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The Jake Helman Files #4
Tortured Spirits
The sign on Jake Helman’s office door says Private Investigator, but this ex-cop’s profession is more complicated than spying on cheating spouses. Over the course of two years, Jake has battled demons, zombies, even a cosmic monster—and he has paid dearly, both physically and emotionally, for his exploits.
Now on a quest to save his best friend’s soul, Jake embarks on his greatest and most terrifying odyssey yet: from the streets of New Orleans to the nightclubs of Miami to the jungles of Pavot Island, where undead slaves harvest narcotics for a ferocious dictator.
But this time Jake isn’t alone. Maria Vasquez, a beautiful NYPD homicide detective, joins him to rescue her former partner. With no backup and limited resources, Jake and Maria battle voodoo overlords, military troops, and an army of zombies. What will prove deadlier to Jake: the addictive drug called Black Magic, the return of an old enemy, or a vengeful demon plotting against him? Tortured Spirits is an action-packed, gore-soaked, supernatural thrill ride that will leave horror fans gasping for Jake Helman’s return.
Now on a quest to save his best friend’s soul, Jake embarks on his greatest and most terrifying odyssey yet: from the streets of New Orleans to the nightclubs of Miami to the jungles of Pavot Island, where undead slaves harvest narcotics for a ferocious dictator.
But this time Jake isn’t alone. Maria Vasquez, a beautiful NYPD homicide detective, joins him to rescue her former partner. With no backup and limited resources, Jake and Maria battle voodoo overlords, military troops, and an army of zombies. What will prove deadlier to Jake: the addictive drug called Black Magic, the return of an old enemy, or a vengeful demon plotting against him? Tortured Spirits is an action-packed, gore-soaked, supernatural thrill ride that will leave horror fans gasping for Jake Helman’s return.
- GenresHorror
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Gregory Lamberson
24 books116 followersGregory Lamberson is an author and filmmaker who specializes in horror entertainment. He is a two-time winner of the IPPY Gold Medal for Horror and a three-time Bram Stoker Award finalist. A motion picture based on his award-winning novel JOHNNY GRUESOME will be completed and released in 2017,. Fangoria magazine called him "the hardest working man in horror."
Lamberson is the author of the six-novel occult detective series The Jake Helman Files (PERSONAL DEMONS, DESPERATE SOULS, COSMIC FORCES, TORTURED SPIRITS, STORM DEMON and HUMAN MONSTERS), the werewolf trilogy The Frenzy Cycle (THE FRENZY WAY, THE FRENZY WAR and THE FRENZY WOLVES). In addition to GRUESOME, his stand alone works include BLACK CREEK, THE JULIAN YEAR, the zombie novella CARNAGE ROAD, and the instructional filmmaking book CHEAP SCARES: LOW BUDGET HORROR FILMMAKERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS.
In 2016, Lamberson directed a feature length movie version of JOHNNY GRUESOME, currently in post-production. He previously directed the cult films SLIME CITY, SLIME CITY MASSACRE and KILLER RACK. He is currently hard at work developing his literary properties as films and TV series.
Lamberson is the author of the six-novel occult detective series The Jake Helman Files (PERSONAL DEMONS, DESPERATE SOULS, COSMIC FORCES, TORTURED SPIRITS, STORM DEMON and HUMAN MONSTERS), the werewolf trilogy The Frenzy Cycle (THE FRENZY WAY, THE FRENZY WAR and THE FRENZY WOLVES). In addition to GRUESOME, his stand alone works include BLACK CREEK, THE JULIAN YEAR, the zombie novella CARNAGE ROAD, and the instructional filmmaking book CHEAP SCARES: LOW BUDGET HORROR FILMMAKERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS.
In 2016, Lamberson directed a feature length movie version of JOHNNY GRUESOME, currently in post-production. He previously directed the cult films SLIME CITY, SLIME CITY MASSACRE and KILLER RACK. He is currently hard at work developing his literary properties as films and TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 12, 2013
This the fourth Helman novel from the multitalented Greg Lamberson is the best yet. It's a charging rhino of a book packed with sex, violence, zombies and the blackest magic! It was such a challenge to put down that I simply gave up, clung on with white knuckles and enjoyed the ride.
December 31, 2012
Ok, I know that for the most part I tend toward romance, but I gotta say that this series is probably one of the best I have read this year and I have read a lot of books! I do like horror and when you throw some paranormal/supernatural in there then I love it even more. The one thing that I love about book blogging is that I have been introduced to some really great authors and books that I would never have found on my own. Gregory Lamberson has definitely been added to that list. I read all four of these books in less than a week, some in less than a day and they are long books! Mr. Lamberson contacted me to review this book, which is the 4th in the series and was kind enough to send me all of them so I wouldn't be lost as far as the story is concerned. Oh, and he signed them all to me so they have a special place on my book shelf along with my other signed books!
I do think that if you want to read these books you should definitely start at the beginning of the series. The first book sets it all up and they all tie in to that original story in some way, at least they have so far. You could probably get along without reading the previous ones, but I wouldn't skip them. You can find my reviews for the other book in the series here on Goodreads.
This 4th book was my favorite of the series, so far. I have a feeling by the way this one is set up that I may like the next one even better! It's going to be really hard to do a proper review of this book with out posting any spoilers but I am going to try.
This book finds Jake in New Orleans, Miami and then to Pavot Island as he tries to help one of his friends. This book is really almost like a sequel to Desperate Souls. Maria is with him almost every step of the way in this one. She's been following him trying to find out what happened to Edgar. Earlier in the series Edgar tried to set Jake and Maria up, but Jake wasn't quite ready to be with anyone. It was clear that Maria was into Jake even then, but when Edgar disappeared she stepped back because she suspected that Jake had a hand in his disappearance. Now they are both at a point where they are ready and it's about time too!
In this installment we see a re-occurrence of Black Magic. Jake and Maria make a deal with a vodou practicer, in exchange for what they need from her they will rescue her husband from prison. He is a political prisoner on Pavot Island and has been for 30 years. Pavot Island is being run by a dictator who has a black Vodou Priestess working with him. Together they run the island and the slaves who work their drug crops. They are using Black Magic to control the Zonbies just like the priestess in Book 2 did. There is just one catch though, Jake and Maria know how to kill their Zonbies.
Jake and Maria find themselves smack in the middle of an uprising, thankfully they have people on the island who are helping them. There is a whole faction on the island that wished to see this prisoner liberated, but this doesn't mean that things are going to go smoothly for them. This book is more action packed than all of the last 3 books put together. It's pretty much non-stop from the moment they land on Pavot Island. Jake has been through a lot in the last couple years and doesn't let up in this book. There is a reason that this book is called Tortured Souls and unfortunately for Jake he learns this firsthand.
This book does have a little romance story line running through it and I think it's nice that Jake is able to have something nice a long with all the crap that gets thrown his way. I am anxious to see how thing progress for Maria and Jake as the series continues. This part of the story didn't have many return characters, but this one, like all the others does tie back to Tower Industries and some of the things in the very first book.
I highly recommend this series if you like horror. I don't think I would classify this horror as in a scary sense, but it does have the gory, creepy thing going on. It's unbelievable at times, but that's what makes a really great paranormal series. One thing is for sure, it's well written and Mr. Lamberson has a wild and vivid imagination and that shows through in every page of this series. I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next installment in Jake's story!
I do think that if you want to read these books you should definitely start at the beginning of the series. The first book sets it all up and they all tie in to that original story in some way, at least they have so far. You could probably get along without reading the previous ones, but I wouldn't skip them. You can find my reviews for the other book in the series here on Goodreads.
This 4th book was my favorite of the series, so far. I have a feeling by the way this one is set up that I may like the next one even better! It's going to be really hard to do a proper review of this book with out posting any spoilers but I am going to try.
This book finds Jake in New Orleans, Miami and then to Pavot Island as he tries to help one of his friends. This book is really almost like a sequel to Desperate Souls. Maria is with him almost every step of the way in this one. She's been following him trying to find out what happened to Edgar. Earlier in the series Edgar tried to set Jake and Maria up, but Jake wasn't quite ready to be with anyone. It was clear that Maria was into Jake even then, but when Edgar disappeared she stepped back because she suspected that Jake had a hand in his disappearance. Now they are both at a point where they are ready and it's about time too!
In this installment we see a re-occurrence of Black Magic. Jake and Maria make a deal with a vodou practicer, in exchange for what they need from her they will rescue her husband from prison. He is a political prisoner on Pavot Island and has been for 30 years. Pavot Island is being run by a dictator who has a black Vodou Priestess working with him. Together they run the island and the slaves who work their drug crops. They are using Black Magic to control the Zonbies just like the priestess in Book 2 did. There is just one catch though, Jake and Maria know how to kill their Zonbies.
Jake and Maria find themselves smack in the middle of an uprising, thankfully they have people on the island who are helping them. There is a whole faction on the island that wished to see this prisoner liberated, but this doesn't mean that things are going to go smoothly for them. This book is more action packed than all of the last 3 books put together. It's pretty much non-stop from the moment they land on Pavot Island. Jake has been through a lot in the last couple years and doesn't let up in this book. There is a reason that this book is called Tortured Souls and unfortunately for Jake he learns this firsthand.
This book does have a little romance story line running through it and I think it's nice that Jake is able to have something nice a long with all the crap that gets thrown his way. I am anxious to see how thing progress for Maria and Jake as the series continues. This part of the story didn't have many return characters, but this one, like all the others does tie back to Tower Industries and some of the things in the very first book.
I highly recommend this series if you like horror. I don't think I would classify this horror as in a scary sense, but it does have the gory, creepy thing going on. It's unbelievable at times, but that's what makes a really great paranormal series. One thing is for sure, it's well written and Mr. Lamberson has a wild and vivid imagination and that shows through in every page of this series. I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for the next installment in Jake's story!
March 24, 2013
This is my first read as part of the Jake Helman Series, and although Tortured Spirits is #4, the method of delivery gives enough for a newbie not to feel out of their depths or lost within the detail. The author, Gregory Lamberson, guides the reader around what Jake already knows teases us with glimpses of the past. Sufficient backstory at relevant stages never feels like an infer dump and made reading this rather comfortable.
Jake Helman is a maverick of a one-man-band whose style is admirable when being considerate, but highly expressive when he needs to deliver the smack on goons and zombies. Heck – did i just mention zombies? Indeed; Tortured Spirits is a Supernatural Crime novel, but don’t let the supernatural aspect put you off.
Back to Jake – he can be described as a James Bond (likes the ladies) crossed over with Nathan Drake (of Uncharted Games due to his sense of adventure) and a bit of mystery solving Columbo (the glass eye). Scenes of extensive dialogue, although sometimes difficult to follow as to who is speaking, are rich with personality and bring across the risks associated within the novel … like zombies … and hellacious witchcraft. A fun part was Jake’s relationship with Edgar, his friend who’s been turned into a Raven. Again, don’t be put off by the supernatural aspect, because the human nature of caring for and carrying the bird around everywhere that he goes was a nice touch.
My only criticism is in places I received too much detail about the clothing Jake wore, and that zombies are referred to as zonbies. It takes some getting used to.
The crux of the novel is how Jake finds himself having to uncover a plot to save a man he cares little about in exchange for a solution to return the Raven back into Edgar (human form). What follows is gore of immense blood-appeal with scenes that will have you turning quicker than you can make contact with the page. Take out the supernatural aspect and this novel possesses a guest cop chase of uncovering crime, and some of the exchanges between the good and the bad took me back into top shows like NYPD and CSI. This isn’t your average Buffy – let’s grab some holy water and down these zombies – oh no, Jake needs to be cunning to win and … survive. Believe me, the author puts Jake is some gut-wrenching situations.
Gregory delivers a well written novel that is worthy of a read by any Crime/Thriller enthusiast, and adds his own spin on age-old notions; like using DNA from simply handing over a business card to place Jake under the control of witchcraft.
Overall, the world created and the glimpses into past events makes me want to read the previous entries to the series.
Recommended.
Jake Helman is a maverick of a one-man-band whose style is admirable when being considerate, but highly expressive when he needs to deliver the smack on goons and zombies. Heck – did i just mention zombies? Indeed; Tortured Spirits is a Supernatural Crime novel, but don’t let the supernatural aspect put you off.
Back to Jake – he can be described as a James Bond (likes the ladies) crossed over with Nathan Drake (of Uncharted Games due to his sense of adventure) and a bit of mystery solving Columbo (the glass eye). Scenes of extensive dialogue, although sometimes difficult to follow as to who is speaking, are rich with personality and bring across the risks associated within the novel … like zombies … and hellacious witchcraft. A fun part was Jake’s relationship with Edgar, his friend who’s been turned into a Raven. Again, don’t be put off by the supernatural aspect, because the human nature of caring for and carrying the bird around everywhere that he goes was a nice touch.
My only criticism is in places I received too much detail about the clothing Jake wore, and that zombies are referred to as zonbies. It takes some getting used to.
The crux of the novel is how Jake finds himself having to uncover a plot to save a man he cares little about in exchange for a solution to return the Raven back into Edgar (human form). What follows is gore of immense blood-appeal with scenes that will have you turning quicker than you can make contact with the page. Take out the supernatural aspect and this novel possesses a guest cop chase of uncovering crime, and some of the exchanges between the good and the bad took me back into top shows like NYPD and CSI. This isn’t your average Buffy – let’s grab some holy water and down these zombies – oh no, Jake needs to be cunning to win and … survive. Believe me, the author puts Jake is some gut-wrenching situations.
Gregory delivers a well written novel that is worthy of a read by any Crime/Thriller enthusiast, and adds his own spin on age-old notions; like using DNA from simply handing over a business card to place Jake under the control of witchcraft.
Overall, the world created and the glimpses into past events makes me want to read the previous entries to the series.
Recommended.
October 21, 2012
Gregory Lamberson returns with his fourth Jake Helman detective novel, a sequel of sorts to 2010's "Desperate Souls", which supplants that novel's NYC drugged out zombie epidemic to a remote, dictator run Caribbean island, where Jake and a lady friend fight for the life of their transmogrified partner. What follows is nothing less than a nearly 500-page revolutionary war epic, filled with enough black voodoo, hideous drug harvesting zombies, sadistic despots, nether world demons, sex, limb hacking, brain splattering, and propagandistic patriotism to sate the most outlandish of appetites. This series is undeniably addicting, and "Tortured Spirits" might be it's craziest, bloodiest, most cinematic entry yet.
December 26, 2012
I recieved this book as a Goodreads giveaway. It was autographed by the author! What can I say? This book had Zombies, voodoo , a Demon and a selection of Priestesses from the white and the dark side. The action in this book is furious and nonrelenting. It is extremely well written and really engrosses you in the story. I am pleased to hear that the author is writing the 5th installment. These are must read books! Any horror fan would be doing themselves a favor by buying any books by this author. By the way. Tortured means tortured. Poor Jake. I cringe at what happens to the hero of this book.
June 12, 2013
Zombies, voudou and action, action, action. And our hero takes some serious knocks in this one, but keeps on ticking. Enjoyed seeing Maria back in the novels, and was satisfied with the ending. Wish the next book was out.
December 6, 2012
The action is incredible and Jake is such a fun character.
April 11, 2021
Author Gregory Lamberson’s fourth entry in his Jake Helman Files series is probably the best in the series so far. The series hybrid of Private Eye, Militaristic and Supernatural elements are all blended together seamlessly, and Lambert’s flair for storytelling and epic set pieces really shine here. You root for Jake and his crew as they do battle with an impressive roster of shadowy mercenaries, a brutal dictatorship and the forces of evil from beyond this world. I am a big fan of Lamberson’s work as an author (as well as his filmmaking), and this book shows that he is at the top of his game. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews