What do you think?
Rate this book
Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thriller #4
Thirteen Doors
What secrets lie behind the doors?
Paige has been held captive in the mansion with all the doors for over three years. She's resigned to her life. Until a daring escape by one of the other captives inspires her.
Tessa used to be a detective with the Maddison, Indiana Sheriff's Department. When she tragically loses her husband, she takes an extended leave. A grisly find and a development in her missing sister's case make her rejoin the force.
Can both women find the courage they need to save themselves and each other?
Thriller readers, like you, say, "13 Doors is a gripping, emotional thriller. Full of twists and emotion."
Book 4 in the Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thrillers series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone but some of the side characters and themes overlap. They can be read out of order.
Book 1: I Killed You Once
Book 2: Inheriting Elyse
Book 3: Cage of Invisible Bars
Book 4: Thirteen Doors
Book 5: Jars of Things
Enjoy this
Ava and I sit quietly for a while, taking comfort in each other as best we can with the wall between us. Banging starts in the hall.
“Lynn is losing it again,” Ava says.
Lynn's room is across the hall from mine. Just a few feet, but it might as well be miles.
“Let me out of here!” she screams. “You stupid monster, open this door.”
The dogs bark in response, adding to the ruckus.
At least once a day, Lynn does this, but never when he is actually nearby to hear. When he is close, the phone strapped on his hip keeps us quiet. Once, several months ago, Lynn dared to demand her freedom to his face. My door was shut, of course, but I could hear the beating she got. I'd pressed my ear against the door, willing her to be quiet so he would stop.
I had a front row seat to what sounded like the slamming of her head into her wall. I'd held my breath as I heard her scream and knew what he’d done to her.
The beating finally stopped and all I could hear was her softly crying.
“Anyone else want to try me?” he'd shouted down the hall.
No one made a sound.
Lynn didn't come back to Kasey's room for three days. Even then the shadows of bruises on her face were evident.
“Lynn, please stop. You're just upsetting the other girls,” I call across the hall.
“I don't care about the other girls.” She pounds on her door, desperate. “Let me out!”
If there was anything I could do, I'd do it.
I can't even help myself.
Ava is openly crying now. In the distance, I hear Tameka praying for us all. From the rooms six and seven across the hall, Rosa and Priya are shouting obscenities and demands.
I know he's not in the house. From my window, I can see the driveway and I saw him leave a few hours ago.
“He's not here!” I try to shout down the others.
The door beatings continue.
The dogs howl their displeasure.
The intensity of the sorrow in the house crushes through the walls, presses on my heart. I've heard this more times than I can stand.
“Paige, you still there?” Ava says weakly.
I crouch near her voice. “I'm here. I won't go anywhere.”
“Make them stop,” she pleads.
“I can't.” I shake from head to toe, fight to keep my voice steady for Ava's sake. “Just close your eyes and think of something else. I was thinking of McDonald's earlier. Try that.”
“I love their McNuggets, especially with hot sauce to dip them in.”
“There you go,” I encourage. “Think of that. Nuggets and hot sauce.
Paige has been held captive in the mansion with all the doors for over three years. She's resigned to her life. Until a daring escape by one of the other captives inspires her.
Tessa used to be a detective with the Maddison, Indiana Sheriff's Department. When she tragically loses her husband, she takes an extended leave. A grisly find and a development in her missing sister's case make her rejoin the force.
Can both women find the courage they need to save themselves and each other?
Thriller readers, like you, say, "13 Doors is a gripping, emotional thriller. Full of twists and emotion."
Book 4 in the Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thrillers series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone but some of the side characters and themes overlap. They can be read out of order.
Book 1: I Killed You Once
Book 2: Inheriting Elyse
Book 3: Cage of Invisible Bars
Book 4: Thirteen Doors
Book 5: Jars of Things
Enjoy this
Ava and I sit quietly for a while, taking comfort in each other as best we can with the wall between us. Banging starts in the hall.
“Lynn is losing it again,” Ava says.
Lynn's room is across the hall from mine. Just a few feet, but it might as well be miles.
“Let me out of here!” she screams. “You stupid monster, open this door.”
The dogs bark in response, adding to the ruckus.
At least once a day, Lynn does this, but never when he is actually nearby to hear. When he is close, the phone strapped on his hip keeps us quiet. Once, several months ago, Lynn dared to demand her freedom to his face. My door was shut, of course, but I could hear the beating she got. I'd pressed my ear against the door, willing her to be quiet so he would stop.
I had a front row seat to what sounded like the slamming of her head into her wall. I'd held my breath as I heard her scream and knew what he’d done to her.
The beating finally stopped and all I could hear was her softly crying.
“Anyone else want to try me?” he'd shouted down the hall.
No one made a sound.
Lynn didn't come back to Kasey's room for three days. Even then the shadows of bruises on her face were evident.
“Lynn, please stop. You're just upsetting the other girls,” I call across the hall.
“I don't care about the other girls.” She pounds on her door, desperate. “Let me out!”
If there was anything I could do, I'd do it.
I can't even help myself.
Ava is openly crying now. In the distance, I hear Tameka praying for us all. From the rooms six and seven across the hall, Rosa and Priya are shouting obscenities and demands.
I know he's not in the house. From my window, I can see the driveway and I saw him leave a few hours ago.
“He's not here!” I try to shout down the others.
The door beatings continue.
The dogs howl their displeasure.
The intensity of the sorrow in the house crushes through the walls, presses on my heart. I've heard this more times than I can stand.
“Paige, you still there?” Ava says weakly.
I crouch near her voice. “I'm here. I won't go anywhere.”
“Make them stop,” she pleads.
“I can't.” I shake from head to toe, fight to keep my voice steady for Ava's sake. “Just close your eyes and think of something else. I was thinking of McDonald's earlier. Try that.”
“I love their McNuggets, especially with hot sauce to dip them in.”
“There you go,” I encourage. “Think of that. Nuggets and hot sauce.
- GenresFiction
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2022
About the author
Dawn Merriman
68 books254 followersDawn Merriman lives in northeastern Indiana on a small pig farm with her husband and teenage children. She enjoys animals, auctions, reading, snorkeling and writing small town murder mystery novels. Dawn Merriman completed her first novel in Middle School and a few others in High School and college. She won 1st place in the Northeast Indiana Young Writers short story contest in 1990. After a writing hiatus to raise her children, she published her debut novel, "How Murder Saved My Life" in 2019.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 4, 2022
This is the fourth book in the Maddison, Indiana.
This book follows Tessa and Paige.
Paige has been kidnapped by a twisted man. Where is she from how did she get there? Then we find out others have been kidnapped as well.
Tessa is a Detective carrying a burden of past hurts. A missing sister, and recently deceased husband. She has been taking time out to recover mentally after losing her husband. On a backyard walk her dog finds a body. This pushes her to get back into swing of things. Who is the victim? Where did they come from? How did they get there? She wants on the case!
I started this book a few weeks ago, then I got distracted with another book or two. Well, I picked it up again this evening and I stayed up late/early to finish reading, it was the wee hours of the morning when I heard the birds chirping to start the day.
I hope there are more books from this series in the future.
This book follows Tessa and Paige.
Paige has been kidnapped by a twisted man. Where is she from how did she get there? Then we find out others have been kidnapped as well.
Tessa is a Detective carrying a burden of past hurts. A missing sister, and recently deceased husband. She has been taking time out to recover mentally after losing her husband. On a backyard walk her dog finds a body. This pushes her to get back into swing of things. Who is the victim? Where did they come from? How did they get there? She wants on the case!
I started this book a few weeks ago, then I got distracted with another book or two. Well, I picked it up again this evening and I stayed up late/early to finish reading, it was the wee hours of the morning when I heard the birds chirping to start the day.
I hope there are more books from this series in the future.
January 2, 2023
Sweet read! Suspenseful mystery thriller -- Seriously Delicious!!!
Intense plot was hideously horrible. Psychopaths blend in well. Evil from birth filled with crazy notions, intentions,... really aren't human, at all. Their going about the motions without feeling; they can only imitate. When psychopaths are personally effected, such as their personal safety - they cry for pity. I say no mercy! Justice system should reflect same sentence as the evil incarnate showed towards his/her captives/victims. Over crowded jail cells should not be so welcoming. Why treat those that mistreated others with graciousness when they showed no mercy? Thank you Dawn Merriman; kudos to your wonderful writing talent and suspenseful immersion that draws the imagination. Pottsville, PA_01022023. P.S. Sorry for the rant.
Intense plot was hideously horrible. Psychopaths blend in well. Evil from birth filled with crazy notions, intentions,... really aren't human, at all. Their going about the motions without feeling; they can only imitate. When psychopaths are personally effected, such as their personal safety - they cry for pity. I say no mercy! Justice system should reflect same sentence as the evil incarnate showed towards his/her captives/victims. Over crowded jail cells should not be so welcoming. Why treat those that mistreated others with graciousness when they showed no mercy? Thank you Dawn Merriman; kudos to your wonderful writing talent and suspenseful immersion that draws the imagination. Pottsville, PA_01022023. P.S. Sorry for the rant.
April 9, 2022
Story really grips you
I've been following Dawn and her stories. If you've read any of her other Maddison books, you will see how she ties them in. This story has a more personal touch to it. Her new character Tessa is a strong detective on leave after her husband is killed in an automobile accident. Finding the body of a young girl in the river behind her home brings her back in to try to solve the mystery. I recommend this book along with the rest of the Madison sagas.
I've been following Dawn and her stories. If you've read any of her other Maddison books, you will see how she ties them in. This story has a more personal touch to it. Her new character Tessa is a strong detective on leave after her husband is killed in an automobile accident. Finding the body of a young girl in the river behind her home brings her back in to try to solve the mystery. I recommend this book along with the rest of the Madison sagas.
