What do you think?
Rate this book
Giving Up The Ghost
A gripping paranormal thriller to rattle your nerves…
A protective nurse pays a visit to an elderly dementia patient as a hurricane arrives, but discovers she can't leave after getting caught up in the patient's delusions.
Hanging House: An Emmie Rose Haunted Mystery thriller author Dean Rasmussen presents a terrifying new supernatural suspense tale.
His books will leave you gasping for breath and craving for more!
A protective nurse pays a visit to an elderly dementia patient as a hurricane arrives, but discovers she can't leave after getting caught up in the patient's delusions.
Hanging House: An Emmie Rose Haunted Mystery thriller author Dean Rasmussen presents a terrifying new supernatural suspense tale.
His books will leave you gasping for breath and craving for more!
27 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
68 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Dean Rasmussen
25 books152 followersDean 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 29, 2021
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror
This is a short story about Mrs. Edith Foster, an old lady suffering from dementia. Her nurse pays her home visits regularly. This time there is a hurricane a comin (I bet you will remember this line if you are in love with The Golden Girls). Due to the hurricane, nurse Jennifer decides to stay in the house with the old lady because there is no way she could go back. Things start happening and that is when the nurse thinks there is something wrong with Mrs. Foster. Is the old lady delusional or is someone else is truly trying to get inside the house?
This was an interesting short story. I loved the idea behind it. I am always in for mysterious stories during a natural disaster. It’s a trope I always enjoy. The plot and its mystery will grasp your attention. Definitely will read more from the author.
Genre: Horror
This is a short story about Mrs. Edith Foster, an old lady suffering from dementia. Her nurse pays her home visits regularly. This time there is a hurricane a comin (I bet you will remember this line if you are in love with The Golden Girls). Due to the hurricane, nurse Jennifer decides to stay in the house with the old lady because there is no way she could go back. Things start happening and that is when the nurse thinks there is something wrong with Mrs. Foster. Is the old lady delusional or is someone else is truly trying to get inside the house?
This was an interesting short story. I loved the idea behind it. I am always in for mysterious stories during a natural disaster. It’s a trope I always enjoy. The plot and its mystery will grasp your attention. Definitely will read more from the author.
December 30, 2022
Imagine having a bully who didn't stop even after death.....
October 24, 2021
Very short, very spooky and very good. Highly recommended if you enjoy a spooky read.
October 5, 2023
Entertaining horror listening 🎶🔰
This is a free novella e-book from Amazon.
She is nurse taking cafe of the elderly. She calls on one of her patients and will stay the night 🌙 with a hurricane comes. There are all kinds of noise outside and inside the house. Why? Who? Something is in her car 🚗? She races out and jumps into the car 🚗 and the fun begins.
I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers looking for a quick horror read 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀☺🏡
This is a free novella e-book from Amazon.
She is nurse taking cafe of the elderly. She calls on one of her patients and will stay the night 🌙 with a hurricane comes. There are all kinds of noise outside and inside the house. Why? Who? Something is in her car 🚗? She races out and jumps into the car 🚗 and the fun begins.
I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers looking for a quick horror read 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀☺🏡
March 14, 2024
Little fun bully ghost vs savage granny we love to see it.
March 18, 2024
found this short audiobook to listen to while I was cleaning at work… the story had some what of a plot and was a little spooky, but the ending brought nothing and made no sense.
December 31, 2024
Did I read this just so I could complete my reading challenge? Yes. Was it fun? Yeah! Little short story that wasn’t anything crazy. Reminded me of campfire stories that would terrify us as kids :)
May 2, 2024
Time can’t heal all wounds.
We all have pieces of our pasts that we’d rather not think about too much for a wide variety of reasons. One of the strengths of this short story had to do with how it framed Edith’s past and explained the many quiet ways it continued to shape her personality even now that was at the end of her lifespan. Trauma can haunt someone for decades. While I will leave it up to other readers to discover what it is about this character’s past that she has never been able to forget, these scenes were interestingly written and made me wish for a sequel that could dive into this topic even more deeply.
I struggled with many of the decisions Jennifer made, especially given that she was a nurse who presumably had a lot of experience working with patients who have dementia and reacting quickly in emergency situations. She did not seem to know how to stay calm or to think critically about the facts in a crisis. Yes, she was going through something frightening, and I am not saying I’d expect anyone to always make the right choices when under so much stress. This would have made more sense to me as a reader if her occupation had been something that should not have been an asset under these circumstances.
With that being said, I enjoyed Edith’s character development quite a bit. It’s rare to find books about frail, elderly, dementia patients, so I was incredibly curious to see how she responded to what was happening during the hurricane as Jennifer continued to make poor decisions. Not only was she in a completely different stage of life than her nurse was, her emotional and intellectual responses were equally refreshing and surprising. I don’t want to give away any spoilers about what happened to Edith, but I will say that this portion of the storyline played around with many audience expectations and made me curious to read more from this author soon.
Giving Up the Ghost was thought provoking.
We all have pieces of our pasts that we’d rather not think about too much for a wide variety of reasons. One of the strengths of this short story had to do with how it framed Edith’s past and explained the many quiet ways it continued to shape her personality even now that was at the end of her lifespan. Trauma can haunt someone for decades. While I will leave it up to other readers to discover what it is about this character’s past that she has never been able to forget, these scenes were interestingly written and made me wish for a sequel that could dive into this topic even more deeply.
I struggled with many of the decisions Jennifer made, especially given that she was a nurse who presumably had a lot of experience working with patients who have dementia and reacting quickly in emergency situations. She did not seem to know how to stay calm or to think critically about the facts in a crisis. Yes, she was going through something frightening, and I am not saying I’d expect anyone to always make the right choices when under so much stress. This would have made more sense to me as a reader if her occupation had been something that should not have been an asset under these circumstances.
With that being said, I enjoyed Edith’s character development quite a bit. It’s rare to find books about frail, elderly, dementia patients, so I was incredibly curious to see how she responded to what was happening during the hurricane as Jennifer continued to make poor decisions. Not only was she in a completely different stage of life than her nurse was, her emotional and intellectual responses were equally refreshing and surprising. I don’t want to give away any spoilers about what happened to Edith, but I will say that this portion of the storyline played around with many audience expectations and made me curious to read more from this author soon.
Giving Up the Ghost was thought provoking.
October 7, 2022
A fast-paced novella that was delightfully spooky with a dash of scary. OK, I wasn't always a fan of the nurse, because she made some seriously dumb horror decisions. Oh, my patient says I shouldn't go outside and hey I also hear the noises and scary things, but hey, let me go outside/open the door the whole time. Seriously? I get that your patient has dementia, but even you know that something is up in the house. Just listen to someone for once. Edith was just kick-ass though. Even though she was very frail and at times got a bit lost she just kicked butt. She was not afraid of what was haunting her this night. Oh no. She had a gun and she would freaking well use it if needed. Go!
So I flew through this one and I guess I need to see what else the author has written. If there is more awesome things like this!
So I flew through this one and I guess I need to see what else the author has written. If there is more awesome things like this!
January 25, 2023
Creepy and entertaining short little read!
August 3, 2025
I wish there was more to this!! Ohhh so good!
Read
October 5, 2023See, this is exactly why you should listen to old people. Especially when they warn you.
November 14, 2025
despite this being short it scared me so bad like what do you mean you go into your car and you almost die because of a bully who didn't stop after death?
April 6, 2023
Fun short story with an awesome elder!
September 2, 2021
I picked up this short story through a Book Funnel promotion and am delighted that I did. Creepy from start to finish, Giving Up the Ghost is an unsettling little story that will have you on edge from start to finish. First read of this author, but certainly not my last,
December 21, 2023
Didn't even get scared.
December 9, 2024
It wasn’t terrible, but didn’t keep my focus. Listening to it helped pass time while I was driving, but I also found myself zoning out of the story a few times.
July 7, 2021
Janet, a hospice nurse, is visiting Mrs. Edith Foster at her home, near Tampa, Florida, when a category 5 hurricane approaches. Janet decides to stay overnight in case Mrs. Foster needs assistance. That night Janet hears someone knocking on the front door, but when she goes to answer the door, nobody is there. In the middle of the night, Janet finds that Mrs. Foster has been attacked. She tells Janet that Rodney did it. Janet believes her, until Mrs. Foster tells her that Rodney died when she was a young girl. Janet is unsure what to believe-is there an intruder in the house? If so, where is he? Why is Mrs. Foster talking about someone who died decades ago as if they were still seeking alive? The story continues until the final climax, with a surprise ending.
Dean Rasmussen delivers another great read with a totally enjoyable short story. Short and sweet! I would recommend this short story that you can easily finish in one sitting!
Dean Rasmussen delivers another great read with a totally enjoyable short story. Short and sweet! I would recommend this short story that you can easily finish in one sitting!
March 22, 2024
Giving Up The Ghost by Dean Rasmussen is a clever tale about a hurricane, a nurse and a dementia patient. take these three elements and put them in the hands of a writer and you have a story. put them in the hands of a brilliant writer and you have Dean Rasmussen.
i loved this!! i've been languishing over spring's delay and the horrible cold that seems like it's never going away. but while i was reading Giving Up The Ghost, i could feel the heat, the static humidity of the approaching storm. the pieces of the story just locked together in such an enjoyable way.
and Edith, bless her heart, i absolutely loved her character!! I'm a tank. that line was the best part of the story. pure gold.
highly recommended.
5 stars out of 5.
i loved this!! i've been languishing over spring's delay and the horrible cold that seems like it's never going away. but while i was reading Giving Up The Ghost, i could feel the heat, the static humidity of the approaching storm. the pieces of the story just locked together in such an enjoyable way.
and Edith, bless her heart, i absolutely loved her character!! I'm a tank. that line was the best part of the story. pure gold.
highly recommended.
5 stars out of 5.
October 4, 2023
During the beginning of the hurricane in Florida, Jennifer, a home health nurse, goes to check one last time on her elderly patient with dementia. Due to the health of her patient, she decides to bear the storm with her patient just in case. However, even as the storm picks up, it seems to be the least of their worries.
This was a short but very entertaining read. It was well detailed and immersive however, I did find myself wanting more information towards the end. Why was this happening? We get a little bit of a back story as to what’s going on but not enough to answer many questions including the ending.
This was a short but very entertaining read. It was well detailed and immersive however, I did find myself wanting more information towards the end. Why was this happening? We get a little bit of a back story as to what’s going on but not enough to answer many questions including the ending.
March 22, 2023
“Don’t go outside.”
Jennifer is in Florida, by the coast. A Category 5 hurricane is heading towards Tampa. So it’s even darker than it would normally be from just the tree cover.
Jennifer is a home hospice nurse; she’s at Mrs. Edith Foster’s house.
The slow reveals (opposite of info-dumping) are appreciated.
Edith goes in and out of lucidity—she’s a dementia patient.
The incoming storm conditions worsen, and Jennifer decides it’s best to stay the night at Edith’s place. Edith shares the story of Rodney.
Edith and the rifle is everything. The ending is both cool and creepy.
“Nothing can take me down. I’m a tank.”
Jennifer is in Florida, by the coast. A Category 5 hurricane is heading towards Tampa. So it’s even darker than it would normally be from just the tree cover.
Jennifer is a home hospice nurse; she’s at Mrs. Edith Foster’s house.
The slow reveals (opposite of info-dumping) are appreciated.
Edith goes in and out of lucidity—she’s a dementia patient.
The incoming storm conditions worsen, and Jennifer decides it’s best to stay the night at Edith’s place. Edith shares the story of Rodney.
Edith and the rifle is everything. The ending is both cool and creepy.
“Nothing can take me down. I’m a tank.”
September 15, 2025
Giving Up The Ghost is a chilling and unputdownable paranormal thriller. Dean Rasmussen masterfully traps readers in a storm of fear, suspense, and mystery as a nurse finds herself unable to escape the haunted delusions of her patient. The atmosphere is thick with dread, the pacing relentless, and the twists genuinely unsettling. This isn’t just a ghost story, it’s an exploration of fear, memory, and the fragility of the mind. A must-read for fans of supernatural suspense who love to be rattled to their core.
February 10, 2022
INTRIGUING STORYLINE
This is a very short, scary story that takes place during a hurricane in Florida… It’s about a nurse and a patient with Dementia who ultimately defends herself from a bully from her past, with a rifle? (The issue is that the bully died decades ago by suicide…)
The storyline is intense and well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This is a very short, scary story that takes place during a hurricane in Florida… It’s about a nurse and a patient with Dementia who ultimately defends herself from a bully from her past, with a rifle? (The issue is that the bully died decades ago by suicide…)
The storyline is intense and well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 10, 2023
3.5/5
Incredibly quick read. The writing style in this short story would bode well in a full length novel. The description of this book almost gives away the entire storyline. There were a few instances where you could sense the dread. For a short story, it did a really good job of impacting the reader (me), which is why I think it would be so much better as a full length book. I'm not disappointed I read this and I would definitely check out more of Dean Rasmussen's stories!
Incredibly quick read. The writing style in this short story would bode well in a full length novel. The description of this book almost gives away the entire storyline. There were a few instances where you could sense the dread. For a short story, it did a really good job of impacting the reader (me), which is why I think it would be so much better as a full length book. I'm not disappointed I read this and I would definitely check out more of Dean Rasmussen's stories!
December 30, 2023
Really enjoyed this short story!
I discovered this book as I'm trying to reach my Goodreads target goal (!) and I really liked it!
I enjoyed the setting and use of nature to create tension, and the unreliability of a dementia patient added to the doubt and confusion faced by the very likeable character of the main character/patient's carer, Jennifer.
I'll be looking to read more from this author. 👍
I discovered this book as I'm trying to reach my Goodreads target goal (!) and I really liked it!
I enjoyed the setting and use of nature to create tension, and the unreliability of a dementia patient added to the doubt and confusion faced by the very likeable character of the main character/patient's carer, Jennifer.
I'll be looking to read more from this author. 👍
May 12, 2024
This was a very enjoyable story, it was very short and kinda wish it was longer, although I still enjoyed what we were given! It’s a quick and simple story that was fast paced and very spine chilling. The two characters we meet were very well written! The story itself self was very eerie and written perfectly for a short story we got plenty of details to keep us entertained! I recommend this one if you want a fast paced creepy read!
August 6, 2021
Great Short Story
I don't typically read short stories but this one had me hooked from the first page. I found it to be very interesting and cringe worthy. It was very spooky! I absolutely loved this. I wish we could have found out how Jennifer made out aftermath and how she explained what happened while at Mrs. Edith's to her boss lol. Otherwise, excellent story!
I don't typically read short stories but this one had me hooked from the first page. I found it to be very interesting and cringe worthy. It was very spooky! I absolutely loved this. I wish we could have found out how Jennifer made out aftermath and how she explained what happened while at Mrs. Edith's to her boss lol. Otherwise, excellent story!
January 29, 2022
I was given this short story and I thought it was chilling and atmospheric, if not fully explained - but then, I think that can be the nature of horror stories.
The writing style was good and fast-paced, while the characters fitted the plot. Though why the nurse went...?
Overall, I think this was nicely done and recommended to those who like psychological thrills.
The writing style was good and fast-paced, while the characters fitted the plot. Though why the nurse went...?
Overall, I think this was nicely done and recommended to those who like psychological thrills.
November 20, 2022
Enjoyable! I am not one for ghost stories in general or the paranormal but this was done with taste. There was an actual storyline with a twist, characters you had more than a surface-level knowledge of, and then the added "ghost". This was a short story and I would be willing to listen to another book by this author. 👍
March 25, 2023
Elderly dementia lady is a “tank” in this paranormal short story. Let me tell you that I’d want her in my side. Got a few chills reading this. It’s Florida, hurricane weather, there’s a home health aid nurse, the spitfire old lady, and a bad ghost. Mix all that together and you have a pretty good thriller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews