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The Curse of Crow Hollow
With the “profound sense of Southern spirituality” he is known for ( Publishers Weekly ), Billy Coffey draws us into a town where good and evil—and myth and reality—intertwine in unexpected ways. Everyone in Crow Hollow knows of Alvaretta Graves, the old widow who lives in the mountain. Many call her a witch; others whisper she’s insane. Everyone agrees the vengeance Alvaretta swore at her husband’s death hovers over them all. That vengeance awakens when teenagers stumble upon Alvaretta’s cabin, incurring her curse. Now a sickness moves through the Hollow. Rumors swirl that Stu Graves has risen for revenge. And the people of Crow Hollow are left to confront not only the darkness that lives on the mountain, but the darkness that lives within themselves. “Coffey spins a wicked tale . . . [ The Curse of Crow Hollow ] blends folklore, superstition, and subconscious dread in the vein of Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery.’” —Kirkus Reviews
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
41 people are currently reading
1923 people want to read
About the author
Billy Coffey
12 books266 followersBilly and his wife, Joanne, live with their two children in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. A product of his small-town locale, Billy counts as assets his rural authenticity, unwavering sense of purpose, and insatiable curiosity--all of which tend to make his front porch a comfortably crowded place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
August 26, 2015
I love to be told a story and that's exactly how this book feels. Told by a narrator that speaks in an old southern voice, I had thought when starting the book that I would get irritated by it. It ended up being oddly addictive and it fit this book perfectly. The voice used is telling the story about what happened to an outsider. You will want to pull up a chair and listen it to it.
Set in Crow Hollow a small town in the Appalachian mountains, the story starts with a group of teenagers going somewhere that is not allowed because it's one of the girls birthday and she wants a special night to impress a boy.
I'd like to tell you more about Scarlett Bickford's eighteenth birthday, how her and her friends somehow managed to salvage things and have the night they'd all wanted. But I can't do that, friend, because that's not how it went.
They ended up with teenage drama causing them to have a bad night where a diamond bracelet stolen from a parent gets lost in the night. Waking up the next morning they know they have to get that bracelet back.
They find burned tracks that are bigger than any footprints that they have seen before and follow them. They end up at Alvaretta Graves's small cabin. The local witch Alvaretta is not someone these kids have met up with before but their parents have history with her.
Ain't only sins of the father that come to visit in these parts, friend. The sins of the mother will get you just the same.
The kids end up running for their lives after being cursed by Alvaretta. Upon their return to Crow Hollow their curses have come true and it sets off a panic in town that starts to simmer under the towns peoples lives to a boiling point where you know that people are going to end up dead.
Is there a demon helping out Alvaretta? Is this just the result of mass hysteria? Those questions kept me turning these pages.
But then:
This book is so very good in parts and deliciously creepy, it does tend to drag in so many places. I think if the books many pages were cut in two it would make a better story. There was just too much telling that went into the story.
Some places have a feel to them, like there's a heaviness to the air. You can't see it with your eyes but you know it in your gut, and what your gut says is those places are not made for humans at all, but for things best left alone.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Set in Crow Hollow a small town in the Appalachian mountains, the story starts with a group of teenagers going somewhere that is not allowed because it's one of the girls birthday and she wants a special night to impress a boy.
I'd like to tell you more about Scarlett Bickford's eighteenth birthday, how her and her friends somehow managed to salvage things and have the night they'd all wanted. But I can't do that, friend, because that's not how it went.
They ended up with teenage drama causing them to have a bad night where a diamond bracelet stolen from a parent gets lost in the night. Waking up the next morning they know they have to get that bracelet back.
They find burned tracks that are bigger than any footprints that they have seen before and follow them. They end up at Alvaretta Graves's small cabin. The local witch Alvaretta is not someone these kids have met up with before but their parents have history with her.
Ain't only sins of the father that come to visit in these parts, friend. The sins of the mother will get you just the same.
The kids end up running for their lives after being cursed by Alvaretta. Upon their return to Crow Hollow their curses have come true and it sets off a panic in town that starts to simmer under the towns peoples lives to a boiling point where you know that people are going to end up dead.
Is there a demon helping out Alvaretta? Is this just the result of mass hysteria? Those questions kept me turning these pages.
But then:
This book is so very good in parts and deliciously creepy, it does tend to drag in so many places. I think if the books many pages were cut in two it would make a better story. There was just too much telling that went into the story.
Some places have a feel to them, like there's a heaviness to the air. You can't see it with your eyes but you know it in your gut, and what your gut says is those places are not made for humans at all, but for things best left alone.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
July 31, 2015
Review: THE CURSE OF CROW HOLLOW by Billy Coffey
Author Billy Coffey possesses a multidimensional talent for eliciting a variety of genres: faith, mystery, horror, history, marital, literary, familial, occult, and so much more. He also continuously demonstrates an in-depth comprehension of Appalachian mountain culture and its people. I am determined to read everything he publishes. THE CURSE OF CROW HOLLOW is an unforgettable, magnificently conceptualized, tale of a tiny community in Appalachia and its microcosm of the wider universal human condition. I read this nearly 400-page novel in a single afternoon and evening, and at the end I counted myself astounded at the author's reach, a vastness at which he constantly succeeds.
Release August 4 2015
Author Billy Coffey possesses a multidimensional talent for eliciting a variety of genres: faith, mystery, horror, history, marital, literary, familial, occult, and so much more. He also continuously demonstrates an in-depth comprehension of Appalachian mountain culture and its people. I am determined to read everything he publishes. THE CURSE OF CROW HOLLOW is an unforgettable, magnificently conceptualized, tale of a tiny community in Appalachia and its microcosm of the wider universal human condition. I read this nearly 400-page novel in a single afternoon and evening, and at the end I counted myself astounded at the author's reach, a vastness at which he constantly succeeds.
Release August 4 2015
December 17, 2015
The reason why I always try to finish a book in one day is because the moment that it stays unfinished for more than 2 days, I become uninterested.
The Curse of Crow Hollow is one of a kind. I'm actually very interested in the plot. A witch's curse, a town of bible-thumping people and a secret that's so deeply guarded? I'm loving it. This book was also written in a way that an old man is telling you the story of their town. Quite mysterious and deliciously creepy if you ask me.
But the thing about this book is, it's so draaaaaaaging. There are some scenes that is really not needed and I grew tired of all the bibbidi bobbidi boo that is happening. I can't wait for the action and all the revelations to happen but the pacing is really testing my non-existent patience.
So DNF @ 48%.
August 10, 2021
Wow... just... WOW.
It has been a long, long time since I’ve read a book as utterly compelling and as bone-chilling as The Curse of Crow Hollow. The last chapter sent chills down my spine, and I found myself breathless through most of its 400 pages.
First off, let’s start with the narration. Coffey utilizes one of the most unique forms of storytelling I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying by composing this story in such a way that the narrator is a stranger recounting the recent events of Crow Hollow to the reader, who is spoken to as a visitor passing through town. For maybe the first chapter or two, this narrative style was jarring. Mostly because you have to get used to the way the drawl of the Deep South translates to paper. But before long I found myself completely immersed, and the narrative style contributed to the overall aesthetic of the story, which I can only describe as southern gothic - and I adored it.
Second, the characters. As I said, this story is told from the perspective of an unreliable third party. So, rather than get the normal deep-dive into our main characters’ minds, we get to see it all from the outside looking in. Normally, this would be frustrating. In this case, it was completely captivating. You’re left to question everything about these characters. The narrator presents you with deeply, deeply flawed people who are so real in every possible way that you find yourself rooting for all of them at some point or another just as much as you find yourself shaking your head at them. It’s possible I’ve yet to read a story that’s done such a good job at portraying the nature of humanity as The Curse of Crow Hollow has done.
Third, the plot. Gripping. Astounding. Terrifying. This book is one massive crescendo from beginning to end. It reads like your favorite Netflix Original Series - and I almost wish they’d turn this into a tv series, because the way Coffey writes this story, each chapter just builds upon the last until, in the end, it all implodes in a glorious, rabid, gory, gut-wrenching finale that left me as stunned as the leading characters.
And the end? I can’t say much without exposing one of the most insane plot twists I’ve ever read, but... I will say that Coffey did a spectacular job driving home the theme of this story in those final pages. I literally never saw it coming, and that’s pretty much what I felt about every other twist and turn along the way.
It has been a long, long time since I’ve read a book as utterly compelling and as bone-chilling as The Curse of Crow Hollow. The last chapter sent chills down my spine, and I found myself breathless through most of its 400 pages.
First off, let’s start with the narration. Coffey utilizes one of the most unique forms of storytelling I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying by composing this story in such a way that the narrator is a stranger recounting the recent events of Crow Hollow to the reader, who is spoken to as a visitor passing through town. For maybe the first chapter or two, this narrative style was jarring. Mostly because you have to get used to the way the drawl of the Deep South translates to paper. But before long I found myself completely immersed, and the narrative style contributed to the overall aesthetic of the story, which I can only describe as southern gothic - and I adored it.
Second, the characters. As I said, this story is told from the perspective of an unreliable third party. So, rather than get the normal deep-dive into our main characters’ minds, we get to see it all from the outside looking in. Normally, this would be frustrating. In this case, it was completely captivating. You’re left to question everything about these characters. The narrator presents you with deeply, deeply flawed people who are so real in every possible way that you find yourself rooting for all of them at some point or another just as much as you find yourself shaking your head at them. It’s possible I’ve yet to read a story that’s done such a good job at portraying the nature of humanity as The Curse of Crow Hollow has done.
Third, the plot. Gripping. Astounding. Terrifying. This book is one massive crescendo from beginning to end. It reads like your favorite Netflix Original Series - and I almost wish they’d turn this into a tv series, because the way Coffey writes this story, each chapter just builds upon the last until, in the end, it all implodes in a glorious, rabid, gory, gut-wrenching finale that left me as stunned as the leading characters.
And the end? I can’t say much without exposing one of the most insane plot twists I’ve ever read, but... I will say that Coffey did a spectacular job driving home the theme of this story in those final pages. I literally never saw it coming, and that’s pretty much what I felt about every other twist and turn along the way.
April 11, 2023
This suspenseful journey through the mountains of Appalachia was well-written and contemporary. Perhaps the most unnerving part was that the story felt like history rather than fiction. Sure, the narrator is ultimately the most important character and there’s plenty of superstition, fiery sermons, and dark secrets to keep the story moving. But the very-real plight of a dying town tearing itself apart over that same superstition, “faith,” and racism was the truly terrifying grip of the tale. The author clearly knows his setting and his characters; I just wasn’t expecting the mountain witch to be the least frightening character of all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 29, 2017Review to follow.
October 30, 2015
3.5-3.75 stars
First off, I want to say that I really liked the premise of a stranger accidentally finding himself in this small town and being told the whole story of what happened recently in the town by an old timer. That as done very well and was properly carried throughout the whole book.
I think what bothered me a bit was that I had expected this to be a proper horror book, with witches and spells and curses and whatnot. And it did have that element, but it was a rather minor part of the story, actually. I've seen this compared to Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and I can see that comparison for sure. This book deals a lot with the narrow mindedness and mob mentality that can often happen in small, cut off communities like the Crow Hollow. And, in that way, this book is still very scary, but not the kind of scary I was expecting.
Coffey did a good job with his description and the way he laid the story out, but I feel like it was longer than it needed to be. There were parts between pages 100-250 that I thought were not needed and dragged on. That's the main reason for the lowered score. Had it not dragged so much in those spots, I probably would have given it a 4 star.
First off, I want to say that I really liked the premise of a stranger accidentally finding himself in this small town and being told the whole story of what happened recently in the town by an old timer. That as done very well and was properly carried throughout the whole book.
I think what bothered me a bit was that I had expected this to be a proper horror book, with witches and spells and curses and whatnot. And it did have that element, but it was a rather minor part of the story, actually. I've seen this compared to Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and I can see that comparison for sure. This book deals a lot with the narrow mindedness and mob mentality that can often happen in small, cut off communities like the Crow Hollow. And, in that way, this book is still very scary, but not the kind of scary I was expecting.
Coffey did a good job with his description and the way he laid the story out, but I feel like it was longer than it needed to be. There were parts between pages 100-250 that I thought were not needed and dragged on. That's the main reason for the lowered score. Had it not dragged so much in those spots, I probably would have given it a 4 star.
August 6, 2015
Read my full review here: http://ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.com/2...
**This is a combined review of The Night Sister and The Curse of Crow Hollow***
I loved both of these novels. They were each so creepy and put me in the mood for the upcoming fall season. I was surprised that they weren't releasing in October because they seem like they would be perfect for readers looking for a spooky seasonal read. I will admit that I thought "oh this isn't that scary" with The Night Sister until the last 100 pages, then I had the heeby-jeebies and could not turn the pages fast enough. The Curse of Crow Hollow had me worried for a bit that it would turn out like The Returned or Under the Dome, which were both huge let-downs for me. I was also concerned that it would take a severe religious bend due to the Christian publisher. I was wrong on both counts. It was like nothing I've ever read and wait until you get a load of the narrator! So if you are looking for some spine-tingly, skin-crawly reads this fall, check out both of these releases.
**This is a combined review of The Night Sister and The Curse of Crow Hollow***
I loved both of these novels. They were each so creepy and put me in the mood for the upcoming fall season. I was surprised that they weren't releasing in October because they seem like they would be perfect for readers looking for a spooky seasonal read. I will admit that I thought "oh this isn't that scary" with The Night Sister until the last 100 pages, then I had the heeby-jeebies and could not turn the pages fast enough. The Curse of Crow Hollow had me worried for a bit that it would turn out like The Returned or Under the Dome, which were both huge let-downs for me. I was also concerned that it would take a severe religious bend due to the Christian publisher. I was wrong on both counts. It was like nothing I've ever read and wait until you get a load of the narrator! So if you are looking for some spine-tingly, skin-crawly reads this fall, check out both of these releases.
April 7, 2017
3.5 rounded down. A great witch story especially if you read in during October and like your spooky tales with a lot of blood and human angst.
Writing style? Great, old-folksy, "sit down stranger, take a load off" narrative.
Scene? Small town with not much going for it.
Characters? Ah. Way too many...as in the Entire Town with all the back stories included. Even during the Big Climax I didn't remember half of who was who.
Pace? A little on the slow side, mostly because (see above) all the back stories.
Frankly, I like my hollows named Skunk, not Crow.
Writing style? Great, old-folksy, "sit down stranger, take a load off" narrative.
Scene? Small town with not much going for it.
Characters? Ah. Way too many...as in the Entire Town with all the back stories included. Even during the Big Climax I didn't remember half of who was who.
Pace? A little on the slow side, mostly because (see above) all the back stories.
Frankly, I like my hollows named Skunk, not Crow.
September 9, 2015
Couldn't get passed the heavy dialect. Too much attention to trying to determine what's being said to be able to enjoy what it means.
own-tbr
June 28, 2018Free audio this week @ SYNC
September 3, 2015
Personally, I've always loved a story with witches, paranormal activities and magic going on. I've been a huge fan of anything related to that because I think it's fun to read about it and to let go of our imagination. This book delivers exactly what I love about those themes: witchcraft, curse, cults, dark magic. You will find everything in it with a smart storyline. As for the characters, the author did an amazing job at describing them all and giving us a backstory to everyone and every family. I must admit, there were a lot of characters and a lot of things going on but he kept it really organized and clean when it comes to each character so I didn't have a hard time to follow through the story. You can check out our blog for the whole review here : http://bookidote.wordpress.com
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April 13, 2015
Oh my, the trouble teenagers get themselves into- most though are wise enough not to cross a witch. Or is it the devil? What is the evil that curses these folks? I love the southern tongue, it lends the story charm mixed in the eerie happenings. It is a spritual novel and normally not my cup of tea but I enjoyed it. The widow, weathered old Alvaretta Graves cursed the townspeople after her huband's death (and in some ways, who can blame her) but is she a witch, housing something evil, ready to set it loose? When teenagers confront her they bring sickness to the hollow and it's people, soon they are on the hunt for whatever haunts them. They must find where the evil dwells, but can they save their souls? Southern Christianity.
July 30, 2016
I fell in love with this book! The Curse of Crow Hollow is a spine tingling story related to you slowly through a folksy down home narrative that made me feel I was a trusted friend sitting around a spooky campfire being let in on a secret.
It is a story of superstition, suspicion, mob mentality oh and lets not forget the witch! Is she or isn't she? Can she really curse a whole town or is it all in their own minds like some mass hysteria? When a birthday party gone wrong leads a group of teens to the witch's door long hidden secrets make their way to the light and evil can live not just in a witch's shack but in the hearts of men.
I received an advance copy for review.
It is a story of superstition, suspicion, mob mentality oh and lets not forget the witch! Is she or isn't she? Can she really curse a whole town or is it all in their own minds like some mass hysteria? When a birthday party gone wrong leads a group of teens to the witch's door long hidden secrets make their way to the light and evil can live not just in a witch's shack but in the hearts of men.
I received an advance copy for review.
August 10, 2015
I adored every creepy, dark, wondrous second of this holler tale. Felt like "Justified" with a witch. The characters were well developed, and the monsters were real. A true test of human spirit, and a heck of a read. Couldn't put it down, and will be passing this one along to my fellow lovers of all things dark and mysterious.
July 26, 2019
Not a one of them paused to consider how it was that the kind and merciful people they were now could be so different from the violent and hateful people they’d been only minutes before. You ask me how that can be, I have no idea. You can’t figure folk.
If only Cordelia hadn't "borrowed" the diamond bracelet from her mama. But Scarlet wanted it, to impress a boy! You know how teenage girls are? But maybe things would have been okay if they hadn't gone up the mountain, near Alvaretta Graves' property. She's a witch, you know? But they did. They followed those strange tracks. And now Alvaretta's gone and put a curse on the town. Just look at what those kids done!
For most of this slightly-longer-than-usual audio book (nearly 11 1/2 hours), I intended to give it 1 or 2 stars ('didn't like' or 'okay', I use the GR system). Sometimes it was a struggle not to abandon it. But it's got some things going for it, such as the excellent narration by Gabe Wicks. Coffey tells the story in a "Sit down stranger, and let me tell you a story" manner, and Wicks nails the Southern feel perfectly. It's also very colorful in how Coffey describes Crow Hollow and its people, and you almost feel like you're in "the Holler." But for being a YA book, the teenagers in the story aren't the central characters - the adults take center stage far more. On the one hand, it's extremely refreshing that adults aren't simply background props while the kids 'save the world' - like so much of the YA fare out there - but I'd have liked to have the kids in the story more.
But mostly I found it hard to like any of the characters.* Sure, every once in a while I'd root for one or another, but then they'd go right back to being thoroughly unlikable. And that's just one element that gives the book a Stephen King-feel (I was reminded time and time again of Needful Things): unlikable people and a wild ending. But the very ending was what saved it for me - there were things I didn't see coming, and for that I can give it 3 stars (liked it). Because of that I might even give another book by this author a chance.
(*ETA: I just realized why I found the characters so unlikable, and have to commend the author for it. That was clever.)
If only Cordelia hadn't "borrowed" the diamond bracelet from her mama. But Scarlet wanted it, to impress a boy! You know how teenage girls are? But maybe things would have been okay if they hadn't gone up the mountain, near Alvaretta Graves' property. She's a witch, you know? But they did. They followed those strange tracks. And now Alvaretta's gone and put a curse on the town. Just look at what those kids done!
For most of this slightly-longer-than-usual audio book (nearly 11 1/2 hours), I intended to give it 1 or 2 stars ('didn't like' or 'okay', I use the GR system). Sometimes it was a struggle not to abandon it. But it's got some things going for it, such as the excellent narration by Gabe Wicks. Coffey tells the story in a "Sit down stranger, and let me tell you a story" manner, and Wicks nails the Southern feel perfectly. It's also very colorful in how Coffey describes Crow Hollow and its people, and you almost feel like you're in "the Holler." But for being a YA book, the teenagers in the story aren't the central characters - the adults take center stage far more. On the one hand, it's extremely refreshing that adults aren't simply background props while the kids 'save the world' - like so much of the YA fare out there - but I'd have liked to have the kids in the story more.
But mostly I found it hard to like any of the characters.* Sure, every once in a while I'd root for one or another, but then they'd go right back to being thoroughly unlikable. And that's just one element that gives the book a Stephen King-feel (I was reminded time and time again of Needful Things): unlikable people and a wild ending. But the very ending was what saved it for me - there were things I didn't see coming, and for that I can give it 3 stars (liked it). Because of that I might even give another book by this author a chance.
(*ETA: I just realized why I found the characters so unlikable, and have to commend the author for it. That was clever.)
August 7, 2015
When I hear the name Billy Coffey when it comes to novels, I am immediately engaged and know I am in for something amazing, and unique. So when the opportunity came about to review his latest novel, The Curse of Crow Hollow, I knew this was definitely one I did not want to miss out on. I've been enamored with his uncanny Southern writing style from his novels, When Mockingbirds Sing, The Devil Walks in Mattingly and In the Heart of the Dark Wood. He takes readers into places no one really wants to go, but you find yourself traveling there somehow by a supernatural power. I liken his novels to that of such notables as Stephen King, because he takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary.
We all know places in the woods that seem to beckon us to stay clear, to stay away. Billy would call them holler's or as the title implies Hollows. They are the places where rumors and stories are birthed by a persons too active imagination and over time, they sprout roots and take on a life of their own. In this case, the reader is transported to a place known as simply Crow Hollow, by the locals who live there. They are quite a cast of characters that will not be forgotten. They believe in a form of law in which they take care of their own and rarely need the assistance of a sheriff from the nearby city of Mattingly. One event springs to life a kind of evil that can't be explained but needs to be experienced as only one can through this novel.
Cordelia Vest takes it upon herself to meet her friends Scarlett Bickford and Naomi Ramsay up at the old mines where a locked gate normally keeps out all the locals. But tonight it is Scarlett's birthday and they wanted to meet for a private celebration instead of gathering with the local teens at Harper's Field instead, where all their parents believe they are supposed to be. The girls have other plans, including Scarlett's idea to get John David, Cordelia's brother to notice her. Cordelia brings along her mother's diamond bracelet to make Scarlett's a bit more attractive for John David to notice her. She isn't the most self confident and lacks self esteem based on her looks. The only thing Scarlett had going for her besides the fact her daddy is the mayor but she is also one of the wealthiest families living in the Hollow.
Somehow the lines get crossed when John David shows up clearly upset that any of them have trespassed on private property and wants them all to leave. But when Scarlett takes it as rejection and runs off into the woods, the others know they have to find her. What they didn't plan on coming across was Alvaretta Graves who is a recluse living alone in the Hollow. But she isn't really alone. Legend has it she is a witch and when she runs into the four teens, she brings about a curse that will impact the teens first, and then the whole town. Trust me, you're in for a long night with this novel.
I received The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. You will want to carve out some weekend time to thoroughly enjoy this one. It's dark, it suspenseful and Billy takes his sweet time getting to the good stuff, there is no need to rush here, which is why this novel works so well. So many writers take so much time with back story or character development that by the time you are nearing the end, it comes as such a rush. Billy builds slowly, just like what begins to happen slowly one at a time to the people who live in the Hollow. Is it an evil curse from hell or it is something a whole lot more sinister? You'll have to pick it up to find out and in my opinion, it is worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars. Mr. Coffey, you are like fine wine, your writing only gets better with each novel.
We all know places in the woods that seem to beckon us to stay clear, to stay away. Billy would call them holler's or as the title implies Hollows. They are the places where rumors and stories are birthed by a persons too active imagination and over time, they sprout roots and take on a life of their own. In this case, the reader is transported to a place known as simply Crow Hollow, by the locals who live there. They are quite a cast of characters that will not be forgotten. They believe in a form of law in which they take care of their own and rarely need the assistance of a sheriff from the nearby city of Mattingly. One event springs to life a kind of evil that can't be explained but needs to be experienced as only one can through this novel.
Cordelia Vest takes it upon herself to meet her friends Scarlett Bickford and Naomi Ramsay up at the old mines where a locked gate normally keeps out all the locals. But tonight it is Scarlett's birthday and they wanted to meet for a private celebration instead of gathering with the local teens at Harper's Field instead, where all their parents believe they are supposed to be. The girls have other plans, including Scarlett's idea to get John David, Cordelia's brother to notice her. Cordelia brings along her mother's diamond bracelet to make Scarlett's a bit more attractive for John David to notice her. She isn't the most self confident and lacks self esteem based on her looks. The only thing Scarlett had going for her besides the fact her daddy is the mayor but she is also one of the wealthiest families living in the Hollow.
Somehow the lines get crossed when John David shows up clearly upset that any of them have trespassed on private property and wants them all to leave. But when Scarlett takes it as rejection and runs off into the woods, the others know they have to find her. What they didn't plan on coming across was Alvaretta Graves who is a recluse living alone in the Hollow. But she isn't really alone. Legend has it she is a witch and when she runs into the four teens, she brings about a curse that will impact the teens first, and then the whole town. Trust me, you're in for a long night with this novel.
I received The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. You will want to carve out some weekend time to thoroughly enjoy this one. It's dark, it suspenseful and Billy takes his sweet time getting to the good stuff, there is no need to rush here, which is why this novel works so well. So many writers take so much time with back story or character development that by the time you are nearing the end, it comes as such a rush. Billy builds slowly, just like what begins to happen slowly one at a time to the people who live in the Hollow. Is it an evil curse from hell or it is something a whole lot more sinister? You'll have to pick it up to find out and in my opinion, it is worth every single one of the 5 out of 5 stars. Mr. Coffey, you are like fine wine, your writing only gets better with each novel.
August 7, 2015
If you want to read stories with a safe plot of good people vs. “bad things just happen,” then this isn’t the book for you. There are good people in this novel, and there are certainly bad “things,” but they don’t “just happen.” The Curse of Crow Hollow has you questioning: Is it fear? Is it illness? Is it a witch? Is it the devil? Or is it some combination of these? As we sit on the porch to hear the story of the Trouble in Crow Hollow, the story-teller says“…hear me well: there is light in this world and there is dark, and in that dark lies things no man can bear knowing.” If you think you can bear knowing, this book is definitely for you.
Billy Coffey tells a story with a cast of small town characters as they react to a curse placed on them. I can’t quit thinking about these residents of Crow Holler. I feel like I know them. Which character would I befriend? Which character would I not, only to realize it’s because we have some not-so-pleasant traits in common? Who have I judged negatively but am now reconsidering?
On release day of The Curse of Crow Hollow Billy Coffey wrote “My end (of the bargain) is to promise a story that will make you think, make you wonder, and—especially—make you feel.” Billy’s stories make you question what you believe about God, what you believe about the devil and what you know in the Bible. And the feelings just happen from there. I felt anger at injustice and a release from it, if and when justice prevailed. I felt sorrow at the loss of innocence and the loss of life. I felt joy at the selflessness of some. Billy kept his part of the deal.
I was anticipating the end of this novel because Billy Coffey knows how to write a completely satisfying, all-questions-answered, redemptive story. (Note I did not say anything about warm and fuzzy!) In the second to last chapter, there was a glorious plot twist, then the story was wrapped up. I was content and thought all was explained. Then the final chapter showed us a glimpse of how God won. Then Billy answered a question I forgot I’d had throughout the story. And it made me smile. A great big smile. And I want to read the story again with this new perspective.
Well done, Billy. Well done.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking who he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Billy Coffey tells a story with a cast of small town characters as they react to a curse placed on them. I can’t quit thinking about these residents of Crow Holler. I feel like I know them. Which character would I befriend? Which character would I not, only to realize it’s because we have some not-so-pleasant traits in common? Who have I judged negatively but am now reconsidering?
On release day of The Curse of Crow Hollow Billy Coffey wrote “My end (of the bargain) is to promise a story that will make you think, make you wonder, and—especially—make you feel.” Billy’s stories make you question what you believe about God, what you believe about the devil and what you know in the Bible. And the feelings just happen from there. I felt anger at injustice and a release from it, if and when justice prevailed. I felt sorrow at the loss of innocence and the loss of life. I felt joy at the selflessness of some. Billy kept his part of the deal.
I was anticipating the end of this novel because Billy Coffey knows how to write a completely satisfying, all-questions-answered, redemptive story. (Note I did not say anything about warm and fuzzy!) In the second to last chapter, there was a glorious plot twist, then the story was wrapped up. I was content and thought all was explained. Then the final chapter showed us a glimpse of how God won. Then Billy answered a question I forgot I’d had throughout the story. And it made me smile. A great big smile. And I want to read the story again with this new perspective.
Well done, Billy. Well done.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking who he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
September 22, 2015
I hesitated before reading this book because I normally shy away from anything scary. I'm a bit of a wuss, I suppose. But an author I follow and a friend both highly recommended not only this book, but all of Billy Coffey's books. I decided to read the book.
One reviewer said that the book was like Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' and they were right. I read her story in high school and was mesmerized by it. It was dark and brooding, full of superstition and old folklore. The Curse of Crow Hollow is much the same. The atmosphere is gloomy and dark as if the rest of the world has forgotten this town. They exist unto themselves, a town transfixed and scared of the witch who lives on the mountain. Nobody dares do anything that might disturb or anger the witch. Her hold on the town is a petrifyingly strong one and no one can imagine that Crow Hollow will ever be free again. Alvaretta Graves has cursed them all for all eternity!
But the events of one night of hoped for fun by 4 teenagers set in motion a series of events that will cause the town grave danger. A sickness descends on Crow Hollow and rumors are rampant as to the cause. Maybe Alvaretta's late husband has risen from the dead for revenge. The folks in Crow Hollow must confront the darkness and not only the darkness in the town, but their own dark hearts. And no one is immune to the curses that fall from Alvaretta Graves's mouth.
This book begins well and ends even better. I was completely transfixed and couldn't bear to leave the book for long at a time. Coffey's writing is simply mesmerizing to the reader and his style very true to his roots as a southerner. As a southerner myself, I can identify with some of his descriptions.
Many times I thought I knew what might happen but was proved wrong each time. Nothing is as it seems here in Crow Hollow. The ending is profound and powerful and extremely thought provoking.
This was my first Billy Coffey book, but it certainly will not be my last. I have his others lined up to read. I'm looking forward to them very much.
One reviewer said that the book was like Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' and they were right. I read her story in high school and was mesmerized by it. It was dark and brooding, full of superstition and old folklore. The Curse of Crow Hollow is much the same. The atmosphere is gloomy and dark as if the rest of the world has forgotten this town. They exist unto themselves, a town transfixed and scared of the witch who lives on the mountain. Nobody dares do anything that might disturb or anger the witch. Her hold on the town is a petrifyingly strong one and no one can imagine that Crow Hollow will ever be free again. Alvaretta Graves has cursed them all for all eternity!
But the events of one night of hoped for fun by 4 teenagers set in motion a series of events that will cause the town grave danger. A sickness descends on Crow Hollow and rumors are rampant as to the cause. Maybe Alvaretta's late husband has risen from the dead for revenge. The folks in Crow Hollow must confront the darkness and not only the darkness in the town, but their own dark hearts. And no one is immune to the curses that fall from Alvaretta Graves's mouth.
This book begins well and ends even better. I was completely transfixed and couldn't bear to leave the book for long at a time. Coffey's writing is simply mesmerizing to the reader and his style very true to his roots as a southerner. As a southerner myself, I can identify with some of his descriptions.
Many times I thought I knew what might happen but was proved wrong each time. Nothing is as it seems here in Crow Hollow. The ending is profound and powerful and extremely thought provoking.
This was my first Billy Coffey book, but it certainly will not be my last. I have his others lined up to read. I'm looking forward to them very much.
May 4, 2015
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing an ARC of this book. The Curse of Crow Hollow has potential, but it is going to need a great editor to make the tale more readable. The setting, building suspense, and overall theme of the book are most surely on the "plus" side of the ratings scale. Plenty of character and place details are provided to give the reader a sense of what is going on. The biggest drawback, however, is that there are a great many minor characters and each of their respective histories to track. This served as a distraction and had me turning back the pages so that I could figure out that character's role or significance. The story is told from the point of view of an omniscient narrator, and this works well because I would hate to be switching between all of the perspectives of the various characters. Overall, the story was an enjoyable ride, just perhaps a bit too wordy and convoluted.
July 2, 2015
3 or 3.5 stars? A good read but one that seemed to take me some time to finish. A group of teenagers go to a set of caves in the mountains where legend has it a witch lives. They invoke her wrath and curse. The town falls apart to mob mentality. Is the witch to blame for the curse and devastation of the town or is it the monster that lives within all of us? Not a bad read but it did take too long to finish, dragged in the middle - repetitive details - before it came to the end. Did like the narrator aspect of the story - gave it this Stephen King feel and I totally pictured this as a success as an audiobook with the narrator that has done the majority of his books in audio.
May 26, 2017
Great complex story. The audio version is fantastic.
May 23, 2017
4.5/5 Wonderful book! Billy Coffey spins a story using a very southern back woods yet witty literary voice and had me from scene 1. I loved his setting, omniscient POV, and realistic characters. The ending was fantastic and the last line spooked me...I listened to the audio production.
All around excellent.
All around excellent.
July 3, 2021
This is not a book I would normally pick up but it was part of Audio Sync summer pairings from five or six years ago, so I started listening to it on the way to work. It’s a creepy story, and reminded me a little bit of The crucible, with the hysteria and the witch that inspired it al. But there were shades of racism, an old boys network and small town happenings, that made it intriguing. Plus it was narrated by a southern actor, and that made it even more engaging.
November 12, 2018
The audiobook narrator was awesome!
February 23, 2019
Interesting tale of mass hysteria and its effects on a small town.
Also, must add the weird fact that this is book 666 I have marked as read in goodreads 😱
Also, must add the weird fact that this is book 666 I have marked as read in goodreads 😱
June 20, 2016
The Curse of Crow Hollow was such an interesting concept. In the end, though, it just ended up being a disappointment that I wish I'd DNF'd halfway through. Although there are creepy parts to this story, a lot of it ended up being fairly predictable.
Crow Hollow is the kind of town where everyone knows everyone else. They all go to church, twice Sunday and usually every Wednesday too. Gossip is the best form of entertainment. Maybe the safest. Because everything starts to fall apart in Crow Hollow when four teens decide to spend a night camping by the abandoned mines. A witch lives out in those parts--one who curses them when they're led to her land by a trail of strange, almost horseshoe like prints.
The book starts out like it's going to be a spooky paranormal read. There are the tales about something terrible living in or around the mines, the witch, the curse. I was really excited to read more when the curse first struck at church the morning after the teens' sleepover. But everything afterward was a little bit of a letdown. The book tries to do something cool, making everything believably a curse while simultaneously making you think that the town is just crazy and essentially under some mass delusion that is really why the curse is escalating. But once you need to think that everything that happens will also be within the general realm of possibility, it all gets to be so predictable. And the hints that the narrator drops throughout the book--like that death is coming or that certain characters "won't live to see the next day"--doesn't end up building suspense. It just made me wonder why they would mention such a thing hundreds of pages before it would eventually happen.
The conclusion to the book wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped it would be, either. There was a little intrigue as the narrator to the book is finally revealed, because the book is set up like someone is telling an outsider to the town all that has happened there. Everything else was just . . . not satisfying enough because it was something you could see coming before the book was halfway over.
I really wanted to like this book. It seemed like it was going to have a lot of creepy, mysterious, and possibly horror-movie quality elements to it. I don't think I'll be recommending this one.
Crow Hollow is the kind of town where everyone knows everyone else. They all go to church, twice Sunday and usually every Wednesday too. Gossip is the best form of entertainment. Maybe the safest. Because everything starts to fall apart in Crow Hollow when four teens decide to spend a night camping by the abandoned mines. A witch lives out in those parts--one who curses them when they're led to her land by a trail of strange, almost horseshoe like prints.
The book starts out like it's going to be a spooky paranormal read. There are the tales about something terrible living in or around the mines, the witch, the curse. I was really excited to read more when the curse first struck at church the morning after the teens' sleepover. But everything afterward was a little bit of a letdown. The book tries to do something cool, making everything believably a curse while simultaneously making you think that the town is just crazy and essentially under some mass delusion that is really why the curse is escalating. But once you need to think that everything that happens will also be within the general realm of possibility, it all gets to be so predictable. And the hints that the narrator drops throughout the book--like that death is coming or that certain characters "won't live to see the next day"--doesn't end up building suspense. It just made me wonder why they would mention such a thing hundreds of pages before it would eventually happen.
The conclusion to the book wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped it would be, either. There was a little intrigue as the narrator to the book is finally revealed, because the book is set up like someone is telling an outsider to the town all that has happened there. Everything else was just . . . not satisfying enough because it was something you could see coming before the book was halfway over.
I really wanted to like this book. It seemed like it was going to have a lot of creepy, mysterious, and possibly horror-movie quality elements to it. I don't think I'll be recommending this one.
August 8, 2015
Billy Coffey in his new book “The Curse of Crow Hollow” Book Four in the Mattingly series published by Thomas Nelson takes us back to the town of Mattingly.
From the back cover: Everyone in Crow Hollow knows of Alvaretta Graves, the old widow who lives in the mountain. Many call her a witch; others whisper she’s insane. Everyone agrees the vengeance Alvaretta swore at her husband’s death hovers over them all. That vengeance awakens when teenagers stumble upon Alvaretta’s cabin, incurring her curse. Now a sickness moves through the Hollow. Rumors swirl that Stu Graves has risen for revenge. And the people of Crow Hollow are left to confront not only the darkness that lives on the mountain, but the darkness that lives within themselves.
Crow Hollow is just up the road a ways from Mattingly. When the story begins the town is trying to recuperate from that nights devastation. And then our narrator begins to slowly explain the events that led up to the encounter with Alvaretta Graves. Four teens were trying to have a party, One was emotionally hurt and ran away. When her friends tried to find her they ran into the witch’s cabin and she cursed them. The question is was the curse real and is it the cause of the devastation? And that is the reason for reading this book. All I can tell you is that this is a gripping story that will keep you flipping pages late into the night until you finish it. Mr. Coffey does a superb job of making each character come alive so that we feel what they feel. This is a book that will make you think and I look forward to a return to Mattingly.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: Everyone in Crow Hollow knows of Alvaretta Graves, the old widow who lives in the mountain. Many call her a witch; others whisper she’s insane. Everyone agrees the vengeance Alvaretta swore at her husband’s death hovers over them all. That vengeance awakens when teenagers stumble upon Alvaretta’s cabin, incurring her curse. Now a sickness moves through the Hollow. Rumors swirl that Stu Graves has risen for revenge. And the people of Crow Hollow are left to confront not only the darkness that lives on the mountain, but the darkness that lives within themselves.
Crow Hollow is just up the road a ways from Mattingly. When the story begins the town is trying to recuperate from that nights devastation. And then our narrator begins to slowly explain the events that led up to the encounter with Alvaretta Graves. Four teens were trying to have a party, One was emotionally hurt and ran away. When her friends tried to find her they ran into the witch’s cabin and she cursed them. The question is was the curse real and is it the cause of the devastation? And that is the reason for reading this book. All I can tell you is that this is a gripping story that will keep you flipping pages late into the night until you finish it. Mr. Coffey does a superb job of making each character come alive so that we feel what they feel. This is a book that will make you think and I look forward to a return to Mattingly.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 14, 2015
I discovered Billy Coffey almost by accident, and I am so glad I did! He is an extraordinarily gifted storyteller and I have yet to read a book of his that I don't like.
However, this novel is quite a bit different than his others. It's exceptionally dark, involving the most heinous human sins including rape, abuse, and murder. (Don't misunderstand -- these awful things are not in there for shock value. They deliberately contribute to the outcome of the plot, which I won't give away here.) I wouldn't recommend reading it alone in the dark before bedtime.
The story is recounted by a local resident to someone from "Away," just passing through. It is the story of a small town, steeped in hard luck, hard work and superstition, whose residents don't seem to really know or trust each other. A group of teenagers, doing normal stupid things that bored teenagers do, arouse the wrath of a witch living on the mountain. What follows is the unraveling of a community fed by fear and suspicion.
What the author is really doing throughout the novel is exploring and examining humanity -- in particular the bad and the ugly. The more the reader progresses, the more apparent it becomes.
Stick with it... you won't find out the truth until the last few pages!
However, this novel is quite a bit different than his others. It's exceptionally dark, involving the most heinous human sins including rape, abuse, and murder. (Don't misunderstand -- these awful things are not in there for shock value. They deliberately contribute to the outcome of the plot, which I won't give away here.) I wouldn't recommend reading it alone in the dark before bedtime.
The story is recounted by a local resident to someone from "Away," just passing through. It is the story of a small town, steeped in hard luck, hard work and superstition, whose residents don't seem to really know or trust each other. A group of teenagers, doing normal stupid things that bored teenagers do, arouse the wrath of a witch living on the mountain. What follows is the unraveling of a community fed by fear and suspicion.
What the author is really doing throughout the novel is exploring and examining humanity -- in particular the bad and the ugly. The more the reader progresses, the more apparent it becomes.
Stick with it... you won't find out the truth until the last few pages!
September 12, 2015
4.5**** First book I have read by this author; ARC. The unique narration, the power of fear or faith (what is your default??), small town life, characters you both despise and root for...it is all in here. What happened in Crow Hollow? Is there really a curse upon Crow Hollow? What role did various characters play in the unfolding of this story? How do communities deal with the unknown? Do we create our realities?? How does anyone know truth? Is anyone entirely good or bad?? The best thing about this book is the subtle detail throughout the storytelling. Mr. Coffey has clear vision and is adept at sharing it. Highly recommend.
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