Wranglestone

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 COSTA BOOK AWARD SELECTED BY THE TIMES AND OBSERVER AS ONE OF THEIR BEST BOOKS OF 2020 Winter was the only season every Lake-Lander feared… In a post-apocalyptic America, a community survives in a national park, surrounded by water that keeps the Dead at bay. But when winter comes, there’s nothing to stop them from crossing the ice. Then homebody Peter puts the camp in danger by naively allowing a stranger to come ashore and he’s forced to leave the community of Wranglestone. Now he must help rancher Cooper, the boy he’s always watched from afar, herd the Dead from their shores before the lake freezes over. But as love blossoms, a dark discovery reveals the sanctuary’s secret past. One that forces the pair to question everything they’ve ever known. An action-packed and thought-provoking debut, for fans of Patrick Ness, Marcus Sedgwick, DREAD NATION and The Walking Dead. 'Fresh and compelling and totally immersive.' – Sunday Irish Independent ‘A bucolic, intimate twist on the zombie/post-apocalyptic story... It's impressive how Darren has combined the pace, thrills, and gore you expect from zombie fiction with a genuinely tender romance.’ – David Owen, author of GRIEF ANGELS ‘Thrilling zombie epic meets gorgeous gay love story. The world-building is deft, the writing poetic … this is very special! Properly scary and properly heart-warming.’ – William Hussey, author of HIDEOUS BEAUTY 'A complete treasure of a book – page-turning, stunning writing, an extraordinary setting and with a gorgeous love story at its heart.' – Lisa Heathfield, author of I AM NOT A NUMBER

The Best Children's Books of 2020 Published On: 2020-12-13 'This is part zombie epic, part political allegory, part gay love story. Charlton is a sophisticated new voice on the British YA scene.' -- Alex O'Connell ‘Thrilling zombie epic meets gorgeous gay love story. The world-building is deft, the writing poetic … this is very special! Properly scary and properly heart-warming.’ -- William Hussey, author of HIDEOUS BEAUTY 'A complete treasure of a book - page-turning, stunning writing, an extraordinary setting and with a gorgeous love story at its heart. I loved it.’ -- Lisa Heathfield, author of I AM NOT A NUMBER 'Fresh and chilling and totally immersive.' -- Sunday Irish Independent ‘A bucolic, intimate twist on the zombie/post-apocalyptic story... It's impressive how Darren has combined the pace, thrills, and gore you expect from zombie fiction with a genuinely tender romance.’ -- David Owen, author of GRIEF ANGELS

'In Darren Charlton’s Wranglestone...a community survives in a US national park, surrounded by water to keep the dead at bay. Zombie thrills combine with an achingly tender gay love story in this unusual debut, shortlisted for the Costa book award.'

About the Author

Darren Charlton lives in Hastings and has worked in social care for the last fifteen years, most recently for the homeless team at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital in London. His lifetime obsessions with the National Parks of America, horror, film music and 80s kids movies have all worked their way into his writing. Darren’s first book, Wranglestone, has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards and the YA Book Prize, and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award.

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