The Hounding
A Novel
by Xenobe Purvis
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Pub Date Aug 05 2025 | Archive Date Sep 05 2025
Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co.
Description
The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides in this haunting debut about five sisters in a small village in eighteenth century England whose neighbors are convinced they’re turning into dogs.
Even before the rumors about the Mansfield girls begin, Little Nettlebed is a village steeped in the uncanny, from strange creatures that wash up on the riverbed to portentous ravens gathering on the roofs of people about to die. But when the villagers start to hear barking, and one claims to see the Mansfield sisters transform before his very eyes, the allegations spark fascination and fear like nothing has before.
The truth is that though the inhabitants of Little Nettlebed have never much liked the Mansfield girls—a little odd, think some; a little high on themselves, perhaps—they’ve always had plenty to say about them. As the rotating perspectives of five villagers quickly make clear, now is no exception. Even if local belief in witchcraft is waning, an aversion to difference is as widespread as ever, and these conflicting narratives all point to the same ultimate conclusion: something isn’t right in Little Nettlebed, and the sisters will be the ones to pay for it.
A richly atmospheric parable of the pleasures and perils of female defiance, The Hounding considers whether in any age it might be safer to be a dog than an unusual young girl.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781250366382 |
| PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 240 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Emma Z, Librarian
Phenomenal. This reminded me of We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (and Jackson is in such a class of her own, so that is a huge compliment to Purvis). The Mansfield girls and their grandfather are already pariahs—envied and disliked by most of the village—mostly for their relative wealth and because the girls are not as docile and submissive as young ladies “should” be, in the eyes of some. Then, a local (soon to be one of the most hated characters you’ve ever read) claims he’s witnessed the girls transform into dogs. Crucible-level rumor mill begins churning, and it's immediately clear that the whole town is heading towards a fever pitch that will not end well.
The idea of women turning into dogs isn’t new—the recent Nightbitch, for one, comes to mind. But in this perfectly paced 200-page delight, the idea doesn’t feel stale or trite at all—this book was utterly bewitching. The atmosphere (bleak, feverish, murderous heat of summer mixed with superstitious, debase, small-minded mob mentality) is reminiscent of some of my favorite short stories (The Lottery, again Jackson, comes to mind). And for me, the ending was nearly perfect.
I haven’t read many five-star books this year, but this one ticked all the boxes for me. Xenobe Purvis’s prose, and her incredible grasp of humanity, is something I rarely find in contemporary authors, and I love it. Also, it’s feminist as f$*% in the best ways. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Alexis S, Librarian
Perfect for those of us who grew up loving Wuthering Heights and Sophia Coppola movies. On par with the hysteria of the Salem witch trails and a true testament to girls/sisters relationships and a shared madness. As a weird girl, this resonated a lot with me. Phenomenal. This reminded me of We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (and Jackson is in such a class of her own, so that is a huge compliment to Purvis). The Mansfield girls and their grandfather are already pariahs—envied and disliked by most of the village—mostly for their relative wealth and because the girls are not as docile and submissive as young ladies “should” be, in the eyes of some. Then, a local (soon to be one of the most hated characters you’ve ever read) claims he’s witnessed the girls transform into dogs. Crucible-level rumor mill begins churning, and it's immediately clear that the whole town is heading towards a fever pitch that will not end well.
The idea of women turning into dogs isn’t new—the recent Nightbitch, for one, comes to mind. But in this perfectly paced 200-page delight, the idea doesn’t feel stale or trite at all—this book was utterly bewitching. The atmosphere (bleak, feverish, murderous heat of summer mixed with superstitious, debase, small-minded mob mentality) is reminiscent of some of my favorite short stories (The Lottery, again Jackson, comes to mind). And for me, the ending was nearly perfect.
I haven’t read many five-star books this year, but this one ticked all the boxes for me. Xenobe Purvis’s prose, and her incredible grasp of humanity, is something I rarely find in contemporary authors, and I love it. Also, it’s feminist as f$*% in the best ways.
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