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Stay Buried
From the New York Times bestselling author of Children on the Hill comes a queer folk horror in which a woman must confront decades of secrecy and superstition to learn the truth about her mother’s death.
Some towns stay isolated for a reason.
1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts.
2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.
Some towns stay isolated for a reason.
1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts.
2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.
383 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Jennifer McMahon
21 books12.1k followers I'm the author of thirteen novels, including Promise Not to Tell, The Winter People, and my upcoming release, Stay Buried. I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with my partner, Drea.
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September 14, 2026
I’ve read every single one of Jennifer McMahon’s books, and even though most of them have terrified me to my core, I always end up loving the experience. Her work consistently earns five stars from me, and her latest novel, Stay Buried, immediately secured its spot as one of my favorite reads of 2026. This story exceeded my expectations at every turn. I found myself waltzing between the two timelines—equally captivated by each—and once again fell for McMahon’s peculiar, unforgettable characters who embrace their differences, face tragedy on their own terms, and chase the truth even when doing so might seal their own doom.
The dual timelines are executed flawlessly. The pacing is sharp, each chapter ends with a delicious cliffhanger, and every time the narrative jumped between eras, I was torn—I wanted to keep going in the chapter I was in, yet I was desperate to return to the other timeline. This is McMahon at her very best: delivering twists that slap you in the face, and saving her biggest, wildest reveals for the final pages. Her endings always feel like she’s gleefully pulling the rug out from under you—honestly, I imagine her cackling like Villanelle after typing her last sentence.
The first timeline, set in 1919, follows Frankie O’Massey, assistant to her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, in the eerie little town of Boone’s Ferry. Frankie is intelligent, ambitious, and dreams of becoming a doctor—unfortunately, she was born in the wrong time and the wrong place. Orphaned, queer, wearing men’s clothes, drinking brandy, smoking a pipe, secretly involved with Pearl—the daughter of one of the wealthiest families—Frankie is the ultimate outsider. When a mysterious disease begins killing the town’s horses and later infects the reclusive knackerman, Frankie joins her uncle in trying to treat the sick. But when the knackerman disappears after being declared dead and returns with terrifying, zombie-like aggression—attacking residents, including Pearl’s mother—the town spirals into chaos. Some believe it’s a contagious disease, others insist it’s something far darker: an evil spirit possessing the townspeople one by one.
The second timeline, set in 2016, follows Ashley, who inherits her grandmother’s house in Boone’s Ferry—a place she was forbidden to enter her entire life. Determined to uncover long-buried family secrets and desperate to understand the hallucinations in which she sees her mother’s corpse warning her to “listen,” Ashley ventures back with her brother Mal. Mal, convinced he’s seen this house in visions, believes turning it into a bed-and-breakfast will solve his financial woes. But when they arrive, they encounter chilling town “traditions” like offerings left for the vengeful spirit of the knackerman, fiery-eyed locals with secrets of their own, Mini—the young girl whose family is targeted by the spirit—and Sad Willy, the most recent victim whose life has been shattered. Ashley and Mal quickly realize they’re in far deeper danger than they imagined—and something ancient and hungry is waiting for them.
Overall: Both timelines are tense, atmospheric, and perfectly paced, filled with escalating dread, rhythmic revelations, and twists that hit hard. The eerie final act ties everything together in that signature McMahon way—shocking, haunting, and unforgettable. A five-star, “everyone is the Knackerman” horror masterpiece that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
A very big thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this unputdownable horror mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The dual timelines are executed flawlessly. The pacing is sharp, each chapter ends with a delicious cliffhanger, and every time the narrative jumped between eras, I was torn—I wanted to keep going in the chapter I was in, yet I was desperate to return to the other timeline. This is McMahon at her very best: delivering twists that slap you in the face, and saving her biggest, wildest reveals for the final pages. Her endings always feel like she’s gleefully pulling the rug out from under you—honestly, I imagine her cackling like Villanelle after typing her last sentence.
The first timeline, set in 1919, follows Frankie O’Massey, assistant to her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, in the eerie little town of Boone’s Ferry. Frankie is intelligent, ambitious, and dreams of becoming a doctor—unfortunately, she was born in the wrong time and the wrong place. Orphaned, queer, wearing men’s clothes, drinking brandy, smoking a pipe, secretly involved with Pearl—the daughter of one of the wealthiest families—Frankie is the ultimate outsider. When a mysterious disease begins killing the town’s horses and later infects the reclusive knackerman, Frankie joins her uncle in trying to treat the sick. But when the knackerman disappears after being declared dead and returns with terrifying, zombie-like aggression—attacking residents, including Pearl’s mother—the town spirals into chaos. Some believe it’s a contagious disease, others insist it’s something far darker: an evil spirit possessing the townspeople one by one.
The second timeline, set in 2016, follows Ashley, who inherits her grandmother’s house in Boone’s Ferry—a place she was forbidden to enter her entire life. Determined to uncover long-buried family secrets and desperate to understand the hallucinations in which she sees her mother’s corpse warning her to “listen,” Ashley ventures back with her brother Mal. Mal, convinced he’s seen this house in visions, believes turning it into a bed-and-breakfast will solve his financial woes. But when they arrive, they encounter chilling town “traditions” like offerings left for the vengeful spirit of the knackerman, fiery-eyed locals with secrets of their own, Mini—the young girl whose family is targeted by the spirit—and Sad Willy, the most recent victim whose life has been shattered. Ashley and Mal quickly realize they’re in far deeper danger than they imagined—and something ancient and hungry is waiting for them.
Overall: Both timelines are tense, atmospheric, and perfectly paced, filled with escalating dread, rhythmic revelations, and twists that hit hard. The eerie final act ties everything together in that signature McMahon way—shocking, haunting, and unforgettable. A five-star, “everyone is the Knackerman” horror masterpiece that you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
A very big thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this unputdownable horror mystery with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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August 17, 2026
Outlier Alert❗️
This had absolutely everything that I typically look for in a book: Creepy small town, lots of folklore, dual timelines, and multiple POVs. Not to mention it’s written by one of my most favorite authors, and the cover art is perfect.
So where did this go wrong? Let’s find out…
Early on, I was having a hard time staying engaged. I think it stemmed from the multiple POVs and timelines along with the slower pace. It’s a tricky combo. Finally, around the 46% mark, things really started moving from a pace perspective. I finally found myself where I had wanted to be from page one… fully locked in. The atmosphere was creepy, things were happening that had me wanting to know more. It was looking good! We’re nearing the end, and I’m feeling everything coming together! Excitement is mounting! I flip the page….and find …the acknowledgments. But wait! I still have questions! Sigh…
This is 100% an outlier opinion. I still love this author, and there are pieces of this book I really liked. A three-star read is not bad. It just was lacking that oomph I was expecting.
This had absolutely everything that I typically look for in a book: Creepy small town, lots of folklore, dual timelines, and multiple POVs. Not to mention it’s written by one of my most favorite authors, and the cover art is perfect.
So where did this go wrong? Let’s find out…
Early on, I was having a hard time staying engaged. I think it stemmed from the multiple POVs and timelines along with the slower pace. It’s a tricky combo. Finally, around the 46% mark, things really started moving from a pace perspective. I finally found myself where I had wanted to be from page one… fully locked in. The atmosphere was creepy, things were happening that had me wanting to know more. It was looking good! We’re nearing the end, and I’m feeling everything coming together! Excitement is mounting! I flip the page….and find …the acknowledgments. But wait! I still have questions! Sigh…
This is 100% an outlier opinion. I still love this author, and there are pieces of this book I really liked. A three-star read is not bad. It just was lacking that oomph I was expecting.
August 10, 2026
🔥 Pub Week Review 🔥
Pub Date - 8/11
Tomorrow
I’m quite proud to admit that I ran up to Barnes & Noble last Thursday to get one of my most anticipated books of the year. Only one was on the shelf… which was a sign from God right? He wanted me to have it! 😆
First, this is a slow burn character driven novel. Fantastic folklore. It’s told from two timelines, 1919 and 2016. If you enjoy historical fiction or historical horror, and a slow burn done right, read this book.
1919 Vermont, people are mysteriously getting ill and dying. The town doctor and his niece are trying to find out if it’s the flu or something supernatural. Is it the Devil himself?
2016, siblings Ashley and Malcom head to that same town. Their mother disappeared from that same town two years ago. Was it suicide or murder? They want answers.
This story was holding me hostage. I loved how the two timelines connected. I was incredibly drawn to the two female characters in 1919. These were strong women, hiding their love for one another. Back then, it would be a death sentence.
The last third of the novel was so suspenseful. It even gets a bit unhinged which was perfectly done. The book actually reminded me of an older movie…. So if you’ve read this, reach out if you know which one. But don’t say it here. No spoilers.
Stay Buried is an original historical horror tale and I highly recommend it. Loved it and it’s out tomorrow.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date - 8/11
Tomorrow
I’m quite proud to admit that I ran up to Barnes & Noble last Thursday to get one of my most anticipated books of the year. Only one was on the shelf… which was a sign from God right? He wanted me to have it! 😆
First, this is a slow burn character driven novel. Fantastic folklore. It’s told from two timelines, 1919 and 2016. If you enjoy historical fiction or historical horror, and a slow burn done right, read this book.
1919 Vermont, people are mysteriously getting ill and dying. The town doctor and his niece are trying to find out if it’s the flu or something supernatural. Is it the Devil himself?
2016, siblings Ashley and Malcom head to that same town. Their mother disappeared from that same town two years ago. Was it suicide or murder? They want answers.
This story was holding me hostage. I loved how the two timelines connected. I was incredibly drawn to the two female characters in 1919. These were strong women, hiding their love for one another. Back then, it would be a death sentence.
The last third of the novel was so suspenseful. It even gets a bit unhinged which was perfectly done. The book actually reminded me of an older movie…. So if you’ve read this, reach out if you know which one. But don’t say it here. No spoilers.
Stay Buried is an original historical horror tale and I highly recommend it. Loved it and it’s out tomorrow.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 9, 2026
I really liked the idea behind Stay Buried and the creepy small town setting pulled me in straight away. The two timelines, moving between 1919 and the present day, worked well at first and I especially enjoyed the historical chapters. There was a strange, unsettling feeling throughout the story, with secrets, strange beliefs and plenty of mystery surrounding the town. The writing itself was easy to get into and Jennifer McMahon is really good at creating an eerie atmosphere. I just wish I had connected more with the characters, as Ashley and Frankie sometimes felt too similar and I found myself getting a little confused between them.
Unfortunately, the story started to lose me around the middle. The pacing became quite slow and some parts felt repetitive, especially when the present day timeline went over things we already knew from the past. I also felt like there were quite a few questions left unanswered, and the ending was a little rushed for me. That said, I did enjoy the creepy atmosphere and the unusual storyline, and there were definitely moments that made me want to keep reading. It wasn’t my favorite Jennifer McMahon book, but I did finish it.
Unfortunately, the story started to lose me around the middle. The pacing became quite slow and some parts felt repetitive, especially when the present day timeline went over things we already knew from the past. I also felt like there were quite a few questions left unanswered, and the ending was a little rushed for me. That said, I did enjoy the creepy atmosphere and the unusual storyline, and there were definitely moments that made me want to keep reading. It wasn’t my favorite Jennifer McMahon book, but I did finish it.
August 12, 2026
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
4.25/4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Happy Publication Day! This might be Jennifer McMahon’s best book yet.
Stay Buried gives us all the sketchy New England vibes that I love, a lovely queer relationship, and buckets of creepy and weird folklore.
The book is set during two different decades and has multiple points of view. Usually this can be a lot to keep up with, but McMahon gets it right in my opinion.
Back in 1919, Boone’s Ferry, Vermont is like most communities in the area. A bit isolated, everyone knows everyone, wary of strangers, and the science of medicine isn’t quite accepted.
Wait? Did I write 2026 or 1919?
Anyhoo, it’s 1919 and Frankie O’Massey lives in Boone’s Ferry. She’s learning medicine from her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott. She’s always felt like an outsider because for one, she's an orphan, and two, she's queer. She was an easy character to love in this book, and you felt for her. She was born during the wrong time and place.
When a mysterious disease hits Boone’s Ferry and it looks to have started with the town’s knackerman, the reader gets to see how a community really acts when things go south.
Damn, I do love when New England goes full on weird.
Folklore and horror in this type of setting is just so good. The unease and tension that keeps building gets under your skin and you can’t look away.
McMahon not only gives the reader all of this and more but shows us that humans tend to be scarier than the monsters prowling at night.
The second timeline is 2016 and Ashley is struggling to get over the death of her mother. She’s not sure where to go in her life and career, and her brother Malcolm and their grandmother are worried about her.
When their grandmother dies, Ashley and Malcolm find out that the family is from Boone’s Ferry, and their grandmother owns property there.
They make a trip to upstate Vermont and I’m sure that’s a great decision, right?!
Stay Buried has characters to love, great writing and pacing, and all the folk weirdness that I love and also dread. I liked reading the afterword by McMahan, so don't skip on that.
Definitely get to this one if you're a fan of her books or love folk horror. It was fun one to read!
4.25/4.5 stars rounded up ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Happy Publication Day! This might be Jennifer McMahon’s best book yet.
Stay Buried gives us all the sketchy New England vibes that I love, a lovely queer relationship, and buckets of creepy and weird folklore.
The book is set during two different decades and has multiple points of view. Usually this can be a lot to keep up with, but McMahon gets it right in my opinion.
Back in 1919, Boone’s Ferry, Vermont is like most communities in the area. A bit isolated, everyone knows everyone, wary of strangers, and the science of medicine isn’t quite accepted.
Wait? Did I write 2026 or 1919?
Anyhoo, it’s 1919 and Frankie O’Massey lives in Boone’s Ferry. She’s learning medicine from her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott. She’s always felt like an outsider because for one, she's an orphan, and two, she's queer. She was an easy character to love in this book, and you felt for her. She was born during the wrong time and place.
When a mysterious disease hits Boone’s Ferry and it looks to have started with the town’s knackerman, the reader gets to see how a community really acts when things go south.
Damn, I do love when New England goes full on weird.
Folklore and horror in this type of setting is just so good. The unease and tension that keeps building gets under your skin and you can’t look away.
McMahon not only gives the reader all of this and more but shows us that humans tend to be scarier than the monsters prowling at night.
The second timeline is 2016 and Ashley is struggling to get over the death of her mother. She’s not sure where to go in her life and career, and her brother Malcolm and their grandmother are worried about her.
When their grandmother dies, Ashley and Malcolm find out that the family is from Boone’s Ferry, and their grandmother owns property there.
They make a trip to upstate Vermont and I’m sure that’s a great decision, right?!
Stay Buried has characters to love, great writing and pacing, and all the folk weirdness that I love and also dread. I liked reading the afterword by McMahan, so don't skip on that.
Definitely get to this one if you're a fan of her books or love folk horror. It was fun one to read!
September 7, 2026
Thanks Simon & Schuster for a copy for Stay Buried! I always love to read books set in my home state. The two time lines definitely kept me engaged. A few moments were a bit predictable but I still enjoyed this folk horror read.
July 25, 2026
Jennifer McMahon is one of the few authors that I’ll drop whatever I’m doing to read her newest works. So needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to start her upcoming release, Stay Buried.
High on the creepiness scale with a strong sense of foreboding and dread, Jennifer has once again perfectly blended historical fiction with horror to craft another mind blowing tale. The alternating timelines were flawless and even though I enjoyed both, reading from Frankie's perspective was my favorite.
Atmospheric with an earth shattering ending, Stay Buried solidified my love for Jennifer's writing. Stay Buried is my 8th read by Jennifer and of course I'll continue to read everything else she writes!
I listened to the audiobook version which is read by Cassandra Campbell, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Jennifer Pickens who all did a brilliant job bringing Stay Buried to life (pun intended😆). If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
Stay Buried by Jennifer McMahon will be available on August 11. Many thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook!
High on the creepiness scale with a strong sense of foreboding and dread, Jennifer has once again perfectly blended historical fiction with horror to craft another mind blowing tale. The alternating timelines were flawless and even though I enjoyed both, reading from Frankie's perspective was my favorite.
Atmospheric with an earth shattering ending, Stay Buried solidified my love for Jennifer's writing. Stay Buried is my 8th read by Jennifer and of course I'll continue to read everything else she writes!
I listened to the audiobook version which is read by Cassandra Campbell, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Jennifer Pickens who all did a brilliant job bringing Stay Buried to life (pun intended😆). If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
Stay Buried by Jennifer McMahon will be available on August 11. Many thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook!
November 27, 2025
ARC for review. To be published August 11, 2026.
4 stars
Sister and brother Ashley and Malcolm have just lost their grandmother, with whom they lived. They also learned that she owned property in the small town of Boone Ferry, where her family was from but that she refused to visit or discuss. This was also the same place their mother was last seen before she disappeared two years ago. Now Ashley and Malcolm decide to visit the town to check out their property and to look for clues about their mom’s disappearance, but the townspeople aren’t very happy to see them.
Back in 1919 Frankie O’Massey is an orphan, a woman who prefers to dress as a man. She’s been taken in by her aunt and uncle, the town doctor, who relies on Frankie to work as his assistant. A horrible illness has come to town, first striking the horses, then the people. The anyone survive or escape?
I was unsure about this but it was enjoyable and well done, especially the scenes set in 1919. Very dark, but I was impressed with this folk horror.
4 stars
Sister and brother Ashley and Malcolm have just lost their grandmother, with whom they lived. They also learned that she owned property in the small town of Boone Ferry, where her family was from but that she refused to visit or discuss. This was also the same place their mother was last seen before she disappeared two years ago. Now Ashley and Malcolm decide to visit the town to check out their property and to look for clues about their mom’s disappearance, but the townspeople aren’t very happy to see them.
Back in 1919 Frankie O’Massey is an orphan, a woman who prefers to dress as a man. She’s been taken in by her aunt and uncle, the town doctor, who relies on Frankie to work as his assistant. A horrible illness has come to town, first striking the horses, then the people. The anyone survive or escape?
I was unsure about this but it was enjoyable and well done, especially the scenes set in 1919. Very dark, but I was impressed with this folk horror.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June 2026 issue of Library Journal.
Issue will also feature an interview with the author here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
4-4.5
Three Words The Describe This Book: dual time frame, folk horror, terrifying
Draft Review: Folk horror and authentic characters work in tandem to infect readers in McMahon’s latest. Set in isolated Boone’s Ferry, VT, in two time periods, readers follow Frankie, in 1919, training with her uncle to be a doctor, and Ashley, in 2016, struggling to figure out what happened to her mother when she did not return from a visit to the Vermont town. After their grandmother dies under strange circumstances, Ash and her brother travel to Booke’s Ferry to see the home they have inherited. However, readers know, from the start, that things are not going to go well in either time frame because Frankie is describing a strange rabies like disease that leapt from the town’s horses, to the knackerman (one who collects dying farm animals, dismembering them for further use), to nearly every resident. A century later, the knackerman is still terrorizing the townsfolk. McMahon’s original, well paced, twisted, and terrifying tale breaks free from its supernatural origins to become a horror that is all too real, proclaiming that “we’re all the knackerman.”
Verdict: With shades of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” this story will stay buried in reader’s minds long after they turn the final page. An especially good choice for fans of The Sun Down Motel by Simone St James and Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
Centered around the knackerman-- defined at the start of the book for everyone which is not only helpful but it sets the ominous tone-- "knackerman (noun): a person who collects dead or dying farm animals unfit for human consumption and dismembers them for further use, e.g., tanning the hides and rendering fat, tallow, and glue."
Two time frames-- one creepy town. Boone's Ferry, VT. Literally at the end of the road. 2 time frames. The first is told by Frankie, in 1919, a young woman who wants to be a doctor. She works with her uncle in the small town taking care of everything. The town also still relies on the midwife/herbalist but they have respect. Even after the 1918 flue wiped a lot of people out.
2016-- Ashley (Ash) is the main narrator here. They mom disappeared a few years ago after visiting Boone's Ferry. Presumed suicide. Now their grandmother, who was against their mom going to VT and appears to be hiding a lot of family secrets, has just died. Ash and Malcom (Mal) her brother head to Boone's Ferry to find answers.
But readers know things are not going to go well in either time frame. We know that in 1919 something happened (maybe another flu) that killed most of the towns folk. But as we follow Frankie, we see it is not a flu. Rather it is a stranger disease that begins with the horses, spreads to the knackerman and then goes through the whole town. It is like a strange variant of rabies. The disease-- you get very sick and start acting strange. Then you die. A few hours later, you rise from the dead, and fight your way outside-- biting people to get free and transferring the disease.
Readers know this is what Ash and Mal are walking into-- except in 2016 readers also know that the knackerman still haunts the town, coming 4x a year, and if not appeased with treats and gifts, he marks your door and then terrible things happen to the person who is marked. (2 current residents narrated some chapters).
The characters are well done. The voices authentic. The chapters just the right length and each ends with enough of a cliff hanger to keep you going for just one more, but also, it is not so much so that you feel okay to put it down and are still eager to come back.
This is a twisted, dark, and terrifying story. It is about supernatural horrors but also the horrors humans do to each other and themselves. It is folk horror that breaks free from its mythology and becomes all too real.
We're all the knackerman-- a moral and a warning
It is also a great pandemic--infection novel. There is some great social commentary about the choices women do and do not have both in choices for careers and life partners. It is also about family. The connections between family across the generations, family secrets
More than a nod to "The Lottery," set in VT, town "protecting" itself and its macabre traditions, an important horse is named Shirley. It's like The Sun Down Motel by Simone St.James mixed with the intensity of Hex by Thomas Olde Huevelt.
Issue will also feature an interview with the author here: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
4-4.5
Three Words The Describe This Book: dual time frame, folk horror, terrifying
Draft Review: Folk horror and authentic characters work in tandem to infect readers in McMahon’s latest. Set in isolated Boone’s Ferry, VT, in two time periods, readers follow Frankie, in 1919, training with her uncle to be a doctor, and Ashley, in 2016, struggling to figure out what happened to her mother when she did not return from a visit to the Vermont town. After their grandmother dies under strange circumstances, Ash and her brother travel to Booke’s Ferry to see the home they have inherited. However, readers know, from the start, that things are not going to go well in either time frame because Frankie is describing a strange rabies like disease that leapt from the town’s horses, to the knackerman (one who collects dying farm animals, dismembering them for further use), to nearly every resident. A century later, the knackerman is still terrorizing the townsfolk. McMahon’s original, well paced, twisted, and terrifying tale breaks free from its supernatural origins to become a horror that is all too real, proclaiming that “we’re all the knackerman.”
Verdict: With shades of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” this story will stay buried in reader’s minds long after they turn the final page. An especially good choice for fans of The Sun Down Motel by Simone St James and Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
Centered around the knackerman-- defined at the start of the book for everyone which is not only helpful but it sets the ominous tone-- "knackerman (noun): a person who collects dead or dying farm animals unfit for human consumption and dismembers them for further use, e.g., tanning the hides and rendering fat, tallow, and glue."
Two time frames-- one creepy town. Boone's Ferry, VT. Literally at the end of the road. 2 time frames. The first is told by Frankie, in 1919, a young woman who wants to be a doctor. She works with her uncle in the small town taking care of everything. The town also still relies on the midwife/herbalist but they have respect. Even after the 1918 flue wiped a lot of people out.
2016-- Ashley (Ash) is the main narrator here. They mom disappeared a few years ago after visiting Boone's Ferry. Presumed suicide. Now their grandmother, who was against their mom going to VT and appears to be hiding a lot of family secrets, has just died. Ash and Malcom (Mal) her brother head to Boone's Ferry to find answers.
But readers know things are not going to go well in either time frame. We know that in 1919 something happened (maybe another flu) that killed most of the towns folk. But as we follow Frankie, we see it is not a flu. Rather it is a stranger disease that begins with the horses, spreads to the knackerman and then goes through the whole town. It is like a strange variant of rabies. The disease-- you get very sick and start acting strange. Then you die. A few hours later, you rise from the dead, and fight your way outside-- biting people to get free and transferring the disease.
Readers know this is what Ash and Mal are walking into-- except in 2016 readers also know that the knackerman still haunts the town, coming 4x a year, and if not appeased with treats and gifts, he marks your door and then terrible things happen to the person who is marked. (2 current residents narrated some chapters).
The characters are well done. The voices authentic. The chapters just the right length and each ends with enough of a cliff hanger to keep you going for just one more, but also, it is not so much so that you feel okay to put it down and are still eager to come back.
This is a twisted, dark, and terrifying story. It is about supernatural horrors but also the horrors humans do to each other and themselves. It is folk horror that breaks free from its mythology and becomes all too real.
We're all the knackerman-- a moral and a warning
It is also a great pandemic--infection novel. There is some great social commentary about the choices women do and do not have both in choices for careers and life partners. It is also about family. The connections between family across the generations, family secrets
More than a nod to "The Lottery," set in VT, town "protecting" itself and its macabre traditions, an important horse is named Shirley. It's like The Sun Down Motel by Simone St.James mixed with the intensity of Hex by Thomas Olde Huevelt.
August 12, 2026
4.5 stars. Nothing good ever comes from a town with a century-old curse, creepy burial folklore + locals who REALLY don’t want you asking questions. 😬🌲🪦 Stay Buried had that unsettling Jennifer McMahon vibe from the very beginning, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what Boone’s Ferry, Vermont had been hiding all these years. 👀🕯️The story jumps between 1919 and 2016, with both timelines slowly uncovering the secrets buried in this town’s past. ⏳
In 1919, Frankie O’Massey is learning medicine from her uncle when a mysterious illness begins spreading through the community. Then the town’s knackerman—an unsettling character who collects sick and dying animals—gets the illness and returns after being buried, sending everyone straight toward superstition, fear + talk of a curse. 🐴🫣🔥
Fast-forward to 2016, when siblings Ashley + Malcolm inherit a house in Boone’s Ferry after their grandmother passes. Their mother disappeared there two years earlier, leaving behind a letter saying she “knew everything,” so naturally Ashley is determined to figure out exactly what happened to her. But the locals definitely do NOT want them digging into the past, and their creepy rituals + offerings to a vengeful spirit make it pretty clear this town has been keeping some BIG secrets. 👀🕯️🌲
This was classic Jennifer McMahon for me—eerie, atmospheric, unsettling + just supernatural enough to keep me wondering what was real and what was folklore. I loved watching the two timelines slowly connect and learning how fear, illness, family secrets + an old legend became tangled together over generations. The whole Knackerman storyline was wonderfully creepy. 😬🐴🪦 A little slower in places, but once everything started coming together, I was completely invested. Definitely one for folk-horror + creepy-small-town readers—and if you’re new to Jennifer McMahon, this is a great one to get a feel for her writing style. Pub. 8/11/26
I received my copy from the publisher Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In 1919, Frankie O’Massey is learning medicine from her uncle when a mysterious illness begins spreading through the community. Then the town’s knackerman—an unsettling character who collects sick and dying animals—gets the illness and returns after being buried, sending everyone straight toward superstition, fear + talk of a curse. 🐴🫣🔥
Fast-forward to 2016, when siblings Ashley + Malcolm inherit a house in Boone’s Ferry after their grandmother passes. Their mother disappeared there two years earlier, leaving behind a letter saying she “knew everything,” so naturally Ashley is determined to figure out exactly what happened to her. But the locals definitely do NOT want them digging into the past, and their creepy rituals + offerings to a vengeful spirit make it pretty clear this town has been keeping some BIG secrets. 👀🕯️🌲
This was classic Jennifer McMahon for me—eerie, atmospheric, unsettling + just supernatural enough to keep me wondering what was real and what was folklore. I loved watching the two timelines slowly connect and learning how fear, illness, family secrets + an old legend became tangled together over generations. The whole Knackerman storyline was wonderfully creepy. 😬🐴🪦 A little slower in places, but once everything started coming together, I was completely invested. Definitely one for folk-horror + creepy-small-town readers—and if you’re new to Jennifer McMahon, this is a great one to get a feel for her writing style. Pub. 8/11/26
I received my copy from the publisher Gallery Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2026
I believe I’ve read one other book by McMahon, and I’m well aware that her books are super creepy. I’ve seen other books of hers but passed on them if they seemed too scary. “Stay Buried” is the first one I have seen in a little while that I thought I could handle. And I was right! That’s not to say that this isn’t scary—because it most certainly is. Body horror and gore abound. If you’re squeamish about blood or the examination of very ill patients, you should steer clear.
This is another dual time period novel, and we switch back and forth between 1919 and 2016 in Vermont. The earlier period begins with a strange illness afflicting every horse in Boone’s Ferry, a place cut off from the rest of the state. In a small town, sickness spreads quickly, and the Spanish flu has finally run its course a few months before the story begins.
In 2016, Ashley and her brother Malcolm have just lost their grandmother, who never lived in Boone’s Ferry and yet seems to harbor a great fear about going there. Ashley’s mother disappeared two years ago, and Ash has never believed that her mom committed suicide. When the siblings inherit a house in Boone’s Ferry, of course they’re going to go check it out. What could possibly go wrong?
What *was* that illness in 1919, really? Was it truly eradicated?
Why do the townspeople leave gifts on their doorsteps four times a year…and cover the windows and lock themselves inside their homes until the next day?
I encourage you to find out! Fair warning—I could only read this when someone was in the room with me. YMMV.
(PS: This has a well-thought-out, wonderful portrayal of a person with gender dysphoria who is most likely trans. I truly appreciate that McMahon wrote such a great character with tremendous empathy. In a perfect world, two characters from this story would live long, happy lives together, and I dream of such a world. Thank you, Jennifer!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
This is another dual time period novel, and we switch back and forth between 1919 and 2016 in Vermont. The earlier period begins with a strange illness afflicting every horse in Boone’s Ferry, a place cut off from the rest of the state. In a small town, sickness spreads quickly, and the Spanish flu has finally run its course a few months before the story begins.
In 2016, Ashley and her brother Malcolm have just lost their grandmother, who never lived in Boone’s Ferry and yet seems to harbor a great fear about going there. Ashley’s mother disappeared two years ago, and Ash has never believed that her mom committed suicide. When the siblings inherit a house in Boone’s Ferry, of course they’re going to go check it out. What could possibly go wrong?
What *was* that illness in 1919, really? Was it truly eradicated?
Why do the townspeople leave gifts on their doorsteps four times a year…and cover the windows and lock themselves inside their homes until the next day?
I encourage you to find out! Fair warning—I could only read this when someone was in the room with me. YMMV.
(PS: This has a well-thought-out, wonderful portrayal of a person with gender dysphoria who is most likely trans. I truly appreciate that McMahon wrote such a great character with tremendous empathy. In a perfect world, two characters from this story would live long, happy lives together, and I dream of such a world. Thank you, Jennifer!)
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 1, 2026
Officially my new favorite from Jennifer McMahon!!!
September 8, 2026
The serious lack of horror, in horror labeled books these days is quite awful.
August 27, 2026
This was my first ever McMahon and I can’t wait to dive in to her other books. I often say books need more time in the oven or need to cook longer, Stay Buried is a great example of a book that spent the right amount of time being developed. It’s well plotted, we’ll edited and we’ll marketed. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
Want to Read
November 10, 2025oooooooooooooooooooh!!! HUGE fan of this author!!
I can't wait to read this one!! AUGUST 2026 LET'S GO!!!
I can't wait to read this one!! AUGUST 2026 LET'S GO!!!
Read
August 5, 2026През 1919 г. в малкото градче Бунс Фери странна смъртоносна болест покосява и конете, и хората. Доктор Томас Единкот и племенницата му Франки отчаяно се опитват да разберат какво се случва, но суеверията изместват науката и мнозина смятат, че причината за всичко случващо се е местният колач, който първи се заразява с ужасната болест.
2016 г., Ашли и Малкъм наследяват къща в Бунс Фери без изобщо да знаят за съществуването и. Братът и сестрата се отправят към изолираното градче, за да се оправят с наследството си, но местните ги посрещат враждебно. Бързо става ясно, че в това отдалечено място се спазват вековни зловещи традиции, които целят да омилостивят колачът, който идва четири пъти в годината. А ако знакът му се появи на нечия врата, съдбата на този дом вече е подпечатана с кръв...
Дженифър Макмеън отново предлага на читателите един зловещ трилър с елементи на мистерия и паранормално. Историята се разказва в две времеви линии и от две главни героини - Франки разказва за събитията от 1919 г., а Ашли - за историята от настоящето. Двете истори са наситени с напрежение, мистерия и много свръхестествени елементи се преплитат чудесно, за да разкрият какво всъщност стои зад мистериозния колач и кой в действителност е той.
Лично на мен историята от миналото ми допадна повече и беше доста по-интересна. Не ми допадна образът на Франки, както и на нейната любима (за мен връзката им беше напълно излишна и ненужна за сюжета, но нали трябва да сме модерни).
Сюжетът е доста добре измислен и отдавна не бях чела подобен, а героите също са интригуващи. Макмеън пише доста приятно, главите в романа са сравнително кратки и се четат бързо, но най-много ми хреса финалът на книгата. Много читатели сравняват Дженифър Макмеън със Симон Сейнт Джеймс, но първата дава някакви логични обяснения за свръхестествените неща, случващи се в романа, докато Джеймс по-скоро оставя въпросите на тази тематика без отговори. Епилогът на "Не разравяй пръстта" е просто перфектен завършек на всичко, което се случи на героите.
За мен това е най-добрата книга на авторката до момента. Чела съм всички нейни, издадени на български език, но тази сякаш е най-добре изпипана спрямо сюжет и развитие на действие, както и по отношение на финала. Ако сте почитатели на Макмеън, задължително трябва да прочетете и тази нейна книга.
2016 г., Ашли и Малкъм наследяват къща в Бунс Фери без изобщо да знаят за съществуването и. Братът и сестрата се отправят към изолираното градче, за да се оправят с наследството си, но местните ги посрещат враждебно. Бързо става ясно, че в това отдалечено място се спазват вековни зловещи традиции, които целят да омилостивят колачът, който идва четири пъти в годината. А ако знакът му се появи на нечия врата, съдбата на този дом вече е подпечатана с кръв...
Дженифър Макмеън отново предлага на читателите един зловещ трилър с елементи на мистерия и паранормално. Историята се разказва в две времеви линии и от две главни героини - Франки разказва за събитията от 1919 г., а Ашли - за историята от настоящето. Двете истори са наситени с напрежение, мистерия и много свръхестествени елементи се преплитат чудесно, за да разкрият какво всъщност стои зад мистериозния колач и кой в действителност е той.
Лично на мен историята от миналото ми допадна повече и беше доста по-интересна. Не ми допадна образът на Франки, както и на нейната любима (за мен връзката им беше напълно излишна и ненужна за сюжета, но нали трябва да сме модерни).
Сюжетът е доста добре измислен и отдавна не бях чела подобен, а героите също са интригуващи. Макмеън пише доста приятно, главите в романа са сравнително кратки и се четат бързо, но най-много ми хреса финалът на книгата. Много читатели сравняват Дженифър Макмеън със Симон Сейнт Джеймс, но първата дава някакви логични обяснения за свръхестествените неща, случващи се в романа, докато Джеймс по-скоро оставя въпросите на тази тематика без отговори. Епилогът на "Не разравяй пръстта" е просто перфектен завършек на всичко, което се случи на героите.
За мен това е най-добрата книга на авторката до момента. Чела съм всички нейни, издадени на български език, но тази сякаш е най-добре изпипана спрямо сюжет и развитие на действие, както и по отношение на финала. Ако сте почитатели на Макмеън, задължително трябва да прочетете и тази нейна книга.
August 18, 2026
Stay Buried started off very promising for me, but it unfortunately didn’t maintain my interest for its full duration.
I really enjoyed the incorporation of the Knackerman profession and medical science in the 1919 timeline; these elements made the first third of the novel the strongest part for me. It had an eerie, slightly gothic atmosphere and a fascinating blend of mystery and medicine. The writing was good and conveyed the mood and tone well enough; though, I generally prefer denser, more poetic writing when reading folk horror, as I’ve found it facilitates the sense of dread and foreboding I look for in the genre.
The novel alternates between four POVs across two timelines. I found Frankie’s POV (1919 timeline) the most compelling, not only because of the medical mystery she was investigating, but also because of her queer perspective in a historical context and her endearing relationship with her uncle Thomas, a medical doctor who serves as both her mentor and guide. The 2016 timeline follows Ashley and her brother Malcom as they dig into the family history, while Mini and Sad Willy provide perspectives from within Boone's Ferry and its Knackerman folklore. I liked the idea behind having these different perspectives, but Mini and Sad Willy’s POVs were too underdeveloped to fully justify having their own chapters for me. They often felt more like devices present solely for moving the plot forward and not fully realized characters like Frankie and, to a lesser extent, Ashley. I think their roles could have been incorporated into Ashley’s storyline without losing much.
The book starts off very intriguing, but it became increasingly tedious for me to get through. For much of the novel, it felt as though the narrative was spinning its wheels. The characters in the 2016 timeline did a lot of reiterating information that had already been covered in the 1919 timeline. It would have been great to get more exploration of how and why the townspeople behave as strangely as they do and a deeper dive into the lore and traditions surrounding the Knackerman in the 2016 timeline instead of revisiting the same discoveries from a different perspective.
Stay Buried has a great premise and a very strong start, but I wanted a tighter, more succinct execution of its central mystery. The combination of folklore, medical science, and haunting atmosphere was effective, but it wasn’t enough to carry the rest of the story for me.
Readers who enjoyed The Burial Tide by Neal Sharpson and The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis may have a great time with this read.
I really enjoyed the incorporation of the Knackerman profession and medical science in the 1919 timeline; these elements made the first third of the novel the strongest part for me. It had an eerie, slightly gothic atmosphere and a fascinating blend of mystery and medicine. The writing was good and conveyed the mood and tone well enough; though, I generally prefer denser, more poetic writing when reading folk horror, as I’ve found it facilitates the sense of dread and foreboding I look for in the genre.
The novel alternates between four POVs across two timelines. I found Frankie’s POV (1919 timeline) the most compelling, not only because of the medical mystery she was investigating, but also because of her queer perspective in a historical context and her endearing relationship with her uncle Thomas, a medical doctor who serves as both her mentor and guide. The 2016 timeline follows Ashley and her brother Malcom as they dig into the family history, while Mini and Sad Willy provide perspectives from within Boone's Ferry and its Knackerman folklore. I liked the idea behind having these different perspectives, but Mini and Sad Willy’s POVs were too underdeveloped to fully justify having their own chapters for me. They often felt more like devices present solely for moving the plot forward and not fully realized characters like Frankie and, to a lesser extent, Ashley. I think their roles could have been incorporated into Ashley’s storyline without losing much.
The book starts off very intriguing, but it became increasingly tedious for me to get through. For much of the novel, it felt as though the narrative was spinning its wheels. The characters in the 2016 timeline did a lot of reiterating information that had already been covered in the 1919 timeline. It would have been great to get more exploration of how and why the townspeople behave as strangely as they do and a deeper dive into the lore and traditions surrounding the Knackerman in the 2016 timeline instead of revisiting the same discoveries from a different perspective.
Stay Buried has a great premise and a very strong start, but I wanted a tighter, more succinct execution of its central mystery. The combination of folklore, medical science, and haunting atmosphere was effective, but it wasn’t enough to carry the rest of the story for me.
Readers who enjoyed The Burial Tide by Neal Sharpson and The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis may have a great time with this read.
August 16, 2026
Брутална е тази Дженифър Макмеън!
August 11, 2026
„Не разравяй пръстта“ – заглавието, с което Дженифър Макмеън ще постигне своя авторски пик
Усещам, че този роман ще се превърне в тотален хит. Всичко най-добро от запазените марки на Дженифър Макмеън е събрано тук, за да донесе на читателите перфектното усещане за съспенс, мрачна атмосфера и смразяващо кръвта напрежение.
Действието ни пренася в малко, изолирано населено място във Върмонт с мрачно минало, където тайните трябва да останат дълбоко погребани. Мистериозни болести, древни проклятия и много смърт: това са само част от елементите, които Макмеън предоставя на вниманието ни със своя характерен почерк.
Макмеън улавя читателя още от първата глава и не му оставя възможност да си поеме дъх. Абсолютно всяка една глава бях на ръба на стола в очакване на следващата развръзка. Изключително лесно е да се потопиш в атмосферата благодарение на двойната времева линия и множеството перспективи, които правят разказа изключително жив и непрекъснато поддържат темпото. Преходът между епохите е толкова балансиран, че за мен бе невъзможно да избера коя времева линия ми е по-интересна — с еднакъв трепет чаках да разбера какво се случва и в двете.
Въпреки присъствието на свръхестествени и фолклорни елементи, авторката е открила перфектния баланс между реалност и фантазия. Това придава на историята плашещо автентичен привкус. Личи си, че Макмеън е надградила стила си и е претърпяла сериозно авторско развитие.
Що се отнася до самия сюжет, не мога да открия нещо, което да му липсва. Той е изпълнен с множество тайни, обрати и неудобни въпроси. Взаимоотношенията между героите са живи, човешки и автентични. Дори романтичната нишка (изненадващо за трилър) се усеща като естествени допълнение, придаващо допълнителна плътност и живот на историята.
В основата на динамиката на трилъра е заложен и изключително дълбок психологически пласт. Силно ме впечатли начинът, по който са засегнати темите за предразсъдъците, колективната травма и механизма, по който културата, традициите и суеверията се предават поколение след поколение.
Историята ме накара за пореден път да осъзная колко витално значение има това да поставяме под въпрос всеобщите „истини“ и да търсим собствения си път — откривайки онзи фин баланс между уважението към традицията, съхраняването на собствената личност и модерните изисквания на средата ни.
Имах възможността да прочета книгата благодарение на предварително копие, подарък от прекрасните @benitorialbooks и мога с чиста съвест да кажа, че тя напълно оправда очакванията ми. „Не разравяй пръстта“ е брутален и атмосферно наситен трилър, който ще ви държи будни до късно (поне на мен осигури няколко безсънни нощи).
Усещам, че този роман ще се превърне в тотален хит. Всичко най-добро от запазените марки на Дженифър Макмеън е събрано тук, за да донесе на читателите перфектното усещане за съспенс, мрачна атмосфера и смразяващо кръвта напрежение.
Действието ни пренася в малко, изолирано населено място във Върмонт с мрачно минало, където тайните трябва да останат дълбоко погребани. Мистериозни болести, древни проклятия и много смърт: това са само част от елементите, които Макмеън предоставя на вниманието ни със своя характерен почерк.
Макмеън улавя читателя още от първата глава и не му оставя възможност да си поеме дъх. Абсолютно всяка една глава бях на ръба на стола в очакване на следващата развръзка. Изключително лесно е да се потопиш в атмосферата благодарение на двойната времева линия и множеството перспективи, които правят разказа изключително жив и непрекъснато поддържат темпото. Преходът между епохите е толкова балансиран, че за мен бе невъзможно да избера коя времева линия ми е по-интересна — с еднакъв трепет чаках да разбера какво се случва и в двете.
Въпреки присъствието на свръхестествени и фолклорни елементи, авторката е открила перфектния баланс между реалност и фантазия. Това придава на историята плашещо автентичен привкус. Личи си, че Макмеън е надградила стила си и е претърпяла сериозно авторско развитие.
Що се отнася до самия сюжет, не мога да открия нещо, което да му липсва. Той е изпълнен с множество тайни, обрати и неудобни въпроси. Взаимоотношенията между героите са живи, човешки и автентични. Дори романтичната нишка (изненадващо за трилър) се усеща като естествени допълнение, придаващо допълнителна плътност и живот на историята.
В основата на динамиката на трилъра е заложен и изключително дълбок психологически пласт. Силно ме впечатли начинът, по който са засегнати темите за предразсъдъците, колективната травма и механизма, по който културата, традициите и суеверията се предават поколение след поколение.
Историята ме накара за пореден път да осъзная колко витално значение има това да поставяме под въпрос всеобщите „истини“ и да търсим собствения си път — откривайки онзи фин баланс между уважението към традицията, съхраняването на собствената личност и модерните изисквания на средата ни.
Имах възможността да прочета книгата благодарение на предварително копие, подарък от прекрасните @benitorialbooks и мога с чиста съвест да кажа, че тя напълно оправда очакванията ми. „Не разравяй пръстта“ е брутален и атмосферно наситен трилър, който ще ви държи будни до късно (поне на мен осигури няколко безсънни нощи).
August 19, 2026
„Не разравяй пръстта“ от Дженифър Макмеън е фолклорен хорър роман, който ни отвежда в Бунс Фери, малко градче, запазило собствените си правила, страхове и легенди.
Макмеън построява сюжета в две времеви линии-1919 и 2016 година. В миналото Франки О’Маси помага на чичо си, лекаря Томас Ендикът, в момент, когато сред животните, а после и сред хората в района започва да се разпространява странна болест. Докато двамата се опитват да открият реалната причина за случващото се, страхът постепенно започва да предлага свои обяснения. Почти век по-късно Ашли и брат ѝ Малкълм се озовават в същото градче заради наследство, оставено им от тяхната баба. Семейството им има връзка с Бунс Фери, за която почти нищо не знаят.
Традиционно легендата заема особено място във фолклора. За разлика от приказката, която открито принадлежи на света на измислицата, легендата обикновено претендира за някаква връзка с действителността. Тя е прикрепена към конкретно място, човек или събитие. Традиционно легендите изпълняват и още една важна функция, обясняват необяснимото.
Всъщност в „Не разравяй пръстта“ наблюдаваме как възникват легендите- Първо имаме необяснимо събитие, след това се появява страхът, слуховете тръгват. Някой се оказва удобен за обвинение, историята започва да се предава от човек на човек, вината започва да задушава обществото и така поражда култът, който ни пози от злото. След години вече никой не помни къде свършват фактите и къде започват измислиците.
В Бунс Фери страхът постепенно се превръща в традиция. Когато Ашли пристига в градчето като външен човек, тя няма натрупания страх на местните, не е израснала с техните ритуали и не приема автоматично правилата им. Затова започва да задава въпросите, които хората от градчето са се научили да избягват. Пръстта е разровена и истината излиза наяве.
Сблъсъкът между науката и суеверието е един от важните пластове в романа. В линията от 1919 г. болестта поставя жителите на Бунс Фери пред нещо, което не могат да обяснят и още по-малко да контролират. Макмеън показва колко лесно в момент на несигурност рационалното мислене може да отстъпи пред нуждата от просто обяснение. Науката изисква време, съмнение и готовност да приемеш, че все още не знаеш. Суеверието, обратно, предлага незабавна подредба на хаоса: има зло, има причина, има човек или сила, които могат да бъдат обвинени, и има ритуал, който обещава защита.
„Не разравяй пръстта“ е първият ми досег с Дженифър Макмеън и със сигурност няма да бъде последният. Макар малко да ми напомня за романите на Симон Сейнт Джеймс, вероятно заради двата времеви пласта, намирам романа на Макмеън доста по-мрачен, описанията по-страшни и с един уникален стил на писане, който завладява от началото до края.
Зад свръхестественото стои страхът от неизвестното, нуждата да намерим виновник, желанието да прикрием онова, с което не можем да живеем и неизбежното завръщане на истината. Защото колкото и дълбоко да бъде погребано миналото, в роман като този винаги се намира някой, който да разрови пръстта.
Макмеън построява сюжета в две времеви линии-1919 и 2016 година. В миналото Франки О’Маси помага на чичо си, лекаря Томас Ендикът, в момент, когато сред животните, а после и сред хората в района започва да се разпространява странна болест. Докато двамата се опитват да открият реалната причина за случващото се, страхът постепенно започва да предлага свои обяснения. Почти век по-късно Ашли и брат ѝ Малкълм се озовават в същото градче заради наследство, оставено им от тяхната баба. Семейството им има връзка с Бунс Фери, за която почти нищо не знаят.
Традиционно легендата заема особено място във фолклора. За разлика от приказката, която открито принадлежи на света на измислицата, легендата обикновено претендира за някаква връзка с действителността. Тя е прикрепена към конкретно място, човек или събитие. Традиционно легендите изпълняват и още една важна функция, обясняват необяснимото.
Всъщност в „Не разравяй пръстта“ наблюдаваме как възникват легендите- Първо имаме необяснимо събитие, след това се появява страхът, слуховете тръгват. Някой се оказва удобен за обвинение, историята започва да се предава от човек на човек, вината започва да задушава обществото и така поражда култът, който ни пози от злото. След години вече никой не помни къде свършват фактите и къде започват измислиците.
В Бунс Фери страхът постепенно се превръща в традиция. Когато Ашли пристига в градчето като външен човек, тя няма натрупания страх на местните, не е израснала с техните ритуали и не приема автоматично правилата им. Затова започва да задава въпросите, които хората от градчето са се научили да избягват. Пръстта е разровена и истината излиза наяве.
Сблъсъкът между науката и суеверието е един от важните пластове в романа. В линията от 1919 г. болестта поставя жителите на Бунс Фери пред нещо, което не могат да обяснят и още по-малко да контролират. Макмеън показва колко лесно в момент на несигурност рационалното мислене може да отстъпи пред нуждата от просто обяснение. Науката изисква време, съмнение и готовност да приемеш, че все още не знаеш. Суеверието, обратно, предлага незабавна подредба на хаоса: има зло, има причина, има човек или сила, които могат да бъдат обвинени, и има ритуал, който обещава защита.
„Не разравяй пръстта“ е първият ми досег с Дженифър Макмеън и със сигурност няма да бъде последният. Макар малко да ми напомня за романите на Симон Сейнт Джеймс, вероятно заради двата времеви пласта, намирам романа на Макмеън доста по-мрачен, описанията по-страшни и с един уникален стил на писане, който завладява от началото до края.
Зад свръхестественото стои страхът от неизвестното, нуждата да намерим виновник, желанието да прикрием онова, с което не можем да живеем и неизбежното завръщане на истината. Защото колкото и дълбоко да бъде погребано миналото, в роман като този винаги се намира някой, който да разрови пръстта.
September 5, 2026
4.5 rounded up ⭐️
Leave it to Jennifer McMahon to write a folk horror story that I ACTUALLY ENJOY! This was fantastic!
The pros:
- dual timeline
- multiple POVs that weren’t confusing
- cultish mystery
- chilling atmosphere perfect for spooky season
- gruesome, detailed body horror to make you squirm
- nail biting tension
- short chapters!
Cons:
…well there really weren’t many, except that the ending wrapped up a tad quickly, but it truly didn’t take away from the story at all.
This is a perfect spooky season read! This will have your spine chilled, your stomach turning, and your booty cheeks hanging off your seat! The characters were incredible, the setting was dense with dread, and watching (or, I guess, reading) everything unravel had my whole body clenching until the very last page. McMahon is an incredible writer and if you love the folk-y, cult-y spooky books, this one is for you! Pick this up before the knackermen comes for you 🐴
Leave it to Jennifer McMahon to write a folk horror story that I ACTUALLY ENJOY! This was fantastic!
The pros:
- dual timeline
- multiple POVs that weren’t confusing
- cultish mystery
- chilling atmosphere perfect for spooky season
- gruesome, detailed body horror to make you squirm
- nail biting tension
- short chapters!
Cons:
…well there really weren’t many, except that the ending wrapped up a tad quickly, but it truly didn’t take away from the story at all.
This is a perfect spooky season read! This will have your spine chilled, your stomach turning, and your booty cheeks hanging off your seat! The characters were incredible, the setting was dense with dread, and watching (or, I guess, reading) everything unravel had my whole body clenching until the very last page. McMahon is an incredible writer and if you love the folk-y, cult-y spooky books, this one is for you! Pick this up before the knackermen comes for you 🐴
August 28, 2026
4.25/5
Give me all the knackerman folk horror, I’m rabid for it! Stay Buried was so, so good. It’s clearly a sign of how desperately the world needs more dark and folksy knackerman stories, I’m trying to manifest it.
Of the six I’ve read, Stay Buried is one of Jennifer McMahon’s better, if not best, novels to date. Released just in time for spooky season as well! Much of the story takes place during fall and around Halloween.
Give me all the knackerman folk horror, I’m rabid for it! Stay Buried was so, so good. It’s clearly a sign of how desperately the world needs more dark and folksy knackerman stories, I’m trying to manifest it.
Of the six I’ve read, Stay Buried is one of Jennifer McMahon’s better, if not best, novels to date. Released just in time for spooky season as well! Much of the story takes place during fall and around Halloween.
August 31, 2026
Jennifer McMahon's books never fail to delivery the creepy, eerie factor in her storylines and I enjoyed this one as well, the reason I didn't rate it a 5 star was the animal gore in it, hard not to flinch at it at times. Had to remind myself it's just a story but still a bit difficult.
September 10, 2026
officially my FAVORITE book from this author. CREEPY but also emotional. I was interested in every. single. character.
September 1, 2026
Not my favorite book by the author. It felt very slow, especially in the beginning. I also felt like a lot was left unresolved or unexplained. None of the characters were particularly interesting either. It seemed like there were a lot of characters but none of them seemed to have much depth.
It would have been nice if there has been some explanation about the origins of the disease. Also, why was Frankie killed? What exactly was the missing information that Ashley’s mom was after?
It would have been nice if there has been some explanation about the origins of the disease. Also, why was Frankie killed? What exactly was the missing information that Ashley’s mom was after?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2026
Stay Buried is a give you goose bumps horrific thriller, part supernatural, part ghost story and believe it or not, part love story. It is an absolute must read! Told between two timelines, it centers around a small forgotten town in Vermont where no resident ever leaves because well, they are afraid to! Except for one who did years ago to only have her grandchildren come back to ask some questions. Questions that hit too close to the truth about what has been going on there. It also centers around a strange plague which hit the town back in 1919 and what happened to all the residents who were living there as fear took overtook them.
In 1919 in a small town called Boone's Ferry, Vermont, Dr. Thomas Endicott a physician and his niece/apprentice Frankie O'Malley are called out to a farm where the horses have gone crazy. Not a vet, he does the best he can. Suddenly it seems all the horses in the town are doing the same thing. Then whatever symptoms the horses seem to have begun to appear in the residence. The Knackerman who goes around to houses and picks up and collects dying animals is the first. His symptoms aggressive and he becomes dangerous to others. But when he dies, his body seems to disappear. This unfortunately is the beginning of the end of the peaceful town as they know it.
The year is now 2016 and Ashley and her brother Malcolm are mourning the loss of their grandmother. They had always been told she was from Boston and are shocked to learn she was actually born in a town called Boone's Ferry. The same town their mother had visited two years ago and was never seen again. Why would their grandmother lie to them.
They decide to take the trip to the town to see if they can discover any information about not only their grandmother, but their mother. As soon as they enter the town, they get the distinct feeling they are not wanted. The town, still living in the dark ages has no Wi-Fi and only have rotary phones. Questions they ask go unanswered, and suddenly they begin to feel as if they are in danger. But when no one remembers ever seeing their mother two years ago they know they must leave. Something is not right with these people. But they are too late. The inhabitants must keep the secrets, and they won't let them leave.
Stay Buried will bury you! An incredible, terrifying story with secrets galore, questions you will need (and get) answers to as well as the electrifying ending which will put you over the edge!
Thank you #NetGalley #GalleryBooks #StayBuried #JenniferMcMahon for the advanced copy.
In 1919 in a small town called Boone's Ferry, Vermont, Dr. Thomas Endicott a physician and his niece/apprentice Frankie O'Malley are called out to a farm where the horses have gone crazy. Not a vet, he does the best he can. Suddenly it seems all the horses in the town are doing the same thing. Then whatever symptoms the horses seem to have begun to appear in the residence. The Knackerman who goes around to houses and picks up and collects dying animals is the first. His symptoms aggressive and he becomes dangerous to others. But when he dies, his body seems to disappear. This unfortunately is the beginning of the end of the peaceful town as they know it.
The year is now 2016 and Ashley and her brother Malcolm are mourning the loss of their grandmother. They had always been told she was from Boston and are shocked to learn she was actually born in a town called Boone's Ferry. The same town their mother had visited two years ago and was never seen again. Why would their grandmother lie to them.
They decide to take the trip to the town to see if they can discover any information about not only their grandmother, but their mother. As soon as they enter the town, they get the distinct feeling they are not wanted. The town, still living in the dark ages has no Wi-Fi and only have rotary phones. Questions they ask go unanswered, and suddenly they begin to feel as if they are in danger. But when no one remembers ever seeing their mother two years ago they know they must leave. Something is not right with these people. But they are too late. The inhabitants must keep the secrets, and they won't let them leave.
Stay Buried will bury you! An incredible, terrifying story with secrets galore, questions you will need (and get) answers to as well as the electrifying ending which will put you over the edge!
Thank you #NetGalley #GalleryBooks #StayBuried #JenniferMcMahon for the advanced copy.
August 6, 2026
This is a dual time line about Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. A tiny, rustic town, well hidden from mainstream society from 1919-2016.
What was labeled as a flu epidemic in the 1900’s, claiming more than half the population-turned out to be something much more horrific. Symptoms sounded like rabies at first but what followed was dark, sinister-abominations and sheer terror!
Fast forward to 2016 and two adult siblings find out the hard way, that their ancestors, were trapped in that hellish nightmare, and that the “flu” might still be coming around. Will they uncover the truth? Set the town right on its feet again? While making it out unscathed?
Stay Buried is a mix of small town, rural folk horror and an uneasiness of everyday life that is saturated with a bizarre sense of the unexplainable supernatural, family secrets, and closeted relationships.
It is eery, suspenseful, a graphically described journey into the darkest nightmare you will struggle to awaken from.
Jennifer McMahon continues to be a class act, all the way, every time!
If she’s writing it? I am reading it!!
Thanks to Gallery Books for another stunning read, another keeper for the shelves.
What was labeled as a flu epidemic in the 1900’s, claiming more than half the population-turned out to be something much more horrific. Symptoms sounded like rabies at first but what followed was dark, sinister-abominations and sheer terror!
Fast forward to 2016 and two adult siblings find out the hard way, that their ancestors, were trapped in that hellish nightmare, and that the “flu” might still be coming around. Will they uncover the truth? Set the town right on its feet again? While making it out unscathed?
Stay Buried is a mix of small town, rural folk horror and an uneasiness of everyday life that is saturated with a bizarre sense of the unexplainable supernatural, family secrets, and closeted relationships.
It is eery, suspenseful, a graphically described journey into the darkest nightmare you will struggle to awaken from.
Jennifer McMahon continues to be a class act, all the way, every time!
If she’s writing it? I am reading it!!
Thanks to Gallery Books for another stunning read, another keeper for the shelves.
September 5, 2026
This is horror done RIGHT!!!
I’m always looking for a horror book that actually feels creepy and not cheesy, and Stay Buried delivered. The writing was so atmospheric and visual that I could picture everything happening as I read it.
The story pulled me in, the writing was strong, and there were plenty of moments that genuinely gave me that uneasy feeling I want from a horror book.
Definitely a standout horror read for me and a very solid way to start my spooky season TBR 🎃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars
I’m always looking for a horror book that actually feels creepy and not cheesy, and Stay Buried delivered. The writing was so atmospheric and visual that I could picture everything happening as I read it.
The story pulled me in, the writing was strong, and there were plenty of moments that genuinely gave me that uneasy feeling I want from a horror book.
Definitely a standout horror read for me and a very solid way to start my spooky season TBR 🎃
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars
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