The Town That Forgot How to Breathe: A Novel

Something strange is happening in the seaside town of Bareneed. Mythical creatures are being pulled from the sea, perfectly preserved corpses of long-lost villagers are washing up on the shore, and residents of the town are suddenly overcome by a mysterious illness that is making them forget how to breathe.A page-turning gothic thriller reminiscent of H. P. Lovecraft, The Town That Forgot How to Breathe is "a novel of dazzling ambition and strange, haunting loveliness. . . . An absolute triumph of the storyteller's art" (Joseph O'Connor, author of Star of the Sea).

J. M. Coetzee, Nobel Prize winning author of Disgrace

“An eerie and gripping story, the work of an extravagantly haunted imagination.”

San Francisco Chronicle

“[A] thoughtful, grounded piece of literary horror.”

John Harding, Daily Mail (U.K.)

“Haunting, poetic, funny, moving, The Town That Forgot How to Breathe takes on the big themes--the meaning of life, our relationship to the dead, man's place in the rapidly changing modern world--and carries everything off with a surging confidence that leaves the reader, well, breathless.”

BookPage

“Harvey brings uniquely imaginative storytelling skill to this wickedly allegorical tale. . . . It will frighten readers so much they may never turn out the lights.”

Detroit Free Press

“Harvey's characters and their world--both the mystical and the real--are meticulously created. He moves between them in a way that creates dread and confusion, leaving readers on edge. . . . A fascinating, mystical story that will make readers hold their breath.”

Alistair MacLeod, author of No Great Mischief

“Both a contemporary and a historical novel, The Town That Forgot How to Breathe is a tour de force! It speaks of the sea: of those who are upon it, beside it, beneath it. Kenneth J. Harvey, a writer like no other, is as knowledgeable as he is adventurous. A very exceptional novel, extraordinary in its power.”

The Times (London)

“The quality of [Harvey's] storytelling and his way with an eerie instant are too good to miss.”

HorrorChannel.com

“Harvey has managed to come up with something fresh and original. . . . His voice and vision are unique and strong through his writing, and it's just the breath of fresh air needed in horror fiction today.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A heartwarming romance . . . a creepy horror story . . . a subtly didactic political allegory . . . [and] a fascinating regional novel . . . Harvey is an author whose storytelling prowess can speak for itself.”

The Believer

“Chilly as the touch of Corpse-Weed, and haunting as the trouble in Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot or H. P. Lovecraft's The Dunwich Horror. Harvey delivers the horror goods.”

Library Journal

“Harvey's American debut is big in every way. . . . Mystical, complicated, and always compelling, this is a standout among fall fiction. . . . Highly recommended.”

The Sacramento Bee

“A compelling tale that works on several levels--as a horror story, a warm father-daughter bonding story, and as a social commentary.”

The Arizona Republic

“A very creepy read; thoughtful and eerie at the same time.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Harvey's own tall tale is a richly ambiguous parable, not of the need to abandon technology in favor of 'the simple life,' but of the need to restore myth and poetry to our lives.”

Irish Independent

“Impressive . . . A truly strange and thoroughly entertaining page-turner, part fairy tale, part fable, part gothic thriller.”

From the Back Cover

Something strange is happening in the seaside town of Bareneed. Mythical creatures that formally existed only in mariner's dreams, are being pulled from the sea. Perfectly preserved corpses of villagers long ago lost at sea are being washed upon the shore. And residents of the town are suddenly suffering from a mysterious illness that is making them forget how to breathe. Recent divorce Joseph Blackwood has returned to his hometown in hopes of reconnecting with his estranged daughter. But when the young girl begins having visions and conversing with the spirit of a neighbor's deceased child, he knows that his daughter is suffering from some supernatural affliction. Now, with the help of some colorful village residents, Joseph must unravel this paranormal mystery to save his only daughter. Called the literary love child of Stephen King and Annie Proulx, "The Town That Forgot How to Breathe is a page-turning gothic tale and a profound exploration of what it really means to live in the modern world.

About the Author

Kenneth J. Harvey made his American debut with The Town That Forgot How to Breathe. In his homeland of Canada his work has been short-listed for the Commonwealth Writers Prize and Chapter/Books. He lives in Newfoundland.

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