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David Barnett

@davidmbarnett

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Writer. Mainly on BlueSky and Threads @davidmbarnett

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𝔗𝔥𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔗𝔯𝔞𝔶: finally starting @davidmbarnett ‘s ‘Twisted Pike’. I ate up the first three books in his interconnected, non-linear Withered Hill universe, which makes me very excited about the fourth instalment of these brilliant folk-horror books. David really knows how to capture that uneasy feeling in his books, the feeling that the entire population of a weird little town is conspiring against you, the feeling of being watched in the woods while the birdsong died down. Withered Hill, Scuttlers Cove and Scratch moss are some of my favourite books from 2026, so I highly recommend reading them asap, so you can dive in Twisted Pike! 🌿

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#folkhorror #autumntbr #spookylittlebookclub #readingtray #horrorlover

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Keywords

Folk horror • Twisted Pike • Scratch Moss • Withered Hill • Scuttlers Cove • reading tray • morning tray • morning stack • anti brain rot • cosy vibes • tea tray • tea lovers • books • Autumn tbr• Autumn books • literature • Samhain • folklore • spooky books • spooky season • morning rituals

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OK!! Spooky Season Come at Us! 🎃

If you’ve been struggling to slip into your super spooky/Halloween/Fall era, fear NOT! I got you 🙂‍↕️

Here is The Haunted Margins Ultimate 2026 Spooky Season Guide to Books, Movies, TV Series’, Podcasts, Video Games and Fashion to help YOU fully immerse yourself in the magic of the season 🎃🪵 👻

I hope you find something you love 🥰

👻🧟‍♂️🧌😈

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🦀 Scuttler's Cove 🦀
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Folkhorror set in Cornwall? SIGN ME UP!!!!
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I adore David's work and it should be no suprise that this was another smash hit in the Goblin household and even had Dan asking a few questions at my reactions!
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This is also 99p today (19.10.2026) on Kindle!
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Stay tuned for my review of Twisted Pike...
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#scuttlerscove #davidbarnett #folkhorror #horror #bookstagram

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3-3-3-3 Challenge 📖

Finished up my reads for last week, onto some new books. And yes I know I was supposed to read Starship Troopers this week...but I was feeling dinosaurs over giant bugs. Got shuffled back into my gigantic TBR pile.

What are you guys reading? Let me know!

#fantasy #horror #scifi #books #reading

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🗓️2 WEEKS TO GO!🗓️

Just 2 weeks until the very first meeting of @sunderlandhorrorbookclub 📖

We'll meet at @culturehousesunderland to discuss @davidmbarnett 's folk horror novel Withered Hill 🐰

I'll be sharing a bit more information this week about what to expect, how to get there etc, so if you have any particular questions let me know 🙂

Please share with spooky pals!

Can't wait to meet you! 👻

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Still my favourite horror read so far (more people need to know about this book!) and I think about it all the time.
P.s this music is how the book makes you feel 👀 read it!

#horrorbook #scratchmoss #davidbarnett #horrorreads #bookreader

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Twisted Pike, by David Barnett, is the fourth novel in the Withered Hill universe. We open with someone clothed in dead things, they are trying to fool the Fair Ones, The Cunning Folk. It works. For now. Everything has led up to this moment but we won't understand it's significance until much later.

We follow Barnett's signature twisty narrative style where some things aren't what they seem, and others, no matter how much we wish it weren't so, are.

The plot appears simple, a group of three are heading to Withered Hill to make a horror movie. They want to find out if the stories are true, stories of women going there and coming back changed.

Barnett is a master at revealing details at just the right moment. When it comes to folk horror he is at the top of the list. With Twisted Pike, we learn about the history of Withered Hill, Owd Hob, and the old gods throughout Scuttler's Cove and Scratch Moss. Questions are answered but you might wish they were never asked in the first place.

The tension between old ways and new world are in a tug of war and the rope is about to break. Human activity and it's impact on the natural world, the world of the old gods, are going to be judged. Rules we didn't know existed are going to be broken and we'll pay the price.

As the book climaxes I can't help but think of those haunting lines from Yeats, "but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

This is the perfect ending to the storylines that began with the first book but I would certainly read more from this universe if it's written.

This is easily 5 angry old gods out of 5 for me. So, folks, pack your bags, we're going to Withered Hill to make a horror movie.

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4.5/5: Twisted Pike

AHHHH I love this series so, so much! @davidmbarnett , please give us more!

Twisted Pike is the 4th in the Withered Hill "universe", and this time we go back to where it all began - Withered Hill, itself.

Rob is a film producer, and wants to make a horror film (reminiscent of The Wicker Man) set in the village of Withered Hill....and while he's at it, get revenge on the remote village itself. Withered Hill (and its ancient god) of course, has its own plans.

Vibes:
-Folk horror
-Wicker Man
-Creepy forest
-Fast fast read
-All the small village atmosphere

I would recommend reading Withered Hill first, then Scuttler’s Cove and Scratch Moss (those two in either order) before reading Twisted Pike.

The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is because it doesn't have quite the suspense or spooky intrigue that you find in the other 3 previous books, mainly because you already know about Old Hob and the villages secrets. I still absolutely adored it and am crossing all my fingers (and toes) that this wasn't our final visit into the universe!

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PS: New here? Hi! 👋 FYI: I don’t sugarcoat my reviews. Peek at my pinned post to see how my rating system works. 😘🖤
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#readersofinstagram #horrorbooks #twistedpike #witheredhill #folkhorrorlit

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In folk horror, Sloth isn't about laziness. It's the village that looks away, the family that conceals its crimes, the authorities that ignore warnings, and the generations that allow ancient evils to flourish through silence.

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The chilly weather has begun and it’s officially time to start thinking about Christmas! ❄️

We’re so excited to share the lineup for our annual late night shopping evening!

Please join us on the evening of the 3rd of December from 6-8:30pm for a night of festive fun, with music and treats to look forward to 🎄

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Emphasis on the HOPE lol.

I seem to be in a bit of a slump since travelling for most of September; with reading and with posting (though the post slump has been for a few months now lol).

Here's to a bit of a reset this fall and hopefully nurturing my hobbies again and sharing when I feel! [And also catching up on the last 4 months of "yes, no, maybe"s 🫣.]

Happy fall everyone!! 🍂

#falltbr #falltbrlist #arcreader #fallvibes #booklist

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📽️ Twisted Pike
📽️ By David Barnett

📽️ We’re back in Withered Hill again, this time because Rob, an inspiring filmmaker, along with his cinematographer Oli, and their lead, Maddie, are determined to create a documentary about the well-talked-about but extremely secluded town and its residents. But is that truly the only reason they are here?

Although it’s said that this can be enjoyed without first having read Withered Hill, I would personally disagree. Although you will still have an enjoyable story overall, the true mysteries and secrets you encounter when reading Withered Hill are, in my opinion, crucial to truly experiencing what this world is truly all about. And just like I’ve mentioned before, I am an auto-buy fan of David Barnett’s work, and I recommend reading Withered Hill, Scuttler’s Cove, Scratch Moss, and then Twisted Pike. In my view, you truly get what he is communicating by experiencing them in that order, although they are all stand-alone works. Just trust me 😉

To avoid giving away any spoilers at all, I will just say this about the ending. Barnett, you are truly a brilliant writer and storyteller. You have unsurprisingly kept me a massive fan, and I cannot wait for any and all future dark and addictive adventures you gift us with in the future.

#bookreview

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