Darren Dash

When three friends go on holiday to Bulgaria, protecting themselves from sunburn is their only concern. But when they run into a beast unlike any they've ever imagined, it becomes a savage fight for survival. They will burn in the day... but the night holds even darker terrors in store. A tale of friendship, holidays, relationships, sacrifice and growth, where one painfully vulnerable young man must come of age or perish at the hands of a monster like none you will have seen before. A fast-paced, grisly, tongue-in-cheek retelling of a legend as old as time, by the author of The Evil And The Pure. REVIEWS: "I cannot go on enough about the book, how great it is and how entertaining. This is an author who knows how to make the readers laugh, cry and scream in terror. To call this a must-read is an understatement!" Kelly Smith Reviews. "A well-written and disturbing piece of fiction that explores relationships and delves into the deepest corners of the human mind. The plot reads like an international horror movie, enticing the reader with a series of detailed and comedic chapters before exploding into a vision of blood-chilling gore." Books, Films & Random Lunacy. "This demonic masterpiece does not fail to disappoint even the biggest of horror fans." Crossing Pixies. "A violent culmination of love, friendships, hilarity, thrill, horror and sex... Isn't that what we all want from a good book?! 'Sunburn' literally had me completely HOOKED. A brilliant and thrilling read." Chase That Horizon. "The elements of classic horror are very much present here. Sunburn held me firmly in the moment, demanding my full attention right to the very last page." Thoughts Of An Overactive Imagination. "Darren Dash builds up the suspense with skillful pacing and a healthy dose of literary restraint, wisely refraining from indulging in the most horrific and grotesque elements of the plot until the reader has become invested in the characters. The result is a horror novel that is suspenseful, fun to read, and at times, very gruesome indeed. It also contains some very good reasons for never forgetting to wear sunscreen." Safie Maken Finlay. "Sunburn held me firmly in the moment, demanding my full attention right to the very last page. Then, just when you begin to think you're safe, unholy bloody mayhem ensues." The Thoughts And Ramblings Of An Overactive Mind. "Like the Hostel films, they have a lot of set up and then shizzle hits the fan... and then hits it again for good measure!" Dark Readers.

Sunburn

Big Sandy is an enforcer. Clint Smith is a dealer. Kevin Tyne is a pimp. Gawl McCaskey is a thug. Four men of violence, whose lives are about to intersect. London. A crime lord is trying to go legit. A chemical genius is working on his illegal masterpiece. A football club is up for sale. Savagely bred hounds are baying for blood. A depraved priest is preying on his flock. An abused young woman is praying for salvation. On the harsh, unforgiving streets of the city, not everyone is going to make it to the new year. A dark, harrowing, mesmerising work. Recommended for mature readers only. "The Evil And The Pure is a deliciously dark delight; a gritty, realistic look at the depths of human depravity. The journeys of the four men are fascinating and enviably complex. The twists and turns have you reeling with shock. A glory to read. 5/5 stars." Matthew R Bell's BookBlogBonanza. "A thoughtful and enthralling examination of a society that is seedy, corrupt and painfully uncompromising. Darren Dash is a skillful writer, whose greatest talent lies in his depictions of character. Few writers can so easily and powerfully communicate the complexities of people dragged into a world of darkness and despair." Safie Maken Finlay, author. "I found myself brilliantly horrified and captivated as I read and was taken along on a dark journey with a range of dangerous, sick and even innocent characters." Chase That Horizon. "an amazing read... a book you won't want to end... It's got the cast complexity of a Maeve Binchy novel as if written by a violent madman, and I mean that as a compliment! 5/5 stars." Kelly Smith Reviews. "Although it's dark, great characterization and a superb plot keep you turning the pages. If you're up for an adventure, this book is for you. I rate this book a five-star read." Tracey Lampley, author.

The Evil and the Pure

There is An Other Place... where time and space are fluid... where the moon changes colour and savage beasts run wild... where love is a perilous proposition and the dead are swiftly forgotten... where sandmen offer sanctuary and the Alchemist rules over all. When Newman Riplan's flight into the unknown turns into a nightmarish slide between worlds, he must explore an unnamed city where unpredictable terrors are the norm. By the end of his first day adrift, his life has spun completely out of his control, but the most mind-twisting and soul-crushing revelations are only beginning. As he desperately searches for a way out, he starts to realise that the city isn't in the habit of releasing its captives. And it seems to have a plan for him... "This is, by far, the best book of 2016, possibly the best book of this decade... the bastard love child of Kafka and Rod Serling, throwing in a dash of Ray Bradbury for good measure. 5/5 -- brilliant. Just brilliant." Kelly Smith Reviews. "An Other Place sees an imaginative writer at the top of his craft. It brings to mind The Twilight Zone, yet even Rod Serling himself would have struggled to come up with an alternate world so completely off-the-wall and yet oddly meaningful as Dash has here. 9/10 stars." Starburst. "Darren Dash has opened a new artery of terror... unlike any book I have ever read... hints of The Twilight Zone, Pines, and Station Eleven." The Literary Connoisseur. "Its luckless hero moves from ghastly scenarios to even ghastlier scenarios with such horrid reliability that his story reads like extreme black comedy. 4/5 stars." SFX "Lewis Carroll, L. Frank Baum, and Brett Easton Ellis may have written some weird stuff, but An Other Place tops all of it, both in terms of re-readability and overall scope." Dread Central. "Dash's surreal tale has its share of unsettling moments. There's also an abundance of intriguing peculiarities. An often baffling tale, but its protagonist's wry commentary is undeniably entertaining." Kirkus. "This book really did blow my mind... each page turn was both chilling and thrilling in equal measure... the conclusion left me with goosebumps. 5/5!" Rachel Hobbs, author. "An Other Place is a deliciously quirky novel that is surreal and powerful in equal measure. This is by far Dash's best work to date. It is challenging and absurd, artistically brave and politically conscious, but this abstract painting of a novel is one thing above all else... completely original." Books, Films & Random Lunacy. "You can try and try but you will never guess the ending nor even 5 pages ahead as to where the story is going to take you." Daniel Davies, Goodreads. "This story had me hooked from the get go... an ending that sent my mind into a spin. 5 stars." Reviews And Randomness. "This book is utterly unique... I was amazed at how well Dash could create this baffling world from scratch and draw me into it so completely. 5 stars." A Place In Which Jessie Writes.

An Other Place

Eyrie Brown used to serve in the Army, until a tragic loss forced him to return to civilian life earlier than planned. Now he drives one of London's iconic black cabs. On a dark, wet night, he gives a lift to a wounded gangster, and everything changes from that point on. When the mob lord gets in touch later, offering Eyrie a small fortune if he will take care of a mysterious young woman for a weekend, Eyrie is hesitant. He can see trouble ahead, but the money will change his life, so he reluctantly agrees to become a temporary guardian. But murder is on the cards, and his vengeful "moll" turns out to be far more of a handful than he had ever anticipated. As twist follows twist and bodies start to mount, Eyrie gets backed into a blood-soaked corner and must resort to desperate, inventive measures if he is to stand any chance of seeing his mission through and making it out of the weekend alive. Fast-paced, action-packed, gritty London-based noir, inspired by the likes of Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, with a large tip of the hat to the Billy Wilder movie Some Like It Hot." EDITORIAL REVIEWS A thrilling tale loaded with bullets, bloodshed, and bodies." Kirkus. "Molls Like It Hot is perfect for noir detective readers who like their stories unpredictable, multifaceted, and hard to put down." Midwest Book Review. "A wily tale of double and triple crosses you absolutely won't see coming. This is a fast, ferocious, and fun read." The US Review of Books. "Dash has delivered a wickedly entertaining slice of British noir." Self-Publishing Review. "This book reads like a Tarantino movie script packed with fast-paced action, blood, guts, and gore. It is fantastically entertaining!" San Francisco Book Review.

Molls Like It Hot

The Midsummer Players stage an outdoor version of A Midsummer Night's Dream every year. The actors are dreadful and audience members almost never attend more than once. Except for... ...the fey folk! All of the fairies named in the play are obliged to attend every performance, due to a deal that they struck with a mischievous Master Shakespeare. In an attempt to break up the Players on the eve of their twentieth anniversary, Oberon and Puck hire a human trickster to infiltrate the actors' ranks and set them against one another by focusing on secret attractions and grudges that have been lying dormant up to now. Sparks will fly, and everyone will come to blows, but it's all executed with a wink and a grin, and there will be more smiles than tears by the end. At least, that's the plan... This comedic fantasy is for lovers of Shakespeare, chaos and fairies everywhere. EDITORIAL REVIEWS "A clever and kinky theatrical romp with a big heart." Kirkus - a Recommended Read. "I think I've found my favorite book of 2018. Midsummer's Bottom is Darren Dash at his best and most inventive form." Scare Tissue. "Midsummer's Bottom is one of the most entertaining novels of the year... filled with magic, mayhem and good old-fashioned storytelling that will hook readers from the very first page. Light-hearted and humorous escapism doesn't get any better than this." Rising Shadow. "This unique tale is that rare reimagination of elements of a classic story that captures all the comedy, drama, and emotional satisfaction of its original and in some ways exceeds them." US Review of Books - Recommended read. "Darren Dash has masterfully combined Shakespeare's style and greatness with his own amazing poetic agility to create an absolutely delightful tale that will make you laugh until you cry. I was skeptical of a 'retread' of Shakespeare, but this is very cleverly done and quite entertaining. Bravo!" Readers' Favorite - 5 star review. "Midsummer's Bottom delights with Shakespearian couplets and a cacophony of human foibles that smash up to a satisfying ending. Dash has created a stellar cast of full, engaging characters. Tightly-written and imaginative, Midsummer's Bottom glides the reader through a wonderful story towards a rewarding, and unexpected, end." Self-Publishing Review. "Shakespeare fans in particular will find the atmosphere and humor exquisite. While they stay true to some of the Bard's ironic contentions and satirical approaches, they also add embellishments unique to Darren Dash's style and contemporary approach to Midsummer's spectacles." Midwest Book Review. "Midsummer's Bottom is a laugh out loud comedy, a rollicking romp that will leave you with a warm, satisfied feeling long after you finish." Rachel Hobbs, author - 5 star review. "I loved the diversity. Bisexual, gay, questioning, straight, cross-dressing: there was a little of everything in this small cast, and the representation without shame, without it feeling forced, was wonderful." Kelly Smith Reviews - 5 star review. "Midsummer's Bottom warmed my heart and confirmed one thought in my mind, that was a distant whisper until now - Darren Dash can do anything." The Literary Connoisseur. "Midsummer's Bottom is funny, fantastical, and tremendously thoughtful... thrilling, suspenseful, and surprisingly risque." Book Blog Bonanza. "A charming, funny romp full of a host of quirky characters." Banshee Irish Horror Blog. "Midsummer's Bottom is a swiftly paced tongue-in-cheek romp packed with bawdy humour and fantastical charm." Books, Films & Random Lunacy.

Darren Dash

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