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Once These Hills
It’s 1898. Up on Black Boar Mountain in eastern Kentucky, life is quiet for the small settlement of farmers who work the land around their cabins. But when ten-year old Lydia King unearths an ancient, preserved
body on the seep bog, a curse is let loose. At least that’s what some people believe. They might be right. Down in the valley, the Railroad uses convict labor to lay track, hell bent on timbering all of the hillside. Problem is, a trio of violent prisoners feel the work ain’t exactly to their liking. Behind their ring leader Burr Hollis, a predatory, sadistic man whose name inspires fear amongst the hardest of criminals, they take to the hills and leave a wake of their own hell up on Black Boar, as wide and deep as any timber cut.
In the years following, Lydia falls in love and marries a mountain boy, someone as skilled and at home in the woods as she. She discovers an intimate part of herself, and experiences both a physical and spiritual
awakening that allows her to put the trauma behind her . . . or so she thinks. When Burr Hollis returns for a reckoning with her, she’ll need all of her huntress skills just to stay alive. But she won’t have much of a chance, unless she can reverse the curse of the bog body.
body on the seep bog, a curse is let loose. At least that’s what some people believe. They might be right. Down in the valley, the Railroad uses convict labor to lay track, hell bent on timbering all of the hillside. Problem is, a trio of violent prisoners feel the work ain’t exactly to their liking. Behind their ring leader Burr Hollis, a predatory, sadistic man whose name inspires fear amongst the hardest of criminals, they take to the hills and leave a wake of their own hell up on Black Boar, as wide and deep as any timber cut.
In the years following, Lydia falls in love and marries a mountain boy, someone as skilled and at home in the woods as she. She discovers an intimate part of herself, and experiences both a physical and spiritual
awakening that allows her to put the trauma behind her . . . or so she thinks. When Burr Hollis returns for a reckoning with her, she’ll need all of her huntress skills just to stay alive. But she won’t have much of a chance, unless she can reverse the curse of the bog body.
332 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2023
7 people are currently reading
584 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 5, 2025
Once These Hills is a terrific first novel by Chris McGinley. Set in the hardscrabble landscape of Eastern Kentucky around 1898, it’s the story of Lydia King growing up in a small community that is losing its traditional way of life to industrialisation. That change comes as loggers destroy the mountains around them. It’s a tough and violent world to survive in. The ‘Company’ responsible for the logging are corrupt and use prison labour to do their work. When three prisoners escape, led by the ghastly, murderous Burr Hollis, Lydia’s life is changed forevermore. Lydia King is a superb character, smart and tenacious. What unfurls is as tale of corporate greed, corruption and revenge.
Chris McGinley creates a sublime tale of history, superstition and myth. It's a tantalizing and suspenseful page turner. This is Appalachian writing at its finest.
I'll leave the final word to Charles Dodd White, who says of McGinley:
"Those who admire McGinley's great Appalachian forbears like Ron Rash and John Ehle will find much to admire in this novel."
Chris McGinley creates a sublime tale of history, superstition and myth. It's a tantalizing and suspenseful page turner. This is Appalachian writing at its finest.
I'll leave the final word to Charles Dodd White, who says of McGinley:
"Those who admire McGinley's great Appalachian forbears like Ron Rash and John Ehle will find much to admire in this novel."
July 14, 2025
This is another excellent first novel by an Appalachian author who knows the people and places he writes about. It's fast paced, full of mountain lore and strong mountain women. It's just a damn shame it's not more widely available. It is on Kindle for $5.99, which isn't an outrageous price, but my library didn't have a copy so I had to resort to interlibrary loan. It took a while to come in, but was worth the wait. I won't elaborate on the plot, but suffice it to say that it is a worthy addition to Appalachian literature and I hope we hear more from McGinley. The title is perfect, by the way.
August 29, 2023
“Once These Hills” is a shock of elemental forces. Lydia has the hills and all that live on them in her blood, a mystical connection with nature that came down generations, hunting knowledge, the resources and the dangers. Burr, the escaped convict, is fear in human form. His power isn’t derived from physical strength or skill. His charisma feeds on the weakness of others. Like some monster from mythology, he puts an evil spell on all that cross his path. Chris McGinley brings Lydia and Burr together at the traumatic start of the book. He then gently watches Lydia grow, in strength and resilience, all the better to prepare the confrontation to come. This is a relentlessly beautiful book, deeply grounded in the hard life of Kentucky mountain folk at the beginning of the 20th century. There’s the malice of Burr and the worse threat of industrial greed. Some fights can be won. Some still hurt today. This is a remarkable book.
July 15, 2025
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. Once These Hills is a gripping page turner that takes its time fleshing out the setting and characters.
From the opening line and the brief anecdote about the bog woman, I was hooked. From there, Chris McGinley paints a beautiful picture of Black Boar Mountain in rural Kentucky and the people that live there. Lydia King is a very well written character, who is a tough, outdoorsy girl who often showcases her sensitive side to her family and friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book, from the setting, the conflict, the pacing, and the style. Once These Hills is a must-read for anyone who is into contemporary rural thrillers, and even those who are not!
From the opening line and the brief anecdote about the bog woman, I was hooked. From there, Chris McGinley paints a beautiful picture of Black Boar Mountain in rural Kentucky and the people that live there. Lydia King is a very well written character, who is a tough, outdoorsy girl who often showcases her sensitive side to her family and friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book, from the setting, the conflict, the pacing, and the style. Once These Hills is a must-read for anyone who is into contemporary rural thrillers, and even those who are not!
May 21, 2024
The place for the story is the mountains of Kentucky. In the early 1900s progress arrives in the area. The progress is brought to the area by the railroads and the timber companies. The effect they had upon the life of the local mountain people transforms the region from an agricultural to an industrial society. The author uses a young lady, Lydia, to tell the story of the story that at times can be pretty raw but the author’s writing style accommodates for it and as such it it makes less savage that it really is. A well presented southern noir story that at times stays on a subject a tad too long. Other than that it is a really fun book to read.
December 28, 2023
Wonderful book. Chris McGinley revisits Appalachian Kentucky, a territory he has brilliantly covered before in his collection of short stories, COAL BLACK. This time he sets his novel in the early twentieth century, bringing the reader sharply into a long-ago world with historical accuracy that is beautifully and effortlessly written. Both a crime novel and a love story, the pages whip by with interest and suspense, and the story is intelligent and skillfully layered. Greed, love, and revenge are always relevant topics and McGinley compassionately tells this story without being didactic. The twisting plots of the story are satisfyingly brought full circle. ONCE THESE HILLS left this reader asking the question, "When can I read more from Chris McGinley?"
April 14, 2024
An unusual and very enjoyable read, not easily categorized. Historical fiction fans will like the turn of the twentieth century setting when industrialization starts to encroach on traditional Appalachian life. Action fans will love Lydia King who grows up with the right set of skills to go up against the psycho Burr Hollis. Although Hollis and his cohorts commit atrocities, it’s the railroad which allows this to happen in the first place. The railroad and timber company are the systematic big business villains, devouring resources and killing their employees. The lackey sheriff and the faux-Christian preacher represent their masters well. When Lydia’s friend Clytie tells both of them off I cheered. 4.5 stars.
September 5, 2023
Two things are immediately apparent with Once These Hills: Chris McGinley's historical knowledge is impressive and the storytelling is terrific.
The author brings together a number of threads in this unique tale of crime, legend, trauma, and change in late 19th century Kentucky. The characters and plot deepen over years. And all along, McGinley teases out the implicit and explicit anxieties of life in a time when the second industrial revolution seemed to flatten mountains and obliterate patterns of life. Throw into that a terrifying menace like Burr Hollis and an inspired heroine like Lydia King, and you have an absorbing, layered tale.
The author brings together a number of threads in this unique tale of crime, legend, trauma, and change in late 19th century Kentucky. The characters and plot deepen over years. And all along, McGinley teases out the implicit and explicit anxieties of life in a time when the second industrial revolution seemed to flatten mountains and obliterate patterns of life. Throw into that a terrifying menace like Burr Hollis and an inspired heroine like Lydia King, and you have an absorbing, layered tale.
February 4, 2024
Helluva good read, like others have said -- Listen to them. As I followed the dangerous hill country journey of young Lydia King, I couldn't help but conjure thoughts of Mattie Ross (True Grit) and Ree Dolly (Winter's Bone); like those tough-as-nails young ladies, Lydia faces her hardscrabble circumstances with a granite backbone, and whatever "evils" come her way -- she never flinches. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of the Appalachian literature for your shelf, as you will need to pull it down every now and again as a reminder that it takes a fire within yourself to burn away that bad.
January 27, 2025
Oh boy, this was absolutely a debut novel. The story & the setting were interesting and kept me reading. Outside of that, this book needs a ton of work. It needed some additional developmental editing to really tighten up the story and the writing, and the spelling/grammar/punctuation mistakes existed on almost every single page. Was this edited at all, or was it just mailed in???
I do think the story itself had SO much potential, and I wish the author had done more to tie it up in a nice bow. There were just times that it was off the rails, and some times when it was beautiful. Had the author worked harder to create one cohesive narrative, this could have been a 5 star book for me.
I do think the story itself had SO much potential, and I wish the author had done more to tie it up in a nice bow. There were just times that it was off the rails, and some times when it was beautiful. Had the author worked harder to create one cohesive narrative, this could have been a 5 star book for me.
September 4, 2023
First of all, I thought I was reading a folklore novel. Nice, but also a little bit boring, and then at 15% of the book the hell broke loose. 20%/ The novel retains three aspects. The first and second aspects are a crime thriller and a fairy tale, and the third one is a poignant story of a family in a mountain village in Kentucky, USA during industrialisation.
The people of the mountain village have been nourished by their farmed crops and self-hunted game in the surrounding woods until now. The companies are overhunting the woods for their workers and deforesting the hills for timber. They are destroying the basis of existence for the mountain people. The promised jobs in the town are not as expected. They are very different and sapping. In one scene, the slaughterhouses in Chicago are mentioned. The mention of the Chicago slaughterhouse reminded me of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. In these difficult circumstances, the family is fighting for their way of life. I resume the story as not only compelling and poignant but also a critique of the destroying industrialisation for people and the environment.
The people of the mountain village have been nourished by their farmed crops and self-hunted game in the surrounding woods until now. The companies are overhunting the woods for their workers and deforesting the hills for timber. They are destroying the basis of existence for the mountain people. The promised jobs in the town are not as expected. They are very different and sapping. In one scene, the slaughterhouses in Chicago are mentioned. The mention of the Chicago slaughterhouse reminded me of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. In these difficult circumstances, the family is fighting for their way of life. I resume the story as not only compelling and poignant but also a critique of the destroying industrialisation for people and the environment.
September 27, 2023
Astonished at the gripping suspense in this story, which at the same time hits all the earthy, seasonal satisfactions for an autumn read. Lots of stuff going on in Once These Hills and they all mesh wonderfully. Themes of matriarchy with hints of Baba Yaga. Human and environmental harm from early-1900s widespread industrial development, the pillaging evil greed of which allowed other demonic evils to fester. And there is the magic of the living mountain where the women are power, the symbiosis, the layers of history in the silt, all crackling and captivating on the page.
September 25, 2023
I’m not an avid reader, in fact it usually takes me weeks to finish a book. Not this one. As I began reading I found myself fully absorbed in the story and characters. It took me only four days to turn the last page. Once These Hills is a gripping, exciting, thrilling tale of a culture and folklore you hear little about. The depiction of life in Appalachia in the era of this story is acutely detailed. I hope to see more novels from author Chris McGinley soon!
September 24, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I was quickly transported to a time and place that I’ve never experienced. The characters are tough, tenacious, and unforgettable, most notably the women. Each chapter kept me wanting more and frankly, I was sorry when I reached the last page. I’m still thinking of these multilayered characters. This book is a gem.
January 24, 2024
Excellent book about the reality of mountain life in Appalachia, but with a subtle mystery and mysticism about the Land, and the original inhabitants of the place. McGinley shows the clash of industrialization against silent and unknowable Nature, and, ultimately, how humans can get crushed between the two.
October 2, 2024
4.5 This book is quite the story; it is as deeply woven as mountain Laurel. McGinley did an excellent job of bringing every detail together. I adored how he wrote every character, including the wildness of the mountains. McGinley captures both evil and goodness brilliantly (he's in his characters's heads, no doubt). Wonderful storytelling from a Kentucky author.
January 24, 2026
An excellent read! I have enjoyed his short stories and here thoroughly appreciated the additional pages provided in this novel-length offering from McGinley to get to know his characters in further depth.
I found myself rooting for the protagonist and a way of life unfamiliar but intriguing — in other words a fantastic literary adventure.
I found myself rooting for the protagonist and a way of life unfamiliar but intriguing — in other words a fantastic literary adventure.
October 6, 2023
A 3.5 from me. This was a quick and easy read. Ive been in a bit of a slump this year and this one really helped me get back into the groove of reading.
My main issue, which feels more like a personal issue cause I'm a real mood reader, is that this novel couldn't decide if it was a thriller/mystery/horror or a slice of life (SOL) story. I kinda wish it was one or the other. I love both, but its hard to smoosh them all together without having some pacing issues, which I felt this novel had.
I think i wish that the author would have leaned more into the slice of life genre, and the superstitions. I really enjoyed the scenes with the Black Boar, Black Mary, the bobcat woman, even the Bog body had "cursed" the family. I think the curse of the Bog body would have been the perfect backdrop to talk about the hard life of early Appalachian homesteaders in the mountains being taken over by timber companies. And that very well could have included the brutal murder of her father and violation of her mother, and the eventual reckoning between Lydia and the killer. Which is, admittedly, what the book is. I guess I'm saying maybe the execution wasn't all I expected? I dont know.
At first i was really annoyed by the chapters of the killer's POV. I felt like i was happy to read this SOL story with this amazing vibe, and all the sudden it was interupted by a different tangential story with a seriously different vibe. I guess the only way i can put it, that the killer did this terrible thing to her family and runs off. But because we, the readers, get chapters that update us on his whereabouts and goins on, its like sharks circlin in the water. Like we know this dangerous thing is out there and its eventually gonna come for us. it actually worked really well to build this tension that at first i didnt even really realize was there. But in the end felt kinda nervous about, like "oh lord whens he gonna show up and kill again?!"
In the end though I really enjoyed this one.
I love historical slice-of-life Appalachian stories, and this novel is no different. I really enjoyed the attention to detail that everything was given. The way everything was described was very easy to see in my head and remember how a lot of events would feel. Speaking of which, let me just say, i dont think I'll ever read a novel that explains an occupation more thoroughly than how appalachian novels explain timber jobs. I mean its Melville-esk the way that timber jobs are always explained.
I really loved reading about the daily struggles of the people on Boar Mountain and the characters (though, to me, all the women folk kinda blurred together and felt like the same character: fiercly strong mountain woman).
If i was bein real nit picky, I'd say there were a lot of typos, a lot of from/form 's and being/begin 's , and a massive lack of quotation marks around dialogue. But it didn't hinder my understanding of anything so it's not really an issue. Like i said, nit picky.
I would definitely recommend this one! And hey, its by a local author so even better!
My main issue, which feels more like a personal issue cause I'm a real mood reader, is that this novel couldn't decide if it was a thriller/mystery/horror or a slice of life (SOL) story. I kinda wish it was one or the other. I love both, but its hard to smoosh them all together without having some pacing issues, which I felt this novel had.
I think i wish that the author would have leaned more into the slice of life genre, and the superstitions. I really enjoyed the scenes with the Black Boar, Black Mary, the bobcat woman, even the Bog body had "cursed" the family. I think the curse of the Bog body would have been the perfect backdrop to talk about the hard life of early Appalachian homesteaders in the mountains being taken over by timber companies. And that very well could have included the brutal murder of her father and violation of her mother, and the eventual reckoning between Lydia and the killer. Which is, admittedly, what the book is. I guess I'm saying maybe the execution wasn't all I expected? I dont know.
At first i was really annoyed by the chapters of the killer's POV. I felt like i was happy to read this SOL story with this amazing vibe, and all the sudden it was interupted by a different tangential story with a seriously different vibe. I guess the only way i can put it, that the killer did this terrible thing to her family and runs off. But because we, the readers, get chapters that update us on his whereabouts and goins on, its like sharks circlin in the water. Like we know this dangerous thing is out there and its eventually gonna come for us. it actually worked really well to build this tension that at first i didnt even really realize was there. But in the end felt kinda nervous about, like "oh lord whens he gonna show up and kill again?!"
In the end though I really enjoyed this one.
I love historical slice-of-life Appalachian stories, and this novel is no different. I really enjoyed the attention to detail that everything was given. The way everything was described was very easy to see in my head and remember how a lot of events would feel. Speaking of which, let me just say, i dont think I'll ever read a novel that explains an occupation more thoroughly than how appalachian novels explain timber jobs. I mean its Melville-esk the way that timber jobs are always explained.
I really loved reading about the daily struggles of the people on Boar Mountain and the characters (though, to me, all the women folk kinda blurred together and felt like the same character: fiercly strong mountain woman).
If i was bein real nit picky, I'd say there were a lot of typos, a lot of from/form 's and being/begin 's , and a massive lack of quotation marks around dialogue. But it didn't hinder my understanding of anything so it's not really an issue. Like i said, nit picky.
I would definitely recommend this one! And hey, its by a local author so even better!
February 4, 2025
Chris McGinley's Once These Hills offers readers a rich historical and geographical setting. The forests and heights of Black Boar and the mill of Queen's Tooth resonate with reality and familiar spirit. Strong characters move through these settings, from the good Lydia King Clemmons near one end of the spectrum to Burr Hollis on the other. Once These Hills is a rich evocation of a people and a place and a time in Appalachia.
July 29, 2025
3.5 stars. One star off because the summary made it seem like there would be more supernatural elements with the bog body (and then with the bobcat woman), and another half star off for a ton of grammatical errors.
December 31, 2023
3.75 stars rounded up
An unusual historical novel, quite unlike anything else I’ve ever read.
A female main character, who’s a hunter and also a bit of an action hero.
Recommended
An unusual historical novel, quite unlike anything else I’ve ever read.
A female main character, who’s a hunter and also a bit of an action hero.
Recommended
January 2, 2024
This book was a phenomenal book written to keep you turning those pages. The woman character is strong and the book continued to make me gasp throughout. I couldn’t put it down!
January 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this book very much.
Great book written by one of the most interested dudes in Lexington, Ky.
Great book written by one of the most interested dudes in Lexington, Ky.
July 29, 2024
page-turner!
December 2, 2024
The evocative writing and the simple yet compelling characters in this debut novel will pull you in from the very first page.
Lydia King enjoys an idyllic childhood on Black Boar Mountain, surrounded by community, family, and stability. All of that is shattered when she and her father stumble across the preserved body of a woman in a bog. Has Lydia unleashed a curse? Or is her change in fortune due to a more mundane evil?
McGinley wastes no time getting into the action, and the specter of the initial tragedy hangs over the rest of the story. Even during the more peaceful parts of the book, you never truly relax. There is always the feeling of a looming threat, whether from the encroaching Railroad or the convicts who work for it.
While the book does have a significant number of typos (and I mean...a lot of typos), it's still worth a read. The errors, particularly with character names, can be a bit distracting, but they shouldn't deter you from experiencing this compelling story.
Lydia King enjoys an idyllic childhood on Black Boar Mountain, surrounded by community, family, and stability. All of that is shattered when she and her father stumble across the preserved body of a woman in a bog. Has Lydia unleashed a curse? Or is her change in fortune due to a more mundane evil?
McGinley wastes no time getting into the action, and the specter of the initial tragedy hangs over the rest of the story. Even during the more peaceful parts of the book, you never truly relax. There is always the feeling of a looming threat, whether from the encroaching Railroad or the convicts who work for it.
While the book does have a significant number of typos (and I mean...a lot of typos), it's still worth a read. The errors, particularly with character names, can be a bit distracting, but they shouldn't deter you from experiencing this compelling story.
September 20, 2024
Second time I've read it and loved it. The writing is so vivid that it feels like live action. The author told us that people have said this would make a great movie. People are right! Might be even better as a series as there is so much to cover!
First time review: I really didn't want this one to end. The lead character Lydia is such an amazing woman that I wanted her to stay around forever. Like move in next door and walk every morning together for an hour just to chat kinda forever. There are several story lines in this novel and I enjoyed every one of them. It felt very real to me. In my mind, I was in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Superb character development and all around great writing.
First time review: I really didn't want this one to end. The lead character Lydia is such an amazing woman that I wanted her to stay around forever. Like move in next door and walk every morning together for an hour just to chat kinda forever. There are several story lines in this novel and I enjoyed every one of them. It felt very real to me. In my mind, I was in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Superb character development and all around great writing.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews