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Stay Buried
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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.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 11, 2026
9 people are currently reading
13607 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer McMahon
20 books11.8k followers I'm the author of thirteen novels, including Promise Not to Tell, The Winter People, and my upcoming release, Stay Buried. I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with my partner, Drea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Reading for review in the June 2026 issue of Library Journal.
Issue will also feature an interview with the author.
4-4.5
Three Words The Describe This Book: dual time frame, folk horror, terrifying
Centered around the knackerman-- defined at the start of the book for everyone which is not only helpful but it sets the ominous tone-- "knackerman (noun): a person who collects dead or dying farm animals unfit for human consumption and dismembers them for further use, e.g., tanning the hides and rendering fat, tallow, and glue."
Two time frames-- one creepy town. Boone's Ferry, VT. Literally at the end of the road. 2 time frames. The first is told by Frankie, in 1919, a young woman who wants to be a doctor. She works with her uncle in the small town taking care of everything. The town also still relies on the midwife/herbalist but they have respect. Even after the 1918 flue wiped a lot of people out.
2016-- Ashley (Ash) is the main narrator here. They mom disappeared a few years ago after visiting Boone's Ferry. Presumed suicide. Now their grandmother, who was against their mom going to VT and appears to be hiding a lot of family secrets, has just died. Ash and Malcom (Mal) her brother head to Boone's Ferry to find answers.
But readers know things are not going to go well in either time frame. We know that in 1919 something happened (maybe another flu) that killed most of the towns folk. But as we follow Frankie, we see it is not a flu. Rather it is a stranger disease that begins with the horses, spreads to the knackerman and then goes through the whole town. It is like a strange variant of rabies. The disease-- you get very sick and start acting strange. Then you die. A few hours later, you rise from the dead, and fight your way outside-- biting people to get free and transferring the disease.
Readers know this is what Ash and Mal are walking into-- except in 2016 readers also know that the knackerman still haunts the town, coming 4x a year, and if not appeased with treats and gifts, he marks your door and then terrible things happen to the person who is marked. (2 current residents narrated some chapters).
The characters are well done. The voices authentic. The chapters just the right length and each ends with enough of a cliff hanger to keep you going for just one more, but also, it is not so much so that you feel okay to put it down and are still eager to come back.
This is a twisted, dark, and terrifying story. It is about supernatural horrors but also the horrors humans do to each other and themselves. It is folk horror that breaks free from its mythology and becomes all too real.
We're all the knackerman-- a moral and a warning
It is also a great pandemic--infection novel. There is some great social commentary about the choices women do and do not have both in choices for careers and life partners. It is also about family. The connections between family across the generations, family secrets
More than a nod to "The Lottery," set in VT, town "protecting" itself and its macabre traditions, an important horse is named Shirley. It's like The Sun Down Motel by Simone St.James mixed with the intensity of Hex by Thomas Olde Huevelt.
Issue will also feature an interview with the author.
4-4.5
Three Words The Describe This Book: dual time frame, folk horror, terrifying
Centered around the knackerman-- defined at the start of the book for everyone which is not only helpful but it sets the ominous tone-- "knackerman (noun): a person who collects dead or dying farm animals unfit for human consumption and dismembers them for further use, e.g., tanning the hides and rendering fat, tallow, and glue."
Two time frames-- one creepy town. Boone's Ferry, VT. Literally at the end of the road. 2 time frames. The first is told by Frankie, in 1919, a young woman who wants to be a doctor. She works with her uncle in the small town taking care of everything. The town also still relies on the midwife/herbalist but they have respect. Even after the 1918 flue wiped a lot of people out.
2016-- Ashley (Ash) is the main narrator here. They mom disappeared a few years ago after visiting Boone's Ferry. Presumed suicide. Now their grandmother, who was against their mom going to VT and appears to be hiding a lot of family secrets, has just died. Ash and Malcom (Mal) her brother head to Boone's Ferry to find answers.
But readers know things are not going to go well in either time frame. We know that in 1919 something happened (maybe another flu) that killed most of the towns folk. But as we follow Frankie, we see it is not a flu. Rather it is a stranger disease that begins with the horses, spreads to the knackerman and then goes through the whole town. It is like a strange variant of rabies. The disease-- you get very sick and start acting strange. Then you die. A few hours later, you rise from the dead, and fight your way outside-- biting people to get free and transferring the disease.
Readers know this is what Ash and Mal are walking into-- except in 2016 readers also know that the knackerman still haunts the town, coming 4x a year, and if not appeased with treats and gifts, he marks your door and then terrible things happen to the person who is marked. (2 current residents narrated some chapters).
The characters are well done. The voices authentic. The chapters just the right length and each ends with enough of a cliff hanger to keep you going for just one more, but also, it is not so much so that you feel okay to put it down and are still eager to come back.
This is a twisted, dark, and terrifying story. It is about supernatural horrors but also the horrors humans do to each other and themselves. It is folk horror that breaks free from its mythology and becomes all too real.
We're all the knackerman-- a moral and a warning
It is also a great pandemic--infection novel. There is some great social commentary about the choices women do and do not have both in choices for careers and life partners. It is also about family. The connections between family across the generations, family secrets
More than a nod to "The Lottery," set in VT, town "protecting" itself and its macabre traditions, an important horse is named Shirley. It's like The Sun Down Motel by Simone St.James mixed with the intensity of Hex by Thomas Olde Huevelt.
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 to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of Stay Buried! I have read every adult fiction book by Jennifer McMahon, as her books are always my favorite to read on airplanes and/or on vacation. This haunted horse/town/illness story was so fun, and now I can't stop thinking about The Knackerman!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
This book was creepy. The tale of the knackerman is chilling. I loved the dual timeline and how the past and present wove together. It's a very layered book that winds horror with issues of humanity and mass hysteria.
This book was creepy. The tale of the knackerman is chilling. I loved the dual timeline and how the past and present wove together. It's a very layered book that winds horror with issues of humanity and mass hysteria.
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
**My thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**
2 stars
This horror novel fell flat for me, but could work well for anyone who’s particularly interested in isolated small-town horror. In my opinion the book valued horror aesthetics over a well-crafted narrative, but if you love a high-vibes story this could be the book for you.
My main complaint about this book is that it feels unfinished, as though it could do with another couple of rounds of developmental edits.
There are two main drivers of the horror here that never seem quite to gel together into a satisfying horror. One is, “wouldn’t it be spooky if there were a horse-skull-faced, leather-patchwork-coat-wearing ghost/ghoul/monster haunting a town?” The other is pandemic horror—a new disease cropping up in an isolated town with limited medical supplies which no one understands or has the tools to treat. While our resident ghoul appears to have been patient zero in the pandemic horror, the actual connection between the two sources of horror isn’t ever made clear or narratively compelling.
I also found myself frustrated with the fact that several key parts of the horror mystery are never resolved; such as, how did the pandemic start, what the creepy ‘Can you hear them?’ whispering is referring to and what prompted it to start, who killed Ashley’s mother and why, and (most importantly) why was killed by The lack of answers seemed less an intentional mystery of the natural world (as is sometimes appropriately the case in pandemic horror) and instead just left unanswered because the author couldn’t think of any reasons behind the creepy scenes she wanted to include.
There’s also quite a bit of build-up regarding certain characters (Frankie, Ashley, Mimi) having extrasensory abilities, which unfortunately never goes anywhere.
Most disappointing to me was the figure of the undead/ghostly knackerman. The narrative plays with ambiguity as to whether the knackerman is really haunting the town in which he died or if his ghost is a folktale given too much power by the townsfolk, which is normally a narrative device I enjoy teasing out. However, I ended up feeling unsatisfied with the way it played out in this novel. For one thing, there’s a secondary plot about the knackman’s activities before his death that feels tacked-on (spoilers: ) The fact that the town that persecuted the knackerman ends up forming a cult to him after his death could have been very creepy, but ended up feeling underdeveloped, especially in the climax and ending scenes.
Again, if you love high-vibes horror and don’t mind unanswered questions or hanging plot threads so long as the story provides (genuinely) eerie moments and compelling visuals, you may well love this book. For me, it was too much style with too little substance.
2 stars
This horror novel fell flat for me, but could work well for anyone who’s particularly interested in isolated small-town horror. In my opinion the book valued horror aesthetics over a well-crafted narrative, but if you love a high-vibes story this could be the book for you.
My main complaint about this book is that it feels unfinished, as though it could do with another couple of rounds of developmental edits.
There are two main drivers of the horror here that never seem quite to gel together into a satisfying horror. One is, “wouldn’t it be spooky if there were a horse-skull-faced, leather-patchwork-coat-wearing ghost/ghoul/monster haunting a town?” The other is pandemic horror—a new disease cropping up in an isolated town with limited medical supplies which no one understands or has the tools to treat. While our resident ghoul appears to have been patient zero in the pandemic horror, the actual connection between the two sources of horror isn’t ever made clear or narratively compelling.
I also found myself frustrated with the fact that several key parts of the horror mystery are never resolved; such as, how did the pandemic start, what the creepy ‘Can you hear them?’ whispering is referring to and what prompted it to start, who killed Ashley’s mother and why, and (most importantly) why was killed by The lack of answers seemed less an intentional mystery of the natural world (as is sometimes appropriately the case in pandemic horror) and instead just left unanswered because the author couldn’t think of any reasons behind the creepy scenes she wanted to include.
There’s also quite a bit of build-up regarding certain characters (Frankie, Ashley, Mimi) having extrasensory abilities, which unfortunately never goes anywhere.
Most disappointing to me was the figure of the undead/ghostly knackerman. The narrative plays with ambiguity as to whether the knackerman is really haunting the town in which he died or if his ghost is a folktale given too much power by the townsfolk, which is normally a narrative device I enjoy teasing out. However, I ended up feeling unsatisfied with the way it played out in this novel. For one thing, there’s a secondary plot about the knackman’s activities before his death that feels tacked-on (spoilers: ) The fact that the town that persecuted the knackerman ends up forming a cult to him after his death could have been very creepy, but ended up feeling underdeveloped, especially in the climax and ending scenes.
Again, if you love high-vibes horror and don’t mind unanswered questions or hanging plot threads so long as the story provides (genuinely) eerie moments and compelling visuals, you may well love this book. For me, it was too much style with too little substance.
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!
March 25, 2026
I have loved Jennifer McMahon’s thriller and horror novels for years so I was thrilled to receive an e-archive of upcoming novel, Stay Buried. And if that didn’t make me happy enough, this time McMahon has dipped her toes into my favorite sub genre….. folk horror.
It’s 1919 in the isolated hamlet of Boone’s Ferry Vermont. Frankie has gone there to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Frankie’s not like the other girls- she dresses in her uncle’s cast off clothes, has cut off her hair and has the occasional drink in the tavern with the men folk. She is also apprenticing under her physician uncle. The town is still recovering from the Spanish flu, when a man and his horse arrive in town. First the horse dies of a violent illness and soon the town is being ravaged by something far worse than the flu.
In 2016, Ashley and Michael are reeling from the disappearance of their mother and the recent death of their Grandmother when they learn the last place their mother was seen was in Boone’s Ferry. So off they go and what they find if a strange town with closed off inhabitants and strange rituals and rumors of something dark and deadly.
I enjoyed this one. McMahon’s includes all the major folk horror tropes but still manages to put a fresh spin on them. Told in dual timelines with multiple voices, the stories of past and present Boone’s Ferry effectively weave together the mystery of death and darkness and what really happened in 1919 and how it has carried over into the present day.
I loved the character of Frankie, a young woman embracing her queerness at a time when that was unheard of. Although not without struggles, her refusal to be anything other than herself was a delight to read. This book was suspenseful and while I did initially think the ending was a little of a letdown, after some reflection, I realized it worked perfectly for a folk horror novel. I love when a book has me pondering it after the end and this one definitely did. Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this arc.
