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Loney
Loney | Andrew Michael Hurley
The eerie, suspenseful debut novel hailed as an amazing piece of fiction by Stephen King that is taking the world by storm. When the remains of a young child are discovered during a winter storm on a stretch of the bleak Lancashire coastline known as the Loney, a man named Smith is forced to confront the terrifying and mysterious events that occurred forty years earlier when he visited the place as a boy. At that time, his devoutly Catholic mother was determined to find healing for Hanny, his disabled older brother. And so the family, along with members of their parish, embarked on an Easter pilgrimage to an ancient shrine.But not all of the locals were pleased to see visitors in the area. And when the two brothers found their lives entangling with a glamorous couple staying at a nearby house, they became involved in more troubling rites. Smith feels he is the only one to know the truth, and he must bear the burden of his knowledge, no matter what the cost. Proclaimed a modern classic by the "Sunday Telegraph" (UK), "The Loney "marks the arrival of an important new voice in fiction."
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Victoriahoperose
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Panpan

I have been looking forward to reading this book for such a long time and it just didn‘t do anything for me. It was hard to get into and didn‘t keep my interest once I got further in. This one was a struggle for me. It was just super dense and slow, in my opinion.

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SomedayAlmost
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

Atmospheric, tense, well-crafted literary horror. A family makes an annual pilgrimage to a Catholic shrine in search of healing but finds something more sinister. Author asks the reader to consider the line between faith & obsession. Suspense builds to terror. 5 stars. #folkhorror #family #faith

Blueberry I love your reading spot 💙 2y
SomedayAlmost @Blueberry Thanks! Vacation peace. 2y
21 likes2 comments
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Reviewsbylola
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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October was one of my best reading months. 21 books!

11 physical books (ok, 10.5. I bailed on Gilead with 100 pages to go.)
8 audiobooks (def a record for me!)
2 ebooks

Here‘s to a great November for all of us!

IamIamIam 👏👏👏 4y
emilyhaldi Sorry about Gilead 😂 4y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders Loved The Loney!! 4y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB So much!! 👍🏼 4y
Cinfhen Whoa!!!! Awesomeness 4y
Mdargusch How in the world do you find the time? 4y
Reviewsbylola It‘s all I do after my kids go to sleep every night. 😆 @mdargusch 4y
80 likes7 comments
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Reviewsbylola
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Car reading while the girls are in dance class. I concentrate so much better in my quiet car as opposed to the bustling lobby.

Thank you Ericka for sending me this book eons ago! I‘m almost 100 pages in and loving the atmospheric setting. I‘m shocked the reviews aren‘t great. 🤔

TrishB I just didn‘t get on with this book! 4y
Ruthiella I thought this book was totally buy subtly creepy!😨Hope you like it too. 4y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Oh yay! So glad you‘re enjoying it! I thought it was eerie 4y
Mdargusch Perfect reading spot. 4y
97 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BookishTrish
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

This one came highly recommended from a friend And did not disappoint. I read in over two days - which might be the best way. The horror is very much in the story you tell yourself - no jump scares or gore. The setting - 1970s England - feels spot on too. Not perfect - parts seemed too convenient, like the eavesdropping hiding place - but pretty darn special nonetheless.

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BookishTrish
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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When Costa met Costa

Zelma 👏👍 5y
julesG 👏👏👏 5y
57 likes2 comments
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ludodominici
Loney | Andrew Michael Hurley
Panpan

Trama priva di sostanza. Parte bene, ma finisce senza un vero e proprio sviluppo, lasciando al lettore solo tant‘è domande e un finale a tirar via. Grossa delusione soprattutto visto il grande riscontro di pubblico. Una nota positiva è la scrittura elegante e scorrevole, ma che non compensa la narrazione vuota.

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CollapsingLibrary
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
Mehso-so

To be honest, I‘m not really sure what the book is about but I was interested while reading it. Also, it did a great job of creating the creepy vibe that reminded me of Lord of the Flies.

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Michellesibs
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Panpan

Ok Costa drinkers, you voted it book of the year, I gave it a whirl but I just couldn't see it I'm afraid. For me this is one of those books that you finish and you think, did I miss something? Having now read some other reviews I'm happier that I'm not the only one in this boat. I'm not going to review this book, I feel another reviewer has summed it up perfectly in a one liner, 'was this a travel guide to Cumbria or a handbook for priesthood?'

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iwilldig
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Now reading. Good stuff. Feels spooky from the beginning.

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TorieStorieS
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

I actually read Hurley‘s second book first- and loved it! - so maybe my hopes were just too high for going back to read his debut novel... I felt more frustrated than frightened and just didn‘t enjoy this nearly as much as I had hoped to!

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Caksf
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

Damn!!! This was a fantastic book! Brilliant, tension filled narrative with lush detail and beautiful prose. An “on the edge of your seat” story arc that leaves you curious and frightened at the same time. Crazy genius musings about religion, truth, family and purpose. WOW.. it was so good that I got off my flight and just sat in the airport for 30 minutes finishing it before I get in the cab to head home. 5/5!!!

17 likes3 stack adds
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GripLitGrl
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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28 likes3 stack adds
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BookishTrish
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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When the seven year old organizes your TBR, it's surprising what doesn't make the cut

Lcsmcat 😂 6y
LeahBergen 😂😂 6y
93 likes2 comments
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scripturient
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

This was a piece of astonishing fiction with a great gothic atmosphere that had me captivated till the end. It's a powerful novel written in beautiful language which doesn't need a fast pace or elaborate twists or gory horror. Yet, it is mesmerising and disturbing and will surely keep me occupied for a while.

Penny_LiteraryHoarders I loved this so much!! His writing is amazing!! 6y
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scripturient
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Dropped off the kid at kindergarten? - Check!
Shovelled my driveway and those of the (sick) neighbours? - Check!
Vacuumed the house? - Check!
Ok, I guess mommy deserves a cuppa and her book on this cold and blustery morning. 😁

tif How are you finding this one? I'm curious about it 6y
Cinfhen Good job, mom! 💪🏼💜 6y
scripturient @tif I actually really like it and don‘t understand why it has gotten so many bad reviews. Maybe people were expecting something different. It‘s not a horror novel but it has quite a creepy atmosphere. The story itself is very ‘slow‘ if you know what I mean - oftentimes not much is happening but it‘s all about creating this uneasy feeling of place. 6y
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tif @scripturient hrmmmm... I guess there's only.one way to find out! 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I really liked this one. The ending baffled me and I had to read a lot of explanation online. I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created. 6y
scripturient @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Yes, it feels so weirdly atmospheric. I‘m about forty pages from the end and hope to finish it tonight. 😊 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Im here if you need to discuss when you‘re done! 6y
127 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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scripturient
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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My current read. 😊

Reviewsbylola I got this in my last swap and I‘m excited to read it! 6y
Heideschrampf Nope. Cover too scary. 6y
JazzFeathers Gorgeous cover 😍 6y
113 likes7 stack adds3 comments
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LauraBrook
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

I‘m not sure what I just read. It‘s atmospheric, and Mr Hurley sure can write, but it seemed to be a lot of creepy build up just fizzling out at the end. I started reading this back in October and was getting so scared that I left it sit until today. Because of the strength of the writing and how unusual and real the characters are I had no problem jumping back in as if no time had passed. But I think I maybe don‘t get this? Not sure.

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AnneCecilie
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Just started on this. Looking good so far

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Happy Halloween 🎃! Happy last day off the month! I had one of the best reading months in October. I read 10 books. Favourites: The Loney, A Great Reckoning, The Last Ballad and Crimes of the Father. The Good: That‘s My Baby and The History of Bees. The Pans: Birdcage Walk, The Shoe in the Roof and Seven Days of Us and The Rules of Magic.

Cinfhen 🙌🏻 6y
bedandabook What a great month! 6y
42 likes3 comments
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

5-stars! Wow I really loved this one. The characters! The writing! I never wanted to put this one down. I can also check off Freezer Worthy Horror for #LitsyReadingChallenge. ☺️

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Really enjoying this one so far! Wonderful writer with great characters.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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But first I‘m going to do some Halloween flavoured reading! (Before I start on Little Fires Everywhere) 🎃🎃

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LauraBrook
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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I‘m about to start reading The Loney. The sun is setting. Bad idea?
#readathon @DeweysReadathon

RidgewayGirl It‘s a weird one. Gothic, but not scary, I thought. 6y
LauraBrook @RidgewayGirl It‘s creepy - sometimes that more scary for me than “actual” scary books. I psyched myself out 1/3 through and couldn‘t pick it up again at night. Hoping to tackle it today. 6y
andrew61 Hope you enjoy it, i did and saw him discuss it with jenn Ashworth who was talking about Fell. Both really capture the feeling of Lancashire folklore well and its atmosphere. 6y
92 likes3 comments
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squirrelbrain
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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#bookhaul Just been for a quick trot round to my local shops to see if I could get any autumn bedding plants ???. None to be had but I may have accidentally popped into the charity shop - Qb.50 for all these.....
Any recommendations on where to start?

TrishB A Thousand Splendid Suns is awesome 👍 6y
LauraBrook Haven‘t read any yet by I have Guernsey and Loney in my TBR! 6y
13 likes3 comments
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tricours
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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September reading summary! Quite ok. The Loney is probably my favorite, Satantango and Leviathan Wakes were also great. #tricoursstats

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Loved The Loney. I had so many questions!! 6y
tricours @ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled me too! And I liked that. Some authors are a bit overzealous when it comes to explaining everything. 6y
34 likes2 comments
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AnneCecilie
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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My #OctoberTBR. Not pictured: The Mysteries of Udolpho. I'm trying Serial Reader for that read and that will be the first time I read anything that is not print.

#SpookyOctober

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Moray_Reads
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

To categorise this novel as horror does it a disservice. Hurley has created an ominous sense of foreboding and mines the bleak landscape of his setting for all the atmosphere it's worth. There are elements, the best of which are left hanging and hinted at, which are horrific enough but it's also a lyrical, sophisticated exploration of faith and doubt, it's laugh-out-loud, it's terribly sad and while it's not perfect it is very, very good

LauraBrook I was thinking of starting this his morning - thanks for your great review! Will be ferreting it out from a shelf/pile tonight! 7y
Moray_Reads @LauraBrook it's very unsettling and cleverly done. There are a couple of moments that stayed into more obvious, overt horror territory that I liked less, I prefer more subtlety, but overall it was excellent 7y
TrishB Good review 👍 but me and this book just didn't click! I read and appreciated it but didn't really enjoy it. 7y
minkyb Nice review! 7y
scripturient I have this on my TBR shelf. 😊 7y
41 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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tricours
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

Brilliant! Atmospheric, spooky (yet humorous!), slow and meandering, strange and confusing. This is the kind of book I am always looking for but so rarely find. Thanks @Moray_Reads !

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Yes! Well said! 7y
andrew61 Great book - you should try Fell by jenn Ashworth, last year she and Andrew hurley gave a talk about the element of magic in north west England. 7y
tricours @andrew61 thanks for the recommendation! I've added it to my TBR. 7y
See All 7 Comments
elliemcc11 It's set not far from me so it instantly went on my netgalley list. Glad to hear it's a great read 👍 7y
elliemcc11 Yet to read Fell by Jenn Ashworth but I'd recommend her other novels. 7y
tricours @elliemcc11 ooh, great! 7y
Moray_Reads I just bought this so I'm glad to hear it's worth a read x 7y
39 likes2 stack adds7 comments
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tricours
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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This quote is brought to you by Walter.

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tricours
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Heading over there for a final 15 min read while the sourdough bread is in the oven and before we leave for my boyfriend's nephew's farm, which we've never visited! This book is magnificent, I don't mind reading it slowly to make it last longer.

Cathythoughts Sounds good 👍 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Please let me know your thought when youre done! I had SO many questions after I finished it. It's really thought-provoking. 7y
48 likes2 comments
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tricours
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Work is over, the sun is shining, I've rescued Conan from his unplanned imprisonment in the basement (like 17 hours!!!) and I'm starting my #litsypartyofone with some cider that isn't particularly good but I'm Northern Scandinavian and we don't waste alcohol.

Cathythoughts Sounds pretty good to me. Enjoy 😊🍎🍎🍎 7y
Suet624 😁😁 7y
Kalalalatja Hahahahaha that's so true! 😂😂😂 7y
See All 6 Comments
britt_brooke 😆👏🏻 7y
arlenefinnigan We can all learn something from the North Scandinavians. 7y
andrew61 I hope you enjoy the loney, i saw the author last year, an interesting read. 7y
33 likes6 comments
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Bookboss
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

The author does a brilliant job of creating a creepy, ominous atmosphere, but I would not categorize the novel as horror. A Roman Catholic priest and a group of congregants make a pilgrimage to a shrine in the hopes of curing a young man. The book does not have clear cut answers for what actually happens. We do witness faith, superstition, pragmatism, and despair, all connected by a deep and abiding loneliness. Not a cheery read, but gripping.

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Loralie
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
Mehso-so

I think that I was expecting something different from this book. It's told by a man looking back on a religious pilgrimage taken when he was a boy with a group from his church in order to "cure" his mute brother and the things that happened. The writing was atmospheric but I spent the first half of the book waiting for something to happen & the last half thinks "wait, what"?

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Nikki15
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

Glad I stuck with this one! A bit slow to start and quite a strong religious theme but actually enjoyed the way it ended.

TrishB I struggled with this ond have to admit! 7y
Nikki15 @TrishB it wasn't as gripping as I would have hoped but it's wasn't awful. It was nice to read something different. Getting past the first few chapters, it's much better. 7y
5 likes2 comments
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jhod
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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booksandsympathy That's gorgeous! 7y
JoeStalksBeck Great cover! 7y
BookwormM Love the cover 7y
28 likes1 stack add3 comments
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andrew61
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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#MayBookFlowers #unreliablenarrators
I really enjoyed this creepy novel set in a 1970's north west coastal Catholic retreat and also managed to see the author and jenn Ashworth (Fell is brilliant) discuss their two books set in north west England together.

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me_sarahwells
Loney | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

The Lonely won't leave me alone. It's set in a Catholic retreat on a deserted part of coastline in the north-east of England in seventies - which (Catholic retreat apart) pretty much sums up my early years. Confusing & creepy. Loved the sense of place but overall it was a bit too long.

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bekakins
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Book club next week... Really not sure what I think of this currently! Gets rave reviews but less than 100 pages to go and still don't feel like it's going anywhere... Am I missing something?!?

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JBarr
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Excited to start this gothic mystery!

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jenniferheidi
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

Brilliantly atmospheric writing, interesting characters and some truly creepy scenes spoiled by a confused plot and too much padding.

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Nicole94
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Bailedbailed

It's very rare that I come across a book that I cannot read. I was very excited about this book because it sounded so different and unusual, but I just couldn't get into it. I only got a few pages in before I decided I couldn't hack it. I always try and give a book a chance and attempt to plod through, but I don't know what it was with this one that I just couldn't. Beautiful cover though.

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Whatshereadnext
Loney | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

Full of atmosphere but lacking in event! The author did a great job of building tension but it didn't lead to much 😕 I found the religious details and ceremony very interesting though so couldn't pan it!

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GatheringBooks
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Happening right now at the Singapore Writers Festival as Hurley talks about landscape in setting up horror and menace in his book.

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Weave
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Mehso-so

'The Loney' is an odd story to talk about, I know that is not exactly helpful for anyone who is reading this ~ apologies for that. It has a interesting story, the premise is good, the characters, unfortunately are not memorable. The best thing about the story is how unsettling it is.

Jillsandypants I just got this book from the library and I'm on the fence about whether or not to read it. 🤔 7y
Weave I don't want to say read it and then not like it, maybe read a few chapters? You might enjoy it x 7y
2 likes2 comments
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Aliking1986
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Panpan

Stuck with it hoping all would become clear in the end. It didn't. It didn't really scare me, I just found it very bleak. Incoherent in places and I was sorely tempted to skip ahead a few paragraphs/pages to see if the story was headed anywhere remotely interesting. Disappointed.

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Robothugs
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Bailedbailed

Unfortunately I just did not connect with this novel. Just when it started to hold my attention, the writing would drift and I would lose focus. I always give a novel a chance up to 100 pages. With proper focus, I think it could've been a great novel.

Bette I give it about 100 pages too, then if I bail, I think...I could be a hundred pages into a good book. 😛 7y
Robothugs @Bette I know 😂 it's anxiety inducing! But I try to stand firm in my decision. I always leave myself room to come back to it at a later date if I choose to... maybe it just wasn't the right time to read it? 🤔 Oh goodness. Anxiety inducing. 7y
Bette Yeah. It's hard to give up on a book. 🤔📚 7y
16 likes3 comments
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Robothugs
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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When the remains of a young child are discovered during a winter storm on a stretch of the bleak Lancashire coastline known as The Loney, a man named Smith is forced to confront the terrifying and mysterious events that occurred forty years earlier when he visited the place as a boy.

18 likes4 stack adds
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dannii.elle.reads
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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BraveNewBooks Yes! Getting very excited 7y
9 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Jessnoice
The Loney: Costa Shortlisted 2015 | Andrew Michael Hurley
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Pickpick

This book reminds me of my favorite short story The Way of the Cross by Daphne du Maurier. The questionable religious pilgrimage allows for wonderful characters to develop. While not the most action packed novel, the writing is superb. Hurley creates an absolutely haunting atmosphere.

Kirstin Not action packed but, unsettling. Good book! 7y
6 likes1 stack add1 comment