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Phantom Limb
Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.
But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…
Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.
As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.
Phantom Limb is a character-driven mystery that begs to be read in a single setting.
But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…
Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.
As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.
Phantom Limb is a character-driven mystery that begs to be read in a single setting.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2016
8075 people are currently reading
46063 people want to read
About the author
Lucinda Berry
30 books21.7k followersUSA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,547 reviews
April 8, 2025
I AM NOT THE SAME PERSON I WAS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK BC WTAF WAS THIS??? 🤧🫸🏻
April 4, 2025
Yay 350th review!! So this was my first outing with Lucinda Berry. As a general rule, I try to avoid books by new authors that breach the 200 page mark, just in case I don’t care for them. This sounded really intense, so I went against my better instincts and dove in. So the premise and story are fairly straightforward. You can very easily figure out what is going on between Emily and Elizabeth from the beginning. So what Berry did here is walk you through a very in-depth process of someone who is going through dissociation, PTSD, and a variety of other mental health difficulties in inpatient and outpatient conditions. The story is difficult to read at times, especially for those like myself who suffered childhood traumas. But Berry is obviously very well versed in this source material, and did not sugarcoat any of it. There are many sections of the book that became very repetitive and boring, and I had a lot of trouble connecting with the characters. It wasn’t the style of writing, but rather that everything just fet very ‘textbook.’ Each character had a role and they served their purpose, and that was it. So while this wasn’t my favorite story, I will compliment the expertise and level of effort that the author put into it. And fans of psychological thrillers may have more fun here than traditional horror fans like me. However, I would caution potential readers to go through some of the lesser reviews here to get a good idea of what you’ll be getting, before you commit to it.
April 9, 2024
Lucinda Berry really is the queen of causing trauma in her readers
Phantom Limb is about Emily and Elizabeth. Their childhood was not nice to say the least and the girls now older are still trying to overcome some of their horrors.
Elizabeth wakes up one day in hospital strapped up to her hospital bed and the last thing she remembers is finding her sister Emily's body in their bathroom.
Elizabeth life starts to spiral out of control as she delves deeper into finding out what really happened to her sister all while trying to deal and accept with her past traumas.
5 out of freaking 5 for the trauma factor. I found myself physically recoiling at some of the traumatic events that happened to the sisters. This is not an easy read at all, and checking trigger warnings is a MUST
Having now read all of Lucinda's book i would probably place this book as my second least favourite. The story was very emotional and super messed up, but i didn't care for the twist unfortunately. Its definitely a more character case study driven book and will leave you slightly emotionally damaged for sure!
3.5⭐
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⋆｡°✩PRE REVIEW⋆｡°✩
Wooop wooop this is my last Lucinda Berry book and I would have completed her backlist!!!
Let’s goooooooooo! 🙏🏾♥️♥️♥️
Phantom Limb is about Emily and Elizabeth. Their childhood was not nice to say the least and the girls now older are still trying to overcome some of their horrors.
Elizabeth wakes up one day in hospital strapped up to her hospital bed and the last thing she remembers is finding her sister Emily's body in their bathroom.
Elizabeth life starts to spiral out of control as she delves deeper into finding out what really happened to her sister all while trying to deal and accept with her past traumas.
5 out of freaking 5 for the trauma factor. I found myself physically recoiling at some of the traumatic events that happened to the sisters. This is not an easy read at all, and checking trigger warnings is a MUST
Having now read all of Lucinda's book i would probably place this book as my second least favourite. The story was very emotional and super messed up, but i didn't care for the twist unfortunately. Its definitely a more character case study driven book and will leave you slightly emotionally damaged for sure!
3.5⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩PRE REVIEW⋆｡°✩
Wooop wooop this is my last Lucinda Berry book and I would have completed her backlist!!!
Let’s goooooooooo! 🙏🏾♥️♥️♥️
November 20, 2025
This book broke my heart into a million pieces!! This is a psychological thriller novel that should be read by adults only - in my opinion. It is dark, tragic, shocking, sad, intense, gripping and unsettling. It is character driven and full of suspense. The twists were shocking to me! This book made me cry off and on, while reading it. I give this book a 5 star rating because I will never forget this book! The way this author wrote it, it made the story very real to me. If you are wanting to read this, please read all the content warnings first. This is a VERY heavy, emotional and psychological read!! This gave me the movie “Girl, Interrupted” vibes.
February 7, 2017
Elizabeth and Emily Rooth are identical twins. They survived their terrible childhood by leaning on each other. The girls spent their days ..and sometimes nights... locked in a bedroom by a mother who might disappear for days. And then 'mom' started bringing home male "friends" who would spend time with the girls. An accidental fire in their apartment led the girls to a family that loved them and adopted them.
There are some horrors that can never be forgotten, no matter how hard you try.
Bethy and Emily are now living on their own. Bethy has a new found boyfriend but is terrified to introduce him to her sister. Emily is a cutter ... not as often as she used to ... but the depression leads to cutting .. pills... and she rarely leaves her home. Bethy is working as a telemarketer and does everything she can to help Emily.
When Elizabeth wakes in a hospital bed, all she remembers is finding Emily's body in the bathroom ... dead.
So begins the journey through Elizabeth's mind ... a journey no one should ever have to make.
