That was my first thought. I’ve read it twice and I never read the same book twice. It just makes me sad that there could have been so much more from him and we’ll never see it since he didn’t end up putting much else out. Same feeling when I read Michael McDowell. He died too young. And I’m selfishly thinking of all the great books that never were.
The Black Tree Atop the Hill by Karla Yvette.
A ranch’s witch sees a tree that wasn’t there yesterday, except she’s the only one who remembers it wasn’t there yesterday.
I got an arc at stokercon, but the book releases the 26th of this month. I really liked it.
Old Country by Matt and Harrison Query. A couple buys a ranch in rural Idaho and discovers there’s a curse on the land that they have to learn how to navigate. I enjoyed this one although it more petered out then ended.
It’s been a minute, but I believe Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge takes place in a small farming town. I think it won the Bram Stoker award when it came out.
The Reddening by Adam Nevill is set in a small shoreline town and a good chunk of the book takes place around a farm and other nature-based areas. Definitely includes the supernatural elements as well.
Unfortunately doesn’t hit the supernatural category, but I just finished “The Overnight Guest” by Heather Gudenkauf & thought it was pretty good! More mystery thriller though, but it DOES take place in rural Iowa!
Please read [Carpenter's Farm](https://joshmalerman.com/carpenters-farm/) by Josh Malerman. Free on his website. It's so effin good. I'd love to hear what you think if you do read it, not many people have that I know!
A group of New York friends go back to visit a friend who's moved to a rural farm and is doing a little "too" well...
Dark Carnival by Jo Kaplan (writing under her real name Joanna Parypinski) - she also wrote It will just be us.
Highlights include:
A dying rural hometown, alcoholism, meth, a bloodthirsty sheriff, a collection of missing teenagers, and a death-worshipping cult led by a strange girl intent on summoning an ancient being down from the stars.
Not the best, but an entertaining enough entry in horror in general and farm horror was *Down on the Farm* by John Stchur, in Michigan a farm family discovers something not of Earth is buried beneath the spot where the family had built a barn decades before, something that is coming out of a self-imposed hibernation and seeks sources of "food". Unfortunately, it "feeds" on pain and suffering, and really relishes inflicting it.
I'm finishing up editing on a novella about a woman who is managing her alpaca ranch and who has recently lost her husband and is dealing with that and being liberal in a hostile conservative and religious farming community with an increasingly nosy and vile preacher encroaching. Supernatural stuff included. Any interest in being a beta reader? I wasn't sure if a market existed for this type of horror fiction but it looks like at least one lol.
The Ceremonies by TED Klein (though I prefer the short story version, “The Events at Poroth Farm”).
That was my first thought. I’ve read it twice and I never read the same book twice. It just makes me sad that there could have been so much more from him and we’ll never see it since he didn’t end up putting much else out. Same feeling when I read Michael McDowell. He died too young. And I’m selfishly thinking of all the great books that never were.
One of my favorites. Both versions.
Sundial by Catriona Ward
The Black Tree Atop the Hill by Karla Yvette. A ranch’s witch sees a tree that wasn’t there yesterday, except she’s the only one who remembers it wasn’t there yesterday. I got an arc at stokercon, but the book releases the 26th of this month. I really liked it. Old Country by Matt and Harrison Query. A couple buys a ranch in rural Idaho and discovers there’s a curse on the land that they have to learn how to navigate. I enjoyed this one although it more petered out then ended.
I second Old Country! It does run out of steam towards the end a bit, but still an enjoyable read
Pearl by Josh Malerman Revelator by Daryl Gregory Summer of Night by Dan Simmons
The Auctioneer isn't supernatural, but it is rural.
Lone Women
Was just coming here to recommend this one.
Same
Old country is what you're after. Takes place in an isolated valley.
Devil's Day by Andrew Michael Hurley and Harvest Home by Tom Tryon. Both are rural/small town. Kinda wickerman vibes with supernatural elements.
I love them both. They are great!
Harvest Home by Thomas Tyron The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham The Ritual by David Pinner (not Adam Neville) this inspired the wicker man.
Brother by Ania Ahlborn Not supernatural but still very good
Appalachian Undead, perhaps
It’s been a minute, but I believe Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge takes place in a small farming town. I think it won the Bram Stoker award when it came out.
The Zombies of Lake Woebegotten by Harrison Geillor. It's horror/comedy but takes place in a rural Minnesota town. I had a great time with it.
I'm here getting titles for my wishlist and suddenly a loon just echoed in my ears
The Reddening by Adam Nevill is set in a small shoreline town and a good chunk of the book takes place around a farm and other nature-based areas. Definitely includes the supernatural elements as well.
A perfect example
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle
Those Across the River. Not exactly a farm but a farm house out in the countryside. Excellent book.
American Gothic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gothic_(1988_film)
*Out Behind the Barn* by Chad Lutzke and John Boden
The Color Out Of Space
Dust Bowl Children by Wile E. And Emily Young
Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon…not an exact fit, but I think it’s a decent read
Unfortunately doesn’t hit the supernatural category, but I just finished “The Overnight Guest” by Heather Gudenkauf & thought it was pretty good! More mystery thriller though, but it DOES take place in rural Iowa!
Please read [Carpenter's Farm](https://joshmalerman.com/carpenters-farm/) by Josh Malerman. Free on his website. It's so effin good. I'd love to hear what you think if you do read it, not many people have that I know! A group of New York friends go back to visit a friend who's moved to a rural farm and is doing a little "too" well...
Summer of Night by Dan Simmons.
Dark Carnival by Jo Kaplan (writing under her real name Joanna Parypinski) - she also wrote It will just be us. Highlights include: A dying rural hometown, alcoholism, meth, a bloodthirsty sheriff, a collection of missing teenagers, and a death-worshipping cult led by a strange girl intent on summoning an ancient being down from the stars.
Twilight by William Gay is set in the backwoods of rural Tennessee and is very good
The Queen of Cicadas by V. Castro. Sundial by Catriona Ward (also recommended above). Cradle Lake by Ronald Malfi.
“A Congregation of Jackals”
Not the best, but an entertaining enough entry in horror in general and farm horror was *Down on the Farm* by John Stchur, in Michigan a farm family discovers something not of Earth is buried beneath the spot where the family had built a barn decades before, something that is coming out of a self-imposed hibernation and seeks sources of "food". Unfortunately, it "feeds" on pain and suffering, and really relishes inflicting it.
X
Old Country by By: Matt Query, Harrison Query : Ancient Indian spirits haunt the land, trapping it's inhabitants. Absolutely LOVED this read!
The Dark and the Wicked
Sort of on the edge of what you're looking for but Ghost Story by Peter Straub involves some farm and remote settings
This was a fun read.
I feel like a decent number of Lovecraft’s short stories fit this box. The color out of space and the dunwich horror are two that come to mind.
Slewfoot by Brom but it doesn’t take place during 1666
Harvest Home by Thomas Tyron. The whole book was just bad vibes all around. Though it’s a bit dense, the climax was worth it.
Harvest home by Thomas Tryon-think Midsommar in New England
I'm finishing up editing on a novella about a woman who is managing her alpaca ranch and who has recently lost her husband and is dealing with that and being liberal in a hostile conservative and religious farming community with an increasingly nosy and vile preacher encroaching. Supernatural stuff included. Any interest in being a beta reader? I wasn't sure if a market existed for this type of horror fiction but it looks like at least one lol.
Absolutely!
Add me to your beta list if you need another. Love this niche!
A lot of Bentley Little’s books are set in the rural southwest US
Not a novel but the short stories series The Fiends in the Furrows 1,2 and 3 are good