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Shimmer
In the deep woods of Appalachia, something waits in the spaces between the trees.
Kyle and Macy Connors disappeared on a bright summer morning, walking into the forest behind their home in Laurel Gap, TN The search lasted two weeks. Bloodhounds lost the scent. Volunteers found nothing. The woods gave back only silence. Seventy-two days later, the children walked out on their own.
They were filthy. Clothes torn to rags, skin covered in scratches and bruises, dirt ground so deep it seemed part of them. But no real injuries. Nothing broken, nothing infected, nothing to explain how two kids survived over two months in the wilderness. The doctors ran every test. Physically, they were fine. Miraculous, they said. A blessing. But blessings don't stare through their own parents with empty eyes.
Kyle and Macy sit at the kitchen table like hollow puppets. They answer questions in flat, emotionless voices. They claim no memory of the missing months. They move through their home as strangers, responding without recognition, eating without hunger, existing without the spark that makes a child human. Their dog won't go near them. Their mother's relief curdles into something she can't name.
Sheriff Ty Sherrod knows the wrongness runs deeper than trauma. He's seen grief. He's seen shock. This is something else. Then the bodies start appearing. Drained in ways that turn his stomach. Twisted into positions that break the laws of anatomy. Left in a condition no man or animal could cause. And each time, there's no evidence. No tracks. No explanation. Just death wearing a question mark. The town fractures between relief and horror. The children watch it all with those same blank stares. And in the woods behind the Connors' house, something ancient stirs, finally given eyes to see our world.
In Laurel Gap, Tennessee, the woods hide secrets, and the lost don't come home unchanged.
From David A Lambert, author of Hushbone, Rangatang, and Black Lung, comes a chilling Southern Gothic nightmare where the price of survival is paid in blood, and some pacts are better left unmade
Kyle and Macy Connors disappeared on a bright summer morning, walking into the forest behind their home in Laurel Gap, TN The search lasted two weeks. Bloodhounds lost the scent. Volunteers found nothing. The woods gave back only silence. Seventy-two days later, the children walked out on their own.
They were filthy. Clothes torn to rags, skin covered in scratches and bruises, dirt ground so deep it seemed part of them. But no real injuries. Nothing broken, nothing infected, nothing to explain how two kids survived over two months in the wilderness. The doctors ran every test. Physically, they were fine. Miraculous, they said. A blessing. But blessings don't stare through their own parents with empty eyes.
Kyle and Macy sit at the kitchen table like hollow puppets. They answer questions in flat, emotionless voices. They claim no memory of the missing months. They move through their home as strangers, responding without recognition, eating without hunger, existing without the spark that makes a child human. Their dog won't go near them. Their mother's relief curdles into something she can't name.
Sheriff Ty Sherrod knows the wrongness runs deeper than trauma. He's seen grief. He's seen shock. This is something else. Then the bodies start appearing. Drained in ways that turn his stomach. Twisted into positions that break the laws of anatomy. Left in a condition no man or animal could cause. And each time, there's no evidence. No tracks. No explanation. Just death wearing a question mark. The town fractures between relief and horror. The children watch it all with those same blank stares. And in the woods behind the Connors' house, something ancient stirs, finally given eyes to see our world.
In Laurel Gap, Tennessee, the woods hide secrets, and the lost don't come home unchanged.
From David A Lambert, author of Hushbone, Rangatang, and Black Lung, comes a chilling Southern Gothic nightmare where the price of survival is paid in blood, and some pacts are better left unmade
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2026
About the author
David Lambert
18 books11 followersStep into the world of David A. Lambert, a storyteller whose life reads like one of his own captivating novels. Known affectionately as "Pappy" to friends and readers alike, David crafts tales shaped by a life of extraordinary experiences and global adventures.
Born in the gritty landscapes of Manchester, New Hampshire in 1964, David's journey from Marine Corps veteran to acclaimed author embodies the American spirit of reinvention. His eleven years of military service instilled in him a discipline and perspective that breathes authenticity into every page he writes. Whether you're exploring the supernatural tensions in his Revenant Chronicles or following the calculated precision of his Colton Cross thrillers, you'll feel the influence of a man who has truly lived the spectrum of human experience.
Just three years ago, David embarked on his writing odyssey, transforming from puzzle creator to masterful novelist with remarkable speed. His diverse professional background—from digital mapping director to manufacturing supervisor to his current role as a dedicated family clinic nurse—infuses his narratives with technical precision and profound human understanding that readers consistently praise.
Discover his gripping standalone titles like "Hushbone," "Rangatang," "The Devil's Mouth," "Cane Creek," —each offering a unique window into David's imaginative landscape. For series enthusiasts, the Revenant Chronicles ("Crimson Horizon" and "Fractured Horizon") delivers supernatural suspense that will keep you awake long past midnight, while the Colton Cross Contract Killing series ("Cross The Line" and "Burning Cross") introduces you to a protagonist whose moral complexity will haunt you long after the final page. Under his pen name Michael K Piper, "Jazz Town" and "Black Town" showcase different facets of his versatile storytelling ability.
From the mountains of East Tennessee, where he now makes his home with his loyal cat Athena, David draws inspiration from a life lived across continents. Having resided in Japan, Korea, Poland, Belgium, Hawaii, and numerous American states, his narratives resonate with cultural insights that transform ordinary stories into extraordinary journeys. When not creating new worlds on the page, this father of three enjoys life's simple pleasures—watching sports, attending theater, exploring local restaurants, and of course, losing himself in a good book.
Join the growing community of readers who have discovered the immersive worlds of David A. Lambert, an author whose life experiences and genuine love for storytelling shine through in every carefully crafted word.
Born in the gritty landscapes of Manchester, New Hampshire in 1964, David's journey from Marine Corps veteran to acclaimed author embodies the American spirit of reinvention. His eleven years of military service instilled in him a discipline and perspective that breathes authenticity into every page he writes. Whether you're exploring the supernatural tensions in his Revenant Chronicles or following the calculated precision of his Colton Cross thrillers, you'll feel the influence of a man who has truly lived the spectrum of human experience.
Just three years ago, David embarked on his writing odyssey, transforming from puzzle creator to masterful novelist with remarkable speed. His diverse professional background—from digital mapping director to manufacturing supervisor to his current role as a dedicated family clinic nurse—infuses his narratives with technical precision and profound human understanding that readers consistently praise.
Discover his gripping standalone titles like "Hushbone," "Rangatang," "The Devil's Mouth," "Cane Creek," —each offering a unique window into David's imaginative landscape. For series enthusiasts, the Revenant Chronicles ("Crimson Horizon" and "Fractured Horizon") delivers supernatural suspense that will keep you awake long past midnight, while the Colton Cross Contract Killing series ("Cross The Line" and "Burning Cross") introduces you to a protagonist whose moral complexity will haunt you long after the final page. Under his pen name Michael K Piper, "Jazz Town" and "Black Town" showcase different facets of his versatile storytelling ability.
From the mountains of East Tennessee, where he now makes his home with his loyal cat Athena, David draws inspiration from a life lived across continents. Having resided in Japan, Korea, Poland, Belgium, Hawaii, and numerous American states, his narratives resonate with cultural insights that transform ordinary stories into extraordinary journeys. When not creating new worlds on the page, this father of three enjoys life's simple pleasures—watching sports, attending theater, exploring local restaurants, and of course, losing himself in a good book.
Join the growing community of readers who have discovered the immersive worlds of David A. Lambert, an author whose life experiences and genuine love for storytelling shine through in every carefully crafted word.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 13, 2026
Made me want to look my doors
Sleeping with the lights on is my new normal after finishing this one. The whole Southern Gothic vibe just creeps right under your skin and stays there. Reading about Kyle and Macy coming back from the woods looking like normal kids but acting completely hollow honestly gave me the worst shivers. It totally plays on that weird, primal fear of the deep forest and whatever ancient things might be hiding out there in the dark.
I really loved following Sheriff Ty through all the madness. He felt like such a grounded, realistic guy trying to wrap his head around all these impossible, twisted bodies popping up around Laurel Gap. The tension builds so perfectly. That specific detail about the family dog being terrified of the kids was so unsettling and really set the mood for the whole nightmare. You can just feel the mom's sheer panic the whole time.
I'm giving it four stars just because some of the police investigation stuff dragged a tiny bit in the middle while we were waiting for the evil to fully show its face. I found myself skimming a couple of the town reaction scenes just to get back to the creepy kids sitting at the kitchen table. But honestly, if you want a slow-burn horror story that totally messes with your head, you should definitely grab a copy.
Sleeping with the lights on is my new normal after finishing this one. The whole Southern Gothic vibe just creeps right under your skin and stays there. Reading about Kyle and Macy coming back from the woods looking like normal kids but acting completely hollow honestly gave me the worst shivers. It totally plays on that weird, primal fear of the deep forest and whatever ancient things might be hiding out there in the dark.
I really loved following Sheriff Ty through all the madness. He felt like such a grounded, realistic guy trying to wrap his head around all these impossible, twisted bodies popping up around Laurel Gap. The tension builds so perfectly. That specific detail about the family dog being terrified of the kids was so unsettling and really set the mood for the whole nightmare. You can just feel the mom's sheer panic the whole time.
I'm giving it four stars just because some of the police investigation stuff dragged a tiny bit in the middle while we were waiting for the evil to fully show its face. I found myself skimming a couple of the town reaction scenes just to get back to the creepy kids sitting at the kitchen table. But honestly, if you want a slow-burn horror story that totally messes with your head, you should definitely grab a copy.
August 1, 2026
The author's writing is so incredibly descriptive that you're immediately picturing yourself in this story! The pacing is steady and kept me wanting more. This played out like a movie in my head. I felt as though I knew the characters, knew the town, knew the woods, knew the animals, and lived the horror first hand. I would LOVE to see a movie adaptation of The Shimmer! I feel like this story will stay with me forever. I may never think or feel the same way again when I walk into these Appalachian woods.
March 9, 2026
I love this author every book always gives me chills so well written and creepy.
April 11, 2026
When two siblings go into the forest and don’t come out till months later they don’t come back as they were. Super spooky atmosphere, small town drama and a mysterious forest makes for a fun read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews