Dark Runs the River

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For James and Piers, life seems to offer everything – successful careers, financial security, a home of their own, cherished friendships, and holidays spent in Wales and East Anglia. Most of all, they have their deep love for each other.

But can their relationship survive the prejudice of others, especially James’ controlling mother, Alice Kendrick, who is determined to tear them apart? As pressure mounts at work, James is forced to confront not only a dark and unsettling past but also the manipulative Marcus Stone, whose influence threatens to unravel everything.

Together, they share passions for gardening, church architecture, Venice, and even Piers’ sometimes comical attempts at flower arranging. Yet, as the heat of the summer of 1976 builds, their simple pleasures are eclipsed by events that will test their love to its limits. A weekend by the sea becomes a defining moment, one from which there can be no return.

Set against the backdrop of university politics and ambition, Dark Runs the River is a tender yet gripping story of love, loss, and the strength to endure.

Lance Hattatt made his career in teaching English during which time he co-authored a series of textbooks for use in the classroom. A change of direction led him to establish a garden design business and to write a number of highly successful garden books as well as accepting commissions for articles for leading garden magazines and periodicals. He lives with his wife, Jane, and cat, Harriet, and divides his time between an apartment in Devon and a second home in Budapest. Dark Runs the River is his debut novel.