Noir Thriller

Flying Dark

• “It took me by surprise. The flight’s thematic significance and the aerial imagery coupling with Hunter’s inner landscape kept me aloft—and terrified.”
—Jennifer Hegeman

• “Dark & Stormy!”
—Gwen Thompson

• “I want to tell you that when I read the passages about flying, I felt as if I were up in the plane—and you fooled me at the end, you rascal.”
—screenwriter Brian Daly

The Story

Aviator Charles Lindbergh’s aw-shucks schtick is a mask for a monster who destroys strangers and loved ones with equal indifference.

Hunter makes a fortune exposing fraudsters. When he stumbles across the corpse of his German teacher on his old reformatory grounds, he’s certain he is onto something evil and becomes drawn into the mystery.

 Hunter is no angel himself. A former “black ops” military officer, he knows what he has to do to get the job done, no matter the cost.

Nightmares, hallucinations, and fragments of grisly memories knock on the door of his subconscious. Even the stage prop “Old Sparky” in his new lover’s lurid Grand Guignol connects a deadly circuit in Hunter.

Orisa cards warn of air disaster. Brainy Pia offers a path out of his disintegration. Traveling the globe—Paris, Berlin, Geneva, and London—Hunter can’t resist the magnetic scene south of New York where the Crime of the Century once played out.

Hunter is falling through the universe’s trap door. He’s headed for hell–unless he can redeem himself with one final flight.

Amazon product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HellBound Books Publishing (October 20, 2023)

  • Language ‏ : ‎ English

  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 351 pages

  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1953905773

  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1953905772

  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces

  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.88 x 8 inches

Coffee Book Couch by Ava

Imagine a novel that flies you into the heart of darkness, not through the jungles of Africa, but high above, in the open skies, where the line between hero and villain blurs. This isn’t your typical tale of adventure; it’s a deep dive into the psyche of Hunter, a character with a past so complex, it’s like walking, or flying, through a labyrinth.

Hunter lives a life that’s anything but ordinary. Picture a guy who’s made a name for himself by uncovering truths people hide in the darkest corners of their closets. One day, he stumbles upon something—a mystery that ties back to his own murky past, involving none other than Charles Lindbergh, an icon wrapped in layers of intrigue and controversy. This discovery launches Hunter on a journey that’s anything but straight and narrow.

Flying Dark thrusts you into a world where the stakes are sky-high. Hunter’s quest for answers takes him across continents, from the vibrant streets of Paris to the historic heart of Berlin, and even through the genteel elegance of Geneva. Each destination is more than just a backdrop; it’s a piece of the puzzle, a step closer to unraveling a mystery that’s as personal as it is profound.

But Hunter’s journey isn’t just an external quest across the globe; it’s an internal voyage into the depths of his own soul. Haunted by nightmares and chased by demons from his past, Hunter’s fight isn’t just against the mysteries he seeks to unravel; it’s against the very essence of his being. The tension between who he was, who he is, and who he wants to be, propels the story forward, making every revelation, every moment of understanding, a hard-won victory.

The novel’s heart beats with the theme of redemption. Through Hunter’s eyes, we see a world where heroes and villains aren’t defined by their actions but by their capacity for change, for growth. It’s a narrative that challenges you to question the very nature of right and wrong, to look beyond the surface and see the shades of gray in between.

Flying Dark is a ride of emotions, a novel that mixes historical intrigue with drama, set against a backdrop of high-stakes adventure. It’s a book for those who love their mysteries with a side of existential contemplation. Through Hunter’s story, Colin W. Sargent offers a thrilling exploration of the human condition, inviting readers to ponder their own place in history and humanity.

A Page Turner

The cover immediately gripped me. Flying Dark is an immersive journey into the depths of historical intrigue and personal demons. Sargent presents us with Hunter, a complex protagonist whose life merges with the enigmatic and dark history of aviator Charles Lindbergh. The novel is a blend of horror, history, and mystery. A page-turner.

Hunter, a character with a shadowy past as a black ops military officer, finds himself in a chilling mystery following the discovery of his German teacher’s corpse at his old reformatory grounds. This event leads him to an investigation, from Paris to London, and into Lindbergh’s sinister legacy. I love the psychological horror elements that are present, including nightmares, hallucinations, and the presence of the stage prop “Old Sparky”. And I love the fact that the flight motif is not just a backdrop but a metaphorical journey through Hunter’s internal struggles.

HellBound Books Publishing has done an amazing job with Flying Dark, showcasing their excellence in delivering spine-chilling narratives. The editing is top-notch, ensuring that the suspense and horror elements are balanced with historical accuracy and rich character development.

—Carola Schmidt, author

As Someone Who Adores Both Dogs & Books

In “Flying Dark” by Colin W. Sargent, readers are thrust into the turbulent world of Hunter, an ex-military aviator who uncovers disturbing truths while grappling with his own murky past. As someone who adores both dogs and books, I found Hunter’s loyalty in the face of adversity reminiscent of a steadfast canine companion. The background includes cities like Paris and Berlin, with Hunter’s internal battles mirroring the external chaos. I liked the complex characters and the dark, atmospheric settings.

—Olivia Moore