Long Lankin

A chilling debut novel inspired by a haunting folk song about murder, witchcraft and revenge.

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

A fabulous revisiting of the hoariest of old chestnuts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lindsey Barraclough was born in Essex. She worked as a music teacher and lives in London with her husband and their five children. Her debut novel, Long Lankin, was published in 2011 to critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award, the UKLA Children’s Book Award, the We Read Prize and the Southern Schools Award, and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Waterstones Book Prize. It was also named one of the best 100 YA novels by the American Young Adult Library Services Association.

Beware of Long Lankin . . . 
 
When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to stay with their great-aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they sense immediately that they're not welcome. What they don't know is that the last time two young girls were at Guerdon Hall, their visit ended in a mysterious, violent tragedy. 
 
Something dark and evil has haunted the village for centuries. Now it has set eyes on its next victim, and it will stop at nothing to lay claim to her. With the help of local schoolboys Roger and Peter, Cora must uncover the horrifying secrets buried deep within Bryers Guerdon - before it is too late for Mimi. 
 
Bewitching and atmospheric, this is a truly stunning debut that will linger with you for days after the final, chilling pages.

Lindsey Barraclough

What an incredibly dark story this is, and how full of thrill. What skills in planting chilling fears in the mind of the reader, just by little touches: a reflection in the window, a chill in the air, a whispering noise. It works so well that at every turn of the story the mind is teased to unleash one’s fears to imagine horrific scenarios . . . A thrilling tale and a most powerful sequel

1567 
 
Aphra is not a normal child. Found abandoned as a baby among the reeds and rushes, the two outcast witches who raise her in their isolated cottage are never sure if she was born, or just pushed up through the foul, black mud for them to find. Little Aphra’s gifts in the dark craft are clear, even as an infant, but soon even her guardians begin to fear her. 
 
When a violent fire destroys their home, Aphra is left to fend for herself. Years of begging and stealing make her strong, but they also make her bitter, for she is shunned and feared by everyone she meets. 
 
Until she reaches Bryers Guerdon and meets the man they call Long Lankin – the leper. Ostracized and tormented, he is the only person willing to help her. 
 
And together, they plot their revenge. 
 
1962 
 
Four years have passed since the death of Ida Guerdon, and Cora is back in Bryers Guerdon in the manor house her aunt left to her. It is a cold, bitter winter, and the horrifying events of that sweltering summer in 1958 seem long past. 
 
Until Cora’s father arranges for some restoration work to take place at Guerdon Hall, and it seems that something hidden there long ago has been disturbed. The spirit of Aphra Rushes – intent on finishing what she began, four centuries ago.

Lindsey Barraclough

Books by Lindsey Barraclough

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter