In a Dark Mirror by Kat Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Maddie is released from the state hospital early when psychiatrists deem her fit after serving 10 years in various facilities for a violent attack she committed with her best friend when she was 12 years old. The pair believed that by sacrificing a neighborhood girl, "He" would appear to them and whisk them away to a perfect life together. Instead, they were tried and sentenced to psychiatric hospitals after being found "not criminally responsible," for their actions. Now, as Maddie tries to adjust to life outside of an institution, her progress is threatened by a website of devoted "Followers," who seem to genuinely believe in Him. Isolated and trying to feel normal in irregular circumstances, will Maddie fall into psychosis again? Or can she save herself and the others?
This book takes place over two timelines: the past, leading up to the stabbing; and the present, when Maddie is released.
The premise is obviously a ripped-from-the-headlines fictional retelling of the Slenderman case, which I've seen other reviewers reject as "derivative," but I could not disagree more. First of all, many books do this, it is not a new strategy. And second, this book is meant to fill in the gaps where we don't have knowledge of what happened. It creates the fictional scenario of what exactly the motivations were and what led to the crime, then what happened when one of the girls is released. What does she go through? What does she think about? Etc, Etc.
I found the story and its set-up fascinating. It was a slow ramp-up as you saw what was coming, and knew you couldn't stop it. And then you watch as the present-day Maddie tries to straighten out her life, but is stymied at so many angles.
And she's also possibly an unreliable narrator. I mean, she was just released from a psych hospital and admits to having anger issues, among other issues. It's all very suspenseful and very dark. I loved it! I was turning pages like crazy waiting to see what was going to happen next.
I thought this was a great, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to reading more from this author!
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