Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
Now in this claustrophobic and creepy as hell new horror novel it takes things to a new level of insanity with crazy killer cults creatures and everything you want in a horror novel by the end everything is going totally insane and the ending is a blast

I was trying to decide how to rate this. On the one hand, it was kind of a mess, and just threw in everything, from cults to mobsters and so on. It was gory and jumped from character.
On the other hand, by the time it was done, I was thinking that this is exactly the kind of book I'm going to be recommending to my horror groups, and they're going to love it.
The setting is a seemingly peaceful, out-of-the-way spot where people can come to get away from the stresses of the world. You don't like most of the people much, but you do end up loving some of the kids. This crazy, violent family has been killing people who come to visit this location, and don't think too hard about why nobody noticed that people were disappearing from here for years.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this. It was kind of a wild ride but I'm glad I took it.

This story is very well written and a fantastic example of folk horror. Unfortunately at times this story loses focus and things get a little chaotic with the narrative.

I feel as if this book has too much going on in it. Had a very hard time finding a focus with it and it just seemed like it was really just a way to pad the page number up a bit.

A solid spooky folk novel that kept me turning pages. A lot going on here, but not hard to keep up with. It's actually all falls together. A perfect read for Halloween.

A cult hellbent on death and destruction

A troubled family with a twisted web of secrets and lies

An ancient forest swarming with ungodly abominations

Excellent horror. Well-written, great characters and great plot twists.

Faraway People was an interesting read. It started off with a bang and then, to my taste took a slow moment to introduce us to the main players and then commence action again. It was a little hard to follow at times and I think this is rather a formatting issue than writing but once the action picked up, the story started to roll. I particularly like the UC storyline within the club and the author built tension by using setting,

The lore was cool, I enjoyed being introduced to the world through the eyes of what I can assume are the fe or at the very least a wilding.

The “The Faraway People” by Stacey Dighton is nothing short of a masterstroke in the genre of horror and suspense. This narrative ingeniously interweaves the tale of the Penrose family, battling internal turmoils during a 'staycation' in Bodhmall’s Rest, with an eerie external threat that looms in the ancient, ominous woods surrounding them.

As the cracks in Hattie and Richard Penrose’s marriage surface alongside the reveal of concealed affairs and financial distress, the family finds themselves ensnared in a terrifying reality far beyond the mundane. The quaint Cornish village serves as the backdrop to a narrative teeming with dark secrets, a malevolent cult led by Glanna Cormoran, and grotesque creatures lurking in the shadows.

Dighton crafts a chilling ambiance with the eerie apparition of the Red Man and the disturbing presence of The Terrible Babies, making the woods of Bodhmall’s Rest a character of its own, mirroring the dark, unspoken secrets of the troubled family. The unsettling atmosphere is heightened when an undercover SOCA agent unveils connections to the sinister Belvedere Saints, catapulting the narrative into a whirlwind of terror and suspense.

The author's impeccable storytelling transports readers into a realm suffused with dread, where every page turned unravels a new layer of fear, keeping them on tenterhooks till the last word. The visual imagery is so vivid that it etches a lasting imprint on the reader's psyche, making "The Faraway People" a book hard to shake off.

Moreover, Dighton’s nuanced exploration of human emotions and familial dynamics amidst the horrifying supernatural events provides a rich texture to the story, making it resonate on a deeper level. The characters are fleshed out with a realism that makes their terror palpable, the fear leaping off the pages straight into the hearts of the readers.

"The Faraway People" is more than just a horror tale; it’s a reflection on human vulnerabilities when faced with the unknown. The narrative pace is relentless, the horror unyielding, and the finale will leave you breathless, a testament to Dighton’s prowess in the genre.

Stacey Dighton has indeed crafted a masterpiece that not only terrifies but lingers long after the last page is turned, haunting the readers with its brutal yet poetic reality. This book is a clarion call to all horror aficionados who crave a story that will not only scare but profoundly move them. It stands as a remarkable exemplar of horror fiction that delves deep into the abyss of fear while reflecting the complexities of human emotions and relationships.

