Dark and Creepy
If the creepy, cross-hatched illustrations didn't you tip off, we'll tell it to you straight: this is one scary book. It spares no gory detail when describing the horrors Tom has to face. Being buried alive in a pit is bad enough, but it's made worse by this:
A long, plump, white, maggoty head emerged from the side of the pit. […] Its blind, bloated head moved in a slow circle as it wriggled out the rest of its body. (11.48)
Um, barf.
In the County, there isn't a yellow brick road or butterbeer bar anywhere in sight. It's gloomy, it's rainy, and it's scary. Basically, it's England, only with more witches and Spooks.