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Emergence: Something Evil Has Awoken
If you enjoy dark, psychological horror - inclusive of disturbing nightmares and ghosts - don't miss this haunting story of a single father's downward spiral into despair and questionable madness.
When his six-year-old daughter Seren starts talking of a ghostly woman who visits her room each night, young widower John Gimmerick isn’t too concerned. After all she already has an imaginary friend. But when his own nightmares begin to merge with reality and when unexplainable things start to happen around the house, he realises that by revisiting the home of his childhood, in the Northeast of England, he’s stirred up things he’d tried hard to forget – as well as something that should never have been stirred in the first place.
In order to save his little girl from an evil that speaks only of death, reclusive John must now face up to the horrors of his past.
And what he discovers runs deeper and is far more terrifying than he could ever have imagined…
*** Get exclusive story Dempsey’s Demons for free - click here to find out more > https://rhdixon.com < (just copy and paste into your browser) ***
When his six-year-old daughter Seren starts talking of a ghostly woman who visits her room each night, young widower John Gimmerick isn’t too concerned. After all she already has an imaginary friend. But when his own nightmares begin to merge with reality and when unexplainable things start to happen around the house, he realises that by revisiting the home of his childhood, in the Northeast of England, he’s stirred up things he’d tried hard to forget – as well as something that should never have been stirred in the first place.
In order to save his little girl from an evil that speaks only of death, reclusive John must now face up to the horrors of his past.
And what he discovers runs deeper and is far more terrifying than he could ever have imagined…
*** Get exclusive story Dempsey’s Demons for free - click here to find out more > https://rhdixon.com < (just copy and paste into your browser) ***
- GenresHorrorThrillerParanormal
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2016
53 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
R.H. Dixon
13 books16 followersR. H. Dixon is a horror enthusiast who, when not escaping into the fantastical realms of fiction, lives in the northeast of England with her husband and two whippets. She is an active member of the Horror Writers Association.
When reading and writing she enjoys exploring the darknesses and weaknesses within the human psyche, and she loves good strong characters that are flawed and put through their paces. Her favourite authors include: Shirley Jackson, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Joe Hill, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, Michelle Paver and Stephen King.
As well as reading and writing, she enjoys travelling (particularly wildlife-spotting jaunts involving bears, wolves and corvids), visiting spooky places, collecting animal skulls and drinking full-bodied red wine.
When reading and writing she enjoys exploring the darknesses and weaknesses within the human psyche, and she loves good strong characters that are flawed and put through their paces. Her favourite authors include: Shirley Jackson, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Joe Hill, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Tremblay, Michelle Paver and Stephen King.
As well as reading and writing, she enjoys travelling (particularly wildlife-spotting jaunts involving bears, wolves and corvids), visiting spooky places, collecting animal skulls and drinking full-bodied red wine.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews
June 11, 2021
I love discovering brilliant new talent!
Rachael H. Dixon is a writer of horror fiction hailing from the North East of England like myself. After hearing her read a section of this great novel I was super eager to get my eyes on the pages within and I was NOT disappointed!
One of my criteria for a five-star book is simply this - did I want to read it from cover to cover? Yes? It's a winner. This was one of those books. I was hooked from page one and read it super fast, every spare moment I had. I had a few moments of fighting off the long blinks of sleep trying to keep reading. It really held my imagination and is an outstanding FIRST NOVEL from this talented author. Horror Publishers take note of this writer!
This is psychological horror with a touch of the ghostly shivers. It's not gore-fest horror but has subtle dark and creepy moments in it that creep up on you and send shivers down your spine. The descriptive prose is brilliant. Rachael is talented in drawing the reader into the scene, so you see what the characters see, smell what they smell (some really foul smelling evil decaying type moments in this one!), and hear what they here. You also get a sense of feeling the fear and terror they are experiencing.
The book reminded me of some of Adam Nevill's novels (high praise indeed!) and also J.D. Barker's first horror novel, Forsaken (again, very high praise!) and if you enjoy creepy, psychological horror then don't pass up on reading this book. The pace is brilliantly done, the characters are well developed and I enjoyed really getting close to the two main characters in this book including young Seren, a child who is caught up in the dark desires of an evil force wanting to cause great harm. The plot is interesting and highly descriptive, you won't struggle to picture what you are reading. This is one of those books that would make a brilliant movie.
I enjoyed the book immensely and am now eager to read her latest novel. I will treasure my autographed copy of Emergence forever on my special bookshelf. So, creepy horror fans, what are you waiting for? Grab your copy and enjoy! Five stars!
I would love to connect with other book lovers on social media. You can find me online as a Reviewer/Publicist and as my alter-ego Author, Maxine Grey.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BookloverCatlady
Twitter: www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Author FB: www.facebook.com/maxinegreybooks
Author Twitter: www.twitter.com/maxinegreybooks
Rachael H. Dixon is a writer of horror fiction hailing from the North East of England like myself. After hearing her read a section of this great novel I was super eager to get my eyes on the pages within and I was NOT disappointed!
One of my criteria for a five-star book is simply this - did I want to read it from cover to cover? Yes? It's a winner. This was one of those books. I was hooked from page one and read it super fast, every spare moment I had. I had a few moments of fighting off the long blinks of sleep trying to keep reading. It really held my imagination and is an outstanding FIRST NOVEL from this talented author. Horror Publishers take note of this writer!
This is psychological horror with a touch of the ghostly shivers. It's not gore-fest horror but has subtle dark and creepy moments in it that creep up on you and send shivers down your spine. The descriptive prose is brilliant. Rachael is talented in drawing the reader into the scene, so you see what the characters see, smell what they smell (some really foul smelling evil decaying type moments in this one!), and hear what they here. You also get a sense of feeling the fear and terror they are experiencing.
The book reminded me of some of Adam Nevill's novels (high praise indeed!) and also J.D. Barker's first horror novel, Forsaken (again, very high praise!) and if you enjoy creepy, psychological horror then don't pass up on reading this book. The pace is brilliantly done, the characters are well developed and I enjoyed really getting close to the two main characters in this book including young Seren, a child who is caught up in the dark desires of an evil force wanting to cause great harm. The plot is interesting and highly descriptive, you won't struggle to picture what you are reading. This is one of those books that would make a brilliant movie.
I enjoyed the book immensely and am now eager to read her latest novel. I will treasure my autographed copy of Emergence forever on my special bookshelf. So, creepy horror fans, what are you waiting for? Grab your copy and enjoy! Five stars!
I would love to connect with other book lovers on social media. You can find me online as a Reviewer/Publicist and as my alter-ego Author, Maxine Grey.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BookloverCatlady
Twitter: www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Author FB: www.facebook.com/maxinegreybooks
Author Twitter: www.twitter.com/maxinegreybooks
October 22, 2018
4.5 stars!!
EMERGENCE is the third novel that I have read by author R.H. Dixon. I continue to be impressed with her writing style, story ideas, characterization, and the atmosphere that she so easily manipulates to fit the scenes she creates. EMERGENCE was a rich tale, filled with intricate twists, revelations, and emotions that I could honestly feel.
John Gimmerick, a young widower with a six year old daughter, Seren, finds himself called to house-sit the home he left behind nearly twenty years ago. For reasons of his own, he hadn't been back to stay since. His mother's entreaties, and those of his daughter--lonely with her father always working and her mother's untimely death, finally get him to agree to go there "as a holiday" for Seren.
". . . death offers no true opportunity for consolation, no words to sugarcoat the finality of a shortened life . . . "
Once they arrive, John is distinctly ill at ease, especially when his daughter seems so excited to be there.
Even more so when her "usual" imaginary friend is swapped for one more . . . authoritative and demanding.
". . . he was little more than a ghost coming back to haunt the setting of his youth, coasting along a different plane to the one he'd known . . . "
In the early stages of this novel, we are introduced to several different, distinctive individuals. At first, I was honestly confused. Although each had stories that were incredibly interesting, none of them seemed to connect back to John in any way. They were simply off-shoots of the same storyline, I felt.
In this, Dixon really impressed the hell out of me. Ordinarily, I'd be frustrated, anxious to get back to the main theme; however, here I felt as compelled to read their separate stories as well. I compartmentalized each into my mind, leaving a mental door slightly ajar for any tenuous links that might emerge.
". . . Life changing days, the type that turned out for the worse, seldom started with an inkling that catastrophe would strike . . ."
Each character--in all of the storylines--felt authentic in terms of personality, emotion, and motivations as soon as their second "appearance" in the novel. Keeping them straight wasn't an issue, as I first feared it would be. Each section had its own mysteries to unravel, but the one I felt the most drawn to was that of John and Siren.
". . . something within the house was stirring, awakening to the sound of him being there."
The house of John's childhood seemed to change, atmospherically, as the novel progressed. There was an unrelenting tension that intensified page by page, offering no respite, but only more baffling mysteries.
I won't say anything more about the story itself, for this is one each reader truly needs to discover on their own.
There's more to a person than skin and bones. All that stuff's superficial."
Overall, I feel the author did an excellent job of creating a complex tale in which I was interested in all the different "chapters". The characterization was full with each individual, and the story was presented in such a way that I honestly couldn't predict any part of it. This was a haunting novel that crossed over many areas in different ways, and one that will certainly stay with me for quite some time.
Recommended!
EMERGENCE is the third novel that I have read by author R.H. Dixon. I continue to be impressed with her writing style, story ideas, characterization, and the atmosphere that she so easily manipulates to fit the scenes she creates. EMERGENCE was a rich tale, filled with intricate twists, revelations, and emotions that I could honestly feel.
John Gimmerick, a young widower with a six year old daughter, Seren, finds himself called to house-sit the home he left behind nearly twenty years ago. For reasons of his own, he hadn't been back to stay since. His mother's entreaties, and those of his daughter--lonely with her father always working and her mother's untimely death, finally get him to agree to go there "as a holiday" for Seren.
". . . death offers no true opportunity for consolation, no words to sugarcoat the finality of a shortened life . . . "
Once they arrive, John is distinctly ill at ease, especially when his daughter seems so excited to be there.
Even more so when her "usual" imaginary friend is swapped for one more . . . authoritative and demanding.
". . . he was little more than a ghost coming back to haunt the setting of his youth, coasting along a different plane to the one he'd known . . . "
In the early stages of this novel, we are introduced to several different, distinctive individuals. At first, I was honestly confused. Although each had stories that were incredibly interesting, none of them seemed to connect back to John in any way. They were simply off-shoots of the same storyline, I felt.
In this, Dixon really impressed the hell out of me. Ordinarily, I'd be frustrated, anxious to get back to the main theme; however, here I felt as compelled to read their separate stories as well. I compartmentalized each into my mind, leaving a mental door slightly ajar for any tenuous links that might emerge.
". . . Life changing days, the type that turned out for the worse, seldom started with an inkling that catastrophe would strike . . ."
Each character--in all of the storylines--felt authentic in terms of personality, emotion, and motivations as soon as their second "appearance" in the novel. Keeping them straight wasn't an issue, as I first feared it would be. Each section had its own mysteries to unravel, but the one I felt the most drawn to was that of John and Siren.
". . . something within the house was stirring, awakening to the sound of him being there."
The house of John's childhood seemed to change, atmospherically, as the novel progressed. There was an unrelenting tension that intensified page by page, offering no respite, but only more baffling mysteries.
I won't say anything more about the story itself, for this is one each reader truly needs to discover on their own.
There's more to a person than skin and bones. All that stuff's superficial."
Overall, I feel the author did an excellent job of creating a complex tale in which I was interested in all the different "chapters". The characterization was full with each individual, and the story was presented in such a way that I honestly couldn't predict any part of it. This was a haunting novel that crossed over many areas in different ways, and one that will certainly stay with me for quite some time.
Recommended!
April 23, 2019
I could not get past the first page. The writing style did not work for me at all.
September 29, 2016
I picked this book up around a fortnight ago direct from the author and although not normally a Horror reader I was compelled to give it a try as its set in my local area.
At first I was hesitant trying a new genre but quickly found myself submersed in the story which for a simple premise is surprisingly intricate and is woven with very elaborate characters and settings.
The main Character John who at first I found a little irritating and stubborn really grew on me, indeed I found myself rooting for him by the end.
Dixon's style of writing is wistfully descriptive and she really draws you into the scenario.
I couldn't recommend this book more for those looking for something a bit different.
At first I was hesitant trying a new genre but quickly found myself submersed in the story which for a simple premise is surprisingly intricate and is woven with very elaborate characters and settings.
The main Character John who at first I found a little irritating and stubborn really grew on me, indeed I found myself rooting for him by the end.
