Devil's Day

A new novel by the author of The Loney, which was praised by Stephen King as "an amazing piece of fiction."In the wink of an eye, as quick as a flea,The Devil he jumped from me to thee.And only when the Devil had gone,Did I know that he and I'd been one . . . Every autumn, John Pentecost returns to the farm where he grew up, to help gather the sheep down from the moors for the winter. Very little changes in the Endlands, but this year, his grandfather—the Gaffer—has died and John's new wife, Katherine, is accompanying him for the first time. Each year, the Gaffer would redraw the boundary lines of the village, with pen and paper but also through the remembrance of tales and timeless communal rituals, which keep the sheep safe from the Devil. But as the farmers of the Endlands bury the Gaffer and prepare to gather the sheep, they begin to wonder whether they've let the Devil in after all.

BookPage "Masterly thriller...an intensely suspenseful tale memorable for what it says about unshakable traditions that are bred in the bone."

“Hurley is a writer’s writer, his descriptions of landscape and character precise and evocative…Hurley’s ability to create unease, combined with his unquestionable talent, make ‘Devil’s Day’ a standout horror novel as well as a piece of literary art…as spooky as it gets. When you’ve finished, you will feel that the Devil is out there, waiting for the inhabitants of the Endlands. Maybe even for you.” –New York TimesBook Review "This atmospheric, eerie novel is perfect for a rainy night in."

Booklist, STARRED "Hurley explores the mysteries of human behavior and how they might explain strange events

“Like Hurley's celebrated debut, this beautifully told gothic story of love, obligation, and legacy blends genres superbly. Hurley is considered one of the leading figures in what is called the British folk-horror revival.”

Metro

“The power of belief, the tyranny of tradition and the unsettling nature of a landscape that changes in a flicker from welcome to menace add up to a gorgeously written novel that leaves the reader wondering and perturbed.”

Times Literary Supplement

“Impressively uncomfortable reading.”

Book Riot

“What Wuthering Heights did with Yorkshire moors, Devil’s Day does with Lancashire moors. The writing is evocative and the bleak atmosphere is just as much part of the story as the characters. Hurley combines an insidious, otherworldly story with folklore and mythology.”

Sunday Times

“The new master of menace. This chilling follow-up to The Loney confirms its author as a writer to watch . . . Hurley doesn’t need the Devil’s help to grip you. His taut writing does that for him. Nature’s routine cruelties are caught with a fierce accuracy that Ted Hughes would have admired.”

Daily Mail

“This impeccably written novel tightens like a clammy hand around your throat.”

“Devil’s Day is an assured follow-up to The Loney that considers the themes of exile, mythology and rural traditions . . . In the same way that Emily Brontë allowed the Yorkshire moors to become a character unto itself in Wuthering Heights, Hurley’s depiction of the hills and grasslands of Lancashire takes on an anthropomorphic quality, representing a place removed from the outside world, a timeless land with its own rules and laws . . . Hurley has a good ear for mystery, turning the woods into a magical but dangerous place . . . Hurley is a fine writer, with concerns that place him a little to the left of the literary mainstream, a remove th

About the Author

ANDREW MICHAEL HURLEY lives in Lancashire, where he teaches English literature and creative writing. He has published two short story collections. His first novel, The Loney, won the Costa First Book Award, was short-listed for the James Herbert Award, and was published in twenty territories.

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