After the death of their son Ewan , who has been prone to acts of violence at school, his parents struggle to come to terms with his death . His mother Juliette has virtually stopped eating and spends most of her time in bed , after a visit from an occult sect called The Beacons spurred on by their friend Gordon she appears to become brighter , but the leader of The Beacons appears to sense something evil in the house and falls ill .
His father Richard has been dealing with his grief in his own way by digging in a field opposite to find the ruins of an historic Oak tree . He finds the bones of a Hare buried and takes them home and lays them out anatomically correct but the Hare gradually returns to its original live form , after being taken to the field and released it gets back to the house and seems to have a spiritual hold over Juliette .
Richard has a library of his father's books and papers which contain many contemporary pictures of the legendary oak and finds that 3 " Sons of the village" had been hanged at the same time on a branch (known as "Old Justice" ) on the tree . He eventually finds this branch buried during his excavations with grooves from the hangings . All these details come together towards the end of the book . A well written psychological and spiritual story .

Starve acre is a mystifying place from the get go, afield where nothing grows, a mysterious legendary tree that is no longer there but that Richard is desperate to find evidence of, a dead child that no-one has come to terns with the loss of and Juliette, the mother, determined that her child is still here and dabbling in the occult to prove herself correct.
The book is powerful and draws you in despite whatever skepticism you may have about the more occult aspects of the story. Ultimately it is a tale of loss, grief and mental fragility with some strange goings on that are inexplicable but the consequences of which are great.

To me this was an odd read, perhaps out of my normal comfort zone, but compelling nonetheless.

A pretty atmospheric read although the characters are not explored in much detail. Unfortunately, I did feel that the ending raised more questions than it answered.

<blockquote>Richard wondered if the hare in some way felt as he did that spring was always bestowed. That it was an invitation to come and watch the world moving and be among its tremors. Here in the field, those first shocks of the season were starting now. [loc. 1005]</blockquote>

Originally published under the nom de plume of Jonathan Buckley, by the <a href="https://edenbooksociety.com/">Eden Book Society</a> [CAUTION: rabbit hole ahead], <i>Starve Acre</i> has been reissued under Hurley's name, with revisions. (I would be fascinated to be able to compare the two editions: <a href="https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/2019/07/andrew-michael-hurley-starve-acre.html#more">here's a review by someone who has read both</a>.)

Richard and Juliette have left the city to live in Starve Acre, Richard's family home, out in the Yorkshire Dales. They'd dreamt of an idyllic country childhood for their son Ewan, and for the other children they planned to have: but now Ewan is dead. Juliette feels that Ewan is still with them in the house: through a friend, she has arranged for a spiritualist to visit. Richard, a lecturer in History, believes that 'the sum of human existence [is] collagen and calcium phosphate' [loc. 559]: he is haunted only by memories. True, Ewan was ... disturbed in his last months of life. He heard a voice in the dark, and sometimes did its bidding. But really, Richard thinks, he was only five. It was just a difficult patch.

Richard is excavating the field after which Starve Acre is named, a field where nothing grows. Local lore has it that this is because it was the site of the Stythwaite Oak, a place of execution. In parallel he's performing a kind of excavation in his late father's study, a jumble of books and papers, where he finds old woodcuts depicting young men hanged from a bough labelled Olde Justice.

Then he finds the skeleton of a hare, and brings it home to Starve Acre: and something starts to happen that he has no framework for thinking about.

This is an unsettling short novel, told from the viewpoint of a character who dismisses the experiences of those around him, while revising his own memories to a kinder shape. It gradually becomes clear that Ewan was not simply going through a difficult patch; that something may be altering Richard's perceptions; and that Mrs Forde's warning -- 'whatever it is you've brought into your home, get rid of it' -- was not the 'consummate performance' that Richard mocked.

Hurley's descriptions of the changing seasons are exceptional, especially his evocations of the advent of spring after a long winter: the damp smell of ferns, the 'flinty noise' of sparrows in the hedgerows, the astonishment of birdsong. It's all the more powerful when set against the disintegration of Richard and Juliette's home, and the shocking final image is like a nail driven home.

I read this because <a href="http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2019/08/201994-loney-andrew-michael-hurley.html"><i>The Loney</i></a> resonated with me. <i>Starve Acre</i> is a simpler story, more traditionally Gothic, but Hurley's prose elevates what might be a straightforward horror story into something mythic.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free advance review copy, in exchange for this honest review.

This is beautifully written with some wonderful prose. However, I’m afraid I just found it to be hard work after a while.
It’s an interesting idea, a young couple move to the Yorkshire Dales, they are both grieving for their son and are dealing very differently with his death. Unfortunately though, neither instilled sympathy with me, rather, irritation and there was insufficient plot to maintain my interest.
A ghostly, strange read, with an ending you won't forget in a hurry.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

An OK 2* from me.

Starve Acre is a folk horror tale full of menace and fuelled by guilt. Richard and Juliette Willoughby, and their young son Ewan moved to Richard’s family home in the Yorkshire Dales following the death of his parents. The house known as Starve Acre has unhappy memories for Richard as he recalls his father’s mental breakdown. The unfriendliness of the house and the surrounding fields haven’t changed and the main field that folklore tells of homing the legendary Stythwaite Oak sees nothing ever grow there. The barren field of dirt is vividly drawn and the huge Oak tree is imagined as it may once have dominated the landscape. The tree carries a supernatural history that radiates evil where it was once used as a hanging tree. Although it no longer exists above ground, Richard is convinced its root system is still there and infecting the surrounding area. As he digs to discover any evidence he uncovers wooden carvings and the untouched skeleton of a hare.

Ewan dies at 5 years of age after a period where the community witnessed episodes of his cruelty to animals and other children. The story deals with switchbacks in time to Ewan’s activities and he insisted that it was Jack Grey telling him to do those evil things. Richard and Juliette are dealing with the bereavement of their son in different ways but Juliette is riddled with guilt and we wonder what may be the source of those emotions.

“It seemed to Richard sometimes that Juliette had actually brought twins into the world: Ewan and Guilt. The latter had always been the stronger of the two. It fed more, weighed more, demanded more of their attention. When it had outlived Ewan, it had grown larger still.”

Juliette insists she can still feel Ewan’s presence in the house but his spirit is drifting away. She calls in the Beacons as mediums to communicate with Ewan and identify what she is feeling. The Beacons leave abruptly, shaken and frightened, and advise the Willoughbys to move house immediately.

The ability to start the story with the suspicion of evil, introduce paranormal folklore, and continuously ramp up the horror and dark content to a shocking aberrant conclusion, is convincingly achieved in this novel. The suspense of lurking peril adding to an evil foreboding atmosphere is masterfully crafted by Andrew Michael Hurley. The location is vividly portrayed with an air of warning hanging on every scene and the well-drawn characters fit the story perfectly. I enjoyed the mix of the guilty parents, Juliette, whose mind is slowly slipping into madness or compliance with the supernatural, while Richard feels the frustration and despair of not accepting paranormal signs and being unable to convince his wife that her behaviour is irrational and they need to get away from this abnormal environment.

If I had one issue it is that I expected a bit more horror or trauma from this story even though I appreciate the threat of horror is often greater than the horror itself.

I recommend reading this book and I’d like to thank John Murray Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.

This is not the type of book that I normally chose to read and perhaps the title should have given me a clue about the genre. It is a story of loss and mental instability as well as being a chilling mystery story that borders on supernatural. Juliette and Richard have moved to the country to live in Richards family home. In the countryside, as we know, there are suspicious locals and strange goings-on at the bottom of the garden. Or in this case, in the field where nothing grows, starve acre as it is called.

I had no trouble reading it through and it was as dark and bleak as the title suggests. Cold Comfort Farm without the humour. I finished it with relief and a sense that it had cast a shadow over my psyche. But for those who like this genre, I believe it would be very enjoyable. It ends on a very surreal note and I hope to forget that image very soon.

Its not fair to dislike a book because it’s not what you like to read and I have no issue with the writing nor the story line which was depressing but interesting. However I would say, read Starve Acre if you like mysterious bleak ghost stories with startling moments of magical realism but avoid it if you prefer some light in the gloom.

This is a dark book. I liked parts of it but feel totally creeped out by the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A child's death hits a family hard and what was a house full of life at Starve Acre has become empty and unhappy. To get away from the oppressive atmosphere, Richard is digging in the fields opposite the house to find a legendary oak tree but what he finds is something very different...

I am not sure about this book so I've given it three stars. I think it starts off well, the atmosphere is brilliantly set and the family's trauma heartbreaking but it then just seems to descend very quickly into a completely different sort of novel and I'm not sure the two are blended well enough.

As always with Andrew Michael Hurley's work, the prose is beautiful and therefore so easy to read and his previous novels have been pretty dark so I did know what to expect here. Nevertheless, I don't think the ending here was explained clearly enough and I think perhaps it was too short for the story it ought to contain.

Sorry, too scary for me. A well written, well spaced book which gets darker and darker as the book goes on. The field of Starve Acre grows nothing - not even grass. It's where there used to be a gallows tree. There's a local bogey man too - is it his fault, or is just that so many people around there are psychotic - and go that way more than one at a time.

This book scared me - especially the ending.

I read a free advance review copy. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Well, that was terrifying on a variety of levels… Wow.

Richard and Juliette are mourning the recent death of their young son. He’s grieving, but presumably healing, and she languishing in agony and guilt – while still hearing and seeing the dead boy. As Richard uses his enforced sabbatical to babysit his wife and research a historical hanging tree on his property, he reflects on Ewan’s troubled childhood. The action starts after a pseudo séance one evening. The tone of this escalates from the quiet desolation of midwinter (when the narrative starts) to the anticipation of Spring (when it concludes) – but its an anticipation born out of dread and rebirth isn’t as uplifting as it sounds.

This took some dark twists and turns and I only suspected a few of them along the way. I definitely don’t know what to make of the ending – but it was wow. Well-written and thoughtful and certainly very enthralling – this one will stick with me for a while – even if there is no way of saying I enjoyed it. Nonetheless, I’m very impressed with it!

A tale that will be close to home for many readers soon takes off on a twisted and malevolent path. Dark, creepy and sinister. Very good indeed!

Anther great book from Mr
Hurley.
Partly a tale of demonic haunting, partly a study in grief, above all once again a cast of believable characters caught up in extraordinary events. Like all true artists he makes it appear effortless.

My enduring impression was of the insular nature of rural communities and their reluctance to embrace outsiders. The reality of country life sadly at odds with the bucolic dream.

Highly recommended.

What a spooky little story !

Richard and Juliette moved into Starveacre hoping to live an idyllic family life in the countryside-but things don't quite go according to plan. Their only son Ewen dies at the age of 5 and they are left devastated .
Whilst Juliette wallows in her grief -Richard is out at all hours on an archeological dig in the field next door. One day he unearths a strange skeleton of what appears to be a hare ...
The author keeps us on the edge of our seat while we wait for what we KNOW is going to be a shocking ending - and it does not disappoint !
Read if you dare !
Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

A compact book about parents that have lost ther young son and their inability to come to terms with the death. The mother turns to spiritualists whilst the father digs over their folklore-laden field where a hanging tree once stood. Unfortunately, for me, the suspense never built to a desirable level and the “reveal” left me somewhat deflated.

This book is not the sort of thing I usually read but the first few chapters given in the ‘first glance’ were so compelling and well written that I had to read the whole book. I’m struggling to decide exactly what genre this book does fall under as ‘fantasy’ which seems the closest, doesn’t for me take into account what a well drawn domestic drama it is.
I raced through the book for two reasons. One, it was incredibly well written and pacy and two, it was for me, too short. Yes I like that it was a quick and satisfying read but the characters were so good and there were so many connections between each of them that the author didn’t expand on I do feel it could easily have had another hundred pages at least.
I did figure out one of the twists as I got closer to it but that didn’t detract from the story, but I did know what the last page(s) would contain because the cover gave that away for me. Again, being proved right was no hardship!
A word of praise to the publishers as the cover art is stunning and the volume is a lovely compact and comfortable to hold book. It’s definitely not one to shove on a bookshelf and forget about.
I will be reading Mr Hurley’s other books and look forward to his future ones!

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book, subject to an honest review. Overall, I enjoyed this book. However, it felt very rushed at the end and it didn't sit totally right with me. It could have reached its conclusion slightly differently, I feel.
#StarveAcre #NetGalley

Creepy as anything! With a shocker of an ending.

Richard Willoughby inherited his home and was persuaded to move into it by his wife, Julia. Richard has taken to a hobby of excavating his field, opposite the house, while Julia spends her time in Ewan's room, hoping for a sign of him, Ewan.

The local village population don't figure much in their lives, they haven't since Richard was a boy. Gordon Lambwell does though. He was fond of Ewan and wants to help with Julia's situation. He has introduced her to Mrs Forde who has, apparently, helped many others before.

Gordon doesn't like that Richard is digging his field, believing that Richard should leave things be. But Richard is dismissive of Gordon's concerns.

Harrie comes to visit, more like take over, but Julia doesn't want any family around and resists Harrie's attempts to help.

Following a curious find in the field, developments continue in the house and Mrs Forde has her visit.

This was an edgy read and the ending was just so 'creepy'. Of course, I enjoyed it.

Enjoyed this short story - kept me gripped throughout and the folk horror was evident. The ending left a little to be desired, not sure how I felt about it but it's sticking with me so it's one of those novels that, for me, leaves me engaged. Read if you like English folk horror!

Starve Acre is a deeply unsettling little book. While short, it packs an incredibly strong punch emotionally as Hurley delves into the lives of the two lead characters - Richard and Juliette as they deal with the grief of losing their young son, Ewan.
Instead of this death being the catalyst for the strange events at play in the novel, it becomes increasingly obvious that something was rotten before he died. The situation with Ewan - which I'm trying not to give too much away on - raises some questions tied into the evergreen nature vs nurture debate. The relationship between the boy and his parents is one of the strongest parts of the book both in terms of that emotional punch and when the pace appears to pick up.
The matter of fact tone adopted by Hurley throughout makes the book all the more disturbing. At times it reads almost like a dry textbook relaying of events. It takes a moment for the brain to catch up and be like, "whoa, whoa, whoa, back up here, nope, this is weird." I particularly enjoyed that aspect of it to be honest.
Starve Acre is a deceptively violent book. While there isn't much in the way of blood and gore smeared across the pages, certain events depicted throughout are so horrifying. Even those events which are not specifically spelled out are lent an additional aura of menace - if Hurley is telling us this happened, then <i>that</i> must have been even more horrific. A scene with a snowman was particularly harrowing for me.
If you like your stories strange, or you like quiet, esoteric horror, Starve Acre will be right up your street.