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Lynnwood
The unthinkable is happening in Lynnwood - a village with centuries of guilt on its conscience.
Who wouldn’t want to live in an idyllic village in the English countryside like Lynnwood? With its charming pub, old dairy, friendly vicar, gurgling brooks, and its old paths with memories of simpler times.
But behind the conventional appearance of Lynnwood’s villagers, only two sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork: those who hunt and those who are prey. Visitors are watched by an entity between the trees where the Dark Ages have endured to the twenty-first century. Families who have lived behind stone walls and twitching curtains know that the gusts of wind blowing through the nearby alluring Forest bring with them a stench of delightful hunger only Lynnwood can appease.
Who wouldn’t want to live in an idyllic village in the English countryside like Lynnwood? With its charming pub, old dairy, friendly vicar, gurgling brooks, and its old paths with memories of simpler times.
But behind the conventional appearance of Lynnwood’s villagers, only two sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork: those who hunt and those who are prey. Visitors are watched by an entity between the trees where the Dark Ages have endured to the twenty-first century. Families who have lived behind stone walls and twitching curtains know that the gusts of wind blowing through the nearby alluring Forest bring with them a stench of delightful hunger only Lynnwood can appease.
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First published May 3, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 17, 2013
There's something about a supernatural, horror novel set in the sleepy villages of England's countryside that always make my skin crawl a little more. Lynwood is no exception to this fascination. In the Forest that separates Lynnwood from the rest of civilization lives an entity that has a hunger that needs to be fed. The strangest thing I found about this novel is that everyone knows it's there but doesn't talk about it.
Thomas Brown has managed to pack quite a punch in few pages. He's descriptive in character development and sufficiently atmospheric in the landscape setup. There wasn't a moment I felt that I couldn't picture this village nor its inhabitants. Lynnwood is vividly drawn.
Ultimately, I would recommend Lynnwood to fans of Phil Rickman. There is a great sense of a supernatural presence haunting this town and I believe readers will be happy with this read. Lynnwood only further reminds me why I don't go into the woods all that often near my house.
ISBN# 9781907230424
Thomas Brown has managed to pack quite a punch in few pages. He's descriptive in character development and sufficiently atmospheric in the landscape setup. There wasn't a moment I felt that I couldn't picture this village nor its inhabitants. Lynnwood is vividly drawn.
Ultimately, I would recommend Lynnwood to fans of Phil Rickman. There is a great sense of a supernatural presence haunting this town and I believe readers will be happy with this read. Lynnwood only further reminds me why I don't go into the woods all that often near my house.
ISBN# 9781907230424
February 15, 2013
3.5 stars
Thomas Brown’s debut novel is a distinctly chilling read with elegant touches of gothic horror. Lynnwood looks like any other quaint, picturesque village set on the edges of the New Forest in the South of England. However, under the pretty exterior lurks dark intrigue as the villagers are at the mercy of ancient traditions and urges.
The writing has a cinematic feel which helps stack up the menacing images and the pervading sense of doom which permeates the novel. I was reminded of darker episodes of Torchwood, of films like The Village, The Wicker Man and even The Blair Witch Project – all good in my case as I love a bit of rural horror. My one criticism would be that I felt a bit confused at times but then again the plot deals with the inexplicable!
A promising debut from a talented writer.
Thomas Brown’s debut novel is a distinctly chilling read with elegant touches of gothic horror. Lynnwood looks like any other quaint, picturesque village set on the edges of the New Forest in the South of England. However, under the pretty exterior lurks dark intrigue as the villagers are at the mercy of ancient traditions and urges.
The writing has a cinematic feel which helps stack up the menacing images and the pervading sense of doom which permeates the novel. I was reminded of darker episodes of Torchwood, of films like The Village, The Wicker Man and even The Blair Witch Project – all good in my case as I love a bit of rural horror. My one criticism would be that I felt a bit confused at times but then again the plot deals with the inexplicable!
A promising debut from a talented writer.
July 3, 2013
It’s difficult to pinpoint what makes horror drip from the spine of LYNNWOOD without spoiling its main course. It disturbs without resorting to a a single horror cliche. Upon first glance, LYNNWOOD dictates the story of Freya, mother of two, who lives in the quaint English countryside. Blessed by the fortune left from deceased parents, Freya spends much of her time wandering the town and surrounding forest. Without the sparse mentions of modern luxuries and dates in the recent years, the simplicity of the villagers’ lifestyles would leave readers believing this story occurred in the middle ages rather than the modern age.
Using terminology and British spellings for words, the atmosphere is strengthened by the expertise of the author’s word choice. The descriptions are so crisp that I could nearly smell the bacon and egg breakfast that Freya cooked and gorged herself with every morning or hear Freya’s footsteps through her well-traveled path through the forest. I felt the hairs on my arms prickle when the setting switched to the abandoned railroad tunnel.
The frequent flashbacks into Freya’s blissful childhood illuminated the cracking sanity and simple ‘wrongness’ of the villagers’ behavior when the focus shifted back to present day. A hunger builds from the first scene until the last and as a reader I didn’t feel satisfied until the last page was turned in this psychological horror.
And so I leave you with a review that aims to tease your taste buds rather than stuff you with fillers (mostly because its too easy to spoil the surprise). As with any horror book done well, how the story unfolds matters as much as the content and this book doesn’t disappoint. (A)
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.
Using terminology and British spellings for words, the atmosphere is strengthened by the expertise of the author’s word choice. The descriptions are so crisp that I could nearly smell the bacon and egg breakfast that Freya cooked and gorged herself with every morning or hear Freya’s footsteps through her well-traveled path through the forest. I felt the hairs on my arms prickle when the setting switched to the abandoned railroad tunnel.
The frequent flashbacks into Freya’s blissful childhood illuminated the cracking sanity and simple ‘wrongness’ of the villagers’ behavior when the focus shifted back to present day. A hunger builds from the first scene until the last and as a reader I didn’t feel satisfied until the last page was turned in this psychological horror.
And so I leave you with a review that aims to tease your taste buds rather than stuff you with fillers (mostly because its too easy to spoil the surprise). As with any horror book done well, how the story unfolds matters as much as the content and this book doesn’t disappoint. (A)
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.
March 22, 2013
Review of Lynnwood by Thomas Brown
5 stars
The village of Lynnwood is tucked away in England’s New Forest, a bucolic and slow-moving locale with much evidence of its historic past. Indeed, the schoolchildren attend classes in a building constructed several centuries ago for that very purpose. But the bucolic peace of Lynnwood is a misnomer, or rather an illusion cast upon the villagers, for there are inexplicable forces in the Forest and in the abandoned railway tunnel, forces that cause the inhabitants to disappear.
I gave this book 5 stars for being well-written, 4 stars for its interest for me. I think the problem for me is that from first sight of the cover, I was reminded of a certain episode from Torchwood Season 1, about an isolated rural village. The entire time I read the story that episode, which had really upset me, kept superimposing itself over my “view” of Lynnwood. I almost felt that the villagers of Lynnwood were foolish, remaining when they had to know, even if unconsciously, that their lives and those of their families, friends, and pets were endangered.
I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy via NetGalley.
5 stars
The village of Lynnwood is tucked away in England’s New Forest, a bucolic and slow-moving locale with much evidence of its historic past. Indeed, the schoolchildren attend classes in a building constructed several centuries ago for that very purpose. But the bucolic peace of Lynnwood is a misnomer, or rather an illusion cast upon the villagers, for there are inexplicable forces in the Forest and in the abandoned railway tunnel, forces that cause the inhabitants to disappear.
I gave this book 5 stars for being well-written, 4 stars for its interest for me. I think the problem for me is that from first sight of the cover, I was reminded of a certain episode from Torchwood Season 1, about an isolated rural village. The entire time I read the story that episode, which had really upset me, kept superimposing itself over my “view” of Lynnwood. I almost felt that the villagers of Lynnwood were foolish, remaining when they had to know, even if unconsciously, that their lives and those of their families, friends, and pets were endangered.
I reviewed a complimentary e-book copy via NetGalley.
January 21, 2013
Read my full review @ http://bit.ly/XRkwAt
Although the premise of the story and its' characters were pretty interesting, for some reason, I could never quite warm up to this 144 page novella. Normally, I can put my finger on the exact reason I do or do not like a book, but am unable to do it with this one even after allowing myself to process the book. In my normal level of reading, I could finish a 144 page book in less than 2 hours, but I kept putting this one down and it actually took me 3 or 4 days to finish it. I would still recommend it though. It was a pretty creepy story. I kept thinking along the premise of the book "It" by Stephen King with an English twist.
