The Hill in the Dark Grove

Witty, tender, ultimately terrifying. Evocative and deftly done; The Hill in the Dark Grove is a book of echoes, haunted by the sheer vastness of time and landscape, and how they enact upon us and the stories we tell. A celebration of love’s persistence, a summoning of ancient lore, a superb debut – Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The MerciesGracefully and lovingly rendered with the heft of folklore, land and history, The Hill in the Dark Grove evokes, in dazzling detail, the tribulations of everyday life and the grandeur of ancestry. Higginson takes us on a soul-stirring quest to unearth the past in order to anchor the present before it flitters away. A truly bewitching experience! – Gerardo Sámano Córdova, author of MonstrilioLiam Higginson is a new talent in Welsh storytelling; atmospheric, chilling and incredibly touching, The Hill in the Dark Grove holds the reader in its arms, and shows us how our stories, our objects and memories, are shaped and held by the land – Joshua Jones, author of Local FiresThe Hill in the Dark Grove is a sumptuously written, dark meditation on aging, obsolescence, and the brutalizing march of time and progress, as well as a chilling folk horror novel. There’s something long buried in the mountains of North Wales and within the sheep herders, Carwyn and Rhian, who are economically pushed beyond their limits; Liam Higginson expertly brings it all to the surface – Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie and A Head Full of GhostsA slow-burning reeking creep of a novel about eerie ancient places and dangerous interlopers. I loved it – Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled GroundThe Hill in the Dark Grove adopts familiar Welsh myths and tales - retold to build the scaffolding for Higginson’s unnerving saga, his compelling writing vibrates with unease through the intimacy of Carwyn and Rhian – Anthony Shapland, author of A Room Above a ShopLiam Higginson skilfully creates a troubling and loaded atmosphere in The Hill in the Dark Grove: a sense of a landscape as ancient but nonetheless unsettled. The novel is eerie in a way that is rich and abides in the mind – Garrett Carr, author of The Boy from the SeaAn intensely imagined and beautifully crafted novel about myth, memory, landscape and the extraordinary, unworldly power of the deep past. Powerful, inventive and gripping to the very end – Ian McGuire, Booker-longlisted author of The North WaterA vivid exploration of struggle, obsession, mythmaking, and pastoral dread. With gritty and rhythmic prose, Higginson spins a hypnotic tale of twisted folklore that won’t let go – Scott Preston, author of The Borrowed HillsIrresistibly steeped in Welsh mystery and myth, this compelling folklore horror merges the nightmares of the living with long-dead terrors of the past – Essie Fox, author of The FascinationBy turns sinister, unexpected and exquisite, this is storytelling at its finest, evoking landscape, legend, and a love story that held me spellbound for the hours it took me to devour it. Utterly brilliant – Sarah Hilary, author of Black ThornA short tale steeped in history, anger and spirits. It successfully packs in a great deal. Higginson’s foreshadowing is subtle, his prose well constructed and his specificity exacting … [an] impressive debut * The Times *This darkly atmospheric novel is infused with centuries of Welsh history, myth and legend … It’s a cracking, if creepy, read that left me hungry for more Welsh literature – Prospect magazine[An] intriguing debut novel … provides just the right combination of action, reflection and tension to accompany you through a long winter night – Financial TimesA not-to-be-missed novel * The Sunday Times *Hauntingly atmospheric, with undeniable charm at points and chilling sequences at others, Higginson’s debut is a wonderful new addition to the folk horror landscape – BooklistA sharply drawn, appealingly eerie tale of history, family, and companionship – Kirkus starred reviewHigginson’s wickedly good contemporary gothic horror story unfolds on a harsh mountainside in Wales … Readers will savor this creepy and sumptuous masterpiece – Publishers Weekly

Liam Higginson was born and raised in rural North Wales and now works in the arcade management office at Llandudno Pier. The Hill in the Dark Grove is his debut novel.

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