Critical Praise

"Charles Martin writes with the passion and delicacy of a Louisiana sunrise --- shades of shepherd's warning and a promise of thunderbolts before noon. Evoking a vivid picture of a young man's dance with dark and desperate moments of ordinary life, his story swirls like the river with drama, humour, and sense of hope. To many of us in England, the reality of America's deep south is as unknowable as the celestial kingdom of the orient in the days of sail, yet Charles has made it splendid and unforgettable. This is a lovely book that brims with heart and sensitivity, and most of all with a profound insight into what matters in our lives. I enjoyed it hugely."

——John Dyson, writer, Reader's Digest

"An absorbing read for fans of faith-based fiction . . . [with] delightfully quirky characters . . . . [who] are ingeniously imaginative creations."

——Publishers Weekly

"The Dead Don't Dance combines writing that is full of emotion with a storyline that charts a haunting story of love and loss --- and finding one's way back. Charles Martin quickly plunges readers into the story and takes them to a dark place. Then he draws them, like his protagonist Dylan, back to the surface, infusing them with renewed strength. Martin's writing is strong, honest, and memorable. He's an author to discover now --- and then keep your eye on."

——Carol Fitzgerald, co-founder/president, Bookreporter.com

"A strong and insightful first novel, written by a great new Christian voice in fiction. Brilliant."

——Davis Bunn, author of The Great Divide and Elixir