The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
- A quote frequently misattributed to Mahatma Gandhi.
Literary Thriller
Veterinary Noir
Near the dying English seaside town of Ilmarsh, local police detective Alec Nichols discovers sixteen horses’ heads on a farm, each buried with a single eye facing the low winter sun. After forensic veterinarian Cooper Allen travels to the scene, the investigators soon uncover evidence of a chain of crimes in the community – disappearances, arson and mutilations – all culminating in the reveal of something deadly lurking in the ground itself.
In the dark days that follow, the town slips into panic and paranoia. Everything is not as it seems. Anyone could be a suspect. And as Cooper finds herself unable to leave town, Alec is stalked by an unseen threat. The two investigators race to uncover the truth behind these frightening and insidious mysteries – no matter the cost.
SIXTEEN HORSES
“Here is a literary thriller unafraid to take chances, bending genre rules to its will”
- New York Times
“A dark, ambitious, and highly intelligent thriller”
- Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)
“One of the most gripping crime novels I have read in a long time”
- The Literary Review
“A mad, dark gothic fantasy of cruelty and violence”
- Daily Express
“This is crime writing of a striking calibre, which constantly surprises as it takes unexpected twist after twist — leaving you desperate for more.”
- The Daily Mail
“One of the most gripping crime novels I have read in a long time”
- The Literary Review
“Utterly gripping, exquisitely written and existentially depressing”
- The Guardian
“A brooding, searching debut [… one of] the season’s most powerful novels”
- Crime Reads
“Unlike anything else you’ll read this year, SIXTEEN HORSES is a deeply disconcerting ride. Irresistible.” - Val McDermid
“Dark, visceral and disturbing, this highly suspenseful and beautifully written thriller is totally gripping from start to finish. A hugely impressive debut.” - Alex Michaelides
“Original, beautifully written, terrifying and haunting. I won't forget this novel.” - Sophie Hannah
“Utterly brilliant. Poetry and cinema at once. If this isn’t one of the biggest titles of 2021 I’ll eat my hat.” - C.J. Cooke
“Poignant, chilling, eerie, and gruesome, SIXTEEN HORSES is a thriller with a literary soul, perfect for fans of Netflix's Dark or BBC's Top of the Lake. Buchanan impressively balances horror and empathy, showing real evil while also exploring the human cost of economic collapse. A unique, ambitious debut that left me shocked and enthralled.” - Sara Sligar
CONSUMED is part of a larger cycle of stories about the cases of veterinary surgeon Cooper Allen and the darker side of that profession.
The series is inspired by the veterinary work of the author’s wife and friends; guided by real-life veterinary forensic experts and police officers; and draws from the author’s own experience working on farms and as a volunteer behaviourist with Cat’s Protection. This is not the rural idealism of All Creatures Great and Small, but a mixture of light and dark - exploring the best and worst things we can imagine; the love we have for pets, how we can let them down, and what we ask of their saviours and ourselves.
The following lists show the order in which these stories have been released as well as an approximate internal chronology of events for the protagonist.
The choice is yours — in any case, the majority of these tales are designed to work as stand-alones and therefore can be read in any sequence you wish. (with the exception of blue-text stories)** By reading the others, you will grow your understanding of the character and the mysteries of her past and future.
READING ORDER
(BY RELEASE DATE)
SIXTEEN HORSES
(Novel, April 2021)
TRAIN TRACKS
(Short, February 2022)
(Available at the end of the Waterstones Paperback for Sixteen Horses / as a limited-time Newsletter Signup-Bonus)
CONSUMED
(Novel, July 2023)
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO STEPHANIE EARLSHAM?
(Short, February 2024)**
(Newsletter Signup Exclusive. Link available at the end of the 2024 Paperback Edition of CONSUMED, containing spoilers for that novel)
READING ORDER
(BY CHRONOLOGY)
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO STEPHANIE EARLSHAM?
(Short, February 2024)**
(Newsletter Signup Exclusive. Link available at the end of the 2024 Paperback Edition of CONSUMED, containing spoilers for that novel)
TRAIN TRACKS
(Short, February 2022)
(Available at the end of the Waterstones Paperback for Sixteen Horses / as a limited-time Newsletter Signup-Bonus)
SIXTEEN HORSES
(Novel, April 2021)
CONSUMED
(Novel, July 2023)
**Stories listed in blue text contain more direct spoilers for other works in the series. They can still be read ahead of other titles, but may reduce the impact of revelations from other books.
Join bestselling crime author Dr. Greg Buchanan (SIXTEEN HORSES, CONSUMED) as he explores the recurring tropes and archetypes of seaside and holiday settings in crime fiction at St Hilda's Crime Fiction Weekend (Oxford, UK, 2022).
Drawing on examples from classics like Graham Greene's Brighton Rock to recent hits like Broadchurch, Dr. Buchanan examines how the liminal space of the seaside town allows authors to create an unsettling break from reality. He discusses the frequent use of outsider detectives on holiday, problems with local police forces, and the backdrop of an ominous sublime sea echoing the dark secrets of forgotten communities.