Phantom Limb

A Gripping Psychological Thriller

By: Lucinda Berry

Narrated by: Kate Marcin

Emily and Elizabeth spent their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drank too much and disappeared for days. The identical twins were rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.

But there are some horrors love can’t erase....

Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.

As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget - the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.

©2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

5 stars

Rescued from unspeakable abuse and torture at age seven, twins Emily and Elizabeth are adopted by loving parents Bob and Dahlia. Though their problems run deep, they make great strides in therapy. Now in college Elizabeth returns home to find Emily dead by suicide. Elizabeth is hospitalized where she must finally confront the truth of her childhood.

PHANTOM LIMB is a sad, believable story that encompasses both the depth of depravity and the height of resilience of the human spirit. Lucinda Berry’s background in psychology gives her the edge in creating believable, complex characters whose psychiatric issues are heartbreakingly authentic. PHANTOM LIMB has a few jaw-dropping twists I didn’t anticipate, enough to give an extra punch to the gut. This is my third of Berry’s books in three days, all five star reviews which are not ratings I give lightly. I have the rest in my queue to read next.

If you like psychological thrillers with pinpoint mental illness accuracy, you’ll love PHANTOM LIMB and all Lucinda Berry’s books as much as me.

#PhantomLimb

twist at the end

I thought I guessed the twist and then I didn't then I thought I figured it out again bit I didn't lol

A journey exploring mental illness, trauma, and family ties

The recorded voice occasionally sounded robotic, yet it was still beautifully delivered, and the storyline was utterly captivating. I could vividly visualize every detail and felt all the emotions and experiences it stirred within me. The unexpected plot twists were expertly woven in. By the end of the narrative, I experienced a sense of fulfillment, as if I had embarked on an extraordinary journey and returned with a deeper understanding on mental illness, trauma, and family ties. And now I need to know if there is a sequel?

Twins

Nothing could separate twins Elizabeth and Emily. They are bonded as one unit sharing not only features, but a soul as well.
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Elizabeth has been dating Thomas for a year, yet she’s never introduced him to her sister. She’s worried how Emily will react. The thought of building a life with someone other her sister has her worried. Just when she’s about to introduce them she snaps and finds herself in a psychiatric hospital.
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Lucinda Berry writes about twins surviving the abusive childhood of an abusive mother. Emily coped by cutting. She thought herself weak while Elizabeth was able to block her emotions. Emily relied upon Elizabeth to get better. Everytime the depression set in Elizabeth took care of her.
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Phantom Limb is about twins Emily and Elizabeth. They are a unit having experienced childhood trauma together. One twin internalized the pain while the other escaped from the pain by blocking it.
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The ending was just as I predicted. Hard not to predict it when it’s a storyline based on twins.
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Kate Marvin was the solo female narrator. I enjoyed her performance. I love having both the ebook and audiobook versions since I’m an eyes and ears person.

worst narrator

I would've enjoyed more if it wasn't read by a robot. not really a thriller but still an interesting read.

Lucinda Berry’s books are practical crime thrillers

I enjoy her books. Whereas Freida McFadden’s books are not as realistic and definitely a lot more drama. Lucinda Berry’s books are more life like and real and the twists isn’t until the final finishing chapters of the books. I enjoy the character building the most, in learning the behaviors of them.

Does it?

Does everyone, at some point or another, think of cutting themselves? Hurting themselves? Suicide? Playing a roll in life that we weren’t created to play? Pretending to be someone we’re not? Does everyone have some, no matter how small, mental illness?

I experienced all of that in this book. I enjoyed listening to the story and feeling emotional pulls in one direction or another. I highly recommend reading this book!

Wow!

A twist I wasn’t prepared for! Just when you thought you saw everything coming, she gets you where you didn’t expect!

Not a fan of the ending.....

I really dig Lucinda Berry. I really enjoyed 9/10s of the book. Felt like the ending cheapened it. Wish I could dissociate out of having listened to the end.

Interesting Ending

Felt like this was very repetitive and longer than it needed to be to tell
The story. The twist at the end was interesting and disturbing. This is the first of Lucinda’s books I struggled
To get through.