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Black Knight Chronicles #1
Hard Day's Knight
Children are missing.
The police are stumped.
Halloween is coming, with an ancient evil on the horizon.
The vampires are the good guys.
This is not your ordinary fall weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired to save a client from being cursed for all eternity, but end up in a bigger mess than they ever imagined.
Suddenly trapped in the middle of a serial kidnapping case, Jimmy and Greg uncover a plot to bring forth an ancient evil. Soon, they've enlisted the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, a fallen angel and a strip club proprietor to save the world. This unlikely band of heroes battles zombies, witches, neuroses and sunburn while cracking jokes and looking for the perfect bag of O-negative.
The police are stumped.
Halloween is coming, with an ancient evil on the horizon.
The vampires are the good guys.
This is not your ordinary fall weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired to save a client from being cursed for all eternity, but end up in a bigger mess than they ever imagined.
Suddenly trapped in the middle of a serial kidnapping case, Jimmy and Greg uncover a plot to bring forth an ancient evil. Soon, they've enlisted the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, a fallen angel and a strip club proprietor to save the world. This unlikely band of heroes battles zombies, witches, neuroses and sunburn while cracking jokes and looking for the perfect bag of O-negative.
198 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2010
105 people are currently reading
1744 people want to read
About the author
John G. Hartness
191 books592 followersJohn G. Hartness is a teller of tales, a righter of wrong, defender of ladies’ virtues, and some people call him Maurice, for he speaks of the pompatus of love.
He is also the award-winning author of the urban fantasy series The Black Knight Chronicles (Bell Bridge Books), the Bubba the Monster Hunter comedic horror series, the Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter dark fantasy series, and many other projects.
In 2016, John teamed up with a pair of other publishing industry ne’er-do-wells and founded Falstaff Books, a small press dedicated to publishing the best of genre fictions “misfit toys.”
In his copious free time John enjoys long walks on the beach, rescuing kittens from trees and playing Magic: the Gathering.
For free short stories and to follow his activities and appearances on his newsletter, follow this link - http://eepurl.com/fV4In
He is also the award-winning author of the urban fantasy series The Black Knight Chronicles (Bell Bridge Books), the Bubba the Monster Hunter comedic horror series, the Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter dark fantasy series, and many other projects.
In 2016, John teamed up with a pair of other publishing industry ne’er-do-wells and founded Falstaff Books, a small press dedicated to publishing the best of genre fictions “misfit toys.”
In his copious free time John enjoys long walks on the beach, rescuing kittens from trees and playing Magic: the Gathering.
For free short stories and to follow his activities and appearances on his newsletter, follow this link - http://eepurl.com/fV4In
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
August 11, 2011
More than anything, this book reminds me of a teenage boy; gawky, awkward, and the wispy remnants of childhood sweetness around the edges. Maybe a few spots on his face, and a tendency to cover seriousness with annoying flippancy, but with the potential to become something interesting in a few years.
The mystery driving the story is mediocre; it is a fairly predictable case of possession and summoning. It's been used in quite a few urban fantasy books (both detective and a couple of PNR) and there's nothing that makes it stand out in HDK. What's slightly unusual is the narrator and his best buddy are a couple of "average Joe" vampires who retain a lot of their humanity. 'Humanity,' that is shown in a tendency to play Xbox in their boxers, constantly engage in repartee, and basically live in a bachelor pad strewn with dirty clothes. One has delusions of heroism, displays a tendency to wrap his pudgy body in spandex and an utility belt, and is rather sweet in his earnestness. Harness has the witty banter down perfectly, but while I appreciate humor and the occasional running joke, these two banter all the time, both with each other and within the narrator's description. Fun, if you want a book that isn't particularly serious or dark--think Robert Asprin's Myth series--and without a lot of tension. It definitely made me laugh a time or three.
There are still a few lumps and bumps in the plot, particularly as it pertains to the investigating female detective. She seems obsessed with placing James in handcuffs with little provocation within minutes of meeting him, and the ploy to involve aid the guys' involvement in the case is pretty thin. Her instincts are right, however, as James isn't a particularly law-abiding vampire. Here too he displays a teenage-only level of scariness--mostly deception, robbery and vandalism.
There's a feeble attempt to develop some romantic potential with the detective, but Lilith is a much more interesting and believably created lust interest. The other side character that is interesting is Phil, the fallen angel. The role and resolution he plays in the plot is very satisfying.
The structure of the book is unusual, with some of the longest exposition-type character background being given in the end as everyone prepares for battle. That was a new take for me in storytelling, which I appreciated, but I'm not sure that it worked particularly well. It was kind of pace-destructive to be giving background on turning into a vampire before heading into conflict.
Overall, I'll put the next book in my TBR list, but will likely look for it at the library.
The mystery driving the story is mediocre; it is a fairly predictable case of possession and summoning. It's been used in quite a few urban fantasy books (both detective and a couple of PNR) and there's nothing that makes it stand out in HDK. What's slightly unusual is the narrator and his best buddy are a couple of "average Joe" vampires who retain a lot of their humanity. 'Humanity,' that is shown in a tendency to play Xbox in their boxers, constantly engage in repartee, and basically live in a bachelor pad strewn with dirty clothes. One has delusions of heroism, displays a tendency to wrap his pudgy body in spandex and an utility belt, and is rather sweet in his earnestness. Harness has the witty banter down perfectly, but while I appreciate humor and the occasional running joke, these two banter all the time, both with each other and within the narrator's description. Fun, if you want a book that isn't particularly serious or dark--think Robert Asprin's Myth series--and without a lot of tension. It definitely made me laugh a time or three.
There are still a few lumps and bumps in the plot, particularly as it pertains to the investigating female detective. She seems obsessed with placing James in handcuffs with little provocation within minutes of meeting him, and the ploy to involve aid the guys' involvement in the case is pretty thin. Her instincts are right, however, as James isn't a particularly law-abiding vampire. Here too he displays a teenage-only level of scariness--mostly deception, robbery and vandalism.
There's a feeble attempt to develop some romantic potential with the detective, but Lilith is a much more interesting and believably created lust interest. The other side character that is interesting is Phil, the fallen angel. The role and resolution he plays in the plot is very satisfying.
The structure of the book is unusual, with some of the longest exposition-type character background being given in the end as everyone prepares for battle. That was a new take for me in storytelling, which I appreciated, but I'm not sure that it worked particularly well. It was kind of pace-destructive to be giving background on turning into a vampire before heading into conflict.
Overall, I'll put the next book in my TBR list, but will likely look for it at the library.
October 28, 2012
Wow.
First off I feel there are two pertinent pieces of information I must share for this review. First, I love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files; it's my absolute favorite series and within the series is my favorite book. Secondly, I really am on the verge of hating vampires. I think they are overused and have become glorified sex obsessed humans in recent literature.
What's the point in knowing those two pieces of information? Well, the main characters in this book were vampires and I thought it [Hard Day's Knight] was on par with Butcher's Dresden Files. Now, that should give a bit of perspective on just how impressed I was with this novel.
I'm also moving the sequel to this onto my "release day read" list and on said day I will probably gobble it up in one sitting like I did with this one.
What makes this book so great was the characters. It's a relatively small cast for this first book, but they were all great. James Black, the character who's [whom?] we read the book through, is just plain awesome. Ya know, I've read so many urban fantasy novels and I'll keep reading them, but one of the main problems I see in these books is that the protagonist is always made out to be a badass. The authors go on and on about how awesome their character is and why - usually because of some clothing or weapons they carry or some traumatic past experience, but in the end it's always rubbish. Their characters are supposed to be these great, just plain ol' badasses, but they never are. This is where John Hartness excels with his characters. He doesn't need to talk about how awesome they are describe every pain staking detail about them, he let's their actions and their words speak for them. What Hartness has created here, is a genuine, monster ass-kicking badass.
His partner, Greg Knightwood, is equally awesome. He's a goofy, lovable vampire that you'll not expect much from at first, but will grow to really enjoy. He is definitely a great match for James Black. In fact, he's more than the typical sidekick and doesn't suffer from being left out of the spotlight. We've also got their friend Mike the priest, Phil the fallen angel, Lilith the ultimate feminist, and Sabrina the straight as a razor's edge detective. So that's the cast of the good guys, or the mostly good guys, and they seem like types of characters used before you say? Well, yes, we've seen these types of characters before, but we've seen every character type before. The different here is that Hartness has managed to actually capture what's great about them and make the characters feel real. They're not just forced cliches an author feels he or she needs to include in their book. They are real characters.
As for the story, it's your hero saving the day by having his butt kicked and then proceeding to kick some butt himself. It's simple, but effective and doesn't suffer from a convoluted plot or forced cliches. It's just good fun. What's also nice is that there were little things here and there that feel like hints of what could come in later stories. Mr Hartness has done what many authors have forgotten about - foreshadowing. He didn't try to throw every single idea into one book, but opted to show you that he had more ideas ready. Another great thing about the story, or characters?, was that there was stupidly, out of place sex scene thrown in for kicks. I love an author that understands that sex does not make for a more interesting book. I can't begin to describe how happy I was to not have to read about sex. Oh, and no true love at first site BS in this novel either.
Oh there's even a small appearance by God and ya know what? It's not groan worthy and is actually very touching - and that's coming from an atheist.
Only bad thing I can say about the book is that there were a few noticeable errors in the grammar department. I would have also liked to see a little less of the game references. Don't get me wrong, I love my 360, but for some reason I just didn't want to read about it. Maybe it's because it was just some of the largest gaming series listed... a lesser known title here or there would have me believing the guys actually played it.
First off I feel there are two pertinent pieces of information I must share for this review. First, I love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files; it's my absolute favorite series and within the series is my favorite book. Secondly, I really am on the verge of hating vampires. I think they are overused and have become glorified sex obsessed humans in recent literature.
What's the point in knowing those two pieces of information? Well, the main characters in this book were vampires and I thought it [Hard Day's Knight] was on par with Butcher's Dresden Files. Now, that should give a bit of perspective on just how impressed I was with this novel.
I'm also moving the sequel to this onto my "release day read" list and on said day I will probably gobble it up in one sitting like I did with this one.
What makes this book so great was the characters. It's a relatively small cast for this first book, but they were all great. James Black, the character who's [whom?] we read the book through, is just plain awesome. Ya know, I've read so many urban fantasy novels and I'll keep reading them, but one of the main problems I see in these books is that the protagonist is always made out to be a badass. The authors go on and on about how awesome their character is and why - usually because of some clothing or weapons they carry or some traumatic past experience, but in the end it's always rubbish. Their characters are supposed to be these great, just plain ol' badasses, but they never are. This is where John Hartness excels with his characters. He doesn't need to talk about how awesome they are describe every pain staking detail about them, he let's their actions and their words speak for them. What Hartness has created here, is a genuine, monster ass-kicking badass.
His partner, Greg Knightwood, is equally awesome. He's a goofy, lovable vampire that you'll not expect much from at first, but will grow to really enjoy. He is definitely a great match for James Black. In fact, he's more than the typical sidekick and doesn't suffer from being left out of the spotlight. We've also got their friend Mike the priest, Phil the fallen angel, Lilith the ultimate feminist, and Sabrina the straight as a razor's edge detective. So that's the cast of the good guys, or the mostly good guys, and they seem like types of characters used before you say? Well, yes, we've seen these types of characters before, but we've seen every character type before. The different here is that Hartness has managed to actually capture what's great about them and make the characters feel real. They're not just forced cliches an author feels he or she needs to include in their book. They are real characters.
As for the story, it's your hero saving the day by having his butt kicked and then proceeding to kick some butt himself. It's simple, but effective and doesn't suffer from a convoluted plot or forced cliches. It's just good fun. What's also nice is that there were little things here and there that feel like hints of what could come in later stories. Mr Hartness has done what many authors have forgotten about - foreshadowing. He didn't try to throw every single idea into one book, but opted to show you that he had more ideas ready. Another great thing about the story, or characters?, was that there was stupidly, out of place sex scene thrown in for kicks. I love an author that understands that sex does not make for a more interesting book. I can't begin to describe how happy I was to not have to read about sex. Oh, and no true love at first site BS in this novel either.
Oh there's even a small appearance by God and ya know what? It's not groan worthy and is actually very touching - and that's coming from an atheist.
Only bad thing I can say about the book is that there were a few noticeable errors in the grammar department. I would have also liked to see a little less of the game references. Don't get me wrong, I love my 360, but for some reason I just didn't want to read about it. Maybe it's because it was just some of the largest gaming series listed... a lesser known title here or there would have me believing the guys actually played it.
March 16, 2016
I read this book in between two gruesome crime thrillers and it did the trick to lighten the day. A silly paranormal with some corny characters. All in all not bad, so if your looking for a fun paranormal series this may be for you. Nice Vampires and witches.
March 4, 2016
Wow, what a fun read...what the author lost me on with Xbox game geekiness he gained by tossing in a plethora of dorky themes not to mention a great running gag.
August 9, 2022
I'm a sucker for sarcasm. And smart-asses. And heroes who get the daylights pasted out of themselves for a good cause. And nerds, especially nerds. Sarcastic smart-ass nerdy vampires who get the daylights pasted out of themselves for a good cause with a penchant for Maddon and Halo? I never stood a chance.
I’m still not sure how he did it. It’s hard to Pidgeon-hole the vibe. Lighter than most Urban Fiction. Certainly, less gritty and less graphic. While keeping the drama front and center, and the fists flying. Is there such as thing as UF Lite?
I can’t help but draw a comparison between Jimmy Black, “Hard Day’s Knight” Main character and Harry Dresden. Jimmy is snakry, sarcastic, can’t catch a break and cannot sit idly by while people are in trouble. If Butcher’s work was more toward the comedic end of the spectrum– well, it would be nothing like this, but every time Jimmy opens his mouth I hear Harry Dresden. And I flat out loved it. I look forward to getting to know Jimmy and his partner Greg a whole lot better.
I’m still not sure how he did it. It’s hard to Pidgeon-hole the vibe. Lighter than most Urban Fiction. Certainly, less gritty and less graphic. While keeping the drama front and center, and the fists flying. Is there such as thing as UF Lite?
I can’t help but draw a comparison between Jimmy Black, “Hard Day’s Knight” Main character and Harry Dresden. Jimmy is snakry, sarcastic, can’t catch a break and cannot sit idly by while people are in trouble. If Butcher’s work was more toward the comedic end of the spectrum– well, it would be nothing like this, but every time Jimmy opens his mouth I hear Harry Dresden. And I flat out loved it. I look forward to getting to know Jimmy and his partner Greg a whole lot better.
August 12, 2011
First off, you have to respect a book and, by extension, an author who credits a series of amazing teachers in the dedication of the book. I'm just saying.
Second, one thing that the world needs more of (and I am not being sarcastic so do not look at me like that) is snarky vampires. The world of vampire books has a sad tendency to take itself very seriously and to be Seriously Unamused if others don't share that seriousness. Hard Day's Knight does not suffer from this affliction, and reading the story was an excellent way to pass time if I may say so myself.
Vampire Jimmy Black is having an unfortunately bad day when we first meet him. He's been abducted by an obnoxious weasel of a guy who's managed through bullying and general insensitivity to piss off a seriously powerful witch. The witch laid a death curse on him and his entire family, and Jimmy turns to his partner in robot detective business, Greg Knightwood, to mastermind an escape. The plot thickens as it becomes apparent that this isn't schoolyard heartache at all, but seriously bad news for everyone.
The dynamics between Jimmy, Greg, and their friend, Father Mike (they call him Dad) are awesome. They were friends in high school, and now they have a working relationship that includes trying to solve mysteries. They snark, they argue, they make fun of each other; every page was full of excellent one liners and I really enjoyed watching them get their digs in at one another. Take this gem, from a sparring match where the issue of Greg being a dork has just come up:
“Dude, you still wear Underoos. Your geek-fu is so much stronger than mine it’s ridiculous. You are the Mister Miyagi of geek-fu. You are the geek ninja. You are the first person in history to be granted a P.H.Geek from Oxdork University."
Love it! Jimmy and Greg's retelling of how they became vampires is my favorite "being turned into a vampire" backstory I've come across so far. As Jimmy and Greg barreled towards dealing with the bad guy and saving the day I couldn't help but get more excited as to how they would figure it all out, or hell, if they would figure it out.
People who take their vampire stories super seriously will probably develop a case of hurt butt over this story, but that just makes it better in my opinion. Anything that simultaneously lampoons a genre and celebrates it at the same time is excellent in my book.
This is the perfect summer book- smart, funny, snarky (have I mentioned this book is snarky?), and adventurous, with just enough self-reflection to keep things on track. We learn a lot about Jimmy, Greg, and Mike, and I was happy to learn that the second book, Back in Black, is already available so I can keep reading. It doesn't get better than that!
Second, one thing that the world needs more of (and I am not being sarcastic so do not look at me like that) is snarky vampires. The world of vampire books has a sad tendency to take itself very seriously and to be Seriously Unamused if others don't share that seriousness. Hard Day's Knight does not suffer from this affliction, and reading the story was an excellent way to pass time if I may say so myself.
Vampire Jimmy Black is having an unfortunately bad day when we first meet him. He's been abducted by an obnoxious weasel of a guy who's managed through bullying and general insensitivity to piss off a seriously powerful witch. The witch laid a death curse on him and his entire family, and Jimmy turns to his partner in robot detective business, Greg Knightwood, to mastermind an escape. The plot thickens as it becomes apparent that this isn't schoolyard heartache at all, but seriously bad news for everyone.
The dynamics between Jimmy, Greg, and their friend, Father Mike (they call him Dad) are awesome. They were friends in high school, and now they have a working relationship that includes trying to solve mysteries. They snark, they argue, they make fun of each other; every page was full of excellent one liners and I really enjoyed watching them get their digs in at one another. Take this gem, from a sparring match where the issue of Greg being a dork has just come up:
“Dude, you still wear Underoos. Your geek-fu is so much stronger than mine it’s ridiculous. You are the Mister Miyagi of geek-fu. You are the geek ninja. You are the first person in history to be granted a P.H.Geek from Oxdork University."
Love it! Jimmy and Greg's retelling of how they became vampires is my favorite "being turned into a vampire" backstory I've come across so far. As Jimmy and Greg barreled towards dealing with the bad guy and saving the day I couldn't help but get more excited as to how they would figure it all out, or hell, if they would figure it out.
People who take their vampire stories super seriously will probably develop a case of hurt butt over this story, but that just makes it better in my opinion. Anything that simultaneously lampoons a genre and celebrates it at the same time is excellent in my book.
This is the perfect summer book- smart, funny, snarky (have I mentioned this book is snarky?), and adventurous, with just enough self-reflection to keep things on track. We learn a lot about Jimmy, Greg, and Mike, and I was happy to learn that the second book, Back in Black, is already available so I can keep reading. It doesn't get better than that!
January 18, 2015
I really tried to like this book, I did. Even after the poor beginning, I checked the reviews and gave it a second chance. And a third, and a fourth...
The problems with this book are:
1. The characters - they are very poorly developed and Jimmy Black is not exactly likeable. He sounds like a teenager with pimples who has no clue what he's doing or why.
2. The language is basic and I have encountered more than a few weird grammar constructions. It might be just me, but "I had to eat something" sounds better for me than "I was going to have to eat something" (or something similar).
3. The female characters are just like some cartoon Barbies with no personality whatsoever. They don't seem to think for themselves, they change their mind without any logical explanation and so on. I recommend the writer to read Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.
4. The description is very, very poor. I recommend the writer to read "Description" by Monica Wood - I think it's a must. And I think a good description would manage to give the reader the 3D image that is completely absent from this book.
5. The dialogue is basic and it doesn't sound like real life dialogue. It gives you the impression of watching a B-movie. Again, I recommend the writer to read Dialogue by Gloria Kempton, it might help a lot.
6. The plot has no twist, no surprise, nothing... You have to torment the characters more, make them fight more, surprise them more. Take one of the villain and make him be the closest friend of the hero or somebody he knows, or... I don't know, something... Surprise me, don't make me watch a linear plot. "Plot" by Ansen Dibell is a very good book that might help. Also, Jim Butcher's blog about writing.
7. The main characters don't seam like real detectives, or vampires - just some teenagers who have no clue what they're doing and that's alright, BUT doesn't explain why the other characters allow their involvement in the whole story.
SPOILER AHEAD!
8. There are a lot of contradictions in the text, and I mean A LOT. In the beginning, Jimmy and Greg cannot defeat Belial in the girl's body. At the end, Greg defeats her all by himself in her very own body... which is supposed to give her A LOT more power. Again, Phil tells Jimmy that the forces that will awake are out of their league, THEN he defeats Baal almost on his own. And so on... I recommend the author to draft character sheets, plot sheets and to keep track of everything all the time.
This would be all, I guess. I do hope this review will be helpful for the writer because I am a future author myself and I rather have a bad review that helps me grow than a very positive one that doesn't tell me a thing about my style, my evolution and my chances of improving my writing.
The problems with this book are:
1. The characters - they are very poorly developed and Jimmy Black is not exactly likeable. He sounds like a teenager with pimples who has no clue what he's doing or why.
2. The language is basic and I have encountered more than a few weird grammar constructions. It might be just me, but "I had to eat something" sounds better for me than "I was going to have to eat something" (or something similar).
3. The female characters are just like some cartoon Barbies with no personality whatsoever. They don't seem to think for themselves, they change their mind without any logical explanation and so on. I recommend the writer to read Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card.
4. The description is very, very poor. I recommend the writer to read "Description" by Monica Wood - I think it's a must. And I think a good description would manage to give the reader the 3D image that is completely absent from this book.
5. The dialogue is basic and it doesn't sound like real life dialogue. It gives you the impression of watching a B-movie. Again, I recommend the writer to read Dialogue by Gloria Kempton, it might help a lot.
6. The plot has no twist, no surprise, nothing... You have to torment the characters more, make them fight more, surprise them more. Take one of the villain and make him be the closest friend of the hero or somebody he knows, or... I don't know, something... Surprise me, don't make me watch a linear plot. "Plot" by Ansen Dibell is a very good book that might help. Also, Jim Butcher's blog about writing.
7. The main characters don't seam like real detectives, or vampires - just some teenagers who have no clue what they're doing and that's alright, BUT doesn't explain why the other characters allow their involvement in the whole story.
SPOILER AHEAD!
8. There are a lot of contradictions in the text, and I mean A LOT. In the beginning, Jimmy and Greg cannot defeat Belial in the girl's body. At the end, Greg defeats her all by himself in her very own body... which is supposed to give her A LOT more power. Again, Phil tells Jimmy that the forces that will awake are out of their league, THEN he defeats Baal almost on his own. And so on... I recommend the author to draft character sheets, plot sheets and to keep track of everything all the time.
This would be all, I guess. I do hope this review will be helpful for the writer because I am a future author myself and I rather have a bad review that helps me grow than a very positive one that doesn't tell me a thing about my style, my evolution and my chances of improving my writing.
April 29, 2011
I seldom read self-published but this one was good enough to pass along to my agent. I liked it! (yeah so I was happily surprised)
June 23, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of urban fantasy who've been looking for something a bit less serious
Trigger Warnings: violence, children being kidnapped, and in danger, killing
My Thoughts: I came to urban fantasy through a series by Glen Cook, then Simon Green, and finally Jim Butcher, so I've been reading urban fantasy since before the genre was named. I love the stuff, so I was so excited to grab these books when I noticed them. I just love the fact that the vampires are the good guys in this book (although I have some friends for whom that will turn them away from the book).
Something I've been wanting to read for awhile is more-or-less silly urban fantasy, and that's what we have here. While there is a real Big Bad, at the same time Jimmy and Greg are more bumbling then heroic, and more antiheroic than heroic. They are trying to be the good guys, but Jimmy is willing to do pretty much whatever it takes to make his goals, while Greg wants to think he's Batman. It's hilarious. This is a great example:
All in all, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It loses one star just because of the really bad editing. But if you've been looking for an urban fantasy that doesn't take itself quite so seriously, this is a good place to find it. Lots of fun!
