3.5 stars.

I expected this to be scarier but I was filled with a sense of dread from start to finish. A terrifying folk horror with cult vibes that draws two young women together on the coast of Scuttler's Cove. Once in a generation, a ritual must be performed to ensure that renewal and prosperity continues for the town - a Daughter of the Soil and one touched by death.
Whilst this story didn't hit the stratosphere for me, the writing was impeccable and I'll definitely be reading more from this author. It was atmospheric and descriptive. Recommended for fans of Hereditary.

3 stars

This is by the author of the recent folk horror book WITHERED HILL, which I quite liked, so I was looking forward to this.

Merrin Moon returns to her home town of Scuttler’s Cove (why doesn’t anyone ever remark on what a truly hideous name this is, I wonder?) on the coast of Cornwall after the death of her mother. She hasn’t been back since her high school graduation and it seems she has forgotten much about growing up there and the town’s weird traditions (though she and her mother were not estranged.) So, yeah, none of that bodes well. If you see a big wicker effigy, I would suggest running, is all I’m saying.

Sue is a young woman who has just lost her brand new husband to a car accident. The couple and a group of his friends had all just purchased vacation houses in Scuttler’s Cove and they are all there to spend the summer.

But it seems like old haunts have also returned to Scuttler’s Cove. You have to come to this with a big ol’ helping of suspension of disbelief because, you know, OF COURSE toddlers have tattoos, and, yeah, it’s no big deal not to see your mom for 13 YEARS when you go to college a couple of hours away. I do enjoy folk horror like this but there were some problem here, plus there seemed to be a great big plot hole, unless I somehow missed something, which is certainly possible.

I really wanted to like it more. I’ll try another book by the author, but he really needs to tighten things up a bit.

4/5 Stars: Atmospheric Adventure with a Haunting Twist

David Barnett’s Scuttler’s Cove is a compelling blend of mystery and adventure, set against the evocative backdrop of a remote coastal town. Barnett’s descriptive writing brings the setting to life, making the cove itself feel like a character—haunting, mysterious, and full of secrets. The novel’s atmosphere is immersive, drawing readers into its windswept shores and shadowy cliffs with vivid imagery and a sense of impending danger.

The story follows a protagonist grappling with both personal demons and the mysteries of Scuttler’s Cove, making for a character-driven narrative that is as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful. Barnett excels at creating characters who are flawed yet relatable, and their relationships add depth to the unfolding mystery.

The pacing is steady, though it occasionally lags in the middle, as the story takes time to unravel the layers of the cove’s secrets. However, the payoff is worth it, with a climax that is both unexpected and satisfying. The supernatural undertones are handled subtly, adding an eerie edge without overwhelming the realism of the story.

Scuttler’s Cove is an atmospheric and gripping read that combines adventure, mystery, and emotional depth. Fans of character-driven suspense with a touch of the macabre will find much to enjoy here.

This was an interesting ride and it definitely kept me entertained. I think my one complaint was with the characters who seemed very flat and the women just seemed very catty and one dimensional. It was a bit upsetting to see them all sniping at each other under "friendship".

One of the best books I've read all year, definitely in the top three! Unique folk horror with twists and turns you won't see coming. I enjoyed every page; it was perfectly creepy and unsettling with characters I loved to hate.

David Barnett’s brilliant folk horror novel, Withered Hill was one of my favorite reads of this year, so when I was gifted an arc by @canelo_co of his upcoming book, Scuttler’s Cove I was beyond excited. It was my first read of December and it did not disappoint.

This time Barnett takes the reader to Scuttler’s Cove, a quaint fishing village on the Cornish coast. A town almost forgotten by time and bound by centuries old traditions and rituals, it has been rediscovered and taken over by the wealthy as their summer seaside playground, much to the dismay of the locals. It is here that Merrin Moon returns after her mother’s death. A native of the cove, she finds the town is nearly unrecognizable and her memory of the years she spent here hazy, Merrin senses something is odd. Little does she know that an old ritual involving herself, an ancient apple tree and a cornish folk legend about to collide.

This book was fun. I loved the changing of the traditional rural folk horror setting to the coast. It made all the old folk horror tropes seem fresh again. Yes, there is the quaint village, but this time the old ways revolve around the sea and the land. Cornwall is steeped in mystery and tradition and easily lends itself to the genre. And the sea can be a powerful force.

Barnett adds a bit of comedic flair to this one that works really well. The dry wit afforded to the wealthy out of towners had me chuckling as I read. But don’t worry, while lighter in tone than Withered Hill this is still a horror novel. The clash of cultures sets up tension for the inevitable battle to come. An ancient entity is rising and must soon be appeased. And oh yeah, there are creepy crawlies galore in this one- swarms of and attacking from the land and sea. Neither are my favorite things and now who knows if I will ever go in the ocean again.

I am so happy I discovered Mr. Barnett this year. Withered Hill had a mastery of complex storytelling and this one is pure unadulterated disturbing fun! I’m always on the hunt for the pristine bit of folk horror and Mr. Barnett has delivered fun and quality folk horror twice

The cover and concept appealed to me. The description gave vibes of folk horror in a coastal village. Two women are recreating their lives after wrenching losses. Creepy things happen. Nearly everyone is keeping secrets.

For me, the pacing felt much too slow. There's a lot of repetition, including of unimportant details, and a load of spoon-feeding. There could have been more suspense if the author didn't tell so much about the history so often and refer to what was coming multiple times.

Overall, he created a great insular location and there's a sense of dread at key points. The book contains some weird and creative horror. I liked it enough to keep reading. I enjoyed the place, the lore, and all the nature weirdness.

Unfortunately, even the end slows to crawl with laborious backstory from multiple points of view to explain everything.

It kept my attention, but some of it was predictable. The gender roles, especially certain statements near the end, would have made more sense if it had been set a few decades in the past. These things are a matter of taste. Many readers appreciated the author's previous novel and will enjoy this one as well.

Thank you, Covelo, for the attractive e-ARC via NetGalley. These are my unbiased opinions.

I unfortunately had to DNF, at about the 50 pages mark. Nothing kept me interested, there was nothing notable about this book, all of it was just meh, no character was actually likeable, or smart.
Also, can we stop the trope of "hero asks question, people give vague non-answers, and hero just drops it:". What a boring, overdone trope, that ruins the tone of the whole book. I do not enjoy trickling information in this sense, make it more interesting, or at least have them be dumb enough to not even ask questions.

Dark, eerie, chilling, horrific, and oozing with unease, Scuttler's Cove is a wonderfully creepy folk horror book! I enjoyed the mystery, the tension, the dark secrets, the mounting danger! The sea, the land, the towns people, and an apple tree hold a centuries old secret. I do not read a lot of folk horror, but if David Barnett writes it, I will read it!

In the coastal town of Cornwell, an apple tree grows. Every so often the apples come early. The townspeople know what it means and what they must do. To ensure their way of life remains balanced, certain things need to happen. They follow the ancient ways, beliefs, gods, and traditions. They are an isolated and tight-knit community where, like Cheers, everyone knows your name. But outsiders have discovered the beautiful setting and town and are buying up homes as the townspeople struggle.

When Merrin Moon left town for college, she never imagined she would come back to Scutter's Cove. But her mother has passed away and Merrin returned to take care of her mother's funeral. Back in Scutter's cove, Merrin has been reacquainted with old friends, her mother's old friends, and those she knew growing up. Things she has forgotten are beginning to come back to her as the days progress.

Jen is a young widow whose husband died in a horrific accident. She is in town with her deceased husband's friends and has formed a friendship with Merrin. Jen is drawn to the town, the apple tree.

Holy Moly! This was a great fast read that both enticed and spooked me! As I mentioned, I loved the atmosphere, the unease, the isolation, the tension, the creepy vibe of the book. The ancient ways, the history, the characters, and the sea made for a thrilling reading experience. I had no idea where this book was going to take me, but I enjoyed the twist filled creepy ride! David Barnett nailed writing vivid descriptions. I could see everything playing out in my mind as I read. I enjoyed the writing, the well thought out plot, and the characters. While I rooted for some, there were others who gave me the creeps. I could see this being made into a movie.

Dark, horrific, eerie, and hard to put down!

folk horror girlies we are UP! 🦀 this is a book that sneaks up on you. you’re hooked before you even realize it, unable to stop turning the page. i want to be as vague as possible bc i feel like this is best experienced knowing very little about the plot— but if you’re looking for a beautifully written, tense horror tale with all the fishing village vibes, this is the one.

Scuttler’s Cove is an eerie, atmospheric novel folk horror novel from David Barnett. I have never read anything from this author but I definitely will after reading this! The basic premise involves two women, one returning to her childhood hometown and one recently widowed who is summering in the same time. Odd events start happening and the story just gets creepier as it goes on. The plot had my attention throughout and the cast of characters was great as well. I was also pretty surprised by a twist at the end. Definitely would recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this eARC.

This was such an atmospheric eerie tale that slowly built up throughout the book. Loved the characters so much, felt like I was right there with them. This was well depicted to the point I could see the imagery in my mind like a horror movie. Will definitely follow this author now!

The author portrays a very vivid setting and has come up with an interesting premise in this novel. However, for me, the extensive cast list resulted in insufficient character development, so I found it hard to feel truly engaged with them all.

Some passages also felt a little repetitive, which is more of an editing issue. The themes of gentrification and the greed of man destroying the world were slightly over-egged. Such points were made then repeated over and over which makes the reader feel like the author thinks they have not been paying attention!

Wow! Some of the best things I've read in a while. I'm a sucker for folk horror and this really takes it to another level. The writing is gripping and vivid. The setting is beautifully creepy. David Barnett is now on my auto buy list. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Scuttler's Cove by David Barnett is an absolute triumph of suspense and atmosphere, brilliantly blending dark mystery with a sense of eerie wonder. Barnett’s writing is both sharp and immersive, capturing the haunting setting of Scuttler’s Cove with such vivid detail that it feels like a character in itself. The plot is full of twists and turns, each more captivating than the last, with a strong undercurrent of psychological tension. The characters are richly developed, their motivations and complexities driving the story forward. This is a masterclass in gothic storytelling—gripping, chilling, and unforgettable. A must-read for fans of atmospheric horror books.

This is an entertainingly creepy folk horror tale, with some sympathetic leads and some realistically nasty DFLs. The sense of place is excellent, this really feels like the small Cornish villages I know, and there’s plenty of rising mystery and palpable dread. A very entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I only finished 'Withered Hill' what feels like recently, and I absolutely adored it. I did not, for a minute, think that I would be treated to a second iteration from David Barnett so soon, and I did not think that I would love it as much (in different ways) as 'Withered Hill'. But 'Scuttler's Cove' delivers, with a whole new cast of characters, as well as a plot that is equally as creeping and haunting as the former novel, but with a collection of different elements.

Good folk horror is hard to find, particularly good folk horror that feels and looks like the peak of the genre. This is definitely a prime example, however. This book is less violent than the predecessor, but it is equally as punchy. As someone who lives in a quasi-tourist town where you have a begrudgingly symbiotic relationship with those who come to visit and those who have always been there, 'Scuttler's Cove' was the perfect example of the awkward meeting of those things, with some nastiness chucked in.

The characters were compelling, and those who were meant to be bad were a 'love to hate' situation. Merrin and Jen were wonderfully written, and multi-faceted, which is always a win. Their connection to the town and the last minute twists were marvellous, and I found myself tearing through the book (much as with 'Withered Hill').

To save on spoilers, I won't mention a third place by name - but I do hope and pray for a third book in this wonderful series (and also, it means when I get physical copies, they can look nice and consistent together for me!).

I read Withered Hill back in September and became a fan of David Barnett. Folk horror is eerie without being over the top.

Scuttler's Cove is about a small town being taken over by city folk looking for a second home in the summer. The towns folk are either against the new people or cashing in on them. Merrin is brought back after her mom's passing and Jen is being dragged along by her recently deceased husband's friends.

Any time I read a folk horror book I am reminded of how good it is. There are things that just make sense because it's "for the greater good" (Think Hot Fuzz) and I don't bat an eye at it.

Definitely recommend checking out if you want something unique and creepy! Thank you to NetGalley, David Barnett, and Canelo Horror for the opportunity to read Scuttler's Cove. I have written this review voluntarily.

A beautiful folk horror beautifully executed.

Taking place in the eponymous Scuttlers Cove, a quiet fishing village in Cornwall. The story revolves around second homers moving in and driving the prices up and the locals out. Our two main characters, Merrin and Jen, find themselves drawn to Scuttler's Cove and soon come to realize there's dark ancient works at play that they find themselves in the middle of.

For fans of The Haar, Lovecraft, and short pov chapters this story builds up tension and intensity beautifully to a memorable climax. I have yet to read Withered Hill by Barnett but i'm definitely eager to read it now after loving this.

Before anything, I wanna thank the publisher, the author and Net Galley for sending me this ARC. All opinions are my own
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Scuttler’s Cove is a very entertaining and fast paced book despite its 377 pages since something is always happening with the characters, from the begging of the story until the last page, and yet the plot doesn’t feel rushed at any point, imo. It was very easy for me to connect with the main characters so I laughed with them and suffered with them.
It’s a fantasy horror story with plot twists that I never saw coming (and I pride myself on being very good at anticipating them) with a contemporary theme (gentrification) combined with tradition and folklore, which the author manages to combine in a spectacular way. Lastly, it didn’t flew over my head all the feminist comments throughout the book, which I don’t know if the author included on purpose or not, but I absolutely loved them.

I’m definitely going to check out the author’s other published works.