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The Hob and the Deerman
In a place where the everyday world and the Otherworld meet, anything can happen...
Crowfield Abbey lies in ruins and a ghostly crawling man haunts the long abandoned rooms and cloisters.
When Brother Walter the hob returns to the abbey, he finds it a desolate, troubled place. The ghost of a young girl waits in vain for her father to come for her. A boggart lurks in the abbey drain, and the statues and wall paintings are disappearing, one by one...
And who is mysterious Deerman of the forest?
With the help of a young village boy and a stone hob brought to life, the hob desperately attempts to unravel old secrets and right an ancient wrong. Time is running out for the hob and it is not always easy to tell your friends from your enemies.
Crowfield Abbey lies in ruins and a ghostly crawling man haunts the long abandoned rooms and cloisters.
When Brother Walter the hob returns to the abbey, he finds it a desolate, troubled place. The ghost of a young girl waits in vain for her father to come for her. A boggart lurks in the abbey drain, and the statues and wall paintings are disappearing, one by one...
And who is mysterious Deerman of the forest?
With the help of a young village boy and a stone hob brought to life, the hob desperately attempts to unravel old secrets and right an ancient wrong. Time is running out for the hob and it is not always easy to tell your friends from your enemies.
196 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2014
6 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Pat Walsh
5 books160 followersI was born in Cobham, Kent, and spent my early years in West Africa and Ireland, until my family eventually settled in Leicestershire. When I was nine years old, I decided I wanted to be an archaeologist, in the mistaken belief that they spent their time digging up dinosaur bones. When I discovered what they actually did, and got over the disappointment of a life without dinosaurs,I never looked back. I went on my first dig at the age of twelve, and spent school holidays happily up to my ears in mud on sites in England and Scotland. I worked for most of my adult life in archaeology, and most recently worked as an archaeological illustrator for a commercial unit in Northamptonshire. I now write full time and use my background in archaeology as a starting point for my books.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 21, 2018
This was book I have had my eye on for a while though I will admit it was not till I had the change to read it for free did I decided to give it a shot.
Well I will admit that I have mixed feelings about this book, although I will be the first to admit that they are all due to the skill of the author and as such full respect goes to her.
First of all a little context - Pat Walsh had two books published, the Corwfield Curse and the Crowfield Demon which I really enjoyed and have long been watching to see when the next instalment would be published.
So you can imagine my curiosity when I saw reference to this title being released. Now it is set in the same location and yes references some of the same characters.
However this is where the dichotomy starts.
You see it is set decades after the first two books and you cannot feel a sense of loss for the missing characters ( I will try not to give away spoilers) but I guess that is what you get when some of the characters have natural lifespans substantially longer than others.
However this is reinforced by comments made by the main character the hob, however these are portrayed this is due to the skill and subtlety of the author so like I say full respect to her.
However there is also another tale to be told here - and one you feel opens up to all sorts of future and further adventures and for me that is so exciting as even though old foes may be gone (at least from the pages of this story as I do not think that story has been told fully) you get the feeling in this new world there are plenty of other tales to tell.
So for me a great little book I just hope that we get to return to this world again and soon. I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
Well I will admit that I have mixed feelings about this book, although I will be the first to admit that they are all due to the skill of the author and as such full respect goes to her.
First of all a little context - Pat Walsh had two books published, the Corwfield Curse and the Crowfield Demon which I really enjoyed and have long been watching to see when the next instalment would be published.
So you can imagine my curiosity when I saw reference to this title being released. Now it is set in the same location and yes references some of the same characters.
However this is where the dichotomy starts.
You see it is set decades after the first two books and you cannot feel a sense of loss for the missing characters ( I will try not to give away spoilers) but I guess that is what you get when some of the characters have natural lifespans substantially longer than others.
However this is reinforced by comments made by the main character the hob, however these are portrayed this is due to the skill and subtlety of the author so like I say full respect to her.
However there is also another tale to be told here - and one you feel opens up to all sorts of future and further adventures and for me that is so exciting as even though old foes may be gone (at least from the pages of this story as I do not think that story has been told fully) you get the feeling in this new world there are plenty of other tales to tell.
So for me a great little book I just hope that we get to return to this world again and soon. I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
February 22, 2015
I am a huge fan of Pat Walsh's writing and waited eargerly for the third book of the Crowfield series which tells the Hob's story. Walsh's writing is compelling,incredibly rich and atmospheric. Her attention to detail exudes her vast archaeological knowledge and she entwines this with the most amazing characters. Some, such as the 'Hob' (Brother Walter) are truly delightful, whilst others such as 'The Crawling Man' are absolutely hideous! Be afraid!
As a previous reviewer has said though, you are reluctant to leave Walsh's world. It is a world where you hope good will triumph over evil, but you can never be entirely certain as you are often teetering on the edge of the abyss.
More please Pat Walsh!
As a previous reviewer has said though, you are reluctant to leave Walsh's world. It is a world where you hope good will triumph over evil, but you can never be entirely certain as you are often teetering on the edge of the abyss.
More please Pat Walsh!
August 8, 2014
Disclaimer: I was asked to review this book and was sent a copy, so here I go!
The Hob and the Deerman is a short book but it is exactly the right length. It provides a glimpse of the world after the two Crowfield novels while also being standalone enough that anyone can read and enjoy without having read the other books.
This is the story of folklore and mythology, of a history of demons and angels, of old magic and vengeful ghosts and fey creatures, all from the perspective of a hob, Brother Walter, a little furry fey creature that likes to clean and fix things and, despite his own protestations, is a very brave person. He is in search of a new home and goes to a place he remembers from a long time ago, Crowfield Abbey, only to find the abbey is in ruins, villagers are being hired to dismantle the stone for its carvings on the orders of their lord, and something sinister and ghostly is going on in the abbey itself. The elaborate stone carvings around the abbey have been disappearing; one day the carvings are there and the next, the blocks are faced only by blank stone.
The book is as much a wistful narrative about the loss of history and decay of beauty as it is about ghosts and friendship. There is also no skimping on research; the abbey architecture, layout, and environs uses the proper vocabulary for everything (at least, most of the terms I recognize thanks to my one Art History class), and though it isn't exactly overwhelming, there is a lot of it. Fortunately, nothing is confusing thanks to the context in which the terms are placed, so even if you don't know a word, you know where and what it is.
There was a point in the last 30 pages or so where I was wondering if the book was going to be standalone or if the story was going to bleed over into a second book, but everything did get wrapped up in the end without feeling hurried or anti-climactic. The ending was properly satisfying. What I appreciate is that there aren't really loose ends, as such; rather this was a series of events that happened in the life of Brother Walter, and at the end, his life will go on and perhaps he will have more adventures in the future, or perhaps not.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoyed the Crowfield books (of course), as well as readers who enjoy folklore, mythology, ghost tales, fantasy, or just a good short book with some really beautiful imagery and a hob full of heart.
The Hob and the Deerman is a short book but it is exactly the right length. It provides a glimpse of the world after the two Crowfield novels while also being standalone enough that anyone can read and enjoy without having read the other books.
This is the story of folklore and mythology, of a history of demons and angels, of old magic and vengeful ghosts and fey creatures, all from the perspective of a hob, Brother Walter, a little furry fey creature that likes to clean and fix things and, despite his own protestations, is a very brave person. He is in search of a new home and goes to a place he remembers from a long time ago, Crowfield Abbey, only to find the abbey is in ruins, villagers are being hired to dismantle the stone for its carvings on the orders of their lord, and something sinister and ghostly is going on in the abbey itself. The elaborate stone carvings around the abbey have been disappearing; one day the carvings are there and the next, the blocks are faced only by blank stone.
The book is as much a wistful narrative about the loss of history and decay of beauty as it is about ghosts and friendship. There is also no skimping on research; the abbey architecture, layout, and environs uses the proper vocabulary for everything (at least, most of the terms I recognize thanks to my one Art History class), and though it isn't exactly overwhelming, there is a lot of it. Fortunately, nothing is confusing thanks to the context in which the terms are placed, so even if you don't know a word, you know where and what it is.
There was a point in the last 30 pages or so where I was wondering if the book was going to be standalone or if the story was going to bleed over into a second book, but everything did get wrapped up in the end without feeling hurried or anti-climactic. The ending was properly satisfying. What I appreciate is that there aren't really loose ends, as such; rather this was a series of events that happened in the life of Brother Walter, and at the end, his life will go on and perhaps he will have more adventures in the future, or perhaps not.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoyed the Crowfield books (of course), as well as readers who enjoy folklore, mythology, ghost tales, fantasy, or just a good short book with some really beautiful imagery and a hob full of heart.
September 11, 2014
I adore Pat Walshes writing and was so disappointed that there wasn't going to be another Crowfield book and then - bets of both worlds. out comes this fabulous tale of the Hob!.
Wonderful - though laced through with soem seriously creepy characters, Walsh manages to write so warmly you're cocooned in her story and just want to stay there. Her style reminds me of the stories I read when I was young, those that sweep you up and have you live alongside the characters for while - I only wish I didn't read quite so quickly as I did when I was younger, it was over too quickly. Highly recommended.
Wonderful - though laced through with soem seriously creepy characters, Walsh manages to write so warmly you're cocooned in her story and just want to stay there. Her style reminds me of the stories I read when I was young, those that sweep you up and have you live alongside the characters for while - I only wish I didn't read quite so quickly as I did when I was younger, it was over too quickly. Highly recommended.
Read
April 20, 2015 I got trapped into reading this book in the dark, because all our light bulbs burnt out and we couldn't afford to replace them at the time. I finished the whole thing that night, and I should say, I still imagine shadows in the woods behind our house at night. My mom thinks it would just be the hob, but what if she's lying and it's the deerman?
November 21, 2025
The Hob and the Deerman is an atmospheric, beautifully woven fantasy that pulls you straight into the eerie, enchanted edges of the Otherworld. Pat Walsh masterfully captures the haunted quiet of Crowfield Abbey, its crawling ghost, its vanishing statues, its lurking boggart creating a setting that feels both ancient and alive.
One moment that truly stayed with me was the haunting presence of the young girl’s ghost, patiently waiting for a father who will never return. Her loneliness adds a poignant emotional layer to the mystery, grounding the supernatural elements in something deeply human.
Brother Walter the hob is a charming, determined protagonist, and his partnership with the young village boy and the stone hob brings warmth to a story filled with secrets, danger, and unraveling magic. The Deerman himself is a striking, unforgettable figure mysterious, powerful, and steeped in forest lore.
This book is rich with atmosphere, folklore, and heart. A captivating and imaginative fantasy that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers who love stories where ancient mysteries and the Otherworld intertwine.
One moment that truly stayed with me was the haunting presence of the young girl’s ghost, patiently waiting for a father who will never return. Her loneliness adds a poignant emotional layer to the mystery, grounding the supernatural elements in something deeply human.
Brother Walter the hob is a charming, determined protagonist, and his partnership with the young village boy and the stone hob brings warmth to a story filled with secrets, danger, and unraveling magic. The Deerman himself is a striking, unforgettable figure mysterious, powerful, and steeped in forest lore.
This book is rich with atmosphere, folklore, and heart. A captivating and imaginative fantasy that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers who love stories where ancient mysteries and the Otherworld intertwine.
February 1, 2018
This had so many creepy and suspenseful parts that I couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it (if there’s ever a creepy story, I have to get to the end; to a place we’re things work out all right). And even then I kept thinking about it and slept with a light on (that’s just how my imagination gets me!!). But it was a very good story. It takes place about 200 years after the events of the Crowfield Curse books, just FYI, and alludes to several things in them, even things that will be in the as of yet unpublished third book. I will be surimi’s to see how some of those things fit into place once it’s published. There were some preachy-feeling bits concerning nature but they didn’t pull you out of the story a great deal. The story was just so engrossing and there were several pieces that you know somehow they’re going to fit together but you’re not sure how precisely until the end.
March 23, 2023
Read this due to finishing Crowfield Curse and Crowfield Demon so I could have another adventure with my favourite character in those books: Brother Walter the hob. This did not disappoint. I love Pat Walsh's writing style and this little adventure was fun, spooky, and heartwarming. I miss the Crowfield gang and hope one day that series will be finished, but if not, then at least there's this little tale I can read about Brother Walter <3
March 2, 2021
terror and adventure and good friends to help one another
August 27, 2014
Disclaimer: I've got the copy from the author as an exchange to an honest review.
The first time I read about the hob and the abbey was in 2011, Pat Walsh asked to review The Crowfield Curse and, I said yes. I really enjoyed the story and ended up buying a copy, I also bought and enjoyed the second of the series, The Crowfield Demon.
Now the series returns with a standalone story about the Hob Brother Walter and it's set years after the incident in The Crowfield Abbey. At first I was concerned how it will affect the next book of the series, but there's nothing in this book that gives spoiler to what happens after The Crowfield Demon.
I was a bit sad to think The Hob is alone after his time with Will and Brother Snails and all the monks at the abbey, but I'm glad he found new friends in this book.
The hob is my favorite character from The Crowfield series, and this time we get to read the story from his point of view. I like how the story is simple yet complicated; it doesn't pretend to be grand and epic, but it touches my heart and I felt connected with the characters; even the boggart.
I hope Pat Walsh will write the next part of the series or another standalone book about the hob; I'll definitely read those!
The first time I read about the hob and the abbey was in 2011, Pat Walsh asked to review The Crowfield Curse and, I said yes. I really enjoyed the story and ended up buying a copy, I also bought and enjoyed the second of the series, The Crowfield Demon.
Now the series returns with a standalone story about the Hob Brother Walter and it's set years after the incident in The Crowfield Abbey. At first I was concerned how it will affect the next book of the series, but there's nothing in this book that gives spoiler to what happens after The Crowfield Demon.
I was a bit sad to think The Hob is alone after his time with Will and Brother Snails and all the monks at the abbey, but I'm glad he found new friends in this book.
The hob is my favorite character from The Crowfield series, and this time we get to read the story from his point of view. I like how the story is simple yet complicated; it doesn't pretend to be grand and epic, but it touches my heart and I felt connected with the characters; even the boggart.
I hope Pat Walsh will write the next part of the series or another standalone book about the hob; I'll definitely read those!
February 24, 2015
The first thing that strikes you about this book is that it's a bit short. The second thing is that by about page 3 incredibly moving. It's beautifully written with characters from the other books skilfully interwoven into the story making it familiar yet not *over egging the Crowfield pudding*. I want a hob more than ever now. Can't wait for the next one...
April 20, 2017
A lovely little book that touches on death and loss, happy memories and sad, in a simple way that is not overly mawkish and sentimental. It is a companion to the Crowfield books but is not part of that series - the Hob being the only character from the two (currently) Crowfield books.
October 2, 2014
Such vivid imagery, and I was intrigued by the mystery of the vanishing stones from the start. The descriptions of the Deerman himself were achingly beautiful, and I could feel the hobs' longing to go with him.
July 31, 2014
I loved the Crowfield Curse and the Crowfield Demon so I'm delighted to have gone back to the world of the hob. Lovely story. Really enjoyed it and I hope there is more to come!
October 25, 2014
Pat Walsh write more from this world, yes it's YA fiction but it's just so gripping and quite scary for kids. Read it and love it too.
May 24, 2015
More of a novella than a book But enjoyed reading more about the Hob not on the same level as The Crowfield Curse and The Crowfield Demon though.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews