The Unhallowed Horseman is a novel that does homage to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. The debut novel of Jude S Walko, this tale takes place close to the present day, and the characters are based on the ones from the original story written in 1820. This novel takes place in Sleepy Hollow, New York (of course), and, The Unhallowed Horseman follows anti-hero Vincent Douglass, a troubled teen with an obsession for the legend that took place in this small town. As supernatural events begin to occur around him, it is unclear if the visions appearing to Vincent are apparitions of the legendary Headless Horseman coming to seek his vengeance or the ravings of a troubled and possibly psychotic teenage mind. The Unhallowed Horseman is a fantastically executed psychological thriller that will keep the reader on the edge of their seats.
What Worked?
Reminiscent of Donnie Darko (2001), The Unhallowed Horseman is a psychological thriller with a familiar quandary. Not only is the reader unsure of whether the visages of the Headless Horseman are supernatural apparitions, but we are also unsure whether Vincent Douglass is the protagonist or antagonist in this tale. While this troubled teen makes some decidedly poor life choices, we are rooting for him anyway! While this type of psychological thriller may be commonly portrayed in cinema, it is difficult to execute in a work of literature, and Jude S. Walko nails it. The writing is excellent, the descriptions are superb, and I would gladly put this novel on the same shelf as Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar and You by Caroline Kepnes. The almost poetic imagery Walko achieves in this book will leave the reader alternately breathless and terrified. Walko paints an accurate and gorgeous depiction of the area in which this novel takes place, bringing legend to life in a town already steeped in history.
What did not work?
While this novel was beautifully written, for taking place in what appears to present day – there were some realities the reader may find questionable. The alleged treatment of the criminally insane mentioned in this book was particularly grotesque, as well as unlikely. While this lends itself to the horror genre and the gore of the book itself, some may take issue with this medieval portrayal of the treatment of the mentally ill.
Overall Thoughts
Despite some small issues with believability in this book, (many would argue that believability is not particularly relevant in a work of fiction) this was a fantastic novel and enjoyable read. So impressive was the quality of the writing, that it is hard to believe that this is Jude S. Walko’s first novel. The Unhallowed Horseman deserves a high spot on your reading list, and it was also fun to revisit Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow before picking up this book. You’ll want to keep an eye on this author, there are certain to be some equally epic tales coming up in the future from him!
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Lisa is a lifetime horror fan and Constant Reader originally hailing from upstate New York. She is certifiably obsessed with all things Stephen King, her love of reading and writing matched only by her love of dogs. After spending many years in the world of dog training and pet sitting, she has chosen to pursue her childhood dream of a career in writing.