An unsolved murder. A reluctant psychic. Hanging House never sleeps, and neither will you.
Emmie Rose Fisher just wanted to get as far away from her psychic past as possible. Who can blame her? Seeing dead children isn’t a “gift”. Struggling and isolated, there’s only one place left to go, back into the heart of her trauma and fears. Her childhood home. Hanging House.
Determined to make the best of her new life, she soon realizes she can’t outrun the ghosts of her youth. Either face the looming darkness or she won’t get out alive.
Hanging House is the first novel in a new Paranormal Mystery series that delivers murder, ghostly mysteries, and a twist of horror.
Fans of Wendy Wang, Darcy Coates, Abe Moss, Cheryl Bradshaw, or Heather Graham will love this exciting new supernatural suspense book.
Dean Rasmussen grew up in a small Minnesota town and began writing stories at the age of ten, driven by his fascination with the Star Wars hero's journey. He continued writing short stories and attempted a few novels through his early twenties until he stopped to focus on his computer animation ambitions. He studied English at a Minnesota college during that time.
He learned the art of computer animation and went on to work on twenty feature films, a television show, and a AAA video game as a visual effects artist over thirteen years. He currently teaches animation for visual effects in Orlando, Florida.
Inspired by his favorite authors, Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, and H.P. Lovecraft, Dean began writing novels and short stories again in 2018 to thrill and delight a new generation of horror fans.
This was a really magnificent story complete with believable and intriguing characters. The mystery surrounding the house is spine chilling, and the suspense will keep you glued to the pages until the end. A terrible accident had taken place at the old place, and "something" still walked there looking for revenge. or perhaps more victims. The story was spooky enough for the "Ghost Story Junkie". Anyone who loves ghost stories and suspenseful tales will love it. It touches on so many theories and questions about life after death and the paranormal...who can say what is fact and what is fiction?
This book was a bit of a paranormal mystery moment, or horror mystery since it involves ghosts/ spirits. the first 50% was slow for me, it focused on the character of Emmie, who can see spirits of kids who were either murdered or have committed suicide, more than anything, her anxiety, her history in town, the incident involving her childhood friend Frankie who had drowned at the age of 7 and her relationship with some of the people in her home town.
The last 50% picked up as more things were happening, it's pretty fast paced from that point onward but i felt like it was slightly disproportionate especially because it's a little short, under 300 pages. I was expecting more backstory for the hanging girl because, this book is called hanging house and a lot of the focus was also on her but it only gave us glimpses of "the character of Alice Hyde" aka hanging girl and more on Frankie's death mystery which was only revealed as an actual mystery with an actual plot at the 50% mark.
The writing was okay, maybe a light editing hand might be needed but overall, it's fine, accessible and easy to read. The premise of the book is also interesting but could have been done a little better imo. Some scenes involving some ghost/ spirit action felt a little lackluster, like more descriptive detail is needed in order to perfectly portray the scene better because i was confused at times.
This is a new to me author and I rather enjoyed this book. I have always been interested in the paranormal and love that aspect of this book. I am looking forward to listening to the next one.
This was a great introduction to a new writer and series! I've never heard of Dean Rasmussen but I'm glad I tried this book. We follow Emmie from her empty life in LA back home to Minnesota, where she has a haunted mansion and secrets galore waiting for her. There she encounters old friends, some new and not to mention ghosts in her small town.
The story has many horror elements, and I'm confident this series is not for reading before bed. And that is all right with me.
If you can't handle violence against children, I wouldn't recommend these books, but if you're up for a great female lead, found family, and heart-wrenching sadness, then Hanging House might be just for you.
I know I'm on my way to the next in the series. And hoping, just a bit, for a budding romance between Emmie and Sarah.
Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this as an honest review. This haunting, sad and intense story is brilliantly narrated by Kasi Hollowell. Since her childhood, Emmie has been able to see ghosts of dead children and is continually harassed by one dead girl seen hanging from a tree on the property. The death of her friend left a deep mark on her life that Emmie thought she could leave it all behind; only thongs didn't go the way she wanted. Coming back to the home that tormented her, Emmie finds herself once more confronting the hanging ghost girl "Alice" whom wants her gone. It's the mystery surrounding her friend "Frankie" death that she becomes embroiled in; and harrowingly discovers the truth she couldn't even imagine. Highly recommended.
Good ruddy grief!!! This is just THE most PERFECT horror book situation!
Even as a young child, Emmie found she had a terrifyingly, unwanted "gift". Dead children would appear to her, in various states of decomposition. It absolutely terrified her!
I absolutely can't wait to see what happens to Emmie in the upcoming series.
