Barrowbeck challenges the reader to consider whether a place can maintain an aura through the ages. Stories from more than three thousand years show the bleakness and challenges of living in this location and that sometimes whatever you do the place will win out. Creepy and haunting, a great read from the author of Starve acre and the Loney.

I really enjoyed The Loney and Devil's Day but unfortunately I really struggled to get into this book. Possibly due to the short story format and slow moving, folkloresque tone?

A creepy, haunting collection of stories set in a fictional hamlet. The suspense and eerieness of this make it well worth the read.

The synopsis of this book really took my interest and I wanted to try a different genre to what I usually read.

I liked that all the short stories were based in Barrowbeck and that they spanned over many years. Whilst I did enjoy some of them, for the most part I struggled to get into many of the stories. It is very well written, I think that the style of writing just didn't suit me. I'm sure this book will be loved by many, unfortunately it wasn't the right fit for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

These short stories are loosely connected by their setting, a Lancashire village called Barrowbeck. Each story moves to a different time, starting with ‘First Footing’ about the ancient settlement sacked by marauders from a rival tribe. As one might expect from work penned by Andrew Michael Hurley, the tales make frequent reference to weather; trees, berries and crops; wildlife and livestock; rivers, hills and rocks; and Christian and pagan superstitions. Although it was the promise of these elements that drew me to the book, ultimately it was the stories that placed less overt emphasis on folkloric description that I found most appealing.
For me, the collection came alive in the 1995-set story ‘Autumn Pastoral’ when an art expert is called to a sprawling Barrowbeck property to value the art collection of the late owner. Each of the hundreds of canvases, painted by visiting artists over the years, features the local landscape. The assessor discovers not only the owner’s eccentricities but also his “deep-rooted” spitefulness. (If you read the story, you’ll see why I have used inverted commas here.) ‘Sisters’ set in 2022 is a rounded character study of a guest staying at a Barrowbeck guesthouse run by aging siblings. The most memorable story for me was ‘Covenant’ set in the near future of 2029. Evelyn, the new Barrowbeck doctor, finds a vulnerable man asleep in a ditch. The creeping sense of suspense and doom is palpable as we learn more about these two characters. The likely end point of the tale soon grows ominously clear. The author rounds off the collection with ‘A Valediction 2041’, perhaps the most horror-laden story of all: Barrowbeck a decade after climate change has taken the ultimate toll.
This is an independent review of a NetGalley early copy. With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.
On its publication, I will post my review of this novel on my website.

I can honestly say I did not enjoy this book. Lots of short stories throughout the ages centred around Barrowbeck. I could not wait to finish this book so that I could move on to something more enjoyable.

Sorry just not for me,

Strange but lovely, beautiful writing as ever from this author. Reminded me of Joan Aitken’s suspenseful ‘80s writing in parts. Very grateful to the publishers and Net Galley for the chance to read an APC.

A collection of short stories about a fictional village called Barrowbeck throughout history.

A couple of strange ones, but mostly fell flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Last year I bought a blind date with a book that contained Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley. I had never read anything by him before but I was instantly hooked and when I saw Barrowbeck was on NetGalley, I knew I had to try and read it!

Barrowbeck is a series of short stories featuring a remote place called Barrowbeck, all throughout there is a thread of darkness that lingers in the valley and strange things happen that can’t be rationally explained. While there are no monsters jumping out or an easy being to label as the villain in this story, it was delightfully creepy and preys on that sense of unease that comes with absolute remoteness.

Even though the stories are set in different years and with different characters, Hurley does an incredible job of drawing the reader in and making them invested in each story. Some of these I wish were longer, but if that was intentionally done then Hurley is fantastic at leaving the reader wanting more.

I would absolutely recommend this for anyone who enjoys an eerie read.

Mesmerising, captivating and thought-provoking, the village of Barrowbeck is the main character, it's people formed by their experiences of place and history, There is horror, there is love, and there are many strange happenings in this loose collection of stories that all add up to the power of place and the importance of belonging as the relentless nature of Barrowbeck influences all who live or visit there.

It's a deeply immersive, truly strange meditation that is worth pursuing as it speaks of much that we as individuals should pay attention to if we aren't to lose our own places.

This is a difficult book to review. Not really my kind of book - I don’t really like short stories - but was attracted by the location of the story, living in the same general area. To begin with, I didn’t care for the stories much and didn’t really understand the point of them - but by halfway through they were much more interesting and thought provoking. I think maybe I’ve missed the point of the book but I did stick with it and it did get better.

This is a beautiful and haunting collection of short stories, starting in pre-historic times through to our near future. The only constant is the place, Barrowbeck, a small, remote village surrounded by mountains in the North of England.
When the first people founded Barrowbeck, they treated with the gods for the permission to settle, for a haven. Through the times the valley changes, the people change, moulded by history and their surroundings. Often the land is bountiful but when the people start to change the landscape itself there is a price to pay.

The stories are sometimes lyrical, sometimes surprising and always a bit on edge. They perfectly capture today’s mood, now that we’re realising that we are not masters of this earth but only a blip on the surface.
The book cover reads horror to me, but I find it’s more of an unease, unsettling and totally spellbinding.

This dark and haunting book comprises vignettes through the ages showing different inhabitants of the remote and rather unlovely village of Barrowbeck, on the banks of a swiftly flowing river and with fells rising steeply on either side. The weather is almost a character in this novel, as we see the village in rain, wind and bitter cold - but never full sunshine. There is a ghostly element to the stories, inexplicable happenings, strange people appearing and disappearing. In some ways these episodes are like loosely-linked horror stories, particularly the final one. I highly recommend this unusual and thought-provoking book, particularly for reading on a dark and windy night!

This book confounded me, it engaged me, it irritated me.
The book drew me in, then at the transition from one chapter to the next it threw me out.
I couldn't get comfortable or settled into the book. I kind of feel that this was deliberate. But I wanted more from the book, from each chapter.
I struggle to decide what to score it, but using my own scoring rules I can only award 3 stars.

This was a nice selection of short stories with really good writing, well developed and interesting characters and storylines while it was also atmospheric and paced well
I would be interested to read more from this author

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

Barrowbeck is a small remote village where the inhabitants work the land.
This book is collection of tales told in different timelines about the history of the village and the people who lived there.
There is something dark and mysterious that makes life difficult for the villagers.
An interesting and creepy story.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

A mixed bag of short stories featuring the inhabitants of a remote village in Barrowbeck throughout the years. The village holds a darkness and as the years go by, the bleak clouds threaten many of them, resulting in a dreadful occurrence that envelops the village forever

A collection of short stories following the growth and timeline of the people of the village Barrowbeck and all its tales of the unknown, spanning all the way from the days of the early settlers of the land to the future day in 2041.

The style of writing matched the year and tone of each story beautifully,...some of which were creepy, some whimsical and some eery. Some standout chapters for me were 'The Strangest Case', 'An Afternoon Of Cake and Lemonade', and 'Sisters'.

A new author for me, and a great read...I liked the journey it took me on

I loved Starve Acre and was really looking forward to this book but sadly, for me at least, Barrowbeck missed its mark. The novel perhaps set out to be 'Ulverton' with a supernatural twist, but the episodes are too disconnected to make this anything more than a short story collection. And many of Barrowbeck's stories are frankly a bit flat. The writing is always compelling but as other reviewers have noted, just as the best of the narratives get going, they come to an end. Some of them (eg Natural Remedies) seem just daft. Despite an emphasis on Barrowbeck, the village as a connecting theme, a sense of place in the stories seems strangely superficial. If you want a novel with this sort of structure, and a bit of spookiness, which delivers a real emotional punch, try North Woods by Daniel Mason. Sorry!

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.