This is a book of short stories that are centred around the fictional Barrowbeck. The stories range from whimsical, historical and also from the future.

I enjoyed the range of stories, I did find that with short stories there are some I like more than others, and this collection was no exception. I enjoyed them all on the whole but occasionally felt that just as they were getting into the most interesting part, they ended.

Some are more towards the horror, nothing grotesque or toe-curlingly bad, but as I mentioned earlier, more whimsical. It is an interesting selection of themes and topics.

This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I will look for other books and stories. If you are looking for a story collection then this one may be something you would be interested in. I would recommend it.

Collection of short stories across the millennia about place. 3.5 rating, raised

This did not quite work for me, although the stories are interesting. My expectations were driven by Hurley’s magnificent first and third novels, The Loney and Starve Acre, where he skilfully winds up tension to incredible effect. I’d had the same sort of ‘not quite’ reaction to these short stories, as I had to his second novel, Devil’s Day

There is in this short story collection – as in all Hurley’s writing – a very palpable and visceral engagement with place, and the power, historical and geographical which might be felt within a landscape itself. So, if you like, the oppressive, cut off and I believe imaginary, isolated valley on the Yorkshire Lancashire borders (though there is a Cumbrian Barrow Beck) is the character linking all stories.

The first story details a violent Viking invasion of another area. The survivors, including their shamans flee to a distant, bleak, isolated area, to resettle their community. This is Barrowbeck. The land has some malevolence, something mythic, horrific, creepy within it, or maybe that is just what human settlers and our often dark, violent shadow sides have brought to a place, corrupting it. Each story takes a leap into some later time, with the gaps between the centuries shortening, the closer we come to the twentieth, and then the twenty first century

The last story ends in the near future, and is particularly powerful and meaningful as it is possibly increasingly prescient about climate change

I think the concept here was originally a series of 10 short stories by Hurley created for radio, read by different actors, broadcast back in 2022 by the BBC, under the title Voices In The Valley. I assume that the last, futuristic stories are new

I have raised my 3.5 rating, because had I not read Hurley’s prior novels (particularly the first and third) I would not have been expecting this progression of mounting tension across a novel, and would not, therefore, have missed the kind of dynamic to be found in a longer work.

I really enjoyed this author's 2014 debut "The Loney", so I was excited to see this new novel on Netgalley.
From the blurb, I assumed it *was* a novel - but it's a collection of thirteen short stories, each one taking place in a different year some time between the Viking invasion of England and the year 2041.

All stories take place in the village of Barrowbeck - a bleak, remote valley in the North of England. We begin at the beginning - with the Vikings settling in the valley. From there, we follow their descendants through to the present day and into the future.

I found some stories easier to read than others - I struggled with the vagueness of some. In saying that, while I was looking back on my notes to see which ones I preferred, I realised that I enjoyed them all, despite not having a clue what was happening at times. There are elements of the supernatural (a woman growing babies in her garden for childless couples, a clown handing out miniature animals that move, a ghost choir made up of dead soldiers) but the best parts of the stories are in the human elements.

I really wish some of them were longer - in particular, the last few. I would just be getting really into a story and then it would end (usually quite ambiguously). The writing is beautiful, very descriptive, and I think fans of his other work will enjoy the way the stories flow.

I felt that the main theme was how we treat each other and the land we live on - if we're not good to it, why should it be good to us? But I could be way off, considering the themes of some.

It's definitely not horror, but some of the stories are quite dark.
It's one I had to sit with, but I did end up liking it.

For centuries, the inhabitants of Barrowbeck, a remote valley on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border, have lived uneasily with forces beyond their reckoning. They raise their families, work the land, and do their best to welcome those who come seeking respite. But there is a darkness that runs through the village as persistently as the river.

I struggled with this book. I found the language difficult and it failed to draw me in. I didn’t finish it as, for me, it was heavy going and not the read I expected.

Barrowbeck is a small remote village where the inhabitants work the land, giving this a Folk Horror feel. It is a collection of tales told in different timelines about the history of the village and the people who lived there. It's an interesting and creepy book, with something mysterious and dark at the heart of this small village that troubles the villagers. Very good and unsettling read, and a suitably dark cover to accompany it.

Barrowbeck is an intriguing collection of interconnected short stories that brilliantly explore how time alters both people and places—or, in some cases, how little things change despite the passing years. The premise itself is captivating, as it allows readers to witness the evolving dynamics within Barrowbeck, a seemingly ordinary town with a distinctly eerie atmosphere lurking beneath its surface.

Each story in the collection is a snapshot of life in Barrowbeck at different points in time, offering a unique perspective on the inhabitants and the events that shape their lives. What’s particularly compelling is how the tone shifts across the stories—some are deeply sinister, filled with an unsettling sense of dread that seeps into the narrative, while others have a more subtle, creeping unease that leaves you questioning what’s real and what’s imagined. The author masterfully plays with these tonal shifts, keeping the reader on edge and creating an undercurrent of suspense that runs through the entire collection.

The final story, in particular, stands out for its unsettling realism. It feels all too believable, which makes it hit even harder, leaving you with a lingering sense of discomfort. The unease isn’t from any overt horror, but from how plausible the events feel, making it one of the most thought-provoking and impactful stories in the book.

One of the strengths of Barrowbeck lies in its ability to evoke a range of emotions and responses from the reader. There’s a lot of thematic variety here, from stories that delve into darker psychological territory to those that subtly reflect on human nature and the inevitability of time. This contrast in tone and theme keeps the reader engaged throughout, with each new story offering a fresh take on the familiar setting of Barrowbeck.

The author’s ability to craft such vivid, atmospheric tales within the relatively brief confines of a short story format is impressive. You quickly become invested in the lives of the characters, many of whom feel fully realized despite the limited page count. The town of Barrowbeck itself becomes a character in its own right—a place that is both familiar and strange, with a history that feels rich and layered, even if much of it remains shrouded in mystery.

Barrowbeck is another excellent offering from a talented author who excels at creating stories that are both thought-provoking and deeply unsettling. Whether it’s the subtle shifts in tone or the eerie, timeless quality of the setting, this collection lingers long after you’ve finished reading. If you’re a fan of short stories with a dark edge, filled with atmosphere and tension, this is a book worth picking up. The way it explores time, place, and human nature in such a concise, impactful way makes it a standout read.

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A strange and disturbing novel that gives us stories all set in the fictional town of Barrowbeck from around the time of the Vikinhg invasion (860AD) through various incarnations right up to 2041 when global warming has taken its toll.

All the stories are a little unsettling in some way. You're never quite sure where things are going and that's what makes this book so hypnotic. Barrowbeck almost seems to be lost in time. All the stories feel like they could be set five hundred years ago or five hundred in the future. The inhabitants are all intriguing and a little odd.

I enjoyed almost all the stories but would have liked one or two of them to be slightly less dystopian. I suppose being an optimist isn't always helpful.

Definitely recommended. I'll certainly read more by this author because the writing was so enthralling.

Thankyou to Netgalley and John Murray Press for the advance review copy.

I enjoyed this but felt it would of worked better as an audio, not all felt that they would lie in the horror genre but more eerie and spooky, I think some were made for BBC sounds? Overall a great collection, perfect for Halloween

Barrowbeck is a remote valley on the border of Yorkshire and Lancaster. Over the centuries inhabitants have been affected by a Darkness that lives there. This novel will lead us through time and what the people have lived through.

Well written and well paced novel. Many good characters who have suffered living in Barrowbeck. Quite creepy at times.

Sorry but I just couldn’t get into Barrowbeck at all. I requested it as the synopsis of the story sounded good. However, I got to 12% of the book on my kindle and nothing had happened. I had hoped it was just a slow start but ended up giving up and was not able to finish it. Just not for me.

An unusual and somewhat strange book. Spanning history from ancient times to the near future separate and distinct tales are told about the residents of Barrowbeck a northern English village.. Each part hints at something eerie and unnatural taking place but without ever defining what it is.
The only continuity throughout is Barrowbeck itself and the sense of unease otherwise each chapter is populated by different characters with no seeming family connections through history. The final chapter is in itself a kind of prophetic warning to us all. I found myself continually wanting something more from this book but never actually getting it although I did need to finish it. More eerie than horror but with enough interest to see me to the end

I failed miserably to get on with this book. Loved the premise but really didn’t like the writing style or any of the stories within. It all just felt bloated and pretty pretentious. Also, minor point I guess, but the epub sent out by the publisher was terribly formatted - no sections and random line breaks throughout…it made for an unpleasant reading experience. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn’t really get into this book at all. Didn’t realise it was a series of short stories and sadly didn’t interest me at all.

I really enjoyed "Starve Acre" by Andrew Michael Hurley but "Barrowbeck", not so much. I hadn't realised it was a collection of short stories, with Barrowbeck (a fictional village) at their centre. Also based on the blurb, I was expecting something more sinister at the end. Still some stories stood out more than the other, like "The Sisters".

Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for this ARC!

This was the first of Hurley’s works I have gotten to read, though he has been on my radar for quite some time already, so I went into this with absolutely no idea what I would find.

Barrowbeck tells the (fictional) story of the village Barrowbeck in the UK, with each of the chapters telling a different tale set at a different time (period), but all of them with Barrowbeck as the setting and most describing a specific event or specific place.

We start off with a story describing the village’s origin, though there isn’t a year given so I can only say it was pre-1445. The stories then continue moving towards the future, though most are set in the 1900s and after.

The writing is quite atmospheric and has a rather threatening aura, but overall I would say this is very tame as far as horror goes. Definitely the kind of book even someone who isn’t a big horror reader could enjoy, but the depressing atmosphere is well done enough to also entice people who primarily read horror, such as myself, as long as you don’t really expect to see gore or be particularly scared. Spooky, not scary, is how I would describe this.

I think my favourite stories in this collection are After the Fair, which describes a travelling fair with a “magician” of sorts handing out miniature live animals to the winner of a game.
Hymns for Easter, probably one of the more haunting stories of the collection (especially if, like me, you are interested in the effects WWI had on the soldiers fighting in it).
The Haven, which was probably my favourite because I loved the storytelling-style chosen here.
A Celestial Event, a wonderful representation of how grief affects people differently.
And Covenant, a grim look at our future.

I think it would certainly be accurate to describe this as a more literary sort of horror collection, so if that’s what you’re looking for, I truly think you could have a great time with this.

I've really enjoyed all of Andrew Michael Hurley's novels, especially his last one, Starve Acre. This was a collection of short stories and I loved the premise of this being centred on a place through time rather than being character driven.

There was a sense of creepiness and strangeness to the stories and I never quite knew how they were going to end. I found the last story very haunting and an all-too-possible glimpse into the future.

Excellent writing, great imaginative stories and a perfectly measured amount of folk horror.

Barrowbeck is a collection of short stories depicting the lives lived in one small, claustrophobic village across different time periods, including the future. As a collection, Andrew Michael Hurley has spun a uniquely rich and creepy history of Barrowbeck to be consumed delectably. Although there is no obvious overarching plot and the pacing is on the slow-burning side, folk horror fans will find each story engrossing and disturbing. It was a moody and atmospheric read, perfect to pick up and put down, but I personally found the structure of the book a little ambitious. Nonetheless, a good read!

This collection of stories centred on the enigmatic place of Barrowbeck is endowed with rich folklore, minor and major haunting attributed to angry gods and land best left alone. Set in a naturally thriving area as the Lake District the themes of life, death, the strange, and unnatural are all explored in this collection in Hurley’s climactic tone. Some of these stories are enough to bring a chill to your bones but not all tales were had the same lustre to them. The chronological timeline of these stories brought together a thread of history and land as a footnote to each other but the varied horror of each tale led to perhaps too varied an approach to the collection whilst the overall aim to displace and haunt the reader throughout the land’s time is still achieved. Overall, a truly fascinating read and most of these stories are wonderful folk horror tales to share (particularly if you’re unfortunate to be located in Barrowbeck overnight).

This book reads as a bunch of short stories but they all have the same connection and that is Barrowbeck, a remote valley on the borders of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Barrowbeck has a darkness that runs through it and the townsfolk do their best to raise their families, work the land and welcome those who visit. But something is happening, two thousand years of history is about to come to an end.

I was intrigued by the blurb on this one but I was confused initially. However once I realised that it was explaining Barrowbecks inhabitants throughout the years it all started to make sense. Saying that I did prefer certain chapters over others. Overall it was a good book and the last chapter did tie it all neatly together

I am a fan of Andrew Michael Hurleys work, they are delightfully creepy and unsettling. I had heard some of these connected stories on the BBC but there was still plenty for me to get my teeth into. Just loved it.