Books@Stones event: Dead Man's Detail by Kody Roby

Join us on Thursday 14 August for an in-conversation event with Kody Roby, author of Dead Man's Detail: A WWI Supernatural Horror Epic (Book 1 of the Nocturnus Timeline).

In a world where darkness reigns and ancient evils stir, Alistair Emerson, the 96th Generation Penman for the Faithless Nocturnus Division, embarks on his final quest before retirement. Teamed with Edgar Renrudder, a fearsome Flesher banished to the treacherous Dead Man’s Detail, they venture into the heart of peril through the Western Front, their mission: to vanquish the enigmatic Revenant, a monstrous entity shrouded in unreliable legend that crossed the sea.

With every step, they inch closer to the truth behind the Revenant's existence, facing untold perils and dark revelations. But as the line blurs between hunter and hunted, Alistair and Edgar must confront not only the terrors that lurk in the shadows but also the demons of their own morals and mentalities.

In a gripping tale of courage, betrayal, and redemption, "Dead Man’s Detail" transports readers into a world where the boundaries between life and death, friend and foe, are but fragile illusions, and where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Kody Roby grew up in the picturesque Glasshouse Mountains, where a childhood immersed in film, TV, and books ignited an endless spark of imagination. This early exposure to diverse storytelling mediums laid the foundation for his passion for writing, which he channels into genres as varied as horror, fantasy, comedy, sci-fi, and drama. Roby's work is characterised by a love for the boundless possibilities of fantasy and science fiction. He believes that anything is possible in these genres, and yet, with the right approach, even the most fantastical elements can feel grounded and realistic.

In 2025, Roby self-published his debut sci-fi horror novel, Dead Man’s Detail. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Western Front in 1919, this gripping tale weaves together themes of hope and mistrust, faith and delusion, honour and horror, culminating in a narrative of madness and mayhem. His storytelling prowess continues to evolve as he works on his second novel in the Nocturnus Timeline Series, ‘The Mercy Mile’ which is currently in its first draft.