Cunning Folk

By: Adam Nevill

Narrated by: Peter Walters

A compelling folk-horror story of deadly rivalry and the oldest magic from the author of The Ritual, The Reddening, No One Gets Out Alive and the four times winner of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.

No home is heaven with hell next door.

Money's tight and their new home is a fixer-upper. Deep in rural South West England, with an ancient wood at the foot of the garden, Tom and his family are miles from anywhere and anyone familiar. His wife, Fiona, was never convinced that buying the money-pit at auction was a good idea. Not least because the previous owner committed suicide. Though no one can explain why.

Within days of crossing the threshold, when hostilities break out with the elderly couple next door, Tom's dreams of future contentment are threatened by an escalating tit-for-tat campaign of petty damage and disruption.

Increasingly isolated and tormented, Tom risks losing his home, everyone dear to him, and his mind. Because, surely, only the mad would suspect that the oddballs across the hedgerow command unearthly powers. A malicious magic even older than the eerie wood and the strange barrow therein. A hallowed realm from where, he suspects, his neighbours draw a hideous power.

“Adam Nevill excels at making nightmares real.” (Guardian)

“Nevill has crafted some of the tensest scariest horror this reviewer has read in years.” (SFX)

©2021 Adam Nevill (P)2021 Ritual Limited

Great story but

Narrator is very miscast - just way too old to be able to read most of the characters (especially female) convincingly. Some weird audio hissing too on headphones.

Dropped a lot of pallets to this book working RSR.

I enjoyed it, have a young daughter myself, it was stressful. Certainly worth a listen.

Interesting Story

Beneath mountains of metaphors, similes, and excess description there is a great story. One major theme was unleashing rage without truly understanding what the receiving end of that rage is capable of. The initial instant gratification of releasing rage doesn’t figure in consequences or the strength of the opposing party. Quite timely social commentary. The ending was really satisfying.

Existential Dread

I have really enjoyed everything that I have listened to or read by Adam L.G. Nevill, and this story definitely holds up to his reputation. It would be fantastic to see this as a film.There were instances in the recording where it is obvious that a mistake had been overdubbed, but nothing that took away from the story or performance.

Fine but not great

I had heard that this book was terrifying and was quite looking forward to listening to it. It was an almost unbearably slow beginning and only really took off 30+ chapters in. I came dangerously close to giving up on it. When the action finally took off it was rather predictable and wrapped up much faster than I would have liked. I didn't spend 10 hours slogging along with an unlikable MC who is unable to communicate like a normal person to have all the interesting bits glossed over in the last 2 hours!
The narrator was fine but could not do a woman's voice to save his life.
Overall, it's fine, but not one to lose sleep over if you skip it.