The New York Times Book Review - Danielle Trussoni
Hurley is a writer's writer, his descriptions of landscape and character precise and evocative…The novel is narrated from John's perspective. His voice is infused with the cadences of the local dialect, a style that is vibrant and melodic, yet just strange enough to throw me off balance from time to time. Such disorientation served a narrative purpose: I never felt fully comfortable in the novel. I was always left a little on edge, which is a good thing in a scary story. Hurley's ability to create unease, combined with his unquestionable talent, make Devil's Day a standout horror novel as well as a piece of literary art…When you've finished, you will feel that the Devil is out there, waiting for the inhabitants of the Endlands. Maybe even for you.
Publishers Weekly
★ 08/13/2018
Acentury-old folk legend—that the devil came down one autumn to the English sheep-farming community known as the Endlands and surreptitiously infected everyone he came into contact with before being driven out—colors the haunting events of this masterly thriller from Hurley (The Loney). In contemporary times, schoolteacher John Pentecost returns from Suffolk to his family’s Endlands farm with his wife, Kat, to attend the funeral of his grandfather and announce the impending birth of their first child. Almost immediately, they step into a mire of ominous portents: someone recently set fire to the nearby forest, animals are being killed, disembodied voices are heard on the moors, and one of the residents is mysteriously missing. Matters come to a head on Devil’s Day, celebrated before the annual gathering of the sheep, when the locals ritually give the devil his due and the border between superstitions and genuinely uncanny events wears perilously thin. Hurley keeps the explanations for what occurs deliciously ambiguous, filtering discoveries through John, who, as he selectively relates past memories to present happenings, reveals himself to be a less-than-forthcoming narrator at best. The result is an intensely suspenseful tale memorable for what it says about unshakable traditions that are bred in the bone. Agent: Lucy Luck, C+W Agency (U.K.). (Oct.)
From the Publisher
CO-WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE'S ENCORE AWARD PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS: TOP 10 IN MYSTERIES & THRILLERS “Hurley is a writer’s writer, his descriptions of landscape and character precise and evocative…Hurley’s ability to create unease, combined with his unquestionable talent, make ‘Devil’s Day’ a standout horror novel as well as a piece of literary art…as spooky as it gets. When you’ve finished, you will feel that the Devil is out there, waiting for the inhabitants of the Endlands. Maybe even for you.” –New York TimesBook Review "This atmospheric, eerie novel is perfect for a rainy night in."—BookPage "Masterly thriller...an intensely suspenseful tale memorable for what it says about unshakable traditions that are bred in the bone."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED “Like Hurley's celebrated debut, this beautifully told gothic story of love, obligation, and legacy blends genres superbly. Hurley is considered one of the leading figures in what is called the British folk-horror revival.”—Booklist, STARRED "Hurley explores the mysteries of human behavior and how they might explain strange events—not to mention the evil that men do—better than demonic influence. He delivers all this with consistently strong scenes, a few fine surprises, and good writing that often sparkles...a complex and highly satisfying work."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED "The work's dark tone and slow build-up of suspense will...interest readers of gothic fiction."—Library Journal “The power of belief, the tyranny of tradition and the unsettling nature of a landscape that changes in a flicker from welcome to menace add up to a gorgeously written novel that leaves the reader wondering and perturbed.” — Metro “Impressively uncomfortable reading.” — Times Literary Supplement “What Wuthering Heights did with Yorkshire moors, Devil’s Day does with Lancashire moors. The writing is evocative and the bleak atmosphere is just as much part of the story as the characters. Hurley combines an insidious, otherworldly story with folklore and mythology.” — Book Riot “The new master of menace. This chilling follow-up to The Loney confirms its author as a writer to watch . . . Hurley doesn’t need the Devil’s help to grip you. His taut writing does that for him. Nature’s routine cruelties are caught with a fierce accuracy that Ted Hughes would have admired.” — Sunday Times “This impeccably written novel tightens like a clammy hand around your throat.” — Daily Mail “Devil’s Day is an assured follow-up to The Loney that considers the themes of exile, mythology and rural traditions . . . In the same way that Emily Brontë allowed the Yorkshire moors to become a character unto itself in Wuthering Heights, Hurley’s depiction of the hills and grasslands of Lancashire takes on an anthropomorphic quality, representing a place removed from the outside world, a timeless land with its own rules and laws . . . Hurley has a good ear for mystery, turning the woods into a magical but dangerous place . . . Hurley is a fine writer, with concerns that place him a little to the left of the literary mainstream, a remove th —