This was a hard book to read. There are issues of rape, child abuse in every way possible, eating disorders, cutting,... the list goes on and on. What makes it so terrible is that I know these things happen all the time in the real world.
This is a character-driven book. The author has done a tremendous job in bringing to life these girls, then young women and addressing the issues. The love and interaction between the twins is palpable.
There are small twists and turns that were slightly predictable. Then there's the big twist with a roller-coaster stomach-tumbling ending.
Many thanks to Lucinda Berry who sent me a digital copy of PHANTOM LIMBS. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
There are some horrors that can never be forgotten, no matter how hard you try.
Bethy and Emily are now living on their own. Bethy has a new found boyfriend but is terrified to introduce him to her sister. Emily is a cutter ... not as often as she used to ... but the depression leads to cutting .. pills... and she rarely leaves her home. Bethy is working as a telemarketer and does everything she can to help Emily.
When Elizabeth wakes in a hospital bed, all she remembers is finding Emily's body in the bathroom ... dead.
So begins the journey through Elizabeth's mind ... a journey no one should ever have to make.
This was a hard book to read. There are issues of rape, child abuse in every way possible, eating disorders, cutting,... the list goes on and on. What makes it so terrible is that I know these things happen all the time in the real world.
This is a character-driven book. The author has done a tremendous job in bringing to life these girls, then young women and addressing the issues. The love and interaction between the twins is palpable.
There are small twists and turns that were slightly predictable. Then there's the big twist with a roller-coaster stomach-tumbling ending.
Many thanks to Lucinda Berry who sent me a digital copy of PHANTOM LIMBS. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
May 5, 2020
This book has some major trigger warnings with it. Lots of talk of self harm, suicide and planning of, different types of mental illness, and sexual abuse. Even with this list I'm still probably missing some. This book was alot to take in.
Emily and Elizabeth are identical twins who lived a very horrific childhood. They are rescued by a loving couple who are determined to save them. But love can't erase all wounds and years after there rescuing Elizabeth wakes up in a hospital unable to speak or move. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily's lifeless body in their bathroom. Elizabeth is then sent to the psychiatric ward and that's when the real story begins.
This book is very heavy but it personally sucked me in. I was so curious to know what was going to happen and how Elizabeth's life was going to change forever. I found both Emily and Elizabeth's characters interesting but also I felt a lot of sadness for them both and found myself wanting to hug them many times.
I gave it 3 stars though because I didn't like the ending, but I was interested in the rest of the story so I didn't feel it deserved a 2 star rating. This book is definitely not for everyone and can be difficult to get through.
Emily and Elizabeth are identical twins who lived a very horrific childhood. They are rescued by a loving couple who are determined to save them. But love can't erase all wounds and years after there rescuing Elizabeth wakes up in a hospital unable to speak or move. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily's lifeless body in their bathroom. Elizabeth is then sent to the psychiatric ward and that's when the real story begins.
This book is very heavy but it personally sucked me in. I was so curious to know what was going to happen and how Elizabeth's life was going to change forever. I found both Emily and Elizabeth's characters interesting but also I felt a lot of sadness for them both and found myself wanting to hug them many times.
I gave it 3 stars though because I didn't like the ending, but I was interested in the rest of the story so I didn't feel it deserved a 2 star rating. This book is definitely not for everyone and can be difficult to get through.
May 13, 2019
Cheesy, cheated, and chagrined
I finished this, but I really didn’t like it. Why? Really it was a myriad of reasons ranging from the rather poor writing to the heavy handed “mystery” to the ridiculous twist at the end. Truthfully, I feel like I’ve wasted quite a lot of my time on a book that just didn’t deliver.
The Good: I thought the premise of the dead twin was engaging enough at first. The overall idea of Elizabeth/Emily had some potential, but the shark was jumped pretty early on, and as the book progressed, the shark was hopping enough to be participating in a horse show.
The Eh - The writing itself is decidedly Eh. The population of flat characters rivals the Flat Stanley books, from Utterly Supportive Adoptive Parents to Totally Nurturing Christian Boyfriend to Totally Depraved Mom. None of them felt real. Add to that the fact that the whole thing felt like an issue of True Confessions magazine (anybody remember those), and I just didn’t connect with this at all.
The Ugly - I’d rather not get busted for plot spoilers, so I will just say that the ending here was beyond ridiculous by at least 100 yards. The complete implausibility of the twist, along with the True Confessions heroine being able to pull off a deception that large when medical records would have easily contradicted some of it just was too much for me to tolerate.
I don’t mind dark books, and I don’t mind a good exploration of the darkness in humanity. I do mind having my intelligence insulted. I think that is what I feel about this novel. My intelligence was insulted, and I invested a good block of time ghat I won’t get back.
I finished this, but I really didn’t like it. Why? Really it was a myriad of reasons ranging from the rather poor writing to the heavy handed “mystery” to the ridiculous twist at the end. Truthfully, I feel like I’ve wasted quite a lot of my time on a book that just didn’t deliver.
The Good: I thought the premise of the dead twin was engaging enough at first. The overall idea of Elizabeth/Emily had some potential, but the shark was jumped pretty early on, and as the book progressed, the shark was hopping enough to be participating in a horse show.
The Eh - The writing itself is decidedly Eh. The population of flat characters rivals the Flat Stanley books, from Utterly Supportive Adoptive Parents to Totally Nurturing Christian Boyfriend to Totally Depraved Mom. None of them felt real. Add to that the fact that the whole thing felt like an issue of True Confessions magazine (anybody remember those), and I just didn’t connect with this at all.
The Ugly - I’d rather not get busted for plot spoilers, so I will just say that the ending here was beyond ridiculous by at least 100 yards. The complete implausibility of the twist, along with the True Confessions heroine being able to pull off a deception that large when medical records would have easily contradicted some of it just was too much for me to tolerate.
I don’t mind dark books, and I don’t mind a good exploration of the darkness in humanity. I do mind having my intelligence insulted. I think that is what I feel about this novel. My intelligence was insulted, and I invested a good block of time ghat I won’t get back.
April 28, 2024
Very interesting read! I felt like it gave me so much insight on dissociative disorder and how ones experience can be through that.
I did find this book of hers a bit more “thriller-y” than the others I’ve read. It’s a psychological thriller and I definitely got those vibes because I didn’t know WHAT was going on and did not predict anything correctly lol
I enjoyed listening to this and found it very interesting, intriguing, and captivating. Just wasn’t quite a 5⭐️ for me.
I did find this book of hers a bit more “thriller-y” than the others I’ve read. It’s a psychological thriller and I definitely got those vibes because I didn’t know WHAT was going on and did not predict anything correctly lol
I enjoyed listening to this and found it very interesting, intriguing, and captivating. Just wasn’t quite a 5⭐️ for me.
March 25, 2024
THIS BOOK IS INTENDED FOR MATURE, STABLE ADULTS 18 +
5/5 🌟
5/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
5/5 😰Anxiety
5/5 🎭Tragedy
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Self Harm
Suicide Attempt
Suicide
Suicidal Thoughts & Ideations
Death
Child Abuse
Child Neglect
Sexual Assault of Children
Sexual Violence
Pedophilia
Blood
Rape
Mental Illness
Eating Disorder
Grief
Forced Institutionalization
Car Accident
Abandonment
Emotional Abuse
Injury
Injury Detail
Schizophrenia
Confinement
Body Shaming
Emesis
Excrement
Medical Content
Gore
Panic Attacks
Adult/Minor Relationships
Domestic Abuse
Alcoholism
Drug Abuse
Body Horror
Bullying
Trafficking
Toxic Relationship
Dysphoria
Medical Trauma
THIS BOOK IS INTENDED FOR MATURE, STABLE ADULTS 18 +
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.
But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…
Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.
As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.
Phantom Limb is a character-driven mystery that begs to be read in a single setting.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 1,866 REVIEWS
Moods
dark 93%
emotional 64%
sad 53%
tense 52%
mysterious 38%
challenging 28%
informative 7%
reflective 6%
hopeful 3%
adventurous 2%
Pace
fast 52%
medium 42%
slow 5%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 64% | A mix: 28% | Plot: 6%
Strong character development?
It's complicated: 43% | Yes: 41% | No: 14%
Loveable characters?
It's complicated: 46% | No: 26% | Yes: 23% | N/A: 3%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 58% | Yes: 26% | It's complicated: 7% | N/A: 7%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 92% | It's complicated: 4% | No: 2%
Average rating
3.81
I’m shocked that this is not at least a 4.5 star rated book.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
Disclosure: I am not ok after this one. This was a hard read for me and I’m shook!! This book was so well written and the amount of research on mental illnesses that had to be done was incredible. Lucinda Berry did amazing job with this book. It’s a powerful book to read. The book reminded me of Emma & Me by Elizabeth Flock, another intensely emotional story. I’m not even sure where to go with this review. So many triggers!! My heart actually hurts with empathy and sympathy for anyone that has endured this type of trauma in their lives. I myself am a survivor of sexual assault when I was a child and I am so unbelievably happy that I didn’t have trauma to the extent that our main female characters, Elizabeth and Emily, had in this book.
If you or anyone you know need help or in crisis please write down this number. 1-800-273-8255 or 988 suicide prevention hotline. You can also text HOME to 741741 these are US based hotlines.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
5/5 🌟
5/5 ❤️🩹
1/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
5/5 😰Anxiety
5/5 🎭Tragedy
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Self Harm
Suicide Attempt
Suicide
Suicidal Thoughts & Ideations
Death
Child Abuse
Child Neglect
Sexual Assault of Children
Sexual Violence
Pedophilia
Blood
Rape
Mental Illness
Eating Disorder
Grief
Forced Institutionalization
Car Accident
Abandonment
Emotional Abuse
Injury
Injury Detail
Schizophrenia
Confinement
Body Shaming
Emesis
Excrement
Medical Content
Gore
Panic Attacks
Adult/Minor Relationships
Domestic Abuse
Alcoholism
Drug Abuse
Body Horror
Bullying
Trafficking
Toxic Relationship
Dysphoria
Medical Trauma
THIS BOOK IS INTENDED FOR MATURE, STABLE ADULTS 18 +
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.
But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…
Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.
As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.
Phantom Limb is a character-driven mystery that begs to be read in a single setting.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 1,866 REVIEWS
Moods
dark 93%
emotional 64%
sad 53%
tense 52%
mysterious 38%
challenging 28%
informative 7%
reflective 6%
hopeful 3%
adventurous 2%
Pace
fast 52%
medium 42%
slow 5%
Plot- or character-driven?
Character: 64% | A mix: 28% | Plot: 6%
Strong character development?
It's complicated: 43% | Yes: 41% | No: 14%
Loveable characters?
It's complicated: 46% | No: 26% | Yes: 23% | N/A: 3%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 58% | Yes: 26% | It's complicated: 7% | N/A: 7%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 92% | It's complicated: 4% | No: 2%
Average rating
3.81
I’m shocked that this is not at least a 4.5 star rated book.
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
Disclosure: I am not ok after this one. This was a hard read for me and I’m shook!! This book was so well written and the amount of research on mental illnesses that had to be done was incredible. Lucinda Berry did amazing job with this book. It’s a powerful book to read. The book reminded me of Emma & Me by Elizabeth Flock, another intensely emotional story. I’m not even sure where to go with this review. So many triggers!! My heart actually hurts with empathy and sympathy for anyone that has endured this type of trauma in their lives. I myself am a survivor of sexual assault when I was a child and I am so unbelievably happy that I didn’t have trauma to the extent that our main female characters, Elizabeth and Emily, had in this book.
If you or anyone you know need help or in crisis please write down this number. 1-800-273-8255 or 988 suicide prevention hotline. You can also text HOME to 741741 these are US based hotlines.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
July 14, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️
- This book started off fast, got a little slower in the middle, and really picked up at the end! The entire book I thought that I could guess the plot and I literally had no idea at allllll!! The ending of this one is so good!
- I love how this author always has such unique plots and keeps you guessing. This book wasn’t wildly thrilling in the middle, but the story kept me guessing which is what I look for in a thriller!
- This authors books are always so fast paced and easy to read. If you want a bingeable book, this is a good one to pick up!
- This book started off fast, got a little slower in the middle, and really picked up at the end! The entire book I thought that I could guess the plot and I literally had no idea at allllll!! The ending of this one is so good!
- I love how this author always has such unique plots and keeps you guessing. This book wasn’t wildly thrilling in the middle, but the story kept me guessing which is what I look for in a thriller!
- This authors books are always so fast paced and easy to read. If you want a bingeable book, this is a good one to pick up!
September 28, 2022
this was definitely a book ♥️
January 13, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
4.5/5
I read another book by Berry a few months back, Missing Parts and while I enjoyed that one, I liked this one even more. From the blurb alone I was hooked, I always like reading about the relationship between twins and combine that with holes in one of the characters memories and a dark past and I’m jumping in feet first.
I will be saying very little about the plot with this one, but there were some killer twists that jarred me. Elizabeth wakes up in a hospital and the last thing she remembers is finding Emily dead and soon enough she’s a patient in a psychiatric hospital. But she knows she’s not crazy, she has worked really hard to overcome her past demons and make something of herself. But she’s confused and unsure about several things her family and team of doctors have been telling her and she has no idea who to believe.
I loved the pacing here, it was fast and furious and kept me glued to my Kindle. It’s relatively short and with so many crazy things happening, it’s one of those books that just begs you to read it as fast as possible. This was one of those reads where you’re constantly trying to figure out exactly what’s going on and a few times I wondered if I was going a little bit crazy.
As much as I was into the storyline, I really liked the deep look into the human psyche. Berry is a clinical psychologist and it’s very apparent that’s she knowledgeable while reading this, her insight and attention to detail was impeccable. Psychology has always fascinated me and seeing how a high security mental hospital runs was so interesting.
I do want to mention that this is very dark and disturbing and there is a lot of difficult subject matter from child abuse, eating disorders, sexual abuse and more.
4.5/5
I read another book by Berry a few months back, Missing Parts and while I enjoyed that one, I liked this one even more. From the blurb alone I was hooked, I always like reading about the relationship between twins and combine that with holes in one of the characters memories and a dark past and I’m jumping in feet first.
I will be saying very little about the plot with this one, but there were some killer twists that jarred me. Elizabeth wakes up in a hospital and the last thing she remembers is finding Emily dead and soon enough she’s a patient in a psychiatric hospital. But she knows she’s not crazy, she has worked really hard to overcome her past demons and make something of herself. But she’s confused and unsure about several things her family and team of doctors have been telling her and she has no idea who to believe.
I loved the pacing here, it was fast and furious and kept me glued to my Kindle. It’s relatively short and with so many crazy things happening, it’s one of those books that just begs you to read it as fast as possible. This was one of those reads where you’re constantly trying to figure out exactly what’s going on and a few times I wondered if I was going a little bit crazy.
As much as I was into the storyline, I really liked the deep look into the human psyche. Berry is a clinical psychologist and it’s very apparent that’s she knowledgeable while reading this, her insight and attention to detail was impeccable. Psychology has always fascinated me and seeing how a high security mental hospital runs was so interesting.
I do want to mention that this is very dark and disturbing and there is a lot of difficult subject matter from child abuse, eating disorders, sexual abuse and more.
June 30, 2024
Author Lucinda Berry is a former clinical psychologist and leading childhood trauma researcher and her books are not for the faint-hearted.
Although several of Lucinda Berry's other books I read were graphic and very disturbing -- those other books were NOT this graphic and disturbing.
OMG! This book is in a league of its own.
"A gripping psychological thriller" is this book's tagline and the sole reason why I selected the book. It's important to note that this book is NOT a gripping psychological thriller.
SPOILER ALERT:
Instead, PHANTOM LIMB is a book that reveals vivid descriptions of the child abuse suffered by two twin girls when they were locked in a bedroom (for 5 years) and terrorized by a mother who drank too much, beat them with a hanger, frequently starved them, never let them use a toilet, offered their bodies to her "special friends", and disappeared for days. The twins were finally rescued by firemen when they accidentally set their house on fire and DSS arranged for them to be adopted by a family. Needless to say, the twins suffered deep psychological scars.
When one of the twins dies, the other twin's life spins out of control. I listened to the book's audio version. After listening to the book for two hours, I astutely concluded that this book featured ZERO "thrilling suspense" and quickly fast-forwarded to the end of the book to listen to the book's predictable ending. (If you have read one book about identical twins, you have read them all!)
Unless you enjoy reading graphic details of child abuse and adolescent self-harm/mutilation....I would recommend giving this book a hard pass.
The narrator of the book, BTW, was superb.
April 8, 2024
Well I most definitely wasn't expecting THAT!!!
October 17, 2019
Oct 15-17
I went in to this story blind. No summary, no blurb.
It concerns two little girls who grew up in unusual and negligent circumstances, with only an abusive and mostly absent mother.
It’s a miracle they survive as young as they were. This is not an easy story, but it is fascinating. It’s an example of what the mind does to cope. What twin sisters do and how closely they bond when there are no parents and no mothering figure.
The majority of the book is when the twins grow up. It is how they deal with their past and try to make a future when parts of them have been destroyed by a beast of a mother. It’s a journey of the mind, a journey through present and past to get to things that have been blocked. It’s literally a struggle to find identity.
I thought it was compelling and heart wrenching.
There is abuse here, not described in detail that much and self-harm. It’s a great piece about mental illness of several types and the system that treats it.
This story is filled with creepy twists and truths and half truths covered with secrets.
4
I went in to this story blind. No summary, no blurb.
It concerns two little girls who grew up in unusual and negligent circumstances, with only an abusive and mostly absent mother.
It’s a miracle they survive as young as they were. This is not an easy story, but it is fascinating. It’s an example of what the mind does to cope. What twin sisters do and how closely they bond when there are no parents and no mothering figure.
The majority of the book is when the twins grow up. It is how they deal with their past and try to make a future when parts of them have been destroyed by a beast of a mother. It’s a journey of the mind, a journey through present and past to get to things that have been blocked. It’s literally a struggle to find identity.
I thought it was compelling and heart wrenching.
There is abuse here, not described in detail that much and self-harm. It’s a great piece about mental illness of several types and the system that treats it.
This story is filled with creepy twists and truths and half truths covered with secrets.
4
September 10, 2024
3.5 stars
What in the hell was that ending??? My flabbers are gasted
What in the hell was that ending??? My flabbers are gasted
September 11, 2024
This book tries so hard to be shocking and disturbing that it almost isn’t believable. The beginning is really great. The content is incredibly dark but it keeps you interested. Then literally nothing happens until the very last few pages. The author has a psychology background and at least 80% of the book is so clinical and boring. I’m not exaggerating when I say that absolutely nothing happens between the very beginning and very end of the story. The twist was okay, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the slog that was the rest of the book.
January 6, 2026
currently playing:
⏪ ⏸ ▶︎ ⏩
✧ “control” — halsey ✧
⋆｡°✩ headphones on, lights low, sanity optional ✩°｡⋆
phantom limb is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, even when you think you’ve figured it out. i went in expecting unsettling, and what i got was brutal, disorienting, and emotionally exhausting in the best and worst ways. i clocked the middle twist early too, felt very smug about it, and then the ending absolutely fried my brain anyway. this book doesn’t just want to surprise you - it wants to unmoor you, leave you questioning what’s real, and sit with that discomfort long after the last page.
berry’s writing is dangerously addictive. it’s clean, fast, and almost too easy to read for subject matter this heavy, which somehow makes everything hit harder. the story of emily and elizabeth - twins shaped by abuse, loss, and fractured identity - is deeply sad, and the trauma is not subtle or softened. triggers are everywhere, and the asylum setting leans fully into raw psychoanalysis, memory gaps, and emotional unraveling. it’s dark, it’s shocking, and it never pretends to be gentle.
once elizabeth wakes up in the mental facility after emily’s death, the book really sinks its teeth in. the slow reconstruction of her life after graduation, her relationship with thomas, and the fight that precedes the tragedy is layered in a way that keeps you constantly second-guessing everything you’re being told. grief, guilt, and identity blur together until you’re no longer sure where one ends and the other begins - which feels very intentional, and very cruel.
this wasn’t my absolute favorite read, but i also wasn’t mad at it - and honestly, that says a lot. phantom limb is deeply sad, deeply messed up, and completely committed to its themes. if you love unreliable narrators, institutional settings, and stories that crawl around inside your head and refuse to leave, this one will ruin your day in the most compelling way possible. i closed the book feeling hollow, unsettled, and weirdly impressed: which might be exactly the point.
pre read ۶ৎ - this will be my first lucinda berry book and i am not prepared
⏪ ⏸ ▶︎ ⏩
✧ “control” — halsey ✧
⋆｡°✩ headphones on, lights low, sanity optional ✩°｡⋆
phantom limb is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, even when you think you’ve figured it out. i went in expecting unsettling, and what i got was brutal, disorienting, and emotionally exhausting in the best and worst ways. i clocked the middle twist early too, felt very smug about it, and then the ending absolutely fried my brain anyway. this book doesn’t just want to surprise you - it wants to unmoor you, leave you questioning what’s real, and sit with that discomfort long after the last page.
berry’s writing is dangerously addictive. it’s clean, fast, and almost too easy to read for subject matter this heavy, which somehow makes everything hit harder. the story of emily and elizabeth - twins shaped by abuse, loss, and fractured identity - is deeply sad, and the trauma is not subtle or softened. triggers are everywhere, and the asylum setting leans fully into raw psychoanalysis, memory gaps, and emotional unraveling. it’s dark, it’s shocking, and it never pretends to be gentle.
once elizabeth wakes up in the mental facility after emily’s death, the book really sinks its teeth in. the slow reconstruction of her life after graduation, her relationship with thomas, and the fight that precedes the tragedy is layered in a way that keeps you constantly second-guessing everything you’re being told. grief, guilt, and identity blur together until you’re no longer sure where one ends and the other begins - which feels very intentional, and very cruel.
this wasn’t my absolute favorite read, but i also wasn’t mad at it - and honestly, that says a lot. phantom limb is deeply sad, deeply messed up, and completely committed to its themes. if you love unreliable narrators, institutional settings, and stories that crawl around inside your head and refuse to leave, this one will ruin your day in the most compelling way possible. i closed the book feeling hollow, unsettled, and weirdly impressed: which might be exactly the point.
pre read ۶ৎ - this will be my first lucinda berry book and i am not prepared
March 13, 2019
From someone who should probably not be writing books (and I say that having slogged my way through not one but two of her awful thought experiments) comes the story of a young woman so confused about life that the only way forward is through a psych ward. A story that wants to be "Girl, Interrupted" crossed with "One flew over the Cuckoos Nest" and "Sucker Punch" but manages not to be anything nearly as compelling. However, it does dig up a ripe helping of V.C. Andrews and Bret Easton Ellis. Confused? So is the plot.
The detestably detailed desire to linger on trauma is not compelling: it's hyperbolic and painful to read; dramatizing the real consequences of early childhood abuse and the lasting impact it can have on a persons life and turning what could have been an interesting story of overcoming and survival into something morbidly unpleasant to read.
There are lots of great stories out there about abuse and how those who have lived it, manage it. These stories are both hopeful and painful, but can often be important (Wild, for example, or really, read One Flew Over, it's brilliant). This is not one of those stories and it was a waste of a good hour I could have spent reading anything else.
The detestably detailed desire to linger on trauma is not compelling: it's hyperbolic and painful to read; dramatizing the real consequences of early childhood abuse and the lasting impact it can have on a persons life and turning what could have been an interesting story of overcoming and survival into something morbidly unpleasant to read.
There are lots of great stories out there about abuse and how those who have lived it, manage it. These stories are both hopeful and painful, but can often be important (Wild, for example, or really, read One Flew Over, it's brilliant). This is not one of those stories and it was a waste of a good hour I could have spent reading anything else.
April 15, 2024
4.5⭐️
Probably the most messed up and dark book I’ve ever read…but I loved it so much! PLEASE check your trigger warnings because this one checks all the boxes! Lucinda Berry is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine!
Probably the most messed up and dark book I’ve ever read…but I loved it so much! PLEASE check your trigger warnings because this one checks all the boxes! Lucinda Berry is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine!
August 13, 2023
4.5⭐️ description:
Emily and Elizabeth are twins who grew up locked in their bedroom and abused by their mother and her “special friends”. Eventually, they are rescued by a family who adopts them and gives them a normal and loving life. However, one day Elizabeth wakes up in the hospital after the death of her twin and but no recollection of how she got there. She finds herself in the psych ward surrounded by people who talk to themselves, don’t talk at all and experience mental illness that she doesn’t have. However, as time goes on the holes in her memory become clearer and the truth of Emily’s death starts to come back as the reality of her life unfolds.
my thoughts: It was so easy to devour another Lucinda Berry book. These dark books grip me in a way unlike any other genre or author can. I thought this book was so predictable and I knew how the story would unfold. However, the twist that came was so unexpected I audibly gasped. I’m absolutely obsessed with how Lucinda Berry brought this book together to end this psychological puzzle in the most mind blowing and satisfying way. Cannot wait for the next book I pick up by her.
Emily and Elizabeth are twins who grew up locked in their bedroom and abused by their mother and her “special friends”. Eventually, they are rescued by a family who adopts them and gives them a normal and loving life. However, one day Elizabeth wakes up in the hospital after the death of her twin and but no recollection of how she got there. She finds herself in the psych ward surrounded by people who talk to themselves, don’t talk at all and experience mental illness that she doesn’t have. However, as time goes on the holes in her memory become clearer and the truth of Emily’s death starts to come back as the reality of her life unfolds.
my thoughts: It was so easy to devour another Lucinda Berry book. These dark books grip me in a way unlike any other genre or author can. I thought this book was so predictable and I knew how the story would unfold. However, the twist that came was so unexpected I audibly gasped. I’m absolutely obsessed with how Lucinda Berry brought this book together to end this psychological puzzle in the most mind blowing and satisfying way. Cannot wait for the next book I pick up by her.
September 11, 2022
Look.. idk I was super into this plot for the entire book bc I heard the twist was gonna be insane so YES I enjoyed it? But was let down kind of? So I’m not sure how to rate. I flew through it and felt like I couldn’t read fast enough but it’s not gonna stand out long term. CHECK TWS can’t stress that enough
July 16, 2025
Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry is another wonderfully chilling book written about child trauma. Key trigger works include: child molestation, rape, physical abuse along with death. Many mental health words and diagnosis. Novel is about twins suffering severe abuse and neglect. One twin dies and it appears the other takes on a dissociative identity disorder. Novel is sad, brutal and difficult to read but for those in the mental health field or interest utterly fascinating.
July 9, 2023
Probably more of a 3.5. Granted I didn’t really “see” the twist, it wasn’t that impacting or shocking anyhow.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Lucinda Berry’s work, and this is still a good book. It just didn’t pack the punch like her others have.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Lucinda Berry’s work, and this is still a good book. It just didn’t pack the punch like her others have.
October 31, 2025
My first experience with Dr. Lucinda Berry was intense!
Phantom Limb is a dark story with numerous possible triggers. If you decide to dive in, you’ll find a confused main character trying to figure out where, what, why and when. It’s clear from early on in the book that she has endured a variety of trauma in her past (thus the multiple triggers). Her current confused situation combined with her traumatic past make for an intense story with a somewhat surprising end!
Phantom Limb is a dark story with numerous possible triggers. If you decide to dive in, you’ll find a confused main character trying to figure out where, what, why and when. It’s clear from early on in the book that she has endured a variety of trauma in her past (thus the multiple triggers). Her current confused situation combined with her traumatic past make for an intense story with a somewhat surprising end!
February 6, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http:://thebookreviewcafe.com
When I picked up Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry I didn’t have any preconceived thoughts about this book as the author was a new one to me, it was the book description that enticed me to pick this one up, I’m always drawn to books that explore the human psyche and Phantom Limb explores the very subject with both empathy and understanding. I expected a psychological thriller with twists and turns and bucketfuls of suspense, but what I never expected was to read such a raw and emotive tale that at times made for a disturbing and deeply tragic tale. I think it’s only fair to point out this book covers many themes, self harming, childhood abuse and mental health issues to name but a few, although while it never felt gratuitous within the context of the story, it may upset some readers.
Elizabeth finds herself on a psychiatric ward after the death of her twin sister Emily, she has no memories of past events apart from being the one who found Emily dead. Firstly Elizabeth has to cope with the loss of not only her sister but her best friend, but she also needs to confront her past however painful that maybe, if she ever hopes to leave the confines of a psychiatric ward. Much of the novel is told around Elizabeth’s time on a secure psychiatric ward, the author describes the scenes, emotions and characters in a very credible way. Phantom Limb is very much a character driven story so if you were hoping for a fast paced read this definitely isn’t the book for you. Lucinda Berry gives a very authentic insight into mental illness and how childhood trauma can affect a person years after the fact, she expertly uses her clinical experience to create a psychological thriller that on the whole makes for a realistic read.
Reading about Elizabeth and Emily’s traumatic childhood made for a very uncomfortable read at times, as you learn more about their past I couldn’t help but care about these characters and what happened to them. What I did find intriguing was how despite them being twins, each sister reacted very differently to their childhood trauma.This is a fairly short book and I read it in almost one sitting, as Elizabeth begins to unravel her lost memories it made for a tension filled read. Although I found Phantom Limb to be a dark and disturbing read, I did think it would have more twists and turns to truly mess with the reader’s head, for me this book swayed heavily on the mystery side. I wouldn’t consider this to be an enjoyable read due to some of the subject matter, but I would say it’s an intriguing read with plenty of mystery.
When I picked up Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry I didn’t have any preconceived thoughts about this book as the author was a new one to me, it was the book description that enticed me to pick this one up, I’m always drawn to books that explore the human psyche and Phantom Limb explores the very subject with both empathy and understanding. I expected a psychological thriller with twists and turns and bucketfuls of suspense, but what I never expected was to read such a raw and emotive tale that at times made for a disturbing and deeply tragic tale. I think it’s only fair to point out this book covers many themes, self harming, childhood abuse and mental health issues to name but a few, although while it never felt gratuitous within the context of the story, it may upset some readers.
Elizabeth finds herself on a psychiatric ward after the death of her twin sister Emily, she has no memories of past events apart from being the one who found Emily dead. Firstly Elizabeth has to cope with the loss of not only her sister but her best friend, but she also needs to confront her past however painful that maybe, if she ever hopes to leave the confines of a psychiatric ward. Much of the novel is told around Elizabeth’s time on a secure psychiatric ward, the author describes the scenes, emotions and characters in a very credible way. Phantom Limb is very much a character driven story so if you were hoping for a fast paced read this definitely isn’t the book for you. Lucinda Berry gives a very authentic insight into mental illness and how childhood trauma can affect a person years after the fact, she expertly uses her clinical experience to create a psychological thriller that on the whole makes for a realistic read.
Reading about Elizabeth and Emily’s traumatic childhood made for a very uncomfortable read at times, as you learn more about their past I couldn’t help but care about these characters and what happened to them. What I did find intriguing was how despite them being twins, each sister reacted very differently to their childhood trauma.This is a fairly short book and I read it in almost one sitting, as Elizabeth begins to unravel her lost memories it made for a tension filled read. Although I found Phantom Limb to be a dark and disturbing read, I did think it would have more twists and turns to truly mess with the reader’s head, for me this book swayed heavily on the mystery side. I wouldn’t consider this to be an enjoyable read due to some of the subject matter, but I would say it’s an intriguing read with plenty of mystery.
March 29, 2025
TRAUMATIZED FOR LIFE !!!!!!!!
November 13, 2021
Rescued from unspeakable abuse and torture at age seven, twins Emily and Elizabeth are adopted by loving parents Bob and Dahlia. Though their problems run deep, they make great strides in therapy. Now in college Elizabeth returns home to find Emily dead by suicide. Elizabeth is hospitalized where she must finally confront the truth of her childhood.
PHANTOM LIMB is a sad, believable story that encompasses both the depth of depravity and the height of resilience of the human spirit. Lucinda Berry’s background in psychology gives her the edge in creating believable, complex characters whose psychiatric issues are heartbreakingly authentic. PHANTOM LIMB has a few jaw-dropping twists I didn’t anticipate, enough to give an extra punch to the gut. This is my third of Berry’s books in three days, all five star reviews which are not ratings I give lightly. I have the rest in my queue to read next.
If you like psychological thrillers with pinpoint mental illness accuracy, you’ll love PHANTOM LIMB and all Lucinda Berry’s books as much as me.
#PhantomLimb
PHANTOM LIMB is a sad, believable story that encompasses both the depth of depravity and the height of resilience of the human spirit. Lucinda Berry’s background in psychology gives her the edge in creating believable, complex characters whose psychiatric issues are heartbreakingly authentic. PHANTOM LIMB has a few jaw-dropping twists I didn’t anticipate, enough to give an extra punch to the gut. This is my third of Berry’s books in three days, all five star reviews which are not ratings I give lightly. I have the rest in my queue to read next.
If you like psychological thrillers with pinpoint mental illness accuracy, you’ll love PHANTOM LIMB and all Lucinda Berry’s books as much as me.
#PhantomLimb
December 19, 2021
I love this writer style. I can not stop reading. As usual themes presented are not easy but the way they are written is just stunning. A story about identical twins is a greeping and promise you will not forget for a long time.
Finally she gets in love and finally she decide to tell her twin about and just after she tell her everything goes wrong. She is in hospital and for different reasons she thinks. We start an other journey of discovering who is she, from not happy childhood till now. The end is surprising.
Finally she gets in love and finally she decide to tell her twin about and just after she tell her everything goes wrong. She is in hospital and for different reasons she thinks. We start an other journey of discovering who is she, from not happy childhood till now. The end is surprising.
February 25, 2020
In 'Phantom Limb', Elizabeth and Emily are tight-knit twin sisters who have lived through many traumatizing childhood events. When Elizabeth comes to in a hospital, she remembers finding Emily dead after an argument. Their shared past continues to haunt her while the missing gaps in her memory are waiting to be filled..
This book managed to make interesting elements such as twins and dark secrets so painfully boring. The setup was good initially - Elizabeth and Emily cohabiting, with the former wondering how to tell the latter about her boyfriend. However, there was too much repetition of well-established details, lack of character development and poor characterization.
The twins had no personality. The other characters didn't even qualify as characters; they were merely names on paper and generic to boot. Consequently, it was hard to care about anybody's plight. The twins' disturbing experiences were thrown in without actually delving into their thoughts and emotions. Telling does not equal showing.
Most of the story took place in a psych ward which was a snoozefest owing to the uneventfulness of it all. Every conversation and thought Elizabeth had circled around the same subjects and revealed nothing new. Her newfound friendship didn't ring true while her grief over Emily's death and desire to leave were tainted with dullness.
There wasn't even a shred of suspense as the twists were obvious and predictable: .
Overall, 'Phantom Limb' was as empty as its title due to the repetitive content, zero-dimensional characters and lack of any plot whatsoever.
This book managed to make interesting elements such as twins and dark secrets so painfully boring. The setup was good initially - Elizabeth and Emily cohabiting, with the former wondering how to tell the latter about her boyfriend. However, there was too much repetition of well-established details, lack of character development and poor characterization.
The twins had no personality. The other characters didn't even qualify as characters; they were merely names on paper and generic to boot. Consequently, it was hard to care about anybody's plight. The twins' disturbing experiences were thrown in without actually delving into their thoughts and emotions. Telling does not equal showing.
Most of the story took place in a psych ward which was a snoozefest owing to the uneventfulness of it all. Every conversation and thought Elizabeth had circled around the same subjects and revealed nothing new. Her newfound friendship didn't ring true while her grief over Emily's death and desire to leave were tainted with dullness.
There wasn't even a shred of suspense as the twists were obvious and predictable: .
Overall, 'Phantom Limb' was as empty as its title due to the repetitive content, zero-dimensional characters and lack of any plot whatsoever.
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