Withered Hill by David Barnett (Canelo, Β£9.99)
A young woman stumbles naked out of the woods, into the village of Withered Hill. She knows her name is Sophie, but she doesnβt remember anything about her previous life. The locals are friendly but strange. Attempts to escape meet with failure, but her new friends promise that she will be able to leave when the time is right. The dual timeline moves between Sophieβs life in London in the month before her arrival, and what happens in Withered Hill, as she uneasily adjusts to its odd customs and seasonal celebrations. At times this folk horror, while engaging, may seem a bit predictable, but the narrative rug is pulled out from under the reader with a terrific unexpected twist.