How well do you truly know the people you love? Sarah Vance is about to find out that some secrets are buried deeper than the grave. When Sarah Vance's seemingly poised and elegant mother, Eleanor, dies unexpectedly, Sarah's world is thrown into turmoil. While sifting through her mother's belongings, she discovers a battered diary, its pages brittle with age and filled with a chilling, childlike script. This isn't the mother Sarah thought she knew. The diary unravels a horrifying hidden life: Eleanor, a woman battling Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), details a past consumed by unspeakable trauma, abuse, and the emergence of multiple, distinct personalities. As Sarah reads, a 25-year-old unsolved murder-a young woman found encased in plastic bags in a freezer, tied with red scrunchies-takes on a terrifying new dimension, with Eleanor's fragmented memories hinting at a chilling connection.
Plunged into a desperate search for truth, Sarah must navigate the labyrinth of her mother's fractured psyche, confronting the distinct and often dangerous alters like the rage-filled "Lily" and the manipulative "Evelyn." The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers a web of deceit that implicates those closest to her, forcing her to question her own memories and the very foundation of her idyllic childhood.
From the unsettling symbolism of red scrunchies and lye to the systemic failures that allowed Eleanor's suffering to go unnoticed, "Someone Else" is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of trauma, the fragility of identity, and the enduring power of the human spirit to seek truth and resilience. Sarah's quest for answers will not only unmask a killer but also force her to confront the harrowing echoes of trauma in her own life and the long, arduous path towards healing.
Aurealia Nelson, with a background in psychology and a fascination for the human psyche, crafts a chilling and emotionally resonant tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
Please Be Advised: Content Warning This novel is a psychological thriller that delves into mature and potentially distressing themes. It contains explicit content and explores sensitive topics that some readers may find disturbing. These include:
Graphic Violence and Murder: Detailed descriptions of a murder, its aftermath, and body disposal (including the use of lye and a freezer). Abuse: Depictions and recollections of severe childhood trauma, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as domestic abuse (spousal abuse, manipulation, gaslighting). Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): Explores themes related to DID (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder), including the experiences of alters and fragmented memory. Self-Harm: Includes descriptions of cutting. Substance Abuse: Depictions of alcohol abuse as a coping mechanism. Mental Health Themes: Explores PTSD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and the stigma surrounding mental illness. Grief and Loss.
Reader discretion is strongly advised. If you are sensitive to any of these topics, please proceed with caution. This book aims to portray the complexities of trauma and mental illness with realism and sensitivity, but the content may be intense for some readers.