I enjoyed every minute reading this fabulous book. 😁
This was a good paranormal mystery to read but the beginning was quite slow for me. For the first half of the book we focus a lot on Emmie's mental health and her inner thoughts about her childhood and the problem she faces in day to day life with seeing ghosts but after the first 40% to 45% things do pick up quite a bit especially when Sarah and Emmie together investigate the mystery behind the death of Emmie's childhood friend. I liked Finn the skeptic a lot too though I felt like Emmie trusted and befriended him much too fast. The Hanging Girl's ghost was very creepy especially towards the end and I would like to see more about what happened to her in the past. Sarah's ability was a good complement to Emmie's in my opinion, add to that Finn's scientific approach to anything paranormal and we have a great trio of Paranormal Investigators. Hoping the next book will have more ghostly action to binge through.
First, let me say, the actual mystery of the novel is superb. It kept me guessing, and just when I thought Emmie had figured it out, it took an entirely different direction. Fantastically done. And when the spirits were described, especially the hanging girl herself, it was creepy and horrific—exactly what I wanted in a ghost story.
However, I agree with a few of the readers who said that the ghost story aspect did not deliver on expectations. Emmie was plagued by the spirit of a hanged girl her entire life, even when she moved back into the house as an adult. However, that's where we lose all focus on this subplot. The references at the end were vague and weren't enough to tie up that part of the narrative. I definitely felt dissatisfied, like part of the story had been missing. I'm hoping that the author goes into more of it in the second book, since he does leave it open for that.
Parts of the story felt rushed and hurried, and the leap of "how" and "why", character motivations and life experiences and how they affected the characters' present actions, required more of a leap of faith from the reader and a suspension of belief than anything substantially developmental from the author. I really struggled with that, but again, the mystery held the inconsistencies together like a very tacky glue. If you're reading simply for the enjoyment and are willing to overlook some of the more technical aspects, you're going to love this story.
Overall: 5 of 5 stars Performance: 5 of 5 stars Story: 5 of 5 stars Reviewed: 06-01-22
After losing her job, Emmie’s only choice is to go back to her long abandoned childhood home, spruce it up and get it on the market pronto! One tiny problem, her childhood home is Hanging House, aptly named for a very good, horrifying reason. I have to say that I LOVED this story. Part mystery, part thriller, part horror story and throughly enjoyable in every way! The characters are fantastic, unique, and well developed. They have a sense of reality about them that makes them endearing, some a bit quirky, some a bit uppity, some a bit awful, just like some people I’m sure we ALL know and love. The plot was very well thought out, very clear, easy to follow with a few twists (no spoilers) that I for one did not see coming. I always like to be surprised and this story accomplished that, especially in the ending and wrap up, again no spoilers! What I can say is there were awe’s and tears involved! Now the narration, that was something special. The characters were extremely well voiced, with a full and appropriate range of emotion displayed. The pacing was good and the flow was smooth. I have to say that overall, this one checked all my boxes! Five stars across the board!
Hanging House, An Emmie Rose Haunted Mystery - Book 1 by Dean Rasmussen
This book is the first book in the series of Emma Rose Haunted Mysteries. Even as a young child, Emma Rose exhibited a psychic ability called the Third Eye, which allowed her to sense and see spirits. Unfortunately she could only see dead children who had either died violently or had committed suicide. After she was able to locate the dead body of her childhood friend, she was shunned by the townspeople. After she graduated from high school, Emmie left town with no plans to ever return. But after she loses her job, she has no choice but to return to her hometown and live in the house that she grew up in. Unfortunately the ghost of a girl that was hanged still haunts her house and makes her presence known. Can Emmie fight off this malevolent spirit with the help of her new friends? Is there more than one malevolent spirit in her house that is determined to harm her? I enjoyed this book and felt that it did a good job introducing us to the main characters in this series. The plot was not violent, but suspenseful. It was a combination of a haunted house story and a murder mystery !
I enjoyed this book and thought it was good but not great. Probably more of a 3.5 stars. It is a classic ghost story with realistic characters. Emmy lost her job in LA and returns home to the house where she grew up in Minnesota. When she was a child she was haunted by the ghost of a young girl found hanging in the backyard and unfortunately the Hanging Girl is still there. The characters were wonderful. Emmy struggles with her "gift". Finn searches for evidence of the paranormal. Sarah, an old friend from high school, is a believer. John totally doubts the existence of the paranormal and tries to explain it away. This is a realistic look at the way people accept things they can't understand. The descriptions of what the ghost did are chilling. There are several twists that add to the story. I listened to the audiobook and I only had one problem. Emmy sounded like a teenager, younger than I assumed her to be. Otherwise the narration was well done.
This is a new author for me and the reviews were so intriguing, I knew I had to pick this one up. I love stories about psychics, have always interested me.
This is a series of books about Emmie Rose. You see she has always seen ghosts. When her best friend was missing, she found his body and everyone in the community accused her of murdering him. But, proving where she was when he went missing, the police knew she wasn't guilty. Emmie moved away and started a job, but unfortunately, the business closed and now she is no job and they only thing she knows to do, is move back home. Her parents, had left the house to her. But, Emmie, never wanted to live in the house again, as a ghost she called "The Hanging Girl" always visited her and threatened her life to move out of the house.
Now Emmie must face her fears and the ghosts. This time, she may learn what actually happened to her friend, Frankie. A book not to be missed!!
Wow I totally wasn't expected to enjoy Hanging House as much as I did. I believe this is my first book by the author and I was impressed. What really helped was Emmie's character who its hard not to warm to.
The mystery was strong and I didn't see that end coming if I'm honest. It threw me a little as I nearly always work things out. Plus I liked the side characters of Finn and Sarah (Who I hope to see in other books). It was good seeing how Emmie adapted to being back at her home. I'm also wondering if there is more of a mystery as to what happened to her parents...
A solid 4 stars. I've not read any supernatural books for a while, but this one seemed to hit all the right notes for me. I read this in a day and am now looking at more Emmie books to see where Dean (Author) takes us.
Audiobook: This was my first experience with Dean Rasmussen's work, and the first book of the "An Emmie Rose Haunted Mystery" series was creepy and entertaining. Emmie Rose has been haunted by the ability to see the ghosts of children most of her life. When forced by circumstances to return to her home, Emmie realized that she would need to face her fears. The setting was perfect for a ghost story. The characters were personable. The plot started out with the right amount of eeriness and then built to a crescendo. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Kasi Hollowell's narration was great, and her performance maintained the story's ambiance. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
Typically, when I download an ebook, it’s just to have something to read while laying in bed or to keep me occupied during my lunch-breaks at work. I never expect these books to be completely mind-blowing as I just pick them out on a whim to pass time.
BUT MY GODS. The quickness in which this book captured my undivided attention was absolutely wild. I could not put this down. Any other books I was reading were instantly shoved to the sidelines.
Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
I’m so happy this is a series because I’m totally ready to devour them all.
Checking out the horror genre., and this one took a HUGE suspension of disbelief. After getting past my anger at parents who open the door to demons to the detriment of their young daughter, I read on to find out what happened to the hanging girl. And never did! Most annoyingly, the author goes to all the trouble to set up the rules of "spiritualism" only to break all the rules in the end. I can't recommend it, and I'll pass on other books by this author.
The Hanging House is scary...from the first page, until the final heart-pounding events! I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. Emmie grew up in the Hanging House, and a hanging ghost haunts her. That's just the beginning of what happens in her life. If you love a spooky haunted house and someone who can see the dead, this story is for you. I highly recommend it.
Ahhh I absolutely loved this story, definitely think listening to it an audio was worth it. The story was very creepy and thrilling, the mystery surrounding the house was very interesting and spine chilling. All of the characters were very interesting and intriguing 🤔 I loved the story a lot, it was written very well and had a very good pace! Highly recommend this for any ghost junkies out there.
This is a very good book. Its a quick read and well worth reading. The story is based on a girl with a gift and how she handles it through her life. The story is believable and you feel like you're right there with the characters. The only thing I didn't like was that there wasn't more of it. Can't wait for the next book. 😊
The idea of this book was pretty interesting and for a short time I thought it would be a good book but then it just rambled on and on and then with Sarah and Finn the ghostbuster it just turns stupid. The hanging girl her keeping Frankie for herself.... I mean come on!! This was very childish and ridiculous.
This is a paranormal phenomenon of a powerful supernatural story. Things are not always what they seem. Suspenseful and bone chilling. Emmie is a woman that has seen dead children all her life. She has run from it until she can't continue running. Time to go home and deal with the past. She is devastated by the revelations that had been hidden from her. A powerful great read.
This book is paced well with a gradually building pace until the end becomes almost frantic. The main character has an ability to see and communicate with the deceased that she has tried to suppress. Ultimately she has to learn to use her ability to help a childhood friend find peace.
I've been looking for a new series to start after finishing a crime novella, and I happened upon Hanging House. I was hooked after the first two pages. Very well-written, good character plot, and the complex details put into the characters and their environments leave me wanting more. I can't wait to read book 2.
I couldn’t put this book down and read it all in one sitting. It is written so well, being more eery than anything. The characters are super relatable and are written so well you feel like you can see them in your minds eye. Great story and I can’t wait to start the second book straight away
An excellent listen. A haunted house. A murder mystery to solve. Three believing friends work together to sort out the ghosts and solve Frankie's murder. No romance in this book, just very good friends. Very entertaining. The narration is also excellent. She has a variety of voices to distinguish the characters.
This book is horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense all rolled into one. The brilliant writing weaves a tale you can't escape from til the end. I couldn't even force myself to stop reading until I finished the book at 5:56A.M. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
I received this book free. Very likeable characters and easy to follow story. Kept me guessing where it was headed. Can't wait to read another story by this author, and even another continuing from this one. A must read!
Drawn in completely after the first chapter. Lots of twists and turns. Sitting on the edge of your chair, turning pages as fast as you can read. I was drawn in, felt the chills, the ghost, the rage, so many emotions. What a great read.
Great haunted mystery that gave me chills and kept me guessing. Lots of twists and that ending - did not see that coming!! The audio narration is well done & enjoyable! Looking forward to more from this author!