🩸 Horror Fiction

The Culling

✍️ Anthony Hulse
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$20.38
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective and a private investigator uncover evil behind a touring circus in this supernatural thriller.

Jenny Stiles and Jimmy Crawford pursue different angles of the same mystery. Stiles focuses on criminal patterns and religious violence, while Crawford investigates personal disappearances through psychological and spiritual lenses. Their paths converge as they realize the circus performers harbor terrifying secrets. The story connects disparate locations like Lourdes and Dartmoor to a central evil force. Hulse uses the circus setting to explore themes of hidden monstrosity. The investigation reveals that the troupe is not merely criminal but supernatural. The narrative structure allows readers to see both the legal and spiritual sides of the threat.

Key Themes
circus secrets supernatural evil child abductions
Literary Context

The Culling is set in Whitby, Dartmoor, Edinburgh, Cleveland, and Lourdes. It blends police procedural elements with gothic horror traditions. The story examines the intersection of crime investigation and supernatural phenomena through the lens of a traveling circus troupe.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Clive Barker · Peter Straub · Thomas Harris
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Lulu.com 📅 2012 📖 280 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781471617843

📝 Description: The Culling

Anthony Hulse presents a supernatural thriller in The Culling, centering on Jules Devlin’s touring circus. CID detective DS Jenny Stiles investigates child abductions linked to the troupe, which includes a clown, lion-tamer, fire-eater, dwarf, and conjoined twins. She suspects Devlin leads a paedophile ring but uncovers darker forces. Ex-detective Jimmy Crawford, hired by parents of a missing teen, teams with a child psychologist and a priest. They rely on testimony from a handicapped boy to reveal the circus’s true nature. The narrative spans Whitby, Dartmoor, Edinburgh, Cleveland, and Lourdes. Strange episodes in these locations suggest Devlin is evil and responsible for church burnings. Hulse draws on gothic traditions of hidden secrets within traveling shows. The book suits readers who enjoy police procedurals mixed with occult elements. It may not appeal to those seeking pure historical fiction or non-supernatural mysteries. The plot moves through multiple geographic locations to build tension around the circus’s activities.

💎 Our verdict on The Culling

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Hulse effectively utilizes the circus setting to explore themes of hidden evil and religious violence, creating a compelling supernatural thriller. The dual narrative structure, following both Detective Jenny Stiles and Jimmy Crawford, allows for a comprehensive view of the threat from legal and spiritual angles. This approach suits readers who appreciate detailed investigations that evolve into occult encounters. The inclusion of diverse locations enhances the sense of a pervasive, traveling menace. While it may not appeal to those seeking pure historical fiction, the blend of police procedural elements with gothic horror creates a unique reading experience. The focus on the troupe's terrifying secrets provides sustained tension, making it a strong choice for fans of dark fantasy and true crime adjacent narratives.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy the intersection of law enforcement procedure and supernatural mystery will find this novel particularly engaging. It offers a dual perspective that satisfies those interested in both the criminal investigation aspects and the spiritual implications of evil. The narrative appeals to fans of gothic settings, utilizing locations like Dartmoor and Lourdes to build an atmosphere of dread. Those who appreciate complex character dynamics, such as the partnership between a detective and a private investigator, will find value in how their distinct methods converge. The book provides a thrilling exploration of hidden truths behind public spectacles, making it ideal for audiences seeking tension derived from both psychological insight and occult threats rather than simple jump scares.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Hulse effectively utilizes the circus setting to explore themes of hidden evil and religious violence, creating a compelling supernatural thriller. The dual narrative structure, following both Detective Jenny Stiles and Jimmy Crawford, allows for a comprehensive view of the threat from legal and spiritual angles. This approach suits readers who appreciate detailed investigations that evolve into occult encounters. The inclusion of diverse locations enhances the sense of a pervasive, traveling menace. While it may not appeal to those seeking pure historical fiction, the blend of police procedural elements with gothic horror creates a unique reading experience. The focus on the troupe's terrifying secrets provides sustained tension, making it a strong choice for fans of dark fantasy and true crime adjacent narratives.

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