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Moving Fear

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For Knox Gidden, the twelfth move was supposed to be the family’s last. A final chance to plant roots, heal old wounds, and escape mistakes of the past. But he’s about to learn that some things follow you, no matter how far you run. It begins with a mysterious, pitch-black box that appears without explanation in their new home. Its arrival unleashes a storm of terrifying events, and all eyes fall on Knox, the family’s troubled son. As paranoia poisons their bonds, a far more sinister truth takes THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

DL HAMMONS wrote his first piece of fiction to impress a girl in high school (it was moderately successful), and he’s never looked back. He now lives in Central Arkansas with his best friend (wife of 45 years), where he has published three adult novels (KNIGHT RISE, FALLEN KNIGHT, TWIST) and two YA novels (PRICK, JERK), all Mystery/Suspense. MOVING FEAR is his first foray into supernatural horror.

351 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

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About the author

D.L. Hammons

7 books229 followers
DL Hammons wrote his first piece of fiction decades ago to impress a girl (he was moderately successful) and never looked back.

Growing up as a military brat, DL moved around quite a bit as a kid. After graduating from LSU and raising a family in several southern states, he now makes his home in Central Arkansas, where he has spent the last dozen years perfecting his voice, splitting his writing time between YA and Adult Mystery/Suspense. Besides being an author, DL claims that the most interesting thing about him is that he lacks a sense of smell. Other passions include (but are not limited to) his family (including his two mini-Australian Sheppards), music, movies, video gaming, and cool weather camping.

MOVING FEAR - his YA Supernatural Horror debut is due out early 2026.

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Letsreadagoodbook.
424 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 15, 2026
OMG! DL you did it again! you wrote a book that pulled me right in! I couldnt stop reading if I wanted too! I was so hooked in the story that I felt like I was there!!! Lewis was my FAVORITE! I loved him so much! and i was up here hating on the wrong person! LOL....... this was AMAZING!
Profile Image for J. Dorner.
Author 7 books1,139 followers
March 15, 2026
It has been my great privilege and pleasure to read this book. It's a heart-pounding adventure full of mysteries and horror. There's some tragedy, a very light budding romance, lots of chills, plenty of haunting, a good dose of thrills and action, many plot twists, felt unpredictable (I'm usually pretty good at guessing the "whodonit" but not this time), very entertaining, a strong author’s voice (reminds me of Christoper Pike), and a bit of diversity.

The Prelude may seem unconnected at first, but by Chapter 36, the reader knows for sure it was not. The second prelude also comes back around.
The main character, Knox, is a teenage boy, so this is technically a YA mystery horror. Knox chapters are in first person, from his point of view, other chapters are third person point of view. (Chase Knox, he opted to go by his middle name after his father remarried.) I like that he has done some light writing, nothing he's shared or published, but that he has put pen to page.
Travis, a teenage boy in a black wheelchair with fire-engine red spokes, is a social butterfly. Lindsey (the scholarly one) and Jadie (the popular one) are identical twin sisters. There's a retired 74-year-old grandmother who seems fairly active with her career.
Lewis is a pretty interesting character, as his "negative trait" and his big secret are so perfectly opposite of each other.
The dad is in the Navy, which is why they move around so often. (I never knew there were landlocked naval bases, or Navy officers living off-base so far from the coast, such as in Oklahoma. Honestly, I never thought about it.)
I really enjoyed the character arc of Brad "Tug" Dempsey, who is only a minor character yet gets fully fleshed out.
It's great how Brodie is described as beautiful, yet that's not what's interesting about her, it's her toughness and her mind that make her special.
Wilfred was a surprising character, in the end, and such a twist.
Chapter Fourteen reminded me of a scene in the original Ghostbusters movie, with the books. I loved in Chapter 19 when Knox and Lewis discussed the metric system. And I loved the incorporation of the theory of the multiverse. Lewis reminded me of Sam and Dean in the show Supernatural, hitting the books and the Internet to find out about the lore. Chapter 24 mentions the television show Monk (the defective detective), which I like.
The revelation about Lewis' dad in Chapter Twenty-Five amused me.
Chapter Forty-Eight ends with a huge twist that was the exact opposite of what I expected.
What was written on the balloon in chapter fifty-one? That's the only unresolved question for me.

The title makes sense, and I like the cover with the boxes (one black one, words on duct tape).
Triggers - Chapter 9 has vomiting, there's a scene where someone has a firearm while at a school (but not for the usual headline-news reasons), there is some animal death, and demon possession.

The theme is about not underestimating people. I felt most connected to the Lewis character, and would like to live in his basement, please.

I've been a fan of this author for many years, having followed his blog and taken part in several of the same online social groups, but we do not know each other. I am thanked at the end for supporting the Kickstarter for this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Renee Benavente.
32 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2026
Right from the opening prelude—WTF?! 😳
DL Hammons wastes no time pulling you in, and I was instantly hooked.

This YA thriller/horror follows Knox and his friends through multiple POVs after his family moves into a new home. While unpacking, a mysterious pitch-black box with strange markings suddenly appears in Knox’s room… and that’s when everything starts to unravel.

From there, the tension builds fast—strange, unexplainable events begin happening, creating fear, confusion, and even friction within his family.

And that ending?! 🤯
The plot twist completely blindsided me, and those final chapters had me glued to the pages. I could not put it down.

✨ Spooky, fast-paced, and seriously addictive—this was such a fun, creepy read.

Highly recommend if you love YA horror with twists that hit hard.
46 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2026
I really enjoyed this fast paced, never-a-dull moment book. I'm a sucker for a bunch of kids on adventure, and man, is this a crazy ride! The concept is great, and DL Hammons carries it through straight to the end. You won't be disappointed!
Profile Image for Tiffani Nowak.
24 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2026
So goooood!!!

Oh my gosh, what a ride! Wow, wow, wow!! I HIGHLY recommend this book! Knox and his friends face down a demon who has been taking families for centuries! I loved the characters, the plot, the writing…all of it!
Profile Image for Sammi.
278 reviews13 followers
April 1, 2026
No spoilers


Alpha read this and was obsessed with a few characters!!! When reading this I felt like it was stranger things vibes but not and I absolutely ate this book up. It was an honor to alpha read.
A few characters I hope to see in the futures but only if more people like them as much as I did
Profile Image for Kim Finazzo.
188 reviews10 followers
April 19, 2026
This is the 3rd book I read from DL. They were really good and I would definitely recommend them. I love all the twists and turns in his books. On to the next book. Go check them out.
Profile Image for Karen.
181 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2026
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The twists and turns are what I have come to expect and love from DL Hammons! If you are looking for a book that will keep you invested and turning pages into the wee hours of the morning, this is for you!
Profile Image for Hijabi_booklover.
408 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 25, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Moving Fear** by D.L. Hammons is a relentless, pulse-pounding read that delivers both raw emotion and edge-of-your-seat tension. From the first chapter, the story grips you hard and refuses to let go, blending fear, survival, and deeply human vulnerability in a way that feels unsettlingly real. The pacing is sharp, the atmosphere is heavy, and every scene feels purposeful like you’re being pulled forward whether you’re ready or not.

What really sets this book apart is how personal the fear feels. It’s not just about external danger; it’s about what lives inside the characters their trauma, their instincts, their desperate need to keep going. Hammons writes fear in motion, evolving and escalating until it’s impossible to look away. By the end, you’re left breathless, shaken, and incredibly satisfied. A full five stars for a story that doesn’t just scare you it *stays* with you.
Profile Image for Stef.
72 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy
January 5, 2026
When I say I’m a dedicated fan, I mean I am a DEDICATED FAN of D.L. Hammons.

Veering off the familiar twists and turns of his mystery and thriller roots, Hammons not only delivered—he created a story and a cast of characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

Moving Fear marks his debut into YA horror, and all I can say is: 🤌🤌🤌

We’re introduced to Knox, a mischievous, troublesome, there’s-more-beneath-the-surface kind of protagonist—a misunderstood teen worn down by the exhausting reality of constantly moving and never staying in one place long enough to truly call it home, all part of growing up in a military family.

After relocating to Oxbow, Oklahoma, Knox and his family are ready to finally settle in and establish a new normal—until a mysterious black box, belonging to no one, appears among their belongings.

From there, strange things begin to unfold. Personalities shift. Unexplainable events escalate. An unrelenting unease seeps in as the box becomes more than just an object to fear—it becomes the catalyst for the foreboding, gooseflesh-inducing anxiety that defines Moving Fear.
Profile Image for Amber Nystrom.
28 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 5, 2026
“Moving Fear” is a captivating read that perfectly balances spooky and mysterious elements. The writing is so vivid and engaging that I felt like I was right in the middle of the story. I got so caught up in it that even my dog managed to scare me — a true sign of how immersive it is!
Profile Image for Mandy.
629 reviews36 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
February 6, 2026
This is claustrophobic, slow-burning horror at its finest. Fear seeps into every relationship, trust fractures, and tension never lets up. Dark, deliberate, and disturbingly effective, this is a read that stays with you long after you close the book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews