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Brooklyn Shadows #1
Shrouds of Darkness
Leo Malone is a vampire for hire to do just about whatever you need done. Leo is hired by a young woman and her brother to find her father, a werewolf and mob accountant, who has gone missing and is suspected to be responsible for several killings around Brooklyn. Leo soon finds there is far more going on than a"simple" werewolf run amok problem. Leo's no nonsense, bullet diplomacy approach to problem solving has him leaving no stone unturned and no toes un-stepped on as he tries to unravel a conspiracy that threatens to topple the enclave and reveal the existence of vampires.
If you like vampires with overly emotional teenaged angst, Leo is not your guy. If you like a wise-cracking, sword swinging, bullet spewing, hard-charging vampire, you don't want to miss out.
If you like vampires with overly emotional teenaged angst, Leo is not your guy. If you like a wise-cracking, sword swinging, bullet spewing, hard-charging vampire, you don't want to miss out.
191 pages, ebook
First published November 26, 2011
49 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Brock E. Deskins
25 books172 followersBrock Deskins was born in a small town located in rural Oregon. At age twenty he joined the army and served as an M1A1 tank crewman, dental specialist, and computer analyst. While in the military he became an accomplished traveler, husband, and father of three wonderful children. Now out of the military he attends college to brush up on his skills as a computer analyst and gain new skills as a writer.
Update 2012: Received my degree in computer networking and devoting my full time and limited attention span to writing. Thanks to everyone who is making this dream a reality.
Update 2012: Received my degree in computer networking and devoting my full time and limited attention span to writing. Thanks to everyone who is making this dream a reality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 27, 2018
Shrouds of Darkness
Brooklyn Shadows, Book 1
By: Brock Deskins
Narrated by: Steven Jay Cohen
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Loved it! If you like vampires, werewolves, mysteries, humor, and fast paced fun reads this is your book. A vampire PI and occasionally hired gun/body guard takes a case that ends up taking 3 cases... all from different parties and all lead to the same conclusion. Action packed, with lots of humor scattered throughout that kept me giggling like a school girl, and great fight scenes for the evil side of me ;p
The narrator was perfect!!! I felt like I was in a movie, the voices and emotional effects were awesome! Terrific performance. Not easy to do comedy and it was done with perfection. Great job!
Brooklyn Shadows, Book 1
By: Brock Deskins
Narrated by: Steven Jay Cohen
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Loved it! If you like vampires, werewolves, mysteries, humor, and fast paced fun reads this is your book. A vampire PI and occasionally hired gun/body guard takes a case that ends up taking 3 cases... all from different parties and all lead to the same conclusion. Action packed, with lots of humor scattered throughout that kept me giggling like a school girl, and great fight scenes for the evil side of me ;p
The narrator was perfect!!! I felt like I was in a movie, the voices and emotional effects were awesome! Terrific performance. Not easy to do comedy and it was done with perfection. Great job!
April 29, 2025
I love vampire books. I especially love urban fantasy vampire books. This is partially due to how much I adored the Vampire: The Masquerade during my teenage years. So, I was all in for Brock Deskin's Brooklyn Shadows series that follow the adventures of undead detective Leo. Leo is a lovably repulsive character. A bit like Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai, he's stuck a few decades behind the times and compensates for it by being as big a jerk to people as humanly possible. Fans of series like the Dresden Files and the Hellequin Chronicles will probably find this book enjoyable.
The premise is a werewolf accountant who does work for the mob in New York finds himself kidnapped by forces unknown. Leo is hired by the werewolf's daughter to track him down and see if he's alive or dead. This proves problematic as while Leo is a decent enough detective, he's managed to burn every single bridge he's made in the supernatural community. The vampires of the Enclave loathe him as a failed Sheriff, the werewolves despise him as a vampire killer, and the police believe he's a multiple mass murdering hitman [which is true from a certain point of view].
The primary appeal of the story is watching Leo stumble around, offending people left and right in hopes that they let slip something useful to his investigation. What follows is a decent enough mystery that involves the mysterious "Cure" for vampirism that was long ago abandoned as unusually toxic, a sudden upswing in the vampire population of New York, attacks on the mob by forces unknown, and the planned installation of a London-esque CCTV network across the city.
Part of what makes the story work is Leo actively shoots himself in the foot repeatedly by not caring about anything other than himself. It takes awhile for him to put the pieces together because he ignores anything that doesn't directly relate to his case. He's really kind of a cruddy detective as his attitude, cynicism, and nihilism prevent him from developing much in the way of contacts. He has a couple of in a hacker named Mo Money (a self-granted nickname that Leo mocks repeatedly), a morgue attendant, and an incredibly effective lawyer but these are the exceptions instead of the rule.
I think my favorite character of the book is the police office Castillo. Castillo is basically the anti-Murphy for Dresden File fans. She's a dedicated hard-working female police officer absolutely set against our protagonist who seems to get away with murder, literally, on a regular basis. I actually support these two getting together and think it would be a spicy romance. Leo's actual girlfriend, Katherine, is interesting enough but doesn't have the same level of spark.
Does this book have any flaws? Eh, I found it a little weird that we opened up with a perspective other than Leo's at the start of the book despite this being in first person. I also feel like we could have referenced Leo's past with so many characters more. As a vampire, I feel like he would have some more interesting history with various characters. Still, this is a minor set of issues overall and didn't impact my enjoyment much.
In conclusion, I feel this is a solid and entertaining urban fantasy/horror adventure novel. Leo is an antihero that will be an acquired taste to some readers but I personally loved him. I recommend picking up the audiobook novel in particular since the narrator does a fantastic job.
The premise is a werewolf accountant who does work for the mob in New York finds himself kidnapped by forces unknown. Leo is hired by the werewolf's daughter to track him down and see if he's alive or dead. This proves problematic as while Leo is a decent enough detective, he's managed to burn every single bridge he's made in the supernatural community. The vampires of the Enclave loathe him as a failed Sheriff, the werewolves despise him as a vampire killer, and the police believe he's a multiple mass murdering hitman [which is true from a certain point of view].
The primary appeal of the story is watching Leo stumble around, offending people left and right in hopes that they let slip something useful to his investigation. What follows is a decent enough mystery that involves the mysterious "Cure" for vampirism that was long ago abandoned as unusually toxic, a sudden upswing in the vampire population of New York, attacks on the mob by forces unknown, and the planned installation of a London-esque CCTV network across the city.
Part of what makes the story work is Leo actively shoots himself in the foot repeatedly by not caring about anything other than himself. It takes awhile for him to put the pieces together because he ignores anything that doesn't directly relate to his case. He's really kind of a cruddy detective as his attitude, cynicism, and nihilism prevent him from developing much in the way of contacts. He has a couple of in a hacker named Mo Money (a self-granted nickname that Leo mocks repeatedly), a morgue attendant, and an incredibly effective lawyer but these are the exceptions instead of the rule.
I think my favorite character of the book is the police office Castillo. Castillo is basically the anti-Murphy for Dresden File fans. She's a dedicated hard-working female police officer absolutely set against our protagonist who seems to get away with murder, literally, on a regular basis. I actually support these two getting together and think it would be a spicy romance. Leo's actual girlfriend, Katherine, is interesting enough but doesn't have the same level of spark.
Does this book have any flaws? Eh, I found it a little weird that we opened up with a perspective other than Leo's at the start of the book despite this being in first person. I also feel like we could have referenced Leo's past with so many characters more. As a vampire, I feel like he would have some more interesting history with various characters. Still, this is a minor set of issues overall and didn't impact my enjoyment much.
In conclusion, I feel this is a solid and entertaining urban fantasy/horror adventure novel. Leo is an antihero that will be an acquired taste to some readers but I personally loved him. I recommend picking up the audiobook novel in particular since the narrator does a fantastic job.
August 7, 2022
Another reviewer said it took him a couple chapters for this book to draw him in. That reviewer was being kind. The beginning of this book is...off putting. (Now I'm being kind.) It starts with a first chapter that would be better termed a prologue. We then meet the main character for about a page before the book leaps into a lengthy flashback. He then starts reminiscing about a friend. We see him for another page or so before a large info-dump.
I'm not even exaggerating. It's a good 15% into the book before we actually really 'meet' Leo. And given we hadn't met him yet, all that information about his past, his friend, the vampire dynamics was nothing more than detritus. I simply couldn't care yet. Even worse, it's all told in a stiff, almost formal first person account. Off putting.
If it hadn't been for the previous reviews stating it gets better, I would have given up and tossed it on the DNF pile. But I didn't. I stuck with it and it does get better.
Leo is a bit of an anti-hero. He is not a nice man. In fact, he's pretty much an asshole. But I would deem this 'men's fiction,' in other words written for a male audience, and men do always seem to idolise violent jerkwads. So, that kind of makes sense. And you can appreciate the politically incorrect, socially disinterested, devil may care attitude he sports.
A lot of it is over the top. He's sarcastic and/or unnecessarily abrasive even when he would be better served otherwise or well after he's gotten what he wants and further retaliation is not only pointless, but cruel. However, a lot of it is also quite funny. The man is completely neurotic on top of sarcastic, so there are a lot of opportunities for quips and quick wit. It's this humour that carried me through the book. But it's pretty borderline too much.
I don't mind violence or gore, but I got tired of the endless fight scenes and weapons descriptions. I also cringed away from the first person narrative. I'm not a big fan of the style, especially when it's a first person, present tense narrative. (I always get distracted wondering why the character is narrating their current life.) But it's especially hard when dealing with a hard-boiled, apex predator type character. It just feels wrong to read things like, 'My powerful legs flexed.' Or to hear a character tell the reader how much stronger, faster, scarier, etc he is than anyone else. It just plain feels like bragging and who likes spending time with a braggart?
Plus, it's never really addressed how he became so badass, as if he's bad because he's a vampire. Problem is, so are a lot of other characters. This makes it feels little hollow. I want to know what his reputation is based on, not just that he says that he has it.
The first quart of this book is difficult to get through, but once you do the story is pretty good. The mystery isn't hard to figure out, if only by virtue of identifying the single person the character pays too little attention to, but it's engaging enough. There's a painful example of sex-equals-love, at least on the woman's part, but she's a fun character. There are a lot of chuckle worthy moments and plenty of fight scenes. I noticed a couple editing issues, but not enough to make an issue of. This is one of those books where 'if you like the sort of thing' you should pick it up, but it probably won't work for those on the fringes.
I'm not even exaggerating. It's a good 15% into the book before we actually really 'meet' Leo. And given we hadn't met him yet, all that information about his past, his friend, the vampire dynamics was nothing more than detritus. I simply couldn't care yet. Even worse, it's all told in a stiff, almost formal first person account. Off putting.
If it hadn't been for the previous reviews stating it gets better, I would have given up and tossed it on the DNF pile. But I didn't. I stuck with it and it does get better.
Leo is a bit of an anti-hero. He is not a nice man. In fact, he's pretty much an asshole. But I would deem this 'men's fiction,' in other words written for a male audience, and men do always seem to idolise violent jerkwads. So, that kind of makes sense. And you can appreciate the politically incorrect, socially disinterested, devil may care attitude he sports.
A lot of it is over the top. He's sarcastic and/or unnecessarily abrasive even when he would be better served otherwise or well after he's gotten what he wants and further retaliation is not only pointless, but cruel. However, a lot of it is also quite funny. The man is completely neurotic on top of sarcastic, so there are a lot of opportunities for quips and quick wit. It's this humour that carried me through the book. But it's pretty borderline too much.
I don't mind violence or gore, but I got tired of the endless fight scenes and weapons descriptions. I also cringed away from the first person narrative. I'm not a big fan of the style, especially when it's a first person, present tense narrative. (I always get distracted wondering why the character is narrating their current life.) But it's especially hard when dealing with a hard-boiled, apex predator type character. It just feels wrong to read things like, 'My powerful legs flexed.' Or to hear a character tell the reader how much stronger, faster, scarier, etc he is than anyone else. It just plain feels like bragging and who likes spending time with a braggart?
Plus, it's never really addressed how he became so badass, as if he's bad because he's a vampire. Problem is, so are a lot of other characters. This makes it feels little hollow. I want to know what his reputation is based on, not just that he says that he has it.
The first quart of this book is difficult to get through, but once you do the story is pretty good. The mystery isn't hard to figure out, if only by virtue of identifying the single person the character pays too little attention to, but it's engaging enough. There's a painful example of sex-equals-love, at least on the woman's part, but she's a fun character. There are a lot of chuckle worthy moments and plenty of fight scenes. I noticed a couple editing issues, but not enough to make an issue of. This is one of those books where 'if you like the sort of thing' you should pick it up, but it probably won't work for those on the fringes.
December 12, 2017
This audiobook kept me entertained from start to finish. Vampire PI, Leo Malone, is hired to find a missing werewolf, who also happens to be the accountant of a mob boss Leo occasionally body guards for. Things become even more complicated as he uncovers treachery within the vampire ranks. This story has lots of action, intrigue, a bit of romance, great characters and hilarious repartee that will have you laughing out loud. I really enjoyed the main character, Leo. He is sarcastic, cunning, can be a bit of a jerk and has a propensity for violence, but he also keeps his word and has a sense of riotousness hidden underneath a hard exterior. The narrator, Steven Jay Cohen, managed to fit his voice to Leo’s personality perfectly, he really brought the character to life making you feel his strength, determination and uncertainties. I also loved his interpretation of the computer wiz, Marvin. The interactions between the two of them was hysterical. All in all, this an enjoyable, well written, action filled story that will keep you entertained and leave you wanting more.
December 13, 2017
Years ago, I read a series of books about a Vampire PI written by P.N. Elrod. I have looked for more books in this genre and have never been able to find them....until now! I loved this book!
Leo Malone is a snarky, unfeeling bastard of a vampire who happens to be a PI. When he is hired by two separate clients to find one missing werewolf, he figures he might as well cash in on the windfall.
In his search for the werewolf, he encounters a group of rogue vampires, mafia bosses, and an unexpected love interest. My favorite character was Marvin, a streetwise (in his own mind) computer hacker hired by Leo to find information. The exchanges between Marvin (known only by himself as Mo Money) and Leo are priceless!
I loved the writing, the story and the narration was amazing! Mr. Cohen does an excellent job and I will definitely look for more books that he has narrated. And, I hope that Mr. Deskins continues to write more adventures for Leo.
I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook by the narrator and chose to review it.
Leo Malone is a snarky, unfeeling bastard of a vampire who happens to be a PI. When he is hired by two separate clients to find one missing werewolf, he figures he might as well cash in on the windfall.
In his search for the werewolf, he encounters a group of rogue vampires, mafia bosses, and an unexpected love interest. My favorite character was Marvin, a streetwise (in his own mind) computer hacker hired by Leo to find information. The exchanges between Marvin (known only by himself as Mo Money) and Leo are priceless!
I loved the writing, the story and the narration was amazing! Mr. Cohen does an excellent job and I will definitely look for more books that he has narrated. And, I hope that Mr. Deskins continues to write more adventures for Leo.
I was given the chance to listen to this audiobook by the narrator and chose to review it.
December 26, 2017
Leo Malone is hired to find a missing werewolf by his daughter. This same werewolf is an accountant to a mob boss, who contacts Leo to also find the missing werewolf. Being paid twice for the same job suits Leo fine and he accepts. But he didn't realise what an undertaking this would be. In his quest to find answers, Leo encounters rogue vampires, more mobsters and even a love interest. But add in the fact that dead bodies are turning up that seem to be ravaged by werewolves and all evidence points to the missing were! Is this a case of a were gone rogue too, or something else?
This was all sorts of awesome!! I listened to this while I was sick and it cheered me up and made me laugh out loud. I absolutely loved Leo. He is an antihero and a jerk at times, but his devil may care attitude was what made him so lovable. He may also be a hardass but he is a man of his word and has a sense of righteousness that appealed to me. It also helped that he was so funny and witty, especially with "Mo Money", the hilarious hacker Marvin.
The plot was fast paced and action packed. There was mystery, intrigue and plenty of fight scenes, and I few through the book. I also loved finding out about the Vampire dynamics and how they work.
In all, this was a fun, entertaining read. It was well written and developed and I so can't wait to read the second book in the series!!!
This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Steven Jay Cohen and I really enjoyed his narration. He was easy to listen to and read this well. He gave each of the characters their own personality and really brought Leo to life!! I will have to check out more by him.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
This was all sorts of awesome!! I listened to this while I was sick and it cheered me up and made me laugh out loud. I absolutely loved Leo. He is an antihero and a jerk at times, but his devil may care attitude was what made him so lovable. He may also be a hardass but he is a man of his word and has a sense of righteousness that appealed to me. It also helped that he was so funny and witty, especially with "Mo Money", the hilarious hacker Marvin.
The plot was fast paced and action packed. There was mystery, intrigue and plenty of fight scenes, and I few through the book. I also loved finding out about the Vampire dynamics and how they work.
In all, this was a fun, entertaining read. It was well written and developed and I so can't wait to read the second book in the series!!!
This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Steven Jay Cohen and I really enjoyed his narration. He was easy to listen to and read this well. He gave each of the characters their own personality and really brought Leo to life!! I will have to check out more by him.
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
March 7, 2017
Just finished reading “Shrouds of Darkness (Brooklyn Shadows Book 1) by Brock Deskins. I enjoyed this book on many different levels. The genre is a bit hard to pin down, but if I were to attempt to describe it, I’d say it’s Pulp Horrory/Noir/Paranormal. This is a genre all in it’s own category as it really doesn’t fit into the usual mainstream Urban Fantasy mold. I cannot remember the last time I laughed out loud while reading a book. The characters, and especially the main character Leo (don’t call me Leonard) Malone is quite the unusual vampire character. PI Vampire Leo’s interaction with his techno wizard Marvin, but his crew call him Mo’ Money is brilliant, hysterical and off the charts funny. If you like a little mystery, action thriller mixed with paranormal along with vampires, werewolves and gangsters you will love this read. This is my first read by Brock Deskins, but will not be my last. I look forward to the continued stories in this series.
Synopsis (from cover): Leo Malone: Vampire, bodyguard, Private detective, and all around pain in the ass is hired to find a client's father who has gone missing, but not only is the missing man an accountant for the mob, he is a full-blooded werewolf.
What seems to be a simple case of a werewolf run amok turns into a massive conspiracy that threatens to reveal the existence of both species as the brutally dismembered bodies of humans begin turning up all around
Synopsis (from cover): Leo Malone: Vampire, bodyguard, Private detective, and all around pain in the ass is hired to find a client's father who has gone missing, but not only is the missing man an accountant for the mob, he is a full-blooded werewolf.
What seems to be a simple case of a werewolf run amok turns into a massive conspiracy that threatens to reveal the existence of both species as the brutally dismembered bodies of humans begin turning up all around
September 27, 2020
http://booknest.eu/reviews/charles/20...
I love vampire books. I especially love urban fantasy vampire books. This is partially due to how much I adored the Vampire: The Masquerade during my teenage years. So, I was all in for Brock Deskin's Brooklyn Shadows series that follow the adventures of undead detective Leo. Leo is a lovably repulsive character. A bit like Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai, he's stuck a few decades behind the times and compensates for it by being as big a jerk to people as humanly possible. Fans of series like the Dresden Files and the Hellequin Chronicles will probably find this book enjoyable.
The premise is a werewolf accountant who does work for the mob in New York finds himself kidnapped by forces unknown. Leo is hired by the werewolf's daughter to track him down and see if he's alive or dead. This proves problematic as while Leo is a decent enough detective, he's managed to burn every single bridge he's made in the supernatural community. The vampires of the Enclave loathe him as a failed Sheriff, the werewolves despise him as a vampire killer, and the police believe he's a multiple mass murdering hitman [which is true from a certain point of view].
The primary appeal of the story is watching Leo stumble around, offending people left and right in hopes that they let slip something useful to his investigation. What follows is a decent enough mystery that involves the mysterious "Cure" for vampirism that was long ago abandoned as unusually toxic, a sudden upswing in the vampire population of New York, attacks on the mob by forces unknown, and the planned installation of a London-esque CCTV network across the city.
Part of what makes the story work is Leo actively shoots himself in the foot repeatedly by not caring about anything other than himself. It takes awhile for him to put the pieces together because he ignores anything that doesn't directly relate to his case. He's really kind of a cruddy detective as his attitude, cynicism, and nihilism prevent him from developing much in the way of contacts. He has a couple of in a hacker named Mo Money (a self-granted nickname that Leo mocks repeatedly), a morgue attendant, and an incredibly effective lawyer but these are the exceptions instead of the rule.
I think my favorite character of the book is the police office Castillo. Castillo is basically the anti-Murphy for Dresden File fans. She's a dedicated hard-working female police officer absolutely set against our protagonist who seems to get away with murder, literally, on a regular basis. I actually support these two getting together and think it would be a spicy romance. Leo's actual girlfriend, Katherine, is interesting enough but doesn't have the same level of spark.
Does this book have any flaws? Eh, I found it a little weird that we opened up with a perspective other than Leo's at the start of the book despite this being in first person. I also feel like we could have referenced Leo's past with so many characters more. As a vampire, I feel like he would have some more interesting history with various characters. Still, this is a minor set of issues overall and didn't impact my enjoyment much.
In conclusion, I feel this is a solid and entertaining urban fantasy/horror adventure novel. Leo is an antihero that will be an acquired taste to some readers but I personally loved him. I recommend picking up the audiobook novel in particular since the narrator does a fantastic job.
I love vampire books. I especially love urban fantasy vampire books. This is partially due to how much I adored the Vampire: The Masquerade during my teenage years. So, I was all in for Brock Deskin's Brooklyn Shadows series that follow the adventures of undead detective Leo. Leo is a lovably repulsive character. A bit like Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai, he's stuck a few decades behind the times and compensates for it by being as big a jerk to people as humanly possible. Fans of series like the Dresden Files and the Hellequin Chronicles will probably find this book enjoyable.
The premise is a werewolf accountant who does work for the mob in New York finds himself kidnapped by forces unknown. Leo is hired by the werewolf's daughter to track him down and see if he's alive or dead. This proves problematic as while Leo is a decent enough detective, he's managed to burn every single bridge he's made in the supernatural community. The vampires of the Enclave loathe him as a failed Sheriff, the werewolves despise him as a vampire killer, and the police believe he's a multiple mass murdering hitman [which is true from a certain point of view].
The primary appeal of the story is watching Leo stumble around, offending people left and right in hopes that they let slip something useful to his investigation. What follows is a decent enough mystery that involves the mysterious "Cure" for vampirism that was long ago abandoned as unusually toxic, a sudden upswing in the vampire population of New York, attacks on the mob by forces unknown, and the planned installation of a London-esque CCTV network across the city.
Part of what makes the story work is Leo actively shoots himself in the foot repeatedly by not caring about anything other than himself. It takes awhile for him to put the pieces together because he ignores anything that doesn't directly relate to his case. He's really kind of a cruddy detective as his attitude, cynicism, and nihilism prevent him from developing much in the way of contacts. He has a couple of in a hacker named Mo Money (a self-granted nickname that Leo mocks repeatedly), a morgue attendant, and an incredibly effective lawyer but these are the exceptions instead of the rule.
I think my favorite character of the book is the police office Castillo. Castillo is basically the anti-Murphy for Dresden File fans. She's a dedicated hard-working female police officer absolutely set against our protagonist who seems to get away with murder, literally, on a regular basis. I actually support these two getting together and think it would be a spicy romance. Leo's actual girlfriend, Katherine, is interesting enough but doesn't have the same level of spark.
Does this book have any flaws? Eh, I found it a little weird that we opened up with a perspective other than Leo's at the start of the book despite this being in first person. I also feel like we could have referenced Leo's past with so many characters more. As a vampire, I feel like he would have some more interesting history with various characters. Still, this is a minor set of issues overall and didn't impact my enjoyment much.
In conclusion, I feel this is a solid and entertaining urban fantasy/horror adventure novel. Leo is an antihero that will be an acquired taste to some readers but I personally loved him. I recommend picking up the audiobook novel in particular since the narrator does a fantastic job.
January 2, 2018
This is not your usual tale of vampires verses werewolves. I found it to be a cleverly designed mystery/thriller where a vampire P.I. stumbles into a territorial power struggle between vampires and the Mafia. The vampires use the werewolves as a distraction and patsy. Leo Malone the P.I. is hired by both sides of the conflict to find the same patsy and determine exactly what the heck is going on. Leo’s character is witty and the dialog comical. I found myself laughing out loud several times. The story moves along quickly, the characters well done and the narration is excellent. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from Mr. Deskins. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
May 21, 2015
OUTSTANDING!!!!!
Fantastic read, a wild ride from the very start. Well developed characters, professionally done, easy to get lost in the pages.
I am hoping for a sequel, many many more sequels. The storyline is addictive. Sad to come to the ending.....
Fantastic read, a wild ride from the very start. Well developed characters, professionally done, easy to get lost in the pages.
I am hoping for a sequel, many many more sequels. The storyline is addictive. Sad to come to the ending.....
March 19, 2016
Loved it
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't get enough. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling the whole time. Leo was a great character with a bad attitude. The storyline and plot was different and I was certainly entertained.
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't get enough. I found myself laughing out loud and smiling the whole time. Leo was a great character with a bad attitude. The storyline and plot was different and I was certainly entertained.
December 9, 2017
As the writer I am my harshest critic, but I really enjoyed writing this book and I think almost everyone that like a darkly humorous, rude, obnoxious, and violent vampire will enjoy reading it.
October 4, 2014
Great black humor loved it
great black humor, loved it. it's hard to find good vampire reads, but this is definitely. one. I hope to see more.
great black humor, loved it. it's hard to find good vampire reads, but this is definitely. one. I hope to see more.
April 9, 2018
With the slew of vampire urban fantasy that has hit the shelves in recent years, from romance with vampires to gritty urban grimdark, I wasn't sure where this would fit into that group. While the idea of a vampire detective isn't new, Brock Deskins' Leo Malone is definitely a great character who brings an added dimension of humor and determination you don't see in a lot of this type of character.
When a mob accountant is accosted outside his office by a gang of rival thugs, things get hairy, literally, as he turns out to be a werewolf. That's bad, since supernaturals are supposed to keep it hidden, and shredding some gangsters isn't very subtle. The vampire leadership is quite keen and strict about keeping it hidden from the humans.
This brings Leo Malone onto the case when the accountants adult children hire Leo to find out what happened to their father. The case turns out to be much more complicated that its seems, Since it seems there are forces that don't want him found, and will do anything to keep him from being found. Leo's complicated relationship with the vampire Elders isn't helping, as they would rather see him dead if they could than anything else. As he delves further into the disappearance, he discovers a much larger conspiracy that that threatens not only his life but exposure of the supernatural community in general, which could have far reaching consequences for all the supernatural nations.
Like his other books, Shrouds is a character driven book. The urban setting is fun, and you get immersed in it, but the characters are where the action is at, especially Leo. His attitude towards life and the vampire nation in general really make him a sympathetic character. You really root for him, even as he snarks his way from one discovery to the next. The secondary characters are well fleshed out as well, and the plotting if fast paced and never lags.
Steven Jay Cohen does his usual excellent job of bringing the story and characters to life. His Leo voice may be my absolute favorite he does. Just the right amount of snark for the part. His narrative pace is spot on, and smoothly flows throughout the book. He is definitely a reason to consider getting the audio version.
When a mob accountant is accosted outside his office by a gang of rival thugs, things get hairy, literally, as he turns out to be a werewolf. That's bad, since supernaturals are supposed to keep it hidden, and shredding some gangsters isn't very subtle. The vampire leadership is quite keen and strict about keeping it hidden from the humans.
This brings Leo Malone onto the case when the accountants adult children hire Leo to find out what happened to their father. The case turns out to be much more complicated that its seems, Since it seems there are forces that don't want him found, and will do anything to keep him from being found. Leo's complicated relationship with the vampire Elders isn't helping, as they would rather see him dead if they could than anything else. As he delves further into the disappearance, he discovers a much larger conspiracy that that threatens not only his life but exposure of the supernatural community in general, which could have far reaching consequences for all the supernatural nations.
Like his other books, Shrouds is a character driven book. The urban setting is fun, and you get immersed in it, but the characters are where the action is at, especially Leo. His attitude towards life and the vampire nation in general really make him a sympathetic character. You really root for him, even as he snarks his way from one discovery to the next. The secondary characters are well fleshed out as well, and the plotting if fast paced and never lags.
Steven Jay Cohen does his usual excellent job of bringing the story and characters to life. His Leo voice may be my absolute favorite he does. Just the right amount of snark for the part. His narrative pace is spot on, and smoothly flows throughout the book. He is definitely a reason to consider getting the audio version.
December 25, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
Leo Malone, vampire and Private Detective, is hired to investigate the disappearance of a very well known werewolf, who works as an accountant for the mob. Leo is a badass investigator, and only plays by his rules. Looking for a werewolf is not is usual job, since vampires and werewolves are at oposite sides, but this investigation will be different than others in more than this aspect.
This urban fantasy was a great listen. Vampires and werewolves books are not among my favorites, but I really enjoyed this one. Leo’s personality and attitude reminded me a lot of Jonathan Shade, so I would recommend this book to Shade’s fans. Despite being a book in which the characters are vampires and werewolves, I don’t think I would categorize it as a vampires and werewolves book. There are vampires biting nor werewolves harassing. These two races are just used to reflect a balance that could be easily broken in the city, and give particular clues to Leo about this case.
It was an action packed novel with some violence and great dialogs. I especially enjoyed some of the conversations between Leo and Marvin, his nerd assistant, with some references to Doctor Who.
Steven Jay Cohen’s narration was one of the best things of this audiobook. He transmitted really well the character’s emotions and did a wonderful job interpreting all the characters. His voice is easy to the ear, and helps the listener to get immersed in the story.
I will definitely continue with this series. This first book was very entertaining and a charismatic main character is something that always gets me hooked.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
Leo Malone, vampire and Private Detective, is hired to investigate the disappearance of a very well known werewolf, who works as an accountant for the mob. Leo is a badass investigator, and only plays by his rules. Looking for a werewolf is not is usual job, since vampires and werewolves are at oposite sides, but this investigation will be different than others in more than this aspect.
This urban fantasy was a great listen. Vampires and werewolves books are not among my favorites, but I really enjoyed this one. Leo’s personality and attitude reminded me a lot of Jonathan Shade, so I would recommend this book to Shade’s fans. Despite being a book in which the characters are vampires and werewolves, I don’t think I would categorize it as a vampires and werewolves book. There are vampires biting nor werewolves harassing. These two races are just used to reflect a balance that could be easily broken in the city, and give particular clues to Leo about this case.
It was an action packed novel with some violence and great dialogs. I especially enjoyed some of the conversations between Leo and Marvin, his nerd assistant, with some references to Doctor Who.
Steven Jay Cohen’s narration was one of the best things of this audiobook. He transmitted really well the character’s emotions and did a wonderful job interpreting all the characters. His voice is easy to the ear, and helps the listener to get immersed in the story.
I will definitely continue with this series. This first book was very entertaining and a charismatic main character is something that always gets me hooked.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2017
I listened to the audiobook so I'll start with narration.
Narration:
The Narration of this book is pretty good. I haven't listened to this narrator before, but his voice is easy to listen to, and does a good job differentiating the protagonist from the supporting cast. I wouldn't mind listening to other books narrated by him.
Story:
This book didn't take long for me to get into. The opening sequence is filled with action and the author does a good job of teaching us about the world he's created via the actions of his characters and what is happening around them.
This is also the first Vampire book I can think of where the protagonist is a private investigator. It seems like there should be others, but I can't recall them so kudos to the author for taking the genre in a new direction. I also like that the main character is seemingly aware of the modern genre, as well as set in his ways. This seems like a far more realistic take on immortality than books that seem to have either completely modern vampires, or those that have been so out of touch for the last 30 years that they don't know what a cell phone is.
All in all there's not much to complain about. If you like vampire stories, you should like this book. There's lots of action, and a mystery that unfolds little by little from start to finish. There also aren't any wasted scenes as each one has a logical connection to those that follow. Overall it's a good listen. I'd listen to the second book.
Narration:
The Narration of this book is pretty good. I haven't listened to this narrator before, but his voice is easy to listen to, and does a good job differentiating the protagonist from the supporting cast. I wouldn't mind listening to other books narrated by him.
Story:
This book didn't take long for me to get into. The opening sequence is filled with action and the author does a good job of teaching us about the world he's created via the actions of his characters and what is happening around them.
This is also the first Vampire book I can think of where the protagonist is a private investigator. It seems like there should be others, but I can't recall them so kudos to the author for taking the genre in a new direction. I also like that the main character is seemingly aware of the modern genre, as well as set in his ways. This seems like a far more realistic take on immortality than books that seem to have either completely modern vampires, or those that have been so out of touch for the last 30 years that they don't know what a cell phone is.
All in all there's not much to complain about. If you like vampire stories, you should like this book. There's lots of action, and a mystery that unfolds little by little from start to finish. There also aren't any wasted scenes as each one has a logical connection to those that follow. Overall it's a good listen. I'd listen to the second book.
January 9, 2018
Supernatural Private Eye
A snarky supernatural detective is not a particularly new premise, but the author does a very good job of making both him and the story an interesting one.
The story starts out as a relatively simple one with the PI in question, the vampire Leo Malone, being hired to investigate the disappearance of a werewolf, but matters escalate quite quickly as this turns out to only be one part of a larger plot that causes a lot of problems for our protagonist even if he is being paid by more than one interested party to investigate it.
The author did a very good job of quickly fleshing out the world and the rules for the supernatural inhabitants in it while also keeping the action moving along at a frantic pace without it seeming too rushed at any point either.
I have not listened to anything else that this narrator has done before, but I found his performance to be a nice enhancement of the story with him nicely bringing the sarcastic and somewhat disconnected from humanity hero to life, while also giving distinct voices to the supporting cast.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be looking out for subsequent ones in the series and others from the same author.
[I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
A snarky supernatural detective is not a particularly new premise, but the author does a very good job of making both him and the story an interesting one.
The story starts out as a relatively simple one with the PI in question, the vampire Leo Malone, being hired to investigate the disappearance of a werewolf, but matters escalate quite quickly as this turns out to only be one part of a larger plot that causes a lot of problems for our protagonist even if he is being paid by more than one interested party to investigate it.
The author did a very good job of quickly fleshing out the world and the rules for the supernatural inhabitants in it while also keeping the action moving along at a frantic pace without it seeming too rushed at any point either.
I have not listened to anything else that this narrator has done before, but I found his performance to be a nice enhancement of the story with him nicely bringing the sarcastic and somewhat disconnected from humanity hero to life, while also giving distinct voices to the supporting cast.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be looking out for subsequent ones in the series and others from the same author.
[I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
April 5, 2019
Disclaimer.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
I had earlier read the second book of this series, without having read this first book first. The author was kind enough to send me this first book afterwards. Now that I've read this one, I understand the second book's references. Glad about that.
Leo is as fabulous as I remember him from book 2, if not more. This character is written so well that you feel like you've known him in your personal life. He's quirky, sarcastic and a lot of fun.
In this debut installment, we get vampires, werewolves and mobsters. There's lot of suspense and drama, with humor sprinkled abundantly. The pacing is excellent and keeps you interested in the story progression.
I'm now looking forward to the book 3.
What I disliked about the book -
Nothing specific that I can think of.
Narration -
Narration by Steven Jay Cohen was a perfect match for the content. Every character got a distinct voice and the atmosphere it built was immersive.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
I had earlier read the second book of this series, without having read this first book first. The author was kind enough to send me this first book afterwards. Now that I've read this one, I understand the second book's references. Glad about that.
Leo is as fabulous as I remember him from book 2, if not more. This character is written so well that you feel like you've known him in your personal life. He's quirky, sarcastic and a lot of fun.
In this debut installment, we get vampires, werewolves and mobsters. There's lot of suspense and drama, with humor sprinkled abundantly. The pacing is excellent and keeps you interested in the story progression.
I'm now looking forward to the book 3.
What I disliked about the book -
Nothing specific that I can think of.
Narration -
Narration by Steven Jay Cohen was a perfect match for the content. Every character got a distinct voice and the atmosphere it built was immersive.
July 3, 2024
I’m a Brooklyn-born fan of sci-fi and horror (among other things), and the description seemed vaguely familiar but I couldn’t recall the exact details nor find the book in my Kindle library. Purchased and began reading, then remembered that I’d initially bought this ebook (the entire series actually) 8 or 9 years ago from the now defunct Books On Board ebook company. A great detective noir series set in a contemporary but alternative Brooklyn, populated with normal humans and supernatural entities such as vampires, werewolves. An enjoyable re-read, sucks to have to re-purchase on Amazon (but thanks anyway Amazon).
December 18, 2017
Audiobook review: Shrouds of Darkness is an interesting story of a vampire named Leo who works as a P.I. Leo can be a total jerk and definitely has some very strong opinions about other paranormal species but even he can surprise himself when faced with a beautiful D.A. werewolf. Leo is taken on a mystery ride of full of twists, turns, death threats, and an interesting storyline. The narrator did a fantastic job providing individual voices and appropriate tone inflections! I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 5, 2018
I read/listened to this book on Audible. Leo the vampire is an abrasive asshole but does have his own moral code. He uncovers a multilevel conspiracy among New York’s vamp groups when he is asked to investigate the disappearance of a werewolf. The book starts a little slow but once it gets going, it’s entertaining and fast-paced. I appreciated the wit and humor in the book, especially the banter between Leo and the computer guy Marvin. The narrator does a great job of portraying Leo’s character.
June 25, 2020
I am a Brooklyn-born fan of sci-fi, horror, and noir mysteries, and the description was familiar but I couldn’t recall the details or find the book in my eBook library. Purchased and began reading, then recalled that I’d bought this entire ebook series 8 or 9 years ago from the now defunct Books On Board ebook company. A great detective noir series set in a contemporary alternative Brooklyn populated with normal humans and vampire & werewolf supernatural entities. A very enjoyable and entertaining re-read.
March 31, 2018
I read/listened to this book via Audible, I loved it. The narrator did an amazing job at telling the story. He made brought out the attitude of Leo. This read was a little out of what I normally read but I was very pleased with the story. The story line and character build are both very strong. Looking forward to the next installment.
July 10, 2020
Bloody hell what a ride.. loved it a slightly bad ass angel and buffy (If the main character was a vampire) this really is my cuppa tea. Loved every action packed page and the snipping was great though the cop is a bit too psychotic.
December 17, 2017
Interesting
This story is an interesting mix of PI and Blade. I think it makes a great mix. The ending kind of leaves you hanging for more. Not bad.
This story is an interesting mix of PI and Blade. I think it makes a great mix. The ending kind of leaves you hanging for more. Not bad.
February 8, 2018
Found this on Instafreebie.
Violent , fast paced and funny vampire novel. Read it in one sitting. First of a series, I will be buying the rest.
Violent , fast paced and funny vampire novel. Read it in one sitting. First of a series, I will be buying the rest.
March 28, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
April 10, 2012
In the words of Artie Johnson, "very interesting."
I will admit, it took a few chapters before the book truly drew me in. It was worth the wait. There are a host of characters the author needs to introduce and lay the ground work. With a little tweaking the beginning will be easier to follow, but the slow start doesn't detract from the premise.
This could fall in the category of Alistair McLean or Mickey Spillane. Why? It is a good quick read and filled with non-stop action. Sometimes the action is overwhelming and requires a small break to regroup and digest what is going on.
Dateline:Current. The Council of Vampires is trying to obtain a very lucrative surveillance contract to keep financing their secret order. What is not know is in order to make sure the contract is obtained, a power struggle is occurring in the hierarchy. Enter our hero (?) Leo Malone. Leo is a loner to say the least. He was banned as a sheriff for behavior unbecoming a (vampire) sheriff. He makes his living freelancing to anyone with pockets deep enough to keep his wallet full, well at least partially filled. Leo has some very expensive hobbies. His main client is a portly gentlemen, Yuri Popolovich-head of the Russian Mafia in the states. Unbeknownst to his client, Yuri is going to be introduced to the real underworld of New York City.
That's a good start but there are many more main players to be contended with: a fiery disturbed female cop Castillo (who hates Leo) that will do anything to bring Leo up on charges, his computer genius(wanna be street guy) Marvin, a restless werewolf enclave, and the sultry Katherine Goldstein.
The disappearancee of one Marty Goldstein (accountant to the mob and a shape shifter) is attacked and then mysteriouslydisappears.. The search for Martin is going to lead to a trail of blood, death, destruction and mayhem through the streets of New York as Leo is hired by the mob, the council and Martin's daughter to find him. What a great deal! Getting hired by three firms for one job. The thought does not escape Leo.
The book is packed with sarcasm and humor that draws you into the characters. At times (like the action) it is a bit over done, but it is well warranted. You either love or hate the characters Mr. Deskin has created.
In conclusion, I will be picking up another one of Mr. Deskin's books. A job and story well done.
September 14, 2016
Pretty nice start.
Pretty good vampire novel. Some of the story is well worn, but the main character has a ton of room for exploration in future entries. P.I. vampire Leo Malone is hard bitten,driven and very irreverent. I like him a lot and look forward to following him in future adventures centered in super natural NYC.
Pretty good vampire novel. Some of the story is well worn, but the main character has a ton of room for exploration in future entries. P.I. vampire Leo Malone is hard bitten,driven and very irreverent. I like him a lot and look forward to following him in future adventures centered in super natural NYC.
December 25, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed this story line.
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