Folk Horror and Phantoms: A Glorious Quartet of New ARCs Hit Ginger Nuts of Horror
The weighty thuds on the doormat that did it. A papery rustle of distinct, separate entities all vying for attention. The postman offered a weary smile that said, “I just carry the nightmares, mate,” and off he went.
I spilled the contents onto the kitchen table. And there they were. Not a neat, single stack, but a sprawl. Four individual ARCs, each in its own protective wrap, looking less like a coordinated set and more like a band of rival mercenaries who’d just stumbled into the same tavern. Below the Moss was leaning against Bodies of Work, while Temple Fall had slid precariously under the shadow of He Will Have the World. A proper little council of dread.
And what a council. You’ve got a five-timeline folk horror saga whispering about the dark things under the coal, right next to Clay McLeod Chapman’s tale of a janitor who collects voices, the kind of story that makes you look twice at anyone holding a mop. Then R. L. Boyle throws a house on the moors into the mix, one that absolutely does not believe in letting go, and David-Jack Fletcher caps it all off with a flight into pure paranoia, a creature jumping between passengers. It’s enough to make a person want to stay home. And never answer the door.
This, right here, is the magic. That single delivery that feels like winning a particular, very dark lottery. The whole week’s reading mood was decided in one glorious, papery avalanche. It’s a genuine privilege.
The spines are begging to be cracked. Let’s see what nightmares we can find.
Scratch Moss by David Barnett
‘An agile and compelling storyteller’ Nick Cutter
1865. Coal lies beneath Scratch Moss Hall and Lord Henry Brody is determined to get to it. But something else lurks below, something dark and evil.
1905. Reverend George Ackman has never known such godless people as those of Scratch Moss. But if not God, what do they believe in?
1945. Arthur works for the Coal Commission, visiting privately-owned pits ahead of their nationalisation. On his visit to Scratch Moss, he finds only misery and death.
1985. The miners have lost. Thatcher reigns supreme. And in the shattered community of Scratch Moss, rumours resurface about Red Clogs, a terrible presence in the land below.
2025. Divorced, fifty-something writer Joe returns to his hometown of Scratch Moss for the funeral of his father. Soon the memories of Joe’s teenage years, and the horror that blighted the community come flooding back
A devastating, five-timeline tale centred on a community first invigorated, then devastated by the coal mining industry in the most original folk horror novel of the year.
Bodies of Work by Clay McLeod Chapman
A chilling supernatural revenge novella from the acclaimed author of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes. Perfect for fans of Joe Hill and Delilah S. Dawson.
At sixty-six years old, Winston Kemper has always been a nonentity. No one notices him. His simple existence barely registers for those who come into contact with him. Some call him feeble-minded. He is a janitor at the local church, a groundskeeper by default, and that’s it. No friends, no family. When he’s done with work, he returns home—a remote, single room apartment located above a garage—and that is where his true work begins.
Winston Kemper is a collector of voices, and his magnum opus—The Butterfly Girls—is a sprawling epic of untapped imagination. It has no single canvas, no particular frame. It is everywhere—scribbled on the walls, the floor, and countless notebooks.
Winston is creating a fantasia which exists in words, images and blood. As part of his ‘art’ he has been murdering forgotten women. Poor souls who slip through the cracks of society, who no one’s looking for. Mothers, sisters, daughters to someone, but no more.
Winston takes their lives, their voices.
But now he can hear them. They whisper to him. They talk of revenge.
Winston Kemper might not believe in ghosts, but he is about to learn they are very real. And they are very, very angry.
Temple Fall by R. L. Boyle
A macabre and chilling supernatural gothic horror about a group of teenagers cursed to die on their 18th birthday from the Stoker Award shortlisted author of The Book of the Baku. Perfect for fans of Clay McLeod Chapman, The September House by Carissa Orlando and The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.
Flynn and her friends plan to spend the night in Temple Fall, a mysterious house up on the moors with a strange history, but their planned night of drinking and teenage debauchery twists into a surreal nightmare. Suddenly forced into strange choices and places, the tight-knit group starts to fall apart. And then Jackson falls to his death.
In the days that come after, Flynn finds herself trapped, as if she never left the house. Consumed by the lost secrets of her family past, and haunted by the spectre of a Victorian woman, she finds herself losing time and seeing things that aren’t there.
Reeling from the tragedy, Flynn must rebuild her group of friends, and bring them all together to grieve – and try to survive – on their own. Because while they escaped Temple Fall, the house didn’t let them go…
He Will Have the World by David-Jack Fletcher
What if everyone you knew was an imposter?
Charlie knows there’s an invasion. He knows it; even if the psychiatrists and his husband don’t believe it.
They’re replacing people, living their lives. He doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know why.
But now, they’re after him.
Isolated on a flight, Charlie sees a flash of lightning strike the plane. But only Charlie sees the creature enter the plane.
It’s inside the passengers. Jumping between them.
Unable to trust the passengers—or himself—Charlie races to reveal the creature and save the passengers because they’re all replaced. Or worse.
With nobody on board believing him, and his own mind crumbling from within, how much will Charlie sacrifice to save everyone?
But what if the doctors are right? What if it’s all in his head?
Horror Features on Ginger Nuts of Horror
If you’re a fan of spine-chilling tales and hair-raising suspense, then you won’t want to miss the horror features page on The Ginger Nuts of Horror Review Website. This is the ultimate destination for horror enthusiasts seeking in-depth analysis, thrilling reviews, and exclusive interviews with some of the best minds in the genre. From independent films to mainstream blockbusters, the site covers a broad spectrum of horror media, ensuring that you’re always in the loop about the latest and greatest.
The passionate team behind The Ginger Nuts of Horror delivers thoughtful critiques and recommendations that delve into the nuances of storytelling, character development, and atmospheric tension. Whether you’re looking for hidden gems to stream on a dark and stormy night or want to explore the work of up-and-coming horror filmmakers, this page is packed with content that will ignite your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat.
So grab your favourite horror-themed snacks, settle into a cosy spot, and immerse yourself in the chilling world of horror literature and film. Head over to The Ginger Nuts of Horror and embark on a journey through the eerie and the extraordinary. It’s an adventure you won’t soon forget!
