Devil's Day

By: Andrew Michael Hurley

Narrated by: Richard Burnip

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

In the wink of an eye, as quick as a flea, the Devil he jumped from me to thee. And only when the Devil had gone, did I know that he and I'd been one....

Every autumn, John Pentecost returns to the farm where he grew up to help gather the sheep down from the moors for the winter. Very little changes in the Endlands, but this year, his grandfather - the Gaffer - has died, and John's new wife, Katherine, is accompanying him for the first time.

Each year, the Gaffer would redraw the boundary lines of the village, with pen and paper but also through the remembrance of tales and timeless communal rituals that keep the sheep safe from the Devil. But as the farmers of the Endlands bury the Gaffer and prepare to gather the sheep, they begin to wonder whether they've let the Devil in after all.

©2017 Andrew Michael Hurley (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

If The Shepherd's Life had go dark and twisty.

4 1/2 stars. An interesting story set in rural England. It is subtle horror and closer to modern folklore. This isn't a face-paced story, more a slow and thoughtful burn. Devil's Day reminded me of James Rebanks' book The Shepherd's Life but gone dark and twisty.

Rambling story

This was a mostly pleasant book to listen to but it did not seem to fit into the horror genere or really even a point.

Boring drama, didn't finish

just couldn't get into it. small town drama was never my thing amd the characters were very dull except for Grace. Not my cup of tea at all.

Ending was a little flat

The story starts off pretty darn good, but there is this felling through the whole story that works you up to meet the devil. When the book ended I felt a little robbed. The story is well written and is very entertaining, but not the high level horror that I personally crave.

Excellent!

I loved this book! It was beautifully written without sentimentality. It was honest without apology. The characters were real, flawed and complex. I loved how the Devil is accepted as the explanation for all the tragedies that occur in the community. I love that the community persists without question anyway. What a great story.

Slow burning horror

How horror should be written. I’m glad to see an author take this approach and to execute it so well. I look forward to more of his writing. The performance was amazing as well.

What a wonderful story. Take the highroad

Please listen to this book. Not only is the narrator an amazing lyrical and astute narrator, but the voice of the author easily transport you to the Highlands of Scotland where sheep get lost and so do souls as they are chased by the devil. It made me think about the things that I was told by my mother about her grandmother. Thank you and I appreciate your work please produce more.

Anticlimactic

The author seemed to only take you to the edge of excitement but never fully jumped in. Just when i thout it was going to get good the author changed the subject and left you hanging and unsatisfied.

Good story some issues with the author and reader

The story was very good. I did have a few issues however.
The author uses the word “said” too much. It seems to take up so much of the story. The other issue I had was when a character phrased a question the author used the word “said” in place of “asked or inquired”
The reader did a very good job he gave life to all of the characters, however the biggest issue with his performance was the characters were very clear and easy to hear, but when a conversation was on going the less important parts of the story were much quieter and made following very difficult.

A slow burn with a long fuse and a very small pop.

The book is well written and the narrator is pleasant to listen to, but the story itself seems to drone on without anything of significance occurring until the the very end. The manner in which it’s written suggests it’s meant as a mood piece but it’s described as horror. Which it is certainly not. It’s barely anything at all.