The Empty Barstool: A Deadly Domestic Suspense Psychological Thriller

by Natasha Stone

Someone is hurting her son. The question Who?

After a humiliating blind date, forty-five-year-old divorcee, Kathi Markham, questions whether she’ll ever be wanted again. Then contractor Ryan Patterson walks into her advertising agency and asks her out.

Ryan is patient, thoughtful, and kind. The polar opposite of her ex. But while Kathi is rebuilding her life, her sixteen-year-old son is quietly falling apart.

First comes a bruise shaped like fingerprints. Then a soaked backpack. A split lip. Charlie insists every injury is an accident and begs Kathi not to ask questions.

Then one night after dinner, he collapses.

With Charlie on life support and the police circling, Kathi must face an unbearable Was someone trying to kill her son, or did she overlook the signs that Charlie wanted to die?

A creepy neighbor watches from across the street. Kathi’s controlling ex-husband wants custody. And her new boyfriend has a questionable habit and a key to her house.

Someone knows the truth and Kathi needs to find out who.

Because if Charlie didn’t try to take his own life, then the next attack may happen before he has a chance to wake up.

THE EMPTY BARSTOOL is Book 6 of The "Empty" Thriller Series. It can be read as a standalone.

Natasha Stone books are SLOW-BURN psychological thrillers that may mild violence, themes of abuse, death, stalking, kidnapping, PTSD, and light sexual references. They do NOT contain explicit sexual content, foul language, rape, or gore.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2026

Reviews

[Debra Tunnicliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story following kathi Markham who after her divorce goes to restaurant to meet a guy called Greg but he never shows up and she feels humiliated. Then a contractor called Ryan walk into her advertising agency and ends up asking her out.

Ryan is everything her ex was not and so begins a relationship and she introduces him to her 2 sons Luke and Charlie but while she is happy she does not notice that Charlie is suffering. Then she starts to noticing Charlie is quiet and when she sees a fingerprint bruise followed by a split lip she asks Charlie what is going on but he refuses to say anything.

kathi starts to get suspicious of Jeremiah her ex especially when he still has a key to her house and her neighbour across the road tells her he has seen someone entering her house when she is not there. when Charlie collapses one night and ends up on life support Kathi is determined to discover who would hurt her son and who can she trust.

I loved the character Kathi and how she fights for her family and how strong she is and the ending was a real surprise.

Would highly recommend for a tense and suspenseful story.

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

[Beebop_2487 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empty Barstool immediately pulled me in and never let go. Natasha Stone has a talent for writing painfully real-feeling domestic suspense. This might be her most emotionally intense installment of the "Empty" series yet. It isn't just about mystery; it's about fear, denial, guilt, and the terrifying possibility of not seeing the truth until it's almost too late.

Kathi is written beautifully as a protagonist. She's flawed, lonely, hopeful, and trying her best. Charlie's "mystery" injuries and silence create slow, suffering tension that chapter by chapter builds. One of the book's strengths is its slow buildup. The suspects are believable, and another layer of dread is added with every new incident. The neighbor, the ex, the boyfriend - each one feels like a genuine threat - keeping suspense high from start to finish.

Worth every slow-burn chapter leading to it, the final reveal is heartbreaking and powerful. This is a domestic suspense done right - thoughtful, tense, and deeply human. A phenomenal addition to the "Empty" series. I received a free ARC through BookSprout; this review is voluntary and honest.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your hands are tied ~
Kathi is now a divorced 45-year-old woman who has 2 teenage boys at home, 16 & 18.
Her ex-husband was & is very controlling.
So she finally gets set up on a blind date...
The barstool stays empty next to her...
Back to her real life, something is going on with her youngest; he is acting differently.
This story will keep you on the edge of your seat, make you question things you have done or are doing, and you will want to check on your kids if you have any!
Yes, this story is for older readers, not for young ones. It is a fantastic story!
And for those of us who have been through some things, we look wherever our pepper spray is, to ensure we still have it.
Thank you, Natasha Stone, for a great story.
I received a complimentary arc copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empty Barstool: A Deadly Domestic Suspense Psychological Thriller (The "Empty" Thriller Series Book 6), my sixth 274-page thriller from author Natasha Stone, the sixth book of the "Empty" Thriller Series2 After reading The Empty Crib: A Chilling Domestic Suspense Psychological Thriller (T it washe "Empty" Thriller Series Book 5) I said in my review the best Stone book I've read to date, this one is even better! “I received a complimentary Kindle copy of this book & am reading it & voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I'll be reading more from this author; next up, Stalked in the Snowstorm: A Game of Cat and Mouse Psychological Thriller. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 6 of the series but can be read as a stand-alone. It’s a domestic psychological thriller. Kathi Markham is raising her sons alone now. Her ex is out of the picture, or is he? After thinking she was done with the dating scene, she gets asked out by Ryan, a contractor from work. Of course, everything seemed to be going well until it wasn’t. Her son Charlie was coming home with bruises and other signs of some sort of abuse/fight. She misses the signs until Charlie is in hospital on life support. Now it gets good. What was happening to Charlie? Who did it? The neighbour across the street saw someone at the house. Kathi now has to figure things out before things get worse. Did Charlie do it to himself or is someone out for him? It got quite exciting!

[Iain Batten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another remarkable book, The Empty Barstool, has captivated me to the extent that I found myself reading until my eyes could no longer stay open. I genuinely appreciate the depth of character development and the suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I eagerly anticipate the next installment in this series! It's rare to find a series that maintains such a high level of intrigue and emotional engagement, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a gripping and thought-provoking read. Thank you, Natasha.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha Stone is fast becoming one of my favorite authors I find all her books in the empty series fascinating, but her other books are just as suspenseful too. Almost as a soon as I started reading this book red flags went up especially when Charlie started coming home with bruises and became withdrawn staying in his room not wanting to come out or see anyone and always wearing his hoodie, but it's the neighbor across the street that creeped me out. The question that lingered in my mind the most was who was hurting Charlie? however the jaw-dropping ending blew my mind.

[Daniellebooks2026 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great edition to the "Empty" series. Kathi is having a hard time understanding her teenage sons and what's going on around her. Then come the twists and turns, nosy neighbor watching her house, ex husband and young wife, this book has many characters to like and dislike. I have been a fan of this series and this book kept the streak going.

I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was great! Its fast paced, great characters and a perfectly developed storyline! A year divorced from a controlling, cheat ex-husband with two teenage sons finally accepts a date. She waited for an hour, he doesn't show up. A hunky man catches his eye and he asks her if he can buy her a coffee. They make a good couple. The ex is furious; I disliked him from the get-go. The story made me laugh, and made me cry, I loved the twists! Its a must read!

[Romana · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOOh so good!!! I'm definitely becoming a fan of Natasha"s writing. story was very good kept me very intrigued very hard to put down. As a mum it's easy to put myself in Kathi's shoes. Ireally want to know what happened to Greg i feel like he needs his butt kicked.

I binged read the first three books after reading the 4th book I'm truly hooked I can't wait for the next book.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an excellent read this was. I found it to be nicely written and quite thrilling in parts. Book 6 in the "Empty" series and I will say that the author has just continued to improve. I found the ending to be a bit bittersweet but a very good conclusion to the story.
I received a copy of this book via BookSprouts and I voluntarily leave my opinion of the tale.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

What secrets cost us.

This addition to The Empty series is all about a secret and what it can cost the person who knows it. It kept me guessing until s certain point, and one thing led me down the right path. I'll leave the details , so I don't ruin the answers for anyone, but I will say it's a well thought out thriller, and I'll be diving right in to the next one.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teen-age son that is withdrawn and has bruises on his body. A prescription drug in a cabinet that was used to taint his oat milk. A thriller that I could not stop reading. A huge twist in the conclusion.

[Nicole Collins]

I really like this series its all different stories and characters but still in one series this is a must read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Candy Turk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 5 and still going strong! This series continues to keep me interested, and I’m definitely not ready to stop reading yet. Each book builds on the one before it, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes next!

[Sandi Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A lot of suspense, and twists. I can't wait for another "Empty" book to come out. Natasha Stone is one of my favorite authors. I received this as an ARC.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book. A definite recommend from me for this thriller.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. Great storyline. Read it straight through. Would recommend it to anyone.

[Holly Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, this book has me reading until my eyes wouldn't stay open any more! The suspense building drama with Kathi's 16 year old son continues until a climatic end. She watches him withdraw into himself but refuses to tell her what's wrong.
I love the build up of characters and edge of your seat suspense! Anxiously awaiting the next on this series!