Pyres

by Kev Harrison, Elle Turpitt (Editor), Adam Hulse (Introduction)

"Horror’s Kev Harrison is on fire with his latest novel, Pyres, a blistering murder mystery with echoes of Dorian Grey that compels with its artistry as much as its political commentary. Set in the New Forest and conjuring ancient gods, Pyres is darkly revelatory. Definitely make this your next read."—Lee Murray, five-time Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of Monster Stories

Angela has been a spirit painter for years. Channelling the spirits as they commit memories to canvas through childhood pets, favourite holiday locations, and sprawling homesteads. But now, something has changed.

The paintings take a dark turn just as her sister, Becky, returns from Italy. People burnt alive, their smouldering remains a vivid, visceral stain on Angela’s canvasses. Already disturbed, her life is thrown into turmoil when a right wing TV news presenter is found incinerated in a facsimile of her new painting.

As the artworks - and charred bodies - mount up, can Angela and Becky find out what’s happening, and how to stop it?

From the Independent Press Award-winning author of Shadow of the Hidden, Pyres is a tense, taut novel of supernatural horror.

Genres: Horror, Novels

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2025

About the author

Kev Harrison is a writer of dark fiction and English language teacher from England, living and working in Lisbon, Portugal. He has previously lived in various areas of the UK, as well as Turkey and Poland.

His Independent Press Award-winning debut novel, Shadow of the Hidden, is out now from Brigids Gate Press. His latest novella, 'Below' is also available from the same publishing house.

His debut novella 'The Balance', was released through Lycan Valley Press, while his debut collection 'Paths Best Left Untrodden' was released through Northern Republic.

His forthcoming release, Pyres, is a politically-charged novel of supernatural horror, set in the New Forest.

He is a staff writer for This is Horror and has had short fiction published in a variety of magazines and anthologies and podcasts.

Reviews

[Ryan Davison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pyres could also be titled Fahrenheit 162, the temperature which human tissue burns. Like the Bradbury classic, it blazes with intensity and drips with insightful social commentary.

Set in the New Forest of Britain, artist Angela claims to paint with a spiritual guide. Younger sister Becky considers her sibling's rolled back eyes and slashing brushstrokes mostly dramatics and while Angela usually renders kids, dogs and seaside landscapes, her newest painting depicts the fiery demise of a blowhard politician. Her images are accurate down to the color of the melted couch and his grotesque charred legs. Similar occurrences continue and the reader and sisters alike wonder if art is predicting fatal events or contributing to them.

This is a blistering murder mystery with indelible scenes of horror and atmospheric settings. Backstory is filled in as sisters and cunning supporting characters follow disturbing threads. Action and violence are balanced with a steady emotional tone and the narrative ends with a strong, worthy finale.

The modern political attempts used to dehumanize England's neighbors are a theme, as well is the mysterious ways sibling relationships evolve into adulthood. Pyres carries elements of The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Silent Patient and American Gods.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Pyres, Kev Harrison combines supernatural horror, political commentary, and several grisly murders into a compulsively readable shorter novel that will leave you gasping by the end.

It starts as a tale of two sisters. The younger lives alone in almost seclusion. She's an artist but she's known because she can channel the spirits of the dead who "paint" the pictures through her as she channels them.

The older sister doesn't believe it, thinking her sister just found a good hook to sell her art. But that will soon change. Not only are some of her paintings extremely gruesome and horrific, but they start becoming true in the real world as several right wing pundits and politicians are found brutally burned to death EXACTLY as they're portrayed in the paintings. And pretty soon, the malevolent creature starts forcefully using her for his purposes.

But this isn't about the author standing on a soap box. He lets the reader decide if the people who decry immigration and treat others as less than human should suffer the horrifying fate this creature brings to them. How far is too far? Does the punishment fit the harmful rhetoric? These are questions that will pop up as you're reading.

But make no mistake, the horror is first and foremost and it's violent and brutal nature will make your skin crawl. I highly recommend it.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Pyres" is another page-turner from Kev Harrison, this time an excellent supernatural mystery, with the most pressing political issue of today at its center: immigration policies - specifically anti-immigration and racist discourses and practices in UK politics and social media. The moral and political problematic of the book, however, never upstages the main story, an engrossing tale of ghosts and spirits, gods and psychics, spiritualists and mediums; all revolving around two sisters, one of which is a Spirit Painter: namely, an artist whose paintings are the products of spirits temporarily inhabiting her body and directing her in a trance state.

When Becky, returning from her work in Greece and Italy supporting refugees and asylum seekers, visits her sister Angela in her cottage in the New Forest in Southern England, she finds her channelling the painting of a man's smoldering remains in an armchair. For the first time, the painting that has come through is a violent and nasty affair, unlike her previous, peaceful and nostalgic works, allegedly painted by spirits committed to nice memories and sweet experiences from when they were alive. When the picture on the canvas, however, turns out to coincide with the recent death photo of a right wing TV news presenter, apparently a case of spontaneous human combustion, the mystery deepens, and both sisters are taken on an emotional rollercoaster - touching on Celtic lore and Irish mythology, family drama, spiritualist forums, and, for one of the sisters, even (queer) romance!

The resolution of the supernatural mystery is an explosive facing down of political bigotry, with an ending that provokes much thought about the kind of people who put forth ideas of hatred and intolerance, peddling around racism and xenophobia. Although I did like that type of ending, I doubt most people will agree with it; it's reasonable to see some moralism and sentimentalism here instead of politics, and the author's afterword doesn't really clear up this point.

However, this is fiction, and riveting horror fiction at that - so a different type of ending might have taken most of the tension away. It'd be nice to have more readers' reactions on this issue to compare with - another reason everyone should go read this gripping story, which I highly recommend! Great, great stuff!

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pyres is a gripping page turner told by alternating view points of two sisters, one of whom is a spirit painter and receives an unwelcome visitor!
I don't where to begin when discussing everything I liked about this book! Its a real page turner I've read a lot of Kev Harrisons books ( all highly recommended!) he's a very talented author but this one really knocked it out of the park!
It's a fantastic folk horror read but also managed to encapsulate everything I hate about British
politics and the dangerous way its leaning to the right.
I don't want to risk giving out spoilers but suffice to say this is a really fantastic book and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book Kev Harrison writes!!!

[Ross Jeffery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pyres was wonderful, in the most macabre and weird.

Firstly, spirit painters. I’ve never heard of these before, but what a hook for a spooky story; and I looked them up, Spirit Painters, and they’re real, crazy stuff - and with Kev Harrison’s ability to weave folk horror into his work to devastating, believable effect, I knew this was going to be a cracking read.

Secondly, Kev takes the tumultuous times we’re living in, more focused with regards to the bigoted views of migrants and asylum seekers and he puts this onto the Pyre too for us to watch everything burn - and provides a wonderful afterword which touches on some of the themes in the book too.

What we get here is a story with heart, a story about revenge of hatred, or fear and with a nice flaming portion of spontaneous human combustion (had me right away) - it has a message and those books are dangerous…in all the best ways…and this catches fire and we watch the world burn!

[Happy Goat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating chapters between two sisters, this is a really fast-paced, creepy horror story about a woman who is constantly "hosting" spirits that paint through her. The paintings range in what they depict, and she's quite used to it, until she starts painting the same horrific image over and over again. Her sceptical sister visits and soon suspects that perhaps the spiritual element of her sister's art might not be a marketing gimmick after all...

The only reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is because it fell just short of being absolutely perfect. There's a surprising angle to why the horror is unfolding, which I enjoyed, but only wish it had been set up a little more solidly. However, I breezed through this and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Beverley Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kev Harrison ignites a flame in Pyres, spinning a tightly-paced supernatural mystery of family bonds and old gods, the narrative burning with political wrath.

With cinematic imagery, the author's signature descriptions of food and wine that will have you salivating, and a rollercoaster ending, Pyres is a worthy addition to your autumn tbr!

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

More novella than novel, but that keeps everything nice and tight. Kev doesn't hang around here with Pyres. A proper page turner you could rip through in one sitting.
There is a message here in between all what's going on, but it's handled with such grace. I really appreciated that.
For me, this was also great showcase of how to blend different genres together.
Five stars deserved.

[Miranda Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was super lucky and managed to snag a signed paperback of this book while at the Indie Horror Chapter's third event at The Royal Hotel in Weston-Super-Mare.

This is a completely gripping book, from start to finish, and right up my alley with being supernatural based horror. The main character, Angela is a 'spirit painter' which means she channels visions from beyond the veil through her art. But when they turn into images of horror, with one being identical to the real life death of a right wing TV presenter, things get very scary. Her sister, Becky, returns from Italy just in time to help her untangle what is going on.

Set in the British countryside, with very real characters I loved this book. It's dark, fast-paced, with a background of political narrative that's very satisfying. It's the best thing Kev Harrison has released to date.

[NebulousGloom (FK) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pyres is like waking up from a dark daydream of killing off heartless politicians to find that the darkness has infected your life. This short novel is an incredibly compelling read that is alternately satisfying and frustrating in just the right way. I feel like it also has enough subtext to let you make larger statements about society in ways that I haven't found in most of my recent reads.

First, this isn't so much a warning as it is a fyi: this novel has British expressions that I had never heard before. Their use isn't so overwhelming that you'll never be able to read it if you aren't from the UK. However, you might need to look up an expression or two. That is the way people talk, though, right? So, it just makes the story better, in my opinion.

You won't find a single, laggardly sentence in this book. From the moment that we meet Becky and her subsequent reunion with Angela, the story moves. At the same time, the author doesn't skip characterization in the breakneck pace of the story. Angela has a paranormal ability that could have been portrayed as nothing but a burden or a self-indulgent desire that makes everyone else miserable. I really like that her unusual life choices are treated as though they matter by the author. Becky is much more gritty and has backed up her opinions with action. The sisters, like all sisters, have a complicated history. These are great characters, and it is so easy to care about them. As with all the best books, the secondary characters have personality too.

A friend of mine said that the setting should be like a character in the story. We all know the state of the world today, so the part of the story about crappy politicians is a frustration that resonates. But Angela lives in a mysterious and ancient part of England, which sets up a nice contrast. I enjoyed the way they were woven together.

I have to say that the plot was pretty surprising. There were elements that I absolutely did not expect, although I felt that they were perfect when they came up. The end was kind of controversial, perhaps, but I felt like it fit the story well. Also, the points that were made there were good ones.

So, I'm not going to say too much about the subtext and what one can say the characters in the story represent, because spoilers. I love a book that says something more than just the story and the plot.

This is the second book I've read by Kev Harrison, and I really like the first one, Shadow of the Hidden, too. While I don't mind some creepiness, I'm not up for anything that is super dark, which is - obviously - often part of the horror genre. What I like about this author's work is that I can have that creepiness without feeling too stressed to sleep or super depressed when I close the book. Now, I have the impression that the detective character from this story will show up in another of Kev Harrison's novels, and I will absolutely be there to read it.

Should you read this book? There are mentions of politics and people being hurt in creepy and disturbing ways. Also, there are women kissing other women. While I am sensitive about politics, I didn't find the political part to be overwhelming. So, if you can handle those things, you should read this book. It is so compelling that you can get through it in one or two sittings if you have the time, and I feel like it is enjoyable enough to make it worth spending that time.

[Kayleigh Dobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a page turner and a thoroughly creepy horror story. The chapters were told in alternative viewpoints between two sisters who have very different outlooks, and I loved this as a narrative choice. Great book.

[Richard Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Pyres author Kev Harrison delivers a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ supernatural horror story, centering around sisters Angela and Becky and a series of deaths by spontaneous combustion.

Older sister Angela lives in a somewhat remote English countryside cottage. She is a "spirit painter", enabling spirits who inhabit her temporarily to create paintings of people, animals and places that were important to them in life . Younger sister Becky, newly returned from Italy, is staying with her for a short while waiting to start her new job assisting immigrants.

Angela becomes concerned when she notices similarities between some of her recent paintings and the inexplicable burning death of a polarizing conservative figure. When a new painting depicts yet another horrific death that mirrors events in reality, she and Becky begin to suspect that some spirit or being is using her talents to predict... or perhaps cause... these deaths.

Some readers may be put off by the reflection of current events that serve as one of the pillars of the story, but this only makes the story more relatable. With PYRES Harrison delivers a chilling, fast-paced tale with a surprising twist, enhanced by alternating the narration of the story between Angela's and Becky's viewpoints.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becky’s purpose is an altruistic protection of the most vulnerable and destitute in society. The increase in populist policies sparks a political awakening in her, a disbelief of man’s inhumanity to man.

Her sister, Becky is a spirit painter who lives in rural England. The paintings created by the spirits who come to her. But the depictions of landscape and memories give way to something more sinister. Something not of this realm. Something determined to correct the ills of man.

Told through alternating chapters of Becky and Angela’s perspectives provides dynamic character insight and propels the story. The supernatural connection is impressive, the descriptions vivid and horrific.

The socio-political setting provides contemporary relevance; the moral aspect open for readers to contemplate. The denouement will please some and will make others uncomfortable, and that’s sort of the point. Different viewpoints exist, how you react to them remains your choice.

This has been on my bookshelf far too long. Don’t make the same mistake, it’s fabulous!

[Russ Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Very unusual subject and really worked for me.

[Joseph P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The creative process can take creators to the extreme. Painters make incredible imagines of space without ever seeing it. Sculptors form the likenesses of mythological creatures that have never existed. Writers describe worlds that have never existed with detail that makes you feel like you’re there. What if these works weren’t just the product of highly creative minds, but of something else working through us? What if that thing was sending us a warning? From Kev Harrison, Pyres is a tale of what happens when we allow others to work through us.

Becky is an activist who just spent the last five years dotting from one place to another, helping refugees reach safe harbor. Now, back home, she’s trying to find a new gig to continue to thwart the anti-immigrant policies surrounding her. She’s invited to stay with her sister, Angela, in a secluded part of the country as she waits for a job opportunity. When she arrives, she discovers Angela has completed a new painting and it’s unlike anything she’s done before.

Angela and Becky are sisters with a difficult past. When their parents divorced, the two were sent to live with a different parent. Years later, Becky is sent back to live with Angela and her mother. When Becky returns, she finds Angela has taken on a new talent, painting vivid and beautiful images. Angela claims to be a spirit painter, allowing herself to be a vessel for those who passed on. Becky has never really believed her, not until she visits her years later.

Now the images are violent and predict the deaths of prominent members of the media and government. Unable to shake the spirit that possesses her, Angela scours her network of mediums and discovers psychic detective Aaron Miles. Miles, along with Becky’s new love interest, Siobhan, will find that it’s not just any spirit possessing Angela, but the spirit of a god.

Ancient mythologies often contain little known gods and creatures who make a great comeback in stories like this. In this case, Harrison taps into the Celtic god of fire and protection, Belenus. Portrayed as a spirit looking to enact revenge, his methods involve direct attacks on those who create and promote anti-immigration policies. Unfortunately, Belenus’ intentions for Angela don’t stop at just painting brutal images. He’ll use her as his vessel to infiltrate the highest levels of government.

While the novel focuses on worldwide anti-immigration policies and the bond between the two sisters, there is a theme that seems to be more front and center. During the whole story, we watch Becky grow into a more mature character. We begin with Becky jumping into bed with a random stranger then watch her build a slow and meaningful relationship with Siobhan. After questioning whether Angela really communes with spirits, Becky experiences a paranormal encounter and begins to believe her sister. Becky’s ordeal with Belenus draws a parallel to her own activism and forces her to question when fighting back goes too far. In the end, Becky’s priorities change and we watch her choose what’s really important to her.

At just over two hundred pages, this novel was a perfect weekend read, especially by the fireplace. While the book is split from chapter to chapter between the two sisters, it was Becky’s chapters I looked forward to most. Thought provoking and inclusive, the themes in Pyres will have readers reflecting on their own views of the world.

Pyres by Kev Harrison is a commentary on the state of worldwide immigration policies wrapped in a paranormal mystery. Fans of Celtic mythology and supernatural mysteries will enjoy this novel.

[Horror DNA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first came across Kev Harrison back in 2020 with his excellent Slavic Baba Yaga-inspired supernatural folktale The Balance , which later featured in my Horror DNA Top Ten Novellas of 2020 roundup. In 2021, Below heads to an abandoned Californian goldmine where nastiness lurks for an unlucky group of documentary filmmakers. Harrison followed this in 2022 with a thoughtful collection of short stories, Paths Best Left Untrodden , which slipstream from genre to genre. He also features in an extensive range of anthologies, with work being released by an impressive range of top indie horror publishers, including Demain, who is responsible for both Curfew and Cinders of a Blind Man Who Could See in its Short Sharp Shocks! series.

By the time of the excellent Shadow of the Hidden: A Novel of Adventure Horror (winner of an Independent Press Award), Harrison had graduated to full-length novels, with this great occult adventure thriller about an ancient curse. His latest, Pyres, is another supernatural tale, where the author abandons setting his fiction in far flung locations, instead basing the story entirely in the New Forest area of the south of England.

You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[MacLeod Lene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pyres is a geat read!
The story is told by alternating first-person accounts of two sisters – one a spirit painter, who has built a career with beautiful, pleasant artwork channeled through her by the dead, but something has changed with her newest pieces, as the supernatural process has taken a dark and dangerous turn. The younger sister has just returned to England after years away and is waiting for her new job to start – she works with migrants seeking refuge – this is integral to the plot also, as the story has an important theme of social injustice and policy. Be sure to read more of the author’s thoughts on this in the Afterword.
This is a tightly written, riveting story, with stellar descriptions – the settings come alive - to accompany the fast-pasted narrative.

[L. Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kev Harrison's storytelling is on fire in this enthralling supernatural mystery thriller. Pyres reminded me of the best of those mid to late 90s TV shows we watched in the dark that still remain firm favourites in our hearts to this day. And I'll admit when I read this, I thought I knew where Kev was leading me, and he still managed to surprise me. Furthermore, those anxiety-inducing fire sequences hit me right in the chest. Cheers Kev! Another top read.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pyres took me back to a part of England I know well having formerly lived in Southampton for many years so I was immediately at home. Suitable spooky and supernatural and with its rural setting in the New Forest, it took me back and I was 'there'.
Touching on current attitudes towards immigration in the UK, it challenges the reader to consider their own opinions and morals: when is violence justified? - if it ever is.
An entertaining way of making a point without preaching.

[S.J. Shank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pyres was the last book I read in 2025 and it was a high note. Part thriller, part folk horror, the story inventively blends spirit channeling and pyrokinesis to shed light on the ugliness at the heart of today's immigration debates. Terrifically paced and very spooky.