Hollow Folk by Andrew K. Clark
Quill & Crow Publishing House (September 29, 2026)
Reviewed by Rowan B. Minor 
Set in the summer of 1993, Hollow Folk follows Ethan Ray, who books a job as a night auditor at the Holloway Mountain Resort. When Ethan finds himself trapped in the hotel alongside two other staff members, Kal and Teresa, ominous events unfold, including red lights hovering over the Appalachian Mountains, clocks that stop at 3 a.m., and the sinister, violent visions of “the Gray Man.” The hotel isn’t just old; it’s alive and preying on the three of them. As they search for ways to unfreeze time and escape, a romance blossoms between Ethan and Teresa. But soon, the three employees discover that someone in the hotel cannot be trusted.
Hollow Folk is heavily marinated in Appalachian history and folklore. It is obvious that not only has Clark studied Southern Gothic literature, but he’s lived it. As they say, “if you hear something call your name, no you didn’t.” Clark seems to live by these superstitions, as most people rooted in Appalachia do, especially when their roots are as deep as Clark’s. His world-building is both imaginative and realistic, and his characters seem like everyday people. It is the simplicity of the characters’ development that truly enhances the evil that lurks within the old hotel, and Clark’s use of language is both rich and visceral. The atmosphere created is unearthly and will keep readers engaged with its unnerving and somewhat dystopian ambiance. It’s particularly interesting that Clark uses being stuck in time as a horrific situation and sometimes separates the three characters for hours at a time to drive each of them further into madness.
For fans of Shirley Jackson, Hollow Folk is like a literary escape room where ghastly premonitions are your only guide. Not only are the three employees trapped inside this hotel, but Clark’s audience will be as well. This book is frightening, fresh, fun, and just what you need this fall season.
