Witch in the Mirror

by Jack Bernard Rhodes

It started as a sleepover. A group of young teens played harmless games. Just for fun, one of the girls suggested they have a seance. Each one took turns standing before a mirror with her eyes closed. She would repeat the words, “I believe in the Bell Witch,” three times while spinning around. It was harmless fun but for one it was the beginning of a nightmare.

213 pages, Paperback

Published March 14, 2021

About the author

Jack Bernard Rhodes was born the second child of JB (Jack) and Lillie Alberta Wilson Rhodes. He was born in Salinas, California where his father’s family lives. When Jack was two, his parents relocated him and his older sister, Debbie, to Tennessee, where their mother’s family is from.

Jack graduated from Warren County High School in McMinnville, Tennessee. Afterward, he moved to Michigan where he graduated from Davenport University in Dearborn. After his sophomore year, he was on the editorial staff for the school newspaper.

He met Yuan Li in Dalian, China, while he was there on a visit. He was so smitten by her beauty that he returned three times over the span of a year before she moved to the states where they married. They currently live in Chattanooga, Tennessee where Jack continues to write.


Jack's stories bring into existence a dark world with such disturbing characters that all you can think about is how to escape them, but you’ll not want to leave.

You will be taken on an upsetting journey with events that make you think can happen to you or someone you love.

Reviews

[April F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the struggles of the characters in daily life get even more complicated with the addition of a mysterious murder made the story even more entertaining as the family being depicted are relatable and the mysteries top notched.

[Brandy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the story to be heartwarming in some chapters as it shows a father struggling to keep the family happy, yet in some chapters it becomes suspenseful as the story also depicts an unknown murderer on the loose, seemingly beginning at the same time a group of teenagers was performing a ritual.

[Carl M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an intriguing read, especially since one of the main characters was a teen experiencing a mental breakdown. The narrative was also entertaining to read because the family depicted is relatable and the mystery surrounding the murder cases is suspenseful.

[Richard Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an intriguing read, to say the least, especially when it showed a teenager by the name of Michele go through a mental breakdown as her world crumbles around her.

[Linda K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was seemingly innocent enough at the beginning, a family struggling to make do with their mundane lifestyle until the father purchased a farm and everything turned from mundane to suspenseful when a supposed supernatural occurrence of a with happened and a mysterious murder took place.

[Scott T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tantalizing tale that starts as a typical family drama, but slowly offshoots into a different genre of mystery and slight horror. Overall, the story was entertaining and never had a dull moment.

[Beatrice Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because of the way the narrative is written and the level of detail that goes into how each teenager would react to a frightening experience, one could assume that the author had a similar experience, as the writing appeared to be told from a person who had a similar experience.

[Sara Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family drama, supernatural occurrences, murder, and questionable romances. The book was a lot more than what I expected upon my initial read but it was still worth the time to read as every page kept me glued to the narrative.

[Elaine Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the "witch" was finally introduced into the story, the theme quickly shifted from a family drama to a suspenseful and entertaining mystery as murders and questions began to arise throughout the neighborhood.

[Maria Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story itself was well written and fleshed out its characters well, and it was an interesting take on how teenage psychosis is affected by the horror and suspense of an unfamiliar mystery occurring around them.

[Boyd Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot followed the trope of a crime motivated by greed and passion that brings an entire town to its knees, with people afraid to walk alone at night. What made it stand out was the inclusion of distinct characters who unexpectedly played a role in the murderer's capture.

[Edgar Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is filled with a range of controversial topics such as teenage psychosis, LGBT relationships, murder, and a sprinkle of the occult, all of which make for an interesting topic on their own, but even more so when mashed together.

[Shelia Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is entertaining from start to finish as the main character's world crumbles around her after a night of what was supposed to be harmless fun. As murders and questions began to emerge, the theme quickly shifted from a drama-filled narrative to a suspenseful and entertaining mystery.

[Cynthia Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing gets the heart pumping more than a murder mystery, as the suspense of the perpetrator getting caught slowly builds up until a final confrontation. The book was well-written and entertaining to the end.

[Carrie Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a string of murders start cropping up around a once peaceful town the narrative starts getting dark and begins depicting the side of teenage psychosis many often overlook, making this story a mix of drama, comfort, and suspense.

[Constance Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the book not being about teenage psychosis, several scenes depict how such a condition could affect everyone involved. This fact is what I was most interested in, but the narrative itself was also exciting to read.

[Jennie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some scenes had me guessing whether it was happening or all the delusions of teenage psychosis, as some interactions seemed to be products of hallucinations, nonetheless reading the story to the end was an exciting and entertaining experience.

[Janet Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, the narrative gave me the impression of offering solace to people with some form of psychosis, but as the story progresses the plot thickens with some graphic scenes of murder and moments of suspense.

[Jimmie Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story depicts a struggling family going through a rough patch in life as it becomes involved in a mystery. It was an intriguing take on how the anxiety of death and paranoia affect the character's psychosis.

[Sylvia Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story itself was captivating to read because it depicted how a series of traumatic events inflicted on one person can affect everyone involved and how even the most unlikely of people can be helpful.

[Tierra Neel · Rating 5 out of 5]

With how the story was written I could feel Micheles plight against distinguishing reality and hallucinations, matters get more complicated when she becomes involved as a witness and victim to a crime, further adding to the character growth and suspense.

[Henrietta Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder, mystery, and drama, what's not to like about a book like this, the narrative is certainly entertaining as the author made sure to keep the flow consistent throughout the story.

[Theressa Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author ensures that the flow of the story is consistent throughout, so the narrative is certainly entertaining. The writing appears to have a strong emphasis on emotional trauma and psychosis.

[Latrice Barnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm torn between which I enjoy more, the teenage drama or the murder mystery case as both topics in the story is so enjoyable to read thanks to the well-thought-out plot behind them.