Hell's Chimney

Hell's Chimney #1-2

by Derek Smith

A fantasy that begins with Toby in a dungeon, due to be executed for murdering his father, the king. His escape results in a hue and cry, instigated by his step-mother, the Queen. Toby must be caught and executed along with any who assist him. While on the run, he rescues a peasant, Far, and an aristocratic young woman, Orly, both of whom have had their families slaughtered. Class and passion complicate their relationship as they struggle to escape the marauding soldiers. Exhausted and battered, they find sanctuary in the cavern of a magician. There, Toby is told he must go down to the Underworld, via Hell’s Chimney, to find the truth of his father’s death.

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. In addition to my books written under the name Derek Smith, I have another profile on Goodreads as D.H. Smith for my crime fiction.

I began writing in my 20s, first having a go at plays, and have had performances on TV, radio and in theatres. I helped set up a community bookshop in Stratford, London, in the late 70s, and began writing fiction. I had a couple of short stories on the BBC before my first book was published by Faber, 'Hard Cash', in 1991 and broadcast on the BBC. I then wrote predominately for children, both easy readers for younger children and novels for older children. 'Frances Fairweather Demon Striker!' (Faber) was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award, and The Good Wolf won the David Thomas prize in 2000.

I have written a book of short stories entitled 'Strikers of Hanbury Street & other East End tales', which was my first published work for grown ups. A few years ago I had a go at fantasy publishing Hell's Chimney and The Prince's Shadow. I didn't catch the wave.

I taught creative writing at the Mary Ward Centre in Bloomsbury London for over ten years. And am now turning to crime. Well, it pays more.

Reviews

[Lia Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting, fast-paced and surprisingly thoughtful thriller with a sprinkling of fantasy. There's no waffle or prologue; the reader is thrown in at the deep end immediately. Characters are sharply drawn, with complex relationships and intrigue. The author weaves a tapestry of well-loved plot elements - coming-of-age, unlikely friends, potential romance, the hero's search for his father - without resorting to cliche or sentiment.

The action takes place in two worlds. A bleakly realistic medieval realm, with its accompanying political undercurrents and rigid social strata; these are intelligently rendered but never get in the way of the action. The fantasy intensifies in the Underworld, which blends aspects of classical myth with the author's strikingly original vision. Subterfuge, paranoia and the drive for vengeance combine to build an exciting and memorable climax.

This was a well-crafted book and a true pleasure to read.