Ashes of a Nightmare

by Jalena Dunphy

There are 2 million home invasions per year. Every 5 minutes, one rape will occur. A violent crime will happen every 25 seconds, which begs the question. How safe are you in your home at night?

On the eve of Erin's first night in her first home, she was excited and hopeful for her future. Until the doorbell rang. . .

Welcoming her to the neighborhood was Joe and his wife, Doris, an elderly couple whose presence didn't offer Erin any comfort. Inviting themselves into her home, Joe and Doris subdue Erin and lock her in a crawl space. Once awake, she's brought before Joe, who begins quoting scripture and accusing her of being a sinner in need of his help and guidance to enter into heaven.

Erin plays along with Joe's dark, twisted views on God and the afterlife expecting help to come soon. The longer she's around Joe, the more she's subjected to the cruel teachings of a religious zealot. In the name of Jesus, he violates her body and tarnishes her soul.

After days of captivity, Erin must accept there is no one to save her but herself. With every new form of physical and mental torture Joe inflicts on Erin, she finds time to herself in the crawl space morphs from being her prison to her sanctuary. She quickly discovers freedom isn't always found outside four walls but in the subconscious mind.

Salvation is Joe's supposed purpose, but if what Joe is offering is salvation, Erin would rather be damned to hell.


Warning: Contains explicit sexual content that may be offensive to some individuals

Genres: Horror

407 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2021

About the author

Jalena Dunphy lived most of her life in Western NY. She now resides in Arizona, and though she hates the heat at times, she prefers it to being snowed in for months on end. She loves reading, spending time with her family, and watching thriller movies when she isn't writing. She's published four New Adult romance books. Ashes of a Nightmare is her psychological thriller debut novel.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea how this book has the high rating it has. First off, trigger Warning. There are two very detailed rape scenes in the first couple of chapters. The writing is repetitive and drawn out. Halfway through the book I started skimming pages and only reading the dialog because everything else the character through about was the same thing, over and over again. The twists are very predictable. Don’t bother with this one.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book had me hooked from the beginning. Yes, it was very graphic. The way it was written and the characters throughout the story really had you invested in their story. There was a little part during the middle where I wanted it to pick the speed back up, but overall I was hooked. After reading the authors note at the end, I understand why the ending was the way that it was. However, I didn't like the ending the best, I was expecting something different. Glad I added this one to my Kindle library.

[Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a theory pretty early on. Multiple theories, actually. And my main one was never proven BECAUSE THE AUTHOR ROBBED ME OF THAT. This didn't have me at the edge of my seat, I wasn't riveted. When Erin, "Newbie", and Kris escaped to the motel, I thought the last 50-60% would either be about their recovery or follow them as they attempted revenge. Though I knew the whole situation was too good to be true for Erin, I had hope for a brighter future and some answers to my questions. When Newbie started acting weird about not allowing Erin to call the police, I immediately knew he was up to no good. When he took her back to the house, I was instantly furious. I was ready for the captivity to be over with. I kept reading because I really wanted the answer to my question: was Betty's husband the serial killer from all those years ago. Then Erin "wakes up". She freaking wakes up and realizes everything that has happened was just an awful nightmare. Which put to rest the questions of where her mom was the whole time, why literally no neighbors heard anything or came running to help, or why her friend never bothered to show up at her house. Literally the most disappointing ending in a book I think I've ever read. However, the fact that this was based on a real dream (nightmare) experienced by the author was pretty chilling

[Ry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idk what kind of dreams this author had but holy shit. This novel being based off a dream she had? 🥴 horrible. I think it was slightly drawn out and the time spent at the motel could have been shortened. The detail about Mark learning survival tactics from his father also made this book predictable. I guessed he was Joe’s son after that bit of info was revealed. But the way she wrote this book repulsed me, but also made it impossible to put down. Well done.

[Maddie Stufflebean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. it took less than 2 days for me to devour it!! it is so messed up but so so good! I definitely wasn't expecting the final twist!! I will say it's pretty graphic on the grape scenes, but it works out

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super dark and disturbing, but the twist is worth it! I was left with my mouth hanging open.

[Hope Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashes of a Nightmare
by Jalena Dunphy
4⭐️
Dates Read : 5/7/25 - 5/13/25
Format Read : Kindle
This book should have come with a page of trigger warnings and I'm really disappointed it didn't.
Thankfully, nothing that harmed my mental, but could be harmful for others.
Please note my list of trigger warnings before picking this book up for yourself.
TW: death, r@pe, hostage situations, drugging, torture.
This story was a wild ride.
It's crazy how your life can change in an instant. How one small choice can lead to something bigger; can alter the course of your life - and not always in a good way. Something as simple as answering your front door could change everything as it did for Erin. Dreams can turn to nightmares in an instant.
I was hooked to say the least and the twists and turns. THE ENDING - holy cow. The ending was one I did not expect.
When Erin answers an unexpected knock at her front door, her life is forever changed. Held hostage in her own home, her dreams quickly shatter and turn to nightmares. As she loses hope in someone rescuing her and her will to fight back starts to dwindle, she starts to wonder if she will make it out alive.
Parts of this read felt repetitive and others felt hard to believe. I was also upset with the ending but it had such good potential and *almost* got a 5 star from me. I kept going back and any time I wasn't reading, I couldn't stop thinking about what was coming next. I was very disappointed in the lack of trigger warnings - this story (if viewed in the right places because it is NOT in the book) comes with the warning of s*xual scenes but it goes so much deeper than that. This book gets pretty graphic on certain things including hostage, torture, captivity and SA scenes. Keep your mental health a priority and only read if you can handle it.

Would you be able to fight a man who claims to be "your savior"? One who tortures you in the name of God? A man claiming to "save your soul" while doing unspeakable things? Those are questions Erin will find answers to within the pages of Ashes of a Nightmare.

[Crystal Gehris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immersed in the pages of this captivating book, I found myself swept away by the intricately woven storyline. From the beginning, the author's descriptive prose painted a vivid picture, effortlessly transporting me to the world within the pages. Every detail was meticulously crafted, each scene coming to life with such clarity that I felt like I was a part of the narrative, experiencing every moment alongside the characters.
As the story unfolded, I was utterly engrossed, unable to put the book down. The pacing was perfect, keeping me on the edge of my seat with anticipation as each chapter revealed new twists and turns. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author delivered a jaw-dropping ending that completely blindsided me. It was a masterful stroke, leaving me reeling with shock and awe.
This book was more than just a great read—it was an unforgettable experience. The author's talent shone brightly on every page, and I eagerly await the opportunity to delve into her next literary masterpiece.

[Natasha Latiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book's unique writing style occasionally prompted me to backtrack through previous pages, fearing I'd missed something—an effect that, I suspect, was intentional to mirror the disorientation of the main character amidst her traumatic experiences. Despite this, I found the narrative gripping, and I couldn't help but root for the main character. The story deftly raised suspicions, prompting me to sharpen my awareness—an aspect of the book I appreciated. The consistent character development of the protagonist resonated with me, as her emotional journey felt authentic and relatable. It served as a poignant reminder of the struggles real-life victims endure, underscoring the importance of support. While the story felt realistic, I found certain details irrelevant and would have preferred their omission. My disappointment, however, stemmed from the ending, which lacked the impact of a satisfying plot twist or cliffhanger—it felt more like an anticlimax, leaving me frustrated. I believe the conclusion could have been executed more effectively to better serve the narrative.

[J Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading all of this Author's books, I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of her new book Ashes of a Nightmare. From the very first page I was hooked!! I could not put the book down. This Author is such a descriptive writer that it makes you feel this is happening to you. I was very terrified and quickly realized that this could very well happen to anyone, as I know it has. I am now much more aware of things thanks to this book. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a GREAT psychological thriller. It will be a book you will enjoy reading again and again!!

[Elizabeth Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Hope is a funny thing—you want to believe in it, you want to know that it will be there when you need it the most, but an intangible object cannot be obtained. And that is where the true value of the word is measured.”
2.5 stars but this one is being rounded down. The premise itself was good; girl’s world gets turned upside down when a Bible-thumping psycho and his wife break in and try to “save” her through horrific methods. I was excited to read this but was let down by the quickly moving, oftentimes overly detailed, events that lead nowhere. The ending also felt rushed; if it hadn’t been for the ending I would have maybe said 3.5 stars.

[Jason Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I really enjoyed reading this book. I started reading it and could barely put it down. The storyline is very descriptive and the author did a great job writing in detail to make you feel like you were there. The ending was real mind twist. Usually you can see how a book is going to end but I was totally blindsided by this ending. She did a great job. I can’t wait to read her next book.

[Angela Giannetti · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should come with a trigger warning.
Within the first few chapters, there were two very graphic and drawn out rape scenes. As well as physical abuse.
I skimmed and powered through it just to find out this was all a nightmare?
I’m not too sure how this book has a 3.7 star rating.

[Paige Martz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fucked up book. I loved every minute

[Mikayla R. Lantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over religious villain with great sense of suspense. Barely had my attention because of the religion blah.

[Kayla Wiklanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

What?!?!

There are no words at this moment. I'm shocked and confused. What the heck?? This has messed with my mind. Hmmm....

[Shawnee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly have no words. So many different theories on how this book was going to end & not a one of them was correct!
She was dreaming the whole time!?

[Karol · Rating 1 out of 5]

What. A. F*cking. Garbage.

There is nothing good that could be said about this "book". Literally.

[DAVID ALSPECTOR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrill ride

A thrilling story from start to finish. Dark and twisty and the pages turn with ease. Definitely a one hundred percent recommendation

[Izzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I believe people who liked this book never bothered to finish it.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t stop thinking about this book. It shocked me and made me sick. It pissed me off so bad and had me screaming at the characters and losing my mind. Very different from anything I’ve ever read.

[Kate McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was intense with a let down at the end.

Erin moves into her very first home and the neighbors stop by for some help. This will change her life forever. This story involves home invasion, kid napping, rape, torture but it is a good concept that sucks you in. Then it just gets far fetched and weird. I wish it did not take the turn it did but I was committed to finishing it.

A quote I liked, "If we allow ourselves to believe that our little mistakes don't mean anything compared to all the big ones we could have made, then what's to stop us from never learning from them or taking responsibility for our actions?"

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author told this story in such vivid detail that I felt like I was watching it all unfold in front of my eyes. It kept me glued to the pages as I wanted to see what would happen next. There are several unexpected twists that I did not see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and will look out for more books from this author.

[Candice Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t see the ending coming. I felt like I was right there with Erin. I could visually see everything that was happening. Then the ending I was like wow! Definitely gonna check out more this authors books.

[Secret Novel Nook 🥀 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one star was for the twist at the end. The other star was for some of the gore besides that this book dragged. The MC just keep repeating the same thing over and over.