Although the premise of the story and its' characters were pretty interesting, for some reason, I could never quite warm up to this 144 page novella. Normally, I can put my finger on the exact reason I do or do not like a book, but am unable to do it with this one even after allowing myself to process the book. In my normal level of reading, I could finish a 144 page book in less than 2 hours, but I kept putting this one down and it actually took me 3 or 4 days to finish it. I would still recommend it though. It was a pretty creepy story. I kept thinking along the premise of the book "It" by Stephen King with an English twist.
March 6, 2013
A dark and disturbing horror story set in a picturesque village. Full of rich description, it depicts the horrifying, ravenous secret lurking beneath the surface of the village. I would recommend this to fans of classic English horror as well as fans of Stephen King.
June 27, 2013
Lynnwood, a debut novel by Thomas Brown, is an absorbing, atmospheric dip into mystery, suspense and horror.
This short novel is set in and around the English village of Lynnwood, which, although only a dozen miles from Southampton, is buried deep in the New Forest. It is an ancient village and to outward appearances, is an idyllic place to live. Freya has lived there all her life, originally with her parents, then her husband, Robert and their children. When the story begins, Robert is no longer on the scene and almost immediately, one begins to feel that all is not well in this beautiful village. As the story progresses, we learn about some of the myths attached to the area - these appear to be echoed in dreams being experienced by Freya and some of the people she knows. Freya’s son, George, has had some strange experiences down by the disused railway tunnel and speaks to his mother of a “friend” who dwells in the tunnel.
To tell more of the story would spoil it for other readers, but I will say that this is a well-written piece. The descriptions of the Forest are so good; Thomas Brown is able to create a setting which comes alive. He builds the suspense gradually, until the chill creeps from the pages and you wonder what exactly the mystery behind the strange happenings in Lynnwood is.
I will certainly be looking out for more books by Thomas Brown!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, free of charge.
This short novel is set in and around the English village of Lynnwood, which, although only a dozen miles from Southampton, is buried deep in the New Forest. It is an ancient village and to outward appearances, is an idyllic place to live. Freya has lived there all her life, originally with her parents, then her husband, Robert and their children. When the story begins, Robert is no longer on the scene and almost immediately, one begins to feel that all is not well in this beautiful village. As the story progresses, we learn about some of the myths attached to the area - these appear to be echoed in dreams being experienced by Freya and some of the people she knows. Freya’s son, George, has had some strange experiences down by the disused railway tunnel and speaks to his mother of a “friend” who dwells in the tunnel.
To tell more of the story would spoil it for other readers, but I will say that this is a well-written piece. The descriptions of the Forest are so good; Thomas Brown is able to create a setting which comes alive. He builds the suspense gradually, until the chill creeps from the pages and you wonder what exactly the mystery behind the strange happenings in Lynnwood is.
I will certainly be looking out for more books by Thomas Brown!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, free of charge.
June 10, 2013
for more reviews check out my blog
This is really rather good.
Can we talk about the thing I loved most first? The writing. Oh, my word, the writing. It was the sort of writing that makes you marvel at how good it is, flowing and swirling and building until it's created whole worlds of dread and fear around you.
The story itself is fairly simple, though it is given a new dimension through being told out of order, with flashbacks and the recovery of lost memories being a major part of the storytelling. Lynnwood wouldn't be nearly so creepy or scary if told straightforwardly, from beginning to end.
This book is very good indeed, if you want to be actually horrified, yet spellbound as well. The beauty of the language contrasts with the horror of the events and it all works together very well.
If it has a fault, it's that for a short work it relies overmuch on repitition and sometimes the reader might roll their eyes at the third or fourth description of the hunger or the forest. But that is a minor thing in a book so good, and in horror like this repition is necessary to drive things home.
I've said before that it's hard to review books that are genuinely, objectively good. I've always found it harder to discuss things I like. So just trust me that this is good, and go buy it, will you?
This is really rather good.
Can we talk about the thing I loved most first? The writing. Oh, my word, the writing. It was the sort of writing that makes you marvel at how good it is, flowing and swirling and building until it's created whole worlds of dread and fear around you.
The story itself is fairly simple, though it is given a new dimension through being told out of order, with flashbacks and the recovery of lost memories being a major part of the storytelling. Lynnwood wouldn't be nearly so creepy or scary if told straightforwardly, from beginning to end.
This book is very good indeed, if you want to be actually horrified, yet spellbound as well. The beauty of the language contrasts with the horror of the events and it all works together very well.
If it has a fault, it's that for a short work it relies overmuch on repitition and sometimes the reader might roll their eyes at the third or fourth description of the hunger or the forest. But that is a minor thing in a book so good, and in horror like this repition is necessary to drive things home.
I've said before that it's hard to review books that are genuinely, objectively good. I've always found it harder to discuss things I like. So just trust me that this is good, and go buy it, will you?
April 10, 2013
I was offered the opportunity to read Lynnwood by Thomas Brown before it is released to the public in June. He was very clear with me in the beginning; he wanted to hear my true and actual thoughts on his debut novel. Having read other pieces by Thomas before, I jumped at the chance, hoping that I would like this one just as much. I was certainly not disappointed.
Lynnwood is a beautifully crafted tale of horror that skulks in a picturesque village in English. Brown paints a veritable picture with his words and draws you ever deeper into the story that he masterfully weaves around you. It’s such a well written tale of endangerment that by the end, you’re left floundering for figurative air.
Brown’s prose is full of rich description and I personally loved the layers within the story that simply folded themselves around you. At times, his writing has a purely cinematic feel and it helped to build the atmosphere of impending and ultimate doom for the villagers. Character development was spot on and I admit to feeling badly when something would happen to one of them.
In all, Lynnwood is an amazing piece of prose and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a story to send a chill down their spines.
Lynnwood is a beautifully crafted tale of horror that skulks in a picturesque village in English. Brown paints a veritable picture with his words and draws you ever deeper into the story that he masterfully weaves around you. It’s such a well written tale of endangerment that by the end, you’re left floundering for figurative air.
Brown’s prose is full of rich description and I personally loved the layers within the story that simply folded themselves around you. At times, his writing has a purely cinematic feel and it helped to build the atmosphere of impending and ultimate doom for the villagers. Character development was spot on and I admit to feeling badly when something would happen to one of them.
In all, Lynnwood is an amazing piece of prose and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a story to send a chill down their spines.
May 16, 2015
Lynnwood by Thomas Brown is considered British Folk Horror. It has elements of paganism, psychological horror, primal fears, and the unreliable narrator. I have been waiting to read this for quite while and it was worth the wait. The book is a fast paced read with a sense of terror that builds up through the story to the ending which is truly horrifying. A single mother and her children, an isolated village, and the coming “hungry season” are how the book opens. It just gets creepier and darker from then on in . Lynnwood was not what I expected, it was even better. As it started, I felt as though it was some kind of cross between the movies The VIllage and The WIcker man (the original with Edward Woodward) but it really went beyond that. I would highly recommend this to horror fans.
March 12, 2013
I read this book in two sittings, a fast read, and I found it to be very interesting. A dark gothic type of tale that will have you chilled to the bones. A quaint little town that has people going missing in the Midwinter each year, this has been going on for a long time. Outer appearances show Lynnwood to be a nice little village with nice people, an ideal place to live, away from the hustle and bustle of a big city. But not all is what it appears to be as an evil lurks beneath the surface of this village. It took me awhile to figure out what was actually going on, as the author's writing was very poetic and gave nothing away. This is the type of book to read curled up in front of a fire, just don't be alone...I enjoyed it immensely.
May 20, 2013
A very creepy tale which had me hooked from the beginning. What is going on in the seemingly idyllic village of Lynnwood? Underneath the picturesque surface lurks something…unspeakable. The villagers hide a ravenous secret that struggles to stay hidden as Midwinter approaches. I couldn’t put this book down as events unfolded. I read it in two sittings with an enforced break in the middle when I had to go to work! The oppressive atmosphere of the village hidden in the New Forest, and the building tension as events reach their climax, are brilliantly described by the author. I look forward to reading future books from Thomas Brown.
May 29, 2015
I gotta say, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel. It's the debut novel of Thomas Brown and I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
I can safely say now, it was a good thing.
Beautifully written, this novel shows great promise for Thomas, and I wish him the best of luck for the actual release in June.
The plot line is new and exciting, I wont say anymore about that because I don't want to give it away! But I know I was surprised more than once at what was happening.
If you are looking for a good book, definitely pick up this one.
