Five days in the history of a small rural town, visited and infected by darkness, are recounted by Evil itself. A stunning high-concept thriller from the bestselling author of Good Samaritans and Nothing Important Happened Today. ‘Cements Carver as one of the most exciting authors in Britain. After this, he’ll have his own cult following’ Daily Express ‘Will Carver is an exhilarating and … audacious new voice in literary crime fiction’ Sarah Pinborough ‘A new Will Carver novel is always something to look forward to, and this is no exception. Striking and unusual, and dark as ever’ S J Watson ________________ It’s a small story. A small town with small lives that you would never have heard about if none of this had happened.Hinton Hollow. Population 5,120. Little Henry Wallace was eight years old and one hundred miles from home before anyone talked to him. His mother placed him on a train with a label around his neck, asking for him to be kept safe for a week, kept away from Hinton Hollow. Because something was coming. Narrated by Evil itself, Hinton Hollow Death Trip recounts five days in the history of this small rural town, when darkness paid a visit and infected its residents. A visit that made them act in unnatural ways. Prodding at their insecurities. Nudging at their secrets and desires. Coaxing out the malevolence suppressed within them. Showing their true selves.Making them cheat. Making them steal. Making them kill. Detective Sergeant Pace had returned to his childhood home. To escape the things he had done in the city. To go back to something simple. But he was not alone. Evil had a plan. ________________ ‘Gobsmacking, beyond dark, and so much fun. I would join Will Carver’s cult. He’s the most original writer around…’ Helen FitzGerald ‘A novel so dark and creepy Stephen King will be jealous he didn’t think of it first’ Michael Wood ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction … The whole thing feels like a shot of adrenaline’ Alex North ‘Twisty-turny and oh-so provocative, this is the type of book that will stick a sneaky foot out to trip you up’ Liz Robinson, LoveReading ‘Deliciously fresh and malevolent story-telling … a laminate-you-to-your-chair, page-whirring dive into a small British town that is turned on its head over the course of a few days. If you like something fresh and unusual, grab this book’ Craig Sisterson ‘It’s going to take something special to top this as my book of 2020. Original, thought provoking and highly recommended’ Mark Tilbury Praise for Will Carver Nothing Important Happened Today was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year ‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times ‘Laying bare our 21st-century weaknesses and dilemmas, Carver has created a highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review ‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent ‘At once fantastical and appallingly plausible … this mesmeric novel paints a thought-provoking if depressing picture of modern life’ Guardian ‘This book is most memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Unlike anything
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A FRIGGIN’ BRILLIANTLY-TWISTED TRIUMPH!!! Telling the story from the point of “Evil” was pure genius! And, “his” insight about humans and human nature was so eerily accurate.
I was held spellbound as the story shockingly twisted back upon itself like a writhing snake, again and again. I was stunned as each piece of the Norman Rockwell-like façade of a seemingly-idyllic town was violently stripped away leaving behind the desecrated picture of a desolate landscape irrevocably marred by myriad dark secrets and painful lies.
All of the characters are written in realistic and identifiable “shades of gray”, presenting as neither all good or all bad. And, because of that, I found it so very easy to become emotionally invested in them, to mourn with them, to feel ashamed with them, to feel insecure with them, to feel inadequate with them and to absolutely love or completely despise them – just like people in real life. Carver also does an excellent job of highlighting the individual lives of each character while, at the same time, seamlessly intertwining their stories to weave the intricate web of lies and deceit that enshrouds the once quaint and happy town and eventually captures and entangles the inhabitants in its sticky, sinister, smothering strands.
After reading this masterpiece of a novel, I would love to sit down with this author and “pick his cleverly-deviant brain” over a cup of good coffee. I will remember this book for a long time to come. I don’t lightly give a 5-star review, and if I could give it more I would, because it is very apparent to me that Carver bloody well deserves it! One of my favorite reads of the year!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
I like the premise behind this story, but I don’t think the style was for me. Confused me more than anything, though I liked the humour put into it.
Hinton Hollow Death Trip
By Will Carver
5 out of 5 stars
I loved reading the book Hinton Hollow Death Trip by Will Carver. It is a story that pulled me in right from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the final page. It is a book that is brilliantly written, and the author does an amazing job of making the story and the characters come alive. The story is about five days in the history of a small town. Evil is the one that tells the tale. The story is character-driven and each one has a part and tale to tell. There is heartache, betrayal, suffering, loss, and conflict. There is also Detective Sergeant Pace who has returned home. He is a man who is determined to find out the why of things that are happening. He finds himself in the middle of it all and feels the frustration of multiple situations and not enough information or clues to follow. This book had my emotions going up and down the entire time that I was reading it. The author does a wonderful job of weaving an unforgettable tale. It also made me think about what I would do if put in the same situation that those in town were. Don’t miss out on a story that will grab your attention and hook you in from the start. I highly recommend reading it.
Narrated by EVIL, this takes the reader to a small rural town, but you don’t have to stay long. Just five days …. five long days in Hinton Hollow, population 5120. When EVIL gets done with the town and its residents, how many will be left?
EVIL slithers his way into people’s lives, causing them to act in unnatural ways … some will steal, some will cheat, some will even kill… Prodding at their insecurities. Nudging at their secrets and desires. Coaxing out the malevolence suppressed within them. Showing their true selves.
Detective Sergeant Pace had returned to his childhood home. To escape the things he had done in the city. To go back to something simple. But he was not alone. Evil had a plan.
First off, this is nothing that I expected it to be. I almost put it down after reading the first 2-3 chapters. Then I found it so unusual, I kept on reading. While not enthralled, it certainly wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read. I will say … this is not something I would not normally pick to to read .. although I really liked the cover.
If you like some horror mixed in with crime, and you really like the unusual and the feel of darkness throughout, this would be the book for you. It does seem to be well written, but not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this strange and unusual fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
My no1 book of 2020 so far (it’s now August.) Very thought provoking, twisted and dark. Brilliant narration by Evil too!