Darren Simpson and Five Leaves Bookshop have pleasure in inviting you to the book launch of Thirst.

Thirst is the story of the cursed River Yeelde. Every spring, sacrifices must be made to the river in order to keep the land in the village of Maimsbury fertile and keep illness at bay.

Nobody talks about the strange happenings in Maimsbury. No one speaks of the hooded figures glimpsed in the woods, nor the children’s game that went so horribly wrong. But most of all, nobody dares whisper their doubts about the river they have worshipped for centuries.

Like everyone in Maimsbury, Gorse is used to the sacrifices made every spring to the River Yeelde. The life of a farm animal – in return for a year of plenty – seems a fair trade. That is, until a tragedy leads Gorse to a blood-curdling discovery.

Because this year is a Brim Year, and after giving so much, the river needs more than an animal’s life to sate its thirst…

Darren Simpson is the critically acclaimed author of Scavengers, The Memory Thieves, Furthermoor and Thirst. His books have been translated into several languages and he’s been nominated twice for the Carnegie Medal. He also once won a budgie at school. Darren lives with his wife and sons in Nottingham and loves long walks with headphones, playing the drums and reading in bed on rainy Sunday mornings. No drums will be played at this event.

Darren will be in conversation about his work, followed by a signing

Free, refreshments included