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The Boy on the Dock

A Psychological Thriller

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The Boy on the Dock

By: A.J. McCarthy
Narrated by: Jenny Myers
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She came to the lake to grieve alone. What she finds is a terrified boy no one else sees.

Haunted by loss, graphic designer Julie retreats to an isolated lake cabin, desperate for solitude and escape. But grief doesn't stay quiet, and neither does the past. When Julie glimpses a frightened boy on a nearby dock, everything she thought she understood about her reality begins to fracture.

Everyone insists the boy doesn't exist. Her ex-husband thinks she's imagining things. The police are disbelieving. Even Mark, her enigmatic neighbor who seems too eager to help, is unsure. Is she losing her mind, or is someone trying to make her believe she is?

When events turn violent and the truth circles ever closer, Julie considers a harrowing possibility. Not only could the boy be real, but he could be in serious danger—and she might be the only one who can help him.

As her grip on reality frays, Julie must summon every ounce of strength to unravel the mystery and confront the trauma holding her underwater for far too long-because finding and saving the boy might be her only chance to save herself.

A chilling, emotional thriller about grief, obsession, and resilience.

©2025 Black Rose Writing (P)2026 Black Rose Writing Crime Fiction Domestic Thrillers Psychological Thriller & Suspense Exciting Fiction Thriller
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Critic reviews

"McCarthy's The Boy on the Dock is like Shari Lapena's The Couple Next Door meets Lisa Jewell's Then She Was Gone-psychological tension from start to finish!" -Cam Torrens, bestselling author of the Tyler Zahn mystery/suspense series
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Amazing narration from Jenny Myers who brings the tension, drama and suspense to your ears.

Julie needs to heal after the death of her daughter Abby, by drowning . Going to the lake to find the peace she needs, she sees a boy and worried she wants to stop him getting into trouble. One problem he disappeared before she reaches him. Not wanting anyone else to fell the pain she has experienced, she starts looking for his parents. Now the game of cat and mouse starts. No one knows who she talking about. Gaslighting seems to be at play, Even her ex starts to question her mind.
A complete rollercoaster of emotions, thrills, suspense and you will be hooked to the very end.





Dock

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Listener received this title free

I found the beginning rather slow for a thriller, but the writing is beautiful, the descriptions took me right out on that lake, and I enjoy that type of story anyway. Great characteristics. I could feel the pain the poor woman is in. She sees a boy on the edge of a dock, and worries that he might be in danger especially after experiencing trauma of her own. The narration of Jenny Myres is excellent, but as I listened, I thought , this is good but not quite a thriller. The mystery of the boy on the dock became deeper about chapter nine. After that I was fully invested in the story. And what an ending! Definitely a thiller! By then I couldn't put it down.

beauitiful writing. slow for a thriller,

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Listener received this title free

This is a first person narrated tale of a woman who has taken up residence for the summer in a remote lakeside community following the tragic loss of her daughter in an accident. Professionally, clearly, human narration by Jenny Myers. The boy on the dock remains a mystery for much of the story leaving us wondering if he is a ghost, a real boy or a figment of the protagonists imagination. There is a spectacular climax, great scenery, exciting stunt, All the ingredients of a good TV mini series.

The Narrator does a great job as the troubled lead although her portrayal as the sad, melancholic first person does become a bit frustrating after several hours of feeling her character's depression and frustration.

Potential TV Mini series?

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