Which of My Novels Do I Consider Best?
Why I’ll never answer that question, but will recommend two recent novels as potential Christmas presents
I’m often asked which of my novels I consider best. My response is usually clichéd blithering about how it’s like being asked to choose between my children, that I’m proud of each of them in some way, or that they all represent a step on my writing “journey” (if you’ll forgive my use of an obscenity. Nonsense. Of course, I have a favourite. I’m just not telling you what it is. Why would I want to build up that level of expectation in your mind?
However, with this being the season of mindless promotion — sorry, the season of goodwill — I thought I’d take the opportunity to highlight two recent novels of mine as potential Christmas presents. I’m not saying if one or the other is my favourite, but I will say I’m extremely fond of both, and I think your difficult-to-buy-for relative will share that opinion when they read them.
Death Nest
First up, Death Nest. This novel is probably my most “personal” to date (if you’ll forgive my use of another obscenity), as I’ve previously discussed in this article. However, it is also a typical example of my genre mainstay: Mystery thriller with a touch of supernatural horror. There’s also a romantic subplot, coming-of-age elements, and a few laughs to leaven the nail-biting suspense.
The plot? Here’s the blurb from the back of the book to whet your appetite:
From the author of Spectre of Springwell Forest and The Irresistible Summons…
A nail-biting new mystery.
After his young son Ben writes a disturbing story about murdering a boy in a forest, widower Nick Unwin is alarmed by eerie parallels between his son’s behaviour and that of his younger brother Jason, prior to his inexplicable disappearance twenty years previously. This tragic past returns to haunt Nick when he sees an image of his long-lost brother in a newly released film.
Fearing history will repeat itself, Nick decides to investigate, along with Tanith, an old flame from his early teenage years, with dark secrets of her own connected to Jason’s disappearance. But as they delve deeper into the labyrinthine mysteries of their past, long-buried memories resurface. Nick is forced to face the terrible fear that has plagued him for decades: Was he responsible for the death of his brother?
A riveting coming-of-age thriller exploring traumatic sibling relationships, parental fears, and the misleading nature of memory, Death Nest is Simon Dillon’s most gripping novel yet.
Ravenseed
Secondly, here’s my first foray into fantasy. Or at least, the first that’s been published. This is a mysterious, mystical adventure, flashing back to the Dark Ages for the bulk of the narrative, whilst a parallel plot plays out in the present. It’s a gripping tale of love, lust, betrayal, and vengeance ideally suited to fans of Arthurian epics. But as I’m keen to emphasise, it isn’t just for fantasy readers, but all (adult) readers. I wrote more on that subject here, if those with a pathological objection to fantasy require further persuasion.
Once again, here’s the blurb from the back of the book:
532 AD. Knights Sir Peter and Sir Matthew ride to battle, but when they take an ill-advised detour, the two friends find themselves involved in a quest to break a curse on Sir Matthew’s love, Elizabeth.
The quest sends them on a journey through Anglia, where they encounter magicians, spirits, gods, and dangers beyond their wildest dreams — from without and within.
In the present day, as teenager Fay Pendleton reads an ancient account of the two knights, scars start appearing on her face. Despite her ongoing disfigurement, she becomes obsessed with discovering the outcome of the quest, and her link to this mysterious story.
Both novels are available from Amazon (here and here, respectively) as well as Draft2Digital and their various outlets (here and here, respectively). Incidentally, if you want endorsements, besides the usual Amazon/Goodreads five-star reviews, check out what Arpad Nagy has to say about Death Nest here.
Alternatively, if neither appeals to you, check out this list which features information on all my currently published novels. I’m fairly sure there’s something for everyone, so these would make ideal Christmas presents. Thank you in advance to everyone who buys any of my novels. It is greatly appreciated.
I also have difficulty choosing between my "children"- which is why I focus on promoting them all equally and not favoring one over the others. If people read more than one of my books and say one is better than the other, I take it as a compliment and a possible way to improve my writing both.