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Andrew Doran #1
The Statement of Andrew Doran
Dr. Andrew Doran has been out of touch with the major civilizations for quite a while. When an emissary from his Alma Mater demands his assistance, Andrew is in such a state that he has no choice but to help. The Nazis have taken the Necronomicon from Miskatonic University's library. With it they could call upon every form of darkness and use the powers of the void to destroy all who stand in their way of unlimited power. For years Doran has been at odds with Miskatonic University. Putting his negative feelings aside, Andrew takes charge and heads straight into the Nazi controlled territories of Europe. Along his journey from America and into the heart of Berlin, the dark Traum Kult, or Dream Cult, has sent beasts from the void between worlds to slow his progress. This is adventure and monsters unlike anything the anthropologist has ever experienced, and only with the assistance of the trigger-happy Leo and the beautiful Olivia, both members of the French Resistance, does Dr. Doran have any chance of success. Nazis, zombies, wizards, and beasts roam the path before Dr. Andrew Doran. A sane man would flinch. Dr. Andrew Doran charges in.
190 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2013
13 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Davenport
50 books54 followersMatthew Davenport hails from Des Moines, Iowa where he lives with his wife, Ren, and daughter, Willow.
He puts up a new chapter every Wednesday on his Patreon. http://patreon.com/matthewdavenport
You can keep track of Matthew through his twitter account @spazenport.
Matt updates his blog from time to time at authormatthewdavenport.wordpress.com
He puts up a new chapter every Wednesday on his Patreon. http://patreon.com/matthewdavenport
You can keep track of Matthew through his twitter account @spazenport.
Matt updates his blog from time to time at authormatthewdavenport.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 28, 2023
The Statement of Andrew Doran
By Matthew Davenport
This was an interesting story of Dr Doran. He was summoned, and spirited away by creatures that can do that sort of thing, to be told the Necronomicon has been stolen and now thought to be in the hands of Nazis. He knows how deadly this book could be in the wrong hands and reluctantly to go retrieve it.
Along the way he meets two French resistors and they band together. It's a very exciting journey with danger and surprises everywhere!
By Matthew Davenport
This was an interesting story of Dr Doran. He was summoned, and spirited away by creatures that can do that sort of thing, to be told the Necronomicon has been stolen and now thought to be in the hands of Nazis. He knows how deadly this book could be in the wrong hands and reluctantly to go retrieve it.
Along the way he meets two French resistors and they band together. It's a very exciting journey with danger and surprises everywhere!
December 16, 2024
Lovecraftian!
This is my first time hearing about the Traum Kult. A German cult of Nazis during WWII. The Traum Kult uses magic and they are reputed to be the most powerful group of people on the planet.
Andrew Doran, the narrator of the book, is a doctor of magic, cause it’s his job to bring them down and bring down any other people like them.
There are other people who want to rule the world, like the Traum Kult. They all want to wake up Cthulhu and they all want to have endless power.
Fortunately, Doctor Doran is good at his job. He is good at destroying cults that want to destroy the world and bring Cthulhu to Earth.
To do this today, he must find the book “Necronomican” which was stolen from a museum in the U.S. He must travel to Berlin to find the book. He must rescue the book before the Traum Kult uses the book to bring back Cthulhu.
He meets allies in his quest to save the world. I hope they are all successful in their endeavor.
Five stars. ✨✨✨✨✨
This is my first time hearing about the Traum Kult. A German cult of Nazis during WWII. The Traum Kult uses magic and they are reputed to be the most powerful group of people on the planet.
Andrew Doran, the narrator of the book, is a doctor of magic, cause it’s his job to bring them down and bring down any other people like them.
There are other people who want to rule the world, like the Traum Kult. They all want to wake up Cthulhu and they all want to have endless power.
Fortunately, Doctor Doran is good at his job. He is good at destroying cults that want to destroy the world and bring Cthulhu to Earth.
To do this today, he must find the book “Necronomican” which was stolen from a museum in the U.S. He must travel to Berlin to find the book. He must rescue the book before the Traum Kult uses the book to bring back Cthulhu.
He meets allies in his quest to save the world. I hope they are all successful in their endeavor.
