🩸 Horror Fiction

The Sound of Broken Ribs

✍️ Edward Lorn
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$11.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A psychological horror novel linking two women through trauma and supernatural dread.

The narrative juxtaposes Lei Duncan’s seemingly perfect life against Belinda Walsh’s total collapse. Lei’s morning run contrasts with Belinda’s quest for vengeance after discovering her husband Dan was a lie. The plot hinges on their accidental intersection, which unleashes a dangerous force. Lorn constructs the story around the psychological impact of betrayal and the loss of sanity. The text examines how personal grief can open doors to darker realities. The focus remains on the internal states of the protagonists as their worlds morph. The horror arises from the shift in truth rather than external monsters.

Key Themes
psychological breakdown domestic betrayal supernatural intersection
Literary Context

Published in 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work sits within the contemporary independent horror market. It draws on the tradition of psychological fiction where personal trauma manifests as supernatural threat. The text reflects modern anxieties about identity and the fragility of perceived reality.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti · Stephen King · Paul Tremblay
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 298 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781981619580

📝 Description: The Sound of Broken Ribs

Edward Lorn presents a psychological horror narrative centered on Lei Duncan and Belinda Walsh. Lei appears to possess an ideal existence with a stable career and a loving husband. Her routine morning run initiates the plot. In contrast, Belinda has lost her home, her spouse, and her mental stability. A single phone call reveals that her knowledge of Dan was false. This revelation drives her to seek destruction against someone or something unknown. The story focuses on the intersection of these two strangers' lives. Their connection births a powerful and dangerous shift in reality. The narrative explores a darkness within the mind and a tear in sanity. A specific auditory cue, the sound of broken ribs, beckons a presence through this mental breach. Lorn uses this mechanism to blur the line between internal trauma and external supernatural threat. This book suits readers interested in psychological thrillers that merge domestic life with supernatural elements. It appeals to those who enjoy stories where personal loss triggers a descent into madness. The narrative does not offer traditional jump scares but rather a creeping sense of dread. Readers seeking lighthearted entertainment or clear resolutions may find the ambiguous and dark tone difficult to engage with. The text relies on the tension between Lei's perfect facade and Belinda's shattered reality.

💎 Our verdict on The Sound of Broken Ribs

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Edward Lorn constructs a tense psychological horror narrative by juxtaposing Lei Duncan’s perfect facade against Belinda Walsh’s shattered reality. The story excels in its exploration of how personal loss triggers a descent into madness, using the auditory cue of broken ribs to bridge internal trauma and supernatural threat. The text avoids traditional jump scares, opting instead for a pervasive sense of dread that arises from the shift in truth. This approach creates a unique atmospheric tension, making it suitable for readers who prefer ambiguous endings and complex character studies over straightforward resolutions. It effectively captures the terror of betrayal and the fragility of the human mind.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the slow, creeping accumulation of dread rather than sudden shocks will find this narrative compelling. It suits those interested in exploring how personal grief and betrayal can fracture reality, offering a deep dive into the psychological impact of losing one's sense of truth. The book is ideal for fans of stories where the horror stems from internal states and the blurring lines between sanity and madness. Those who enjoy examining the darkness within the mind through the lens of domestic collapse will gain a profound engagement with this text, as it challenges perceptions of safety in everyday life.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Edward Lorn constructs a tense psychological horror narrative by juxtaposing Lei Duncan’s perfect facade against Belinda Walsh’s shattered reality. The story excels in its exploration of how personal loss triggers a descent into madness, using the auditory cue of broken ribs to bridge internal trauma and supernatural threat. The text avoids traditional jump scares, opting instead for a pervasive sense of dread that arises from the shift in truth. This approach creates a unique atmospheric tension, making it suitable for readers who prefer ambiguous endings and complex character studies over straightforward resolutions. It effectively captures the terror of betrayal and the fragility of the human mind.

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