Long Lankin

A fabulous revisiting of the hoariest of old chestnuts

Daily Telegraph

A real stunner of a debut: Long Lankin is a wonderful, imaginative slow burner of a thriller . . . Lindsey Barraclough's first novel is written with a style and intelligence that would put many an adult thriller to shame

John Millen, Young Post

A story to get lost in

Booklist

Barraclough's debut, which is based on a centuries-old British ballad, is a ghost story through and through, chock-full of mysterious apparitions, strange voices, cryptic warnings, and townsfolk who chorus beware

Publishers Weekly

Barraclough's depiction of Bryers Guerdon, a village half-immersed in mist-clad marshes, is as vivid as it is frightening; its silent and close-lipped inhabitants are reminiscent of those of Crythin Gifford in Susan Hill's The Woman in Black. Much of our time is spent in Guerdon Hall, a sinking wreck of a house, exploring the dusty tombs of its abandoned rooms. As the action builds, the cellar and, perhaps most notably, the nearby churchyard become the focus of a gripping, supernatural climax

Fletcher Moss

Not for the faint-hearted, this mesmerizing tale generates goosebumps on almost every page

Booktrust

Such an impressive debut. Every element is spot on - from the elegant prose, through the realistic portrayal of various aspects of family life, the three-dimensional characters and the occasional comic set-piece, to the supernatural horror underpinning it, which is absolutely chilling. Highly recommended

Jill Murphy, The Bookbag

The story, based on a traditional poem, moves to a chilling conclusion

Mary Arrigan, Irish Examiner

The terror is as relentless as the ballad the story springs from . . . Chilling

Geraldine Brennan, Observer

This atmospheric, pulse-pounding debut makes the most of its rural, post–World War II setting, a time and place where folklore uneasily informs reality. Barraclough controls her narrative with authority, shifting voices and tenses to provide both perspective and the occasional welcome respite from tension . . . A good, old-fashioned literary horror tale for sophisticated readers

Kirkus Reviews

Well written and well paced, with more than a sprinkling of hair-raising moments

TES