Withered Hill by David Barnett
Withered Hill by David Barnett
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera; Withered Hill by David Barnett; Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud; The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei; The Specimens by Hana Gammon
Withered Hill by David Barnett (Canelo, £9.99)
A young woman stumbles naked out of the woods, into the village of Withered Hill. She knows her name is Sophie, but she doesn’t remember anything about her previous life. The locals are friendly but strange. Attempts to escape meet with failure, but her new friends promise that she will be able to leave when the time is right. The dual timeline moves between Sophie’s life in London in the month before her arrival, and what happens in Withered Hill, as she uneasily adjusts to its odd customs and seasonal celebrations. At times this folk horror, while engaging, may seem a bit predictable, but the narrative rug is pulled out from under the reader with a terrific unexpected twist.
I've read quite a bit of David Barnett's early work, as he ploughed a very Fortean furrow, and this looks right up my alley.