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Quarry
In the shadow of the Cumbrian hills, a way of life is fading...
In the rugged beauty of north-west Britain around five thousand years ago, meet Bran, a master stone-crafter. He is a key member of the skilled group of workers in The Valley, where the legendary Langdale axes are extracted from the native rock, and then lovingly shaped and prepared. But change is stirring in the land.
In the nearby settlement of Dolgolvan, farmers are carving out a new world, one of settled fields and fixed boundaries. Bran finds himself caught between loyalty to his people's traditions, and the inevitability of progress. Through his eyes, witness the delicate balance of cooperation and conflict, the struggle to adapt, and the quiet beauty of the natural world — its plants, animals, and birds — that sustains them all.
With a keen eye for detail and a deep reverence for the humanity of the past, Quarry is a poignant exploration of a pivotal moment in human history, where the old ways clash with the new, and the land itself bears witness to the dawn of a different age.
In the rugged beauty of north-west Britain around five thousand years ago, meet Bran, a master stone-crafter. He is a key member of the skilled group of workers in The Valley, where the legendary Langdale axes are extracted from the native rock, and then lovingly shaped and prepared. But change is stirring in the land.
In the nearby settlement of Dolgolvan, farmers are carving out a new world, one of settled fields and fixed boundaries. Bran finds himself caught between loyalty to his people's traditions, and the inevitability of progress. Through his eyes, witness the delicate balance of cooperation and conflict, the struggle to adapt, and the quiet beauty of the natural world — its plants, animals, and birds — that sustains them all.
With a keen eye for detail and a deep reverence for the humanity of the past, Quarry is a poignant exploration of a pivotal moment in human history, where the old ways clash with the new, and the land itself bears witness to the dawn of a different age.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2025
About the author
Richard Abbott
10 books58 followersRichard Abbott writes both historical and speculative fiction. The Ancient Trackways and Kephrath series of books explore the world of the past. Half Sick of Shadows and the Far from the Spaceports series are set in speculative and science fiction worlds.
The Ancient Trackways immerses you in the Cumbria of the late Stone Age, where axe-making artisans are facing challenges to their ancestral way of life.
Half Sick of Shadows is a retelling and metamorphosis of the Arthurian tale of The Lady of Shalott. The book was awarded an IndieBrag medallion in December 2017.
The Far from the Spaceports series is set in a near-future solar system where human-AI partnerships are common.
The Kephrath books take the reader to the ancient near East, at the end of the Bronze Age, when differing groups and factions struggle for survival and vie for dominance.
Richard lives and works in Cumbria, England, as part of a family business. When not writing words or computer code, he enjoys spending time with family, walking, and wildlife, ideally combining all three pursuits in the English Lake District.
The Ancient Trackways immerses you in the Cumbria of the late Stone Age, where axe-making artisans are facing challenges to their ancestral way of life.
Half Sick of Shadows is a retelling and metamorphosis of the Arthurian tale of The Lady of Shalott. The book was awarded an IndieBrag medallion in December 2017.
The Far from the Spaceports series is set in a near-future solar system where human-AI partnerships are common.
The Kephrath books take the reader to the ancient near East, at the end of the Bronze Age, when differing groups and factions struggle for survival and vie for dominance.
Richard lives and works in Cumbria, England, as part of a family business. When not writing words or computer code, he enjoys spending time with family, walking, and wildlife, ideally combining all three pursuits in the English Lake District.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 26, 2026
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Quarry
Author: Richard Abbott
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 7/10
Writing Style: 6/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 1/5
Of the 15 readers:
9 would read another book by this author.
3 thought the cover was good or excellent.
12 felt it was easy to follow.
10 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
6 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
9 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
★★★★★ — Female, 62
I absolutely loved the sense of place in Quarry. I could almost feel the cold stone under my hands and hear the streams, birds and hammering echoing around the mountains. Bran is a quiet, thoughtful character, but that worked for me because this is really a novel about a whole way of life rather than one man charging from crisis to crisis.
It is definitely a slow-burn read, and I did occasionally find myself wishing the pace would pick up a little, particularly in the middle. But the detail is extraordinary, and by the end I felt as though I had actually spent time among these people. The conflict between the stoneworkers and the farming communities is fascinating because neither side is simply “good” or “bad”. A beautifully researched, atmospheric novel.
★★★★☆ — Male, 48
This is not a book you rush through. In fact, I tried rushing through the first few chapters and quickly realised I was reading it all wrong. Quarry wants you to slow down.
There’s a lot of walking, stone-working, eating, trading and observing the landscape. Normally I’d probably complain that not enough was happening, but somehow Abbott makes the everyday life interesting. I particularly enjoyed Bran’s relationship with Brannen the raven — those scenes added some welcome warmth and humour.
My only criticism is that there are a lot of names, places and unfamiliar terms to remember, and I occasionally had to stop and remind myself who was who. Still, once I settled into the world, I found the book increasingly absorbing. A thoughtful and unusual piece of historical fiction.
★★★★★ — Female, 37
I wasn’t expecting to become emotionally invested in a man whose main occupation is hitting rocks with another rock, but here we are.
