Tarn Richardson’s The Darkest Hand Trilogy recently got a new look. The Damned, which I reviewed last year and loved, has been elevated to new heights. Check out the new covers and read the prequel to the series for free by following the links below.
War, The Inquisition, and Werewolves
Previous cover 🙂
The Damned is so big that holding it above your face to read whilst trying to fit that last chapter in before finally succumbing to sleep is particularly painful. Also, if you don’t have an across the bath book rest it can be a little difficult in the tub too.
As soon as I got my copy of The Damned I dived right in, curious as to what I would find and I soon found myself wandering around trying to do mundane tasks whilst still reading. Well researched, this book weaves together a number of different stories to create an intriguing tale of need, survival, and purpose.
The Damned Blurb
In this “sublime work of dark fiction” (Intravenous Magazine), set in an alternative World War I, unspeakable creatures roam the grisly trenches, and a ruthless Catholic Inquisition holds sway — still powerful, but working in the shadows.
When a Father is brutally murdered int he French city of Arras, Poldeck Tacit–a determined and unhinged Inquisitor–arrives on the scene to investigate the crime. His mission: to protect the Church from those who would seek to destroy it, no matter what the cost.
As the Inquisitor strives in vain to establish the truth behind the murder and to uncover the motives of other Vatican servants seeking to undermine him, a beautiful and spirited woman, Sandrine, warns British solider Henry Frost of a mutual foe even more terrible lurking beneath the killing fields–an enemy that answers to no human force and wreaks its havoc by the light of the moon.
Faced with impossible odds and struggling with his own demons, Tacit must battle the forces of evil–and a church determined at all costs to achieve its aims–to reach the heart of dark conspiracy that seeks to engulf the world, plunging it even deeper into conflict.
STalking the author
You can find out more about The Damned and his Darkest Hand Trilogy plus what Tarn Richardson is up to next on Twitter and on his website
I asked Tarn where the inspiration came from for The Damned…
The idea for the trilogy came from a trip I took to France in 2012 on the trail of two of my great uncles who both fought in the Great War. It was such an inspiring and moving trip I knew I wanted to write a novel around it. The idea for the werewolves was the whole idea of monsters we are lest monsters we become, these monstrous creatures doing monstrous things to survive, just like the soldiers had to do in the trenches in order to survive another day. Tacit wasn’t in an early draft (believe it or not!) but when he finally did turn up, the whole thing pulled together.
Researching catholicism and werewolf folklore turned up this incredible connection between the religion, the monsters and excommunication. That really helped to bind the narrative and plot together. It’s also worth mentioning that all the events in the book, the battles, the Mass for Peace, the political and religious manoeuvres really did happen. Building on real events made for such an exciting and, at times, very moving writing experience.
This is carried through across the remaining two books in the series, real events providing a framework upon which I was able to plot and carry the story arc.
And then I asked him what us eager readers had to look forward to next…
My fourth novel, RIPPED, my modern-day Jack the Ripper police investigation is done. Just wondering what to do with that. And I’m currently working on a murder mystery set in a very English village. Getting close to a first draft with that after 2 false starts and 12 months of work. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of writing straight murder mystery. There’s no room to find using mindless violence or a chase to give yourself a breather in the writing! It’s all about character and the slow reveal of facts. It’s been really hard work but, like I said, great fun. I want to be a writer who keeps evolving, not writing the same old stuff, over and over.
If you haven’t begun the Trilogy keep an eye out for the new covers.
I would read the next one – I enjoyed The Damned and will happily be reading the next in the series. (The Fallen) The narrative draws you in and introduces you to characters you’re soon eager to follow into the unknown.
4.5 Stars
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got free prequel to read 🙂
If you have a horror, thriller, or horror western book you would like me to review please email [email protected] with the details.
Horror and Fantasy Author – Also writing as K.T. McQueen. Love Western Horror, cowboy boots, my cactus Collin, & my Demon Cat.
Moths – I hate moths, the way they flutter at your face!
well, I went down a rabbit hole today -monsters, pulp fiction, and indie films on the blog somehow lead me to Nosferatu. Can't wait for the new movie this year. #blogger#dracula#nosferatu#monsters
