The Hunger

By Alma Katsu Bantam Press, 400pp, £12.99

This historical horror is inspired by real events – the journey made by a wagon train of settlers known as the Donner Party in 1846, moving west from Illinois to the new American frontier along the California Trail. The route was already well estabished, but in Wyoming the party took the advice of a self-appointed expert, Lansford Hastings, and opted for a supposed shortcut. The new route proved virtually impassable, there were long delays, and by the time the group reached the Sierra Nevada, winter had set in. Snowed in and out of supplies, the survivors turned to cannibalism. So far, so factual. But in Katsu’s version, the cannibalism appears to have a supernatural cause. Children start to go missing, and bodies are found hideously multilated. The woods are filled with strange whispers at night, and tales of Native American sacrifice haunt the campfires. Slowly, the party starts to feel it is being stalked across plain and forest by evil spirits, or possibly demented humans. The

Hunger has already bagged a film deal, and the story does indeed have a strong cinematic quality. The setting and atmosphere are scrupulously researched, though the period detail is never overdone. Katsu creates some believable and compelling characters, and she is especially good on the dynamics of group psychology under terrible pressure. However, the introduction of evil spirits feels slightly contrived at times - the real-life tale already has more than enough horror and mystery.