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Monumental
Not yet published
Expected 2 Apr 26A story of life and death in the wilderness, and a horrifying tale of extreme survival against supernatural powers, from the four times winner of the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.
Disaster strikes quickly and without warning. What should have been a glorious weekend of kayaking and camping, in a secluded beauty spot, is transformed by a scream. The first crisis, initiating a deadly momentum that accelerates as the valley reveals itself to Marcus and his five companions.
They're trespassing on strictly private land. There's only one way out. An escape route closed until the next high tide fills the estuary. In twelve hour's time.
Recreation becomes survival.
Marooned, unable to summon help, harassed by dire and worsening circumstances, the ties that bind the expedition are stretched taut. If they snap, vital cooperation will unravel and the group member's damning secrets will be revealed.
Only the most courageous and committed have any chance against the area's inhabitants. But is any mind strong enough to endure a confrontation with the most hideous revelation of all? An ancient evil that coils beneath the valley's sinister folklore.
'Adam Nevill writes the scariest modern horror. Period. This man has his finger on something inherently evil ... insidious, bone-chilling, hair-raising, spine-tingling terror' - Sadie "Mother Horror" Hartmann
Disaster strikes quickly and without warning. What should have been a glorious weekend of kayaking and camping, in a secluded beauty spot, is transformed by a scream. The first crisis, initiating a deadly momentum that accelerates as the valley reveals itself to Marcus and his five companions.
They're trespassing on strictly private land. There's only one way out. An escape route closed until the next high tide fills the estuary. In twelve hour's time.
Recreation becomes survival.
Marooned, unable to summon help, harassed by dire and worsening circumstances, the ties that bind the expedition are stretched taut. If they snap, vital cooperation will unravel and the group member's damning secrets will be revealed.
Only the most courageous and committed have any chance against the area's inhabitants. But is any mind strong enough to endure a confrontation with the most hideous revelation of all? An ancient evil that coils beneath the valley's sinister folklore.
'Adam Nevill writes the scariest modern horror. Period. This man has his finger on something inherently evil ... insidious, bone-chilling, hair-raising, spine-tingling terror' - Sadie "Mother Horror" Hartmann
358 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 2, 2026
15 people are currently reading
814 people want to read
About the author
Adam L.G. Nevill
77 books5,632 followersADAM L. G. NEVILL was born in Birmingham, England, in 1969 and grew up in England and New Zealand. He is an author of horror fiction. Of his novels, The Ritual, Last Days, No One Gets Out Alive and The Reddening were all winners of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel. He has also published three collections of short stories, with Some Will Not Sleep winning the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection, 2017.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.
The author lives in Devon, England.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.
The author lives in Devon, England.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Another fantastic folk horror tale from Adam Nevill!
A group go kayaking in a secluded part of Devon. They plan to camp there, though the land is private, as they think they will not be noticed. Very early on in the book disaster strikes with one member of the group seriously injured and they are unable to escape until the tide comes in, which is hours away!
There is action from the very start, and the chapters are short and propulsive. The characters are introduced well, and it clear from the beginning that there is a lot of tension and conflict within the group, particularly between the protagonist, Marcus, and a few of the others in the group, for various reasons. The characters felt very realistic, they all had their flaws. Most of them weren't particularly likeable! The whole story takes place over just one day, and there is a lot going on as the group are separated.
I enjoyed Nevill's beautiful descriptive prose. He has such a skill for writing creepy, unsettling scenes! The creatures in this story were terrifying, as you can see from the cover of the book! There was a particular scene in the pagan temple that was very claustrophobic and ominous. In a way, I wish the book could have been longer and gone into more detail about the folklore and I would have liked to have known more details about the antagonists. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend this one of you liked his previous folk horror books, The Ritual, Cunning Folk, The Reddening and The Vessel.
A group go kayaking in a secluded part of Devon. They plan to camp there, though the land is private, as they think they will not be noticed. Very early on in the book disaster strikes with one member of the group seriously injured and they are unable to escape until the tide comes in, which is hours away!
There is action from the very start, and the chapters are short and propulsive. The characters are introduced well, and it clear from the beginning that there is a lot of tension and conflict within the group, particularly between the protagonist, Marcus, and a few of the others in the group, for various reasons. The characters felt very realistic, they all had their flaws. Most of them weren't particularly likeable! The whole story takes place over just one day, and there is a lot going on as the group are separated.
I enjoyed Nevill's beautiful descriptive prose. He has such a skill for writing creepy, unsettling scenes! The creatures in this story were terrifying, as you can see from the cover of the book! There was a particular scene in the pagan temple that was very claustrophobic and ominous. In a way, I wish the book could have been longer and gone into more detail about the folklore and I would have liked to have known more details about the antagonists. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend this one of you liked his previous folk horror books, The Ritual, Cunning Folk, The Reddening and The Vessel.
January 22, 2026
Another absolute banger from Adam Nevill. This had me feeling uneasy from the start. Six id say friends but as you get to know them more friends is a bit too generous decide to take a kayaking trip and end up trespassing on private land and private for a very good reason. The build up and suspense is so uncomfortable and i mean the whole book makes you feel constantly on edge. Neolithic gods and priests to cults and horrible human beings whats not to love. Highly recommend. Also the visuals you obtain from this book from scenery to monsters is just incredible.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'll sit on a full review until closer to publication date in April.
The prose is sumptuous, classicly brilliant Nevill. A genuine wordsmith.
I did have a few issues with Monumental. I won't go into details with what, but Adam addressed most of them in his story notes at the back of the book. I like a writer that's unafraid.
I must admit, I prefer scary, lurking in the shadows Nevill. Monumental is in your face, almost action, Nevill.
Monumental is a solid addition to the Adam Nevill bibliography.
The prose is sumptuous, classicly brilliant Nevill. A genuine wordsmith.
I did have a few issues with Monumental. I won't go into details with what, but Adam addressed most of them in his story notes at the back of the book. I like a writer that's unafraid.
I must admit, I prefer scary, lurking in the shadows Nevill. Monumental is in your face, almost action, Nevill.
Monumental is a solid addition to the Adam Nevill bibliography.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well... he has done it. For years Lost Girl was my favourite of Adams books, then Cunning Folk nabbed the top spot, that has now been usurped by Monumental. Which was, uh Monumental.
Another British Folklore Horror masterpiece.
6 members of a kayaking club venture by sea, through an estuary into a remote valley, what they are met with is the stuff of nightmares.
The descriptions of the landscape and weather, draw you in completely, you can smell the sea air, vividly see the estuary, feel the wind on your neck. His short story 'experiment' Wyrd and other Derelictions really served as a blueprint for the love of nature shown in this book.
Beware the Valley.
Another British Folklore Horror masterpiece.
6 members of a kayaking club venture by sea, through an estuary into a remote valley, what they are met with is the stuff of nightmares.
The descriptions of the landscape and weather, draw you in completely, you can smell the sea air, vividly see the estuary, feel the wind on your neck. His short story 'experiment' Wyrd and other Derelictions really served as a blueprint for the love of nature shown in this book.
Beware the Valley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Adam Nevill has long been one of the most formidable voices in modern horror, and his latest novel, 'Monumental', proves once again why he is a master of nightmares.
This novel is a masterclass in escalating dread. An unrelenting descent from outdoor adventure into pagan terror that grips from the first scream and never loosens its hold.
What begins as a serene weekend of kayaking and camping, quickly mutates into a nightmare when Marcus and his companions stumble into a secluded valley that feels wrong from the moment they arrive.
Nevill excels at transforming the natural world into something hostile and uncanny, and here he weaponizes isolation, folklore, and the unforgiving landscape with chilling precision.
The group’s predicament, trapped on private land with no escape until the next high tide, creates a ticking clock that amplifies every moment of fear and tension.
As circumstances worsen, the psychological unraveling of the group becomes just as terrifying as the external threats.
Nevill’s talent for exposing the fractures within human relationships shines; secrets surface, loyalties strain, and survival becomes as much about confronting inner demons as escaping the horrors lurking in the valley.
The supernatural presence at the heart of the story is classic Nevill; ancient, inscrutable, utterly nightmarish and profoundly unsettling.
Monumental is both a brutal wilderness survival tale and a deeply atmospheric work of folk horror.
Fans of The Ritual, Cunning Folk and The Reddening will feel right at home, yet Nevill still manages to surprise with fresh, visceral terror and a sense of mythic menace that coils beneath every page.
This is Nevill at his best: immersive, harrowing, and monumentally haunting. A must‑read for anyone who craves horror that lingers looooooong after the final chapter.
This novel is a masterclass in escalating dread. An unrelenting descent from outdoor adventure into pagan terror that grips from the first scream and never loosens its hold.
What begins as a serene weekend of kayaking and camping, quickly mutates into a nightmare when Marcus and his companions stumble into a secluded valley that feels wrong from the moment they arrive.
Nevill excels at transforming the natural world into something hostile and uncanny, and here he weaponizes isolation, folklore, and the unforgiving landscape with chilling precision.
The group’s predicament, trapped on private land with no escape until the next high tide, creates a ticking clock that amplifies every moment of fear and tension.
As circumstances worsen, the psychological unraveling of the group becomes just as terrifying as the external threats.
Nevill’s talent for exposing the fractures within human relationships shines; secrets surface, loyalties strain, and survival becomes as much about confronting inner demons as escaping the horrors lurking in the valley.
The supernatural presence at the heart of the story is classic Nevill; ancient, inscrutable, utterly nightmarish and profoundly unsettling.
Monumental is both a brutal wilderness survival tale and a deeply atmospheric work of folk horror.
Fans of The Ritual, Cunning Folk and The Reddening will feel right at home, yet Nevill still manages to surprise with fresh, visceral terror and a sense of mythic menace that coils beneath every page.
This is Nevill at his best: immersive, harrowing, and monumentally haunting. A must‑read for anyone who craves horror that lingers looooooong after the final chapter.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so completely immersed in this story I could almost smell the blood. Much more gory and action packed than his other novels, but just as creepy and atmospheric. Terrifying, bloody, and brilliant!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In this latest novel summoned forth by the dark imagination of Adam Nevill, a group of kayakers explore an untouched valley within private land off an estuary in Devon. Tragedy strikes and with no phone or radio signal and egress from the estuary prohibited by obdurate tides, the rest of the group explore the valley seeking help. As they stumble across evidence of the country’s ancient past, they begin to regret their incursion upon private land. Undercurrents within the group bubble away, friendships fracture and reluctant cooperation turns into antagonism, all while something sinister stirs beneath the earth.
This is a story which interprets and imagines the neolithic origins of our country and is grounded within ancient discoveries and shrouded in the mysteries of pagan ways of bygone days. It sits at the intersection of cosmic horror and eldritch folk horror. With incredibly strong links to his other novels (particularly The Reddening), Adam is crafting a Lovecraftian pantheon of his own, albeit one firmly grounded in the neolithic heritage of Great Britain and Devon in particular.
So many ancient sites are hidden on private land and as a rambler with an interest in old stones, this situation was particularly harrowing to me. It is a petri dish of survival horror in which the characters are plunged into a terrifying situation and the reader observes the ways in which the taught threads of sanity and collaboration strain and snap under the pressure, as the characters are faced with revelations and crises both domestic and cosmic. This is brilliantly balanced and rendered through a group of deep and deeply flawed characters – similar to the group within The Ritual – with their own egos and agendas.
Adam’s prose is as stunning and evocative as ever, with particular focus on multisensory descriptions that invite the reader to share the sounds, smells and pain experienced by the characters. Wonderful descriptions of the beauty and indifferent malice of the natural world are at the forefront and as a poetic outdoorsman with his finger on the pulse of something eldritch, Adam is cementing himself as a modern-voiced Algernon Blackwood.
This is a story which interprets and imagines the neolithic origins of our country and is grounded within ancient discoveries and shrouded in the mysteries of pagan ways of bygone days. It sits at the intersection of cosmic horror and eldritch folk horror. With incredibly strong links to his other novels (particularly The Reddening), Adam is crafting a Lovecraftian pantheon of his own, albeit one firmly grounded in the neolithic heritage of Great Britain and Devon in particular.
So many ancient sites are hidden on private land and as a rambler with an interest in old stones, this situation was particularly harrowing to me. It is a petri dish of survival horror in which the characters are plunged into a terrifying situation and the reader observes the ways in which the taught threads of sanity and collaboration strain and snap under the pressure, as the characters are faced with revelations and crises both domestic and cosmic. This is brilliantly balanced and rendered through a group of deep and deeply flawed characters – similar to the group within The Ritual – with their own egos and agendas.
Adam’s prose is as stunning and evocative as ever, with particular focus on multisensory descriptions that invite the reader to share the sounds, smells and pain experienced by the characters. Wonderful descriptions of the beauty and indifferent malice of the natural world are at the forefront and as a poetic outdoorsman with his finger on the pulse of something eldritch, Adam is cementing himself as a modern-voiced Algernon Blackwood.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’ve had a lifelong fascination with standing stones, as I imagine many of us do. Wherever I go in the country, I always enjoy a little ramble to gaze and wonder at these megaliths. I’ve always dreamed of being transported back to Neolithic times to see how our ancestors used these sacred places. Though, after reading this, I may reconsider that dream!
So I don’t want to reveal much of the plot, or the horrors that unfold…and there are horrors, old, unthinkable horrors.
But a quick summary is, a group of kayakers take a trip to explore a private valley via an estuary in Devon. What they stumble upon takes us right back to whatever mischief our ancestors may have been getting up to (think pagan terror). Through an ever progressing, worsening of events, we find a story of survival, madness and the mysterious pull of our pagan past.
The way Nevill writes about nature in particular is like nothing I’ve ever read. He’s the only author who’s writing has managed to work its way into my dreams and take root there. His descriptions feel visceral for me. I feel I’m there, the grass digging into my ankles, the cloud of pollen scratching my throat, the trees and flowers whispering behind my back. It’s like nothing else. Like I’ve been implanted in the scene myself, watching it all unfold around me.
The same can be said for how Nevill writes his characters. To me, no one can top the authenticity of them. Each of them deeply flawed (like all of us), you hate parts of them one moment, then their inner monologue makes you see a sliver of yourself in them the next. They feel completely real, which of course adds to the horror.
There were parts of this book that had me frantically pacing back and forth, unable to make my eyes work quickly enough getting the words to my brain.
So, I could go on about this forever and frankly nothing I write will do it justice. All I can say is I would highly recommend.
So I don’t want to reveal much of the plot, or the horrors that unfold…and there are horrors, old, unthinkable horrors.
But a quick summary is, a group of kayakers take a trip to explore a private valley via an estuary in Devon. What they stumble upon takes us right back to whatever mischief our ancestors may have been getting up to (think pagan terror). Through an ever progressing, worsening of events, we find a story of survival, madness and the mysterious pull of our pagan past.
The way Nevill writes about nature in particular is like nothing I’ve ever read. He’s the only author who’s writing has managed to work its way into my dreams and take root there. His descriptions feel visceral for me. I feel I’m there, the grass digging into my ankles, the cloud of pollen scratching my throat, the trees and flowers whispering behind my back. It’s like nothing else. Like I’ve been implanted in the scene myself, watching it all unfold around me.
The same can be said for how Nevill writes his characters. To me, no one can top the authenticity of them. Each of them deeply flawed (like all of us), you hate parts of them one moment, then their inner monologue makes you see a sliver of yourself in them the next. They feel completely real, which of course adds to the horror.
There were parts of this book that had me frantically pacing back and forth, unable to make my eyes work quickly enough getting the words to my brain.
So, I could go on about this forever and frankly nothing I write will do it justice. All I can say is I would highly recommend.
Review of advance copy
Nothing but a scream would have formed an adequate response to what soon stood upright and close enough for her to smell it.
So Jane screamed.
.
.
When Marcus and his 5 ‘friends’ from the local kayaking club plan a trip to a secluded valley up an estuary on private land, they get more than what they bargained for when one of the group gets attacked. Stuck in this valley until high tide comes they have to overcome their differences to survive against the primeval horror that calls the valley its home.
.
.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if Adam Nevill wrote a book about crafting with cat hair, or his favourite herbaceous border plants, or his antique button collection I would read it. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your reading tastes, this is not that and we’re back nestled into the creature feature, folklore madness that we know and love Nevill for.
It does take a few different swings to what we normally expect. The big bad for example comes out with numerous, lengthy monologues like a Bond villain, but the set up requires something along those lines for fear of leaving the reader with blank spaces and confusion.
The thing I do adore most about Adams books are not only his imagination for creating such fantastic monsters but for his ability to add monstrosity to the humans he writes about. No one is good and honest, everyone is morally flexible and capable of horrendous things, as well as having their own demons they’re contending with. And that’s the same here, Marcus isn’t necessarily I great guy, he means well but sometimes that’s not enough, and the same can be said of the villains because after all, everyone is the hero of their own story.
Well I’ve been a greedy pants and rushed into it again, luckily I’ve got a couple left in the Nevill back catalogue to keep me busy until the next one, rumour has it he’s going down the non fiction route next time with a book about the interest world of pez collecting. 👹
So Jane screamed.
.
.
When Marcus and his 5 ‘friends’ from the local kayaking club plan a trip to a secluded valley up an estuary on private land, they get more than what they bargained for when one of the group gets attacked. Stuck in this valley until high tide comes they have to overcome their differences to survive against the primeval horror that calls the valley its home.
.
.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if Adam Nevill wrote a book about crafting with cat hair, or his favourite herbaceous border plants, or his antique button collection I would read it. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your reading tastes, this is not that and we’re back nestled into the creature feature, folklore madness that we know and love Nevill for.
It does take a few different swings to what we normally expect. The big bad for example comes out with numerous, lengthy monologues like a Bond villain, but the set up requires something along those lines for fear of leaving the reader with blank spaces and confusion.
The thing I do adore most about Adams books are not only his imagination for creating such fantastic monsters but for his ability to add monstrosity to the humans he writes about. No one is good and honest, everyone is morally flexible and capable of horrendous things, as well as having their own demons they’re contending with. And that’s the same here, Marcus isn’t necessarily I great guy, he means well but sometimes that’s not enough, and the same can be said of the villains because after all, everyone is the hero of their own story.
Well I’ve been a greedy pants and rushed into it again, luckily I’ve got a couple left in the Nevill back catalogue to keep me busy until the next one, rumour has it he’s going down the non fiction route next time with a book about the interest world of pez collecting. 👹
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another incredible folk horror novel from the king of folk horror! Yes I said it. Adam knows how to write folk horror better than any horror author I know.
This was very quick to get moving and gripping from the start. The entire series of events occur over one day which in hindsight baffles my mind. Adam mapped it out so well.
The novel opens to a group of kayakers who are kayaking through a desolate area within Devon. They find themselves in a privately owned valley owned by inhabitants that are not pleased at all about their presence. And shortly after it’s realised that a deep horror lives within the land.
My hair stood on end throughout this story. So many scenes were extremely unsettling and uncomfortable to read. The feeling of claustrophobia at certain points was palpable.
As always, Adam’s ability to bring the land front and centre and his descriptions of the landscapes were a highlight for me. It’s clear that Adam’s love of kyaking and natural landscapes have inspired much of his writing within Monumental.
The characters and relationship dynamics were done exceptionally well. All of their character arcs are fascinating and the tension between some characters created the perfect backdrop for the horrors that unfold within the valley. Each character had their flaws which makes them all the more interesting and easy to despise.
For me this has a similiar feeling to his other two novels the Ritual and the Reddening. Unique in its own right of course though.
This particular novel is more action packed than many of Adam’s other novels which I enjoyed for a change. It still had that creepy, underlying thread of dread Adam is known for.
Thank you to Adam for my advance reading copy of Monumental!
This was very quick to get moving and gripping from the start. The entire series of events occur over one day which in hindsight baffles my mind. Adam mapped it out so well.
The novel opens to a group of kayakers who are kayaking through a desolate area within Devon. They find themselves in a privately owned valley owned by inhabitants that are not pleased at all about their presence. And shortly after it’s realised that a deep horror lives within the land.
My hair stood on end throughout this story. So many scenes were extremely unsettling and uncomfortable to read. The feeling of claustrophobia at certain points was palpable.
As always, Adam’s ability to bring the land front and centre and his descriptions of the landscapes were a highlight for me. It’s clear that Adam’s love of kyaking and natural landscapes have inspired much of his writing within Monumental.
The characters and relationship dynamics were done exceptionally well. All of their character arcs are fascinating and the tension between some characters created the perfect backdrop for the horrors that unfold within the valley. Each character had their flaws which makes them all the more interesting and easy to despise.
For me this has a similiar feeling to his other two novels the Ritual and the Reddening. Unique in its own right of course though.
This particular novel is more action packed than many of Adam’s other novels which I enjoyed for a change. It still had that creepy, underlying thread of dread Adam is known for.
Thank you to Adam for my advance reading copy of Monumental!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Another superb nivel from Adam Nevill. They just keep getting better and better. I think we can now officially crown him the king of folk horror. This bookrattles along effortlessly and the characters are just so brilliantly realised. No turning back a few pages (as I nearly always have to do) to remember who is who. Just awesome
Review of advance copy received from Author
Adam Nevill does it again (and by "it", I mean the very best folk horror, perfect horror setting, layered characters, and perhaps most deliciously, that all-important foe) in this tense story of a group of kayakers that think they can get away with setting up camp on private land, assuming the locals will be none-the-wiser. Unfortunately for them, there are the locals, and then...the other locals. Superb.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my goodness grief, this book was worth the wait. Not only is the writing spectacular (I think even by his high standards, Adam excelled himself here), but this has one of his scariest endings, in my humble opinion. Fantastic folk horror, layered characters, and a perfect setting.
Review of advance copy
live laugh love adam nevill
(ritual limited hardback edition)
(ritual limited hardback edition)
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