...𝑰 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕. 𝑴𝒂𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝑰 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅.

I cannot even begin to describe the choke hold this book had me in from start to finish. It's deliciously dark, atmospheric, and completely immersive (no pun intended). Damon survives a near death experience after being caught in a rip tide. Thankfully, his wife was able to revive him; unfortunately, Damon did not come back to the land of the living alone. A dead boy has returned with him. When Damon was dead, his life flashed before his eyes with such vivid clarity, but he can't recall the boy, who takes up residence in Damon's everyday life and begins pushing him to the brink of madness.

Damon becomes obsessed for answers, and he's convinced the only way to find them is to do the unthinkable: die again. So much of his past is a mystery, after all, but when he's warned that sometimes it's better not to know the truth, Damon ignores that sage advice and keeps going on his desperate quest for the truth. He's going to wish he had never gone digging around. The twists kept coming, each one darker than the one before, and a terrible sense of foreboding settled over me. This was one clever, crackling thriller, teeming with dread and unease.

If you're a fan of the author's previous works, you're going to encounter something in this book that will make you sit straight up and scream. Don't be the one that spoils it for everyone. Tell you cat, tell your husband (who doesn't listen anyway) but DO NOT spoil this macabre surprise. Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the early copy. This one will publish January 13, 2026.

5 ⭐️
Thank you soooo much Netgalley for getting to read an ARC from my favorite author. This man knows how to shock me to every part of my body. The insatiable energy and twists in these characters. John Marrs just always delivers. I cannot not binge this in 2 days despite by sleep schedule being lessened. People who have read some of his books will enjoy this one. I am absolutely speechless and need more from him. Couldn’t have loved Damon more he is everything you didn’t know you were being delivered by John. I am just going to take at least 3 weeks to process this one. Please read this IMMEDIATELY.

Pub date: Jan 13 2026.

They need to create a new genre to describe John Marrs’ books - psychological thriller is no longer enough after reading this terrifying book. There is so much to it, not the least of which are the nightmares I expect to have for the next month! The most thrilling experience as a reader is to find yourself rethinking your own perception of and relationship with a fictional character and, in Damon, Marrs has created something really unusual. The plot itself takes so many unexpected turns that you can’t stop reading until it all becomes clear, and that takes you to literally the last page of the book. As always with this author, there are also many philosophical questions which remain after you have finished the book. In this case, nature versus nurture and how much we can change what we are born to be are ideas which will linger.

This book drew me in with its layers of secrets, family tensions, and unexpected turns. Kathryn Sharman delivers a story that feels grounded and real, with relationships that are complicated in all the right ways.

I enjoyed how the perspectives shifted between characters, giving just enough insight to keep me turning the pages while still leaving room for surprise. The plot is full of subtle clues and well timed reveals, and the way past and present connect kept me invested throughout.

The characters are complex and believable, with moments of vulnerability that made me care about their outcomes, even when I didn’t agree with their choices. While I would have liked a slightly sharper build-up toward the ending, the journey there was engaging and satisfying.

Overall, a well-written and absorbing read😍