Novel set in Nettlebed

Submitted: 26th May 2025

The Hounding – Xenobe Purvis

Many stories are told about the five Mansfield sisters. Accounts of their behaviour differ, but the villagers all agree that the girls are odd.

One long summer, a heatwave descends. As the stifling heat grips the village, so does a strange rumour: the Mansfield sisters have been seen transforming into a pack of dogs.

With the witch trials only a recent memory, hysteria sets in.

Map of locations in The Hounding

Novel set in Nettlebed

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : Nettlebed

Author guide:

Genre: fiction

Food and drink to accompany: depends what the Mansfield sisters offer you

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A novel to transport you to little nettlebed

Map of locations in The Hounding

OK, so this is a weird, quirky little novel. Five sisters living in the little village of Little Nettlebed ( what a cool name!) find themselves the subjects of whispers and rumours. Villagers seems to think that they have supernatural powers and are some kind of shapeshifters. They don’t know what to make of them or the stories that surround them.

The way the villagers see the sisters, think about them and talk about them is very interesting. There’s suspicion, gossip and all manner of jealousy and fear. I found it very interesting to discover how the gossip first started about the Mansfield girls – nothing they had done, but one man’s perception of them. Does that sound familiar?

This is a story where if you have ever played Chinese Whispers – one utterance takes flight and each person hears it differently. You can see how lies travel fast and it’s scary. To see this happen makes you think of the way one small whisper can grow out of control. How lies and gossip can spread and grow poisonous roots. I felt sad watching the sisters but intrigued to know more and tried to think how they would feel. The writing was clear and whispery – is that a word – so that I really felt as if I had been welcomed into their hearth.

Oh I feel bookclubs will lap this up looking at the sisters and the way they deal with the world and its view of them. Their grandfather is worried for them, yet the sisters want to be who they are. The misunderstanding at their door is a constant source of worry and it was interesting to see how they each dealt with it. Lots of #metoo themes here and just the sad realisation that women can’t just walk around after dark anywhere.

In addition, this entire tale was elevated by the folkloric and mystery vibes it gave off throughout. It was like a literary spell and I was captivated.