Cage of Invisible Bars

A haunting kidnap thriller

By: Dawn Merriman

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Her mind is the prison.

Nellie remembers nothing before the cabin. Her world begins and ends with Jack and their little girl, Aster. Every day is the same: keep the fire burning, keep Aster quiet, and above all—keep Jack happy. He says the world outside is gone, nothing but ash and danger. She believes him. She has to.

But then she finds the doll.

The cracks begin small—an object that shouldn’t exist, a story that doesn’t add up. Jack’s scavenging trips grow longer, his temper sharper. And the wooden box he guards like a secret pulses with questions Nellie can no longer silence.

As her memories start to bleed through, Nellie realizes the life she’s clung to is a carefully woven lie. The greater the truth, the more violently Jack tries to contain it. And when his rage turns toward Aster, Nellie faces the most terrifying question of all:

What if the real cage isn’t the cabin, but her own mind?

★★Book 3 in the gripping Maddison, Indiana 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.”

Enjoy this short excerpt:

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,” I tell the dog.
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.
I fight panic, fight the hysterical laughter that wants to escape my chest, fight the thought that I’m losing my mind.
I need water.
I scrunch my eyes shut and whisper to the air, “Aster, please hurry.”
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Discover what happens next, enjoy Cage of Invisible Bars today.

Thrilling

And to think it ended with the last book! Great plot with lots of twists and turns!

interesting

The narration wasn't as bad as I thought it would be as it was not a real person. I have listened to some that were worse, read by actual people. there were some parts that were confusing as to who was speaking but nothing I couldn't figure out. the story was pretty good and kept my interest. easy to listen to but the ending was predictable and kind of stale.