It is 1862. When Albie Mirralls discovers that his cousin has died in mysterious circumstances, he journeys to Halfoak, a village in the depths of rural Yorkshire that is steeped in superstition. Lizzie Higgs has been burned to death on her own hearth; her husband James is accused of killing her. He appears to have been suffering under the delusion that Lizzie had been stolen by the fairies, and that she was a changeling. The locals are a closed, untrusting group, and belief in the folk traditions are rife. Albie must investigate his cousin’s death and piece together the truth in the face of the Hidden People.

I started reading Alison Littlewood’s The Hidden People believing that the novel sat clearly in the horror genre. Littlewood’s previous novels featured supernatural happenings and gothic fantasy and – whilst it’s true it does indeed belong in the horror genre – I’d also say it fits equally as well in historical crime and dark fantasy. I like stories that blur genres. This particular tale is unsettling and uncanny, made more so by the Victorian style of writing. Subsequently it’s not a fast read, as the prose demands more attention than that of a contemporary style. But the locations are richly atmospheric and, at times, it is genuinely frightening. The whole thing grows as the book progresses and there’s a nice twist that feels like a bonus rather than a peg on which the whole story hangs. This is recommended to readers who enjoy historical mysteries, gothic fantasy or dark, subtle fiction.