Back to Beyond by John S. Bartolotta: A Haunting Tale of Cursed Mirrors and Interwoven Destinies

What if an ordinary object held the power to unravel time, connect strangers across centuries, and unleash unspeakable horrors? Back to Beyond by John S. Bartolotta is a mesmerizing supernatural thriller that weaves together multiple lives bound by a single cursed artifact—an antique vanity mirror with a dark and malevolent secret. Spanning different eras and locations, this novel is a masterful blend of historical fiction, horror, and mystery that will keep you enthralled until the final page.

A Mirror That Reflects More Than Just Faces

At the heart of Back to Beyond lies an ornate vanity mirror, seemingly innocuous but harboring a sinister force. As it passes through different hands over the decades, each owner experiences inexplicable and terrifying phenomena. The story follows:

• Clayton Wimbleton, a hardworking young man in 19th-century Chicago, who stumbles upon the mirror and soon finds himself plagued by eerie visions.
• Thaddeus Wheeler, a jazz musician in 1920s New Orleans, whose life takes a nightmarish turn after acquiring the mirror.
• William Albright, a World War I soldier, who discovers the mirror in the trenches and begins to question his own sanity.

As their stories unfold, the characters slowly realize they are connected by something far beyond coincidence. The mirror doesn’t just show reflections—it reveals glimpses of other times, other tragedies, and a darkness that refuses to stay confined to the past.

A Thrilling Journey Through Time and Fate

Bartolotta expertly crafts a multi-layered narrative, seamlessly shifting between timelines while maintaining a gripping sense of dread. The novel’s structure keeps readers guessing, slowly unveiling the mirror’s curse and the shared destiny of those who encounter it. The atmospheric settings—from the smoky jazz clubs of New Orleans to the grim battlefields of WWI—add depth and realism to this supernatural tale.

What makes Back to Beyond truly compelling is its exploration of human resilience. Each character must confront their deepest fears and regrets, forced to reckon with forces beyond their understanding. The question lingers: Can they break the mirror’s curse before it consumes them all?

About the Author: A Storyteller with a Lifetime of Experience

John S. Bartolotta’s own life reads like an epic tale. Born into a large Italian family in New York City, he worked as a meat cutter before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1966. As a Vietnam veteran, he carried the weight of war into civilian life, later becoming a plumber, real estate broker, and labor relations professional. After retirement, he channeled his creativity into art—painting, sculpting, and wood carving—before turning to fiction.

His diverse experiences lend authenticity to his storytelling, whether he’s writing about the trenches of WWI or the smoky allure of 1920s jazz. Back to Beyond showcases his ability to blend historical detail with spine-chilling suspense.

Final Thoughts: A Must-Read for Fans of Supernatural Thrillers

If you love stories that intertwine history, horror, and mystery—like The Mirror & the Light meets The Haunting of Hill House—then Back to Beyond is a must-read. Bartolotta delivers a haunting, atmospheric tale that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

Available on Amazon Kindle, this novel is perfect for readers who crave richly drawn characters, eerie supernatural elements, and a plot that keeps them guessing until the very end.

Have you read Back to Beyond? Do you believe in cursed objects? Share your thoughts in the comments!

"Some reflections should never be seen..." — Dive into Back to Beyond by John S. Bartolotta today.