What do you think?
Rate this book
Old Hodmedod
“Hail, Old Father…”
Everyone in Field Rise knows not to wander onto the Ackers farm. The monstrous tales of that inbred family have been told for generations. Some say the soil is still dark with blood from the living scarecrows that Seth Ackers made of anyone who crossed his path.
But not all of its secrets were unearthed, as Police Chief Mike Haberlay realises when a property developer attempts to reclaim the abandoned land. What he discovers causes the evil entombed below the farm to spread its tendrils once more.
For Seth Ackers – Old Hodmedod – was far more than just a deranged murderer. And the earth still hungers for the nourishing blood that his scarecrows provide.
“Hail, Old Hodmedod, Father beneath our feet! This land is yours!”
Everyone in Field Rise knows not to wander onto the Ackers farm. The monstrous tales of that inbred family have been told for generations. Some say the soil is still dark with blood from the living scarecrows that Seth Ackers made of anyone who crossed his path.
But not all of its secrets were unearthed, as Police Chief Mike Haberlay realises when a property developer attempts to reclaim the abandoned land. What he discovers causes the evil entombed below the farm to spread its tendrils once more.
For Seth Ackers – Old Hodmedod – was far more than just a deranged murderer. And the earth still hungers for the nourishing blood that his scarecrows provide.
“Hail, Old Hodmedod, Father beneath our feet! This land is yours!”
- GenresHorror
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2023
About the author
David Haynes
25 books199 followersWhen 12 year-old David Haynes picked up a battered copy of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, he never looked back.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Writing in the grand tradition of the horror paperback originals of his misspent youth, Haynes populates his spine-chilling novels with ancient evils and small-town terrors, mutant monstrosities and knife-wielding psychopaths, and is dedicated to disproving the depressing observation that “...they don’t write ‘em like they used to.”
David Haynes is the author of sixteen horror novels and three collections of macabre short fiction, and lives in England with his wife and dog - that he wasn’t allowed to call Cujo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 17, 2023
Sinister Spooky!
Small backstory:
An old farmhouse and property are under close scrutiny by a big development company that wants to come in and turn the property into new homes, but there might be a small speed bump in their future as things are slowly going south when old human bones are discovered on the property. Chief Haberlay is quite shaken along with the Mayor and other townsfolk when the discovery is made but they are far from surprised as the old man that lived there at one time (Seth Ackers) had committed some crimes in the past.
The property is haunted which makes it ripe pickings for youngsters and teenagers wanting to get a thrill but they will get more than that if they start stomping around in places that they do not need to be. Seth Ackers was known for putting up scarecrows all over his property but what they represented was far beyond the true purpose of scarecrows. The ghost of Seth Ackers has laid claim to his property and he will do whatever it takes to keep everyone off his land!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
Another great book by this author and this book was one spooky ride into terror! I had some weird dreams when reading this book as it kept me encased fully into the clutches of the book! Loved all the characters in this story as I could feel everything the characters were feeling as things began to unfold in the story.
The story starts out right away with a bang and the story just keeps moving at a fast pace through the rest of the book. There is something happening with every page turn and the dreaded suspense of what might happen gave me some breath hitches here and there.
This would be a great story to read around Halloween time as so much happens with the story and the book has tons of spooky moments! Giving this book five "Shivering Scarecrow Spooks" stars!
Small backstory:
An old farmhouse and property are under close scrutiny by a big development company that wants to come in and turn the property into new homes, but there might be a small speed bump in their future as things are slowly going south when old human bones are discovered on the property. Chief Haberlay is quite shaken along with the Mayor and other townsfolk when the discovery is made but they are far from surprised as the old man that lived there at one time (Seth Ackers) had committed some crimes in the past.
The property is haunted which makes it ripe pickings for youngsters and teenagers wanting to get a thrill but they will get more than that if they start stomping around in places that they do not need to be. Seth Ackers was known for putting up scarecrows all over his property but what they represented was far beyond the true purpose of scarecrows. The ghost of Seth Ackers has laid claim to his property and he will do whatever it takes to keep everyone off his land!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
Another great book by this author and this book was one spooky ride into terror! I had some weird dreams when reading this book as it kept me encased fully into the clutches of the book! Loved all the characters in this story as I could feel everything the characters were feeling as things began to unfold in the story.
The story starts out right away with a bang and the story just keeps moving at a fast pace through the rest of the book. There is something happening with every page turn and the dreaded suspense of what might happen gave me some breath hitches here and there.
This would be a great story to read around Halloween time as so much happens with the story and the book has tons of spooky moments! Giving this book five "Shivering Scarecrow Spooks" stars!
August 9, 2023
This is an excellent read- characters are well developed, the legend of the antagonist is really good and intriguing, and there are plenty of creepy moments.
I would say this would be classed as folk horror, so if that's your thing, I'd definitely recommend it.
I would say this would be classed as folk horror, so if that's your thing, I'd definitely recommend it.
July 31, 2023
4 STARS
June 4, 2023
A new author to me and bought on a recommendation i saw on a FB group. Based in small town USA - Field Rise - and the legend of the Akers farm and land, supposedly cursed after horrific events dating back centuries. Now, a development company wants to build new houses on the land, splitting the opinions of the locals and prompting some local youths to spend the last night at the farmhouse before it's bulldozed! Not a good idea!
The opening chapter grips you into the story as you're immediately given an idea of how horrifying past events have been. Back to the present day, the story is told from different angles of small town mentality - the school bully, the younger kids who don't fit in, the mayor, the doctor and chief of police etc - and it all works brilliantly well!! It's creepy, brutal, graphically descriptive and certain not for the faint hearted. Imagine a mix of Stephen King's small town and James Herbert's ghosts and legends and you have Old Hodmedod!! Definitely one for any horror fan!!
The opening chapter grips you into the story as you're immediately given an idea of how horrifying past events have been. Back to the present day, the story is told from different angles of small town mentality - the school bully, the younger kids who don't fit in, the mayor, the doctor and chief of police etc - and it all works brilliantly well!! It's creepy, brutal, graphically descriptive and certain not for the faint hearted. Imagine a mix of Stephen King's small town and James Herbert's ghosts and legends and you have Old Hodmedod!! Definitely one for any horror fan!!
July 22, 2023
This is a new to me author and as I don't read that much horror this was a welcome surprise to me as I really enjoyed it.
The story is dark and may not be for every reader but those who are able to read this will discover an intriguing and well written novel.
With a wide range of characters of all different age groups I found that I got very invested in them all and was immersed into the back story and the setting.
There was one part of the book that actually scared me. I literally felt myself jolt in my seat as I read the scene that was unfolding.
Based on this I'll definitely be reading more books by this author and I'm grateful to my boyfriend for giving me the book recommendation.
Violence, blood, gore, incest, supernatural, are all included in this novel.
The story is dark and may not be for every reader but those who are able to read this will discover an intriguing and well written novel.
With a wide range of characters of all different age groups I found that I got very invested in them all and was immersed into the back story and the setting.
There was one part of the book that actually scared me. I literally felt myself jolt in my seat as I read the scene that was unfolding.
Based on this I'll definitely be reading more books by this author and I'm grateful to my boyfriend for giving me the book recommendation.
Violence, blood, gore, incest, supernatural, are all included in this novel.
June 2, 2023
Sucks you into a world of blood and horrific violence and ramps up the tension with each turn of the page.
July 23, 2023
Always worth reading for horror fans, David Haynes' new novel doesn't disappoint. Set in a small town trying to forget the multiple murders which took place long ago on a remote and now abandoned farm. Now disturbed by developers, the cause and the instrument of those murders has reawakened and the carnage begins again. I fully accept this is probably just me and may never have entered the author's mind, but I got a Rawhead Rex vibe about this book. This of course is much longer than Barker's short story, involves scarecrows and cursed families and is set in the US, but I'm just saying.
Other than that, Haynes delivers another fast paced horror with plenty of gore. Recommended.
Other than that, Haynes delivers another fast paced horror with plenty of gore. Recommended.
July 26, 2024
This one showed great promise! A deranged, in-bred separatists crucifies vagrants to nurture the land via a land-pact with an ancient evil spirit.
The visuals of seeing hobos broken and staked about a field was intense, a unique story line. And while parts of it did live up to that expectation, most of the novel just fell flat.
The “old Hodmedod” refrain was over-used and lacked meaningful context. If we had spent more time with Rosamund it may have had a richer development later. And the chant/prayer really didn’t deliver the suspense/horror the author (possibly) intended.
I was further lost when living, functioning humans began pulling dry, brittle, dead straw from within their wounds. If the plant material had been vining greenery I may have just accepted that as part of the weirdness, but dead straw? It keeps with the scarecrow context, but it does rather cheapen the plot. It doesn’t add anything to the story.
The photographs with disappearing characters, and rocking chairs occupied by invisible witches are pretty trite. A story toss away. Edit, edit, edit.
Cannot Recommend.
The visuals of seeing hobos broken and staked about a field was intense, a unique story line. And while parts of it did live up to that expectation, most of the novel just fell flat.
The “old Hodmedod” refrain was over-used and lacked meaningful context. If we had spent more time with Rosamund it may have had a richer development later. And the chant/prayer really didn’t deliver the suspense/horror the author (possibly) intended.
I was further lost when living, functioning humans began pulling dry, brittle, dead straw from within their wounds. If the plant material had been vining greenery I may have just accepted that as part of the weirdness, but dead straw? It keeps with the scarecrow context, but it does rather cheapen the plot. It doesn’t add anything to the story.
The photographs with disappearing characters, and rocking chairs occupied by invisible witches are pretty trite. A story toss away. Edit, edit, edit.
Cannot Recommend.
May 29, 2023
Set in a small farming community in the US, this book will make you think of scarecrows in a new way - and I'm not talking Worzel Gummidge. There's a proposal to pull down a derelict farm to build a new estate, but this sets things in motion. David Haynes can make you find a character hateful and disgusting, then disarm you with pity for him. I've always enjoyed his novels but this one is probably the best. Just brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews