Rusty Nails

by Jason Brannon

Dade Gibson, supernatural investigator, becomes involved in one of the strangest cases of his career when he finds himself at the center of a second war between fallen angels. The angels feverishly search for a mystical street drug called Rusty Nails, whose side effect is the eradication of guilt. Many of the fallen angels are remorseful for the sins they have committed against God and become addicted to the drug because it lifts the weight of remorse. Principalities from all sides are scrambling to get their hands on the drug as it will give them control of legions of addicted angels, and thus, turn the tide in a battle which has spread from Heaven all the way to a small town on earth called Crowley's Point.

Following where the clues lead, Gibson's investigation takes him to a nightspot called The Zodiac Club where a fringe subculture pretends to be seraphim and real angels hide in plain sight. He realizes he's in above his head, however, when the search for the drug puts him on the hunt for the bones of a dead drug dealer and on the run from Samael, the Angel of Death. Further complicating matters, his deceased father suddenly shows up in his office with a mysterious commission to assassinate a strange twelve-year-old boy who has an affinity for healing injured angels.

With all of Heaven and Hell searching for answers, Dade's success in breaking the case is the only thing that will stop the second angelic civil war from spreading and tearing his hometown apart.

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2012

About the author

Jason Brannon is the author of numerous short story collections, novellas, and novels. He has seen more than 100 short stories published in various venues. His short fiction has been compiled in collections like Puzzles of Flesh, The Machinery of Infinity, and Five Days on the Banks of the Acheron. His most recent books include The Cage, Winds of Change, The Misunderstood and Other Misfit Horrors, and The Order of the Bull. Numerous titles have also been translated into German by Basilisk Verlag. He maintains a website at http://www.jasonbrannon.us

Reviews

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dade Gibson, supernatural investigator, becomes involved in one of the strangest cases of his career when he finds himself at the center of a second war between fallen angels. The angels feverishly search for a mystical street drug called Rusty Nails, whose side effect is the eradication of guilt."

Jason Brannon does a pretty decent job of suspending belief in this short novel and brings forth a rather unique idea for a plot...a drug for angels that causes a war. I found the novel a quick, easy, enjoyable read and zoomed through it pretty much over night. I really liked the book even though there were some holes in the plot and multiple typos...easily overlooked because the reader is pulled through the story at a breakneck speed.

Dade Gibson, the main character played a part in two of Mr. Brannon's earlier novellas...perhaps he will arrive again in another novel. I would certainly buy it.

I definately recommend this for a quiet evening where the reader wants to read a good book in one night.

[Kriss]

Free today 9/10/2012