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The Piper's Graveyard
Could you confront an ancient, buried evil, if it meant saving your little sister?
Cessy’s little sister Kate is missing, and it’s Cessy’s fault.
She follows Kate's trail back to their hometown: Hamlin, West Virginia.
She finds Mom and Dad—and the whole town—enthralled with a phantom talk radio host. His staticky rants vow to “Make Hamlin Great Again.” All he asks is to be allowed to exterminate the town’s vermin.
Cessy’s investigation links Kate to the broadcast. If she can find the source, she’ll find her sister.
But when the radio show started broadcasting, the “deplorable” citizens started to disappear. Now it’s practically a ghost town. Impossible spaces are opening up, swallowing houses. Invisible parasites swarm in shadows. Something ancient and infinite has tasted Hamlin’s hate, and it’s eager to feed.
The Piper’s Graveyard is supernatural terror wrapped in a mystery plot, dragging you along with a freight-train pace. All with a hero who won’t give up on her family, whether they need rescuing from an eldritch evil, or from their own angry obsessions.
Cessy’s little sister Kate is missing, and it’s Cessy’s fault.
She follows Kate's trail back to their hometown: Hamlin, West Virginia.
She finds Mom and Dad—and the whole town—enthralled with a phantom talk radio host. His staticky rants vow to “Make Hamlin Great Again.” All he asks is to be allowed to exterminate the town’s vermin.
Cessy’s investigation links Kate to the broadcast. If she can find the source, she’ll find her sister.
But when the radio show started broadcasting, the “deplorable” citizens started to disappear. Now it’s practically a ghost town. Impossible spaces are opening up, swallowing houses. Invisible parasites swarm in shadows. Something ancient and infinite has tasted Hamlin’s hate, and it’s eager to feed.
The Piper’s Graveyard is supernatural terror wrapped in a mystery plot, dragging you along with a freight-train pace. All with a hero who won’t give up on her family, whether they need rescuing from an eldritch evil, or from their own angry obsessions.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2021
67 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 20, 2025
Radio horror meets social horror, together they take a dip in weird/ineffable horror while holding hands with small town horror. The result is quite delightful.
I really liked Cessy, the main character, her relationship with her hometown was quite relatable to me as was her relationship with her family. The weird aspect was done quite well and I think that people who aren't normally weird horror reader might still enjoy it.
I really liked Cessy, the main character, her relationship with her hometown was quite relatable to me as was her relationship with her family. The weird aspect was done quite well and I think that people who aren't normally weird horror reader might still enjoy it.
September 3, 2021
This book was just not for me. The first 65% or so just felt like the main character talking in circles, and getting nowhere. After things started changing up a bit, I still couldn't get into it or the characters.
April 15, 2021
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Cessy’s baby sister has been missing from D.C. for two weeks. When Cessy discovers Kate may have headed back to their hometown of Hamlin, West Virginia, at the behest of an old boyfriend, Cessy drops everything to go in search of her.
Arriving in Hamlin, Cessy realizes she will need to use all of her carefully-honed detective skills when no one gives her a straight answer on Kate or anyone else missing in town. Even stranger are the apparent radio hosts broadcasting strange tidings 24/7 as well as all of the angry townspeople.
Something sinister has arrived in Hamlin, and it’s Cessy’s job to find and stop it.
This is a solid horror novel. It’s rare to find a good horror novel these days that reminds me of early Stephen King, but this one seems to fit the description.
Author Ben Farthing does a wonderful job building the fear, tension, and strangeness in layers until the utterly original ending. The characters are all believable, as are their actions. I read late into the night wanting the mystery to reveal itself!
For a truly enjoyable horror novel whose pacing doesn’t slow from beginning to end, take a read. You won’t be disappointed.
Cessy’s baby sister has been missing from D.C. for two weeks. When Cessy discovers Kate may have headed back to their hometown of Hamlin, West Virginia, at the behest of an old boyfriend, Cessy drops everything to go in search of her.
Arriving in Hamlin, Cessy realizes she will need to use all of her carefully-honed detective skills when no one gives her a straight answer on Kate or anyone else missing in town. Even stranger are the apparent radio hosts broadcasting strange tidings 24/7 as well as all of the angry townspeople.
Something sinister has arrived in Hamlin, and it’s Cessy’s job to find and stop it.
This is a solid horror novel. It’s rare to find a good horror novel these days that reminds me of early Stephen King, but this one seems to fit the description.
Author Ben Farthing does a wonderful job building the fear, tension, and strangeness in layers until the utterly original ending. The characters are all believable, as are their actions. I read late into the night wanting the mystery to reveal itself!
For a truly enjoyable horror novel whose pacing doesn’t slow from beginning to end, take a read. You won’t be disappointed.
April 20, 2021
This was a weird one, and I liked it. Inspired, obviously, by the Pied Piper of Hamlin, it presented a supernatural horror-tinged case study on the insidiousness of hate. Here, the vermin were the people "good folks" considered undesirables. And the piper? You'll have to read it to find out.
The writing was solid, with an established style. The pacing was even. It was hard to put down, because everything flowed so well. I had to know what would happen next.
It couldn't be called a character driven story (unless you're talking about a certain worm...) but the characters were believable enough. I liked how the protagonist acknowledged her own failings as a cop and as a sister almost right at the start. It was refreshing. Others, though were completely infuriating- they bought into the hate being sold to them so completely that they lost all sense of reason. It was hard to read, because that's how it goes in real life. If you present someone with concrete facts that go against a deeply held belief, all it does is make them double down. When we see the characters refusing to see what was going on around them, it's stressful and maddening. Too many parallels to real life for comfort.
It was an interesting concept, well executed. I enjoyed it. It stressed me out and made me angry and/or sad at times, but I did enjoy it. I recieved an advanced review cope for free and have left this review voluntarily.
The writing was solid, with an established style. The pacing was even. It was hard to put down, because everything flowed so well. I had to know what would happen next.
It couldn't be called a character driven story (unless you're talking about a certain worm...) but the characters were believable enough. I liked how the protagonist acknowledged her own failings as a cop and as a sister almost right at the start. It was refreshing. Others, though were completely infuriating- they bought into the hate being sold to them so completely that they lost all sense of reason. It was hard to read, because that's how it goes in real life. If you present someone with concrete facts that go against a deeply held belief, all it does is make them double down. When we see the characters refusing to see what was going on around them, it's stressful and maddening. Too many parallels to real life for comfort.
It was an interesting concept, well executed. I enjoyed it. It stressed me out and made me angry and/or sad at times, but I did enjoy it. I recieved an advanced review cope for free and have left this review voluntarily.
April 5, 2021
Cessy's younger sister is missing. Cessy finds out that Kate went back to their hometown that has some strange happenings going on. There is a radio show that the whole town is listening to that is spewing hatred and ignorance.
This story was really creepy because you see things like this happen every day. The news spouting stories as truth to ramp up the fear and anger. But this goes so much further than that.
This story was really creepy because you see things like this happen every day. The news spouting stories as truth to ramp up the fear and anger. But this goes so much further than that.
January 13, 2022
Now this one, wow. This author has a great imagination and he’s very good at painting a picture with his words. I’d have liked more of an explanation for the origin of the “bad thing”. I felt like the story kind of went down a bit at the end. It was wrapped up with little or no resolution. But, this is my third book by this author and I’ll likely read more in the future. He’s definitely inventive.
March 31, 2021
This book had me intrigued from the start, lots of subtle little bits of weirdness kept me reading wanting to know more. It was a creepy, trippy, gory, supernatural story and I liked and disliked the characters appropriately! 😉
I also think I now have Trypophobia!! ⚫⚫⚫
I also think I now have Trypophobia!! ⚫⚫⚫
April 11, 2021
very slow and boring
October 17, 2022
Anyone using social media (or watching commercial American channels) should have a try at this book. Very good cosmic horror, modernized.
Don't read if you've lost family to various rabbitholes though, that might be too painful.
Don't read if you've lost family to various rabbitholes though, that might be too painful.
June 16, 2021
Beware the High Cost of Paying the Piper
I enjoyed how the author has crafted a horror novel with some unusual, original ideas not found often in the genre. Reading the book was a treat of creativity, even though there were a couple of things that bugged me about it.
I found the main character, Detective Cessy Timms, to be annoyingly unprofessional and volatile for a grown woman, even accounting for the circumstances of returning to the small town she'd left under a cloud. I did like her refusal to back down and her badass capabilities, though.
I feel that there were some constructs in the story that didn't make much sense within the main concept, though they formed an integral vehicle for carrying the story along and I therefore, won't name them. The preachy radio program kept driving the tension up throughout, as the shocks kept coming. The last few chapters were mind-blowing.
Though the unusual supernatural elements were frightening, I believe that the small-minded, hateful cruelty depicted in ordinary people amplified and authenticated the horror.
I received an advance review copy of The Piper's Graveyard thanks to BookSirens. This is my own honest endorsement: it's a great, scary read.
I enjoyed how the author has crafted a horror novel with some unusual, original ideas not found often in the genre. Reading the book was a treat of creativity, even though there were a couple of things that bugged me about it.
I found the main character, Detective Cessy Timms, to be annoyingly unprofessional and volatile for a grown woman, even accounting for the circumstances of returning to the small town she'd left under a cloud. I did like her refusal to back down and her badass capabilities, though.
I feel that there were some constructs in the story that didn't make much sense within the main concept, though they formed an integral vehicle for carrying the story along and I therefore, won't name them. The preachy radio program kept driving the tension up throughout, as the shocks kept coming. The last few chapters were mind-blowing.
Though the unusual supernatural elements were frightening, I believe that the small-minded, hateful cruelty depicted in ordinary people amplified and authenticated the horror.
I received an advance review copy of The Piper's Graveyard thanks to BookSirens. This is my own honest endorsement: it's a great, scary read.
April 11, 2021
This is the first book I've read by this author Cessy arrives in Hamlin, West Virginia to search for her missing sister. She finds a half-empty town held hostage by unexplainable threats that are not of our world.
The are holes that slither through your body which is enough to get you itching. A radio presenter seems to be heard everywhere and people are not acting as they would usually do, it's like a cult has brainwashed everyone. The evil in this town is an unimaginable horror anyone would have trouble get their head around the weird stuff happening. It was so weird and trippy I was intrigued to carry on turning the pages, even if it is something I wouldn't normally go for, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A story of a small town terror unexplainable and small minded people set in their ways. I just had to keep reading to see how the horror of it all would unravel to what the conclusion would be. Terrific read.
The are holes that slither through your body which is enough to get you itching. A radio presenter seems to be heard everywhere and people are not acting as they would usually do, it's like a cult has brainwashed everyone. The evil in this town is an unimaginable horror anyone would have trouble get their head around the weird stuff happening. It was so weird and trippy I was intrigued to carry on turning the pages, even if it is something I wouldn't normally go for, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A story of a small town terror unexplainable and small minded people set in their ways. I just had to keep reading to see how the horror of it all would unravel to what the conclusion would be. Terrific read.
May 24, 2021
If you're looking for an enjoyable, quick read that has something to say, then this is a good choice. Its fast-paced, imaginative, and has a main character that as you learn about her, you're not quite sure whether to like her or not. This is definitely a redemption story of sorts. What's best about the story is how Farthing mixes the terror of dealing with an unexplainable cosmic horror and that of toxic small town mentality, and how they feed off each other throughout the narrative. I never knew which of those two to be more scared of throughout the reading. Speaking of small town, he does a beautiful job in his descriptions of the setting, and you could tell they were well thought out. I definitely will be checking out more work from Ben Farthing.
May 6, 2021
This book really checked all the marks for me! The feeling of dread was so consistent throughout and it was so satisfying. The descriptions of the “bugs” made my skin crawl, I loved it! This novel was a unique way of showing how hate and negative influence can impact families.
5 stars for me personally would have meant having a little more horror? Don’t get me wrong, it was uncomfortable at times, but I wasn’t afraid to read it in the dark.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
5 stars for me personally would have meant having a little more horror? Don’t get me wrong, it was uncomfortable at times, but I wasn’t afraid to read it in the dark.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2021
This book is creepy, intriguing and weird. The main characters are likeable and believable. This story explores how blind faith and narrow mindedness can destroy all you once believed in. A very different and enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 22, 2021
This was the biggest waste of my time!!! This is why you should NOT do drugs! Crystal meth addicts take a ride on one of the worms from Tremors!! If I could give this piece of shit NO stars, i would!
May 10, 2021
This book was gripping and spooky , I loved it ! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 8, 2021
I enjoyed this - started off like a standard cop/crime mystery and evolved into a supernatural tale. Well-done.
January 30, 2023
DC police detective Cessy returns to her dying little West Virgina home town of Hamlin. Her younger sister Kate was called home by her disreputable ex and then went missing. Things in the town are off, people lie to her on easily disprovable things, the town is blanketed by angry talk radio and the more she investigates, the stranger things get. Hamlin has been invaded by something sinister.
Horror is at its most profound when it is making disguised commentary about the real world. The Piper's Graveyard does that. Hamlin's populace is reprogrammed by an angry talk radio host whose show seems to play everywhere in town, even places with no speakers. As the citizens watch their town crumble around them, they blame their woes on the influence of outsiders and 'vermin' rather than what they see with their own eyes.
Characterization is good, much better than I was expecting
But the book does have its flaws. Primarily in pacing. For far too long, Cessy wanders the town, encountering strange and uncanny things. But while this is happening, there seems to be no forward progress in the story. Also, the origin of the supernatural menace is given two contradictory explanations.
So I enjoyed the book. It was better than I expected, while I did have pacing issues with it and problems with the overall explanation.
Horror is at its most profound when it is making disguised commentary about the real world. The Piper's Graveyard does that. Hamlin's populace is reprogrammed by an angry talk radio host whose show seems to play everywhere in town, even places with no speakers. As the citizens watch their town crumble around them, they blame their woes on the influence of outsiders and 'vermin' rather than what they see with their own eyes.
Characterization is good, much better than I was expecting
But the book does have its flaws. Primarily in pacing. For far too long, Cessy wanders the town, encountering strange and uncanny things. But while this is happening, there seems to be no forward progress in the story. Also, the origin of the supernatural menace is given two contradictory explanations.
So I enjoyed the book. It was better than I expected, while I did have pacing issues with it and problems with the overall explanation.
March 3, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
I'm usually such a lover of Ben's work, but felt this let me down - just a little.
Plot - A great idea that I don't think was quite executed as full as it could have been, it was missing the background "how" and I felt there were other unexplained elements.
Writing Style - Ben's style is great, his descriptions are brilliant for setting the scene and I can picture everything clearly (even when I don't want to).
Characters - I didn't ever warm to Cessy, but then again, I don't think I was meant to. The townsfolk were written well in their blind ignorance and I was rooting for people I didn't expect to.
Believability - I struggled at times suspending my disbelief. It seemed no one really asked how everything started and I felt a few silly decisions were made along the way, people should learn to talk more.
Pace - A little slow at the start, but definitely picks up the pace and goes hurtling towards the end.
Ending - I really enjoyed the fast-paced action at the end, but I'm not really sure how certain people did get out and what happened about the town afterwards. The last bit was probably the only section I struggled to visualise. Though I did like the little teaser...
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from Book Sirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I'm usually such a lover of Ben's work, but felt this let me down - just a little.
Plot - A great idea that I don't think was quite executed as full as it could have been, it was missing the background "how" and I felt there were other unexplained elements.
Writing Style - Ben's style is great, his descriptions are brilliant for setting the scene and I can picture everything clearly (even when I don't want to).
Characters - I didn't ever warm to Cessy, but then again, I don't think I was meant to. The townsfolk were written well in their blind ignorance and I was rooting for people I didn't expect to.
Believability - I struggled at times suspending my disbelief. It seemed no one really asked how everything started and I felt a few silly decisions were made along the way, people should learn to talk more.
Pace - A little slow at the start, but definitely picks up the pace and goes hurtling towards the end.
Ending - I really enjoyed the fast-paced action at the end, but I'm not really sure how certain people did get out and what happened about the town afterwards. The last bit was probably the only section I struggled to visualise. Though I did like the little teaser...
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from Book Sirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 15, 2025
I really liked this story and all the characters (even the "unlikeable" ones). I've never read anything with a plot like this. Sure, there are many "I've got to find my sister" stories, but the nuances in this one are so interesting. The relationship dynamics of Cessy and her parents hit a nerve making it painfully relatable. It's so difficult to go back home.
I was left with many questions (not always a bad thing) and haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished reading it a few days ago. I'm super curious about the title since I don't remember any reference to it throughout the story... at least nothing of significance.
The writing was good... I was a tad put off by all the sentence fragments and independent clauses where a period was used instead of a semicolon... but still enjoyed the read very much. So, if things like that don't bother you, you'll have no problem with this book.
I look forward to adding more of Ben's books to my TBR.
I was left with many questions (not always a bad thing) and haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished reading it a few days ago. I'm super curious about the title since I don't remember any reference to it throughout the story... at least nothing of significance.
The writing was good... I was a tad put off by all the sentence fragments and independent clauses where a period was used instead of a semicolon... but still enjoyed the read very much. So, if things like that don't bother you, you'll have no problem with this book.
I look forward to adding more of Ben's books to my TBR.
August 25, 2025
I put down another book that was too complicated and started this one, and I'm glad! First time reading from this author and I started without much expectation. But the book kept me on edge the whole time.
The big sister is looking for her missing little sister. Also your own parents flatout lying to your face?! Like wtf is happening? Either the whole town is going insane or Cessy herself is.
Couldn't wait to figure out what the mystery is in Hamlin. Also, "vermin" is used a lot that it made me think it had something to do with the mystery, or the author just likes using the word? :) Usually I find endings more rushed in books, but this was quite the long battle and lost the interest a bit in the end.
Definitely reading more from Ben though!
The big sister is looking for her missing little sister. Also your own parents flatout lying to your face?! Like wtf is happening? Either the whole town is going insane or Cessy herself is.
Couldn't wait to figure out what the mystery is in Hamlin. Also, "vermin" is used a lot that it made me think it had something to do with the mystery, or the author just likes using the word? :) Usually I find endings more rushed in books, but this was quite the long battle and lost the interest a bit in the end.
Definitely reading more from Ben though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2022
Fantastic story,
This story begins with a lost sister, and a sister searching for her. It then morphs into a mystery, thriller, fantasy, that I can't really say to much about so as not to spoil one thing for you. I can and will tell you to not miss this. You will never figure it out until the end, and you will be blown away. Be careful who you listen to, and stay away from hate and blame. It will eat you alive.
This story begins with a lost sister, and a sister searching for her. It then morphs into a mystery, thriller, fantasy, that I can't really say to much about so as not to spoil one thing for you. I can and will tell you to not miss this. You will never figure it out until the end, and you will be blown away. Be careful who you listen to, and stay away from hate and blame. It will eat you alive.
April 3, 2025
A fantastic, chilling, and thrilling story. Using the lens of Eldritch horror to highlight and elevate a very real phenomenon in our world. Making for a read that was both otherworldly scary and also strikingly relatable.
November 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The writing was superb and kept me engaged the entire time. Tho there were parts when he was talking about the worm creature that I would get confused a bit, but overall it was great.
December 27, 2022
Good read
This was my first read of this author but definately not my last. Beginning of the book is slow, but from the middle on its a roller coaster ride
This was my first read of this author but definately not my last. Beginning of the book is slow, but from the middle on its a roller coaster ride
August 4, 2025
Indie horror at its best.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews