Long Lankin
Book Description
A sinister presence lurks in the shadows of a remote English village. When two sisters stumble upon a chilling family secret, they find themselves entangled in a web of darkness and danger that defies imagination. With every passing day, the legend of Long Lankin grows more terrifying, threatening to consume them whole. As tensions rise, trust fractures, and the boundaries of loyalty are tested, the sisters must confront the malevolent force that has haunted their lineage for generations. Will they unravel the mystery that binds them, or will they become its next victims?
Quick Book Summary
"Long Lankin" by Lindsey Barraclough is a chilling historical horror novel set in 1950s England. Sisters Cora and Mimi are sent to their Aunt Ida's crumbling, isolated house in the village of Bryers Guerdon. Almost immediately, they sense an overwhelming atmosphere of dread and secrecy enveloping the house and its surrounding marshes. As Cora uncovers an age-old family curse tied to the legend of Long Lankin—a sinister figure said to prey on children—the girls find themselves targeted by inexplicable and terrifying phenomena. With the reluctant help of local boys Roger and Pete, they race to understand the malevolent force threatening them. Haunted by loss, betrayal, and the sins of generations past, the sisters must summon courage to confront the darkness before it claims them. Barraclough weaves an atmospheric, suspenseful tale rooted in English folklore, exploring themes of loyalty, family secrets, and the thin boundary between history and haunting.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
The Enduring Influence of Folklore and Legend
Cora and her younger sister Mimi are sent to live with their estranged Aunt Ida in rural postwar England, hoping for respite after their mother's breakdown. The old mansion at Guerdon Hall is steeped in gloom, with Aunt Ida enforcing strict, anxious rules that seem arbitrary but hint at long-buried fears. The girls quickly notice odd events—locked windows, peculiar warnings, and an overwhelming sense of being watched—that signal something is dreadfully amiss in Bryers Guerdon.
Family Secrets and Ancestral Guilt
Cora’s growing friendship with local boy Roger allows them to explore hidden corners of the village and piece together the treacherous history of the Lankin curse. Through forbidden church visits, cryptic locals, and chilling stories, Cora learns of Long Lankin, a monstrous figure who demands a blood sacrifice from their family—a legend fueled by the real horrors of the past. The threat becomes undeniable as Mimi starts behaving strangely, seemingly lured by a force intent on repeating history.
Childhood Innocence versus Evil
Trust between the sisters and Aunt Ida is strained, as Ida’s traumatic memories of childhood tragedy make her both overly protective and emotionally distant. The community, too, is split between disbelief in old superstitions and the unspoken fear that something evil truly haunts Guerdon Hall. Cora and Roger’s determination to break the cycle pits them against both supernatural danger and the suffocating weight of adult silence and denial.
The Importance of Trust and Loyalty
The novel’s mounting terror is amplified by Barraclough’s skillful gothic techniques—a decaying manor, shadow-filled marshes, and relentless rain—that immerse readers in suspense. Encounters with unexplained phenomena and the gradual unveiling of the curse’s origin heighten the sense of claustrophobia and impending doom, making every room and lane feel steeped in menace.
Atmosphere and Gothic Setting
Ultimately, the sisters must confront Long Lankin directly, using both ancient rituals and the power of their sibling bond. The story concludes with a harrowing battle that tests their bravery and the strength of family ties. In facing the curse, Cora, Mimi, and their friends reclaim agency from fear and secrecy, underscoring the novel’s core themes: the dangers of concealing the past, the resilience born of loyalty, and the thin line between myth and reality.
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