The Fallen

by Tarn Richardson

Overview

In Tarn Richardson’s follow-up to his gripping work The Damned, the ongoing battle of a paranormal World War I threatens to engulf the Inquisition as dark forces assemble amongst the most fanatical servants of the Catholic Church. Before his murder, a desperate priest sends a secret letter to his brother serving in the Italian Army. Now this young soldier carries with him a letter which holds the key as to why terrible satanic rituals are being committed in the heart of the Vatican—and by whom. Drawn into this conspiracy and hunted by agents of The Darkest Hand, old rivals must unite to discover the contents of the letter before it’s too late. Only Poldek Tacit, the most determined and unhinged Inquisitor, can hope to push back the forces of evil and unite those for good. But what happens when Tacit finds that his mission threatens the very future of a world already on the edge of the abyss?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913227210
Publisher:	RedDoor Press
Publication date:	07/25/2019
Series:	The Darkest Hand , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Tarn Richardson was brought up in a remote house, rumored to be haunted, near Somerset. He has worked as a copywriter, written mystery murder dinner party games and worked in digital media for nearly twenty years. He lives near Salisbury in England. The Damned is his debut novel, the first in a series of three featuring tortured Inquisitor Poldek Tacit.

Editorial Reviews

01/02/2017
Richardson has better command of his narrative in the second Darkest Hand historical horror-fantasy (after 2016’s The Damned), and the short, punchy chapters, rather than being choppy, propel the fast-paced tale. The year is 1915, but not one readers will recognize. It’s been nine months since Vatican inquisitor Poldek Tacit was excommunicated and sent to Toulouse Inquisitional Prison, and he’s been brutally tortured by the vicious Salamanca, who hopes to unleash a power believed to reside inside him. Meanwhile, Chaste agent Sister Isabella witnesses a murder, and former Lieutenant Henry Frost and his love, werewolf Sandrine Prideux, come to her aid. There are signs that the Darkest Hand is trying to usher in the return of the Antichrist, and Isabella and her allies must break Tacit out of prison, since he may be the one man who can stop it. This tale is not for the faint of heart: the pages are splashed with gruesome torture scenes, terrifying events of biblical proportions, and smashing fight scenes. The killing fields of Slovenia are drenched in blood, ready to receive the king of darkness. Readers who enjoy extra-broody antiheroes who are good with fists and firearms will find much to love in this unusual mashup. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

This second installment in the Darkest Hand trilogy keeps the pages turning . . . Not for the faint of heart,The Fallencontinually ups the ante—and the body count—as Tacit draws closer to the conspiracy’s center. Richardson is a disciplined, focused writer who balances quick pacing with ghoulish descriptions. He uses deft historical and architectural detail to paint a picture of 1915 Italy. Packed with vivid descriptions and heart-pumping action,The Fallenis a twisted, thrilling nightmare.”

ForeWord Reviews

[The] use of the alternate history makes more sense out of the insistent killings than any dry narrative could. . . . From The Overlook Press, publisher once again of the uncannily insightful.

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