The Mind He Left Behind

by A. Em

When a new string of murders perfectly mirrors the signature of a serial killer who died in the '80s, investigators are stunned to find a thirty-five-year-old man who looks exactly like the long-dead butcher. He refuses to speak, offers no explanation, and the detectives call in Dr. Emily Beckett to break through his silence.

Emily craves answers. But as she digs into his fractured psyche, the line between doctor and patient blurs. What she believes is progress is just his influence sinking deeper into her own wounds. Her trauma tells her a monster like him might still be capable of loving someone like her.

She thinks she's close to the truth behind the killings, but she couldn't be further from it.

Zayne Mercer was never acting alone.

He is one of two twins made in the lab of the Halden Institute. And when he finally escapes and reunites with his brother, Emily learns the hardest

Some monsters are born.

Some are made.

And some… are loved.

Genres: Dark Romance, Thriller

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2026

About the author

“Where others write ever after, I write never after.” -A.

Social Media;

Instagram: iam_a_em

Pinterest: a_em_author

TikTok: a_em_author

Reviews

[Inara Reads Dark and Twisted · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might honestly be the one I’ve been most desperate to read in a very long time. From the very first day A started this project, she pulled us in and guided us through a trail of clues, hints, and mysteries, building anticipation step by step until it all culminated in what I can only describe as a true masterpiece. All of that naturally set my expectations incredibly high—and somehow, this book didn’t just meet them, it shattered them.

A’s writing reaches me in a way no other author ever has, and this story is no exception. There’s something about the way she writes that gets under your skin and stays there. Through Emilie and Zayne’s story, you’re taken on an emotional journey that will absolutely destroy you. Every moment feels intentional. The plot is carefully thought out, the details are rich and precise, and everything is woven together in a way that feels effortless yet powerful.

The character development is absolutely brilliant. Emilie and Zayne feel painfully real—flawed, vulnerable, and deeply human. Their pain, their connection, and their choices sink under your skin and refuse to let go. A has an incredible ability to make you emotionally bond with her characters so deeply that their suffering becomes your own.

This isn’t a book you simply read and move on from. It consumes you. It leaves you emotionally wrecked, hollow, and staring at the wall once it’s over, wondering what the hell you’re supposed to do with your life now. I would give anything to erase this story from my memory just so I could experience the destruction all over again for the first time.

[MsAprilreadswhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEYOND WORDS

Oh A... once again, you've demonstrated your remarkable talent. You possess a unique ability to craft words that resonate profoundly with your readers; every book you've written has carved out a special place in my heart, making me feel truly seen and heard.
Now, turning to the book itself—simply, wow. I am eager to learn how this project began and where it ultimately leads. The book was masterfully written, with exquisite artistry! My emotions were stirred entirely, and as soon as I thought I had grasped a certain truth, a twist emerged, making me question my own sanity—absolutely mesmerizing!

Some of my favorite quotes include:
"If he is the devil, he wears my sins like a crown."

"The moon is nothing without the sun. The sun is nothing without the moon. Always close. Always apart."

Oh man, that ending... was both shocking and beautifully crafted

[Kenia Coronado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! Cant say much because a lot of the details are part of the twists! But if you are a horror girlie, you will like this one! Pretty messed up and no happy ending.

[MorallyDarkReadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5 out of 5 spice

This book did not just entertain me. It emotionally bodyslammed me and then asked if I was okay while I lay there questioning my life choices.

I went in knowing the triggers were heavy and somehow still came out shocked. From page one I was hooked. The tension was nonstop, the psychology was intense, and the way this story crawls into your brain and refuses to leave should honestly come with a warning label of its own.

I felt everything while reading this. Unsettled. Emotional. Turned on. Confused. Slightly feral. There were moments I had chills, moments I had tears, and moments where I just stared at the page like wow okay cool so I definitely need therapy after this.

The dedication alone already had me spiraling and then the story just kept going deeper and darker. This is not a light read. This is the kind of book that rewires something in your brain and leaves you needing to unpack your feelings with a licensed professional.

The characters are complex, damaged, and fascinating. This book will either consume you or make you realize you should have read the trigger warnings more carefully. Please actually read them. I’m serious.

It is twisted. It is spicy. It is emotional. It is disturbing in a way that pulls you in instead of pushing you away. I loved it and I am also deeply concerned about myself.

I already want to reread it even though I know it will emotionally ruin me again. Five stars. Five spice. One future therapy session booked.

Proceed with caution. Or don’t. Just know I warned you. 🖤

[Gabby Wentworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this book.. it had EVERYTHING.

all the feels. the mind fck of ARE YOU KIDDING ME. i was gasping. i could not put it down. A does it again and did not disappoint with this. i’m literally in tears.

♾️✨

[Nelli Lakatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚒𝚝. 𝙸'𝚟𝚎 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙸'𝚕𝚕 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎."

From the moment I've read the author's note, I just knew I would love this emotional rollercoaster of a book. Especially as it has all my favorite tropes!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 was a quick and gripping read. I always say the darker, the better and this was definitely that! I absolutely loved my time with Zayne, Emily and her little dog Daisy. It was such a mysterious and addictive read filled with clever twists. I couldn't stop reading this fantastic book. The way he called her 'Freckles' completely melted me, I love nicknames so much and he was adorable, they both were.

I cried on the epilogue... I knew what would happen, but the letter was the moment everything hit too close to home and I couldn't hold back my tears anymore...

I highly recommend reading this to dark romance lovers who's looking for their next adventure!

𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤
🖤 Age Gap (6 years) 🖤
💉 Serial Killer 💉
👩🏼‍⚕️ Doctor x Patient 👩🏼‍⚕️
🥼 Asylum 🥼
🌃 Stalking 🌃
🩸 Play 🩸
🕷️ Play 🕷️
🔪 Play 🔪
💌 NHE 💌

Thank you so much to @iam_a_em_ for an ARC of your beautiful novel in exchange for my honest review. ♡

[Cocolici · Rating 4 out of 5]

​𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐀.𝐞𝐌 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫.

​Thank you so much A.eM, for trusting me with this ARC.🖤

​Let’s be clear!!! This isn't just a dark romance. It is a psychological deep-dive into the concept of nature versus nurture, wrapped in a terrifying mystery. If you enjoyed the uncomfortable grey morality of Snowman & Morena, you already know that A.eM thrives in the darkest corners of the human psyche.

​🖤The Mind He Left Behind leans heavily into psychological suspense and horror. It delivers an atmosphere that is suffocating, tragic, and beautifully written.

​🖤 The interrogation scenes between Emily and Zayne are thick with tension, you honestly don't know if he wants to kill her or CLAIM her.

​🖤 A.eM does an incredible job writing Emily’s descent. Watching her professional boundaries crumble under Zayne's manipulation was both frustrating and captivating. It explores how trauma seeks out trauma, even when it’s dangerous.

​🖤The ending proves once again that A.eM is the queen of the "never-after."

​☠️ 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝚊 𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚏𝚏𝚢 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎. 𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜. ⚠️

[Jess Catoja · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes all thas is left behind is the understanding that loving someone doesn’t make them safe. That monsters don’t always look like monsters. That Narcissists and psychopaths sit beside us, hold us, promise us everything, and slowly take pieces of your minds with them.

Triggers: Age gap, Serial Killer, Doctor/patient dynamics, asylum, FMC smart mouth, MMC psychopath, stalking

What a book, She did it again. She makes the reader question everything. The plots, the turns, absolutely unpredictable.

“when we leave, wenever leave completely. We always leave ieces behind. Our trust. Our innocente. The version of ourselves that believed love can’t hurt like this”

Such a good book, the characters, the emotions, the darkness. So much tension and plots. It keeps you hooked from the first page.

[heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mind He Left Behind by A. eM

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I read the triggers and I know imma be buckling in for something wild, depraved and fucked.

Dedication:
To the ones who grew up starving for love, and let the wrong person feed them.

😭 kill me now and then bring me back so I can experience this book all over again. I am shattered. Confused. Broken. Horny? This book really fucked with me in like a good way but also a fuck I need to up my therapy type of way.

When I tell you I had chills from the beginning to the end I mean it. Hell I even had tears coming out. You don't know what you're stepping into with this story and you definitely want to heed the warnings.

[Layna Leighann · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️/4🔥

My Mind is Blown!

The Mind He Left Behind is a psychological er0tic thriller/ hørr0r with no happy ever after. This was a change of pace for me and what I normally read from A. eM. I loved it! I wanted to hate the MMC, but the author wouldn't allow it & I'm not mad about it. That twisted ending sh0t me right through the 🖤 and I laughed at the pain because this is what I signed up for—over and over again. Needing an emotional, thrilling, and dark romance read? This one is for you.

[Her Dark Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*• ARC Review•*
The Mind He Left Behind by A.Em

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes
💉Doctor x Patient
📼 Serial Killer
💉Age Gap (6years)
📼Human Experiments
💉No HEA

"Emily Beckett, pull your shit together. You can do this."

Well this book did not disappoint! Worth the wait and all the late nights trying to figure out the clues.
So many things I wasn't expecting, and the end had me crying, make sure you have the playlist ready.

I highly Recommend this book, but remember it's not a Happy Ever After and read the trigger warnings. Your mental health matters and what I like you may not. 💋

[Angela L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A does it again!
This book was full of twist and turns, Mysteries that needed to he solved, Emotional damage and wreckage. I'm still processing that ending and I dont think I'm ok.

[Siempre_sera2.0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating ✨✨✨✨✨
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

I don’t even know why I wear makeup while reading A’s books it always smudges by the end 😭.

“They were right. It was a tale as old as time. You never know what you have until it’s gone forever from your hands.”

What can I say A has a way of connecting with her readers in a special way. With each book I read of hers I feel seen, I can tell myself I’m worth it by the end despite the little voice in my head telling me otherwise. The way I was left guessing with each page, the suspense, the heartbreak I knew was coming. The way I cried in the last two chapters ugh it doesn’t matter how much I prepare myself going into A’s books I always come out with a piece of my heart missing. You connect with the characters, fall in love with them despite the red flags that are waving in the air, when they leave the pages you are always left heartbroken. But as with every single one of A’s books you leave with a lesson, and this one was no different.

You are worthy of love, you matter, and remember your actions always have consequences so be a good person. Put out into the word the things you want back (kindness, love, respect, loyalty,etc).
Never wait for the what if, the should have, could have, would have. Don’t hold your words for too long, don’t stand there expecting your blessings to fall into your hands. We are all human and no one’s hands are clean of sin but you are worthy of so much love ❤️

“The moon is nothing without the sun. The sun is nothing without the moon. Always close. Always apart.”

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh goodness golly, this was a twisty turny one y’all! I seriously think this one is going to stick with me for a while.

Let’s start with the dark romance elements: stalker, serial unaliver who falls in love with the FMC, touch her and d!e. He gave me those feelings you get when you’re younger and you know you shouldn’t be doing something and you know its bad for you, but you can’t keep away! I mean…if this dude wasn’t a serial killer he would kinda be the full package 🤣 Did this stop me from swooning over him? Absolutely not! Should I see a psychiatrist? Probably! Moving on…

I enjoyed that literally no one in this story was who they seemed to be. There was one twist after another and the creepy hits just kept coming. I literally could not put the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next! Thriller is not a genre I read often, but dang did this one hit on another level. I usually pride myself on being able to figure out the twists before they are revealed, and I can safely say that I figured out NOTHING ahead of when A.EM wanted me to 🤣

This one is a short dark romance/erotic thriller/horromance, for anyone wanting to truly escape reality for a little bit of time!

Please note, this does not have an HEA and has four pages of trigger warnings.

Thank you to A.EM for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

[Katherine M · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, an amazing read by this author. This was tragic and so sad. I had tears in my eyes at the end. Even though she writes many romantic horror/thriller/ psychological reads, they always have a deep message, which I love. I am extremely fascinated by mental illness and psychopaths/killers and this book really exemplified that.

This story is about a psychiatrist named Emily and a serial killer in a mental institute named Zayne. There are many twists and turns, which made me go “oh my gosh!” This was really, really good but I will warn you there is no HEA between the two main MC’s and there is also gore. But, as always with her books, you still leave the story satisfied. Sad, but satisfied and wanting more. I highly recommend this authors books if you love good, dark, psychological romances.

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea where to start with this one 😂

Emily, is a psychiatrist called upon to help gain evidence on a s3rial k!ller who has been placed in an institute. Zayne, is believed to be mute however, he does speak to Emily, their pasts are more intertwined than she realises. Trouble is she starts to have feelings for him, something she thought could never happen to her and not under the circumstances…not giving you anymore 😉

𝙼𝚢 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚋𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚜. 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚜.

Their backstories come to light as you read, at times my brain was WTF, as little twists come into play. There are some spicy times, most definitely gore of the macabre kind and obvs m^rder, plus a whole lot more, so do read the trigger warnings ‼️I can honestly, say I enjoyed this one, the total mindf^*kery that it was 🤯

[Nela🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was nothing of what I expected….. but it was everything i needed…
Being a first time reader to your work I must say you hoodwinked me and I don’t mind at all … entering this not knowing what to expect … I entered this reading inhaling and I swear I don’t think I exhaled till the very end….
Putting me in a chokehold ahh !!
Had me playing detective along with my FMC only to be mind bottling …
I’m hooked Aem ..
Soo many thoughts and emotions By the end of it …
I didn’t know .. what didn’t I know , I have no fukn clue
This novel Tops it for me …
I will be rereading this cause. Ain’t no way this book hit me like that …
You certainly gained a new fan to your work …

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I tell you I am still thinking about this book!! But, I will start by saying this book was fantastic. The writing and story with all the twists and how everything connected was incredible. But wow what a roller coaster of emotions. This was also one of my first non-HEA books and after it ended it took me a bit to wrap my head around it.
The character development was amazing. I loved getting to see Zayne’s mind. I loved seeing his softer side with Emily. The chemistry between Zayne and Emily was electric.
This was dark and tragic but I couldn’t put it down.

Make sure to check trigger warnings!!

❤️ Doctor x patient
💔 Serial unaliver
🖤 Age gap
❤️ Knife & blood play
💔 No HEA

Rating ⭐️: 4/5
Spice 🌶️: 2/5

Thank you to so much to the author for the arc

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mind He Left Behind by A. eM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


“Even bad choices can lead to something good”

This was my first book by A but I will be reading all her other books. This had me hooked from page one. I signed up for this book after only reading the trigger warning list. I didn’t have a cover, title, or blurb and I’m so glad I did.
There are dark topics that pull at your emotions. This had so many things that I love.

- Doctor X patient
- Touch her and 💀
- Experimenting
- Serial killer
- Secret identity
- Asylum
- Stalker

“She will have the mind of a man who learned that even monsters, even those born wrong, deserve to be loved and to love in return”

[Just Virginie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow — this book was another absolute hit for me.
The Mind He Left Behind delivers 182 pages of pitch-black erotic horror, and I loved every unsettling second of it.

It’s dark, disturbing, and intense in the way only this genre can be. The atmosphere is heavy, the tension never lets up, and the story pulls you straight into its twisted depths without hesitation. Short but powerful, this book proves that you don’t need hundreds of pages to leave a lasting impact.

If you enjoy horror that pushes boundaries and isn’t afraid to go dark — very dark — this one is definitely worth your time.
A top-tier read for fans of bold, unapologetic, and haunting stories. 🖤

[Abigail Mayfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the day I saw the post about this book, I knew I had to read it. I went in completely blind, knew absolutely nothing. And it sure didn’t disappoint. It’s amazing how much a book can make you feel, almost to the point of being overwhelming. The twists, the turns, the ups && downs. The complete mindf*ck. I’m just blown away tbh. There was some vile things up in here so tread carefully. I read this in 2 hours, I couldn’t stop. Whatever the heck she puts in her books, I eat it right up. I’m emotionally damaged and that ending has my mind on a loop. 10000% worth it though.

[Jillian Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this ARC👀 I loved it so much. A. writes so well and the plot of the story kept me hooked the whole time. I thought I knew what was going on until I realized I really didn’t! So many unexpected twists and I ate it up!
The characters are so complex and so much to uncover about them and their past. Everything gets revealed and it all makes sense. It was dark and depraved and very much a horror with no happily ever after so make sure you’re mentally prepared for that emotional roller coaster! I loved it so much, I can’t say it enough!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words, this book was absolutely brilliant. I couldn't put it down, I loved both Emily and Zayne and despite him being a killer, the way he loves Emily is beautiful.

Making a child that's half him and half Emily 😭 and the letter he wrote to Emma 😭😭 I was SOBBING. Part of me wishes they got their HEA but the way the book ended was beautiful in its own way. Zayne may not have got to be the man Emily deserved but I love that he changed to be the Father that Emma needed.

[Moody Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said this before and I will forever say it, A. eM cannot write a bad book. Loved the plot, the lore, the twists and turn. Although the end was devastating, this was beautifully written.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted emotional damage and I got it!
This book is a car crash of emotions, and definitely too good to put down. The twists are intense and I'm happy to say I didn't place a major one!
Please do not disregard the trigger warnings, many many dark topics are in this book.

Spice:🌶️

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story turned my world upside down!! What did I just read?!? So many twists and turns. You will not be able to guess this book’s ending. No HEA. My emotions are scattered.

This author’s writing is unparalleled. Every book I read by A.eM always has my jaw dropping to the floor…and it stays there for days, while I try to piece myself back together. This book was unique from the start. No title. No blurb. No release date. Just clues that had your brain working overtime. Even the writing style was taunting and I loved every minute of it.

Everything about this book will draw you in and not let you go. Especially the dedication. The characters are damaged and fascinating. This story is not for the faint of heart. Please read the trigger warnings.

🧩Age gap (6 years)
🩸Serial Killer
🧩Doctor-Patient dynamics
🩸FMC smart mouth
🧩MMC psychopath
🩸Stalking
🧩Asylum
🩸Bloody play
🧩Knife play
🩸Spider play
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to the author for this e-ARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[D.3.b.0.r.a.h · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I knew what kind of story I was stepping into, but it became clear very quickly that this was far more psychological and emotionally brutal than I expected.

Emily is driven, damaged, and painfully real. Her need for answers feels less like curiosity and more like survival. As she dives deeper into the mind of a man who shouldn’t exist, her own past begins to surface in unsettling ways. Watching her lose her footing — emotionally and morally — is uncomfortable, intense, and incredibly compelling.

Zayne is not a character you can easily define. He exists in the gray, somewhere between victim and threat, and the story refuses to let you label him neatly. The connection between him and Emily is complex, unsettling, and emotionally charged, blurring lines that should never blur. It’s dark, tragic, and impossible to look away from.

The pacing is deliberate, the structure precise. Nothing feels accidental. Small details quietly build toward moments that hit hard when you least expect them. This isn’t a book that relies on shock for impact — it earns every emotional blow.

By the time I reached the end, I was emotionally drained.

⚠️ Check the trigger warnings before reading. This book explores heavy and potentially distressing themes, and it is NOT a Happily-Ever-After!

[Patricia Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔪ARC review🔪

The mind he left behind by @iam_a_em
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Seriously !!! You are a freaking genius. You start with the authors note that always hits me straight to the chest. And then you go a write the most heartbreakingly painful and beautiful story. Every book of yours that I have read (and let’s be honest, it’s just about all of them because I can’t get enough) they are so damn powerful and so relatable. I seriously will never get over how good your books are and it’s such an honor to be a part of your team 💥

[🖤 alyssa 🩶 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mind He Left Behind was a beyond amazing read that grips you tightly, pulls you completely in, and then absolutely guts you and destroys you entirely, but man, I loved every single second of this book ❤️ It was well written, dark, spicy, suspenseful, and yet in the darkness there were also such tender, sweet, and heartwarming moments at times ❤️ Emily and Zayne’s relationship is emotionally complex from the start, but I ate it all up, loving seeing them progress and watching the story take wild turn after wilder turn, leaving my own mind behind!

Emily is strong, confident, and fierce, but has emotional baggage with a broken side that feels so real, and I loved her character ❤️ She’s curious to a fault and sometimes emotionally reckless, and not just drawn to the mystery of the case professionally, but she also becomes drawn in personally. Her backstory gives depth and reveals things that are a surprise and twist, that make everything more interesting, not to mention that the pull and natural connection between her and Zayne was immediate ❤️ She struggles with her thoughts and feelings towards Zayne and that forbidden line she wants to cross, but how long could she resist? Her internal conflict—between doing her job, protecting herself, and wanting to understand him—feels so very human. The hurt she feels inside is absolutely heartbreaking, but it adds to making her character feel real, and it makes her connection and relationship to Zayne all the more meaningful ❤️

Zayne is unsettling in the best way and has a dynamic personality, and he totally won over my heart ❤️ He’s quieter, damaged, and honestly deeply confusing at times, a complex character, which keeps you constantly questioning what he is: a victim, experiment, monster, or maybe something in between… He’s not evil, but he’s also not innocent either. With Emily there’s a constant push and pull in their relationship, between control and vulnerability, and nothing about their dynamic feels simple or safe, but underneath there is a deep sense of care that Zayne has for Emily, and I loved seeing that softer side of him ❤️ His character is tragic and damaged, but with everything he’s gone through, he’s done his best to survive and stay strong in his own way. Learning his backstory and what all he went through, was both really interesting and really heartbreaking, but it built up and added to the story, making it even better ❤️

At the end of the book, what they both went through and how everything played out was absolutely heart shattering, but it also felt like getting to see into their minds and know their feelings closer and clearer than before, which really just made the emotional gut punch even more painful! 😆 But my word, I loved every bit of it no matter how much it hurt ❤️

This book was so well written and just fantasticly dark, twisted, suspenseful, and tragic! I loved both Emily and Zayne, and them together—no matter how emotionally complex and complicated they are ❤️ The plot is amazing and does not let you go at all once you start reading! This was a read that I couldn’t put down, and even though it was a dark, tragic, and an emotionally painful story, I loved it so much. This is a read that will stay with you forsure—I know a piece of my own mind feels left behind with this story ❤️

[The Book Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I go into every book I read by •A• expecting to come out the other end completely gutted. And she did not let me down with TMHLB. I love it when she makes my heart hurt, and I absolutely ate up this story. I've found that •A• has a way of making you, the reader, and her main characters wonder if what they're experiencing is real, in their heads or even if it might be paranormal. Are the ghosts of their pasts and in their heads real, or not? And I absolutely love this way of storytelling. It keeps me on the edge of my seat and fully engaged. This is why I keep coming back to her and her gut wrenching tales. Her characters feel real, tangible and like someone you might know in real life.

Which brings me to our FMC, Dr. Emily Beckett. Smart, driven, a top doctor in her field. To the naked eye she's really got it together. But after a childhood and adolescence of neglect and emotional abuse, she is not what she seems. She's damaged, hurt and starved for love, but you'd never know by just a quick glance. And this is why I adore her. She feels so real. I wanted to hug her tight and tell her it's ok. I wanted to mother her. I spent the last third of the book crying big, fat, wet tears for, and with, her. And as for our MMC... All I'll say is nothing is as it seems. And good luck guessing, because the twist is definitely twisty. 🙃

I really want you to enjoy this book as much as I did, and I think that if you like your erotic horror to have...

🖤 Age Gap Romance (only 6 years)
🩺 Doctor + Patient
🧠 Psychological Twists + Turns
🤐 Secret/Hidden Identities
🔪 Knìfe Play
🩸 Bløød Play
🍖 Cäññâbãlísm
💀 Serial Unalivers
💔 No HEA

... and honestly, so much more that I don't dare try to put in this review, then you'll truly enjoy this pitch black read. Of course, I urge you to always check the trigger warning and content lists, even if you know you like pitch black books, just in case. Your mental well-being matters, and no book is worth compromising it.

Now, my favorite part of the review, my ratings. Which, honestly, have no rhyme or reason. I have a sort of system when it comes to ratings, but usually I'm just winging it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So let's dive right in... The psychological horror aspect is getting 5 outta 5 🧠's because this book was stuffed full of secrets and lies, it kept me guessing and on my toes! As for the gore and body horror, I will be awarding TMHLB a very bloody, made my skin crawl, 5 outta 5 🩸's.  As far as the spice factor goes, it's there! Not all of it was comfortable to read, I'm not gonna lie. And then the rest of it was steamy AF! It didn't overpower the story being told, and for all of that I'm awarding it a very caliente 5 outta 5 🌶️'s. And finally, 'The Mind He Left Behind', might be my new favorite book by A. eM and I'll be giving it a much deserved, in my not so humble opinion, 5 outta 5 overall ⭐'s.

And lastly, you know the drill by now. If this review helped in you picking up and reading TMHLB in any way, please stop back by and drop a comment down ⬇️ below ⬇️ and let me know what you thought. 🫶🏻