In Mad Hands cover art

In Mad Hands

A Novella

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In Mad Hands

By: Jon Athan
Narrated by: Beau Thomas
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About this listen

Who would you trust with the most important thing in your life?

Heading out for their first date night in two long years, Yoselyn and Joel Cooper entrust their son, two-year-old River, to their frequent babysitter, Kristine Sloan. Kristine has proven to be reliable and caring, looking after River like a little brother. So, it was supposed to be a quiet, peaceful, romantic night for the couple.

But Kristine has different plans up her sleeves—different callings in her mind, different voices to please.

Jon Athan, the author of Are Your Parents Home? and Our Dead Girlfriend, changes the ‘babysitter from hell’ formula with his first extreme horror novella. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands...

WARNING: This book contains graphic content. Listener discretion is advised.

©2025 Jonathan Sixtos (P)2026 Jonathan Sixtos Horror Suspense Thriller & Suspense
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the story's theme could have worked better as a longer more developed theme and deeper character development

short and brutal

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This is a dark and intense short story about the horrors of two tired parents who are entrusting their son in the hands of a mentally unstable "babysitter". It is full of gruesome, graphic and detailed acts of aggression, murder and (self)mutilation. Great for anyone who likes and is able to digest the genre.

Trigger warnings!

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Deliciously detailed in it's violence, this short story had me pondering "what kind of sick mind comes up with this?"
The juxtaposition between chapters, as the story alternates between the parents and the babysitter, is exquisite, as if the author is offering respite before the next round of revulsion.
This is a truly gruesome tale that challenges you to continue listening, with writing reminiscent of Clive Barker, the author delivers some of the most stomach churning descriptions I've ever had the displeasure of imagining. Simply fantastic.

An excruciating listen

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