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Stay Buried: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26
From the New York Times bestselling author of Children on the Hill comes a queer folk horror in which a woman must confront decades of secrecy and superstition to learn the truth about her mother’s death.
Some towns stay isolated for a reason.
1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts.
2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.
Some towns stay isolated for a reason.
1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts.
2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 11, 2026
5 people are currently reading
3242 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer McMahon
20 books11.6k followers I'm the author of nine suspense novels, including Promise Not to Telll, The Winter People, and my newest, The Drowning Kind. I live in central Vermont with my partner and daughter, in an old Victorian that some neighbors call The Addams Family house.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 17, 2025
I’ve read every single one of Jennifer McMahon’s books, and even though most of them have terrified me to my core, I always end up loving the experience. Her work consistently earns five stars from me, and her latest novel, Stay Buried, immediately secured its spot as one of my favorite reads of 2026. This story exceeded my expectations at every turn. I found myself waltzing between the two timelines—equally captivated by each—and once again fell for McMahon’s peculiar, unforgettable characters who embrace their differences, face tragedy on their own terms, and chase the truth even when doing so might seal their own doom.
The dual timelines are executed flawlessly. The pacing is sharp, each chapter ends with a delicious cliffhanger, and every time the narrative jumped between eras, I was torn—I wanted to keep going in the chapter I was in, yet I was desperate to return to the other timeline. This is McMahon at her very best: delivering twists that slap you in the face, and saving her biggest, wildest reveals for the final pages. Her endings always feel like she’s gleefully pulling the rug out from under you—honestly, I imagine her cackling like Villanelle after typing her last sentence.
The first timeline, set in 1919, follows Frankie O’Massey, assistant to her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, in the eerie little town of Boone’s Ferry. Frankie is intelligent, ambitious, and dreams of becoming a doctor—unfortunately, she was born in the wrong time and the wrong place. Orphaned, queer, wearing men’s clothes, drinking brandy, smoking a pipe, secretly involved with Pearl—the daughter of one of the wealthiest families—Frankie is the ultimate outsider. When a mysterious disease begins killing the town’s horses and later infects the reclusive knackerman, Frankie joins her uncle in trying to treat the sick. But when the knackerman disappears after being declared dead and returns with terrifying, zombie-like aggression—attacking residents, including Pearl’s mother—the town spirals into chaos. Some believe it’s a contagious disease, others insist it’s something far darker: an evil spirit possessing the townspeople one by one.
The second timeline, set in 2016, follows Ashley, who inherits her grandmother’s house in Boone’s Ferry—a place she was forbidden to enter her entire life. Determined to uncover long-buried family secrets and desperate to understand the hallucinations in which she sees her mother’s corpse warning her to “listen,” Ashley ventures back with her brother Mal. Mal, convinced he’s seen this house in visions, believes turning it into a bed-and-breakfast will solve his financial woes. But when they arrive, they encounter chilling town “traditions” like offerings left for the vengeful spirit of the knackerman, fiery-eyed locals with secrets of their own, Mini—the young girl whose family is targeted by the spirit—and Sad Willy, the most recent victim whose life has been shattered. Ashley and Mal quickly realize they’re in far deeper danger than they imagined—and something ancient and hungry is waiting for them.
Overall: Both timelines are tense, atmospheric, and perfectly paced, filled with escalating dread, rhythmic revelations, and twists that hit hard. The eerie final act ties everything together in that signature McMahon way—shocking, haunting, and unforgettable. A five-star, “everyone is the Knackerman” horror masterpiece that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
A very big thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this unputdownable horror mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The dual timelines are executed flawlessly. The pacing is sharp, each chapter ends with a delicious cliffhanger, and every time the narrative jumped between eras, I was torn—I wanted to keep going in the chapter I was in, yet I was desperate to return to the other timeline. This is McMahon at her very best: delivering twists that slap you in the face, and saving her biggest, wildest reveals for the final pages. Her endings always feel like she’s gleefully pulling the rug out from under you—honestly, I imagine her cackling like Villanelle after typing her last sentence.
The first timeline, set in 1919, follows Frankie O’Massey, assistant to her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, in the eerie little town of Boone’s Ferry. Frankie is intelligent, ambitious, and dreams of becoming a doctor—unfortunately, she was born in the wrong time and the wrong place. Orphaned, queer, wearing men’s clothes, drinking brandy, smoking a pipe, secretly involved with Pearl—the daughter of one of the wealthiest families—Frankie is the ultimate outsider. When a mysterious disease begins killing the town’s horses and later infects the reclusive knackerman, Frankie joins her uncle in trying to treat the sick. But when the knackerman disappears after being declared dead and returns with terrifying, zombie-like aggression—attacking residents, including Pearl’s mother—the town spirals into chaos. Some believe it’s a contagious disease, others insist it’s something far darker: an evil spirit possessing the townspeople one by one.
The second timeline, set in 2016, follows Ashley, who inherits her grandmother’s house in Boone’s Ferry—a place she was forbidden to enter her entire life. Determined to uncover long-buried family secrets and desperate to understand the hallucinations in which she sees her mother’s corpse warning her to “listen,” Ashley ventures back with her brother Mal. Mal, convinced he’s seen this house in visions, believes turning it into a bed-and-breakfast will solve his financial woes. But when they arrive, they encounter chilling town “traditions” like offerings left for the vengeful spirit of the knackerman, fiery-eyed locals with secrets of their own, Mini—the young girl whose family is targeted by the spirit—and Sad Willy, the most recent victim whose life has been shattered. Ashley and Mal quickly realize they’re in far deeper danger than they imagined—and something ancient and hungry is waiting for them.
Overall: Both timelines are tense, atmospheric, and perfectly paced, filled with escalating dread, rhythmic revelations, and twists that hit hard. The eerie final act ties everything together in that signature McMahon way—shocking, haunting, and unforgettable. A five-star, “everyone is the Knackerman” horror masterpiece that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
A very big thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this unputdownable horror mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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November 27, 2025
ARC for review. To be published August 11, 2026.
4 stars
Sister and brother Ashley and Malcolm have just lost their grandmother, with whom they lived. They also learned that she owned property in the small town of Boone Ferry, where her family was from but that she refused to visit or discuss. This was also the same place their mother was last seen before she disappeared two years ago. Now Ashley and Malcolm decide to visit the town to check out their property and to look for clues about their mom’s disappearance, but the townspeople aren’t very happy to see them.
Back in 1919 Frankie O’Massey is an orphan, a woman who prefers to dress as a man. She’s been taken in by her aunt and uncle, the town doctor, who relies on Frankie to work as his assistant. A horrible illness has come to town, first striking the horses, then the people. The anyone survive or escape?
I was unsure about this but it was enjoyable and well done, especially the scenes set in 1919. Very dark, but I was impressed with this folk horror.
4 stars
Sister and brother Ashley and Malcolm have just lost their grandmother, with whom they lived. They also learned that she owned property in the small town of Boone Ferry, where her family was from but that she refused to visit or discuss. This was also the same place their mother was last seen before she disappeared two years ago. Now Ashley and Malcolm decide to visit the town to check out their property and to look for clues about their mom’s disappearance, but the townspeople aren’t very happy to see them.
Back in 1919 Frankie O’Massey is an orphan, a woman who prefers to dress as a man. She’s been taken in by her aunt and uncle, the town doctor, who relies on Frankie to work as his assistant. A horrible illness has come to town, first striking the horses, then the people. The anyone survive or escape?
I was unsure about this but it was enjoyable and well done, especially the scenes set in 1919. Very dark, but I was impressed with this folk horror.
Want to read
November 10, 2025oooooooooooooooooooh!!! HUGE fan of this author!!
I can't wait to read this one!! AUGUST 2026 LET'S GO!!!
I can't wait to read this one!! AUGUST 2026 LET'S GO!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great characters and story. The timelines really worked well here.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jennifer McMahon delivers a chilling, atmospheric triumph with “Stay Buried,” a dual-timeline folk horror novel that explores how fear, superstition, and collective belief can rot a community from the inside out. Equal parts historical horror, modern mystery, and slow-burning dread, this book proves once again why McMahon is a master of unsettling small-town stories.
The story unfolds across two timelines. In 1919, Boone’s Ferry is still reeling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu when a new horror emerges: a mysterious illness begins killing horses, then spreads to humans. Victims grow aggressive, violent, and contagious and bitten flesh passes the sickness along in ways that feel disturbingly zombie-like. At the center of this chaos is Frankie O’Massey, an orphan and outsider who assists her uncle, the town doctor. Frankie is sharp, ambitious, queer, and unapologetically different in a town that fears anything it doesn’t understand. As panic escalates, science clashes with superstition, and the town’s knackerman, who is a quiet man tasked with disposing of dead animals, becomes the first human victim of the disease, transforming from an ordinary man into something terrifying. His return ignites hysteria, and Boone’s Ferry begins rewriting history through fear.
In 2016, siblings Ashley and Malcolm return to Boone’s Ferry after inheriting their grandmother’s long-forbidden house, which is a place tied to their family’s past and their mother’s unexplained disappearance. Ashley is haunted by visions of her dead mother, who urges her to “listen,” while the town itself feels hostile and watchful. The locals maintain strange traditions: offerings and sacrifices left for the Knackerman, a mythical figure believed to punish those who displease him. While these rituals actually working is never proven, but belief, McMahon makes clear, is often more powerful than truth.
As the timelines unfold in tandem, the story reveals how folklore is born; not from magic, but from desperation. What began as a disease becomes a legend. What started as fear becomes doctrine. And generation after generation clings to superstition, even when it costs them everything. Additional perspectives from townspeople, including a young girl named Mini, show how deeply these beliefs are ingrained and how dangerous collective groupthink can become.
McMahon’s pacing is relentless. Each chapter ends with a hook, making it impossible to choose which timeline you want to stay in; both are equally tense and engrossing. The horror isn’t just in the violence or the infection, but in watching reason collapse and history repeat itself. Frankie’s story is especially powerful, grounding the story in grief, resilience, and quiet rebellion, while Ashley’s present-day arc builds toward mounting paranoia and pursuit.
The ending is classic McMahon: unsettling, open, and dripping with unease. Not everything is neatly resolved, and that’s precisely the point. The fear lingers. The legend survives. And Boone’s Ferry remains a place where belief can be just as deadly as any disease.
Overall, “Stay Buried” is a masterclass in folk horror and atmospheric storytelling. A must-read for fans of dual timelines, cursed towns, and stories where the scariest monsters are the ones people choose to believe in.
Jennifer McMahon delivers a chilling, atmospheric triumph with “Stay Buried,” a dual-timeline folk horror novel that explores how fear, superstition, and collective belief can rot a community from the inside out. Equal parts historical horror, modern mystery, and slow-burning dread, this book proves once again why McMahon is a master of unsettling small-town stories.
The story unfolds across two timelines. In 1919, Boone’s Ferry is still reeling from the devastation of the Spanish Flu when a new horror emerges: a mysterious illness begins killing horses, then spreads to humans. Victims grow aggressive, violent, and contagious and bitten flesh passes the sickness along in ways that feel disturbingly zombie-like. At the center of this chaos is Frankie O’Massey, an orphan and outsider who assists her uncle, the town doctor. Frankie is sharp, ambitious, queer, and unapologetically different in a town that fears anything it doesn’t understand. As panic escalates, science clashes with superstition, and the town’s knackerman, who is a quiet man tasked with disposing of dead animals, becomes the first human victim of the disease, transforming from an ordinary man into something terrifying. His return ignites hysteria, and Boone’s Ferry begins rewriting history through fear.
