Split View: A Novella

by J.R. Stewart

Accused of murdering seven people, Ruth is locked away in a high-security asylum for a crime she swears she didn’t commit. No one believes her—her protests only mark her as insane.

But Ruth isn’t alone in this nightmare. Her cell is next to Apex, a mysterious inmate whose voice travels through the walls, whispering in the dark. They’ve never seen each other or shared more than fragmented conversations, but their growing connection is the only thing keeping Ruth from unraveling completely.

Then, one night, McRens—a sadistic guard—drags Ruth out for a brutal interrogation. When he returns her to her cell, he makes a fatal mistake—he locks her in Apex’s cell instead of her own. Ruth is trapped with a man she’s never seen face-to-face, but whose dangerous reputation is known throughout the asylum.

Now, Ruth must confront the terrifying Is Apex her only chance for survival, or is he the final nail in her coffin?

Genres: Thriller

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2025

About the author

Hi there! I’m J.R. Stewart, a self-published author who believes the power of storytelling can inspire and transform lives.

My journey as a writer began at a young age when I’d spend hours writing short stories and creating picture books for fun. But it wasn’t until a somewhat unexpected moment that I realized writing could be more than just a hobby. One day, my sister Meg—being her usual nosy self—found one of my handwritten stories tucked away in my drawer. When I walked in to find her reading it, I was upset at first. But when she told me she wanted more, something clicked. I kept writing, and that moment, oddly enough, was the spark that eventually led me to publish my books.

I’ve always been drawn to thrillers, horror, and dark fantasy—stories that keep you on the edge of your seat with unexpected twists and turns. My books are a reflection of my interests, each one designed to surprise, captivate, and linger in your thoughts long after the last page. When I’m not writing, you can usually find me reading, baking, knitting, playing piano, or sketching.

Reviews

[alexcrayons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this bad boy a few days ago. With a striking 132 pages, this is a fast paced psychological thriller centered around a woman named Ruth who gets sent to a high-security asylum for the murder of seven people. Although, she claims she didn’t do it… so who did? And who’s the man in the cell next door? 👀

This was a great debut from this author! It was twisty and fun and kept a fast, suspenseful pace. I especially loved the character dynamics and banter. There weren’t many characters, which is probably the best for a novella, but each character was intriguing and kept the story moving along.

The twist was 😚🤌

I mean this is a good way, but this made me think of a Goosebumps book (but adult)—just because of its fast-paced, short format, suspenseful story building, and twisty ending.

I will say I don’t read many novellas and prefer books that are a little longer, but this was short and sweet and got the job done and executed the themes and storyline pretty well.

If you’re looking for a quick, psychological thriller novella then try out this debut indie book.

I’d probably give this a 4.5 star, but more so because I prefer books that are at least a little longer, but that’s just my preference. Overall, this was a great and fun read!

[Marissa (holdme.thrillme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a quick but thrilling read that packs a lot of punch, look no further! I read this in less than an hour and it really had me guessing the whole time. Being imprisoned in an asylum is the stuff of nightmares and you can see why in this book. On top of that it has an ending you won’t see coming! Plus, that cover!

[C.J. Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, masterfully-crafted roller coaster!

For a debut-published novella by a young writer, this is platinum. Perfect length, authentic dialogue, and the ideal balance of ups and downs that make for an adrenaline-charged thriller. I enjoyed the character of Apex especially (no spoilers)! It was also incredibly refreshing to read something with a consistent 1st person POV narrator (not sure why, but there seems to be this trend lately of books with changing 1st person POV every chapter… it can get tiring and confusing after a while). I really hope to read more from J.R. Stewart in the future.

[AnxiousCloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a debut! Ruth is locked away accused of killing 7 people. No one believes she is innocent. Her cell neighbour starts whispering to her in the dark. After a horrible interrogation goes wrong Ruth ends up in the cell with that mysterious man who’s been whispering to her what happens next will surprise you.
This was such a good thriller you can easily read in one sitting.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating…

This story kept my attention from the very start! A fairly quick read at less than 150 pgs. I was reading it and like, okay nothing is as it seems… but I wasn’t sure where it was going! A good little mind twister! She says she’s innocent of the crime, but she’s sent to an asylum for the insane. A patient on the same floor as hers speaks to her, but he confuses her even more & she doesn’t trust him. What happens when the cruel officers accidentally toss her into the room with the man? Will she make it out alive? And why does he seem to know things about her…

[Christina Martino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this quick read!! The twist at the end is phenomenal! Can’t wait to read more books from J Stewart!!

[Ashlyn Boozenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun, thrilling read! I knew it was going to be good, but it was even better than i imagined it would be! I was definitely not expecting that ending.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Overall a great debut! There were a few typos but the story help up great.

[Jodi Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It's a quick read, but I really didn't like the ending.

[Steve Zappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Split View is a short and exciting psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages all the way through. It also has a mystery element that is unpredictable. Until the end, I could never figure out what might be real and what might be merely illusions. The story takes place within an asylum for the criminally insane. And aside from Ruth, the main character, there is another dangerous character named Apex who fueled the mystery throughout the story. I could never figure out whether he was real or whether he was a figment of Ruth’s imagination. Is Ruth insane?

I liked how the story kept me guessing. It also has an exciting ending. I thought the setting descriptions could’ve been more colorful, but that wasn’t a big deal. In fact, sometimes I don’t like it when authors go overboard on setting.

I’m also happy that this is a novella. I think the world needs more novellas. If J.R. Stewart had expanded it into a novel, it might’ve felt watered down. Instead, she held onto the Writing 101 rule that a story should only be as long or short as it needs to be. I wish all authors would live up to this idea. I love stories of all lengths (I’m currently reading War And Peace, and I love it), but too often I’ve read 500+ page books that could’ve been better slimmed down.

A good psychological thriller. Check it out.

[Justin Yost · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella presents a compelling and imaginative premise, and it’s clear that Stewart had a strong vision for how she wanted the story to unfold. The narrative concept is engaging, and the ending—undoubtedly the book’s strongest point—felt thoughtfully conceived and emotionally resonant.

That said, the execution occasionally fell short of its potential. The prose at times lacked polish, with uneven pacing, vocabulary choices that didn’t always align with the tone, and moments of dialogue that felt more functional than authentic. These elements occasionally disrupted the flow of the story and reminded me that this is a debut work. With another round of editing and greater attention to the natural rhythms of conversation and character interaction, the novella could have reached a higher level of craftsmanship.

Despite its imperfections, there’s real promise here. The core story is simple and original, the author’s intent is clear, and I believe Stewart is a writer worth watching. I look forward to her next work and hope to see her grow into her narrative strengths.

Final rating: 3 stars for the story—with an enthusiastic 5 stars for the cover design, which was striking, evocative, and perfectly matched to the tone of the book.

[ANDREA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw a blurb in a comment from an indie author. It caught my attention immediately. I bought it right away, started reading as soon as I woke up and I was not disappointed!😍

The story was sooo good! I want more!! Around 50% I had my own theory and more often than not my theories are at least partly correct but here I was WAY OFF🤯 That just made me like it even more and pulled it to almost 4⭐️

It’s a short read, I would have liked if it had been a bit longer to have a bit more closure to the story. I also have some general wonderings and questions and I feel like there were a few gaps in the story I would have liked explained. As a debut thriller I think this was very well done. It was well written, the plot had me in a chokehold and I couldn’t put it down. What more can I ask for😌

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great first novella and book from the author! Nice and short but to the point!
There wasn’t too many characters to keep up with which I really liked, and the main characters were intriguing. Throughout the book I was like why, why does she trust him. Until it all became apparent and I didn’t see it coming. A great short psychological thriller which I really enjoyed.
Looking forward to reading more from The author

[Theo Gabrielli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read

i enjoyed the setting of being in an asylum, and the introduction of Apex. i thought the book would go a different route than what it did, but i wouldn't necessarily call it a twist. it was pretty predictable, but i guess Ruth's background was a little interesting.
its written well, and the pacing is great for a novella, i think maybe this book just wasnt meant for me

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was a great little surprise. The character development is well done & the main plot is fast-moving and interesting. My only disappointment was that the ending was too quick; I felt it needed a bit more development and closure. I'll definitely read another JR Stewart.

[Bridget Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fast read, it flowed nicely and kept me on the edge if my seat! Didn't expect the ending and can't wait to see more from this author!