Michael Gardiner, who has lived in Coldhaven all his life but feels like an outsider. As a teenager, he had a brief romance with Moira Birnie.
Moira Birnie who kills herself and her two sons by setting their car on fire, sparing only her 14-year-old daughter Hazel.

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Repressed Desires and the Uncanny
The narrator Michael Gardiner is haunted by repressed desires and an eerie "double" or doppelganger that represents his hidden, sinister impulses. Burnside vividly depicts the uncanny feeling of having a separate, private self that remains untold.

Trauma and Violence vThe novel deals with traumatic events like the disturbing death of a young girl left on the roadside, as well as murders and a mother burning herself and her children alive. There is a pervasive sense of violence simmering beneath the surface.

Small Town Secrets
Set in the insular coastal town of Coldhaven, the novel delves into the underbelly of small-town life, where everyone has private stories and dark secrets that eventually come to light.

The Allure of the Unknown
Michael is drawn to explore the unknown and the erotic, venturing on a journey that takes him away from his marriage and ordinary life. Burnside evokes a fascination with empty spaces, botched deaths, and the possibility of leading a separate, hidden existence.

In summary, "The Devil's Footprints" is a gripping, unsettling work that probes the darker undercurrents of human psychology and desire through vivid prose and an engrossing, gothic-tinged plot.

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The story gained significant media attention, both locally and internationally, due to its mysterious nature and the scale of the phenomenon.

Scientific Explanations: Despite extensive investigation, including by meteorologists and wildlife experts, no definitive scientific explanation was found. The footprints remain unexplained, adding to the intrigue and continuing to fuel speculation and interest in paranormal phenomena.

Overall, the Devil's Footprints incident of 2007 remains a fascinating mystery, blending elements of folklore, speculation, and scientific curiosity, leaving many unanswered questions about what truly happened that winter night in Devon.

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