By ADAM L. G. NEVILL (Ritual Limited; 2026)
As of late April 2026, MONUMENTAL, the latest horror novel by England’s prolific and well-regarded Adam Nevill (of THE RITUAL, LAST DAYS and THE REDDENING), is Amazon’s number one bestseller (in the “British Horror Fiction” category). That’s no surprise, as it offers a taut and highly cinematic blast of old school horror with nary a hint of preachiness or political sloganeering, which these days ranks as a refreshing and unique development. That being said, MONUMENTAL is quite redolent of our current age in its depictions of billionaire overconsumption and fringe beliefs run amok.
Taking place entirely over the course of a late October afternoon, the story is related in chapters that denote the hour of the day, starting at noon and concluding at 3 AM. It’s then that physical fitness buff Marcus ferries five companions on a kayaking expedition to the secluded Worm Valley. Conflicts break out early on between Marcus and the severely repressed Nigel, “an arrogant, disagreeable bastard by nature” who suspects (correctly) that his schoolteacher wife Sophie is having an affair with Marcus. Sophie is part of the expedition, as are the arrogant Julien, the widowed Mary and her younger friend Jane, with whom the guys are besotted.
Vowing that “This would be the last paddle they took together, ever,” Marcus guides this crew into “the Worm,” which happens to be privately owned. They’re trespassing, in short, on a rich man’s property.
Following the discovery of several hanging installations of what look like animal bones, Jane ventures into the woods alongside the river, where she’s scratched up by a dimly glimpsed something. This brings the group into contact with the mysterious property owner, a “shoddy little tech bro with a messiah complex” who heads a cult devoted to an ancient temple in the area. This cult’s activities include human sacrifice (with Marcus and his friends making for ideal candidates) and the summoning of an ages-old deity.
Thus, what begins as a horrific wilderness survival account expands to Lovecraftian—i.e. cosmic—dimensions, not unlike DELIVERANCE meets AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS. Nevill’s talents, for horrific description, strong and concise characterization and page-turning storytelling, are put to excellent use in a satisfying reading experience that’s over before you know it but has a resonance that stretches beyond the final page.