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Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thriller #3
Cage of Invisible Bars
Some cages are in our minds.Nellie has no memory of life before the cabin. Pleasing Jack and caring for her small daughter are her entire life. Living far in the woods, away from the chaos of the destroyed world keeps them safe. Life is simple. Jack goes scavenging, she stays home and cares for Aster. Above all else, keep Jack happy.Everything changes when she finds the doll.Then a chance encounter makes her realize life outside the woods may not be what it seems. Her entire life may be built on a lie. Nellie starts to question her past and question Jack.Jack doesn’t like to be questioned. When he threatens Aster, Nellie has no choice but to escape the cage she didn’t know she lived in. She must fight for her life and the life of her daughter. How do you escape a cage you created in your mind?
★★Book 3 in the gripping Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thrillers series. Each book may be read alone, but you will get the most enjoyment from reading them in order.
Book 1 – I Killed You Once Book 2 – Inheriting Elyse Book 3 – Cage of Invisible Bars Book 4 – 13 Doors Book 5- Jars of Things
Thriller readers, like you, are saying, “This book shook me. I could not stop reading until I found out if Nellie would be okay. Phew, what a ride.”A mix of suspense, faith and thrills.
Enjoy this short
Now that I know Aster is safe, my body makes its discomfort known. My mouth is dry from hours in the stifling heat, my stomach rumbles. I can live with the hunger, but the heat and lack of water is making me light-headed.“Do you think you can bring me some water? I’m very thirsty.”Aster seems excited to be able to help in the strange situation. “I can.” She sits the doll against the shed wall before she goes. “Elyse wants to stay with you.”Without another word, Aster runs off in the direction of the cabin. “Grass, go with her. Protect her.”The dog doesn’t need my prompting, she follows Aster everywhere.While I wait for Aster, I sit against the wall trying to plan how I’ll get the water into the shed. The gaps in the wood are not large enough to pass a cup through. There are gaps between the bottom of the planks and the floor. I kick at one and it breaks open wider, wide enough to pass a cup through.I kick some more, hoping to break the board loose so I can escape. Another small piece of wood falls away, but the plank holds.I imagine Anna had tried the same tactics and failed like I did.How long had she been locked in here if she carved her name in the wall?A scurrying sound behind me makes me freeze. It’s too soon for Aster to have returned. I peak through the gap, but don’t see anything outside that could make the sound.I hear the sound again, turn in the direction it’s coming from.Through the gap in the wall and the floor, I can see the doll leaning against the shed. Sweat drips into my eyes as I watch the doll move to the right.I wipe at the sweat, sure I’m hallucinating from the heat and dehydration. When I look back, the doll is gone.Laying flat on the floor, I look out the gap where the doll had sat only moments before. I see tiny plastic legs walking a few steps, then stopping, as if she felt me watching and froze.Hallucination. Only a hallucination.I shove away from the view, move to the far side of the shed, putting as much distance between me and the doll as I can."I won’t hurt you. I want to help."The words are in my head, only in my head.
★★Book 3 in the gripping Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thrillers series. Each book may be read alone, but you will get the most enjoyment from reading them in order.
Book 1 – I Killed You Once Book 2 – Inheriting Elyse Book 3 – Cage of Invisible Bars Book 4 – 13 Doors Book 5- Jars of Things
Thriller readers, like you, are saying, “This book shook me. I could not stop reading until I found out if Nellie would be okay. Phew, what a ride.”A mix of suspense, faith and thrills.
Enjoy this short
Now that I know Aster is safe, my body makes its discomfort known. My mouth is dry from hours in the stifling heat, my stomach rumbles. I can live with the hunger, but the heat and lack of water is making me light-headed.“Do you think you can bring me some water? I’m very thirsty.”Aster seems excited to be able to help in the strange situation. “I can.” She sits the doll against the shed wall before she goes. “Elyse wants to stay with you.”Without another word, Aster runs off in the direction of the cabin. “Grass, go with her. Protect her.”The dog doesn’t need my prompting, she follows Aster everywhere.While I wait for Aster, I sit against the wall trying to plan how I’ll get the water into the shed. The gaps in the wood are not large enough to pass a cup through. There are gaps between the bottom of the planks and the floor. I kick at one and it breaks open wider, wide enough to pass a cup through.I kick some more, hoping to break the board loose so I can escape. Another small piece of wood falls away, but the plank holds.I imagine Anna had tried the same tactics and failed like I did.How long had she been locked in here if she carved her name in the wall?A scurrying sound behind me makes me freeze. It’s too soon for Aster to have returned. I peak through the gap, but don’t see anything outside that could make the sound.I hear the sound again, turn in the direction it’s coming from.Through the gap in the wall and the floor, I can see the doll leaning against the shed. Sweat drips into my eyes as I watch the doll move to the right.I wipe at the sweat, sure I’m hallucinating from the heat and dehydration. When I look back, the doll is gone.Laying flat on the floor, I look out the gap where the doll had sat only moments before. I see tiny plastic legs walking a few steps, then stopping, as if she felt me watching and froze.Hallucination. Only a hallucination.I shove away from the view, move to the far side of the shed, putting as much distance between me and the doll as I can."I won’t hurt you. I want to help."The words are in my head, only in my head.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2021
107 people are currently reading
119 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 27, 2024
I really enjoyed the 3rd book in the Maddison Indiana series.
Poor Sheriff Kingsley sure deals with a lot of crazy that goes on in this series. You can't help but feel for the guy.
You can read this as a stand-alone, but the repeat characters from the other two books really tie them all together.
If you need a good, quick read, then this book is for you. I read it in a few hours.
Poor Sheriff Kingsley sure deals with a lot of crazy that goes on in this series. You can't help but feel for the guy.
You can read this as a stand-alone, but the repeat characters from the other two books really tie them all together.
If you need a good, quick read, then this book is for you. I read it in a few hours.
November 30, 2023
Cage of Invisible Bars by Dawn Merriman is the third book in the Maddison, Indiana Supernatural Thriller series, and it contributed significantly to my insomnia. This spooky story takes place deep in the woods where Nellie and her daughter, Aster, are protected from the apocalyptic outside world by Jack, who insists that they remain on the property where he can provide for and "protect" them. Keeping Jack happy is the goal of Nellie's life. After all, if Jack isn't happy, no one is safe.
This is a tight, original story that I highly recommend, and once again, I have to ask, WHY? Why isn't Hollywood beating down Dawn Merriman's door?
This is a tight, original story that I highly recommend, and once again, I have to ask, WHY? Why isn't Hollywood beating down Dawn Merriman's door?
October 25, 2022
Third book in series does not disappoint
I was wondering what kind of story could top the second book in the Maddison Indiana Supernatural Thriller series… WOW. Just. Wow!
I don’t know how Dawn Merriman thinks up these stories and their plot twists, but she crafts a spellbinding story here. I love how the first person perspective shifts between characters throughout the book. I really felt that I got to “know” the characters more intimately this way. Dive into this book with your eyes wide open, you’ll be caught up in the story before you know it!!!
I was wondering what kind of story could top the second book in the Maddison Indiana Supernatural Thriller series… WOW. Just. Wow!
I don’t know how Dawn Merriman thinks up these stories and their plot twists, but she crafts a spellbinding story here. I love how the first person perspective shifts between characters throughout the book. I really felt that I got to “know” the characters more intimately this way. Dive into this book with your eyes wide open, you’ll be caught up in the story before you know it!!!
June 8, 2021
Another Winner
I read this in one sitting. It was so good, I didn't want to put it down. The story is about a man, woman and their child living in a cabin in the woods. The man leaves to go looking for food. The woman is told she cannot leave because there are dangers everywhere. If you like suspenseful stories you will love this book.
I read this in one sitting. It was so good, I didn't want to put it down. The story is about a man, woman and their child living in a cabin in the woods. The man leaves to go looking for food. The woman is told she cannot leave because there are dangers everywhere. If you like suspenseful stories you will love this book.
August 22, 2021
I received this Kindle copy for free on 8/13 for an honest review.
Holy canoli, I think Dawn M. Tried to scare the living daylights out of me with this all together to real suspenseful thriller.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wolves spooky and suspenseful thrillers!
Very well written 👏 👌 👍 🙌
Holy canoli, I think Dawn M. Tried to scare the living daylights out of me with this all together to real suspenseful thriller.
I highly recommend this book to anyone wolves spooky and suspenseful thrillers!
Very well written 👏 👌 👍 🙌
Read
June 14, 2021Simply amazing story!
This is an imaginative and scary telling of what could be a real situation. Dawn has storytelling skills that bring the reader right into the tale she tells. This book, and all of her others are highly recommended. Well done!
This is an imaginative and scary telling of what could be a real situation. Dawn has storytelling skills that bring the reader right into the tale she tells. This book, and all of her others are highly recommended. Well done!
June 24, 2021
Wow
Loved it. Another creepfest in Maddison Indiana.
That creepy Elyse is gonna give me nightmares. But I’ve enjoyed reading these books.
Loved it. Another creepfest in Maddison Indiana.
That creepy Elyse is gonna give me nightmares. But I’ve enjoyed reading these books.
June 24, 2021
Love this author
Great series of creepy thrillers! I’m hooked and can’t wait to read the next one! I’ve read all of the author’s books.
Great series of creepy thrillers! I’m hooked and can’t wait to read the next one! I’ve read all of the author’s books.
July 1, 2021
I'll never look at dolls the same. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
February 7, 2022
Really great read!! I didn't want to put it down. Loved the characters...except Jack. LOL. I will definitely check out her other works!
April 24, 2023
Cabin Life
Memoir and her daughter Ashes live in a cabin deep in the woods. They depend on Jack to forage for food and necessities in a chaotic world.
Memoir and her daughter Ashes live in a cabin deep in the woods. They depend on Jack to forage for food and necessities in a chaotic world.
May 15, 2023
Amazing
I am loving this series. Keeps me on the edge of my seat. I can not wait to read the next one
I am loving this series. Keeps me on the edge of my seat. I can not wait to read the next one
July 10, 2023
3.5 for this one. It was a quick read, but I didn’t like it as much as the first two in the series.
Read
July 16, 2023Great story, poor ending
The story was great, grabbed my attention from the beginning. Good character development, but failed at the endIng to the story.
The story was great, grabbed my attention from the beginning. Good character development, but failed at the endIng to the story.
February 26, 2024
Wow! Hard to put down!
This was very good, it was hard to put down to have to do regular stuff around the house! Can’t wait to start the next book in this series!
This was very good, it was hard to put down to have to do regular stuff around the house! Can’t wait to start the next book in this series!
October 22, 2024
This is a good spooky series for Halloween.
November 11, 2024
I love this series. Following Elyse through her adventures are both creepy and exciting. I can't wait to see where this series is going next.
January 25, 2025
More paranormal mayhem
A good continuation of Maddison, Indiana. There were still too many typos, but I was able to keep in the story even with the mistakes.
A good continuation of Maddison, Indiana. There were still too many typos, but I was able to keep in the story even with the mistakes.
September 15, 2025
This book was not like the others not much paranormal but still a page turner.I didn't like how it ended what happened to her and her daughter?
May 14, 2022
Enthralling page Turner!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews