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The Magnolia Bones
It can be dangerous to hide
Her husband has hurt her for the last time. Battered and bloodied, Wendy flees for her life into the night. She finds refuge at the beautiful Magnolia House bed and breakfast where she lets twins Millie and Maude hide her to keep her safe. She’s given a job and a room and even a new friend, Griffin.
She tries to build a new life, but soon finds her idyllic escape isn’t what it seems. Danger lurks in the corners of the old house. She must face the darkness inside herself or die trying.
Thriller readers, like you, say, “This book rocked me. I had to keep reading then couldn’t stop thinking about it once I finished.”
Her husband has hurt her for the last time. Battered and bloodied, Wendy flees for her life into the night. She finds refuge at the beautiful Magnolia House bed and breakfast where she lets twins Millie and Maude hide her to keep her safe. She’s given a job and a room and even a new friend, Griffin.
She tries to build a new life, but soon finds her idyllic escape isn’t what it seems. Danger lurks in the corners of the old house. She must face the darkness inside herself or die trying.
Thriller readers, like you, say, “This book rocked me. I had to keep reading then couldn’t stop thinking about it once I finished.”
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2023
121 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Merriman
52 books228 followersDawn Merriman lives in northeastern Indiana on a small pig farm with her husband and teenage children. She enjoys animals, auctions, reading, snorkeling and writing small town murder mystery novels. Dawn Merriman completed her first novel in Middle School and a few others in High School and college. She won 1st place in the Northeast Indiana Young Writers short story contest in 1990. After a writing hiatus to raise her children, she published her debut novel, "How Murder Saved My Life" in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 2, 2023
I absolutely couldn't put this book down.
Wendy escapes her abusive husband and wrecks her car where fate leads her to The Magnolia b&b is.
All I'm going to say further is that I hope that there is a sequel for this bookm
Wendy escapes her abusive husband and wrecks her car where fate leads her to The Magnolia b&b is.
All I'm going to say further is that I hope that there is a sequel for this bookm
January 25, 2024
So, let me start off by saying that I enjoyed the plot for this book. It was creepy, unique, and held my attention.
BUT
The amount of typos was a NO for me. I can handle one or two, especially because shit happens, but this was terrible. I lost count at 30 errors. That’s too many for a book to have. It was extremely irritating.
Otherwise, the book was a fun little creepy read. I liked the plot.
BUT
The amount of typos was a NO for me. I can handle one or two, especially because shit happens, but this was terrible. I lost count at 30 errors. That’s too many for a book to have. It was extremely irritating.
Otherwise, the book was a fun little creepy read. I liked the plot.
June 17, 2024
Wow. This book was very unexpected and very deserving of the genre it is in. As a phycological thriller it is filled with twisted and horrific scenes. There is blood, guts, abuse, murder and mayhem. It is a twisted tale off epic proportions and will have you wondering should I be sickened by it. This book is not for the weak hearted, as it has some disturbing scenes in it. You just could not put it down. Like a train wreck where you can't look away. The characters are mysterious and have some very dark and disturbing secrets.
If horror reads interest you, then this book is up your alley. With a dose of romance thrown in it makes a very unique story. I can honestly say the book is a great read and well written. It may be a bit disturbing in some ways, but it is the twisted darkness that makes it such a great horror novel.
If horror reads interest you, then this book is up your alley. With a dose of romance thrown in it makes a very unique story. I can honestly say the book is a great read and well written. It may be a bit disturbing in some ways, but it is the twisted darkness that makes it such a great horror novel.
October 30, 2024
I've read several of this author's books, but oh my gosh, the Magnolias are my favorite by far!
Horror without it being in your face. Tension and guessing on every page. Sex totally off the page and it works perfectly for the story. Secrets, oh, so many secrets.
At the basis of this story, I think these characters tap into a side of us we may not want to admit to, so we can live vicariously through them.
That last little chapter leads us right into a sequel. Excellent! I can't wait to read more about the Magnolias.
Horror without it being in your face. Tension and guessing on every page. Sex totally off the page and it works perfectly for the story. Secrets, oh, so many secrets.
At the basis of this story, I think these characters tap into a side of us we may not want to admit to, so we can live vicariously through them.
That last little chapter leads us right into a sequel. Excellent! I can't wait to read more about the Magnolias.
January 31, 2024
A creepy, great read!
I have enjoyed every book written by Dawn Merriman and her latest book is no exception! I like how the story is written from the perspectives of several different characters. I felt empathy for Wendy from the beginning of the book. As the storyline unfolds, tantalizing hints of numerous secrets are dropped. Most of the secrets are revealed by the end, but you are left wanting more. I can’t wait for the next Magnolia Thriller book!!!
I have enjoyed every book written by Dawn Merriman and her latest book is no exception! I like how the story is written from the perspectives of several different characters. I felt empathy for Wendy from the beginning of the book. As the storyline unfolds, tantalizing hints of numerous secrets are dropped. Most of the secrets are revealed by the end, but you are left wanting more. I can’t wait for the next Magnolia Thriller book!!!
March 9, 2024
I liked the story. As far as being a psychological thriller, it missed the mark. From about the third chapter on it was so predictable. Nothing exciting really happened. In a psychological thriller I expect people to feel like they are being followed, things happen that they can't explain. It wasn't even creepy, an employee disappeared during the night. There was nothing creepy about it. I was really disappointed. To me it was more of a love story between the main characters.
December 29, 2023
WOW!
This book is fantastic! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
I have loved all of Dawn Merriman’s books. This one is definitely different from her other books but WOW it’s so so good!
This book is fantastic! I can’t wait to find out what happens next!
I have loved all of Dawn Merriman’s books. This one is definitely different from her other books but WOW it’s so so good!
January 20, 2024
Absolutely amazing!!
Wow!! This book was amazing from the first page to the last. I read it in one sitting. The pages just flow, and you honestly won’t want to put it down. I just loved all of the characters. This series is going to be a favorite.
Wow!! This book was amazing from the first page to the last. I read it in one sitting. The pages just flow, and you honestly won’t want to put it down. I just loved all of the characters. This series is going to be a favorite.
March 21, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. So many of the 'abused' wives are repetitive. This one stands aside. The characters are believable, and the story hangs together. Not for the squeamish, yet very rewarding conclusion.
January 26, 2025
I don't usually read physiological thrillers, but I love Dawn Merriman so I thought I would give it a try. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The setting was perfect for the book. The characters were great. It had a good creep factor going on.
March 5, 2025
Some loose ends, but worth the read
The plot moves along quickly and it is easy to follow along. There are a couple loose ends that will hopefully be answered in another book so go into this knowing not everything will be revealed.
The plot moves along quickly and it is easy to follow along. There are a couple loose ends that will hopefully be answered in another book so go into this knowing not everything will be revealed.
January 6, 2026
very strange book
You’re either like this book or hate it. No middle ground. I struggle finishing it. I don’t want to spoil the plot. Just imagine a mix between the Hills have Eyes and Arsenic and Old Lace.
You’re either like this book or hate it. No middle ground. I struggle finishing it. I don’t want to spoil the plot. Just imagine a mix between the Hills have Eyes and Arsenic and Old Lace.
January 19, 2024
Short and....
...Not so sweet. Certainly hope there will be more to the story of "Magnolia Bones". Yes it is a bit 'unusual' and kind of creepy but I enjoyed every word of it.
...Not so sweet. Certainly hope there will be more to the story of "Magnolia Bones". Yes it is a bit 'unusual' and kind of creepy but I enjoyed every word of it.
March 9, 2024
Never saw the ending coming!
This book is short but so easy to read! I NEVER saw the ending coming the way it did. Great book!
This book is short but so easy to read! I NEVER saw the ending coming the way it did. Great book!
August 1, 2025
If Hannibal and Sweeney had a baby
January 18, 2026
This book grabbed my interest right from the first page and kept it through the very end. Very interesting characters that really kept the story going. Loved it.
April 17, 2025
Couldn’t put this down.
I just had a feeling it would be so good and had been avoiding it because I knew I would devour it.
110% check this out.
I just had a feeling it would be so good and had been avoiding it because I knew I would devour it.
110% check this out.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews