Praise for Hell or Some Worse Place ‘… a detailed narrative filled with heroism, treachery, dynastic politics, and adultery – the makings of a soap opera, except that all of it actually happened.’ Publishers Weekly ‘… the author’s gift for deep, comprehensive historical study and his ability to keep characters fresh in readers’ minds bring this battle between Spain’s best general and Queen Elizabeth’s favourite, Charles Blount, to the awareness it has been denied … A fantastic book that finally assigns Kinsale its rightful place in history.’ Kirkus ‘... lively and enthralling … Ekin is a wonderful guide through this engrossing tale’ Sunday Times Praise for The Stolen Village Des Ekin’s bestselling book on the taking of slaves from Baltimore, County Cork, by the Barbary pirates
Shortlisted for the Irish Book of the Decade award 2010 ‘An enthralling read, not simply for the story of the raid itself, which Ekin recreates with bloodcurdling vividness, but for the parallels the author draws with the current geo-political situation.’ The Irish Times ‘... an irresistibly readable narrative ... a compelling book.’ The Scotsman ‘This is a gripping account that’s exhaustively researched but wears its learning lightly, and proceeds along at a lively pace . . . proof, if it was needed, that fact is often more interesting than fiction.’ Metro