Series Information: Hard Day's Knight is the first book in the Black Knight Chronicles.
Book 2: Back in Black
Novella 1: Movie Knight
Book 3: Knight Moves
Novella 2: Black Magic Woman
There is also a book of short stories called Knight (un)Life - Black Knight Shorts Vol. 1, which I do not currently have. He has a number of other books, including his Bubba Monster Hunter books, a number of which I currently have as well.
Disclosure: I picked this book up for myself on free promotion on Amazon. Some time later (almost a year I think?) I noticed it was on NetGalley and accepted it there, since I already planned to read it. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Children are missing.
The police are stumped.
Halloween is coming, with an ancient evil on the horizon.
The vampires are the good guys.
This is not your ordinary fall weekend in Charlotte, NC. Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired to keep a young client from being cursed for all eternity, but end up in a bigger mess than they ever imagined.
Suddenly trapped in the middle of a serial kidnapping case, Jimmy and Greg uncover a plot to bring forth an ancient evil into the world, and enlist the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, a fallen angel and strip club proprietor to save the world. This unlikely band of heroes battles zombies, witches, neuroses and sunburn while cracking jokes and looking for the perfect bag of O-negative.
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of urban fantasy who've been looking for something a bit less serious
Trigger Warnings: violence, children being kidnapped, and in danger, killing
My Thoughts: I came to urban fantasy through a series by Glen Cook, then Simon Green, and finally Jim Butcher, so I've been reading urban fantasy since before the genre was named. I love the stuff, so I was so excited to grab these books when I noticed them. I just love the fact that the vampires are the good guys in this book (although I have some friends for whom that will turn them away from the book).
Something I've been wanting to read for awhile is more-or-less silly urban fantasy, and that's what we have here. While there is a real Big Bad, at the same time Jimmy and Greg are more bumbling then heroic, and more antiheroic than heroic. They are trying to be the good guys, but Jimmy is willing to do pretty much whatever it takes to make his goals, while Greg wants to think he's Batman. It's hilarious. This is a great example:
“Greg realized that he had an audience, and sprang to his feet, swirling his cape dramatically.
At least, that was the idea. It's hard to swirl properly when part of the cape is tangled around your feet and another corner is draped over your head, but he gave it a hell of a try.”
Then there is the fact that being a vampire has left them the same as when they were turned.
“I've never been what anybody would call smooth, and turning into a vampire, much to my disappointment, didn't turn me into some super-suave sex machine...”
All in all, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It loses one star just because of the really bad editing. But if you've been looking for an urban fantasy that doesn't take itself quite so seriously, this is a good place to find it. Lots of fun!
Series Information: Hard Day's Knight is the first book in the Black Knight Chronicles.
Book 2: Back in Black
Novella 1: Movie Knight
Book 3: Knight Moves
Novella 2: Black Magic Woman
There is also a book of short stories called Knight (un)Life - Black Knight Shorts Vol. 1, which I do not currently have. He has a number of other books, including his Bubba Monster Hunter books, a number of which I currently have as well.
Disclosure: I picked this book up for myself on free promotion on Amazon. Some time later (almost a year I think?) I noticed it was on NetGalley and accepted it there, since I already planned to read it. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Children are missing.
The police are stumped.
Halloween is coming, with an ancient evil on the horizon.
The vampires are the good guys.
This is not your ordinary fall weekend in Charlotte, NC. Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired to keep a young client from being cursed for all eternity, but end up in a bigger mess than they ever imagined.
Suddenly trapped in the middle of a serial kidnapping case, Jimmy and Greg uncover a plot to bring forth an ancient evil into the world, and enlist the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, a fallen angel and strip club proprietor to save the world. This unlikely band of heroes battles zombies, witches, neuroses and sunburn while cracking jokes and looking for the perfect bag of O-negative.
February 28, 2011
Has anyone noticed that vampires are always sexy? In contemporary fiction you can tell someone is a vampire when: he sparkles/has enough sex drive to feel the need to hit on anything or anyone that crosses his path/is so damn gorgeous you can't resist him. Now, lets throw that image overboard. You're about to meet the dorkiest vampires in fiction.
When Mr. Hartness was talking about his book on a forum on Goodreads, I knew I had to read this book. The concept of two fanged creatures that have super strength and yet not the perfect physique and countenance we are used to seemed perfect to get a break from all those vampire books out there. He has also been so very kind to tell a bit more about his extraordinary characters in a post below, check that out too!
Jimmy and Greg have been best friends since well, about forever. So logically, when they both are turned into creatures of the night, they rent a basement and live together as private detectives. When a lot of mysterious disappearances start to happen they end up in a mess they had never expected. I won't spoil the plot too much, but it involves zombies in trunks, unreliable witches, fighting some demons from hell and a conversation with God.
I really liked the bantering between our two "heroes". They both seem so.. human. At the end of a long night of doing detective work, they like to kick off their shoes, get a bag of blood and game a bit. They're not super brave and do get scared at times. There even was a tiny bit of romance in the book, which I though was extremely cute and I liked how that turned out.
There's a lot going on in Hard Day's Knight, making this book nicely paced. Action scenes are alternated with talking and other bits and pieces that tell us more about the background of the boys. The sometimes a bit heavy side of the book is brightened by the completely inappropriate commentary of Jimmy. Some of his sarcastic remarks really made my day.
The only critique I would like to point out is that this book is too short. I wanted to know more, hear more background, be more sucked into this story. I really liked these guys, but I wish I could connect to them more. It could be a case of minor FBISD (First-Book-In-Series-Disease), and this problem will disappear in the next book of the Black Knight Chronicles, Back in Black. I would definitely read another book by this author.
When Mr. Hartness was talking about his book on a forum on Goodreads, I knew I had to read this book. The concept of two fanged creatures that have super strength and yet not the perfect physique and countenance we are used to seemed perfect to get a break from all those vampire books out there. He has also been so very kind to tell a bit more about his extraordinary characters in a post below, check that out too!
Jimmy and Greg have been best friends since well, about forever. So logically, when they both are turned into creatures of the night, they rent a basement and live together as private detectives. When a lot of mysterious disappearances start to happen they end up in a mess they had never expected. I won't spoil the plot too much, but it involves zombies in trunks, unreliable witches, fighting some demons from hell and a conversation with God.
I really liked the bantering between our two "heroes". They both seem so.. human. At the end of a long night of doing detective work, they like to kick off their shoes, get a bag of blood and game a bit. They're not super brave and do get scared at times. There even was a tiny bit of romance in the book, which I though was extremely cute and I liked how that turned out.
There's a lot going on in Hard Day's Knight, making this book nicely paced. Action scenes are alternated with talking and other bits and pieces that tell us more about the background of the boys. The sometimes a bit heavy side of the book is brightened by the completely inappropriate commentary of Jimmy. Some of his sarcastic remarks really made my day.
The only critique I would like to point out is that this book is too short. I wanted to know more, hear more background, be more sucked into this story. I really liked these guys, but I wish I could connect to them more. It could be a case of minor FBISD (First-Book-In-Series-Disease), and this problem will disappear in the next book of the Black Knight Chronicles, Back in Black. I would definitely read another book by this author.
March 30, 2012
3.5 stars
My mood deteriorated even further when I heard a voice behind me say “It’s about time you woke up, bloodsucker.” I mean, seriously, why do people have to be so rude? It’s a condition, like freckles. I’m a vampire. Deal with it. But we can do without the slurs, thank you very much.
With that kind of narration in the first chapter, I am hooked :). I really must thank Goodreads because it has given me so many recommendations. I stumble into this title when I'm browsing book recs on the right side, when I'm writing my review on one urban fantasy book. Seeing that this is with male lead (which is rare) and only cost $0.9 at Amazon.com, I figure, heck, why not?!
James Black is a vampire -- he's 36 years old, but was turned when he was 22, so he looks young. His partner at Black Knight Investigation is Gregory W. Knightswood IV, James's best friend, who's good with computers. Oh, yes, when they were turned into vampires, they DID NOT change into handsome vampires (or sparkle :p), but stayed on the last condition they were in. So James still has skinny frame and Grey is still pudgy.
The two vampires are the good guys (although James admit that he still likes to drink directly from human). They have a priest, Mike, as friend (who used to part of their gang, before James and Greg turned into vampire). They ocassionally ask help from fallen angel, Phil, who also owns a strip club. And in this story, they are trying to find missing kids, who turn out to be part of sacrifice plan to get a high-power demon into Earth. To complicate matter, is a female detective, Sabrina Law, who is hot on the case.
The book is choc with hilarity, especially the first several chapters. I chuckle along, reading quips after quips coming from James. Though after they investigation moves along, I feel like it sort of losing the 'fun'. Then again, they're facing a very powerful demon, so it has to be serious.
A couple of reviews are pointing out the plot-holes; but I'm never good with details, so I don't pay big attention to that. However, one thing does feel a bit over-the-top () and the sort-of path to romance in the end feels forced. But in overall, this is a good read, and entertaining for under 200 pages. I will probably check the next title.
My mood deteriorated even further when I heard a voice behind me say “It’s about time you woke up, bloodsucker.” I mean, seriously, why do people have to be so rude? It’s a condition, like freckles. I’m a vampire. Deal with it. But we can do without the slurs, thank you very much.
With that kind of narration in the first chapter, I am hooked :). I really must thank Goodreads because it has given me so many recommendations. I stumble into this title when I'm browsing book recs on the right side, when I'm writing my review on one urban fantasy book. Seeing that this is with male lead (which is rare) and only cost $0.9 at Amazon.com, I figure, heck, why not?!
James Black is a vampire -- he's 36 years old, but was turned when he was 22, so he looks young. His partner at Black Knight Investigation is Gregory W. Knightswood IV, James's best friend, who's good with computers. Oh, yes, when they were turned into vampires, they DID NOT change into handsome vampires (or sparkle :p), but stayed on the last condition they were in. So James still has skinny frame and Grey is still pudgy.
The two vampires are the good guys (although James admit that he still likes to drink directly from human). They have a priest, Mike, as friend (who used to part of their gang, before James and Greg turned into vampire). They ocassionally ask help from fallen angel, Phil, who also owns a strip club. And in this story, they are trying to find missing kids, who turn out to be part of sacrifice plan to get a high-power demon into Earth. To complicate matter, is a female detective, Sabrina Law, who is hot on the case.
The book is choc with hilarity, especially the first several chapters. I chuckle along, reading quips after quips coming from James. Though after they investigation moves along, I feel like it sort of losing the 'fun'. Then again, they're facing a very powerful demon, so it has to be serious.
A couple of reviews are pointing out the plot-holes; but I'm never good with details, so I don't pay big attention to that. However, one thing does feel a bit over-the-top () and the sort-of path to romance in the end feels forced. But in overall, this is a good read, and entertaining for under 200 pages. I will probably check the next title.
October 7, 2016
This book has plot holes you can drive a truck through. A Mack truck. First off, the vampire lore, what we are given and what we see, is full of contradictions. Midway through the book we are told that vampires do not sleep like the dead, but that makes the kidnapping in the first chapter totally inexplicable. We're told that vampires do not have supernatural agility, then they do. One of the main characters spends most of the book tripping over his own feet, then pulls off some impressive gymnastics in the final scene. And apparently vampire strength comes and goes on a minute by minute basis: first our hero can't break a plastic chair, then he crushes a pair of solid metal handcuffs into a little ball. First he gets beat up by a girl, then he lifts her, and her chair, into the air with one hand.
There are other contradictions, like why did Detective Law have to go buy a cross necklace, when she was described as already wearing one? And there are a ton of dangling plot points. What happened to Tommy? The little girl witch? The little girls in the forest? Detective Law and the vampire mojo? Lilith and the supposed danger of drinking her blood? Were we just supposed to forget all of these?
But it was really the ending that did it for me - or rather, didn't. First off, they found the bad guys because there was one link between the missing children, but then we find out that she wasn't even involved when the kids disappeared?? How does that make sense? Then, something important happens to explain how we can expect a happy ending - but the author totally forgets to tell us it happened. He just refers to it later like we're supposed to know. Trust me, I flipped back and read it again, and he didn't mention it. Finally, worst of all, one of the main problems apparently doesn't get resolved, and no one seems to notice! It's not a little thing, either! I kept waiting for a footnote to say, oh and that got worked out, but nothing!
All in all, this book was a major waste of an evening. My husband keeps saying the second one is better, but I'm seriously doubting that I'm even going to give it a chance.
Oh, and one other thing. 5'9" is not short, and definitely not comparable to Danny Devito. Devito is 4'9"!
There are other contradictions, like why did Detective Law have to go buy a cross necklace, when she was described as already wearing one? And there are a ton of dangling plot points. What happened to Tommy? The little girl witch? The little girls in the forest? Detective Law and the vampire mojo? Lilith and the supposed danger of drinking her blood? Were we just supposed to forget all of these?
But it was really the ending that did it for me - or rather, didn't. First off, they found the bad guys because there was one link between the missing children, but then we find out that she wasn't even involved when the kids disappeared?? How does that make sense? Then, something important happens to explain how we can expect a happy ending - but the author totally forgets to tell us it happened. He just refers to it later like we're supposed to know. Trust me, I flipped back and read it again, and he didn't mention it. Finally, worst of all, one of the main problems apparently doesn't get resolved, and no one seems to notice! It's not a little thing, either! I kept waiting for a footnote to say, oh and that got worked out, but nothing!
All in all, this book was a major waste of an evening. My husband keeps saying the second one is better, but I'm seriously doubting that I'm even going to give it a chance.
Oh, and one other thing. 5'9" is not short, and definitely not comparable to Danny Devito. Devito is 4'9"!
August 6, 2020
I picked this up on a whim, and I'm glad I did. The story revolved around a couple of Vampire PI's in Charlotte, who have stumbled into a much bigger mystery than they ever would have thought possible. They don't sparkle, they aren't sexy, and they don't kill people, but they are funny, kind of goofy guys muddling through as best they can. They do have some of the cool Vampire powers (Strength, speed, senses, Hypnotism) AS well as the usual weaknesses (Sunlight, holy items). They try and do good, especially since they are facing off against a Demon that is trying to raise an ArchDuke of Hell. Not good if she succeeds. They have a Priest and a Detective to help them, and the interactions between these 4 characters are priceless. You are laughing a lot, and reading the action sequences with baited breath, wasting to see how they turn out. The characters are likable or loathsome as is appropriate, and even the Vampires are sympathetic.The story takes place in Charlotte, NC, and you can tell the author spent time getting the little parts of the setting right. The plot moves along at a nice pace, never lagging, always leaving you wanting to get to the next part. I can see big things in the future for this author. The narration was decent, with differentiation in voices, although I thought a few of the voices were a little too similar, leading to some confusion about who was talking in a few scenes. Thats a small thing though, and should not keep ytou from trying this book. Any fans of Vampire urban fantasy should enjoy this book.
November 5, 2021
3 1/2 stars
Jimmy and Greg are not your typical vampires, though they do have a problem with the sun, stakes through the heart, and quite possibly holy ground (though the jury's still out on the last bit). These guys are after my own heart as they quote from Buffy: The Vampire Slayer throughout the book. Between them, they make up Black Knight Investigations.
Their best friend is Father Mike, a man of the cloth, with whom the pair grew up and who does not seem all that bothered by their status of undead blood drinkers. Before the end of the story we'll encounter a witch and her coven, Lillith (yes, that one), a fallen angel, and a detective whose worldview is about to be rearranged in a very dramatic way.
This is a fairly short book and a humorous read which is precisely what I needed right now despite the ultimate subject matter (demons, possessions, destruction of property, and, yeah, a silly reason which proves that the road to the dark place is often paved with selfish intentions).
[Edit 8/21/15] The narrator for the audio edition of this book is perfect: Nick Russo
Jimmy and Greg are not your typical vampires, though they do have a problem with the sun, stakes through the heart, and quite possibly holy ground (though the jury's still out on the last bit). These guys are after my own heart as they quote from Buffy: The Vampire Slayer throughout the book. Between them, they make up Black Knight Investigations.
Their best friend is Father Mike, a man of the cloth, with whom the pair grew up and who does not seem all that bothered by their status of undead blood drinkers. Before the end of the story we'll encounter a witch and her coven, Lillith (yes, that one), a fallen angel, and a detective whose worldview is about to be rearranged in a very dramatic way.
This is a fairly short book and a humorous read which is precisely what I needed right now despite the ultimate subject matter (demons, possessions, destruction of property, and, yeah, a silly reason which proves that the road to the dark place is often paved with selfish intentions).
[Edit 8/21/15] The narrator for the audio edition of this book is perfect: Nick Russo
June 12, 2011
The main characters were converted to vampires when they were teenagers. Fifteen years later, they haven't matured at all. This is a Two Stooges vampire story.
There's a bit in the beginning that bothered me. A policewoman is asking questions about the crime the main characters are investigating. They describe her as "having balls" and "a real ball-breaker"; then they vandalize her car, and a witness's house, in order to "keep her busy". They make no effort at hiding their identities when they do this. The point the book seems to be making is: these dudes are so badass they can wreck a police car and not care about the consequences.
By the end of the book, she's flirting with one of them. (sigh).
There's a bit in the beginning that bothered me. A policewoman is asking questions about the crime the main characters are investigating. They describe her as "having balls" and "a real ball-breaker"; then they vandalize her car, and a witness's house, in order to "keep her busy". They make no effort at hiding their identities when they do this. The point the book seems to be making is: these dudes are so badass they can wreck a police car and not care about the consequences.
By the end of the book, she's flirting with one of them. (sigh).
March 15, 2017
(For the Audio Book) The reader was so bad he made the author's work sound like it was written by a second grader. Wow that was rough! I know people have loved this book and the continuing serries but I think I'm done.
June 28, 2011
This book caught me totally off guard. I had started it over a month ago and stopped about 10% in when I discovered two things that worried me – it’s YA and its 1st person POV. My last trip into the mind of a young adult was Bella from Twilight. I was not going back without a fight. I went back because Iron Druid had redeemed my belief in the possibility that a narrator, though youthful, could tell me a detailed, mature story. So…I was partly right.
Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood are vampires in their early twenties or slightly out of their teens. For males, it’s hard to tell sometimes. They live in Charlotte, NC and have a private investigation business. The story starts with Jimmy finding himself kidnapped by a distressed teenager begging to be turned to save himself from a curse which is worst than being undead. Jimmy is saved by Greg and they decide to help the kid out. Everything goes to hell really fast from there and it becomes as much about survival as solving the mystery of a dozen missing kids.
What I loved about this book was the humor (adolescent though it was) it was laugh out loud funny at some points. As a matter of fact, I felt the writer enjoyed these characters and wanted me to have fun with them too. With this thought in mind, I took my ‘serious’ hat off and just let Jimmy’s smart mouth tickle my mind. For example his little speech on why he would not turn the desperate teen.
“Because I don’t turn people. Because this life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Because you’d miss all those romantical sunsets you probably write maudlin poetry about. Because it’s not fair to the ecosystem to add another predator. Because we don’t really sparkle. All of the above. None of the above. Pick a reason, kid, any reason you like. I’m not turning you.”
Although we don’t hear Greg’s voice, we get to know him pretty well through Jimmy’s eyes. This can be tricky sometimes with 1st person but I felt the needed details were present. On the other hand, the supporting characters in the overall story were one dimensional because Jimmy is not introspective or mature in how he views other people. That’s one of the reasons first person doesn’t always work and why I took off one star.
Although not as polished, I highly recommend 'Hard Day's Knight' to fans of Jim Butcher (Author), Simon R Green, and Kevin Hearne. It’s not romantic, poetic, or emotionally engaging. It’s just a really fun book for those who can appreciate the style. The plot is smart, fast paced, and extremely well conceived. It does not feel like a novella. I felt like I had read a full size novel based on the sheer number of plot twist. It’s also a creature fest – we have a little of everything going on. I was never an adolescent boy but I felt I understood Jimmy. The pop culture references were well placed and frequently used which added to realism to Jimmy’s life and experiences. I will keep up with this series and this author for certain.
Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood are vampires in their early twenties or slightly out of their teens. For males, it’s hard to tell sometimes. They live in Charlotte, NC and have a private investigation business. The story starts with Jimmy finding himself kidnapped by a distressed teenager begging to be turned to save himself from a curse which is worst than being undead. Jimmy is saved by Greg and they decide to help the kid out. Everything goes to hell really fast from there and it becomes as much about survival as solving the mystery of a dozen missing kids.
What I loved about this book was the humor (adolescent though it was) it was laugh out loud funny at some points. As a matter of fact, I felt the writer enjoyed these characters and wanted me to have fun with them too. With this thought in mind, I took my ‘serious’ hat off and just let Jimmy’s smart mouth tickle my mind. For example his little speech on why he would not turn the desperate teen.
“Because I don’t turn people. Because this life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Because you’d miss all those romantical sunsets you probably write maudlin poetry about. Because it’s not fair to the ecosystem to add another predator. Because we don’t really sparkle. All of the above. None of the above. Pick a reason, kid, any reason you like. I’m not turning you.”
Although we don’t hear Greg’s voice, we get to know him pretty well through Jimmy’s eyes. This can be tricky sometimes with 1st person but I felt the needed details were present. On the other hand, the supporting characters in the overall story were one dimensional because Jimmy is not introspective or mature in how he views other people. That’s one of the reasons first person doesn’t always work and why I took off one star.
Although not as polished, I highly recommend 'Hard Day's Knight' to fans of Jim Butcher (Author), Simon R Green, and Kevin Hearne. It’s not romantic, poetic, or emotionally engaging. It’s just a really fun book for those who can appreciate the style. The plot is smart, fast paced, and extremely well conceived. It does not feel like a novella. I felt like I had read a full size novel based on the sheer number of plot twist. It’s also a creature fest – we have a little of everything going on. I was never an adolescent boy but I felt I understood Jimmy. The pop culture references were well placed and frequently used which added to realism to Jimmy’s life and experiences. I will keep up with this series and this author for certain.
April 16, 2011
I got this book to read for a blog tour sponsered by Bookish Snob Promotions. It sounded right up my alley and was a very fun read. Definitely a lot of satire here, a lot of witty (or not so witty) banter, and a lot of action.
Jimmy Black and his buddy Greg are vampires, they aren't very old and they have recently been licensed as private investigators. When a teenage boy hires them to stop a teenage girl from cursing him and his family the Black Knight investigtors stumble into something much more dangerous than teenage witch. Suddenly they are being chased by demon possessed children, fighting zombies, and hunting down a real baddie of a demon.
This was a hilarious book. The book is very satiric and pokes fun at both modern vampire literature (Twilight and others) and traditional vampire myths. Jimmy has a quip every couple lines and Greg is a pudgy vampires with a penchant for comic books. They are both hilarious and yet somehow still manage to make the book feel heartfelt at points.
All of the characters are fairly well (if a bit over) characterized. The action bits are very well done and make the action easy to visualize. The plot is well put together and engaging as well. This is a solid humor filled urban fantasy investigation type of story.
Within the book the author diverges from the story a bit, once it's to tell the history of how Jimmy and Greg became undead and another time to talk about the angel Phil's fall from heaven. These asides were well-done but the transitions felt a bit awkward to me. At times the story goes to the point of being a little too over the top, but not often and not so horribly that it becomes irritating. My only other quibble is the world-building here is very loose; we don't get much of idea about anything outside of Jimmy and Greg and their lives. I would have liked to learn more about the world they live in.
Overall very funny and a well-written light read about vamps and possessed demon children (I know that sounds weird..but...that's what it is). If you like satire, sarcasm, and laugh a minutes banter then this is the book for you. It is especially heavy on the vampire satire and there are a lot of pop culture references in here that span many age groups. Check it out for a good laugh and a tongue-in-cheek investigation and mystery.
Jimmy Black and his buddy Greg are vampires, they aren't very old and they have recently been licensed as private investigators. When a teenage boy hires them to stop a teenage girl from cursing him and his family the Black Knight investigtors stumble into something much more dangerous than teenage witch. Suddenly they are being chased by demon possessed children, fighting zombies, and hunting down a real baddie of a demon.
This was a hilarious book. The book is very satiric and pokes fun at both modern vampire literature (Twilight and others) and traditional vampire myths. Jimmy has a quip every couple lines and Greg is a pudgy vampires with a penchant for comic books. They are both hilarious and yet somehow still manage to make the book feel heartfelt at points.
All of the characters are fairly well (if a bit over) characterized. The action bits are very well done and make the action easy to visualize. The plot is well put together and engaging as well. This is a solid humor filled urban fantasy investigation type of story.
Within the book the author diverges from the story a bit, once it's to tell the history of how Jimmy and Greg became undead and another time to talk about the angel Phil's fall from heaven. These asides were well-done but the transitions felt a bit awkward to me. At times the story goes to the point of being a little too over the top, but not often and not so horribly that it becomes irritating. My only other quibble is the world-building here is very loose; we don't get much of idea about anything outside of Jimmy and Greg and their lives. I would have liked to learn more about the world they live in.
Overall very funny and a well-written light read about vamps and possessed demon children (I know that sounds weird..but...that's what it is). If you like satire, sarcasm, and laugh a minutes banter then this is the book for you. It is especially heavy on the vampire satire and there are a lot of pop culture references in here that span many age groups. Check it out for a good laugh and a tongue-in-cheek investigation and mystery.
June 12, 2011
Hard Day’s Knight is a fantastically humorous novel about two vampire detectives that aren’t at all the tall, dark, handsome or sparkling vampires that you’ve come to expect from today’s paranormal novels.
When Detective Jimmy Black wakes up tied to a chair with silver the last thing he expects is to find a young man intent on having Jimmy change him over. But the teen is desperate, thinking himself cursed by a witch and his whole family in danger because of his teasing actions. So Jimmy and his partner, Greg, take him on as a client and go to confront the little girl who has this teen so terrified, what they find however is a demonic plot that can lead to Hell on Earth. Can these average Joe’s who just happen to be vampires save the world from demons and child possession? With the help of some very unlikely allies they just might have a chance!
Hard Day’s Knight was a refreshingly fun read full of humor, snarky one-liners, action and mystery. John Hartness, with his comedic writing style, has weaved together a unique tale where vampires, priests, demons, angels and humans collide. Incorporating a bit of religion and a battle between good and evil into an entertaining plot while adding just a dash of romance. The characters weren’t exceptional in their abilities but well developed and diverse. The dialogue is smart and witty and helped the story flow at a quick pace.
I usually need a bit more romance in a book for me to like it but this one surprisingly kept my interest start to finish. I would recommend it to urban fantasy readers who enjoy comic books as well but don’t have the need for romance.
Quote:
"I don't sparkle, I'm no more perpetually horny than anyone (or anything) else, and I don't use my vampire powers to get laid. Much."
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
When Detective Jimmy Black wakes up tied to a chair with silver the last thing he expects is to find a young man intent on having Jimmy change him over. But the teen is desperate, thinking himself cursed by a witch and his whole family in danger because of his teasing actions. So Jimmy and his partner, Greg, take him on as a client and go to confront the little girl who has this teen so terrified, what they find however is a demonic plot that can lead to Hell on Earth. Can these average Joe’s who just happen to be vampires save the world from demons and child possession? With the help of some very unlikely allies they just might have a chance!
Hard Day’s Knight was a refreshingly fun read full of humor, snarky one-liners, action and mystery. John Hartness, with his comedic writing style, has weaved together a unique tale where vampires, priests, demons, angels and humans collide. Incorporating a bit of religion and a battle between good and evil into an entertaining plot while adding just a dash of romance. The characters weren’t exceptional in their abilities but well developed and diverse. The dialogue is smart and witty and helped the story flow at a quick pace.
I usually need a bit more romance in a book for me to like it but this one surprisingly kept my interest start to finish. I would recommend it to urban fantasy readers who enjoy comic books as well but don’t have the need for romance.
Quote:
"I don't sparkle, I'm no more perpetually horny than anyone (or anything) else, and I don't use my vampire powers to get laid. Much."
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub...
January 31, 2011
Detectives Jimmy and Greg have a problem. They're vampires. This limits their work hours, but they manage. Jimmy, the narrator, is smart-mouthed and funny and kept me laughing with his snarky one-liners. Greg is his best friend and is more of a thinker than a doer, but he's there to come to the rescue when Jimmy needs him. The guys live in Charlotte, NC, where they have to solve a case involving missing children. And witches and demons. The demons are trying to take over the world. The witches have to team up with the vampires to stop them. It's all good fun and you can't help but like Jimmy and Greg and their human friend, Mike, who's the vampire helper they need to keep them set up and functioning. Along the way Jimmy entertains with little quips about what vampires can and can't do. For example, they're very strong, as Jimmy demonstrates when he tosses a minivan on top of a troublesome witch to shut her up.
The book was entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny from the first chapter where we're introduced to Jimmy in the clutches of a vampire hunter, until the end when the case is solved and Jimmy gets the girl. Sort of.
My only quibble is with the chapter where Jimmy explained how he and Greg became vampires. I didn't like how all that information was dumped at once.
A very enjoyable read. Hard Day's Knight would make a fun movie.
The book was entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny from the first chapter where we're introduced to Jimmy in the clutches of a vampire hunter, until the end when the case is solved and Jimmy gets the girl. Sort of.
My only quibble is with the chapter where Jimmy explained how he and Greg became vampires. I didn't like how all that information was dumped at once.
A very enjoyable read. Hard Day's Knight would make a fun movie.
October 27, 2020
This was a fun Urban Fantasy romp. It isn't a perfect read, but if you're looking for something easy to read and entertaining, then it is worth a look.
The biggest problem for me was the female characters, and some remarks about them that just felt juvenile and had me roll my eyes a bit, but it was in moderation, so I won't take a star for that. If that is hoewever something that botheres you, I would skip this one. If you, like me, sigh in exasperation for a moment and then just ignore it, you shall be fine.
What I liked about it is the main characters being rather out of the typical mold you're expecting of UF! They aren't bad ass good guys who just mow down enemies like it is nothing. Instead it's two rather mediocre guys who have been turned vampire, and now are hard to kill, but not always the wisest or best prepared... The tone was a bit too juvenile at times as I said, but it fit the characters and made for entertaining listening - even when it didn't make me laugh out loud I did smirk quite a bit along the way.
So definitely not a deep and thoughtprovoking or literary work, but amazing to relax to after a long day and just let yourself be swept away without needing full focus.
The biggest problem for me was the female characters, and some remarks about them that just felt juvenile and had me roll my eyes a bit, but it was in moderation, so I won't take a star for that. If that is hoewever something that botheres you, I would skip this one. If you, like me, sigh in exasperation for a moment and then just ignore it, you shall be fine.
What I liked about it is the main characters being rather out of the typical mold you're expecting of UF! They aren't bad ass good guys who just mow down enemies like it is nothing. Instead it's two rather mediocre guys who have been turned vampire, and now are hard to kill, but not always the wisest or best prepared... The tone was a bit too juvenile at times as I said, but it fit the characters and made for entertaining listening - even when it didn't make me laugh out loud I did smirk quite a bit along the way.
So definitely not a deep and thoughtprovoking or literary work, but amazing to relax to after a long day and just let yourself be swept away without needing full focus.
May 24, 2011
Reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...
I gave it 3.5 stars
It took me a bit to get into HARD DAY'S KNIGHT but it ended up being pleasantly entertaining. There is a ton of sarcasm and humor and the author did a good job with making fun of the typical vampire myths. The private detectives Jimmy and Greg are not your typical vampires, I found them to be a bit nerdy and determined to be the good guys. They were a good team and I enjoyed the bantering between them. There was a lot of things going on in the story and the pacing was nicely kept. Since I live in Charlotte I thought it was pretty neat that the story took place there. There was a good mix of the paranormal. There were witches, demons, zombies, and even Lilith makes an appearance. The only thing that annoyed me is some typos and missing words. There were a few times that It ended up ruining my reading concentration because the paragraph wouldn't make sense and I would have to go back and read and interpret what it was supposed to say. This was the first book of Mr Hartness' that I read and I enjoyed it.
I gave it 3.5 stars
It took me a bit to get into HARD DAY'S KNIGHT but it ended up being pleasantly entertaining. There is a ton of sarcasm and humor and the author did a good job with making fun of the typical vampire myths. The private detectives Jimmy and Greg are not your typical vampires, I found them to be a bit nerdy and determined to be the good guys. They were a good team and I enjoyed the bantering between them. There was a lot of things going on in the story and the pacing was nicely kept. Since I live in Charlotte I thought it was pretty neat that the story took place there. There was a good mix of the paranormal. There were witches, demons, zombies, and even Lilith makes an appearance. The only thing that annoyed me is some typos and missing words. There were a few times that It ended up ruining my reading concentration because the paragraph wouldn't make sense and I would have to go back and read and interpret what it was supposed to say. This was the first book of Mr Hartness' that I read and I enjoyed it.
May 21, 2011
I have to say that this is not the type of book I usually read. I love paranormal - but usually go for the romantic/steamy type. I think this book is the funniest book I've ever read! Hard Day's Knight is about a couple of vampire detectives named Jimmy and Greg who seem to have a knack for getting themselves into a lot of trouble. These are not your typical suave and sexy vampires. These are basically a couple of dorky guys who just happen to have vampire speed and strength. It's a nice change of pace really. You can't help but love these guys, and you can't help but laugh through the whole book. The humor in this book was non-stop.
The pace of the book was non-stop as well. There was loads of action mixed in with all the humor. Not only do you have sarcastic vampires, you also get zombies, possessed children, and other paranormal beings added to the mix. The book flows really well, and there is no frustrating cliffhanger. I'd recommend this book to a variety of readers - those who like paranormal, investigation, humor... I would definitely read more books by this author.
The pace of the book was non-stop as well. There was loads of action mixed in with all the humor. Not only do you have sarcastic vampires, you also get zombies, possessed children, and other paranormal beings added to the mix. The book flows really well, and there is no frustrating cliffhanger. I'd recommend this book to a variety of readers - those who like paranormal, investigation, humor... I would definitely read more books by this author.
September 26, 2015
Where to start with this book...
While I didn't hate it, I didn't like it either. The good, not very much. I used one audible credit and downloaded this book, while Nick Russo wasn't awful, the story didn't give him much to work with. It's a pretty standard big bad evil needs stopped by two unlikely and sort of unlikable hero's. The bad for me was the overall flow of the book, it was jerky at best and downright confusing at worst. The confusing part was how we ended up in certain points in the story, not the actual story. I do feel a little let down because I found the start of the book had a lot of potential. I will most likely not read or listen further. The ugly here's a spoiler which i don't know how to hide yet, so fair warning stop reading this now if you'd like to be surprised....okay?
I find our female lead horrible and there is no real reason our hero should want her nor why she should want him. My biggest problem she's a innocent, which doesn't fit her character at all, she's tough as nails, not really, just yells a lot and comes off to standoffish.
While I didn't hate it, I didn't like it either. The good, not very much. I used one audible credit and downloaded this book, while Nick Russo wasn't awful, the story didn't give him much to work with. It's a pretty standard big bad evil needs stopped by two unlikely and sort of unlikable hero's. The bad for me was the overall flow of the book, it was jerky at best and downright confusing at worst. The confusing part was how we ended up in certain points in the story, not the actual story. I do feel a little let down because I found the start of the book had a lot of potential. I will most likely not read or listen further. The ugly here's a spoiler which i don't know how to hide yet, so fair warning stop reading this now if you'd like to be surprised....okay?
I find our female lead horrible and there is no real reason our hero should want her nor why she should want him. My biggest problem she's a innocent, which doesn't fit her character at all, she's tough as nails, not really, just yells a lot and comes off to standoffish.
June 18, 2015
If emulation is a compliment than Jim Butcher should be proud. Black is a detective. He has the hots for a lady cop. He has a priest (religious man) as a sidekick. And on and on. Sound familiar?
When I started reading I thought, "He's trying too hard. The author is trying to be funny and entertaining, but he's not letting it flow." Yeah, the hero is funny sometime but the snark is borderline mean and hurtful to the ones he supposedly loves. He's immature for a vampire whose been undead for 15 years even if he was only 22 at TOD.
The cliches? They are flying left and right.
There wasn't much in the way of a mystery. It read more like a run through a video game.
Last but not least, what's with the multiple endings. The story's over and then the author writes in Phil's story. I guess the author couldn't figure out how to work the story in sooner. And Phil's character either changes drastically from the beginning to the end of the book or Black read him all wrong.
When I started reading I thought, "He's trying too hard. The author is trying to be funny and entertaining, but he's not letting it flow." Yeah, the hero is funny sometime but the snark is borderline mean and hurtful to the ones he supposedly loves. He's immature for a vampire whose been undead for 15 years even if he was only 22 at TOD.
The cliches? They are flying left and right.
There wasn't much in the way of a mystery. It read more like a run through a video game.
Last but not least, what's with the multiple endings. The story's over and then the author writes in Phil's story. I guess the author couldn't figure out how to work the story in sooner. And Phil's character either changes drastically from the beginning to the end of the book or Black read him all wrong.
January 2, 2011
Oh God, it's even better than The Chosen. This is so much fun it should be illegal.
Love this book, love, love, love it!
"I hate waking up in an unfamiliar place. I’ve slept in pretty much the same bed for the past fifteen years, so when I wake up someplace new, it really throws me off. When that someplace is tied to a metal folding chair in the center of an abandoned warehouse that reeks of stale cigarette smoke, diesel fuel and axle grease - well, that really started my night off on a sparkling note."
So starts the book, and it just gets better. It's a delicious little morsel of paranormal goodies.
Love this book, love, love, love it!
"I hate waking up in an unfamiliar place. I’ve slept in pretty much the same bed for the past fifteen years, so when I wake up someplace new, it really throws me off. When that someplace is tied to a metal folding chair in the center of an abandoned warehouse that reeks of stale cigarette smoke, diesel fuel and axle grease - well, that really started my night off on a sparkling note."
So starts the book, and it just gets better. It's a delicious little morsel of paranormal goodies.
August 7, 2015
Now this was fun and just right for a summer read. Two 'Good Guys' vampires are private dicks. They are sucked -pun intended - into trying to stop a grand scheme to take over the world. Just when I thought, 'Hey, this reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer' the Main character said the same thing. There were other entertaining characters - an angel, a BFF priest, kick-ass lady cop and more. I'm glad I too a chance on this one because everything that can't and shouldn't be endlessly serious for me I need some fun giggles...and I did laugh out loud.
August 6, 2014
This book had a lot of funny moments that actually had me laughing out loud. I also liked the explanations about vampires and their powers sprinkled throughout the book.
The storyline is fairly straightforward and you don't need (or get) much background information. The characters are mostly interesting, though you don't get too much info about them. Nothing too mind boggling, but a fun narrative.
The storyline is fairly straightforward and you don't need (or get) much background information. The characters are mostly interesting, though you don't get too much info about them. Nothing too mind boggling, but a fun narrative.
August 14, 2015
Like the rating says, it was okay.
The basic story is pretty cliche. The book makes use of pop culture references rather than actual description far too frequently. The relationships between characters were pretty hard to swallow as well.
Despite that, it does manage to be entertaining here and there, and funny in places as well.
The basic story is pretty cliche. The book makes use of pop culture references rather than actual description far too frequently. The relationships between characters were pretty hard to swallow as well.
Despite that, it does manage to be entertaining here and there, and funny in places as well.
December 11, 2015
was enjoying the book until the line "I've ripped apart my fair share of chihuahuas in my day." I am not cool with bad shit happening to dogs. I know it was just an attempt at humor, but it just made the character sound like a wacko with no redeeming qualities. Sir, I refuse your tiny (likely unknowing) part in desensitizing the populace to violence towards dogs. Knock that shit off.
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