Boys In the Valley by Philip Fracassi

I would like to thank Nazia from Orbit for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher - Orbit

Published - Out Now

Price - £9.99 paperback £5.49 Kindle eBook

St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys. Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.

Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future. . . a family.

Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent's and the children within.

Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides. Others turn up dead. Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives - and perhaps their eternal souls - are at risk.

Horror is about knowing things are not not right and going to get worse. It’s the sensation that the other shoe will drop and you can’t stop it. In Philip Fracassi’s impressive horror novel The Boys In The Valley we get to experience that through a lyrical tale that takes on a dark journey into terror.

St Vincent’s Orphanage is a catholic run isolated place. Run by the strict and arguably cruel Father Poole discipline is all. The Boys of the orphanage do have their own champions in the shape of two of the eldest rebellious David and the more priest-like Peter who is pondering that role for himself. A chaotic night though is interrupted by the Sheffif brining an injured and strange man from a site of a ritualistic murder. He died but something escapes. The next day for St Vincent’s will be its longest and also its last.

I was very impressed how Fracassi takes a very familiar horror idea and gives it a dose of freshness. The idea of demonic possession and it’s association with Catholicism is long running but in this case the possessed moves not to another adult but some of the children. Children can always be sinister but when we find out what these are capable of it’s absolutely chilling and disturbing. This story is dark, bleak and not afraid for good and also the bad to die horribly. When our injurered prisoner arrived you know what can happen but the reader is powerless to stop.

At that point things escalate horribly and fast. It’s a nightmarish set of scenes as our little demons are released and under a particularly chilling leader who knows far too much about everyone things go from bad to worse. Only David and Peter are hopes and both are being plunged into something very few can understand or know how to protect.

The one plotline I’d had loved to have seen more of is the cruelty of St Vincent’s before the demons arrive. We do see Father Poole’s intolernce and desire to control - which comes back to haunt him but there felt a little more we could have done to contrast human and demonic cruelty. Instead the issue of faith ends up being the only solution to help end things which whileTraditional for this type of tale I’m pondering if was fully effective. I did though feel our character’s pain, fear and hope which pay towards the high quality of Fracassi’s writing. He paints a cold historical tale with lyrical writing and knows when to create a haunting image or drop an omnibus hint of what is to come.

If you fancy some ice cold horror this summer then this is an appropriately chilling tale to enjoy and a writer I will be fascinated to see what he has in store for us in the future.