North Woods was one of my favourite reads of 2023 so I was excited to pick up Daniel Mason’s latest work, Country People, and I’m happy to say I loved it just as much. It doesn’t come out until July but I read it in January 2026 and I’m confident this will remain one of my favourites of the year.

The book tells the story of Miles and Kate, a pair of Californian academics relocating to the countryside of Vermont with their young children so Kate can undertake a visiting professorship at a prestigious college. Her success is not matched by Miles, who has been pursuing a PhD in Russian folktales for over a decade and tends to be distracted rather too easily by new infatuations. This leads him to become increasingly involved with some of the more eccentric townsfolk and intrigued by the legends that surround the local woods.

Daniel Mason has a wonderful way with characters which brings them completely to life, full of human flaws and strange behaviours but always keeping them likeable so you end up rooting for everyone. He makes full use here of the stereotypes that surround both Californian academics and small town rural people but it never feels nasty. They are all essentially decent people, a community which largely shares the same goals, just with their quirks in various ways. Many writers attempt to use satire in this way but it’s very difficult to be balanced across the board and, most especially, to do it without making the characters feel cartoon like.

The other thing to say about this book is that it is very, very funny. The local radio phone in show is hysterical and had me laughing out loud many times but it all adds to the story. No words are wasted and asides that seem like pure comedy or background are all quietly adding to the plot.

Daniel Mason is an exceptional writer and it shows again here, with a perfect balance of character, plot and humour, and beautiful descriptions of the landscape. It’s effortless to read, bringing you right into the world and carrying you into a story that manages to feel both real and like a folk tale. Absolutely superb.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review. This review has been added to Waterstones and Goodreads and will be added to Amazon on publication day.