The Church of the Second Self

You didn’t kill your old self. You just told it to wait outside.

When members of New Genesis Fellowship undergo a mysterious ritual known as The Shedding, they are promised freedom from shame, failure, addiction, and regret. They emerge smiling, confident, and transformed.

But something else emerges with them.

As journalist Dana and investigator Vivian begin uncovering a pattern of impossible disappearances, violent doubles, and lives quietly replaced by better versions of themselves, they discover that the church’s greatest miracle may be its greatest horror: every person who tries to bury their true self creates something that refuses to stay buried.

Blending psychological suspense, supernatural horror, and a chilling critique of performance-based religion and identity culture, The Church of the Second Self asks a terrifying question:

What if the version of you that you keep pretending doesn’t exist… finally decided to take your place?

Perfect for readers of The Silent Patient, The Midnight Mass, The Outsider, and dark psychological thrillers that linger long after the final page.