Seriously, though, this book surprised me. Bran’s work as a stonecrafter is described in such detail that I initially wondered whether it might become too technical. It didn’t. Instead, I found myself fascinated by the patience and skill involved, and by the idea that these beautiful objects could travel huge distances and carry so much meaning.
The book is quiet, sometimes very quiet, but there’s a real sense that change is coming and that the characters simply don’t yet understand how much their world is about to shift. I did think some sections could have been trimmed, particularly where the geography and journeys are described at length, but the atmosphere is wonderful. If you enjoy historical fiction that immerses you in a vanished world rather than throwing constant action at you, this is well worth reading.
★★★★☆ — Male, 71
A very different kind of historical novel.
What I liked most was the sense that the author has genuinely walked this landscape and knows it intimately. The mountains, tarns, paths and valleys are not just scenery; they shape the people who live there. Bran’s journey from his island home into a new community is beautifully handled, and the tension between the travelling stoneworkers and the settled farming people feels convincing.
I found the book a little slow in places, and I’m not sure every conversation needed quite as much room as it was given. However, the slow pace does suit the subject. This is a novel about gradual change — in technology, society and human relationships — and perhaps it would have felt wrong if the story had been told at breakneck speed.
A thoughtful, carefully constructed book with a strong sense of history.
★★★★★ — Female, 54
Oh, I really enjoyed this.
I went into Quarry expecting a fairly conventional prehistoric adventure and got something much more reflective. Bran is such an interesting character because he isn’t a traditional “hero”. He’s a craftsman. He watches, listens, learns and works. There’s something incredibly satisfying about that.
And the landscape! Honestly, I wanted to put the book down every few pages and look up pictures of the Lake District. The author makes the mountains feel ancient and almost alive.
There are a lot of names, and I’ll admit I got a bit muddled once or twice. I also thought the story took a little while to get moving. But once the tensions between the different communities began to build, I was completely hooked. The feeling that an entire way of life is slowly being squeezed out is quietly heartbreaking.
★★★☆☆ — Male, 29
I’m going to be honest: I nearly gave up on this one.
The opening is very slow, and there are long passages describing journeys, landscapes and the process of working stone. If you’re looking for constant action, this definitely isn’t the book for you.
But I’m glad I stuck with it. Once I understood what Abbott was doing, I started to appreciate the novel much more. The conflict isn’t just about individual characters; it’s about a society changing underneath them. The stoneworkers have their own traditions and identity, while the farmers represent a new way of living, and neither group fully understands where the other is coming from.
Bran also grew on me. He’s not immediately charismatic, but he becomes a believable and sympathetic character. I would have liked a slightly faster pace and perhaps a little more drama in places, but the historical world-building is genuinely impressive.
★★★★★ — Female, 80
I finished Quarry with the rather odd feeling that I had been away somewhere.
That is probably the best compliment I can give it.
I loved the quietness of the book. There is a great deal of attention paid to ordinary things — food, weather, paths, tools, animals, stone and the changing seasons — but this creates a remarkably convincing picture of life thousands of years ago. I particularly enjoyed the sense of community among the stoneworkers, even when they disagreed with one another.
Bran’s friendship with Brannen was a delight, and I found the gradual changes taking place around him increasingly moving. The book does require patience, and I occasionally felt that the descriptions went on a little longer than necessary. But I would far rather read a book with too much atmosphere than one with too little.
A beautifully imagined story about craftsmanship, belonging and a world beginning to change.
To Sum It Up:
“A beautifully immersive journey into a world where ancient traditions collide with the unstoppable march of change.” Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Quarry
Author: Richard Abbott
Star Rating: 3.5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 7/10
Writing Style: 6/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 1/5
Of the 15 readers:
9 would read another book by this author.
3 thought the cover was good or excellent.
12 felt it was easy to follow.
10 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
6 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
9 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
★★★★★ — Female, 62
I absolutely loved the sense of place in Quarry. I could almost feel the cold stone under my hands and hear the streams, birds and hammering echoing around the mountains. Bran is a quiet, thoughtful character, but that worked for me because this is really a novel about a whole way of life rather than one man charging from crisis to crisis.
It is definitely a slow-burn read, and I did occasionally find myself wishing the pace would pick up a little, particularly in the middle. But the detail is extraordinary, and by the end I felt as though I had actually spent time among these people. The conflict between the stoneworkers and the farming communities is fascinating because neither side is simply “good” or “bad”. A beautifully researched, atmospheric novel.
★★★★☆ — Male, 48
This is not a book you rush through. In fact, I tried rushing through the first few chapters and quickly realised I was reading it all wrong. Quarry wants you to slow down.
There’s a lot of walking, stone-working, eating, trading and observing the landscape. Normally I’d probably complain that not enough was happening, but somehow Abbott makes the everyday life interesting. I particularly enjoyed Bran’s relationship with Brannen the raven — those scenes added some welcome warmth and humour.
My only criticism is that there are a lot of names, places and unfamiliar terms to remember, and I occasionally had to stop and remind myself who was who. Still, once I settled into the world, I found the book increasingly absorbing. A thoughtful and unusual piece of historical fiction.
