Happy Goat Horror

The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, by way of Midnight Mass, Boys in the Valley is a chilling folk horror set in a remote orphanage in turn of the century Pennsylvania.

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.

Dark bleatings, my lovely tribe. Okay, sooooo several of you DID indeed rave about this book to me, but at no point did anyone so much as whisper the word “devil”. Had I got wind that my favourite horned figure might have anything to do with this story, I would have devoured it much sooner.

I went into this book with no clue about the synopsis, since I never read the back cover, just a pile of people who insisted I’d love it. So, did I?

Yes. Yes I did. I loved it as much as, if not more than, Rachel Harrison’s Black Sheep, and long-time followers will know how obsessed I am with that book. This is folk horror but with some real unique elements, like the setting, for example. Rather than a small town or a commune, this story is set in a boy’s orphanage run by Catholic priests. The bulk of the characters are kids and teenagers of various ages, which is also different because now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve read another folk horror novel with a cast like this. I was excited about what I was delving into right from the first chapter.

This is a strict place with leaders of varying…let’s say, moral elasticity. I immediately got a great sense of this world, how things worked, the people, and the rules. The power dynamics and the hierarchy were particularly interesting (and often, worrisome). Our lead protagonist is one of the older boys who is line for a priesthood, but he’s got some reservations about whether or not that’s the right path for him. It’s all really intriguing, great stuff.

And then…the stranger turns up.

From there, we are treated to balls out, religious, bloody chaos. The stranger wasn’t right, you see, and he brought whatever wrong he had in with him. It infests the place. Almost immediately, people are splitting off into one of two opposing camps. I won’t spoil the plot for you but this is my very favourite type of story, told in a way that was so fresh and different.

I absolutely love this book. One of the easiest 5/5 ratings I’ve ever given, and I wish I’d listened to everyone and read it sooner! For those who might be interested in the book or the author, I’ve popped some links below for you:

BOYS IN THE VALLEY

PHILIP FRACASSI

Bleeeeat!