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Starve Acre

By: Andrew Michael Hurley
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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Publisher's summary

An atmospheric and unsettling story of the depths of grief found in an ancient farm in northern England—now a major motion picture starring Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark.

The worst thing possible has happened. Richard and Juliette Willoughby's son, Ewan, has died suddenly at the age of five. Starve Acre, their house by the moors, was to be full of life, but is now a haunted place. Convinced Ewan still lives there in some form, Juliette seeks the help of the Beacons, a seemingly benevolent group of occultists. Richard, to try and keep the boy out of his mind, has turned his attention to the field opposite the house, where he patiently digs the barren dirt in search of a legendary oak tree. But as they delve further into their grief, both uncover more than they set out to.

Starve Acre is a devastating novel by the author of the prize-winning bestseller The Loney. It is a novel about the way in which grief splits the world in two and how, in searching for hope, we can so easily unearth horror.

©2023 Andrew Michael Hurley (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"[Hurley] ably captured the vibe of the era’s demon-spawn novels like Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. . . Top-shelf gothic-folk horror."—Kirkus (Starred Review)

“Hurley has a slow and steady hand in establishing a gloomy, nearly gothic atmosphere, allowing his characters’ grief room to breathe even as he tightens the noose in ways readers won’t see coming until the chilling and memorable conclusion. This is folk horror that knows how to take its time.”—Publisher's Weekly

“A tour de force of physiological fantasia . . . Writing of this quality - sensuous, exact, observant - ensures that other scenes, too, pulse with vitality . . . Hurley's gothic storylines send specters of deathliness through his fictional world. His prose brings it vividly alive”—Peter Kemp, Sunday Times (UK), Fiction Book of the Year pick

What listeners say about Starve Acre

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Eerie

Well-written, almost comfy story despite its creepiness. Narrator has a calming voice. I was drawn into the characters’ lives, and the haunting Starve Acre.

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Beautiful Language, Haunting Story

Starve Acre is a hypnotic story of a family dealing with tragedy. It is trance-like and disturbing. Both the author and the narrator do an amazing job bring this unusual story to life.

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delicious

A fresh and engrossing execution of of classical ghost story goodness. Thrilling and uneasy even as it feels like an old friend.

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Boring

Very boring don’t waste your time. You int bit of creepiness mostly boring and a little weird.

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