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Mirror in the Attic
MIRROR IN THE ATTIC, a psychological horror novel, takes place in a small New England town peppered with mutilated body parts. Detective Archie Davis, a divorced father of two, is assigned to investigate the murders only to discover a cover up that dates back decades.
Abigail Strickler watches the news as the tragedies unfold but doesn’t think it could happen to her. She couldn’t be more wrong.
When Abby’s car breaks down, and she accepts help from the wrong person, she is thrown into a world that will not only test the limits of her body but also her sanity.
Will Detective Davis get to Abby in time?
Abigail Strickler watches the news as the tragedies unfold but doesn’t think it could happen to her. She couldn’t be more wrong.
When Abby’s car breaks down, and she accepts help from the wrong person, she is thrown into a world that will not only test the limits of her body but also her sanity.
Will Detective Davis get to Abby in time?
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2021
8 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 10, 2021
I enjoyed this book a lot, it's one of those that you know your going to finish once you've started it.
The story revolves around Abby, who struggling to live in a broken home is suddenly kidnapped by another women named Charlotte. Charlotte is such a deranged and disturbing character, who is convinced that each young girl she kidnaps, is her dead daughter.
Abby while held against her will in Charlotte's home, is totally at a loss as to how to interact with Charlotte. Whether to try and play daughter or not seemed to bring such unpredictable reactions from Charlotte. It made Abbys imprisonment all the more claustrophobic, physically and mentally.
I enjoyed the law enforcement aspect of the book also, the leads and narrowing down of suspects kept me interested. The book had a good pace and was solid throughout . And as other reviews have mentioned , felt like the authors 3rd or 4th book rather than a debut novel.
The strength of the book is with the ending. I was relieved that it didn't involve a showdown with Charlotte. Rather it made the whole situation a sad and depressing representation of mental illness. Charlotte was for sure a monster but her inner torments and anxieties were something to have sympathy for. She wasn't gaining a sick satisfaction out of it, nor living such a great life. It's difficult to draw the line between an ill and evil person but this book portrayed mental illness so well in Charlotte that one must at the very least explore that side of it, however barbaric the situation.
"You said you didn't have a drug problem, you had a life problem and there wasn't a rehab that could fix that."
The story revolves around Abby, who struggling to live in a broken home is suddenly kidnapped by another women named Charlotte. Charlotte is such a deranged and disturbing character, who is convinced that each young girl she kidnaps, is her dead daughter.
Abby while held against her will in Charlotte's home, is totally at a loss as to how to interact with Charlotte. Whether to try and play daughter or not seemed to bring such unpredictable reactions from Charlotte. It made Abbys imprisonment all the more claustrophobic, physically and mentally.
I enjoyed the law enforcement aspect of the book also, the leads and narrowing down of suspects kept me interested. The book had a good pace and was solid throughout . And as other reviews have mentioned , felt like the authors 3rd or 4th book rather than a debut novel.
The strength of the book is with the ending. I was relieved that it didn't involve a showdown with Charlotte. Rather it made the whole situation a sad and depressing representation of mental illness. Charlotte was for sure a monster but her inner torments and anxieties were something to have sympathy for. She wasn't gaining a sick satisfaction out of it, nor living such a great life. It's difficult to draw the line between an ill and evil person but this book portrayed mental illness so well in Charlotte that one must at the very least explore that side of it, however barbaric the situation.
"You said you didn't have a drug problem, you had a life problem and there wasn't a rehab that could fix that."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2021
Jennifer Bernardini's debut novel deserves top marks.
It was wonderfully structured, the characters and pacing were great, and there was never a dull moment. I was completely engrossed the whole time.
There was a moment in the story that I was sure was going to take a turn, and I would've loved it if it did, but pulling it off would've been extremely difficult to do well. Maybe it was a red herring. Anyway, I'm not going to say what it was, but maybe I'll have a chat with Jen about that. Maybe she thought about it herself. I don't know, but what's so impressive about this novel is that you'd think there were many hands involved in creating such a strong piece of work, but there wasn't, and to me, that's a hell of an achievement. This is as good as you'd find on the shelves from a seasoned author.
It really is.
It deserves to do well.
Have a read of the synopsis. If it seems like your bag, give it a go.
I don't think you'll be disappointed.
It's an easy five stars from me. Quality work.
It was wonderfully structured, the characters and pacing were great, and there was never a dull moment. I was completely engrossed the whole time.
There was a moment in the story that I was sure was going to take a turn, and I would've loved it if it did, but pulling it off would've been extremely difficult to do well. Maybe it was a red herring. Anyway, I'm not going to say what it was, but maybe I'll have a chat with Jen about that. Maybe she thought about it herself. I don't know, but what's so impressive about this novel is that you'd think there were many hands involved in creating such a strong piece of work, but there wasn't, and to me, that's a hell of an achievement. This is as good as you'd find on the shelves from a seasoned author.
It really is.
It deserves to do well.
Have a read of the synopsis. If it seems like your bag, give it a go.
I don't think you'll be disappointed.
It's an easy five stars from me. Quality work.
June 1, 2021
The story has a good balance to its psychological horror, walks the tight rope of being just enough and too much. I think you need that with this sort of story.
The antagonist is a believable one, because minds can warp. A person can get lost in their sadness and rage. You understand where this antagonist is coming from even though they took things in a morbid direction.
The protagonist is strong, forceful in her determination. I really liked how she was built. The two detectives in this story played well off each other, and each was believable in their own right. One is sympathetic, the other a bit of a butt. But you get where he is coming from, as he has his own way of dealing with the pain.
Up to about a little over halfway this story was an easy three. But it revs into another gear after that, just gets absolutely bananas. And that ending! Freaking heck, man. I haven't been that juiced about an ending in a long time. That was excellent.
The antagonist is a believable one, because minds can warp. A person can get lost in their sadness and rage. You understand where this antagonist is coming from even though they took things in a morbid direction.
The protagonist is strong, forceful in her determination. I really liked how she was built. The two detectives in this story played well off each other, and each was believable in their own right. One is sympathetic, the other a bit of a butt. But you get where he is coming from, as he has his own way of dealing with the pain.
Up to about a little over halfway this story was an easy three. But it revs into another gear after that, just gets absolutely bananas. And that ending! Freaking heck, man. I haven't been that juiced about an ending in a long time. That was excellent.
July 19, 2023
Brilliant, Creepy, and Intense!
My first read from Bernardini, but certainly not my last. This is an amazing novel (with a flat-out killer ending) that doesn't read like a debut at all. I'm looking forward to more from Bernardini. Highly recommended!
My first read from Bernardini, but certainly not my last. This is an amazing novel (with a flat-out killer ending) that doesn't read like a debut at all. I'm looking forward to more from Bernardini. Highly recommended!
March 17, 2022
I really enjoyed the story in Mirror in the Attic. It is a good thriller, full of surprises that I didn't anticipate. It is fast paced and compelling. It balances the horror elements well, there were genuinely scary moments and the tension is built really well. The characters are interesting and well developed, and I enjoyed the relationship of the two lead detectives. There are a few inconsistencies on a copyediting level that got to me and pulled me out of the story, which is why I bumped it down on the star rating. It was not enough to make me want to DNF, but it was enough to make me grumble-and chances are it is something that would probably not bother anyone else, and this is one of those situations where I wish the star system wasn't really a thing. That being said, I still want to read more of Jennifer's work.
June 20, 2021
Awesome storyline!
Amazing new book to read and keep you entertained looking for more! Can’t wait to see what comes next for this author!
Amazing new book to read and keep you entertained looking for more! Can’t wait to see what comes next for this author!
October 27, 2023
I had no idea this was Bernardini's debut novel until I finished it, but this is a strong and confident debut. Abby is the latest victim in a string of mysterious disappearances. You think you see where this is going, but the story takes so many unexpected directions, and creates a thrilling and eerie tale of murder and madness.
August 28, 2021
Mirror in the Attic by Jennifer Bernardini is a fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It involves some abductions and murders that have been happening to an unnamed town. The story alternates between Abby, who gets abducted a few chapters into the book, and the detectives who are trying to solve the case.
The story is very well written. The plot moves at a brisk paced, so it rarely gets in a lull. The heroine is realistic and portrayed as intelligent, brave, but also with flaws. Making her actions more believable. I wasn’t sure I was going to be as invested in the detectives story as much, but the author did a great job of making detective Archie Davis a well rounded guy, not just a stereotype. And the villain was probably the most interesting character in that even though she did some horrendous crimes, her motivation was understandable, given her past trauma and mental health history. In her delusional mind, she was doing something good.
I’m glad I gave this book a chance. I really ended up enjoying it. If you like suspense or horror, like Misery or Silence of the Lambs, I would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading any upcoming books by Jennifer Bernardini. I’m a now a fan after Mirror in the Attic.
The story is very well written. The plot moves at a brisk paced, so it rarely gets in a lull. The heroine is realistic and portrayed as intelligent, brave, but also with flaws. Making her actions more believable. I wasn’t sure I was going to be as invested in the detectives story as much, but the author did a great job of making detective Archie Davis a well rounded guy, not just a stereotype. And the villain was probably the most interesting character in that even though she did some horrendous crimes, her motivation was understandable, given her past trauma and mental health history. In her delusional mind, she was doing something good.
I’m glad I gave this book a chance. I really ended up enjoying it. If you like suspense or horror, like Misery or Silence of the Lambs, I would definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading any upcoming books by Jennifer Bernardini. I’m a now a fan after Mirror in the Attic.
December 15, 2022
I received the audible copy in exchange for a review and I purchased a signed physical copy from the author. What an incredible debut by Jennifer Bernardini! It has all the elements of a fun gruesome thriller...innocent victims, a cold blooded psycho rivaling the likes of Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes, a frustrated detective team, and the perfect dose of psychological terror. I usually listen to audiobooks only in my car and on walks but because it was so fast paced and suspenseful, I continued to listen in bed as well. That speaks volumes about how much I enjoyed this book. Mike O is an incredible narrator that really took on the personas and distinctive voice of each of the characters as the horrors unfold and his narration truly made this book a riveting listening experience.
May 17, 2023
This is one solid debut novel. I have to applaud the author for creating such a compelling story. The dual POV really worked in this story fully balancing each other out. Unexpected but satisfying ending. If you’re a fan of Stephen King this is right up your street. I highly recommend the audiobook which is narrated by Mike O. His narration elevates the story further. It’s really a treat for horror fans.
May 23, 2023
"Mirror in the Attic is a captivating and thrilling novel that kept me on edge the entire time. The narrator brought the characters to life,The plot is unique and full of surprises, and the pacing is just right. If you're a fan of suspenseful novels, Mirror in the Attic is a must-read. Highly recommend!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2023
Following the development of the detectives and their case was my favorite part I think the author did a great job with the crime scenes and all the criminal details. As to the writing I think the book was a little slow at parts and could’ve been shorter.
December 16, 2023
Very good book!
This book is really good. It definitely took awhile to read. I enjoyed reading this book. The story was amazing!
This book is really good. It definitely took awhile to read. I enjoyed reading this book. The story was amazing!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews