The Recommended Reading Order for A.S. Hatch
For readers looking to dive into the work of British thriller writer A.S. Hatch (Andrew S. Hatch), the entry point is straightforward. Currently, he has published one standalone psychological thriller. While his back catalog contains recognized short stories and unpublished manuscripts, his main body of work consists of his highly acclaimed debut novel.
Standalone Novel Publication Order
- This Little Dark Place (Published October 2019 by Serpent's Tail; paperback released April 2020)
We recommend starting right here. Because it is a standalone story, there are no prior series entries, spin-offs, or sequels to worry about, making it a perfect quick weekend read for fans of slow-burn psychological tension.
A Closer Look at "This Little Dark Place"
Published to critical acclaim, This Little Dark Place follows the story of Daniel and his partner, Victoria. As their relationship fractures under the emotional weight of struggling to conceive a child, Daniel finds himself isolated. In an attempt to find connection, he signs up for a pen-pal program for prisoners and begins corresponding with Ruby, a woman serving time for assaulting an abusive partner. As their letters progress, their shared secrets and darkest desires spill onto the page, leading to a dangerous web of obsession and betrayal once Ruby is released.
The novel is structured using a unique epistolary narrative. It is framed as a series of letters written from a future perspective in the year 2033, where Daniel is writing to someone named Lucy from his own prison cell. This framing device creates a dual timeline: the timeline of the letters being written in the future, and the chronological events of the past unfolding as Daniel recounts how his life spiraled out of control. This structure adds an extra layer of dread and mystery, as readers try to piece together the events that led to Daniel's eventual incarceration.
Unpublished Manuscripts and Early Writings
Although A.S. Hatch has only one published novel to date, he has a history of creative writing and has written multiple manuscripts that have received recognition in the literary community:
- "Flies" (2012): A short story that was selected as WyrdBooks' short story of the month in October 2012.
- Los Gigantes (2013): Hatch's seventh manuscript overall (but written before his debut was published). It was shortlisted for the prestigious Luke Bitmead Prize in 2013, giving him the confidence to pursue publication.
- The Moorings: An unpublished novel that Hatch has noted is one of his personal favorite manuscripts from his archive.
What to Know Before You Start
Before picking up A.S. Hatch's work, here are a few things to keep in mind regarding his style, themes, and creative influences:
The Atmosphere: Hatch has a distinct fascination with brutalist architecture, derelict buildings, and the aesthetics of decay. This is heavily reflected in the settings of his stories, which often feature dark, claustrophobic, and atmospheric backdrops.
The Tone: The writer's style is characterized by deep psychological introspection, focusing on the power of grief, despair, and how isolation drives ordinary people to make extreme choices. He blends this literary sensibility with the page-turning twists of a classic thriller.
His Influences: Hatch's writing is informed by an eclectic mix of creative influences, including the existential dread of Franz Kafka, the surrealism of Haruki Murakami, the dense prose of David Foster Wallace, and even the dark, cinematic lyrics of singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey.