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In a Dark Mirror
A decade-old crime unites its devoted fans in a haunting novel about delusions in the dark and the dangerous games children play.
Twelve-year-old Maddie Thompson and her friend Lana share a love of horror stories and wild imaginings. But Lana insists they are too old for pretending. It’s time for a different game: serving Him, a figure she sees lurking in the dark, mysterious and demanding. According to Lana, she and Maddie must obey Him or else suffer the consequences. Maddie doesn’t want to lose her most important friendship, even if it means luring an innocent girl into the woods—as a sacrifice for Him.
Ten years later, Maddie is released from an institution and must reintegrate into society for the first time as an adult. While finding her first job and forming new friendships, Maddie struggles to determine what it means to forgive—or to trust—herself. Particularly when she discovers an online community that is not only eerily obsessed with her but committed to the cult of Him.
This is Maddie’s chance at absolution—to convince them not to follow in her violent footsteps. But the loyal devotees have a pull. And Maddie knows that these games often have deadly consequences.
Twelve-year-old Maddie Thompson and her friend Lana share a love of horror stories and wild imaginings. But Lana insists they are too old for pretending. It’s time for a different game: serving Him, a figure she sees lurking in the dark, mysterious and demanding. According to Lana, she and Maddie must obey Him or else suffer the consequences. Maddie doesn’t want to lose her most important friendship, even if it means luring an innocent girl into the woods—as a sacrifice for Him.
Ten years later, Maddie is released from an institution and must reintegrate into society for the first time as an adult. While finding her first job and forming new friendships, Maddie struggles to determine what it means to forgive—or to trust—herself. Particularly when she discovers an online community that is not only eerily obsessed with her but committed to the cult of Him.
This is Maddie’s chance at absolution—to convince them not to follow in her violent footsteps. But the loyal devotees have a pull. And Maddie knows that these games often have deadly consequences.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2024
1619 people are currently reading
8010 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
December 28, 2023
This story is a fictionalized version of the real-life "Slender Man Stabbing" that occurred in Wisconsin back in 2014. That is what immediately drew me to this book. Thrillers and true crime have always been my genres of choice so this was right up my alley. And I wasn't disappointed.
I was deeply drawn into this story from the very beginning. Lana and Maddie's relationship was toxic. And sweet Sage only ever wanted to fit in. The way everything played out was morbidly entertaining. Given that this was based on an actual event, the author did a great job of keeping the story exciting and keeping me interested, even though I knew the outcome from the real event.
I will say, the ending still surprised me. It was an unexpected surprise. Kudos to Kat Davis!
I was deeply drawn into this story from the very beginning. Lana and Maddie's relationship was toxic. And sweet Sage only ever wanted to fit in. The way everything played out was morbidly entertaining. Given that this was based on an actual event, the author did a great job of keeping the story exciting and keeping me interested, even though I knew the outcome from the real event.
I will say, the ending still surprised me. It was an unexpected surprise. Kudos to Kat Davis!
May 12, 2024
* an early read from Kindle *
Not something I would have picked personally but from the list of early releases from Amazon this sounded the best option. It was a really weird book, the premise sounded good and at points I thought it has a lot of potential, but it was like a balloon deflating and when it ended, all I felt was relief 😂
Not something I would have picked personally but from the list of early releases from Amazon this sounded the best option. It was a really weird book, the premise sounded good and at points I thought it has a lot of potential, but it was like a balloon deflating and when it ended, all I felt was relief 😂
May 31, 2024
I actually liked this book, but it’s a copy/paste of the Slender Man stabbing that took place in Wisconsin in 2014 (30 minutes from where I live) — and the author hasn’t acknowledged that the novel was inspired by this true event. I have a problem with basically plagiarizing a true crime and not giving credit.
I had the same issue when I read WHAT WAITS IN THE WOODS by Kate Alice Marshall, but this one is even MORE similar to the events of the Slender Man stabbing.
If I’m somehow missing that the author was transparent with where this idea came from, I will come back and update this review because this is my reason for giving it two stars.
I had the same issue when I read WHAT WAITS IN THE WOODS by Kate Alice Marshall, but this one is even MORE similar to the events of the Slender Man stabbing.
If I’m somehow missing that the author was transparent with where this idea came from, I will come back and update this review because this is my reason for giving it two stars.
May 30, 2024
I was really looking forward to reading this, the description sounded great. Once I started reading though...
To say that the author took inspiration from the actual crime (the slenderman stabbing) that took place is an understatement. There are so many details that are near identical (I will list below to avoid spoilers for those who want to read this book.) Which ultimately may not have been the biggest issue for me if the author didn't write in sexual content of the 12 year old that was the victim, in the book and in real life. No where in the description nor the beginning of the book is it mentioned this is inspired by this case. in fact it actually states that "this is entirely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental" yea okay.
Now this is just my opinions so take it with a grain of salt but as someone who is partially familiar with the actual crime, I could not separate this "fiction" from the actual attempted murder because the author chose to include so many near identical details. So while reading this "fictional" story my mind was on the real people this happened to and i could not get past the authors written sexual scenes on the victim who was TWELVE masturbating and giving blow jobs. MAJOR ICK.
Am I being too harsh? possibly. BUT I myself tend to avoid fiction based on true crime because often I find it to come across disrespectful. I wish this had a little blurb informing that this was inspired by a true crime and I likely would not have picked it up.
SPOILERS BELOW -book vs real crime similarities (dont read past this point if you dont want spoilers)
Book: Maddie and Lana have a sleepover to carry out their plan to kill Sage. Lana has visions of HIM and they must sacrifice someone to be able to go live happily ever after with HIM. They were going to do it as Sage slept at night but changed their minds. Next morning they all went outside for a walk to the park a game of hide and seek, then told Sage to lie own and proceeded to stab her. Sage remained conscious while Maddie and Lana said they are going to go get help (not actually) Sage crawled to a path where she was eventually found by a dog walker. Police discovered Maddie and Lana walking down the road on their way to live with "HIM."
The REAL LIFE crime: basically all of the above except HIM is SLENDER MAN. the victim was found by a cyclist.
Book: "the knife missed puncturing the wall of her heart by no more than milimeter." Sage said in an interview she would thank Maddie and Lana for giving her direction in life. Surviving the attack makes her want to go into the medical field.
IN REAL LIFE CRIME: "One stab wound missed a major artery by less than a millimeter." Victim said in an interview with 20/20 she would thank her because she wouldn't have the life she has now if things didn't happen how they did and how it's made her want to pursue a career in medicine.
that's quite a lot of coincidences in my opinion.
And lastly, what was up with the sketchy stepfather lol? I'm not really sure what was the point of his character along with his son... whos crimes seemed to be severely downplayed??
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for sharing a digital copy with me. As always, opinions are my own.
To say that the author took inspiration from the actual crime (the slenderman stabbing) that took place is an understatement. There are so many details that are near identical (I will list below to avoid spoilers for those who want to read this book.) Which ultimately may not have been the biggest issue for me if the author didn't write in sexual content of the 12 year old that was the victim, in the book and in real life. No where in the description nor the beginning of the book is it mentioned this is inspired by this case. in fact it actually states that "this is entirely a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental" yea okay.
Now this is just my opinions so take it with a grain of salt but as someone who is partially familiar with the actual crime, I could not separate this "fiction" from the actual attempted murder because the author chose to include so many near identical details. So while reading this "fictional" story my mind was on the real people this happened to and i could not get past the authors written sexual scenes on the victim who was TWELVE masturbating and giving blow jobs. MAJOR ICK.
Am I being too harsh? possibly. BUT I myself tend to avoid fiction based on true crime because often I find it to come across disrespectful. I wish this had a little blurb informing that this was inspired by a true crime and I likely would not have picked it up.
SPOILERS BELOW -book vs real crime similarities (dont read past this point if you dont want spoilers)
Book: Maddie and Lana have a sleepover to carry out their plan to kill Sage. Lana has visions of HIM and they must sacrifice someone to be able to go live happily ever after with HIM. They were going to do it as Sage slept at night but changed their minds. Next morning they all went outside for a walk to the park a game of hide and seek, then told Sage to lie own and proceeded to stab her. Sage remained conscious while Maddie and Lana said they are going to go get help (not actually) Sage crawled to a path where she was eventually found by a dog walker. Police discovered Maddie and Lana walking down the road on their way to live with "HIM."
The REAL LIFE crime: basically all of the above except HIM is SLENDER MAN. the victim was found by a cyclist.
Book: "the knife missed puncturing the wall of her heart by no more than milimeter." Sage said in an interview she would thank Maddie and Lana for giving her direction in life. Surviving the attack makes her want to go into the medical field.
IN REAL LIFE CRIME: "One stab wound missed a major artery by less than a millimeter." Victim said in an interview with 20/20 she would thank her because she wouldn't have the life she has now if things didn't happen how they did and how it's made her want to pursue a career in medicine.
that's quite a lot of coincidences in my opinion.
And lastly, what was up with the sketchy stepfather lol? I'm not really sure what was the point of his character along with his son... whos crimes seemed to be severely downplayed??
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for sharing a digital copy with me. As always, opinions are my own.
June 6, 2024
What was even the point of writing this watered-down, fictionalized retelling of the Slenderman killers? This was extremely boring.
May 11, 2024
For Now We See in a Mirror, Darkly
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook edition (May 1, 2024), released in advance of the official publications by Thomas & Mercer in Paperback/eBook & Brilliance Audio Audiobook (June 1, 2024)
I didn't spend a lot of time reading the background on In a Dark Mirror when I selected it for my May 2024 full-length choice of Amazon Prime First Reads. It was the "suspense" selection. I liked the cover design. I liked the title's allusion to I Corinthians 13:12. I liked the promo's allusion to Nietzsche. That was it.
Promo image for "In a Dark Mirror." Image sourced from Amazon.
Reading further into it, I looked back at the synopsis information and saw that it was inspired by a true life crime which I won't link to here as it is both a spoiler but because it may also lead to certain expectations.
12 year-olds Maddie and Lana committed a horrendous crime in 2007. In 2017, Maddie obtains an early release from the psychiatric institution where she has been held for 10 years. Lana is apparently sentenced to a life of incarceration. If Maddie doesn't adhere to the release conditions, she is in danger of being re-institutionalized. One of the conditions is to not engage in matters relating to the crime on social media. But Maddie is drawn to a chatroom which apparently consists of acolytes to the original crime. And they may be set on committing a similar crime. Can the rehabilitated Maddie stop it in time?
I don't read a lot of domestic or psychological suspense thrillers, but I found myself completely engaged in Maddie's journey back from the darkness. The book did not strike me as exploitative at all and its various POVs from both 2007 and 2017 felt very real and sensitive. The two timelines build in suspense even though we supposedly know from the start how one of them ended. The 2017 timeline then provides several twists to totally throw off your expectations. I thought it was all very well structured and impressive for a first novel.
Trivia and Links
This is the first novel from Kat Davis which appears to be the penname of Kathleen Solomon (based on the Copyright information). Her other works of short fiction have appeared in journals and her flash fiction The Babysitter was published in The Best Small Fictions 2022.
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook edition (May 1, 2024), released in advance of the official publications by Thomas & Mercer in Paperback/eBook & Brilliance Audio Audiobook (June 1, 2024)
Follower_in_the_Distance is in the danger zone, the territory that leads to trouble, what one of Maddie’s therapists called “disorganized thinking,” the slow slide that can precede a psychotic episode. She can see it, with her own experience and years of therapy behind her. She can see it, so shouldn’t she do something about it?
I didn't spend a lot of time reading the background on In a Dark Mirror when I selected it for my May 2024 full-length choice of Amazon Prime First Reads. It was the "suspense" selection. I liked the cover design. I liked the title's allusion to I Corinthians 13:12. I liked the promo's allusion to Nietzsche. That was it.
Promo image for "In a Dark Mirror." Image sourced from Amazon.
Reading further into it, I looked back at the synopsis information and saw that it was inspired by a true life crime which I won't link to here as it is both a spoiler but because it may also lead to certain expectations.
12 year-olds Maddie and Lana committed a horrendous crime in 2007. In 2017, Maddie obtains an early release from the psychiatric institution where she has been held for 10 years. Lana is apparently sentenced to a life of incarceration. If Maddie doesn't adhere to the release conditions, she is in danger of being re-institutionalized. One of the conditions is to not engage in matters relating to the crime on social media. But Maddie is drawn to a chatroom which apparently consists of acolytes to the original crime. And they may be set on committing a similar crime. Can the rehabilitated Maddie stop it in time?
I don't read a lot of domestic or psychological suspense thrillers, but I found myself completely engaged in Maddie's journey back from the darkness. The book did not strike me as exploitative at all and its various POVs from both 2007 and 2017 felt very real and sensitive. The two timelines build in suspense even though we supposedly know from the start how one of them ended. The 2017 timeline then provides several twists to totally throw off your expectations. I thought it was all very well structured and impressive for a first novel.
Trivia and Links
This is the first novel from Kat Davis which appears to be the penname of Kathleen Solomon (based on the Copyright information). Her other works of short fiction have appeared in journals and her flash fiction The Babysitter was published in The Best Small Fictions 2022.
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
February 5, 2024
3.5 stars
I went into this unaware it was based on a true crime but I can definitely feel that now looking back on it.
It's told from two timelines, one leading up to the incident and one years on after the incident. We see the world from each of the girls perspectives and this gave great insight into just how young they were before the incident and how little they know of the world, the innocence in being a young girl simply trying to fit in. The toxicity in the girls friendship that you never notice until you're on the outside was quite well done. I only drop this to a 3.5 from a 4 because I wish there was a little more in Maddie's after the incident, 2017 timeline, plot points in here felt like they were introduced and then easily resolved within a few paragraphs.
Loved the end, didn't see it coming until it was in front of me, though I think being unfamiliar with the original case helped my enjoyment there
*ARC provided by publisher for an honest review*
I went into this unaware it was based on a true crime but I can definitely feel that now looking back on it.
It's told from two timelines, one leading up to the incident and one years on after the incident. We see the world from each of the girls perspectives and this gave great insight into just how young they were before the incident and how little they know of the world, the innocence in being a young girl simply trying to fit in. The toxicity in the girls friendship that you never notice until you're on the outside was quite well done. I only drop this to a 3.5 from a 4 because I wish there was a little more in Maddie's after the incident, 2017 timeline, plot points in here felt like they were introduced and then easily resolved within a few paragraphs.
Loved the end, didn't see it coming until it was in front of me, though I think being unfamiliar with the original case helped my enjoyment there
*ARC provided by publisher for an honest review*
December 15, 2023
I think we have all read or seen different versions of this storyline come out in past years, and I was mentally prepared for this book to be similar to the others, but I was pleasantly surprised. While it had all of the same elements as the others, it just had something extra (that I cannot explain) that made it better.
September 3, 2025
The conversation between how much can you be inspired by true crime events and how to properly put them into pages has been going on for years, but some authors have still not understand the hurt their pen can bring.
Honestly, I wouldn't have even brought this up — “this” being something I wasn't even aware of before reading this book —, but I drew a line with This Book Will Bury Me and I stand by my choice of not supporting authors who have deliberately decided to exploit other people's tragedies for their own benefit.
In other words, if you can't just “be inspired” by something but you have to report it fact after fact, think of a career in journalism.
Cherry on top, how sick can you be for writing a book about a stabbing, and using an omniscient narration with the secondary intention of sexualising every 12-year-old in the story?
And how could someone approve this thing from the start?!
↠ 2 stars (DFN @50%)
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Honestly, I wouldn't have even brought this up — “this” being something I wasn't even aware of before reading this book —, but I drew a line with This Book Will Bury Me and I stand by my choice of not supporting authors who have deliberately decided to exploit other people's tragedies for their own benefit.
In other words, if you can't just “be inspired” by something but you have to report it fact after fact, think of a career in journalism.
Cherry on top, how sick can you be for writing a book about a stabbing, and using an omniscient narration with the secondary intention of sexualising every 12-year-old in the story?
And how could someone approve this thing from the start?!
↠ 2 stars (DFN @50%)
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 21, 2024
A good read
One girl led by her friend into a delusion so real they attempt to murder a friend.
The characters are teenagers but move on to their early adulthood. Two of the girls slowly are able to move on with their lives, but the other....
I received this book as a first reads from Amazon Prime and this is my honest opinion.
One girl led by her friend into a delusion so real they attempt to murder a friend.
The characters are teenagers but move on to their early adulthood. Two of the girls slowly are able to move on with their lives, but the other....
I received this book as a first reads from Amazon Prime and this is my honest opinion.
May 7, 2024
This was such a good read! I'm so happy it was an option on Amazon first reads! I had no idea it was a spin off of the 2014 Slenderman stabbing in my state. I remember that story being huge for so long, so it was interesting to see what the actual POV could have been.
Read
May 3, 2024Chilling, Disturbing and Questionable
First of all, thank you to Amazon First Reads for the opportunity to read In a Dark Mirror by Kat Davis prior to the general publication date.
This is a difficult review for me to write, I am not a fan of dark horror and would not have chosen to read this book had the synopsis been more specific and contained trigger warnings for violent content.
I can't fault the author for bad writing, the story was well put together. The ending was a real kicker. Her POV was a disturbingly intimate one, rather too influential for my taste. I kept thinking of imaginative 10 year olds reading this book and it gave me pause.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a book banner, quite the opposite. But I think this book needs to be marketed very carefully. Content and trigger warnings will help both young readers, any readers and parents alike.
First of all, thank you to Amazon First Reads for the opportunity to read In a Dark Mirror by Kat Davis prior to the general publication date.
This is a difficult review for me to write, I am not a fan of dark horror and would not have chosen to read this book had the synopsis been more specific and contained trigger warnings for violent content.
I can't fault the author for bad writing, the story was well put together. The ending was a real kicker. Her POV was a disturbingly intimate one, rather too influential for my taste. I kept thinking of imaginative 10 year olds reading this book and it gave me pause.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a book banner, quite the opposite. But I think this book needs to be marketed very carefully. Content and trigger warnings will help both young readers, any readers and parents alike.
August 29, 2024
True crime is one my absolute jams, so when I heard In A Dark Mirror was a fictionalised account of the 2014 real life story of the Slender Man I was immediately interested … and it did NOT disappoint!
While there have been many storylines written about these events, I felt that Kat Davis gave this one soul. The relationship between Maddie and Lana was complicated and toxic, yet the superb character development created palpable tension and did a fabulous job portraying the often tumultuous bond between teenagers.
Brilliantly researched with an added depth, and highly entertaining - I could not put it down. The audio narration by Jess Nahikian was top notch and they did a fantastic job bringing the voices to life.
Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing for an ALC - highly recommend this one.
While there have been many storylines written about these events, I felt that Kat Davis gave this one soul. The relationship between Maddie and Lana was complicated and toxic, yet the superb character development created palpable tension and did a fabulous job portraying the often tumultuous bond between teenagers.
Brilliantly researched with an added depth, and highly entertaining - I could not put it down. The audio narration by Jess Nahikian was top notch and they did a fantastic job bringing the voices to life.
Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing for an ALC - highly recommend this one.
July 21, 2024
Thank you to Lavender Public Relations #partner, and Brilliance Audio for the copies to review!
This story was inspired by the Slender Man case from 2014, which I was fascinated by back then and thought Davis did a great job with this book. The audio was wonderful, I found I could not stop listening to this one, just knowing it was inspired by real events made this unputdownable. I could not believe it originated with 12 year olds but thought the premise was interesting, well executed, and was a very entertaining read overall.
This story was inspired by the Slender Man case from 2014, which I was fascinated by back then and thought Davis did a great job with this book. The audio was wonderful, I found I could not stop listening to this one, just knowing it was inspired by real events made this unputdownable. I could not believe it originated with 12 year olds but thought the premise was interesting, well executed, and was a very entertaining read overall.
October 14, 2024
Quick thriller that alternates between the present and past … Maddie served her sentence but what’s her full story? Quite a few surprises by the end! Wonder if there will be a sequel??
May 6, 2024
In a Dark Mirror was my Kindle First Reads selection for May 2024...
In a Dark Mirror is a dark and twisty psychological thriller about two twelve-year-old girls who decide to sacrifice another child to a dark entity they refer to as 'Him'. The story alternates between 2007 (the year that the brutal stabbing occurred) and 2017, when one of the two girls (now obviously an adult) is released from the mental hospital and attempts to reintegrate back into society. I found both timelines to be equally interesting, but for different reasons.
In 2007, as the story unravels, there's this whole element of mental illness in the form of auditory/visual hallucinations versus the girls actually experiencing paranormal phenomenon. My mind is pretty open and I'm not afraid to admit that I do think people can be influenced by malevolent forces; however, I obviously know that psychiatric illnesses derive from chemical imbalances within the brain. Maybe I watch too many horror movies, but I find the blurring of those lines to be extremely interesting.
On the other hand, in the 2017 time-setting, I was intrigued by Maddie's struggle to establish a "normal" life and function as an adult after spending her most important formative years institutionalized. Maddie faces a lot of obstacles as she tries to move forward and she's often pulled back into her dark past as she tries to come to terms with her guilt and motives for her role in the crime. Then, with what starts out as mere curiosity and an internet search, ends with her seeking atonement through a website devoted to the crime she and her friend committed a decade before. While the website is mostly visited by true crime junkies, she also discovers a group of true believers in 'Him' that seek to finish what the two girls started...
Note: While this is a work of fiction, the obvious parallels to the Slender Man stabbing that occurred in 2014 also gave it somewhat of a true crime feel and made the story feel so horrifically possible and so much scarier. As I read, no matter how much I naively wanted to believe it's impossible that a nightmarish mix of delusion and psychopathy could possibly strike two little suburbanite twelve-year-old girls and lead to another little girl riddled with stab wounds and bleeding out on the forest floor, I kept reminding myself that of course it can happen-- because it already really did.
In a Dark Mirror is a dark and twisty psychological thriller about two twelve-year-old girls who decide to sacrifice another child to a dark entity they refer to as 'Him'. The story alternates between 2007 (the year that the brutal stabbing occurred) and 2017, when one of the two girls (now obviously an adult) is released from the mental hospital and attempts to reintegrate back into society. I found both timelines to be equally interesting, but for different reasons.
In 2007, as the story unravels, there's this whole element of mental illness in the form of auditory/visual hallucinations versus the girls actually experiencing paranormal phenomenon. My mind is pretty open and I'm not afraid to admit that I do think people can be influenced by malevolent forces; however, I obviously know that psychiatric illnesses derive from chemical imbalances within the brain. Maybe I watch too many horror movies, but I find the blurring of those lines to be extremely interesting.
On the other hand, in the 2017 time-setting, I was intrigued by Maddie's struggle to establish a "normal" life and function as an adult after spending her most important formative years institutionalized. Maddie faces a lot of obstacles as she tries to move forward and she's often pulled back into her dark past as she tries to come to terms with her guilt and motives for her role in the crime. Then, with what starts out as mere curiosity and an internet search, ends with her seeking atonement through a website devoted to the crime she and her friend committed a decade before. While the website is mostly visited by true crime junkies, she also discovers a group of true believers in 'Him' that seek to finish what the two girls started...
Note: While this is a work of fiction, the obvious parallels to the Slender Man stabbing that occurred in 2014 also gave it somewhat of a true crime feel and made the story feel so horrifically possible and so much scarier. As I read, no matter how much I naively wanted to believe it's impossible that a nightmarish mix of delusion and psychopathy could possibly strike two little suburbanite twelve-year-old girls and lead to another little girl riddled with stab wounds and bleeding out on the forest floor, I kept reminding myself that of course it can happen-- because it already really did.
May 16, 2024
On May 31, 2014, in Waukesha WI, 12 year old Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser lured their, also 12 year old, friend Payton Leutner into a wooded area of a local park and stabbed her 19 times to appease the fictional character, Slender Man. With the promise of finding help, which they had no intention of doing, they left her there. Upon realizing this, Payton dragged herself as far as she could before collapsing. She was found by a cyclist who called emergency services and Payton was rushed to the hospital. Surgeons spent 6 hours doing their best to repair the damage. They were successful. Payton survived.
Weier and Geyser were found not guilty by mental disease or defect and committed to mental health institutions. Weier was given a sentence of 25 years to life and Geyser was sentenced to 40 years to life. After seven years, Weier was granted early release with supervision until she turns 37. In 2019, Payton Leutner came forward and did her first ever interview. When asked what she would say to her attackers, she stated she would thank them because without this incidence, she would not have pursued a career in medicine.
I really struggled to rate this book. This is a story that I hate saying I enjoyed reading, but I did. Kat did a good job capturing Maddie (Anissa in real life) as well as the horrendous act her and Lana (Morgan) did. The issue I have is that so much of this book is based on actual events, it almost doesn't qualify as a work of fiction. This actually happened and it happened pretty much exactly as written in this story as you can see from the facts of the case I listed above. It was hard to miss it. It was everywhere. The internet. The papers. The news. There is even a movie about it. I'm baffled that there wasn't any mention of it by the author in either a forward of some kind or endnotes. It's odd. In the end, this lack of acknowledgement is what determined my rating, regardless of writing style, engagement of the story, character development and so on.
An easily 4-5 star novel docked a few stars due to what I consider to be plagiarism and misrepresentation. At a final rating of 2 - 2 & 1/2 stars, I feel I am being generous. The facts are all out there so this story was more or less written for the author, rather than by her.
Weier and Geyser were found not guilty by mental disease or defect and committed to mental health institutions. Weier was given a sentence of 25 years to life and Geyser was sentenced to 40 years to life. After seven years, Weier was granted early release with supervision until she turns 37. In 2019, Payton Leutner came forward and did her first ever interview. When asked what she would say to her attackers, she stated she would thank them because without this incidence, she would not have pursued a career in medicine.
I really struggled to rate this book. This is a story that I hate saying I enjoyed reading, but I did. Kat did a good job capturing Maddie (Anissa in real life) as well as the horrendous act her and Lana (Morgan) did. The issue I have is that so much of this book is based on actual events, it almost doesn't qualify as a work of fiction. This actually happened and it happened pretty much exactly as written in this story as you can see from the facts of the case I listed above. It was hard to miss it. It was everywhere. The internet. The papers. The news. There is even a movie about it. I'm baffled that there wasn't any mention of it by the author in either a forward of some kind or endnotes. It's odd. In the end, this lack of acknowledgement is what determined my rating, regardless of writing style, engagement of the story, character development and so on.
An easily 4-5 star novel docked a few stars due to what I consider to be plagiarism and misrepresentation. At a final rating of 2 - 2 & 1/2 stars, I feel I am being generous. The facts are all out there so this story was more or less written for the author, rather than by her.
May 21, 2024
In a Dark Mirror by Kat Davis. Thanks to @amazonfirst for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maddie trusts her best friend when she says a figure she sees is requiring a sacrifice. Maddie doesn’t want to lose Lana as a friend, so she helps her lie an innocent girl into the woods for sacrifice. Now, ten years later, Maddie has been released but is struggling to put the past behind her.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I read it as a character study and with an interest in adolescent psychology. I found the suspense and build up very entertaining. The girls start as children playing and it quickly spirals. I loved that it took place in my area as well. I’m thinking this was inspired by the Slenderman case and I’ll have to read up on that now.
In a Dark Mirror comes out 6/1.
Maddie trusts her best friend when she says a figure she sees is requiring a sacrifice. Maddie doesn’t want to lose Lana as a friend, so she helps her lie an innocent girl into the woods for sacrifice. Now, ten years later, Maddie has been released but is struggling to put the past behind her.
This book hooked me from the beginning. I read it as a character study and with an interest in adolescent psychology. I found the suspense and build up very entertaining. The girls start as children playing and it quickly spirals. I loved that it took place in my area as well. I’m thinking this was inspired by the Slenderman case and I’ll have to read up on that now.
In a Dark Mirror comes out 6/1.
June 5, 2024
Told in dual timelines from the perspective of three girls, but mostly from the perspective of Maddie, this story explores youth and how things can go so horribly wrong. Is the dark illusion of a terrifying man real or is he a figment of the young imaginations of two best friends Maddie and Lana? I enjoyed the limited but deep perspectives of the three girls that slowly reveal more details to unravel this suspenseful tale. The narrator did a wonderful job of portraying the creepy moments and I found her entertaining.
May 16, 2024
I enjoyed the format of this book more than the story itself. I found the plot getting lost in all the extremely unnecessary descriptions sexualizing children’s bodies and the two completely unneeded sex scenes involving children. It felt icky to even read, especially since neither of them were important to the story.
December 28, 2024
DNF - horrible play on the slenderman real life story. The story and characters were so bland. The POV was so oddly disconnected there was no insight to what the girls were actually thinking or feeling. This was like reading a rough draft, early stages and then the author asking me how she should piece it together better. Horrible Amazon first reads suggestion. NEXT.
June 7, 2024
This book is crazy! Not at all what I expected, but totally worth the read. I definitely think it’s based on the Slender Man murders that happened in 2014. It’s a unique look at young killers and the beginning signs of mental illness.
Maddie, one of the killers, is out of jail. The story is mostly from her perspective, as she tries to get her life back. It’s extremely sad, the emotions this girl goes through. Trying to make sense of what she was thinking and how to move forward.
The story time jumps to before the murder and after. It does go into Lana’s point of view, the brain behind the murder. She is clearly messed up. Really thinking she sees HIM and he is telling her to do these things. We get a brief glimpse into her life now, and she is just as scary.
The book is definitely suspenseful. At first you’re waiting to see how they pick their victim, then if they go through with it. But I was page turning to read more of Maddie, and how she coped. I felt a range of emotions, mostly disbelief that this could actually happen. But in reality, something very close did.
Maddie, one of the killers, is out of jail. The story is mostly from her perspective, as she tries to get her life back. It’s extremely sad, the emotions this girl goes through. Trying to make sense of what she was thinking and how to move forward.
The story time jumps to before the murder and after. It does go into Lana’s point of view, the brain behind the murder. She is clearly messed up. Really thinking she sees HIM and he is telling her to do these things. We get a brief glimpse into her life now, and she is just as scary.
The book is definitely suspenseful. At first you’re waiting to see how they pick their victim, then if they go through with it. But I was page turning to read more of Maddie, and how she coped. I felt a range of emotions, mostly disbelief that this could actually happen. But in reality, something very close did.
March 14, 2025
I knew very little of the Sender Man fiasco so I went in reading this is full fiction. And it thought it was pretty good. Having learned that it teeters on the edge of fiction and true crime I liked it even better.
June 27, 2024
If you like true crime and the paranormal, you'll love this as it's reminiscent of the Slender Man stabbing.
Lana and Maddie are best friends. They normally spend their summers at the neighborhood pool, but this year (2007)is going to be a bit different. Especially when the new girl moves in.
This story has two timelines, 2007 and 2017, and a few points of view. It revolves around the idea of tulpas, and one in particular called Him. This was so well written and delves into the girls' psyches and mind sets. It's dark, spooky, and so unsettling. Captivating, fast-paced, and mysterious.
Lana and Maddie are best friends. They normally spend their summers at the neighborhood pool, but this year (2007)is going to be a bit different. Especially when the new girl moves in.
This story has two timelines, 2007 and 2017, and a few points of view. It revolves around the idea of tulpas, and one in particular called Him. This was so well written and delves into the girls' psyches and mind sets. It's dark, spooky, and so unsettling. Captivating, fast-paced, and mysterious.
June 8, 2024
A well written but weak story. This is a fictionalized version of the slenderman stabbing and not much has been changed, but nothing was added to it either so it really just felt like kind of a lame fan fiction. (I wasn’t aware of the slenderman story going into it but if you’ve read the Wikipedia article on the event, you get pretty much the whole book.)
May 4, 2024
Snooze fest.....
May 24, 2024
Started well - went nowhere
Although this book started well, it quickly became monotonous. There wasn’t really a twist to keep you guessing at the end, it was all pretty predictable and disappointing.
Although this book started well, it quickly became monotonous. There wasn’t really a twist to keep you guessing at the end, it was all pretty predictable and disappointing.
January 21, 2024
Let’s Get Bookie With It….
It’s Sunday Funday, and the perfect day to snuggle up to book after book ♥️
In A Dark Mirror, is written by one of my new favorites, Kat Davis.
This book right here... bestseller!
I was hooked from page one.
I loved the writing style and the flow is executed perfectly. The character development is on point. The twists and buried secrets that reveal themselves throughout the book keep you begging for more.
The end ties everything together and has major shock value.
There was not one thing that I did not love about this book
Are you ready for this one folks? You do NOT want to miss this!
Check out this teaser :
A decade-old crime unites its devoted fans in a haunting novel about delusions in the dark and the dangerous games children play.
Twelve-year-old Maddie Thompson and her friend Lana share a love of horror stories and wild imaginings. But Lana insists they are too old for pretending. It’s time for a different game: serving Him, a figure she sees lurking in the dark, mysterious and demanding. According to Lana, she and Maddie must obey Him or else suffer the consequences. Maddie doesn’t want to lose her most important friendship, even if it means luring an innocent girl into the woods―as a sacrifice for Him.
Ten years later, Maddie is released from an institution and must reintegrate into society for the first time as an adult. While finding her first job and forming new friendships, Maddie struggles to determine what it means to forgive―or to trust―herself. Particularly when she discovers an online community that is not only eerily obsessed with her but committed to the cult of Him.
This is Maddie’s chance at absolution―to convince them not to follow in her violent footsteps. But the loyal devotees have a pull. And Maddie knows that these games often have deadly consequences.
It’s Sunday Funday, and the perfect day to snuggle up to book after book ♥️
In A Dark Mirror, is written by one of my new favorites, Kat Davis.
This book right here... bestseller!
I was hooked from page one.
I loved the writing style and the flow is executed perfectly. The character development is on point. The twists and buried secrets that reveal themselves throughout the book keep you begging for more.
The end ties everything together and has major shock value.
There was not one thing that I did not love about this book
Are you ready for this one folks? You do NOT want to miss this!
Check out this teaser :
A decade-old crime unites its devoted fans in a haunting novel about delusions in the dark and the dangerous games children play.
Twelve-year-old Maddie Thompson and her friend Lana share a love of horror stories and wild imaginings. But Lana insists they are too old for pretending. It’s time for a different game: serving Him, a figure she sees lurking in the dark, mysterious and demanding. According to Lana, she and Maddie must obey Him or else suffer the consequences. Maddie doesn’t want to lose her most important friendship, even if it means luring an innocent girl into the woods―as a sacrifice for Him.
Ten years later, Maddie is released from an institution and must reintegrate into society for the first time as an adult. While finding her first job and forming new friendships, Maddie struggles to determine what it means to forgive―or to trust―herself. Particularly when she discovers an online community that is not only eerily obsessed with her but committed to the cult of Him.
This is Maddie’s chance at absolution―to convince them not to follow in her violent footsteps. But the loyal devotees have a pull. And Maddie knows that these games often have deadly consequences.
January 16, 2024
I finished this book not even two weeks into the new year and frankly? I'll be surprised if any other book supplants this as my favorite book of the year.
When the Slenderman stabbing gripped the nation's attention, many people claimed they have no idea how two tweenage girls could go so awry. I think I speak for many women when I say that I had a pretty damn good idea how. There's a fervency and intensity to young teen's best friendships that I vividly remember experiencing. This novel faithfully captures the complexity, depth, and weirdness of the emotions of that age. Of course, at that age we don't possess the vocabulary to express the things we experience and may not even understand. Thankfully this author does. But this novel does not just focus on a salacious crime, it examines how we can understand our past selves and integrate that knowledge into a more promising future. Or not.
And the ENDING. Well, it's the perfect Aristotelian conclusion: surprising, but inevitable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
When the Slenderman stabbing gripped the nation's attention, many people claimed they have no idea how two tweenage girls could go so awry. I think I speak for many women when I say that I had a pretty damn good idea how. There's a fervency and intensity to young teen's best friendships that I vividly remember experiencing. This novel faithfully captures the complexity, depth, and weirdness of the emotions of that age. Of course, at that age we don't possess the vocabulary to express the things we experience and may not even understand. Thankfully this author does. But this novel does not just focus on a salacious crime, it examines how we can understand our past selves and integrate that knowledge into a more promising future. Or not.
And the ENDING. Well, it's the perfect Aristotelian conclusion: surprising, but inevitable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
January 28, 2024
For those of you who have heard of the Slenderman stabbing, this is a fictionalized version of it. It started off strong, with two young girls walking along the side of the road, covered in blood and a knife in their backpack. There were many similar details to the real-life story, making this more unsettling by the page. Some things were a bit too much, my opinion, including the sexual aspects of twelve year old girls that I could have done without. That said, I devoured the first half between the story itself and its captivating writing. The second half was where I kind of felt my mind wandering a bit, aside from the actual attack, which was hard to swallow, knowing this was based on true events. The ending felt a little anticlimactic, and some things were unexplained. There was a certain character that had a kind of revelation about someone and left that revelation to herself, leaving the reader wondering. All in all, I enjoyed this to a point, and I believe if the last half were a bit stronger, I may have even loved it. Three Stars.
Thank you, Netgalley, and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.
Thank you, Netgalley, and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.
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