# Neil Spring

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Welsh novelist

**Neil Spring** (born 8 June 1981)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] is a Welsh novelist of supernatural horror, known for his bestselling books,[1] *The Ghost Hunters* (2013) and *The Lost Village* (2017).

## Education

Spring holds a BA in [Philosophy, Politics and Economics](/source/Philosophy%2C_politics_and_economics) (PPE) from [Somerville College](/source/Somerville_College), [Oxford University](/source/Oxford_University), where he wrote a thesis on the significance of paranormal events.[2]

## Works

### *The Ghost Hunters*

Spring's debut work was published by [Quercus](/source/Quercus) in 2013. The novel is based on the life of the controversial British ghost hunter [Harry Price](/source/Harry_Price), a psychic investigator from the inter-war years, who made [Borley Rectory](/source/Borley_Rectory) in Essex briefly famous as "the [most haunted](/source/Most_Haunted) house in England". Spring says the book took three years to research and write.[1]

*The Ghost Hunters* received positive reviews from critics. *[The Sunday Times Culture Magazine](/source/The_Sunday_Times)* described it as "serpentine and surprising in its plotting." *[The Metro](/source/Metro_(British_newspaper))* described the novel as "a substantial fictional sweetmeat with a kernel of truth."[3] [ITV1](/source/ITV1) commissioned a 2-hour film based on the book, *Harry Price: Ghost Hunter*, from Bentley Productions. Written by Jack Lothian, it was first broadcast on 27 December 2015.[4][5]

### *The Watchers*

Quercus published Spring's second novel in September 2015. Based on true events, the novel is a "spooky, historical thriller" set during the [Cold War](/source/Cold_War) in a remote coastal village whose residents live in the shadow of an ancient secret.[6]

Described as ‘explosive’ by the *Daily Express*,[7] *The Watchers* concerns UFO sightings during the Cold War and television rights were optioned after an eight-way auction.[8] Spring was inspired to write the novel after uncovering a declassified MoD document which suggests top-ranking officials carried out a covert inquiry into the 1977 UFO sightings in Wales.[7]

To mark the 40th anniversary of the sighting, Spring returned to the scene of the events in February 2017 along with one of the original witnesses.[9] Spring's interview about his inspiration for the novel was broadcast on BBC1's *The One Show* in 2017.[10]

In 2019, Spring announced that the television and film rights to the book had reverted to him.[11]

### *The Lost Village*

Spring's third novel is set in the abandoned Wiltshire village of [Imber](/source/Imber) and again features Harry Price. It was published by Quercus in October 2017.[12]

*The Lost Village* received positive reviews. *The Lady* described the book as "chilling… an intelligent ghost story." *The Sunday Express S Magazine* described it as "Spooky and tense with a truly horrifying denouement."[13]

After reading *The Lost Village*, screenwriter and novelist [Stephen Volk](/source/Stephen_Volk) described Spring as "…Agatha Christie meets James Herbert."[14]

### *The Burning House*

Quercus published Spring’s fourth novel, in 2019.[15] Set on the wooded shores of [Loch Ness](/source/Loch_Ness), the novel is inspired by life of the ceremonial magician and occultist, [Aleister Crowley](/source/Aleister_Crowley).

According to the *Lancashire Evening Post*, the novel is "Brimming with suspense and ghostly apparitions…a scorching thriller… moves at a cracking pace and has a stunning twist."[16]

### *The Haunted Shore*

In October 2020, Quercus published Spring's fifth novel, a stand-alone chiller provisionally entitled *The Haunted Shore*.[17] The novel is described as "A terrifying tale of secrets long buried, lies and obsession."[18]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Perry_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Perry_1-1) Perry, Alex (29 October 2013). ["The Next Big Thing"](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/alex-perry/the-next-big-thing-interv_b_4171563.html). *Huffington Post*. Retrieved 20 April 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Neil Spring"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160308081229/https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/author/Neil_Spring). *Quercus*. Archived from [the original](http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/author/Neil_Spring) on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Metro_3-0)** ["Fearie Tales, Ghosthunters and Marina: The best in spooky fiction"](http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/31/fearie-tales-ghosthunters-and-marina-the-best-in-spooky-fiction-4167608/). *Metro*. 31 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Janice, Troup (13 July 2015). ["ITV commissions Harry Price: Ghost Hunter"](http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-commissions-harry-price-ghost-hunter). *ITV Press Centre*. Retrieved 11 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Blanket, Jo (27 November 2015). ["Harry Price: Ghost Hunter"](http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week53/harry-price-ghost-hunter). *ITV Press Centre*. Retrieved 11 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Shaffi, Sarah (23 October 2014). ["Quercus buys second from Neil Spring"](http://www.thebookseller.com/news/quercus-buys-second-neil-spring). *The Bookseller*. Retrieved 11 November 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Express_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Express_7-1) Austin, Jon (30 January 2017). ["What REALLY happened? MoD's 'secret investigation' into mass UFO sightings"](https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/760829/Welsh-Triangle-UFO-Broad-Haven-MoD-secret-probe-The-Watchers-40th-anniversary). *Express.co.uk*. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["TV deal for Neil Spring's The Watchers after eight-way auction | The Bookseller"](https://www.thebookseller.com/news/tv-deal-neil-springs-watchers-after-eight-way-auction-316934). *www.thebookseller.com*. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Spring, Neil (11 February 2017). ["Mystery of UFO spotted by kids and weird events that followed sparking MoD probe"](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/mystery-ufo-spotted-welsh-schoolchildren-9796524). *mirror*. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** TV, One Tribe (25 April 2017), [*The Broad Haven Triangle | BBC The One Show 2017*](https://vimeo.com/214639349/086e6db156), retrieved 15 October 2019

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Spring, Neil (23 May 2019). ["My novel #thewatchers was #optioned for #TV/Film after an 8-way #biddingwar with @WMEBooks. Rights have now reverted to me & already there's interest in bringing this mystery of the Broad Haven Triangle to the screen. All queries to @CBTheatreFilmTV #drama #pitchwars #bookstofilmpic.twitter.com/LjWI0lfRyM"](https://twitter.com/NeilSpring/status/1131587738183045120). *@NeilSpring*. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Neil Spring (19 October 2017). [*The Lost Village: The Ghost Hunters (2)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=7siOvgAACAAJ). Quercus. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78429-861-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78429-861-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** *The Lost Village*. [ASIN](/source/Amazon_Standard_Identification_Number) [1784298611](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784298611).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [*The Lost Village*](https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/neil-spring/the-lost-village/9781784298623/). 22 January 2019. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78429-862-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78429-862-3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["The Burning House"](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1786488868?pf_rd_p=330fbd82-d4fe-42e5-9c16-d4b886747c64&pf_rd_r=KRCNK0CMSYHRAPYSDPY0). *Amazon UK*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["The Burning House by Neil Spring - book review: With a stunning twist in the tail and an undercurrent of menace running right through its middle, The Burning House is gripping, all-round entertainment"](https://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/books/the-burning-house-by-neil-spring-book-review-with-a-stunning-twist-in-the-tail-and-an-undercurrent-of-menace-running-right-through-its-middle-the-burning-house-is-gripping-all-round-entertainment-1-9684089). *www.lep.co.uk*. April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["The Haunted Shore eBook: Neil Spring: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store"](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-Shore-Neil-Spring-ebook/dp/B07KFJY2HT). *www.amazon.co.uk*. Retrieved 15 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [*The Haunted Shore*](https://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/titles/neil-spring/the-haunted-shore/9781787470088/). 3 April 2019. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78747-008-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78747-008-8).

Authority control databases International VIAF National Czech Republic Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Neil Spring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Spring) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Spring?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.