April 6, 2022
Wow!
This book was excellent! Super creepy and bone chilling. A dead girl is found on Tessa’s property. In trying to figure out how she died, Tessa is reminded of her sister that disappeared all those years ago. I actually exclaimed out loud at the ending. Oh. My. Gosh!!
I have loved all of Dawn Merriman’s books and this one is no exception! I couldn’t put it down!
This book was excellent! Super creepy and bone chilling. A dead girl is found on Tessa’s property. In trying to figure out how she died, Tessa is reminded of her sister that disappeared all those years ago. I actually exclaimed out loud at the ending. Oh. My. Gosh!!
I have loved all of Dawn Merriman’s books and this one is no exception! I couldn’t put it down!
October 26, 2022
Fantastic Psychological Thriller
I love how all 4 books on this series can be read as stand-alone stories but the author always puts little nuggets connecting the other books into the story line. This is another great read and I look forward to gobbling up more of Dawn Merriman’s intriguing books!!
I love how all 4 books on this series can be read as stand-alone stories but the author always puts little nuggets connecting the other books into the story line. This is another great read and I look forward to gobbling up more of Dawn Merriman’s intriguing books!!
October 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The author flips between characters seamlessly so we get to experience the story from different points of view. Love how the story keeps you engaged and wanting to find out the "why's" of the story. The author even included the creepy doll from "Inheriting Elyse" which is another must read. Overall, it is a great read by this wonderful author.
July 8, 2022
Another thriller book right here. It’s definitely a page turner and keeps you wanting to know what’s next. You can feel the characters right with you as they go through it all. Really makes you wonder,”Could this really happen?”
April 14, 2023
So far, the best in the series
I have read the other 2 books in this series and have enjoyed them. This one has had little bits of some characters from the other 2, including a little part of the creepy freakin' doll. This book has the best ending, too!
I have read the other 2 books in this series and have enjoyed them. This one has had little bits of some characters from the other 2, including a little part of the creepy freakin' doll. This book has the best ending, too!
May 19, 2023
Good read
I have loved this series. Each book has kept my attention and has been wonderfully written. Thirteen doors had a good plot and loved the people in it but this one did seam like she rushed it a bit but still a great read
I have loved this series. Each book has kept my attention and has been wonderfully written. Thirteen doors had a good plot and loved the people in it but this one did seam like she rushed it a bit but still a great read
September 3, 2023
Scary Good!
Another great book in the Maddison Indiana series. Merriman is a fantastic story teller and weaves together a web of evil in this small town that has you eager for the next page, then the next chapter and the next book.
Another great book in the Maddison Indiana series. Merriman is a fantastic story teller and weaves together a web of evil in this small town that has you eager for the next page, then the next chapter and the next book.
January 29, 2025
Creepy to the max
There aren’t as many typos in this book as previous ones in this series. The story is solid and moves along quickly. Looking forward to book 5 to see if all the loose ends are tied up.
There aren’t as many typos in this book as previous ones in this series. The story is solid and moves along quickly. Looking forward to book 5 to see if all the loose ends are tied up.
October 3, 2022
Had me hooked from the start! Love it!
December 19, 2022
wow
A fast paced, very enjoyable read. This one sucked me in and I didn’t put it down. Absolutely loved it.
A fast paced, very enjoyable read. This one sucked me in and I didn’t put it down. Absolutely loved it.
April 12, 2024
Wow! Hard to put down!
The ending was quite the surprise! I really like this author and her books! Looking forward to other books by her.
The ending was quite the surprise! I really like this author and her books! Looking forward to other books by her.
Read
May 12, 2024Just gets better!
October 22, 2024
This is a good spooky series for Halloween.
November 21, 2024
This series is so good. Definitely has a lot of events to freak you right out. Very suspenseful. Loved it!
December 10, 2025
WOW!!!!! This book had my heart beating a little faster with every chapter! It was exciting, captivating, scary, and an with a ending that I definitely didn’t see coming!!!
January 11, 2024
Thirteen Doors by Dawn Merriman provides another brilliantly written piece to the puzzle surrounding Maddison, Indiana. Farms, cabins, and mansions are miles apart and connected only by nearby rivers--and a strange presence that permeates everything.
When the body of a young woman is discovered near Tessa's property, she decides it is time to cut her bereavement leave short and get back to her job as a detective for the Maddison Sheriff's Department. Something about the case--in fact, something about every case concerning young women--reignites Tessa's determination to learn what happened to her own sister after the girl disappeared without a trace years ago.
When the body of a young woman is discovered near Tessa's property, she decides it is time to cut her bereavement leave short and get back to her job as a detective for the Maddison Sheriff's Department. Something about the case--in fact, something about every case concerning young women--reignites Tessa's determination to learn what happened to her own sister after the girl disappeared without a trace years ago.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews