Safe Return Doubtful

Welsh Literature – Published 2026 – Folk Horror

Higginson’s debut novel is a slow burner, a dark and largely effective Welsh folk horror set in Snowdonia as I knew it (I have spent many wonderful days in these mountains) or Eryri as it is now known. At its heart though, it is a romance, between Carwyn and Rhian, a childless couple of sheep-farmers approaching old age, and struggling to make ends meet as their daily routine becomes harder, their bills increase and the price of lambs and wool drop.

For its large part, the novel relates the background of the couple since they were children and the history of the area. Though there is interest in the backstory, the plot doesn’t develop until the second half of the book when Carwyn discovers a statue that has been buried in his land for many years. He becomes obsessed with further excavation in the hope that a further discovery may resolve their financial stress. However, he becomes increasingly withdrawn from Rhian, the community and his farm work.

Overall, this is an impressive debut. Higginson writes well in his descriptions of the wild Welsh hills and the weather that gives the impression of isolation. He is also strong on the folklore of the region. But the book is too long, the build-up so slow that it I fear it will lose readers.

Higginson also seems to be supporting the Welsh tourist board with a reference to pretty much every piece of Welshness one can think of, including a few pages on the halcyon days of Welsh rugby in the 1970s, and their Five Nations championship win in 1994. (The latter, given yesterday, I can’t possibly criticise him for.. )

My GoodReads score 4 / 5