🏚️ Gothic

High Lonesome Sound

✍️ Jaye Wells
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$16.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A Southern Gothic novel about a woman and a writer fighting Appalachian ghosts.

Wells explores the intersection of grief and supernatural bargaining in rural Appalachia. The story centers on Ruby Barrett, who loses her ability to hear the mountain after her mother’s death. Her father Cotton turns to moonshine and makes a pact with the devil to resurrect his wife. Peter West, a struggling horror writer, enters this chaotic environment hoping for inspiration. Instead, he becomes entangled in a battle against the dead. The plot requires Ruby and Peter to collaborate to save Moon Hollow from its own history. This dynamic creates tension between personal salvation and communal survival.

Key Themes
Appalachian folklore Grief and loss Devil's bargain
Literary Context

This book sits within the Southern Gothic tradition, drawing on Appalachian culture and beliefs about the mountain’s spiritual presence. It engages with themes of rural isolation and the supernatural history of the region, reflecting a time when moonshine production was central to local life.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King · Shirley Jackson · Cherie Priest
🏚️
Gothic
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2018 📖 464 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781983777790

📝 Description: High Lonesome Sound

Jaye Wells writes a Southern Gothic tale set in Moon Hollow, a place where secrets refuse to stay buried. Ruby Barrett’s life fractures when her mother dies and her father, Cotton, begins drinking moonshine. Ruby stops hearing the mountain’s song, signaling a loss of connection to the land that once sustained her community. Horror author Peter West arrives seeking material to revive his stalled career. He finds Ruby, who hopes he can help her escape their tragic home. Cotton, desperate for his wife’s return, strikes a deal with the devil. The narrative follows Ruby and Peter as they confront the ghosts of Moon Hollow’s past to save the town and secure Ruby’s freedom. Fans of Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, and Cherie Priest will appreciate this atmospheric story. Kevin Hearne describes it as harrowing and haunting, while Stephen Blackmoore notes its similarity to King’s later work. The book suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction rooted in Appalachian tradition. Those seeking light romance or fast-paced action may find the mood too heavy.

💎 Our verdict on High Lonesome Sound

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Jaye Wells crafts a potent Southern Gothic tale where the landscape itself feels alive with menace. The narrative effectively intertwines grief with supernatural elements, creating a tense atmosphere that defines Moon Hollow. Wells excels at building dread through character dynamics, particularly the fragile alliance between Ruby and Peter. While the mood is undeniably heavy, this intensity serves the genre well, appealing to horror enthusiasts who value psychological depth and regional authenticity. The book succeeds in delivering a haunting experience for those willing to engage with its slower, more deliberate pacing and complex emotional undercurrents.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to atmospheric horror and deep psychological exploration will find this book rewarding. It appeals to those who enjoy supernatural fiction grounded in Appalachian tradition, offering a heavy, immersive mood rather than light entertainment. Fans of authors like King, Jackson, and Priest will appreciate the harrowing tone and haunting narrative structure. The story offers a compelling look at the intersection of personal salvation and communal survival, making it ideal for readers seeking depth over fast-paced action or romance.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Jaye Wells crafts a potent Southern Gothic tale where the landscape itself feels alive with menace. The narrative effectively intertwines grief with supernatural elements, creating a tense atmosphere that defines Moon Hollow. Wells excels at building dread through character dynamics, particularly the fragile alliance between Ruby and Peter. While the mood is undeniably heavy, this intensity serves the genre well, appealing to horror enthusiasts who value psychological depth and regional authenticity. The book succeeds in delivering a haunting experience for those willing to engage with its slower, more deliberate pacing and complex emotional undercurrents.

✍️ More books by this author Jaye Wells

Le Demon de la vengeance (Une aventure de Sabina Kane 3)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jaye Wells
Le Demon de la vengeance (Une aventure de Sabina Kane 3)
$30.95
78
Read →
Dirty Magic
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jaye Wells
Dirty Magic
$20.00
78
Read →
Blue-Blooded Vamp
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jaye Wells
Blue-Blooded Vamp
$18.00
78
Read →
The Mage in Black
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jaye Wells
The Mage in Black
$7.99
78
Read →
Red-Headed Stepchild
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jaye Wells
Red-Headed Stepchild
$12.64
81
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Memento Mori
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Paul Holbrook
Memento Mori
$13.94
78
Read →
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Quinton Veal
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
$12.00
78
Read →
The Manitou
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jessie Cox
The Manitou
$10.50
78
Read →
The Phantom of the Opera
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
The Phantom of the Opera
$17.00
81
Read →
The Trial
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wyllie
The Trial
$10.25
81
Read →
Prey Until Dawn
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daryn Guarino
Prey Until Dawn
$50.00
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Red-Headed Stepchild
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Jaye Wells
Red-Headed Stepchild
$12.64
81
Read →
Blue-Blooded Vamp
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Jaye Wells
Blue-Blooded Vamp
$18.00
78
Read →
Lovecraftian Horror: Comfortable Classics 🏆 Bestseller -58%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
H. P. Lovecraft
Lovecraftian Horror: Comfortable Classics
$16.99 $41.00
86
Read →
A Taste of Jasmine
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Corbin Dailey
A Taste of Jasmine
$16.99
86
Read →
The Woodsman
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Craig Hansen
The Woodsman
$16.99
86
Read →
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
M R James
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary
$17.00
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist