YOU CAN'T OUTRUN THE PAST

New Release · June 2nd 2026

Ashes Through The Hourglass — psychological thriller novel by Danny Lenihan

Explore the fragile magic of humanity

Ashes Through The Hourglass

You can't outrun the past.

Genre

Psychological Thriller

Publisher

Big Thinking

Price

£12.99 / $17.99

ISBN

978-1-917842-20-4

Tormented by his sister's death, Mason Winward spirals towards vengeance until a stranger pulls him from the brink. Slowly, Mason rebuilds his life. Then, without warning, the stranger vanishes.

Years later, Mason discovers the impossible: a doorway into the past. With the help of his long-term friend Alex, he begins travelling back in time to rescue children from the edge of irreversible despair — becoming a pioneer of a dangerous new kind of salvation.

But when one of those rescues ends in murder, everything unravels. Now Mason must confront fate, choice, and consequence. How much of history can be changed, and at what cost? And after decades of searching, one question remains:

What became of the man who once saved him?

Ashes Through The Hourglass is a psychological thriller blending dark humour with grief, memory, second chances, and the fragile magic of being human.

Early Reader Reviews

The Fragile Magic Of Being Human

Unprepared For Just How Good It Is

"I expected this to be very good. I still found myself unprepared for just how damn good it is. I didn't want the book to ever end. Difficult subjects tackled with sensitivity and integrity, extraordinary characters, and a plot that crackles with memorable moments on nearly every page. The denouement is quite a tear jerker."

Robin Price

Oh My God, What A Book!

"Tremendous. The time travel is brilliantly handled and the banter between the characters is an absolute joy. I didn't want it to end."

Kelly Miller

The Psychologist The World Desperately Needs

"The relationship between Alex and Mason is a joy — brilliant back and forth, but pure love under all the bravado and banter. Mason is an excellent psychologist and one the world desperately needs. The time travel is handled with real skill; detailed but never baffling. An exceptional read."

Louise Fisher

Gripped From Start To Finish

"I binge read it in a matter of hours — that tells you everything. I was initially worried when the time travel began as it's not my usual genre, but the fact it was being used to prevent children from making the worst decisions of their lives kept me completely hooked. The relationship between Mason and Alex — their banter and genuine friendship — is one of the highlights of the book."

Laura Drumgoole

The Rogue Series

Dystopian Science Fiction · Books 1–2 Available Now

Rogue — Book 1 of the Rogue Series, dystopian sci-fi by Danny Lenihan

The Rogue Series · Book One

Rogue

Apocalypse is certain. Survival isn't.

Genre

Dystopian Sci-Fi

Series

The Rogue Series

A dystopian thriller. A hidden enemy. An unlikely hero.

Earth's days are numbered. The Bertram Ramsay Space Station offers the only hope of survival — but someone on board doesn't want humanity to make it. Jaxon Leith didn't ask for any of this. He's not the hero type. But when the clock runs out, the world may have no one else left to call.

Apocalypse is certain. Survival isn't.

Published Reviews

The Most Exciting New Voice in British Sci-Fi

A World Beyond Our World

"Phenomenal attention to detail, plausible science and an array of characters laced with realism and creativity. There is a perfect balance of mystery, thriller, suspense, humour, action and emotion — and the humour will reel you right in when things get a little heavy. 10/10 recommended."

Priya Bansal

A New Voice In British Sci-Fi

"It's not often a new writer comes along who can produce anything as groundbreaking as the classic novels of Heinlein and Asimov. This reads like old school sci-fi in tone but is epic in scale — vast imaginative scope, writing that summons wonder, intrigue, fear and hope. Danny Lenihan is the most exciting new voice in British sci-fi since Adrian Tchaikovsky and is essential reading for all sci-fi fans."

Robin Price

Fast-Paced And Deeply Engaging

"Wonderfully written, fast-paced and deeply engaging. Rogue delivers a brilliant twist on a dystopian tale — racing against the clock, with a known rogue organisation infiltrating the very project fighting to save humanity. Highly recommended."

Lori Peterson

You Barely Get A Minute To Decompress

"You get thrown right into it along with Jaxon — the suspense is high and it keeps you going and going. A mixture of seriousness, dry humour, despair and acceptance. The world-building is on another level; I have never been in space but I really felt like I had. Fast-paced, highly immersive, and with an intriguing plot. Highly recommended."

Siva

Enemy — Book 2 of the Rogue Series, dystopian sci-fi by Danny Lenihan

The Rogue Series · Book Two

Enemy

Survival was only the beginning. Now comes the reckoning.

Genre

Dystopian Sci-Fi

Series

The Rogue Series

Betrayal. Sacrifice. Death.

Jaxon Leith survived Compression — just. But the evacuation has stalled, two million people remain stranded on Earth, and the Acolytes of Gaia are still out there, still fighting to destroy everything humanity has built. The mission continues. And it's about to get personal.

Survival was only the beginning. Now comes the reckoning.

Published Reviews

The Electrifying Second Instalment

Plot Twists A Plenty

"Fast pacing, plot twists a plenty, and the world created in Rogue is expanded upon brilliantly. There must be a traitor amongst the crew — but who to trust? How to stop the AoG? What will be the cost? Complex world-building, rich characters and a great story make this a real page turner."

Richard Lewis

Absolutely Pulsating

"An absolutely pulsating sequel to the excellent Rogue. Suspense from beginning to end, with twists that keep you on your toes throughout. The world-building is top notch, and the science fiction elements — despite being set 200 years in the future — are vividly realised and easy to visualise."

Mark Gunn

A Rollercoaster From Beginning To End

"From the start I had that feeling of being constantly on edge — constantly trying to figure out who was part of the AoG, who was undercover, who did what. A space opera with a malevolent group out for destruction, a tight-knit group of friends, dark humour in just the right places, a touch of murder mystery, and an ending that will leave you breathless and wanting more."

Bookalyptic

Storytelling At Its Best

"Omg I loved it!!!!! Seriously, it's incredible. The characters, the world building, the insane twists! It's this person, it's that person, no wait - it's someone else. Or is it that other person after all? Man, it's just masterful. This is storytelling at its best."

Maureen Henn

The Bleeds

Prequel Series to The Rogue Series

The Bleeds — prequel series to the Rogue dystopian sci-fi novels by Danny Lenihan

The Bleeds · Prequel Series

The Bleeds

The early life of Jaxon Leith — and the countdown clock ticking down to oblivion.

Genre

Dystopian Sci-Fi

Type

Prequel Series

Events that impact The Rogue Series. From The Bleeds to the Bertram. The creation of the hero Earth needs.

Before the evacuation, before the mission — there was the boy. The Bleeds traces the formative events that shaped Jaxon Leith, exploring the world that made him and the moments that set everything in motion.

From The Bleeds to the Bertram. The creation of the hero Earth needs.