It's a long time since I have read a debut so intriguing and powerful. Dan Smith has created an original novel set in an under-explored time and place. It is both beautifully written and very accessible. Whilst many of its themes - violence, power and greed - are quite masculine, its compelling cast of the both male and female characters should ensure that it will appeal to a wide range of fiction fans. This brand of accessible, literate and intelligent fiction is very much where the market is at the moment - there should be serious book-club potential here. Dan has seen this world at close hand - he was brought up as the son of a plantation owner in South America in the 80s.

Dan Smith's first eighteen years were spent following his father across the world to Africa, Indonesia and Brazil. He has been been writing short stories for as long as he can remember, and in 2004, he was published in the anthology 'Matter 4'. In that year, he was also short-listed for the Royal Literary Fund mentor scheme and for the Northern Writer's Awards. DRY SEASON is inspired by the four years he spent living in the interior of Brazil. He is thirty-seven years old and lives in Newcastle with his wife and two young children.