The gatherer

by Owen Brookes, Ed Soyka (Cover Artist)

The "Gatherer," an almost-human scarecrow, sets out to punish those who have sinned and anybody else who gets in the way of its terrifying thirst for retribution, in a chilling tale of ritual murder and horrifying violence

Genres: Horror, Horror Thriller, Fiction

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Jack Tripper · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something…cozy to me about horror novels of the late 70s/early 80s. They’re slow burns, usually*, fairly predictable, and often take place in idyllic small towns where everyone knows everyone. I’ve read so many of these things over the years, and there’s a comfort in settling into a quiet horror novel where things play out almost exactly as you expect (unlike reality), punctuated by moments of subtle chills that gradually become more and more potent. This one looked like it was heading into 4 star territory, but the Scooby Doo-ish ending undid much of the creepiness, imo.

Imagine living in a cottage in the middle of endless farmland all by your lonesome, and the dozens of scarecrows from the neighboring farm seem to slowly be encroaching on your territory, getting closer and closer. They appear almost lifelike. And what’s that scratching sound at the window during the night? Are you going crazy?

That’s the scenario for artist Sue, whose married lover Gavin gave her the cottage so she could be closer to him. She’s grown to accept the fact that she’s in love with a married man, and accepts that he’ll never leave his ill, nearly invalid wife. But then he goes missing, and she starts hearing whispers from her odd and none-too-friendly neighbors down the road of a local legend called The Gatherer, a creature who punishes the wicked. Like adulterers.

This really takes its sweet time building tension and unease, but the last 50 or so pages really ratchet up the intensity, and if it weren’t for the disappointing final pages I would have no reservations about recommending it to any and all horror fans, especially those of folk horror. Good characterization, and the mystery of just what the hell is going on was very intriguing, but the ending felt like a cop out, even though I half-expected it. Still, I enjoyed my time with it.

*not counting British nasties and such, that is.

[Alex (The Bookubus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sue is a freelance illustrator living in London who begins an affair with Gavin who she meets through her work. Gavin inherits a countryside cottage from someone whose family took him in as a child evacuee during the war. He decides to do the place up so Sue can live there and he'll visit her on weekends. But once settled in, Sue soon finds out that the locals of the small village have some old traditions and a dark past.

All I knew about this one before going into it was that it was a horror novel and there was a scarecrow, or scarecrows, involved. I think I expected something more schlocky and, dare I say, silly than I actually got. It's much more nuanced than that and once it set up the characters it really drew me in with the story.

This is set in the British countryside and has some great folk horror elements, and even though some of the story was a bit predictable it also subverted my expectations a couple of times in a really good way. It's mostly a slow-burn but does contain some scenes of violence which I thought were really well written. The scarecrows were an element that I hadn't seen used before and I thought they were incredibly effective. There is more to the story but it would get spoilery so I'll leave it at that but I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The concert of the scarecrow murders was a new one to me and honestly this did have a fall vibe which is what I was in the mood for.

There were some cheesy parts like Tom falling in love with the two sisters too quickly for my liking but I still enjoyed the story overall.

Surprised I liked this one as much as I did!

[Kristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sue Jackman is in love. Gavin Trope is the perfect man for her in every way, except one. He is already married. But he has inherited an old family farmhouse and the two lovers make plans for Sue to move in and live there, pursuing her dreams of becoming a successful artist while Gavin remains in the city during the week with his job and current wife and returning to her on the weekends. But there are prying eyes, always watching, even in the countryside. Maybe even more so, since people in small towns seem to know all the local secrets. And when people have secrets, they will do almost anything to keep them that way.

While the basis of the creepy scarecrows was working, I had issues with the two main characters affair to begin with. Add in the fact that the female character was so dependent on her lover that she could not think for herself was weak for me.

Merged review:

Sue Jackman is in love. Gavin Trope is the perfect man for her in every way, except one. He is already married. But he has inherited an old family farmhouse and the two lovers make plans for Sue to move in and live there, pursuing her dreams of becoming a successful artist while Gavin remains in the city during the week with his job and current wife and returning to her on the weekends. But there are prying eyes, always watching, even in the countryside. Maybe even more so, since people in small towns seem to know all the local secrets. And when people have secrets, they will do almost anything to keep them that way.

While the basis of the creepy scarecrows was working, I had issues with the two main characters affair to begin with. Add in the fact that the female character was so dependent on her lover that she could not think for herself was weak for me.

[GhostofMyrtle]

The Gatherer is a horror novel about a woman who becomes involved with a married man. He sets her up in a house in his childhood hometown when mysterious events conjuring his childhood occur.

This is an average horror novel and, like House of Distant Voices, which I have also written about on here, the supernatural turns out not to be so supernatural.

Owen Brookes has written several horror novels. If this is anything to go by I would suggest you don't go out of your way to read them.

[Doodles McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this horror story as a teenager, about an evil entity scarecrow monster, that sets out to punish those who have sinned and anybody else who gets in the way of its terrifying thirst for ritual murder and horrifying violence.

[Bob Box · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read in 1983. Horror novel about an almost human scarecrow out to punish those who have sinned,