I unfortunately had to DNF, at about the 50 pages mark. Nothing kept me interested, there was nothing notable about this book, all of it was just meh, no character was actually likeable, or smart.
Also, can we stop the trope of "hero asks question, people give vague non-answers, and hero just drops it:". What a boring, overdone trope, that ruins the tone of the whole book. I do not enjoy trickling information in this sense, make it more interesting, or at least have them be dumb enough to not even ask questions.

Dark, eerie, chilling, horrific, and oozing with unease, Scuttler's Cove is a wonderfully creepy folk horror book! I enjoyed the mystery, the tension, the dark secrets, the mounting danger! The sea, the land, the towns people, and an apple tree hold a centuries old secret. I do not read a lot of folk horror, but if David Barnett writes it, I will read it!

In the coastal town of Cornwell, an apple tree grows. Every so often the apples come early. The townspeople know what it means and what they must do. To ensure their way of life remains balanced, certain things need to happen. They follow the ancient ways, beliefs, gods, and traditions. They are an isolated and tight-knit community where, like Cheers, everyone knows your name. But outsiders have discovered the beautiful setting and town and are buying up homes as the townspeople struggle.

When Merrin Moon left town for college, she never imagined she would come back to Scutter's Cove. But her mother has passed away and Merrin returned to take care of her mother's funeral. Back in Scutter's cove, Merrin has been reacquainted with old friends, her mother's old friends, and those she knew growing up. Things she has forgotten are beginning to come back to her as the days progress.

Jen is a young widow whose husband died in a horrific accident. She is in town with her deceased husband's friends and has formed a friendship with Merrin. Jen is drawn to the town, the apple tree.

Holy Moly! This was a great fast read that both enticed and spooked me! As I mentioned, I loved the atmosphere, the unease, the isolation, the tension, the creepy vibe of the book. The ancient ways, the history, the characters, and the sea made for a thrilling reading experience. I had no idea where this book was going to take me, but I enjoyed the twist filled creepy ride! David Barnett nailed writing vivid descriptions. I could see everything playing out in my mind as I read. I enjoyed the writing, the well thought out plot, and the characters. While I rooted for some, there were others who gave me the creeps. I could see this being made into a movie.

Dark, horrific, eerie, and hard to put down!

folk horror girlies we are UP! 🦀 this is a book that sneaks up on you. you’re hooked before you even realize it, unable to stop turning the page. i want to be as vague as possible bc i feel like this is best experienced knowing very little about the plot— but if you’re looking for a beautifully written, tense horror tale with all the fishing village vibes, this is the one.

Scuttler’s Cove is an eerie, atmospheric novel folk horror novel from David Barnett. I have never read anything from this author but I definitely will after reading this! The basic premise involves two women, one returning to her childhood hometown and one recently widowed who is summering in the same time. Odd events start happening and the story just gets creepier as it goes on. The plot had my attention throughout and the cast of characters was great as well. I was also pretty surprised by a twist at the end. Definitely would recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this eARC.

This was such an atmospheric eerie tale that slowly built up throughout the book. Loved the characters so much, felt like I was right there with them. This was well depicted to the point I could see the imagery in my mind like a horror movie. Will definitely follow this author now!

The author portrays a very vivid setting and has come up with an interesting premise in this novel. However, for me, the extensive cast list resulted in insufficient character development, so I found it hard to feel truly engaged with them all.

Some passages also felt a little repetitive, which is more of an editing issue. The themes of gentrification and the greed of man destroying the world were slightly over-egged. Such points were made then repeated over and over which makes the reader feel like the author thinks they have not been paying attention!

Wow! Some of the best things I've read in a while. I'm a sucker for folk horror and this really takes it to another level. The writing is gripping and vivid. The setting is beautifully creepy. David Barnett is now on my auto buy list. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Scuttler's Cove by David Barnett is an absolute triumph of suspense and atmosphere, brilliantly blending dark mystery with a sense of eerie wonder. Barnett’s writing is both sharp and immersive, capturing the haunting setting of Scuttler’s Cove with such vivid detail that it feels like a character in itself. The plot is full of twists and turns, each more captivating than the last, with a strong undercurrent of psychological tension. The characters are richly developed, their motivations and complexities driving the story forward. This is a masterclass in gothic storytelling—gripping, chilling, and unforgettable. A must-read for fans of atmospheric horror books.

This is an entertainingly creepy folk horror tale, with some sympathetic leads and some realistically nasty DFLs. The sense of place is excellent, this really feels like the small Cornish villages I know, and there’s plenty of rising mystery and palpable dread. A very entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I only finished 'Withered Hill' what feels like recently, and I absolutely adored it. I did not, for a minute, think that I would be treated to a second iteration from David Barnett so soon, and I did not think that I would love it as much (in different ways) as 'Withered Hill'. But 'Scuttler's Cove' delivers, with a whole new cast of characters, as well as a plot that is equally as creeping and haunting as the former novel, but with a collection of different elements.

Good folk horror is hard to find, particularly good folk horror that feels and looks like the peak of the genre. This is definitely a prime example, however. This book is less violent than the predecessor, but it is equally as punchy. As someone who lives in a quasi-tourist town where you have a begrudgingly symbiotic relationship with those who come to visit and those who have always been there, 'Scuttler's Cove' was the perfect example of the awkward meeting of those things, with some nastiness chucked in.

The characters were compelling, and those who were meant to be bad were a 'love to hate' situation. Merrin and Jen were wonderfully written, and multi-faceted, which is always a win. Their connection to the town and the last minute twists were marvellous, and I found myself tearing through the book (much as with 'Withered Hill').

To save on spoilers, I won't mention a third place by name - but I do hope and pray for a third book in this wonderful series (and also, it means when I get physical copies, they can look nice and consistent together for me!).

I read Withered Hill back in September and became a fan of David Barnett. Folk horror is eerie without being over the top.

Scuttler's Cove is about a small town being taken over by city folk looking for a second home in the summer. The towns folk are either against the new people or cashing in on them. Merrin is brought back after her mom's passing and Jen is being dragged along by her recently deceased husband's friends.

Any time I read a folk horror book I am reminded of how good it is. There are things that just make sense because it's "for the greater good" (Think Hot Fuzz) and I don't bat an eye at it.

Definitely recommend checking out if you want something unique and creepy! Thank you to NetGalley, David Barnett, and Canelo Horror for the opportunity to read Scuttler's Cove. I have written this review voluntarily.

A beautiful folk horror beautifully executed.

Taking place in the eponymous Scuttlers Cove, a quiet fishing village in Cornwall. The story revolves around second homers moving in and driving the prices up and the locals out. Our two main characters, Merrin and Jen, find themselves drawn to Scuttler's Cove and soon come to realize there's dark ancient works at play that they find themselves in the middle of.

For fans of The Haar, Lovecraft, and short pov chapters this story builds up tension and intensity beautifully to a memorable climax. I have yet to read Withered Hill by Barnett but i'm definitely eager to read it now after loving this.

Before anything, I wanna thank the publisher, the author and Net Galley for sending me this ARC. All opinions are my own
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Scuttler’s Cove is a very entertaining and fast paced book despite its 377 pages since something is always happening with the characters, from the begging of the story until the last page, and yet the plot doesn’t feel rushed at any point, imo. It was very easy for me to connect with the main characters so I laughed with them and suffered with them.
It’s a fantasy horror story with plot twists that I never saw coming (and I pride myself on being very good at anticipating them) with a contemporary theme (gentrification) combined with tradition and folklore, which the author manages to combine in a spectacular way. Lastly, it didn’t flew over my head all the feminist comments throughout the book, which I don’t know if the author included on purpose or not, but I absolutely loved them.

I’m definitely going to check out the author’s other published works.

This was such a fun one! I loved the multiple POVs and inclusion of folk horror and supernatural elements. I for sure will be recommending this to friends.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

I LOVED this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning but then boom I was hooked!! I finished it in one sitting! My first by this author but will not be my last!!

The old ways are still alive in the Cornish coastal town of Scuttler’s Cove.

Scuttler’s Cove is the second book in what I am calling The Barnettverse - the first being the recently released Withered Hill, and effectively revolves around two women. Merrin Moon and Jen.

After receiving the news that her mother is dead, Merrin packs up her life in London and the relationship that is going nowhere. Returning to Scuttler’s Cove, Merrin finds out that her mother has sold off her estate to some equity fund, and whilst she has left some money to Merrin, she discovers that half of her fortune has just disappeared.

As Merrin fits back into the life that she left as a teenager, she reestablishes relationships that she left behind. However, she also realises that things are not as it seems at Scuttler’s Cove as she begins to uncover secrets about both her and her mother.

Jen is a career girl who becomes embroiled with a city financier, Justin, and his upper crust friends. Their relationship leads to a proposal of marriage and a new house built on the vale of Nans Avallen, overlooking Scuttler’s cove. The plan is for her and Justin to live there for the summer in the exclusive development with his friends.

However, things take an unexpected turn when Jen’s husband is tragically killed in a car crash and she is seriously injured. It falls to her husband’s former friends to pick Jen up and help rebuild her life.

As Jen and the gang carry on with the plans that they had to move into the housing development that she was going to set up with her husband, old things begin to stir in Scuttler’s Cove.

The two women are drawn together in friendship when Merrin moves into the exclusive development,owned by a local farmer who has had to provide social housing as part of the tenet to develop the land of Nans Avallen.

Moving the setting to Cornwall, Barnett carefully weaves Cornish folklore into the story to build an ominous plot. Throughout the story Barnett steadily builds the tension, teasing bits of information about Scuttler’s Cove and the lore behind the town. Mixing some scenes of horror reminiscent of the great Guy N. Smith, social commentary about the lack of housing for local inhabitants of rural communities, and old time creepy folk horror, Barnett builds an effective horror story.

Throughout the story, the plot can seem to be predictable, particularly the ending. However, Barnett performs a magic trick of totally diverting your expectations which was really unexpected.

Whilst some people may find the pacing to be slow at first, stick with it and you will be rewarded with a satisfying slice of horror.

Thank you net galley for letting me read this book.

The setting in this book has really thinking about a town off the coast and horror. I throughly enjoyed reading this book and the beach atmosphere really had me in the la push area in twilight. Or in the goosebumps adult version on Netflix kinda that eerie feeling. I really liked Merton and Jen’s character. Thank you bet galley for giving me the chance to read this book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the story to be very slow and a bit repetitive. I found some parts to be simply filler, with pages and pages of nothing happening except for meeting up at the pub or having cocktails on a patio with a bunch of rich Londoners. I felt hit over the head with the point that many beautiful towns in the UK have been made unaffordable for the locals, due to Londoners buying up property as holiday places and in turn forcing property prices sky-high.
It feels to me, like the most interesting part of the story, old sleeping gods of the land and sea, became secondary to all the antics going on in this little town of Scuttlers Cove between the locals and the rich Londoners.

However, I did really enjoy Merrin's, Jen's, and Tarran's characters and that is what kept me reading.

I received an arc from NetGalley. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Scuttler's Cove by David Barnett

After her mother's death, Merrin Moon, a former inhabitant of Scuttler's Cove, returns to her hometown. The picturesque town has become a retreat for the wealthy and breathed new life into the community. However, disturbing superstitions are woven deeply into Scuttler's Cove's history. Strange happenings transpire within the land that Merrin and her rich neighbors inhabit. With a single, enigmatic apple tree in its center, the property begins to retell a tale of horror. Only the proper tributes will satisfy the craving. Can those involved decipher the harrowing complexities in time?

Having completed David Barnett's second novel, I am now a dedicated fan of his work. His portrayal of ominous surroundings, such as the darkness of dense forestry or crashing ocean waves upon the shoreline, results in an ever-changing opponent who challenges the reader's animalistic instinct to survive. For who can attempt to control the environment? Nature does what it wants, lending to catastrophic outcomes without remorse. The ocean has no feelings, or does it?

The fragile connections among the elite crowd unfold like a captivating episode of "The Real Housewives of Orange County," full of drama and intrigue. A slowburning romance sputtered with uncertainty, always lingering, leaving the reader in a constant state of wonder. A sprinkling of hints nudging the reader ever so slightly. Important information was withheld until the right moment to keep me engaged throughout. As the moments unfolded, a series of faint explosions echoed in my mind, each revelation igniting a spark of understanding.

Horror with a slight fantastical twist is right up my alley. I adore David Barnett's worlds, possibly because I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and am transported back to the fear of a menacing forest. His writing style transports you to a raw, instinctual realm that captivates the senses. For such an entertaining read, I recommend this and give it 4 out of 5 stars, with a slight lean towards 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Canelo for the ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

337 pages

5 stars

This is a gripping and fast paced horror story. The Cornish town of Scuttler’s Cove is by the sea. Steeped in folklore and mystery its idyllic setting is much wanted by the incomer summer rich folk who snap up land and cottages at exorbitant prices.

Unlike the other towns along the Cornish coast, Scuttler’s Cove is blessed. But, with what? By what? This book has a delicious mix of folklore and horror. The town must honor the traditions. What are the traditions?

I cannot praise this creepy read enough. Just the right amount of deception, tension and terror to make a great well paced and descriptive little horror story. And even creepy crawlies make their entrance !

The main characters are well drawn and played out. The incomers have a big secret. All play their part extremely well. I was a little disappointed at the end, but it did not dampen my enjoyment of this novel. Very well done, Mr. Barnett. I will be looking at your other works.

I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions cited in this review are solely my own.