It’s 1919 in the isolated hamlet of Boone’s Ferry Vermont. Frankie has gone there to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Frankie’s not like the other girls- she dresses in her uncle’s cast off clothes, has cut off her hair and has the occasional drink in the tavern with the men folk. She is also apprenticing under her physician uncle. The town is still recovering from the Spanish flu, when a man and his horse arrive in town. First the horse dies of a violent illness and soon the town is being ravaged by something far worse than the flu.
In 2016, Ashley and Michael are reeling from the disappearance of their mother and the recent death of their Grandmother when they learn the last place their mother was seen was in Boone’s Ferry. So off they go and what they find if a strange town with closed off inhabitants and strange rituals and rumors of something dark and deadly.
I enjoyed this one. McMahon’s includes all the major folk horror tropes but still manages to put a fresh spin on them. Told in dual timelines with multiple voices, the stories of past and present Boone’s Ferry effectively weave together the mystery of death and darkness and what really happened in 1919 and how it has carried over into the present day.
I loved the character of Frankie, a young woman embracing her queerness at a time when that was unheard of. Although not without struggles, her refusal to be anything other than herself was a delight to read. This book was suspenseful and while I did initially think the ending was a little of a letdown, after some reflection, I realized it worked perfectly for a folk horror novel. I love when a book has me pondering it after the end and this one definitely did. Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have read several of her books, and this one is by far my favorite. The characters were wonderful, especially Frankie. Who knew I would love folk horror so much? The isolation of Boone’s Ferry, Vermont, was a character in itself; it definitely gave "The Village" vibes with the town secrets and the residents wanting to protect themselves from outsiders. The double timeline made the story even better, with layers of mystery weaving the two eras together. I also didn't know the historical reference of the "knackerman" and that the role dates back to the Middle Ages. It was perfect for the spooky vibes of the book. I also love the book cover!
In 1919, Frankie lives with her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, and his wife in Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. He has been providing her with medical training while she serves as his assistant. Many of the town's residents remain skeptical of modern medicine until a strange illness breaks out, killing all the horses before spreading to the knackerman. The knackerman is a recluse who collects dead animals no longer fit for consumption, using their parts to produce items like glue and leather.
In 2016, Ashley and Malcolm learn they have inherited property in Boone’s Ferry following their grandmother’s death. As it turns out, this is the last place their mother was seen before she went missing two years ago. While everything initially seems normal, strange events begin to occur, and the townspeople become unwelcoming. The siblings soon realize the town is governed by bizarre traditions and offerings to something potentially evil.
I have read several of her books, and this one is by far my favorite. The characters were wonderful, especially Frankie. Who knew I would love folk horror so much? The isolation of Boone’s Ferry, Vermont, was a character in itself; it definitely gave "The Village" vibes with the town secrets and the residents wanting to protect themselves from outsiders. The double timeline made the story even better, with layers of mystery weaving the two eras together. I also didn't know the historical reference of the "knackerman" and that the role dates back to the Middle Ages. It was perfect for the spooky vibes of the book. I also love the book cover!
In 1919, Frankie lives with her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, and his wife in Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. He has been providing her with medical training while she serves as his assistant. Many of the town's residents remain skeptical of modern medicine until a strange illness breaks out, killing all the horses before spreading to the knackerman. The knackerman is a recluse who collects dead animals no longer fit for consumption, using their parts to produce items like glue and leather.
In 2016, Ashley and Malcolm learn they have inherited property in Boone’s Ferry following their grandmother’s death. As it turns out, this is the last place their mother was seen before she went missing two years ago. While everything initially seems normal, strange events begin to occur, and the townspeople become unwelcoming. The siblings soon realize the town is governed by bizarre traditions and offerings to something potentially evil.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay but wow! This was such a creepy-good time. Dual timelines? Yes please. One thread follows a sharp, science-minded outsider in an isolated early-1900s town battling a mysterious illness and a whole lot of superstition, while the modern storyline dives into siblings returning to a picture-perfect rural community that is… very much not as charming as it looks. The way the past and present slowly weave together is seriously addictive... every chapter made me want “just one more” before bed (and suddenly it’s 2 a.m., whoops).
The atmosphere is everything here: eerie farmland, tight-lipped locals, unsettling traditions, and that constant feeling that something ancient is watching from just out of sight. I loved how it balances folk horror with emotional family secrets, grief, identity, belonging, without ever losing that delicious sense of dread. The historical timeline especially shines with a fierce, unconventional main character trying to bring logic into a town that would rather blame ghosts than face reality. Meanwhile, the modern storyline brings tension, creepy visions, and escalating danger that kept me fully locked in.
It’s dark but super compelling, with twists that land hard and a finale that feels big, haunting, and honestly kind of bold. If you’re into small-town horror, generational mysteries, and stories that explore how fear can shape an entire community… this one absolutely delivers. Spooky, emotional, and totally bingeable. I had the best time with it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
The atmosphere is everything here: eerie farmland, tight-lipped locals, unsettling traditions, and that constant feeling that something ancient is watching from just out of sight. I loved how it balances folk horror with emotional family secrets, grief, identity, belonging, without ever losing that delicious sense of dread. The historical timeline especially shines with a fierce, unconventional main character trying to bring logic into a town that would rather blame ghosts than face reality. Meanwhile, the modern storyline brings tension, creepy visions, and escalating danger that kept me fully locked in.
It’s dark but super compelling, with twists that land hard and a finale that feels big, haunting, and honestly kind of bold. If you’re into small-town horror, generational mysteries, and stories that explore how fear can shape an entire community… this one absolutely delivers. Spooky, emotional, and totally bingeable. I had the best time with it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A chilling tale of community secrets.
In 1919, Frankie O'Massey, working as an apprentice and assistant to her uncle, the only physician in the tiny village of Boone's Ferry, Vermont, responds to a call of horses gone mad in the night. Soon the plague spreads from the horses to the people, and patient zero seems to be the town's reclusive knackerman.
In 2016, a small girl called Mini cannot resist the impulse to see if the legendary knackerman is real, so she sneaks out on the night of the Hunter's Moon.
Also in 2016, Ashley has put her life on hold dealing with grief after her mother's apparent suicide. But when she and her brother inherit a house in their ancestral home of Boone's Ferry, she jumps at the excuse to follow up on some mysteries surrounding her mother.
Told in alternating timelines, the story keeps the reader in taught suspense as the supernatural and the mundane blend together forcing the question of what really constitutes evil.
The main characters are especially likeable, and I'm a sucker for both dual timeline stories and queer historical fiction so this hit all the right notes. It sat right on the threshold of my gore tolerance, so if you are very squeamish, especially about animal related death and violence (horses specifically) this might be one to skip. If not, it is a captivating story of contagion, figures of legend, and sinister small towns.
This is likely a future read for the queer book club I run.
Thank you NetGalley for advance access in return for an honest review.
In 1919, Frankie O'Massey, working as an apprentice and assistant to her uncle, the only physician in the tiny village of Boone's Ferry, Vermont, responds to a call of horses gone mad in the night. Soon the plague spreads from the horses to the people, and patient zero seems to be the town's reclusive knackerman.
In 2016, a small girl called Mini cannot resist the impulse to see if the legendary knackerman is real, so she sneaks out on the night of the Hunter's Moon.
Also in 2016, Ashley has put her life on hold dealing with grief after her mother's apparent suicide. But when she and her brother inherit a house in their ancestral home of Boone's Ferry, she jumps at the excuse to follow up on some mysteries surrounding her mother.
Told in alternating timelines, the story keeps the reader in taught suspense as the supernatural and the mundane blend together forcing the question of what really constitutes evil.
The main characters are especially likeable, and I'm a sucker for both dual timeline stories and queer historical fiction so this hit all the right notes. It sat right on the threshold of my gore tolerance, so if you are very squeamish, especially about animal related death and violence (horses specifically) this might be one to skip. If not, it is a captivating story of contagion, figures of legend, and sinister small towns.
This is likely a future read for the queer book club I run.
Thank you NetGalley for advance access in return for an honest review.
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 review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Stay Buried is told in two alternating timelines - 1919 with a young woman who is learning the medical trade from her uncle, in the small village of Boone's Ferry, Vermont, which had just barely survived the Spanish Flu is suddenly plagued with horses going mad with some disease, thought by the town to have been brought on by the knackerman, a loner who takes away dead livestock and repurposes the corpses. When he shows up sick himself, it's not long before this new illness spreads through town. - 2016, nearly a century later Ashley just can't let go of the strange disappearance and supposed suicide of her mother. When she discovers a connection to Boone's Ferry, she and her brother travel to check out a new inheritance,, though Ashley is more interested in tracking down her mother's last steps, convinced the answers lie in that town, not knowing that they'll cross paths with the legend of the knackerman in her pursuit of answers.
What an amazing novel. The dual timelines keep you on edge throughout the story as each one gives just enough to propel things forward with fascinating reveals and dread at where the story is heading before switching back to the other. Parts folk tale, bogeyman legend and frightening illness story, Stay Buried is an absolute triumph from Jennifer McMahon.
Stay Buried is told in two alternating timelines - 1919 with a young woman who is learning the medical trade from her uncle, in the small village of Boone's Ferry, Vermont, which had just barely survived the Spanish Flu is suddenly plagued with horses going mad with some disease, thought by the town to have been brought on by the knackerman, a loner who takes away dead livestock and repurposes the corpses. When he shows up sick himself, it's not long before this new illness spreads through town. - 2016, nearly a century later Ashley just can't let go of the strange disappearance and supposed suicide of her mother. When she discovers a connection to Boone's Ferry, she and her brother travel to check out a new inheritance,, though Ashley is more interested in tracking down her mother's last steps, convinced the answers lie in that town, not knowing that they'll cross paths with the legend of the knackerman in her pursuit of answers.
What an amazing novel. The dual timelines keep you on edge throughout the story as each one gives just enough to propel things forward with fascinating reveals and dread at where the story is heading before switching back to the other. Parts folk tale, bogeyman legend and frightening illness story, Stay Buried is an absolute triumph from Jennifer McMahon.
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
Jennifer McMahon is one of my favorite writers and this book is right up there with the best of them.
The story is told in both the past and the present centering around a town called Boone's Ferry. We have all been to small towns, or live in them, and know how isolated they can be. In the 1919, when an illness breaks out starting with horses that then jumps to the townspeople they don't want outsiders to interfere. Jump ahead to 2016, siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mom 2 years ago and when their grandmother passes they find out they inherit property in Boone's Ferry. Once they arrive they find they aren't very welcomed and their mother had already visited to try to discover the family's roots.
This book has lots of twists and turns and spooky haunting horror.
I was given an ARC by the publisher Gallery Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told in both the past and the present centering around a town called Boone's Ferry. We have all been to small towns, or live in them, and know how isolated they can be. In the 1919, when an illness breaks out starting with horses that then jumps to the townspeople they don't want outsiders to interfere. Jump ahead to 2016, siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mom 2 years ago and when their grandmother passes they find out they inherit property in Boone's Ferry. Once they arrive they find they aren't very welcomed and their mother had already visited to try to discover the family's roots.
This book has lots of twists and turns and spooky haunting horror.
I was given an ARC by the publisher Gallery Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to love this one, especially since I’ve enjoyed Jennifer McMahon’s books in the past, but Stay Buried just didn’t do it for me. I managed to finish it, but I’ll be honest—I was definitely skimming the last 25% just to get it over with.
The structure was actually the best part. I’m always a fan of alternating timelines, and the jump between 1919 and 2016 was handled well. It gave the book a cool atmosphere right out of the gate.
But as the story went on, I just... stopped caring? I didn't feel a connection to the characters, the mystery didn't really grip me, and the town itself felt a bit flat. It’s hard to stay invested when you aren't particularly interested by the "who" or the "why."
Ultimately, it felt like a chore to get through. If you're a completionist for McMahon, you might find something here, but for me, this one stayed a bit too buried.
The structure was actually the best part. I’m always a fan of alternating timelines, and the jump between 1919 and 2016 was handled well. It gave the book a cool atmosphere right out of the gate.
But as the story went on, I just... stopped caring? I didn't feel a connection to the characters, the mystery didn't really grip me, and the town itself felt a bit flat. It’s hard to stay invested when you aren't particularly interested by the "who" or the "why."
Ultimately, it felt like a chore to get through. If you're a completionist for McMahon, you might find something here, but for me, this one stayed a bit too buried.
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.
Read
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Yet another amazing story by Jennifer McMahon that I wasn't able to stop thinking about while I was reading it. Jennifer McMahon has really become one of my favorite authors. I love the classic American atmosphere she creates in her books, I love the stories and the characters and I love how she gives her readers so much to think about. Her books are truly memorable and this applies very much to "Stay Buried" as well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have loved Jennifer McMahon’s thriller and horror novels for years so I was thrilled to receive an e-archive of upcoming novel, Stay Buried. And if that didn’t make me happy enough, this time McMahon has dipped her toes into my favorite sub genre….. folk horror.
It’s 1919 in the isolated hamlet of Boone’s Ferry Vermont. Frankie has gone there to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Frankie’s not like the other girls- she dresses in her uncle’s cast off clothes, has cut off her hair and has the occasional drink in the tavern with the men folk. She is also apprenticing under her physician uncle. The town is still recovering from the Spanish flu, when a man and his horse arrive in town. First the horse dies of a violent illness and soon the town is being ravaged by something far worse than the flu.
In 2016, Ashley and Michael are reeling from the disappearance of their mother and the recent death of their Grandmother when they learn the last place their mother was seen was in Boone’s Ferry. So off they go and what they find if a strange town with closed off inhabitants and strange rituals and rumors of something dark and deadly.
I enjoyed this one. McMahon’s includes all the major folk horror tropes but still manages to put a fresh spin on them. Told in dual timelines with multiple voices, the stories of past and present Boone’s Ferry effectively weave together the mystery of death and darkness and what really happened in 1919 and how it has carried over into the present day.
I loved the character of Frankie, a young woman embracing her queerness at a time when that was unheard of. Although not without struggles, her refusal to be anything other than herself was a delight to read. This book was suspenseful and while I did initially think the ending was a little of a letdown, after some reflection, I realized it worked perfectly for a folk horror novel. I love when a book has me pondering it after the end and this one definitely did. Thank@@ you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this arc.
It’s 1919 in the isolated hamlet of Boone’s Ferry Vermont. Frankie has gone there to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Frankie’s not like the other girls- she dresses in her uncle’s cast off clothes, has cut off her hair and has the occasional drink in the tavern with the men folk. She is also apprenticing under her physician uncle. The town is still recovering from the Spanish flu, when a man and his horse arrive in town. First the horse dies of a violent illness and soon the town is being ravaged by something far worse than the flu.
In 2016, Ashley and Michael are reeling from the disappearance of their mother and the recent death of their Grandmother when they learn the last place their mother was seen was in Boone’s Ferry. So off they go and what they find if a strange town with closed off inhabitants and strange rituals and rumors of something dark and deadly.
I enjoyed this one. McMahon’s includes all the major folk horror tropes but still manages to put a fresh spin on them. Told in dual timelines with multiple voices, the stories of past and present Boone’s Ferry effectively weave together the mystery of death and darkness and what really happened in 1919 and how it has carried over into the present day.
I loved the character of Frankie, a young woman embracing her queerness at a time when that was unheard of. Although not without struggles, her refusal to be anything other than herself was a delight to read. This book was suspenseful and while I did initially think the ending was a little of a letdown, after some reflection, I realized it worked perfectly for a folk horror novel. I love when a book has me pondering it after the end and this one definitely did. Thank@@ you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this arc.
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!
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