Tremble

by Nikki Freeman

Widow and single mother, Rebecca Noland, wants nothing more than to rekindle the passion with her overworked fiancé, Detective Dan Slaviche. Expecting to surprise him by slipping into his apartment before he comes home from work, her curiosity gets the best of her when she discovers the key to unlock his desktop. What she finds is a nightmare that sends her, along with her seven-year-old son, running for their lives. Terrified and broke, her only option is to flee to her family’s estate in Tremble, Tennessee, where memories of her mother’s violent death still haunt her childhood home. But bad memories aren’t the only thing that await her. As Dan abandons all morals in his attempt to locate his bride-to-be, Rebecca struggles to make this house a home for her son while growing closer to her next-door neighbors. But her sanity comes into question when she realizes that her mother’s murderer is lying in wait within the home, and he’s intent on destroying anyone who tries to come between him and the object of his deadly obsession… her.

Genres: Horror

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2015

About the author

Nikki Freeman, a full time business owner and writer, has been a paranormal enthusiast for decades, thus leading her to write her new novel, Tremble. Also an activist against child abuse, she runs a blog for adult children whose parents suffer from personality disorders. She has previously had work published in Writer’s Digest, as well as private work published on the effects of child abuse. She lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Kathryn Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it hard to believe that this book only has 20 ratings. Yes, it wasn't amazing, but it is still worth a read.
From the beginning this is a very high paced, action horror. I prefer a slow, tension filled, mysterious horror. Everything just happened too quick and in too short a time, I mean the book only spans just over a week. I dislike insta romance, and I think this book could have done without it. Becca is a likable main protagonist with an interesting back story. I understand how Barrett came to exist, but I would have liked more details, like why did Becca make up an ugly 13 year old, and if he is part of her why did he never follow her to Richmond and interfere in her life there, especially when Dan threatened her for the first time. Dan was that real dirty cop character, but I thought he snapped too easily when he found out that Becca knew his secret obsession. I thought he would try charm first instead of full out attack. I do feel slightly sorry for what happened to Dan next and that made him totally lose his mind. So we have Barrett's obsession with Becca on the one hand, counterbalanced by Dan's obsession of Becca on the other hand. It made for an interesting read. I did find some of the writing, especially some of the dialogue a bit clunky and forced. I liked Douglas, he was a very interesting character. I thought that a lot more detail and personality could have been put into Cole, he seemed a bit generic. The end of the book confused me. I reread it half a dozen times to try make sense of it, and I'm still not sure what it really means. Maybe the book will have a follow up novel?

[Thomas J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to read and review in exchange for a free copy of the ebook - I have no connection to either the author or the publisher.

It seems this was the author's first full length novel and was impressed by the length of it. (655 pages on my device)

(No spoilers)

Very in-depth and had a sort of Rose Madder vibe to it at first and then got better than that. There was an immediate empathy towards the main character and the supporting players were all very likeable (except the obvious two or three). What looked at first like a normal revenge and escape thriller turned into something more with the supernatural element which kept you guessing about the cause until the last 50 pages or so.

I would recommend this book and be would interested to see what the author comes up with next. The ending left things open for a sequel or maybe a short story.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, my main complaint with this story is that it had too many elements to it and most of them seem to be unnecessary, at least for me. Particularly the pupa... and I still feel like the ending was unclear. What was she doing, making a new pupa?!?!?!?!

But it's entertaining enough, so if you're for a non-challenging horror read, you might enjoy this

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grew

I was slow to get into this book, but it grew until i could put it down had to finish it. What an ending, or is it.

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm struggling with this review, because my reaction to this book is complicated (which is kind of a good thing in itself. Better than being annoyed, or worse, bored, right?)
So I'll just dive in here and let the reader sort out whether or not it's for them.
The concept of this book is a solid 5. Super cool. It starts off so deceptively chill and breezy, a nice chick lit book. Good pacing, sets you up and then BAM! We're into scary psycho land. Then when the supernatural elements kick in, you're like WHOA! Hang onto your hat, this is going to be a ride!
And for the first half of the book, I was mostly all in. Skilful use of the close and omniscient third person POV, maybe a bit more back and forth and head-hopping than I personally like, but some great descriptive passagaes, good pacing, great tension building.
But it didn't hold for the entire book for me. I found myself wishing the author would trust me to get it, that I don't need a lot repetitions of why the various characters feel the way they do. The expositions also ramp up in the second half. I wish the romance had been left out altogether, it didn't work for me at all. But mostly I wanted more parameters around Barrett, who was one of my favorite characters for much of the book. I was excited to learn more specifics about him, but I never did. His powers verge on deus ex machina. If he's able to manifest tangible attacks, I want to know why he does sometimes but not others, what his limits are, why he wasn't around for some of the truly horrific things that happen to Becca in the first half.
So I wanted more trust that I got it for some stuff and more explanation for others.
It makes a lot of sense for Becca to acquire new identities, but I just can't wrap my head around doing it, then telling all the people in the vicinity about the new names and expecting them- children!- to remember, keep the secret and not trip up.
The fantastic action/tension/terror at the end is bogged down a bit by all the exposition about Barrett's identity. I'd love to have seen all the clinical stuff that gets downloaded sprinkled through the book as bread crumbs.
The very end is 5+, so freakin' good, brought down slightly by having to re-read a couple of times to get who is speaking. A simple edit of 'the little girl said' instead of 'she' (since Becca is the last to have spoken) would have let me shriek in horrified delight without double checking to make sure I understood.
Several editing snafus (ie 'vertebrate' for 'vertebra').
So, while there are elements of this thriller/horror/mystery that are Fantastic Five, by the end my enjoyment of it was a bit below a 3. Out of respect for a solid author I'm landing at 4, but I feel a little guilty about since I have lots of 4 stars that I absolutely ADORE.
I think this is a talented up and coming author who has great books ahead of her.
I was given a free copy of this book by Hellbound Books Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

[Ciarrah, MHA · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book didn't know what it wanted to be. It's like the author knew she had just. one. shot. at greatness, so she tried to cram like 3 books into one, and this mess was the outcome.

It was weird. It was bizarre. It was as if a person who spent their entire life in an underground bunker was given a prompt, and this was the outcome.

And it was trauma p0rn at its finest. I'm not here for the killing of Black slaves or gay men for a plot line. You can miss me with that. It brought nothing to the story.

[Renny Barcelos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy, is this an odd book!

There's a lot going on here… domestic violence, stalkers, paranormal, romance, insta love (which I hate, but… ) pulpas, cheating spouses, haunted houses, psychological issues, etc.

I am still not sure it all worked or was even needed… perhaps it'd have been a better story with less info? And the pulpa… didn't convince me enough. Also, the ending. WTH was that??? Is she creating a new pulpa? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[lynn miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just Wow!

I couldn't put it down. This book will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page. Definitely on my list of favorites!