This is one of those novels that takes you in different directions as you're reading and then collides together for an explosive ending.

A family rents a house in a small town to try and reconnect. Every one of them (save for the youngest child, Sally) has secrets. They all appear to get along but they're also suppressing certain feelings and actions from one another.

The place they rent has its share of strange characters and customs. The year round residents all seem to be part of a new age hippie type lifestyle. They say some weird things, act overly friendly, and you just know there's something off about them.

But there's also another story in here. One of our characters, Rachel, isn't who the rest of the family believes she is. She's out for revenge over something that happened in her past concerning a mob style group of criminals who leave bodies in their wake. And they may just be in this small village.

We'll eventually begin to figure out how these two narratives overlap but make no mistake; the eerie, frightening, and horrible things the residents do are the crux of this book.

There will be supernatural horrors, as well as some eldritch and folk horror with plenty of slow burning creepiness that will effectively freak you out. Especially the kids. Oh yeah, these are some pretty nasty children and then there are the Terrible Babies. Wait until you find out what those are!

The two intertwined narratives will come together eventually. But the second one with Rachel's character just felt a little intrusive at times as the main plot was put on hold to further the other. That's not to say it wasn't intriguing and exciting, because it was. As a separate book I would have loved it. But it just felt out of place in this novel. That's just my opinion though and I'm sure many more people will love it!

Overall though, I highly recommend this book. The supernatural and folk horror aspects are a twisty turny maze of horror goodness and will leave you frightened. You might want to cancel your vacation plans after reading this!

"The Faraway People" by Stacey Dighton is a chilling and eerie tale that weaves together elements of a troubled family's secrets, an ancient forest brimming with ungodly horrors, and the sinister presence of a pagan cult.

The Penrose family embarks on a 'staycation' to the seemingly peaceful village of Bodhmall’s Rest in Cornwall, hoping to reconnect and heal their fractured relationships. However, their idyllic getaway takes a dark turn as the family's internal struggles rise to the surface. Hattie and Richard, the parents, are grappling with infidelity and financial turmoil. As they confront their personal demons, strange creatures in the woods and apparitions in their home further heighten the sense of unease.

Unbeknownst to the Penrose family, they have caught the attention of Glanna Cormoran and her pagan cult, as well as an undercover SOCA agent, who discovers links to a criminal organization known as The Belvedere Saints. What follows is a terrifying and suspenseful unraveling of secrets, as the family becomes ensnared in a web of dark forces.

Stacey Dighton's writing is evocative, drawing readers into the foreboding atmosphere of the Cornish village and its menacing woods. As the story unfolds, a sense of creeping dread builds, and the line between reality and the supernatural becomes increasingly blurred. Dighton expertly cultivates an atmosphere of tension and horror that leaves you eagerly turning the pages.

The characters in "The Faraway People" are well-drawn, and their complexities add depth to the narrative. Each family member's struggles and vulnerabilities make them relatable and real, even in the face of supernatural horrors.

Overall, "The Faraway People" is a bone-chilling and gripping horror novel that will captivate fans of the genre. Dighton's narrative skill, combined with a masterful blend of horror elements, ensures that readers are in for a spine-tingling experience.

Wow ok now I’m definitely a horror book kinda girl !! I’ll take the nightmares because this book is amazing!! I was not expecting to fall so in love with the book the characters the story but I totally did each character was so well written I loved them I had my favourites and some I was completely scared of. I picked it up and didn’t want to it down I could only read it during the day light 🙈 The strangeness the secrets the mystery the scariness it was so intense, gripping, dam right disturbing, overall outstanding! I really am so impressed and amazed with how much I loved this. I can’t wait to see what else @staceydightonauthor has written because I need more horror in my life. Thank you so much @staceydightonauthor for letting me have a ARC of your brilliant book and Thank you @cranthorpemillner