Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Farm | 2015 | Matt Shaw | Buy |
| 2 | The Farm 2 | 2016 | Matt Shaw | Buy |
The Farm and its 2016 sequel The Farm 2 place Matt Shaw’s extreme horror in a rural setting, drawing on the long tradition of isolated agricultural horror. Shaw uses the farm environment to explore themes of captivity, exploitation, and the violence that can fester away from the eyes of the wider world. The setting feels grounded and oppressive in equal measure.
The first book establishes a grim situation that the sequel continues to develop, with Shaw’s characteristic refusal to soften what happens to characters or pull back from graphic consequences. Both books are relatively short, which keeps the pace relentless and the horror concentrated. For fans of the author’s wider output, The Farm series sits comfortably among his best rural horror work.