The Hounding

A Novel

De: Xenobe Purvis

Narrado por: Olivia Vinall

National Bestseller • A New York Times Editor’s Choice Pick • Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2025 by NPR, TIME, LitHub, Paste, and PopVerse • One of PEOPLE'S Best Books of August 2025

The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides in this haunting debut about five sisters in a small village in eighteenth-century England whose neighbors are convinced they’re turning into dogs.

“A wildly inventive riff on the Gothic form, with enough suspense and mounting dread to rival Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery.’” —The New York Times Book Review

Even before the rumors about the Mansfield girls begin, Little Nettlebed is a village steeped in the uncanny, from strange creatures that wash up on the riverbank to portentous ravens gathering on the roofs of people about to die. But when the villagers start to hear barking, and one claims to see the Mansfield sisters transform before his very eyes, the allegations spark fascination and fear like nothing has before.

The truth is that though the inhabitants of Little Nettlebed have never much liked the Mansfield girls—a little odd, think some; a little high on themselves, perhaps—they’ve always had plenty to say about them. As the rotating perspectives of five villagers quickly make clear, now is no exception. Even if local belief in witchcraft is waning, an aversion to difference is as widespread as ever, and these conflicting narratives all point to the same ultimate conclusion: Something isn’t right in Little Nettlebed, and the sisters will be the ones to pay for it.

A richly atmospheric parable of the pleasures and perils of female defiance, The Hounding considers whether in any age it might be safer to be a dog than an unusual young girl.

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company

Gripping and Insightful

As soon as I started listening the story grabbed ahold of my attention and demanded I see this tale to its conclusion. A delightfully haunting story about the slow rotting damage mass hysteria, gossip, and conspiracy can reek on community and the ever lasting impact it has on the people it has infected

Genius Narration

Could not stop listening. Simple as that. Brilliant story. Beautifully read. This is a debut novel? Wow.

Eh

I read a lot of novels, and I was excited for this book, as it’s been heralded as one of the top books of the year. I thought the writing was pretty good, but the story itself failed to grip me until maybe the last 20 mins.

Brilliant

Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns — The narration was excellent and understated, enhancing the chilling story of the five sisters.

Tautly suspenseful story line

Good unusual plot,
Fresh characters, one is a drying riverbed.
Interesting, though not unsuspected, ending .
Worth a close first listening.

well-written, but somehow unsatisfactory

The narration seems to abort into a stunted ending, just when things were getting started.
Beautifully written, and well narrated, however.

Great story! Great reader!

This book had me from the very beginning . I listened in the car. I listened doing dishes. I listened rather than watch TV… I could not stop ! It’s that good. The reader was perfection and could switch between characters, men and women, young and old perfectly
The story gripping and mysterious with well drawn characters. Do yourself a favor and listen to it.!

One to read again

Superb storytelling! This is one that will stay with me long after I finished listening.

Masterpiece

I really went in blindly to this one & I would have to say this is now one of my favorite listens ever.

Compelling

Great narrator, great story, beautiful writing that captivated me from beginning to end. I’m amazed this is a debut.