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Scuttler's Cove

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Scuttler's Cove

By: David Barnett
Narrated by: Catrin Walker-Booth
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About this listen

The sea never forgets. The sea never forgives…

Scuttler's Cove is a working village, nestling in dramatic coastal scenery in Cornwall, where life has gone on uninterrupted for centuries... until this seaside idyll was discovered by the rich.

Now the quaint harbour-front cottages have been snapped up by second-homers and rental companies, and the locals can barely afford to live in their own town.

It is a very different place for Merrin Moon, who left for university at the age of eighteen and never looked back. Now in her thirties, she returns to the Cove for the first time since, after the death of her mother.

She soon discovers that there are forces at play in the village that she could never have imagined. Is someone trying to drive out the second homers? And has their arrival started a chain of events none of them will be able to stop?

For something old and terrible is awakening beneath the town's hallowed ground. And with it comes a horror that the residents have fought for generations to keep a secret.

©2025 David Barnett (P)2025 W.F. Howes Ltd Genre Fiction Ghosts Horror Sea Adventures Small Town & Rural
All stars
Most relevant
Absolutely loved listening to this book. I would recommend.

There's a minimum of 15 words but there's nothing more to say. If you're undecided, take a chance, it will be worth it.

Brilliant

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a few good creepy moments, it's OK nothing special, I'd definitely read other works by this author on the strength of this novel

macabre

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For the most part this is choice for a spooky autumn read, despite being set in the spring time.

The narration is good. The voice actor is better at female voices, which is fair enough, but she can manage male voices and differentiate between characters without going to ear piercing extremes... I am quite fussy on narration, and would listen to this narrator again.

The story itself weaves some hints of ancient folklore, which is something I love. This is not directly taken from any specific myth, but there are shreds of old stories left about Apple Tree Men. These are a form of localised land spirit , something like the landvaettir or even Aos Si. In this story Apple Tree Man is much more than this, and we have the addition of an unknown sea Goddess, but there is precedent in myths of other regions. And it makes a good story which is what really counts.

The author is clearly talented and creates a strong sense of atmosphere, building tension , but also beauty.

The one real dissapointment is the resentment of men. To be fair there are some good and bad of both sees, but also an overriding sense of dislike for men in general, even if one or two might be ok. This culminates in diatribes better suited to a super villain in a climatic moment, ranting against the evil of males. I buy a book to be entertained rather than preached at, and this really took from otherwise very good book.

Of course the book was clearly written for women, and that is grand, but there is no need for such venom. it might be worth remembering many readers will have or have had beloved husbands, sons, brothers, fathers, grandfather's, uncles or just best friends. But if you enjoy that in a book, this will perfect for you.

Without the ever-present misandry, this would certainly be a five star read. Despite it, I will probably buy another book from th same author. Perhaps this was just written during a dark spell after some personal tragedy. Realistically, There are not many other titles in folk horror audible books to choose from , and this was otherwise very good. There are a few plot holes, especially in relation to major twist, which really coukd have been better, but not enough to detract from the story, and this is better than most in the genre.

Good horror with a sense of the otherworld, but also a bit preachy and heavy on misandry.

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After reading Withered Hill (you must!) I was eager to listen to this new novel ‘Scuttlers Cove’ I was not disappointed. Loved the way the author brings the story full circle and his obvious love for folklore. Cannot wait for more

What a storyteller!

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This started out as a not bad book, but by the middle it had become silly,and at the end utter farce.I also disliked the narrator,as she insisted on adding an ethereal type of cadence to her voice which I found annoying.Because the author had given the characters Cornish names,and due to the narration,I found it difficult to work out who was who.All.in all, not a good experience.

The utter nonsense of it all

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