Picked up a copy of this hard cover book in a fortunate trunk hall. The book is a short novel with a fast-paced, tight writing style. A commercial approach to writing and characterization that delivers a professional product, the writing also has a slight literary bent, reminiscent of Clive Barker and Phil Rickman.
Set in rural England, the book has a dark, isolated feel in which Morris leaves the reader feeling slightly claustrophobic. The characters' plight is driven by supernatural forces and realistic misgivings, rather than fortuitous bad decisions sometimes found in the genre. The reader should take notice of every circumstance in order to understand the means the writers utilizes to pull the story together. Anyone familiar with supernatural horror should understand the subtle conventions that Morris utilizes to achieve the ending. This story has a concrete explanation for the supernatural occurrences, and reflects a solid study in the horror field. Morris also tackles interpersonal relationships and grief in a mature and sophisticate manner.
I found the book a pleasure to read and place it on par with any novella or short novel that has come out in the last five years. This book is a solid 4.5 and well worth the purchase price.