★★★★★ — Female, 37
I wasn’t expecting to become emotionally invested in a man whose main occupation is hitting rocks with another rock, but here we are.
Seriously, though, this book surprised me. Bran’s work as a stonecrafter is described in such detail that I initially wondered whether it might become too technical. It didn’t. Instead, I found myself fascinated by the patience and skill involved, and by the idea that these beautiful objects could travel huge distances and carry so much meaning.
The book is quiet, sometimes very quiet, but there’s a real sense that change is coming and that the characters simply don’t yet understand how much their world is about to shift. I did think some sections could have been trimmed, particularly where the geography and journeys are described at length, but the atmosphere is wonderful. If you enjoy historical fiction that immerses you in a vanished world rather than throwing constant action at you, this is well worth reading.
★★★★☆ — Male, 71
A very different kind of historical novel.
What I liked most was the sense that the author has genuinely walked this landscape and knows it intimately. The mountains, tarns, paths and valleys are not just scenery; they shape the people who live there. Bran’s journey from his island home into a new community is beautifully handled, and the tension between the travelling stoneworkers and the settled farming people feels convincing.
I found the book a little slow in places, and I’m not sure every conversation needed quite as much room as it was given. However, the slow pace does suit the subject. This is a novel about gradual change — in technology, society and human relationships — and perhaps it would have felt wrong if the story had been told at breakneck speed.
A thoughtful, carefully constructed book with a strong sense of history.
★★★★★ — Female, 54
Oh, I really enjoyed this.
I went into Quarry expecting a fairly conventional prehistoric adventure and got something much more reflective. Bran is such an interesting character because he isn’t a traditional “hero”. He’s a craftsman. He watches, listens, learns and works. There’s something incredibly satisfying about that.
And the landscape! Honestly, I wanted to put the book down every few pages and look up pictures of the Lake District. The author makes the mountains feel ancient and almost alive.
There are a lot of names, and I’ll admit I got a bit muddled once or twice. I also thought the story took a little while to get moving. But once the tensions between the different communities began to build, I was completely hooked. The feeling that an entire way of life is slowly being squeezed out is quietly heartbreaking.
★★★☆☆ — Male, 29
I’m going to be honest: I nearly gave up on this one.
The opening is very slow, and there are long passages describing journeys, landscapes and the process of working stone. If you’re looking for constant action, this definitely isn’t the book for you.
But I’m glad I stuck with it. Once I understood what Abbott was doing, I started to appreciate the novel much more. The conflict isn’t just about individual characters; it’s about a society changing underneath them. The stoneworkers have their own traditions and identity, while the farmers represent a new way of living, and neither group fully understands where the other is coming from.
Bran also grew on me. He’s not immediately charismatic, but he becomes a believable and sympathetic character. I would have liked a slightly faster pace and perhaps a little more drama in places, but the historical world-building is genuinely impressive.
★★★★★ — Female, 80
I finished Quarry with the rather odd feeling that I had been away somewhere.
That is probably the best compliment I can give it.
I loved the quietness of the book. There is a great deal of attention paid to ordinary things — food, weather, paths, tools, animals, stone and the changing seasons — but this creates a remarkably convincing picture of life thousands of years ago. I particularly enjoyed the sense of community among the stoneworkers, even when they disagreed with one another.
Bran’s friendship with Brannen was a delight, and I found the gradual changes taking place around him increasingly moving. The book does require patience, and I occasionally felt that the descriptions went on a little longer than necessary. But I would far rather read a book with too much atmosphere than one with too little.
A beautifully imagined story about craftsmanship, belonging and a world beginning to change.
To Sum It Up:
“A beautifully immersive journey into a world where ancient traditions collide with the unstoppable march of change.” Wishing Shelf Book Awards
November 29, 2025
Quarry by Richard Abbott is a beautifully immersive and finely detailed historical novel set in the rugged landscapes of northwest Britain nearly five thousand years ago. Through the eyes of Bran, a master stone crafter, Abbott brings to life the world of the famed Langdale axe makers skilled artisans whose work shaped both culture and survival during this pivotal era.
The novel captures the tension between two worlds: the ancient traditions of wandering craftsmen and the rising influence of settled farmers whose fields and boundaries mark the early steps toward a new civilization. Abbott’s descriptions of daily life, craftsmanship, community, and the surrounding natural world are vivid and deeply researched, giving readers a rare insight into a transformative moment in human history.
Thoughtful, evocative, and rich in atmosphere, Quarry is a moving exploration of identity, change, and the quiet resilience of the people who lived at the crossroads of the old and the new.
The novel captures the tension between two worlds: the ancient traditions of wandering craftsmen and the rising influence of settled farmers whose fields and boundaries mark the early steps toward a new civilization. Abbott’s descriptions of daily life, craftsmanship, community, and the surrounding natural world are vivid and deeply researched, giving readers a rare insight into a transformative moment in human history.
Thoughtful, evocative, and rich in atmosphere, Quarry is a moving exploration of identity, change, and the quiet resilience of the people who lived at the crossroads of the old and the new.
July 4, 2025
I am the author so am not leaving a review
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews