SIXTEEN HORSES
DEAD AND BURIED BY THE SEA
OUT THERE HE WATCHES, WAITING FOR ME…
AUTHOR
Crime fiction and horror in the decaying seaside town of Ilmarsh. Translated into over 12 languages; featured on BBC Two's Between the Covers; selected as both Goldsboro Book of the Month and Waterstones Thriller of the Month; longlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger. SIXTEEN HORSES is being adapted for television by the studio behind Hannibal and Narcos.
Near the outskirts of Ilmarsh, sixteen horses' heads are discovered, each buried with one eye open, staring toward the low winter sun.
Near the dying English seaside town of Ilmarsh, local police detective Alec Nichols discovers sixteen horses’ heads on a farm. After forensic veterinarian Cooper Allen travels to the scene, the investigators soon uncover evidence of a chain of crimes in the community – disappearances, arson and mutilations – all culminating in the reveal of something deadly lurking in the ground itself.
In the dark days that follow, the town slips into panic and paranoia. Everything is not as it seems. Anyone could be a suspect. And as Cooper finds herself unable to leave town, Alec is stalked by an unseen threat. The two investigators race to uncover the truth behind these frightening and insidious mysteries – no matter the cost.
“Here is a literary thriller unafraid to take chances, bending genre rules to its will” - New York Times
“A dark, ambitious, and highly intelligent thriller” - Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)
“One of the most gripping crime novels I have read in a long time” - The Literary Review
“A mad, dark gothic fantasy of cruelty and violence” - Daily Express
“This is crime writing of a striking calibre, which constantly surprises as it takes unexpected twist after twist — leaving you desperate for more.” - The Daily Mail
“One of the most gripping crime novels I have read in a long time” - The Literary Review
“Utterly gripping, exquisitely written and existentially depressing” - The Guardian
“A brooding, searching debut [… one of] the season’s most powerful novels” - Crime Reads
“Unlike anything else you’ll read this year, SIXTEEN HORSES is a deeply disconcerting ride. Irresistible.” - Val McDermid
“Dark, visceral and disturbing, this highly suspenseful and beautifully written thriller is totally gripping from start to finish. A hugely impressive debut.” - Alex Michaelides
“Original, beautifully written, terrifying and haunting. I won't forget this novel.” - Sophie Hannah
“Utterly brilliant. Poetry and cinema at once. If this isn’t one of the biggest titles of 2021 I’ll eat my hat.” - C.J. Cooke
“Poignant, chilling, eerie, and gruesome, SIXTEEN HORSES is a thriller with a literary soul, perfect for fans of Netflix's Dark or BBC's Top of the Lake. Buchanan impressively balances horror and empathy, showing real evil while also exploring the human cost of economic collapse. A unique, ambitious debut that left me shocked and enthralled.” - Sara Sligar