Title: In Mad HandsAuthor: Jon Athan
First Published: December 18, 2025
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 114
Genre: Extreme Horror, Horror
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating:
Synopsis:
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. Reader discretion is advised.
Get the Book: AmazonReview
In Mad Hands is Jon Athan’s take on the babysitter from hell trope, subverted in a way that made it fresh. The babysitter, Kristine, is completely off her rocker and I absolutely loved the direction that this story went. I expected Kristine to be vicious in the tired way that antagonists in extreme horror can sometimes be, but the character I got in this book was so much better, far exceeding my expectations.
As a parent the story certainly touched on all of my fears about leaving my children in the care of basically anyone but my mother. I was shocked and also relieved that my worst fears occurred off page, the aftermath was horrifying enough without having to read it in extreme detail. I won’t say anything more because I don’t want to spoil the story, I’ll say only that it utilized one of my favorite horror themes splendidly.
Jon Athan never ceases to surprise me, and In Mad Hands is an impressive first novella. The story maintained Athan’s signature brutality without becoming repetitive, it was perfectly paced. I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to more of his novellas in the future!
Quote
“Their eyes wandered to the rearview mirrors, as if checking on River. The silence back there bothered them, plaguing them with a sense of foreboding. But they tried not to overthink it.”
Content Warnings
View Spoiler »About the Author
About Jon Athan
Jon Athan is an author from California. Jon was born on September 12, 1992 during a stormy night. As a child, he enjoyed writing and telling scary short stories. Some of these stories got him into some serious trouble with his teachers, but he persevered through the detentions and therapy sessions.
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