Dixon's style of writing is wistfully descriptive and she really draws you into the scenario.
I couldn't recommend this book more for those looking for something a bit different.
January 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. Widow John Glimmerick agrees to dog and house sit for his mother in his old home town while she is on a month long cruise. Things begin to happen to him and his six year old daughter Seren not long after they arrive. Seren says a woman visits her room at night and tells her she has to leave or the bad woman will get her. John has nightmares or are they? Patches of mold keep appearing on the ceiling of both their bedrooms. Johns health and sanity are stretched. In revisiting his old home he has awakened something old and evil linked to his past that wants him and his daughter. Now John must face up to his past to save his daughter because what he discovers runs deeper and is far more terrifying than he could ever have imagined
January 17, 2021
Too many storylines & loose ends
I enjoyed A Storytelling of Ravens by this author so much that I looked at the customer reviews on Emergerce. All 5 stars. I reread the reviews when I finished the book because I could hardly believe we were reading the same book.
SPOILER ALERT: There were so many seemingly unrelated storylines that it was difficult to figure out what was going on. There were loose ends as well like the tunnels under the local haunted house supposedly used for smuggling and the creepy oversexed older woman next door.
I enjoyed A Storytelling of Ravens by this author so much that I looked at the customer reviews on Emergerce. All 5 stars. I reread the reviews when I finished the book because I could hardly believe we were reading the same book.
SPOILER ALERT: There were so many seemingly unrelated storylines that it was difficult to figure out what was going on. There were loose ends as well like the tunnels under the local haunted house supposedly used for smuggling and the creepy oversexed older woman next door.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2017
Great horror book! Well written and the perfect amount of scary!
October 5, 2017
A quick and very entertaining read for those who love horror. Good plot, great writing, and believable characters made this book a real winner.
January 13, 2018
Emergence
There were so many words that the English use I found it difficult at times to understand what they were talking about. The sending of the book was the best part.
There were so many words that the English use I found it difficult at times to understand what they were talking about. The sending of the book was the best part.
September 10, 2019
What a great journey and a great read. As ghost stories go this is a good one.
September 4, 2021
Very creepy story and non-cliche horror ideas, but it was a slow burn at first which almost put me off. The second half had me gripped through so glad I kept reading, story paid off.
June 28, 2016
When will I learn?
No, this didn't terrify me and yes I slept quite well after reading this. I felt this was more of a yawn fest. I always read reviews and think "sounds good!" And I'm always disappointed. I'm no doubt very discerning when it comes to horror. So, I truly wish I could find a good book that scares the bejesus out of me. This did not, nor did I find it entertaining. Needed a good backstory on where the "evil" came from. Not just a slapdash of the good old Ouija board tale. For the faint of heart or novices of horror this could be entertaining. I'm just tired of reading the same plots and the same kind of characters in every horror tale I read.
No, this didn't terrify me and yes I slept quite well after reading this. I felt this was more of a yawn fest. I always read reviews and think "sounds good!" And I'm always disappointed. I'm no doubt very discerning when it comes to horror. So, I truly wish I could find a good book that scares the bejesus out of me. This did not, nor did I find it entertaining. Needed a good backstory on where the "evil" came from. Not just a slapdash of the good old Ouija board tale. For the faint of heart or novices of horror this could be entertaining. I'm just tired of reading the same plots and the same kind of characters in every horror tale I read.
October 3, 2016
John takes his six year old daughter Seren to stay in his former childhood home. Strange and sinister things immediately start to happen, which seem to be linked to something buried in John's teenage past. As they become more manifest he realises Seren may be in danger, and he has to atone for his past deeds in order to save her.
The story was very slow to start but when it got going the tension and suspense built up well, the plot twists were cleverly done and the connections between the characters I never saw coming.
All in all a good story.
The story was very slow to start but when it got going the tension and suspense built up well, the plot twists were cleverly done and the connections between the characters I never saw coming.
All in all a good story.
July 20, 2016
A good read with an excellent plot.
While the book has a good plot and is a quick read it isn't very suspenseful.
I recommend this book for those who enjoy solving a mystery.
While the book has a good plot and is a quick read it isn't very suspenseful.
I recommend this book for those who enjoy solving a mystery.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 15 reviews