Audiobook Review: Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon

Theodore "Ned" Constantine, his wife, and teen daughter opt to leave the city air of New York City in attempt to find a calmer life.  Life in this city is difficult on his daughter, a severe asthmatic. They find the perfect 19th-century home in the charming farming village of Cornwall Coombe.

They are the first "outsiders" to maintain residence in Cornwall Coombe.  Luckily, they are befriended by the village's matriarch, the Widow Fortune.  Her approval makes their transition to the quiet village life easy, natural.  The village has close ties to the past; annually they hold an ancient festival, Harvest Home, which celebrates the fall harvest.  Ned soon catches wind of something sinister afoot in Cornwall Coombe, a dark and sinister past covered up by the annual celebration.  The odd superstitions surrounding the seasons and the village's corn crop are a bit eerie, putting Ned on edge. At first it was all curious and humorous, but when they take on a more deadly spin, he questions his family's safety. He's alone in his feelings; both his wife and daughter have found a home in Cornwall Coombe. As he discovers more about the village's history and beliefs, Ned soon finds himself in a dark and deadly position.  He's unable to resist investigating the villages secrets, unfortunately at his own risk...

 

 

This novel was originally released four years before I was born, a horror classic that I discovered when I was a teen. When I found myself on the hunt for a classic horror read, I knew this would be it.

This is the type of horror novel that is slow building.  It’s not full of action or terrifying scenes, but a true classic in every form of the word. When there is a terrifying scene it is brutal, carnal, and terrifying. As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder how this title would have fared in the current publishing environment.  There are quite a few scenes that likely would have been banned or edited, for this is true, hard-core classic horror. While there is gore, it doesn’t rely on those scenes for its success. The eeriness of the townspeople is enough to terrify any reader.

If you are looking for a truly terrifying classic horror novel, this is the one for you.  The audio production was outstanding, the narration adding to the chill and tone of the book.  All in all, highly recommended (with warning)!