The Loney

By: Andrew Michael Hurley

Narrated by: Richard Burnip

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

The eerie, suspenseful debut novel that is hailed by Stephen King as "an amazing piece of fiction" and taking the world by storm.

When the remains of a young child are discovered during a winter storm on a stretch of the bleak Lancashire coastline known as the Loney, a man named Smith is forced to confront the terrifying and mysterious events that occurred 40 years earlier, when he visited the place as a boy. At that time his devoutly Catholic mother was determined to find healing for Hanny, his disabled older brother. And so the family, along with members of their parish, embarked on an Easter pilgrimage to an ancient shrine.

But not all of the locals were pleased to see visitors in the area. And when the two brothers found their lives entangling with a glamorous couple staying at a nearby house, they became involved in more troubling rites. Smith feels he is the only one who knows the truth, and he must bear the burden of his knowledge - no matter the cost.

Proclaimed by London's Sunday Telegraph as a "modern classic", The Loney marks the arrival of an important new voice in fiction.

©2014 Andrew Michael Hurley. First published in Great Britain in 2014 by Tartarus Press. Published in 2015 in Great Britain by John Murray, a Hachette UK Company (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Confused

I'd heard so much about this book (which won numerous awards), but I found it rather boring. It was publicized as Thriller and Horror, but despite a Gothic setting, I came away feeling it was the story about religious mysticism. PS The narration on Audible was excellent!

Cerebral Horror

No cheap jump scares, but an atmosphere of existential dread. Beautifully written with narration to match. Highly recommended.

Complex characters, twisting plot, unusual details of folklore

I Loved the gradual revelations and folklore details scattered throughout. I wanted to read it again as soon as i’d finished.

Interesting read.

Beautifully written, very talented writer. The story is dark but also tender. A bit drawn.

A First-Rate novel for so many reasons!

Not the least of which is the stunning portrayal of how childhood is a nightmare all its own.

Mr. Hurley is a master of drawing his reader into the atmosphere he has created, so that although circumstances may differ, emotions and terrors are quite personal, and unforgettable. I'm off to find his short fiction, and patiently await his next novel.

Excellent novel, not a good listen

Haunting and haunted story, exquisite prose and expert narration. I waited months for the release of this book- it was out in the UK last year. I normally read books I expect to love and could have ordered The Loney months ago. The thing is, I have a penchant for listening to intimate, first person Gothic novels and believe they make the best audio experiences. This book was so well reviewed that I knew the audible production would be superb. So I waited.
and waited.

The Loney is a book one should read. The last two hours of the audio ran out while I slept. Rather than rewind, I decided to wait.
again.
In a couple of months, I'll read it.

There are some books that are so intimate, no reader- no matter how accomplished- should stand between you and the author.

Uneventful

This story took forever to tell and then after investing all the time I did listening, it was anticlimactic and unbelievable as if the author just got tired of writing and just threw in an event so he could be done. I was truly disappointed with this one.

A good first novel

The Loney is a good first novel. Hurley’s prose is similar to Poe’s Gothic descriptions. The ending is unsatisfying, however, somethings must be taken on faith as the novel Exhorts.

I still need to know about the girl and the sacrificial lamb of the child.

Haunting, wierd and puzzling!

This is one of the most unusual books I have listened to. The writing was artful and the story really gets in your head. The narration was first rate. A major criticism is that although the book is set in the 1970s, it feels more like the 1870s. At first the book is very frustrating as it is not clear what it really is about. Actually, it is not completely clear what it is about at the end. You have to think about it and decide for yourself. I think on that level the book really works as it gets you to ponder some of the basic questions about life.

Don't bother with this book

I never could figure this story. It made no sense and if there was a plot, it never surfaced.