I can safely say now, it was a good thing.
Beautifully written, this novel shows great promise for Thomas, and I wish him the best of luck for the actual release in June.
The plot line is new and exciting, I wont say anymore about that because I don't want to give it away! But I know I was surprised more than once at what was happening.
If you are looking for a good book, definitely pick up this one.
June 20, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
I had trouble getting into the feel of the novel, but after the first few chapters, I got used to the cinematic, descriptive writing, and the setting. It’s a well-crafted tale of horror in a quaint, remote English village, that reminded me of gothic horror classics, and gave off a disturbing, claustrophobic feel. Excellent writing, and a plot that surprised me and chilled me to the bone.
I had trouble getting into the feel of the novel, but after the first few chapters, I got used to the cinematic, descriptive writing, and the setting. It’s a well-crafted tale of horror in a quaint, remote English village, that reminded me of gothic horror classics, and gave off a disturbing, claustrophobic feel. Excellent writing, and a plot that surprised me and chilled me to the bone.
January 19, 2013
This book was great! I thought I would give it a try, but when I picked it up I couldn't put it down! It was a quick read, and the story was so creepily wonderful. I loved the author's writing style -- the words flowed perfectly. Reading this was less like reading a book and more like watching the movie in my mind's eye. Fantastic! I highly recommend it! I can't wait to see what else Thomas Brown has in store for readers in the future.
January 31, 2013
‘Lynnwood’ is a dark journey not only of the mind, but of the soul. This beautifully crafted tale of the horror that lurks in a picturesque English village is hopefully the first of many to come from this brilliant young author. Mr. Brown’s extraordinary talent is evident as he paints a virtual feast for the reader with eloquently chosen prose in this powerfully engaging novel.
February 4, 2013
Although this was a fairly enjoyable horror novel about a pastoral English village that holds a dark secret, I didn't think the premise of the plot was really anything new. I did feel that the writing was original and certainly full of arresting images. The characters were fresh and compelling, as well.
May 26, 2014
I love reading new authors! It is rare to find a new author who masterfully creates the aura of a gothic novel set in present day England. This book is timeless, mysterious and chilling. Nicely done and I love Thomas Brown's prose which harkens back to the classics long ago.
July 29, 2013
Source: NetGalley.
This review and all of my others can also be found on my website: Slave to Books
This book took me a little while to get into. I'm not a horror fan in the sense that I read it very often. I will say that I love my YA and my Fantasy/Dark Fantasy first and foremost. However, I love reading other genres too, but I gravitate towards YA/Fantasy/ParaRomance. However, now that my warning has been stated, I will say that this book was pretty enjoyable. I would say it is a cross between, for me, Torchwood meets Stephen King. Which was really interesting when you see it meshed together.
The story had a good flow and a nice steady pace. At 192 pages it isn't terribly long but it was enough to get the story told and to do it well. I read about the author as he is an MFA student. Since I am heading into my application season ... I do my best to check out what graduates and current students are putting out there. I will say this: I can see why they accepted him into the program. His writing was clean, fluid, and all the blocks fell into place with each other.
This is an exceptionally well written story that I really enjoyed reading. It is set in the UK with their style of speaking, etc. So, if you aren't familiar with some of the subtle changes between the US and the UK English this will definitely teach you a little bit. But, I felt that it strengthened the story and really brought a great connection between the characters and myself. I definitely enjoyed reading it. The horror was there and he definitely reminded me of King, but the best parts of him. Brown isn't overly wordy but does give good description. I loved Stephen King's The Talisman and if you're a fan of King ... well, to put it nicely, we all know how long winded Mr. King can get. Brown is nothing like that. While he gives you great narration and description, he doesn't make you go, "oh my god ... can we get to the point already?" He goes off and adds the beauty of the words but doesn't get into the long winded mode some writers can do.
Rating: B+
This review and all of my others can also be found on my website: Slave to Books
This book took me a little while to get into. I'm not a horror fan in the sense that I read it very often. I will say that I love my YA and my Fantasy/Dark Fantasy first and foremost. However, I love reading other genres too, but I gravitate towards YA/Fantasy/ParaRomance. However, now that my warning has been stated, I will say that this book was pretty enjoyable. I would say it is a cross between, for me, Torchwood meets Stephen King. Which was really interesting when you see it meshed together.
The story had a good flow and a nice steady pace. At 192 pages it isn't terribly long but it was enough to get the story told and to do it well. I read about the author as he is an MFA student. Since I am heading into my application season ... I do my best to check out what graduates and current students are putting out there. I will say this: I can see why they accepted him into the program. His writing was clean, fluid, and all the blocks fell into place with each other.
This is an exceptionally well written story that I really enjoyed reading. It is set in the UK with their style of speaking, etc. So, if you aren't familiar with some of the subtle changes between the US and the UK English this will definitely teach you a little bit. But, I felt that it strengthened the story and really brought a great connection between the characters and myself. I definitely enjoyed reading it. The horror was there and he definitely reminded me of King, but the best parts of him. Brown isn't overly wordy but does give good description. I loved Stephen King's The Talisman and if you're a fan of King ... well, to put it nicely, we all know how long winded Mr. King can get. Brown is nothing like that. While he gives you great narration and description, he doesn't make you go, "oh my god ... can we get to the point already?" He goes off and adds the beauty of the words but doesn't get into the long winded mode some writers can do.
Rating: B+
August 26, 2013
The village of Lynnwood, in the New Forest, hides a secret. It holds the outside world at arm's length - the railway was closed following an unpleasant incident: a village market flourishes, supplying the locals with the delicious food they crave: uniquely, in the 21st century, Lynnwood still has a school - enabling the villagers to devote themselves to their appetites. We only gradually learn what these are, as we follow Freya, mother of two children, whose husband ran off a few years before. Freya fears for her children, for her friends, and for Lynnwood but - as the story opens - she doesn't know, or choose to remember, exactly what it is she fears. The story is about her recovery of this knowledge, and the consequences.
While the book is delightfully creepy, it doesn't fall into the tired old tropes of the "village of the damned" sub-genre. Indeed, despite the superficial resemblance - and the genuine horror of the story - I don't think it belongs in that genre. Rather, it is about hunger, and appetite, and guilt, and forgetting, and complicity.
It's an excellent read - best suited, perhaps, to a chilly midwinter evening when the shadows are growing in the trees and three o'clock, but equally creepy on a summer's afternoon. I especially enjoyed the way that Brown makes the reader suspend disbelief, creating a terrible plausibility about the village's otherness and isolation, even while pointing out that it is only twelve miles from Southampton.
Very enjoyable.
While the book is delightfully creepy, it doesn't fall into the tired old tropes of the "village of the damned" sub-genre. Indeed, despite the superficial resemblance - and the genuine horror of the story - I don't think it belongs in that genre. Rather, it is about hunger, and appetite, and guilt, and forgetting, and complicity.
It's an excellent read - best suited, perhaps, to a chilly midwinter evening when the shadows are growing in the trees and three o'clock, but equally creepy on a summer's afternoon. I especially enjoyed the way that Brown makes the reader suspend disbelief, creating a terrible plausibility about the village's otherness and isolation, even while pointing out that it is only twelve miles from Southampton.
Very enjoyable.
July 22, 2016
The unthinkable is happening in Lynnwood – a village with centuries of guilt on its conscience.
Who wouldn’t want to live in an idyllic village in the English countryside like Lynnwood? With its charming pub, old dairy, friendly vicar, gurgling brooks, and its old paths with memories of simpler times.
But behind the conventional appearance of Lynnwood’s villagers, only two sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork: those who hunt and those who are prey. Visitors are watched by an entity between the trees where the Dark Ages have endured to the twenty-first century. Families who have lived behind stone walls and twitching curtains know that the gusts of wind blowing through the nearby alluring Forest bring with them a stench of delightful hunger only Lynnwood can appease.
There seems to be a rise of primordial themed horror recently with The Ritual, Memory of Trees, the Darkening and I like it!
Lynnwood is a beautifully crafted tale of what is left when you strip away civilisation - primal instinct. Gorgeously descriptive, poetic and eloquent the author masterfully builds an atmosphere of creeping dread leading as Midwinter approaches.
The reader, inside the head of Freya, experiences the conflict between living by the rules or fulfilling base desires.
Lynwood left me pondering is the primal instinct of savagery that exists within all of us more fundamental to the human psyche than we dare imagine.
It is a book to be savoured….
Who wouldn’t want to live in an idyllic village in the English countryside like Lynnwood? With its charming pub, old dairy, friendly vicar, gurgling brooks, and its old paths with memories of simpler times.
But behind the conventional appearance of Lynnwood’s villagers, only two sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork: those who hunt and those who are prey. Visitors are watched by an entity between the trees where the Dark Ages have endured to the twenty-first century. Families who have lived behind stone walls and twitching curtains know that the gusts of wind blowing through the nearby alluring Forest bring with them a stench of delightful hunger only Lynnwood can appease.
There seems to be a rise of primordial themed horror recently with The Ritual, Memory of Trees, the Darkening and I like it!
Lynnwood is a beautifully crafted tale of what is left when you strip away civilisation - primal instinct. Gorgeously descriptive, poetic and eloquent the author masterfully builds an atmosphere of creeping dread leading as Midwinter approaches.
The reader, inside the head of Freya, experiences the conflict between living by the rules or fulfilling base desires.
Lynwood left me pondering is the primal instinct of savagery that exists within all of us more fundamental to the human psyche than we dare imagine.
It is a book to be savoured….
May 29, 2013
Thomas Brown's first novel takes place in the seemingly idyllic British town of Lynnwood. Lynnwood has all the appearance of being a quaint, wholesome historic village, yet everything isn't quite right. Odd occurrences begin happening, from animals being found dead around the village to people disappearing the dead of night.
Brown gradually builds the suspense and momentum of his novella, creating a very subtle, eerie tone. The only negative about this novella is that he takes a little too long to get anywhere in the book. He folds in many flashbacks into the narrative, so that at times, it feels as though no progression is made in the storyline. I understand why he would have had such a slow tempo since it helps build the suspense of the novel. I just wish that it could have moved a little faster. Overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to people who enjoy reading suspenseful, horror, mystery books.
I read this complimentary e-book from NetGalley. E-book ISBN: 9781907230424
Brown gradually builds the suspense and momentum of his novella, creating a very subtle, eerie tone. The only negative about this novella is that he takes a little too long to get anywhere in the book. He folds in many flashbacks into the narrative, so that at times, it feels as though no progression is made in the storyline. I understand why he would have had such a slow tempo since it helps build the suspense of the novel. I just wish that it could have moved a little faster. Overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to people who enjoy reading suspenseful, horror, mystery books.
I read this complimentary e-book from NetGalley. E-book ISBN: 9781907230424
June 2, 2015
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I really wanted it to be great. I was quite disappointed. Brown sets a very good scene and tells a good story but it felt like reading a mediocre, undergraduate creative writing students work. Repetitive images that added nothing to plot, unrealistic characters, poor representation of female characters. I had really high hopes for this book as I really love folk horror. And Brown does a good job of creating some suspense. But it really didn't keep me hooked and it wasn't really that scary for a horror book. Plenty of gothic elements and a quick read if that's what you are looking for. Bitter disappointment for me.
June 10, 2013
Hard to believe this is a first novel. Thomas Brown writes with a tremendously polished style and creates scenes that you can not only see, but also smell and even taste. He is also a master at building suspense and horror. I read this book quickly because I had to see what was coming next, and it was a chilling Gothicky experience--delightful! This book would appeal to fans of Shirley Jackson and MR James, really to anybody who likes a good Gothic spiced with horror and a lot of style. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.
January 24, 2014
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I discovered Brown's short stories online and became an instant fan. His full-length novel Lynnwood proved to be another amazing work of art in his budding career. His style is clean and fresh, woven between beautifully lyrical passages that kept me drooling for the next page, and the story tension built through steady pacing into a climax I had not anticipated. Brown exposes human nature through the idiosyncrasies of a peculiar town, while playing mind tricks on the reader in this spectacular debut novel.
November 5, 2013
Lynnwood, by Thomas Brown, is a sheer delight for any literary horror fan. Written in eloquent, Gothic prose, Brown details the journey of Freda and her residence in the quaint village of Lynnwood; of course, there is so much more here that lurks beneath the surface. I certainly will give nothing away, but this is a book meant to be read carefully & savored, not glossed over. Lynnwood is an exceptional work, and I'll be anxious to read any followups from Mr Brown!
February 3, 2017
A fantastic, gothic twist on isolated, countryside life.. the writing will draw you into a spellbinding portrayal of 'good, clean living' which starts to peel at the edges revealing a raw, insatiable hunger that hides just beneath the surface.. perhaps in us all?
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