In 2016, siblings Ashley and Malcolm return to Boone’s Ferry after inheriting their grandmother’s long-forbidden house, which is a place tied to their family’s past and their mother’s unexplained disappearance. Ashley is haunted by visions of her dead mother, who urges her to “listen,” while the town itself feels hostile and watchful. The locals maintain strange traditions: offerings and sacrifices left for the Knackerman, a mythical figure believed to punish those who displease him. While these rituals actually working is never proven, but belief, McMahon makes clear, is often more powerful than truth.
As the timelines unfold in tandem, the story reveals how folklore is born; not from magic, but from desperation. What began as a disease becomes a legend. What started as fear becomes doctrine. And generation after generation clings to superstition, even when it costs them everything. Additional perspectives from townspeople, including a young girl named Mini, show how deeply these beliefs are ingrained and how dangerous collective groupthink can become.
McMahon’s pacing is relentless. Each chapter ends with a hook, making it impossible to choose which timeline you want to stay in; both are equally tense and engrossing. The horror isn’t just in the violence or the infection, but in watching reason collapse and history repeat itself. Frankie’s story is especially powerful, grounding the story in grief, resilience, and quiet rebellion, while Ashley’s present-day arc builds toward mounting paranoia and pursuit.
The ending is classic McMahon: unsettling, open, and dripping with unease. Not everything is neatly resolved, and that’s precisely the point. The fear lingers. The legend survives. And Boone’s Ferry remains a place where belief can be just as deadly as any disease.
Overall, “Stay Buried” is a masterclass in folk horror and atmospheric storytelling. A must-read for fans of dual timelines, cursed towns, and stories where the scariest monsters are the ones people choose to believe in.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jennifer McMahon remains one of my favorite authors and now I've discovered my absolute favorite of her novels. Stay Buried is a dual timeline, folk horror novel with parts of the story taking place in 1919 and other parts in 2016.
In 1919, Frankie O'Massey is living in isolated Boone's Ferry with her Uncle Dr. Thomas and her Aunt Margaret Endicott. Frankie bucks the societal expectations of her gender by wearing pants, smoking a pipe, and acting as an assistant to her Uncle, in preparation for her goal of becoming a doctor. Frankie and Thomas are still recovering from the tragedy of the 1918 Spanish Flu that devastated their town. Just as things are getting back to normal, the town's horses exhibit symptoms of a new, fatal virus which causes it's victims to become aggressive. The virus quickly infects local townspeople, including the town's knackerman, a mysterious man who transports dead animals away from the town.
In 2016, sister and brother Ash and Malcolm endure the loss of their Grandma Charlotte, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Endicott, just two years after the disappearance of their mother. Ash yearns to go to Boone's Ferry, which is where she believes her mother was before disappearing. Grandma Charlotte forbids it, but after she dies, Ash and Malcolm discover they've inherited a home in Boone's Ferry. This seals their decision to make the trip.
Meanwhile, in Boone's Ferry in 2016, young Mini makes a mistake that makes her and her family the next target of the "Knackerman", the town's bogeyman.
This novel was artfully done, and each chapter, whether it be Frankie's, Ash & Malcolm's, or Mini's story, had me enthralled. This is the type of impossible to put down novel that the reader devours quickly and eagerly, while simultaneously not wanting it to end. It's nerve wracking and intriguing, and drew me into the world of Boone's Ferry. The characters, Frankie in particular, are so well developed and have so much depth that they feel real.
Throughout the entire book I wondered how things would resolve (or not) as it drew to an end and I was not disappointed. This is a must read!
In 1919, Frankie O'Massey is living in isolated Boone's Ferry with her Uncle Dr. Thomas and her Aunt Margaret Endicott. Frankie bucks the societal expectations of her gender by wearing pants, smoking a pipe, and acting as an assistant to her Uncle, in preparation for her goal of becoming a doctor. Frankie and Thomas are still recovering from the tragedy of the 1918 Spanish Flu that devastated their town. Just as things are getting back to normal, the town's horses exhibit symptoms of a new, fatal virus which causes it's victims to become aggressive. The virus quickly infects local townspeople, including the town's knackerman, a mysterious man who transports dead animals away from the town.
In 2016, sister and brother Ash and Malcolm endure the loss of their Grandma Charlotte, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Endicott, just two years after the disappearance of their mother. Ash yearns to go to Boone's Ferry, which is where she believes her mother was before disappearing. Grandma Charlotte forbids it, but after she dies, Ash and Malcolm discover they've inherited a home in Boone's Ferry. This seals their decision to make the trip.
Meanwhile, in Boone's Ferry in 2016, young Mini makes a mistake that makes her and her family the next target of the "Knackerman", the town's bogeyman.
This novel was artfully done, and each chapter, whether it be Frankie's, Ash & Malcolm's, or Mini's story, had me enthralled. This is the type of impossible to put down novel that the reader devours quickly and eagerly, while simultaneously not wanting it to end. It's nerve wracking and intriguing, and drew me into the world of Boone's Ferry. The characters, Frankie in particular, are so well developed and have so much depth that they feel real.
Throughout the entire book I wondered how things would resolve (or not) as it drew to an end and I was not disappointed. This is a must read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A good horror story consists of scenes that you never thought could happen, and Stay Buried did that.
Two timelines that are told from chapter to chapter.
1919 Frankie, a woman of science in a community that relies on traditional superstition. A community who has no qualms with a young lady in men's clothes, learning to be a doctor.
2016 Two siblings Ashley and Malcolm, searching for the truth in their families past.
Things can only go horribly wrong, for these two parties.
As past and present mingle together, you can either run from fear or take it in.
This was such a cool book, especially the folklore. Traditions is heavily implied throughout the story, and how it's been modified to fit modern society.
I am such a big fan of horror in any shape or form and this scratched an itch for me.
I had a fantastic time with Frankie in 1919, seeing things in her perspective not just as a woman in a man's field, but also as a closeted lesbian during a time where it's okay to leave offerings for spirits, but being labeled a devil for kissing another woman. Wild time to be had, and to remember that places like this were real.
All in all this was a good read. I am looking forward to reading others' reactions to this when it comes out August 11th 2026.
A big thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Two timelines that are told from chapter to chapter.
1919 Frankie, a woman of science in a community that relies on traditional superstition. A community who has no qualms with a young lady in men's clothes, learning to be a doctor.
2016 Two siblings Ashley and Malcolm, searching for the truth in their families past.
Things can only go horribly wrong, for these two parties.
As past and present mingle together, you can either run from fear or take it in.
This was such a cool book, especially the folklore. Traditions is heavily implied throughout the story, and how it's been modified to fit modern society.
I am such a big fan of horror in any shape or form and this scratched an itch for me.
I had a fantastic time with Frankie in 1919, seeing things in her perspective not just as a woman in a man's field, but also as a closeted lesbian during a time where it's okay to leave offerings for spirits, but being labeled a devil for kissing another woman. Wild time to be had, and to remember that places like this were real.
All in all this was a good read. I am looking forward to reading others' reactions to this when it comes out August 11th 2026.
A big thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was truly so fun. When I say fun I don't mean cute silly goofy I mean creepy, dark, and mysterious! Stay Buried follows two interlocked storylines, one in 2016 and one in 1919, that center the same town, Boone's Ferry. We begin with our plot in 1919, our cast of characters are experiencing a new and strange malady plaguing the town, when then jump forward to 2016, where our modern counterparts are dealing with the aftershocks of that happening in Boone's Ferry in 1919. It's very ominous throughout, and so exciting when the two storylines start connecting!
This story had it all, creepy folklore, gore, mystery, queer romance, the list goes on! I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect and Jennifer McMahon's writing style. I was left guessing pretty much up until the end, and the actual ending was CRAZY. I don't want to include too much about the story in this review because I think it's best to go in blind, but definitely check this title out if you like suspense, mystery, folksy curses and magic!
I give it 4/5 stars, thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
This story had it all, creepy folklore, gore, mystery, queer romance, the list goes on! I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect and Jennifer McMahon's writing style. I was left guessing pretty much up until the end, and the actual ending was CRAZY. I don't want to include too much about the story in this review because I think it's best to go in blind, but definitely check this title out if you like suspense, mystery, folksy curses and magic!
I give it 4/5 stars, thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating - 4 Stars
Thank you NetGalley & Gallery Books for the ARC!
Stay Buried hooked me from the beginning and took me on a wild ride!
I loved the eerie vibes from this small-town, supernatural horror! The various twists and turns kept me going throughout the book. McMahon did an excellent job of keeping me engaged. I wanted to know more about the knackerman and the supernatural curse with each page I read.
The final twist in the novel was satisfying as well! I found it to be plausible and it didn't take itself too too seriously.
My biggest qualm was that I wanted a tiny bit more explanation for some loose plot threads. I wanted to know more about the sickness that plagued Boone's Ferry. I wanted to know more about the Knackerman and his background. But these were very minor nitpicks!
I recommend this book to anyone looking for an eerie, sleepy hollow vibe or anyone who enjoys dual timeline stories!
Thank you NetGalley & Gallery Books for the ARC!
Stay Buried hooked me from the beginning and took me on a wild ride!
I loved the eerie vibes from this small-town, supernatural horror! The various twists and turns kept me going throughout the book. McMahon did an excellent job of keeping me engaged. I wanted to know more about the knackerman and the supernatural curse with each page I read.
The final twist in the novel was satisfying as well! I found it to be plausible and it didn't take itself too too seriously.
My biggest qualm was that I wanted a tiny bit more explanation for some loose plot threads. I wanted to know more about the sickness that plagued Boone's Ferry. I wanted to know more about the Knackerman and his background. But these were very minor nitpicks!
I recommend this book to anyone looking for an eerie, sleepy hollow vibe or anyone who enjoys dual timeline stories!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25 stars! Stay Buried is my first Jennifer McMahon read. While my rating is not too high, it was definitely due to personal preference. I am very excited to continue to read this author.
When going into this novel, I was a bit skeptical about the plotline and whether I would enjoy it. This is the only area that fell a bit short for me. A lot of people are going to love this book, I already know! For me, I just couldn't keep my interest in it. It felt hard to pick up since I was not invested in the story.
The writing? Amazing. I know I am going to love other books by this author. Jennifer McMahon has a great way of storytelling. The writing style is perfect for a more in-depth thriller/horror book.
Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, & Jennifer McMahon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Stay Buried is released on August 11, 2026!
When going into this novel, I was a bit skeptical about the plotline and whether I would enjoy it. This is the only area that fell a bit short for me. A lot of people are going to love this book, I already know! For me, I just couldn't keep my interest in it. It felt hard to pick up since I was not invested in the story.
The writing? Amazing. I know I am going to love other books by this author. Jennifer McMahon has a great way of storytelling. The writing style is perfect for a more in-depth thriller/horror book.
Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, & Jennifer McMahon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Stay Buried is released on August 11, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I usually am not a big fan of stories that jump through timelines. Keeping track of all the characters, staying invested in all the plot lines is often too much work and it snaps out of the trance that I'm in when I'm reading. But Jennifer has managed to weave the characters and plot lines to transcend generations in a way that's not too complicated to follow. This definitely had a thread of mystery woven throughout and you're constantly trying to figure out what truly happened. It almost feels like you're reading a story from front to back and from back to front at the same time. I finished this in one sitting so if that doesn't say I loved it and I don't know what does!
And, once again you realise that humans will always carry the potential to be more horrifying than any paranormal entity you can dream up.
And, once again you realise that humans will always carry the potential to be more horrifying than any paranormal entity you can dream up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Stay Buried switches between two time periods: 1919 and 2016. In 1919 timeline,Frankie and her Uncle try to combat a mysterious and deadly virus that has strange symptoms. In the 2016 timeline, two adult siblings visit the small town where they’ve unexpectedly inherited a house from their Gram.
I was invested equally in both timelines, and anxious to find out what would happen. There were several twists along the way. I loved the ending!
A great mix of mystery, horror, and historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for a review.
I was invested equally in both timelines, and anxious to find out what would happen. There were several twists along the way. I loved the ending!
A great mix of mystery, horror, and historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One of Jennifer McMahon's more straightforward horror novels rather than a psychological horror, though there is a bit of that. It's more of a sort of pandemic zombie novel spanning two time periods in 1919 and 2016. It was fascinating to learn that she had started writing this before COVID and had to take a break for a while because of living through an actual pandemic. As is often the case when there are multiple timelines in a book, I did gravitate towards the 1919 narrative more than the 2016 one. I still really liked the book overall though.
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December 29, 2025Thank you to Gallery Books for an ARC of Stay Buried via NetGalley!
This book hooked me from the first page and, although I am usually hesitant about historical fiction, the 1919 timeline ended up being my favorite. I LOVED Frankie and was so invested in her story. My only complaint is that I still had a lot of unanswered questions at the end about both the past and the present timelines. This was the first book I've ready by Jennifer McMahon, but it won't be my last. Overall a great, eerie read!
4 stars
This book hooked me from the first page and, although I am usually hesitant about historical fiction, the 1919 timeline ended up being my favorite. I LOVED Frankie and was so invested in her story. My only complaint is that I still had a lot of unanswered questions at the end about both the past and the present timelines. This was the first book I've ready by Jennifer McMahon, but it won't be my last. Overall a great, eerie read!
4 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Stay Buried
by Jennifer McMahon
A strong horror story delivers moments you never imagined possible, and Stay Buried achieved exactly that. I really enjoyed the unsettling atmosphere of this small-town supernatural horror. The many twists and turns kept me hooked from beginning to end, and McMahon did a fantastic job maintaining that momentum. With every page, I found myself wanting to learn more about the knackerman and the eerie supernatural curse.
by Jennifer McMahon
A strong horror story delivers moments you never imagined possible, and Stay Buried achieved exactly that. I really enjoyed the unsettling atmosphere of this small-town supernatural horror. The many twists and turns kept me hooked from beginning to end, and McMahon did a fantastic job maintaining that momentum. With every page, I found myself wanting to learn more about the knackerman and the eerie supernatural curse.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very slow book. It took forever to even hint at what was going on. It was basically the same thing over and over. "so and so is acting erratically" , they get sick...blame it on The Knackerman, on to the next one. I usually love books about small eccentric towns full of strange neighbors, but this book just fell flat. It took me forever to read. I didn't connect with Frankie like I hoped either. she was just a boring character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
Stay Buried was a very interesting duel-timeline novel from Jennifer McMahon. I liked both the story with Ashley and Malcom in the present, as well as Frankie's timeline in Boone's Ferry. Folk horror, a mysterious illness, family secrets and the past/present collide in this suspenseful novel. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
December 23, 2025
The build up in this book hooked me right away, however I think the ending needs to be better explained. I still have questions? Loved Frankie and Pearl’s relationship so much, last chapter of this was quietly devastating.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my opinion.
Not my favorite of McMahon’s, but still a spooky and worthwhile read! Loved switching between the two time periods and the queer storyline.
Not my favorite of McMahon’s, but still a spooky and worthwhile read! Loved switching between the two time periods and the queer storyline.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jennifer McMahon has done it again! If you were a horse girl who loved The Ring (even the creepy horse parts) then you will love this book!
The different timelines worked so well, as did the different POVs. The 1919 timeline was my favorite, but the 2016 was also good!
The different timelines worked so well, as did the different POVs. The 1919 timeline was my favorite, but the 2016 was also good!
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December 15, 2025Nice
Want to read
December 30, 2025 Book Club - Oct 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.
This atmospheric queer folk horror braids two timelines. From 1919 medical skepticism to a 2016 return haunted by grief, the novel builds dread slowly. It carries strong Midnight Mass vibes: isolation, challenged faith, everyone thinking they know what's best for others.
This atmospheric queer folk horror braids two timelines. From 1919 medical skepticism to a 2016 return haunted by grief, the novel builds dread slowly. It carries strong Midnight Mass vibes: isolation, challenged faith, everyone thinking they know what's best for others.
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