Lost in the Garden

Psychedelic folk horror with elements of magical realism, sci-fi and fantasy. In a world overtaken by zombie-like ghosts and constant heatwaves, three friends travel through the English countryside, each for their own reason, to a village called Almanby, a place where no one should ever go. 
Well this was such a creepy, unsettling reading experience, it felt like a delirious LSD fever dream. The author did a perfect job setting the weird and unsettling atmosphere with a pinch of Monty Pythonesque humour and surrealist passages throughout the book. The village of Almanby felt like something out of a dark fairy tale, and I loved the connection to childhood and folklore.  The characters had their own faults and annoying moments but all remained compelling in their way.  The plot was straightforward but the pacing was not, some parts felt a bit dragged out, others repetitive and the ending a bit rushed, yet all of it contributed to make this story more dizzying to read.  I did like the ending though I wished some parts were more explained, in regards to certain side characters.  Reading this book felt like I just got drunk or high, so despite some reserve this really felt like a truly original and interesting debut novel.