Susan's Reviews > Devil’s Day

I was very impressed by, “The Loney,” and so I was interested to read Andrew Michael Hurley’s latest offering, “Devil’s Day.” Again, we have a bleak and isolated community; in this case, The Endlands, where John Pentecost grew up as a boy. Now he is returning, with his pregnant wife, Kat, for the funeral of his grandfather, ‘the Gaffer.’

One hundred years ago, the locals believe that the devil got into a sheep in the Endlands. Those in the local village of Underclough blamed the farmers for the bad luck that befell them. Shortly after the Gaffer’s funeral, it is the Gathering, when the Gaffer would reset the boundaries of the land and locals would celebrate ‘Devil’s Day,’ with their own songs, superstitions and celebrations. For Kat, feeling out of her depth and unused to the locals, this is a time she is looking forward to just passing, so she can get back to normal life. However, for John, the land, the place and the memories of the Endlands are calling him home…

This is a dark and disturbing tale of secrets, both past and present. As the novel progresses and you begin to get insights into the locals lives, their feuds, past and present, their motivations, their self sufficient lifestyle, their history and their protective secrecy, you have a sense of unease which only grows as the book progresses. This is beautifully written, well realised and I am full of admiration for Hurley as an author. Without doubt, this would be an excellent choice for a reading group, with lots to discuss. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.