Phantom Limb: A Gripping Psychological Thriller

A great read, has you believing one thing only to turn it on its head, not just once but several times. I couldn't put this book down.

When I picked up Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry I didn’t have any preconceived thoughts about this book as the author was a new one to me, it was the book description that enticed me to pick this one up, I’m always drawn to books that explore the human psyche and Phantom Limb explores the very subject with both empathy and understanding. I expected a psychological thriller with twists and turns and bucketfuls of suspense, but what I never expected was to read such a raw and emotive tale that at times made for a disturbing and deeply tragic tale. I think it’s only fair to point out this book covers many themes, self harming, childhood abuse and mental health issues to name but a few, although while it never felt gratuitous within the context of the story, it may upset some readers. Elizabeth finds herself on a psychiatric ward after the death of her twin sister Emily, she has no memories of past events apart from being the one who found Emily dead. Firstly Elizabeth has to cope with the loss of not only her sister but her best friend, but she also needs to confront her past however painful that maybe, if she ever hopes to leave the confines of a psychiatric ward. Much of the novel is told around Elizabeth’s time on a secure psychiatric ward, the author describes the scenes, emotions and characters in a very credible way. Phantom Limb is very much a character driven story so if you were hoping for a fast paced read this definitely isn’t the book for you. Lucinda Berry gives a very authentic insight into mental illness and how childhood trauma can affect a person years after the fact, she expertly uses her clinical experience to create a psychological thriller that on the whole makes for a realistic read. Reading about Elizabeth and Emily’s traumatic childhood made for a very uncomfortable read at times, as you learn more about their past I couldn’t help but care about these characters and what happened to them. What I did find intriguing was how despite them being twins, each sister reacted very differently to their childhood trauma.This is a fairly short book and I read it in almost one sitting, as Elizabeth begins to unravel her lost memories it made for a tension filled read. Although I found Phantom Limb to be a dark and disturbing read, I did think it would have more twists and turns to truly mess with the reader’s head, for me this book swayed heavily on the mystery side. I wouldn’t consider this to be an enjoyable read due to some of the subject matter, but I would say it’s an intriguing read with plenty of mystery.

Good read but predictable twist at the end. Started well but go a little dry in the middle and started to lose interest a bit.

Good read, read in one sitting

The story starts off when the twins are young children living with their mother. The horrors of the abuse, though only briefly touched upon, was still horrific to read making quite an impact on the reader. There is no wonder that both sisters have issues and are struggling with trying to get on with their lives. Elizabeth certainly seems to be fairing better than Emily but it was heart warming to read of how Elizabeth has almost become the mother figure to her sister and making sure she watches out for her. Even though the story starts off being quite a dark and disturbing read, the darkness actually grows and envelopes the reader as we get further into it. I had guessed quite early on, parts of where the story was going. I hadn't got it one hundred percent right though, so there was still some surprises waiting in store for me. Phantom Limb really delves into the world of our mind and how we deal with things. I really enjoyed the twin aspect of the story as it adds another level to the story. It's certainly a story that will consume you and have you gripped throughout. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, then would certainly recommend giving this one a go.

It's great book loved it thank u

This was a really easy book to get in to. I didn't realise there was child abuse in the story so please be aware. Apart from that it was a really good book.

What a twist , this is written brilliantly. Definitely my new favourite author I read this in a day .

Great book 10/10! It kept me hooked and I couldn’t put the book down ! The twist at the end I never expected but boy was it a good one! Amazing writing.

It kept my interest but was also very dark and very repetitive. I guessed the twists early on. 4 stars because even though it was disturbing I couldn’t put it down. I also think the content could have been handled a bit more delicately, it seemed like it was repeated so much to cause a shock value but really it was just bad taste. Check content warnings before reading, this won’t be for everyone.

Fascinating story. I enjoyed this book, the depth that Lucinda studies to get the medical terminology correct is amazing. What a ride 👏

Same as described, I havent read it yet but its on my list for sure

I loooooove Lucinda Berry's novels. Every one of them, they are fantastic psychological thrillers. This is a great dark story about twins that have serious problems because of what they have lived. Great twist at the end! I have bought every Lucinda Berrys book and cant wait for the next one!