About The Book
Ashes Through The Hourglass
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.
At A Glance
Key Facts
| Title | Ashes Through The Hourglass |
| Author | Danny Lenihan |
| Publisher | Big Thinking Publishing |
| Publication Date | 2 June 2026 |
| ISBN | 978-1-917842-20-4 |
| Genre | Sci-fi, Psychological Thriller |
| Price | £12.99 / $17.99 |
| Available | Waterstones, Amazon, Foyles, Blackwell's, Inkbookshop |
| Pre-order | books2read.com |
| Themes | Time travel, grief, second chances, dark humour, mental health, friendship |
| Comparable Titles | Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir · A Man Called Ove — Fredrik Backman |
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
About The Author
Danny Lenihan
Danny Lenihan is a British author, former international press photographer, and stand-up comedian. After a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1993, he rebuilt his life on grit, wit, and storytelling — touring globally for over a decade, appearing on BBC radio, television, and in multiple films.
He is the founder of the globally recognised photography equipment brand 3 Legged Thing, which won the prestigious Lucie Technical Award for design in 2017. His debut novel Rogue was published in 2021, followed by Enemy in 2024. Ashes Through The Hourglass is his third novel.
He lives in Northamptonshire with his partner, four children, two dogs, one cat, and two vacuum cleaners.
Media Assets
Downloads & Assets
Book Cover
Ashes Through The Hourglass
High-resolution front cover. Suitable for print and digital use.
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Danny Lenihan, 2025
High-resolution author photograph. Credit: Danny Lenihan.
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Full Press Kit
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