By James Brogden

Titan, out now

When something seems too good to be true, it usually is – but the catch for the Feenan family is deadly.

I thoroughly enjoyed James Brogden’s last two novels for Titan (Hekla’s Children and The Hollow Tree) and had been intrigued by his description of the novel when we spoke last year with its use of what seems an archaic ritual (Beating the Bounds) and quite visceral horror. The book lives up to that promise, beginning with a scene that wouldn’t feel out of place in The Omen series of movies, followed by another that jumps the decades to The Purge, both serving as memorable introductions to the majority of the core characters within the story, both protagonists and antagonists (and those who would seem to have a foot in each camp!).

Brogden puts his own spin on various folk horror tropes, telling the story with a remarkable clarity that demands that you just read one more page. He’s got a good handle on the behaviour and attitude of the teenage boy at the heart of the story, and evokes some sympathy for the supernatural force that plagues the village without at any point negating its potency – and we’re regularly reminded that human nature hasn’t changed that much between the 14th and the 21st century. It does leave you wondering just how far any of us would go to protect both our families and our way of life.

I know that some may take this as a pejorative, but it’s meant as a compliment: this reminds me a great deal of some of James Herbert’s later writing (without the sexual obsession) with an enviably strong sense of storytelling.

Verdict: A powerful and compelling folk horror tale. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order from Amazon.co.uk

Read our interview with James Brogden here

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