LA's Reviews > Devil's Day

Hurley had me at pagan rites, innocuously (kinda) still observed today. I fell screaming in love with his prize winning debut, The Loney, also because of the eerie superstitions and the odd locals who observe the old ways.

The Loney is far more clever than one might initially think. After having devoured it in one sitting, I served it up to my book club for October the same year and noticed devilish little nuances that slipped past me the first go.

All that to say that my anticipation for this one, Devil’s Day, was buzzy. The story as you know is set in a small, obscure locale in rural England and inhabited by kids that know things, by women who harvest autumn wild flowers and branches so that they may “crown” the ram.

Yeah. I don’t know how old you are, dear reader, but this had that Harvest Home vibe and chill, a la Thomas Tryon. Adored that in my youth and was all set for a freaky reveal at the end of this one.

Alas, the ending I wanted - which had to do with a first time mother to be, voices in the snow, and the death of a boy - didn’t twist up like I’d hoped. This is very well written, absolutely, but not the five star jaw dropper uncovered in The Loney.

If you are looking for excellent writing and an October chill, give this a turn or head for The Loney. Love this guy’s stuff.