Barrowbeck by Andrew Michael Hurley

The term ‘folk horror’ is perfect for the north of England. Perfect too, for this exceptional writer who has mastered the art of folk horror.

Barrowbeck is a fictional village that nestles in a valley around the border between Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is isolated and doesn’t have many visitors or tourists. This is partly down to the location as the valley is dull and the location of the fells blocks a lot of the sun. Perhaps there is something else darker and more sinister that keeps people away.

This book is a collection of thirteen stories all set in Barrowbeck. It crosses a broad timeline from the early settlers to the modern day and beyond. Each tale shows chilling and sometimes disturbing events, sometimes ambiguous but always unsettling. Hurley has the ability to make this strange place atmospheric and creepy yet very human, looking at grief, mortality, fear and the desire for children.

Where the author excels is in his description of Barrowbeck. There is a wonderful sense of place, an eerie tone set in the landscape where one can imagine what the rare traveller experiences as they pass through. And describing the colour of an eye as gooseberry green…love it. A very talented and creative author although I have to admit, I do prefer the novels.

Also by Andrew Michael Hurley: The Loney, Devil’s Day, Starve Acre.