Book two in the Dark Years trilogy

Antoine Martinet returns to a France transformed by war

Charles Searle’s historical thrillers follow Antoine Martinet through the ideological fault lines of France before and during the Second World War.

Crossing the Lines publishes on 28 September 2026.

3D cover of Crossing the Lines by Charles Searle

The Dark Years

Espionage at the edge of war

Across three novels, The Dark Years follows one man through a continent divided by politics, occupation and war—where patriotism comes at a human cost.

Dark Years · Book one

The Hooded Man

Published 28 Oct 2025

Dark Years · Book two

Crossing the Lines

Publishing 28 Sept 2026

The trilogy continues

Book three

The concluding volume in the trilogy will continue Antoine Martinet’s story. Further details will be announced here.

Historian turned novelist

Charles Searle

After a career in education and years writing for academic journals, Charles returned to his first love—history—through fiction. His fascination with interwar France became the setting for the Dark Years trilogy.

Critical acclaim

Praise for The Hooded Man

With The Hooded Man and its planned sequels, Charles Searle brings a rare mix of scholarly erudition and storytelling talent to historical fiction, ensuring his work appeals both to connoisseurs of the period and fans of high-octane thrillers.

UK City Limits

Measured, immersive, and unsettling, The Hooded Man positions Searle as a novelist who uses history as pressure and a mirror.

Fame Magazine

Charles Searle’s The Hooded Man stands as a remarkable entry in the historical thriller genre, seamlessly fusing meticulous research with page-turning suspense.

Pressed Up Mag

Meet the author

Upcoming events

Meet Charles at forthcoming book fairs in Keswick and Carlisle for conversation, signed copies and news from the Dark Years trilogy.

19Sept 2026

Keswick Book Fair

The Skiddaw Hotel 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

21Nov 2026

Carlisle Book Fair

The Assembly Rooms, Old Town Hall 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

22Dec 2026

Keswick Book Fair

The Skiddaw Hotel 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

From the desk

Latest notes

News from Charles, reflections on historical research, event updates and the interests that shape his fiction.

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Reader messages & enquiries

Contact Charles

Get in touch about the books, an upcoming event or Charles’s work.