows of Central Park in search of the truth. For such a short read, Ezra’s Secret packs an immense amount of depth into its pages without ever feeling rushed. The narrative takes its time slowly peeling back the mystery, keeping me completely hooked from the first page until the absolute last. It is a story that will undoubtedly stay with me long after the final page is read.

While Ezra’s Secret is a relentlessly brutal ride from the start, absolutely nothing prepares you for the devastating final act. P.D. Alleva masterfully pulls the rug out from under the reader with a mind-bending plot twist that changes everything you thought you knew about Ezra’s reality. It is a mind-bending surprise that doesn’t just aim for cheap shock value; instead, it brilliantly reframes the entire narrative and ties together her psychological trauma in a heartbreaking, terrifying way. Do yourself a favor and go in as blind as possible.

Relentless, beautifully written, and genuinely shocking, Ezra's Secret is a standout novella in contemporary extreme horror. P.D. Alleva handles a victim's deepest trauma with incredible psychological precision, culminating in a massive twist you won't see coming. It is a brilliant, blood-soaked triumph for seasoned horror fans.

Looking for your next unhinged, five-star horror read? Then you need to pick up Ezra’s Secret by P.D. Alleva. It is short, fast-paced, relentlessly brutal, and features a final twist that will completely shatter your mind.

[Angel Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra’s Secret
By: P.D. Alleva
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: August 18, 2026
Length: 117 pages
Content Warnings: Psychological Trauma, Emotional Abuse, Family Dysfunction, Mental Health Deterioration, Dissociation, Manipulation, Cults, Religious Horror, Graphic Violence, Gore, Cannibalism, and Disturbing Imagery

“One never knows when the devil is around the corner.”

After spending some time unable to finish anything, because life continues moving whether we are ready or not, I finally finished Ezra’s Secret by P.D. Alleva.

And honestly, I am still trying to process what I just read.

This is my second book by P.D. Alleva, and his ability to tell a story is above the limit. He creates the kind of mystery that slowly wraps itself around you, tightens its grip, and refuses to let go until the final page.

Set in New York City in 1955, the story follows Ezra, a shy and isolated fifteen-year-old whose reality begins to unravel through disturbing daydreams, strange encounters, and secrets that have been kept from her for far too long. As her mental health deteriorates and the line between reality and illusion becomes increasingly difficult to recognize, a mysterious stranger enters her life with the possibility of answers. But the truth behind Ezra’s identity may be far more horrifying than anything she imagined.

That is all you need to know.

Ezra’s Secret is psychological horror at its strongest. P.D. does not simply place something frightening in front of the reader. He traps us inside Ezra’s uncertainty. We experience her confusion, fear, and isolation without knowing what is real, what is imagined, or who can be trusted.

The atmosphere is filled with constant uneasiness. Something feels wrong from the beginning, but the story refuses to reveal exactly what it is. Instead, the dread continues building as Ezra’s reality becomes more unstable and the secrets surrounding her begin rising to the surface.

And Ezra’s parents?

Absolutely horrible.

I could not stand them. They perfectly represent what happens when the wrong people become parents. Their treatment of Ezra made me angry, but it also made her isolation painfully believable. She is surrounded by adults, yet completely alone when she needs someone the most.

Beneath the supernatural elements, this is also a disturbing story about trauma, neglect, identity, and the consequences of denying someone the truth about who they are. It asks whether evil is something we are born carrying or something created by the people and circumstances surrounding us.

Then came the final twist.

What the actual hell?

I did not see it coming. The revelation arrives at the last possible moment and completely changes how you understand everything that came before it. I finished the book, stared at the ceiling, and could only think:

What just happened?

That is something P.D. does exceptionally well. He allows you to believe that you understand the story before suddenly pulling the ground out from under you. The twist is shocking, but it does not feel included only for shock value. It gives new meaning to the story and leaves you questioning Ezra’s identity, the origin of evil, and whether something born from sin is destined to become part of it.

Ezra’s Secret is unsettling, heartbreaking, mysterious, and completely unpredictable. P.D. Alleva delivered an exceptional piece of psychological horror that held my attention from beginning to end and remained in my mind long after I reached the final page.

If you have not read one of his books yet, you seriously need to change that.

Thank you to P.D. Alleva for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

🎯 Recommended for:
• Readers who love atmospheric psychological horror
• Fans of mysteries involving identity, trauma, and buried family secrets
• Readers who enjoy questioning what is real
• Anyone who appreciates endings that completely reframe the story
• Horror readers looking for something disturbing, emotional, and unpredictable

🚫 Not for:
• Readers sensitive to emotional abuse, family trauma, or mental health deterioration
• Anyone uncomfortable with gore, cannibalism, religious horror, or disturbing imagery
• Readers looking for light or straightforward supernatural horror
• Anyone who dislikes stories that deliberately keep them confused until the final revelation

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✅ REAL – Ezra’s Secret pulled me into Ezra’s fractured reality, kept me questioning everything, and delivered a final revelation that left me staring at the ceiling. Psychological horror with atmosphere, meaning, and one hell of a twist.

— Angel R. Sanchez

[Robin Ginther-Venneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra’s Secret
By PD Alleva
Publisher: Chamber Door Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: August 18, 2026
ASIN: B0H67TWMDH
Page Count: 117

Triggers: Psychological trauma, identity crisis, emotional abuse, family secrets, mental distress, manipulation, disturbing imagery, supernatural themes

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: 💀💀💀


What Did I Just Walk Into?
Well… I expected a creepy little psychological horror novella. What I got was an unsettling descent into identity, secrets, and the kind of horror that quietly sits beside you until you realize it has been there the entire time.

At only 117 pages, this book wastes absolutely no time. It doesn’t rely on gallons of blood or endless jump scares. Instead, it builds an atmosphere that feels slightly… off. Every conversation, every unanswered question, every strange occurrence adds another brick to the wall until you’re completely boxed in with Ezra.

The setting deserves a standing ovation. New York City in 1955 feels alive, but not in the comforting way you’d expect. It feels heavy with secrets, whispers, and things people simply refuse to acknowledge. That backdrop amplifies every unsettling moment.


Here’s What Slapped:
Ezra is an incredibly sympathetic protagonist. Watching her question everything around her while everyone else seems determined to keep her in the dark creates a constant sense of unease. You desperately want someone to tell her the truth, but you also know that truth probably isn’t going to be kind.

The psychological horror is where this novel shines. The fear doesn’t come from monsters jumping out of closets. It comes from doubt, isolation, and wondering whether reality itself can be trusted. The mysterious hum, the dreams, and the encounters in Central Park all build toward something much larger than expected.

I also appreciated that the horror isn’t rushed. Every reveal feels earned, and the mystery unfolds naturally instead of dumping answers all at once. The final revelations reframe everything that came before and leave you thinking long after you’ve closed the book.

For such a short novel, it packs an impressive emotional punch.


What Could’ve Been Better:
Honestly, my only complaint is selfish. I wanted more. More pages. More time with Ezra. More exploration of the mythology behind what was happening. When a novella leaves you wishing it were twice as long, that’s usually a pretty good problem to have.


Perfect for Readers Who Love:
• Psychological horror
• Slow-building dread
• Identity-driven mysteries
• Supernatural suspense
• Dark coming-of-age stories
• Horror that relies on atmosphere instead of gore
• Stories where the biggest monsters wear familiar faces


Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review

[Cheyenne Joy Mijdam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review
ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ezra’s Secret by P.D. Alleva
Release Date: August 18, 2026

Thank you, P.D. Alleva and InsideStory, for handing me yet another reminder that my definition of “this was a good time” is probably deeply concerning.

So…
What in the beautifully messed up psychological chaos did I just read?

⚠️ Trigger warnings: childhood sexual abuse, rape, attempted pregnancy termination, murder, body mutilation, and enough emotional damage to make your therapist schedule a double appointment. If any of those are hard limits for you, protect your peace and skip this one. Seriously.

As for me…
I was completely invested.

This story had my stomach tied in knots while my brain kept whispering, “Just one more page. Surely it can’t get worse…”

Narrator: It got worse.
Not in a bad way. In the “I suddenly feel like I need a shower and an emotional support blanket” kind of way.

I don’t want to spoil a single thing because going in blind is exactly how this story deserves to be experienced. But what I will say is this: I wanted to hug the main character, scream at the main character, protect the main character, and occasionally ask them what fresh psychological hell they were dragging me into next.

The story dances on the edge of paranormal without ever fully committing. Personally, I saw something even scarier than ghosts. Trauma. Memory. The terrifying realization that our minds don’t always delete things—they simply lock them away until something finally finds the key.

That idea stuck with me long after I finished reading.
This isn’t a story packed with cheap twists. It’s the slow, uncomfortable realization that sometimes the biggest monster isn’t hiding under the bed. It’s hiding inside memories you’ve spent a lifetime convincing yourself never happened.

And honestly… that’s far more disturbing.
Four beautifully unhinged stars from me.
Why not five? Simple. I’ve read books that crawled a little deeper under my skin and refused to leave. This one definitely unpacked its bags, but eventually it did move out.
Unlike the images it left behind.

Thanks for that.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra's Secret by P.D. Alleva is a short psychological thriller/horror story which eventually introduces the character Wren from the Sleepy Hollow Incident, and this will be the first in Wren's story.


I’d like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.



Okay, another short story that I am reviewing. 

For those that read The Sleepy Hollow Incident by this author, they will realize that this is the story of how Wren came to be.  If not, this can easily be read alone.  Future books will tell more of Wren's story.  

The character of Ezra was heart-breaking, and you could easily sympathize/empathize with her....until you couldn't.

It's a coming of age story about a young, very naive girl, about childhood abuse, about mental illness, and eventually about murder, and then some.  The horror builds slowly, but you know it's coming.  You can feel the tension building.

This was a great short story, and sometimes an uncomfortable read.  The author is good at that.  For such a short read,  this was powerful, taking an unexpected twist that took it from teenage trauma to teenage horror.   I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more about Ezra and Wren in future books.

Seldom do I review short stories, and seldom do I rate them this high.  This deserved every star!


For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Brandon Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC Review**
Title: Ezra's Secret
Author: P.D. Alleva
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Psychological Horror

"The world is filled with angels and demons. One never knows when the devil is around the corner."
"Darkness is always attracted to the light it seeks to destroy."

The was P.D. Alleva writes is like none other. He has a way with prose that not only make this a well written horror novel, but I dare say it’s close to poetry. The way he delves deep into the human condition and pulls out the darkest part of humanity is what truly makes this horror.

We are introduced to Ezra, and young girl who has felt like she never fit in to the world. She starts to question who she is, but her questions fall on deaf ears. She gets told she has the devil in her and she needs a procedure to get the evil out. When she starts digging into the truth, with the help of a mysterious street vendor, she might just uncover something she wasn't ready to face.

It is no secret that I am a huge P.D. Alleva fan. I first read Golem a couple of years ago, and that was my gateway drug into the complex and intricate universe that Alleva has set up. In Ezra's Secret, Alleva really digs deep into psychological terror that will stay with me for a long time.

This book packs a powerful, emotional punch that left me disassociating myself, with my wife asking me if I was okay, and if there was something wrong. True story. If you are looking for a book that not only has scares, but has heart and soul, Ezra's Secret is the book you need to preorder.

[Luna May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crawled right under my skin and stayed there

I sat down with this one and didn't get up until it was over. One sitting, start to finish — I just couldn't make myself stop. It's the kind of book that gets its hooks in early and slowly tightens until you realize you've been holding your breath without noticing.

Alleva sets it in 1955 New York and the atmosphere is thick from the first page. There's this constant low dread humming under everything, the same way it follows Ezra around the city and into her dreams. You feel her world start to tilt before you fully understand why, and that slow slide is exactly what makes it so unsettling. Nothing about it feels cheap or rushed — it earns every chill.

The way it handles dissociation is something else. This isn't horror that just hides things in the dark and jumps out at you. It goes straight into Ezra's head, into trauma and identity and the awful stuff that gets buried under years of silence, and it treats all of that seriously while still scaring the daylights out of you. By the time the truth starts surfacing, you completely understand why some doors stay shut.

And that line stuck with me — the worst horrors here aren't lurking in the shadows. They're sitting right out in the open, in plain sight, where nobody thinks to look.

If you want psychological horror that actually has something real underneath the scares, Ezra's Secret is it. Creepy, smart, and leaves you sitting with it for a moment once you're done.

[Charlene (Char) ❤︎ ❀˖° ❤︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m honestly speechless this book completely captivated me from start to finish! PD has woven a tale shrouded in mystery, creating an atmosphere thick with dread. It’s psychological horror at its absolute best, taking you on a chilling journey into the unknown. After I read this book I just stared at the wall because WHAT!????

Set in New York in 1955, we follow Ezra, our main character, who feels a bit out of place and is quite timid. As she turns 15, her life takes a darker twist. She often finds herself lost in daydreams, unsure of why they consume her. Her mental health takes a nosedive as we witness her slow descent into a reality that becomes increasingly blurred. And let’s be real her parents are the worst! I really didn’t like them at all; they embody what happens when the wrong people have kids. Then, one day, she encounters a stranger who will change her life forever. As she starts to uncover long-buried secrets, I can’t help but wonder will she be able to handle the truth?

The plot twist at the end? Wow! I absolutely didn’t see that coming; it was such a surprise revealed at the last moment. All I could think was, “Well, damn!” PD has an incredible knack for storytelling and knows just how to pull the rug out from under you! Outstanding job! If you haven’t picked up any of his books yet, you really should!

Thank you PD for providing me a copy of this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in an origin series for Wren Field, a character from P.D. Alleva's The Sleepy Hollow Incident: A Gothic Tale. Where did such an evil character originate? If you are brave enough, you will begin to find your answers here.

Ezra lives with her mother and father and attends a Catholic girls' school. The nuns are strict, and Ezra is prone to daydreams, making her a target for punishment. Recently, Ezra's attention is drifting more than ever. Her teacher has talked with the parish priest, and they have a recommendation for Ezra's family. Could this be the answer to Ezra's daydreams? Instinctively, Ezra recognizes the danger she is in. Can she find a way out of her predicament?

First, look at the cover of this book. The creep factor begins before you open the book. Now, if you have ever read a P.D. Alleva book, you feel the anticipation build, knowing you are in for an unimaginable treat. This book is honed to perfection, delivering chills, goosebumps, and mind-blowing horror. The imagination that crafted this tale is amazing and seriously twisted. Horror is many things, but when it is stealthy and terrifying at the same time, it is at its best. This book moves at the perfect pace; plan to start and finish it in one day. No one can sleep until we know how this ends!

My thanks to author extraordinaire P.D. Alleva for the advance copy. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful, harrowing, and deeply unsettling story, that reads like the possession version of King's "Carrie "! The girl in this tale is Ezra, the setting is 1955 New York, and the central theme around which Ezra's story develops isn't bullying but domestic sexual child abuse. Triggers abound. Religion remains equally topical, religious fervor and fanaticism being a major plot device driving the story forward on many, many different levels and taling it in a variety of directions. Ezra's story inevitably becomes a revenge tale, with well-crafted scenes of butchery and carnage. Imagine my surprise, then, upon discovering that this is the origin story of a character in the author’s Sleepy Hollow Incident series of books! I confess I had no idea, since I was not given even the smallest clue, of how Ezra's story would eventually be the setting preparing the groundwork for a series of novellas offering the origin story I mentioned. Did this take away some of my enjoyment? A little, sure. I certainly wouldn't consider such a move a "plot twist" of any kind. Did it change my mind, however, about the high quality of the story, and affected my enthusiasm for it? Not at all. Still, others may benefit from a warning that this is the first part of a series directly connected to another series of the author's works.

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

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in January, 1955 in New York City, fifteen year old Ezra struggles with a reality that has begun to fracture. With memory, feeling disconnected from reality and hearing a constant, mysterious humming, Ezra receives no honest answers about her identity from the people around her. While looking to find who she really is, she crosses paths with a street vendor who offers her a deal: she will find out who she is in exchange for finding a figurine buried in a cave in Central Park. Accepting the offer, what she finds, however, is much more terrifying.

I loved this novella and Alleva is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This story doesn’t rely on excessive violence or blood to be terrifying. Rather, Alleva builds an atmosphere thick with tension and unease. There is strong character development with a main character the reader is immediately sympathetic to. The finale is extremely fast paced, brutal, and tense but the psychological horror aspect is where the book really shines. Alleva installs doubt and uncertainty in the reader, leaving us to wonder whether Ezra’s experiences are part of her true reality or that of a fractured mind.

This novella is a must read, and I can’t wait for the next part in Ezra’s story!

[Mary Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re familiar with the world of 'The Sleepy Hollow Incident', you should know that this story is going to wreck you even before you start reading. However, beyond the horror, Ezra’s story broke my heart.

As a psychologist, I know about the barbaric prefrontal lobotomy that was used and abused in the past, and I also recognize the symptoms of dissociation in a victim. Since I can’t help but empathize, I wanted Ezra’s story to have a happy ending, but I should have known better.

Don't foul yourself. The Sleepy Hollow Incident is a universe of extreme horror. Ezra ceases to be a victim and becomes… something else. Something dark and terrible and full of righteous anger, but because her wrath is righteous does it justify her actions? Ezra becomes a vengeful angel—though I should really say a vegenful monster. It doesn't matter that those around her—the ones who should have taken care of her but abused her instead—were monsters, too. There's no redemption arc for Ezra, just a descent into darkness.

Learning about Wren’s origins didn’t improve my sympathy for the character either. Another being doomed even before birth.

In short, a devastating and gripping story set within the universe of 'The Sleepy Hollow Incident'.

[Kayla Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in New York in 1955, we’re introduced to Ezra who is a little… off. Every day she hears a strange humming sound that isn’t really there. Or is it? Is it all in her head, or is something much darker calling out to her? Haunted by a truth she can't quite grasp, Ezra's search for answers begins after a chance encounter with a mysterious street vendor. Except the truth will come at a price.

I think my favorite part of any P.D. Alleva book is the effortless way he’s able to create an unsettling, atmospheric tension that lingers throughout the entire book. With Ezra’s Secret, it was no different. Despite its shorter length, the tension is present from the very first page, growing stronger with every revelation about Ezra and the life she's been forced to endure.

Throughout this book, I was sad for her, I was mad for her, I was feeling every possible thing there was to feel for her. Every new piece of the puzzle only deepened my emotional connection to her story.

Ezra's Secret is a psychological horror novella that balances eerie suspense with genuine emotional depth. It's unsettling, thought-provoking, and ultimately full of heart.

[Misty Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra’s Secret is an absolute masterpiece that deeply resonated with me, primarily due to the way P.D. Alleva handles such heavy subject matter with remarkable sensitivity and narrative skill. The book does an incredible job of exploring the long term effects of trauma and the complex, often resilient ways the human mind acts to protect itself when faced with unimaginable circumstances. It was an absolutely amazing, immersive read that kept me hooked from the very first page, and the masterful storytelling left me completely wanting more I truly cannot wait for the next installment in this series.

However, I do want to provide a word of caution for potential readers, as this is a gripping horror novel, it inevitably navigates some very dark and difficult themes. If you are sensitive to intense psychological content, please be sure to check for potential triggers or content warnings before starting the book to ensure it is a comfortable reading experience for you. Highly recommended for fans of psychological horror who appreciate depth alongside their scares.

[Nova Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra's Secret is another compelling entry into P.D. Alleva's growing interconnected universe, blending psychological horror, mystery, and supernatural elements into a dark novella that lingers long after the final page. While the subject matter is heavy, the storytelling itself was incredibly engaging, and I found myself eager to uncover how this story would connect to the author's other works.

As someone who loves expansive lore, this novella was a real treat. It builds upon ideas introduced in The Sleepy Hollow Incident while still telling a satisfying story of its own. Every new revelation feels like another piece of a much larger puzzle, making the world feel richer and rewarding readers who have followed Alleva's previous books. At the same time, the connections never overshadow Ezra's personal journey, allowing the novella to stand on its own while expanding the broader mythology.

One of the strongest aspects of the story is its exploration of trauma and identity. Rather than using horror simply for shock value, the novel examines how buried truths, fear, and silence can shape a person's life and decisions. The inclusion of religious themes adds another layer to the narrative, raising difficult questions about faith, guilt, and the consequences of hiding uncomfortable truths. These themes give the horror emotional weight, making the story feel unsettling on more than just a supernatural level.

The atmosphere is wonderfully eerie throughout. From the strange occurrences surrounding Ezra to the growing sense that something is deeply wrong beneath the surface, the tension steadily builds with each chapter. P.D. Alleva excels at creating an unsettling mood, allowing the psychological elements to intertwine naturally with the supernatural horror until the two become almost impossible to separate.

Then there's the ending. I genuinely gasped. The final twist completely caught me off guard and brilliantly expands the connections to Alleva's other works. It recontextualizes so much while leaving readers eager to see where this shared world goes next. It's the kind of ending that immediately makes you want to pick up the next book and continue piecing together the larger story.

[C. A. Deegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful page turner.

Enter, if you will, the strange world of Ezra. Her 1950s world is haunted by mysterious sounds and a sense of something on the periphery; Ezra just can't seem to grasp what eludes her. Something that will give her some peace. With a foul home life and equally discordant school life, this troubled girl just needs to understand what's 'wrong' with her. A chance meeting with a mystical street vendor helps her find the answers she so desperately craves. But maybe she should have stayed ignorant of the horrors that lay waiting?

This story is deep. Almost Lovecraftian in its telling, this is fundamentally a story about evil. Evil that waits, clawing at the borders of sanity. And of the evil that people do to each other. It is skilfully done, cleverly brought to the conclusion. The tale acts as a backstory to one of the author's other novels, but you do not need to understand the scope of that to enjoy this book. Delightfully dark.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra’s Secret by P.D. Alleva
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a creepy and dark psychological horror story!!
I couldn’t put it down! It’s truly a wild and intense read!

Ezra just wants to have a normal life and be like everyone else, but that’s not how her life is going. She’s constantly getting in trouble at school and getting paddled. Ezra’s mind likes to wander and take her to made up places, which leads to a lack of focus.
Ezra just wants to know the truth of what is happening to her. She’s hoping that the Pazuzu, she found out about from a street bender, will give her answers. But is she ready for the truth?

Thank you to P.D. Alleva for an arc of this spectacular novella. The imagery is fantastic and wow, what a story full of suspense and twists!
It’s very well written and I can’t wait for the next installment of this story to be released! I’m ready!!

**It comes out August 18th and is a must read!!**
🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

[literarybound · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for providing me with ARC.

The book is phenomenal. I didn’t expect a novella to hook me so intensely. The story starts innocently with Ezra’s coming-of-age confusion and school troubles. It is all about her wanting to find out what is happening to her body. While adults don’t want to reveal the secret to her, she finds hope in Pazuzu — a demonic figure. Then the story immediately accelerates, and with each revelation from Pazuzu, the story gets bloodier, mushier and more intense. What happens to Ezra is brutal, but so is her revenge.

Another thing I am impressed by is how well the development of Ezra’s mental illness and her trauma response is portrayed.

Content warning and tropes: gore, cannibalism, mental illness, trauma, abuse, cults, secret societies, demons, religious horror, psychological horror

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a psychological/religious horror based on a girl named Ezra. I gotta tell you, this might be the darkest book I've read from PD Alleva so far and I love his books. Ezra was a character I could easily relate to as a man who suffers from PTSD and generational trauma. In this one, it's religious trauma as the adults around her are convinced that she has the devil inside of her. It's not a read that pulls punches and you might not see religion the same after reading.

PD does a wonderful job with the ending that weaves nicely to the MC's trauma and it wasn't an ending that I was expecting. It's a tragic story of a child who was set up to fail by the 'adults' who were supposed to set her up for success. Be sure to read the author's note at the end as it really shapes why PD Alleva wrote the book and explains why he was the right author to write this kind of story.