Five stars. ✨✨✨✨✨
May 13, 2015
Review From Audible:
Would you listen to The Statement of Andrew Doran again? Why?
I probably would because there was so much that happened that I'm sure I missed something.
What did you like best about this story?
The world building, though at times confusing, was awesome. I loved finding out about the Necronomicon and the monsters. It also felt very Indiana Jones to me, which I loved!
Any additional comments?
In all this was a wonderfully written and imaginative read. While listening to it it played out as an Indiana Jones type movie in my head. I mean it had all the elements of Indiana Jones, mystery, Nazis, artifact retrieval, mayhem every where the doctor goes, but it had much more than that, it has zombie type things, magic, beasts and plenty of action!
It starts off slow but once the action starts, it's pretty much non stop. There is so much that happens in the story that it's hard to summerise without spoiling something, so all I'll say is that this is a story that needs to be savoured to be fully enjoyed! The author put a lot into it and it shows. The depth of the story and the development of the characters was amazing.
In all, I really enjoyed this. It kept my interest the whole way through and I was left reeling when some of the mysteries were revealed. I hope we see more from these wngaging characters!!
Would you listen to The Statement of Andrew Doran again? Why?
I probably would because there was so much that happened that I'm sure I missed something.
What did you like best about this story?
The world building, though at times confusing, was awesome. I loved finding out about the Necronomicon and the monsters. It also felt very Indiana Jones to me, which I loved!
Any additional comments?
In all this was a wonderfully written and imaginative read. While listening to it it played out as an Indiana Jones type movie in my head. I mean it had all the elements of Indiana Jones, mystery, Nazis, artifact retrieval, mayhem every where the doctor goes, but it had much more than that, it has zombie type things, magic, beasts and plenty of action!
It starts off slow but once the action starts, it's pretty much non stop. There is so much that happens in the story that it's hard to summerise without spoiling something, so all I'll say is that this is a story that needs to be savoured to be fully enjoyed! The author put a lot into it and it shows. The depth of the story and the development of the characters was amazing.
In all, I really enjoyed this. It kept my interest the whole way through and I was left reeling when some of the mysteries were revealed. I hope we see more from these wngaging characters!!
November 21, 2016
Indiana Jones meets Titus Crow. This is pretty much the basics you need to understand about Matthew Davenport's Andrew Doran novels. Andrew Doran is a two-fisted adventurer archaelogist who travels the globe looking for artifacts which might be used against humanity by cultists or Nazis. Particularly Nazis. The books are straight forward, serious about their subject matter, and not too different from the Pulps which they draw inspiration.
The premise of this volume is Andrew Doran has been summoned back to Miskatonic University by its Dean in order to recover the Necronomicon. It's been stolen by the Third Reich and they're going to use it to take over the world (of course!-M. Bison). Andrew Doran makes a B-line for neutral territory, reaches France, joins up with the French Resistance, and then heads to Berlin in order to face down the Ghostoppo (sadly, not their real name).
H.P. Lovecraft's work was rooted in a time of Doc Savage, the Shadow, and Conan the Barbarian with Andrew Doran's work drawing heavily from those time periods. Unfortunately, the work suffers a little for the fact Andrew isn't nearly as over-the-top as those individuals. He's closer to Lovecraft's own protagonists in, two-fisted hero or not, he has a subdued scholarly personality which is more introspective than not.
Andrew Doran isn't without his flaws, he's arrogant and self-righteous, which blinds him to the dangers of the people around him. I prefer this to the flawless heroes of the Pulp days and it's part of the reason why Indiana Jones is a superior movie protagonist to The Phantom or Rocketeer. He's also, not to put too fine a point on it, a bit of a lech and all too eager to seduce whatever woman finds their way into his adventuress--usually without much success.
I was very interested in the world-building which showed a world where the Nazis, cultists, and American institutions were all feuding over the supernatural. One thing I give Matthew Davenport points on is the fact he had the Cult of Yig working against the Nazis. I like this kind of factionalism and would have been interested in seeing more "evil" cults working against the Nazis and vice versa. Cthulhu's worshipers, after all, tend to be among the people which Hitler wasn't terribly fond of.
I was also a big fan of the Olivia character. While the beautiful French Resistance fighter is something which has been done in other works, she has a twist here which surprised me. I was quite interested in what she was really up to until the final revelation. I think Matthew Davenport has a talent for femme fatales and hope we'll see more of them in his upcoming works. I also liked the supporting character of Leo who is quite entertaining in his unabashed jealousy as well as resentment of Andrew.
Does the book have flaws? A few. The villains seem a tad underdeveloped. Why are the Nazis trying to raise Cthulhu? Do they think they can control him? What does the traitor get out of this? I wasn't quite sure because his explanation seemed rather confused. There's also a few minor grammatical errors which were only mild distractions.
In conclusion, if you like a Pulpy Masks of Nyarlathotep-esque book then this is probably the story for you.
8.5/10
The premise of this volume is Andrew Doran has been summoned back to Miskatonic University by its Dean in order to recover the Necronomicon. It's been stolen by the Third Reich and they're going to use it to take over the world (of course!-M. Bison). Andrew Doran makes a B-line for neutral territory, reaches France, joins up with the French Resistance, and then heads to Berlin in order to face down the Ghostoppo (sadly, not their real name).
H.P. Lovecraft's work was rooted in a time of Doc Savage, the Shadow, and Conan the Barbarian with Andrew Doran's work drawing heavily from those time periods. Unfortunately, the work suffers a little for the fact Andrew isn't nearly as over-the-top as those individuals. He's closer to Lovecraft's own protagonists in, two-fisted hero or not, he has a subdued scholarly personality which is more introspective than not.
Andrew Doran isn't without his flaws, he's arrogant and self-righteous, which blinds him to the dangers of the people around him. I prefer this to the flawless heroes of the Pulp days and it's part of the reason why Indiana Jones is a superior movie protagonist to The Phantom or Rocketeer. He's also, not to put too fine a point on it, a bit of a lech and all too eager to seduce whatever woman finds their way into his adventuress--usually without much success.
I was very interested in the world-building which showed a world where the Nazis, cultists, and American institutions were all feuding over the supernatural. One thing I give Matthew Davenport points on is the fact he had the Cult of Yig working against the Nazis. I like this kind of factionalism and would have been interested in seeing more "evil" cults working against the Nazis and vice versa. Cthulhu's worshipers, after all, tend to be among the people which Hitler wasn't terribly fond of.
I was also a big fan of the Olivia character. While the beautiful French Resistance fighter is something which has been done in other works, she has a twist here which surprised me. I was quite interested in what she was really up to until the final revelation. I think Matthew Davenport has a talent for femme fatales and hope we'll see more of them in his upcoming works. I also liked the supporting character of Leo who is quite entertaining in his unabashed jealousy as well as resentment of Andrew.
Does the book have flaws? A few. The villains seem a tad underdeveloped. Why are the Nazis trying to raise Cthulhu? Do they think they can control him? What does the traitor get out of this? I wasn't quite sure because his explanation seemed rather confused. There's also a few minor grammatical errors which were only mild distractions.
In conclusion, if you like a Pulpy Masks of Nyarlathotep-esque book then this is probably the story for you.
8.5/10
September 27, 2021
Indiana Jone and the Temple of Cthulhu
This is an action packed ride; think Indiana Jones if he was fighting Cthulhu. The main character is a bit of a Mary Sue (too good at everything) for my taste, but people don’t go to the Indiana Jones movies to see Indy struggle with things. And hey, there’s lots of Nazi punching. Who doesn’t want to punch Nazis? If you need a book to distract you on a plane ride, here you go. Enjoy!
This is an action packed ride; think Indiana Jones if he was fighting Cthulhu. The main character is a bit of a Mary Sue (too good at everything) for my taste, but people don’t go to the Indiana Jones movies to see Indy struggle with things. And hey, there’s lots of Nazi punching. Who doesn’t want to punch Nazis? If you need a book to distract you on a plane ride, here you go. Enjoy!
July 25, 2021
A fun, pulpy adventure packed to the brim with Cthulhu Mythos fan service, that feels like a mash up of Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, and a Lovecraft story.
June 1, 2015
The Statement of Andrew Doran by Matthew Davenport Dr. Andrew Doran is an anthropologist and a trouble shooter. The Nazis have stolen a powerful book, the Necronomicon, from the Miskatonic University and they are almost certainly planning wreckage and mayhem with it. His mission is to recapture the book. Along the way, there will be creatures of Void, temptations, the undead, and the French Resistance. Which will be his undoing?
Andrew Doran was an intriguing character to follow around. At first he comes off as a little stuffy and scholarly but then we see what he sees: creatures from the Void. I loved all the Lovecraftian stuff going on in this book, much of it centered around our main character. The Fishmen were particularly creepy. Obviously the fact that Andrew has been exposed to these types of things for sometime has made his outlook on life a little jaded. I really like that about him because he is about to get tossed from the relatively safe USA to the heart of Germany in search of a super evil book.
There is only 1 female character, Olivia, and if there was another female, she was in passing and I can’t recall if she had a name. Obviously, I would have liked more female characters since the ladies make up ~50% of the population. Olivia herself is OK. She’s a total sexkitten – scrumptious to look at, and the sexual object for a good chunk of her time on the page. Yet she isn’t totally useless. She doesn’t scream or faint too often and she gets to fire a gun and successfully run away. Still, more could have been done with her character.
The action scenes are well balanced with quieter moments where Andrew is reflecting on circumstances. Of course he has to worry about the Nazis, but then there are also the plans of the Traum Cult that stole the Necronomicon. Toss is concerns about being sold out by one of his boon companions, and Andrew has quite a lot on his mind. Overall, it is a solid start to the series. the mix of Lovecraftian creepy, action, and bigger picture save my soul stuff is great.
The Narration: Shaun Toole had absolutely awesome voices for the creepy Fishmen. I was really impressed with how he got that underwater gurgly voice and still be understandable. His German and French accents felt forced. While I could appreciate his effort, they didn’t work for me and definitely could use some improvement. That said, he was the perfect voice for Andrew Doran, being a mix of scholarly skepticism and decisive action.
Andrew Doran was an intriguing character to follow around. At first he comes off as a little stuffy and scholarly but then we see what he sees: creatures from the Void. I loved all the Lovecraftian stuff going on in this book, much of it centered around our main character. The Fishmen were particularly creepy. Obviously the fact that Andrew has been exposed to these types of things for sometime has made his outlook on life a little jaded. I really like that about him because he is about to get tossed from the relatively safe USA to the heart of Germany in search of a super evil book.
There is only 1 female character, Olivia, and if there was another female, she was in passing and I can’t recall if she had a name. Obviously, I would have liked more female characters since the ladies make up ~50% of the population. Olivia herself is OK. She’s a total sexkitten – scrumptious to look at, and the sexual object for a good chunk of her time on the page. Yet she isn’t totally useless. She doesn’t scream or faint too often and she gets to fire a gun and successfully run away. Still, more could have been done with her character.
The action scenes are well balanced with quieter moments where Andrew is reflecting on circumstances. Of course he has to worry about the Nazis, but then there are also the plans of the Traum Cult that stole the Necronomicon. Toss is concerns about being sold out by one of his boon companions, and Andrew has quite a lot on his mind. Overall, it is a solid start to the series. the mix of Lovecraftian creepy, action, and bigger picture save my soul stuff is great.
The Narration: Shaun Toole had absolutely awesome voices for the creepy Fishmen. I was really impressed with how he got that underwater gurgly voice and still be understandable. His German and French accents felt forced. While I could appreciate his effort, they didn’t work for me and definitely could use some improvement. That said, he was the perfect voice for Andrew Doran, being a mix of scholarly skepticism and decisive action.
June 2, 2015
THE STATEMENT OF ANDREW DORAN
Author: Matthew Davenport
Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged
Narrator: Shaun Toole
Length: 6 hours, 28 minutes
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Publisher: Matthew Davenport
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is difficult to classify. It could be filed as "Horror." It could be described as "Fantasy." It could be filed as "Historical Fiction." It could be classified as a thriller; however it is actually all of the above.
In this book there are nazis, wizards, demons, Gods, soldiers, sailors, winemakers and more.
Dr. Andrew Doran is a Monster Hunter. The year is 1941 and World War 2 is raging.
Andrew Doran works at a University that houses (and displays) the only known English translation of a book called the "Necronomicon." It is also the only copy in existence that contains all the original charts and diagrams. This book is capable of calling great evil into our world.
The "Necronomicon" is stolen by the Nazis and it is up to Andrew Doran to head into the heart of Nazi territory to retrieve it before Hitler has a chance to use it to bring evil Gods, demons and other creatures into the world.
This book is a fascinating look at an alternative (supernatural) history of World War II.
The narrator does an outstanding job with this audiobook. With the garbled names of demons, Gods and other supernatural creatures it would have been excusable for him to stumble over the pronunciations, but he didn't; not even once. That is an impressive feat. I also really enjoyed the timbre of his voice and his cadence. His pacing was also perfect. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars.
Author: Matthew Davenport
Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged
Narrator: Shaun Toole
Length: 6 hours, 28 minutes
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Publisher: Matthew Davenport
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is difficult to classify. It could be filed as "Horror." It could be described as "Fantasy." It could be filed as "Historical Fiction." It could be classified as a thriller; however it is actually all of the above.
In this book there are nazis, wizards, demons, Gods, soldiers, sailors, winemakers and more.
Dr. Andrew Doran is a Monster Hunter. The year is 1941 and World War 2 is raging.
Andrew Doran works at a University that houses (and displays) the only known English translation of a book called the "Necronomicon." It is also the only copy in existence that contains all the original charts and diagrams. This book is capable of calling great evil into our world.
The "Necronomicon" is stolen by the Nazis and it is up to Andrew Doran to head into the heart of Nazi territory to retrieve it before Hitler has a chance to use it to bring evil Gods, demons and other creatures into the world.
This book is a fascinating look at an alternative (supernatural) history of World War II.
The narrator does an outstanding job with this audiobook. With the garbled names of demons, Gods and other supernatural creatures it would have been excusable for him to stumble over the pronunciations, but he didn't; not even once. That is an impressive feat. I also really enjoyed the timbre of his voice and his cadence. His pacing was also perfect. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars.
June 3, 2015
I would probably have given this one 5 stars if I had read it instead of listened to it. The story was great! If you like the Cthulhu mythos, you'll love this.
October 14, 2017
I had a friend recommend this author as someone to watch. After listening to this, I wholeheartedly agree! In a landscape filled with Dresden Files clones, someone willing to look at urban fantasy more like Brian Lumley is a refreshing change of pace. Moving the story back to WW2 era Europe helps give the story a flavor all its own.
Andrew Doran is an Archaeologist, a minor mage and former instructor at Misketonic University. He is called in by the university's Dean, since it seems the English translation of the Necronomicon has been stolen by the Nazis and taken back to Germany to have its secrets unlocked by the Thule Society. Well, as much as Andrew hates the Dean, he knows that those evil spells in the hands of madmen bent on world conquest is bad. Traveling to Nazi occupied France, Andrew is connected up with some members of the French Resistance, Including their beautiful leader. They escape the Nazis in France to travel to Switzerland, where they can find a source who can point them to the Necronomicon's location. What they find is a twisted nightmare that almost kills them, although they do find the information they need.
They are captured by the Germans, though, and are brought into Germany in chains. However, you cant keep a hero down, and in a scene reminiscent of the truck chase and fight scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, they manage to escape, and make their way to Berlin where the book is being kept. What follows after they arrive is such a wild scene of chaos, dark magic, harrowing chases, necromantic rituals and discovery about the true nature of his ally. The ending sets up more books in the series, but it is a stand alone. A very satisfying ending with a great twist you won's see coming.
I was impressed with the world building in this book. It is obvious the author researched the era thoroughly, and is also familiar with Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. The setting is very natural, and you get a real sense of being right in the thick of the action, In a WW2 era Europe. The hopelessness and despair, the suspicion and terror they lived through, as well as the otherworldly threats, really give it a palpable sense of tension and menace.
The characters are top notch, with Andrew Doran being conflicted about his own power, and the accessibility of powers better left unknown by man. His allies are well fleshed out and described, and are believable in both their motivations and actions. The villains are especially fun, reminding me most of the Nazi's from the aforementioned Raiders of the Lost Ark. We know what their motivations are, and its very easy to loathe them. So, good job with the villains as well, even the surprise villain, who shall remain nameless.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a change of pace from the Dresden clones. Its a great combo of Urban fantasy and a period thriller. I am very excited to see where the next book goes.
As far as narration, Shaun Toole is effective. He really nails the main character, but did seem to struggle a bit with accents. That being said, the narration was smooth, and it is very listenable. I wouldn't let a minor quibble keep you from listening to it. Again, I highly recommend this book.
Andrew Doran is an Archaeologist, a minor mage and former instructor at Misketonic University. He is called in by the university's Dean, since it seems the English translation of the Necronomicon has been stolen by the Nazis and taken back to Germany to have its secrets unlocked by the Thule Society. Well, as much as Andrew hates the Dean, he knows that those evil spells in the hands of madmen bent on world conquest is bad. Traveling to Nazi occupied France, Andrew is connected up with some members of the French Resistance, Including their beautiful leader. They escape the Nazis in France to travel to Switzerland, where they can find a source who can point them to the Necronomicon's location. What they find is a twisted nightmare that almost kills them, although they do find the information they need.
They are captured by the Germans, though, and are brought into Germany in chains. However, you cant keep a hero down, and in a scene reminiscent of the truck chase and fight scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, they manage to escape, and make their way to Berlin where the book is being kept. What follows after they arrive is such a wild scene of chaos, dark magic, harrowing chases, necromantic rituals and discovery about the true nature of his ally. The ending sets up more books in the series, but it is a stand alone. A very satisfying ending with a great twist you won's see coming.
I was impressed with the world building in this book. It is obvious the author researched the era thoroughly, and is also familiar with Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. The setting is very natural, and you get a real sense of being right in the thick of the action, In a WW2 era Europe. The hopelessness and despair, the suspicion and terror they lived through, as well as the otherworldly threats, really give it a palpable sense of tension and menace.
The characters are top notch, with Andrew Doran being conflicted about his own power, and the accessibility of powers better left unknown by man. His allies are well fleshed out and described, and are believable in both their motivations and actions. The villains are especially fun, reminding me most of the Nazi's from the aforementioned Raiders of the Lost Ark. We know what their motivations are, and its very easy to loathe them. So, good job with the villains as well, even the surprise villain, who shall remain nameless.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a change of pace from the Dresden clones. Its a great combo of Urban fantasy and a period thriller. I am very excited to see where the next book goes.
As far as narration, Shaun Toole is effective. He really nails the main character, but did seem to struggle a bit with accents. That being said, the narration was smooth, and it is very listenable. I wouldn't let a minor quibble keep you from listening to it. Again, I highly recommend this book.
November 3, 2023
I really don’t understand all of the 5-star reviews here. Despite going into it with no expectations, I was still pretty disappointed. While I didn’t exactly hate it, it was still a chore to get through, and actively irritating at many points. Overall, there are several big issues with the book
The author has tried to shoehorn as many elements of Lovecraft's fiction into the story as he can manage - without even the slightest modicum of subtlety in any of it - and the result is that it feels more like a monster checklist, lacking any sense of dread or menace as every monster and it’s dog works out in the open with no fear of discovery.
The main character is a dislikable Mary Sue who knows literally everything about everything and overcomes every obstacle with ease. His magic sword and gun make mincemeat of even the most formidable foes, his innate magical abilities allow him to get out of any situation as if it wasn’t there, and his injuries vanish two paragraphs after they are sustained (broken nose? Happens at least 3 times in the course of a week, and yet doesn’t seem to bother him. Hands set ablaze by the same fire that burns away his restraints? Forgotten after the initial description of how painful it is. Gunshot wound? Mildly inconvenient for the length of time it takes to run down a long corridor. Sanity shattered by the horrors he’s seen in the void beyond our dimension? Quick shake to clear the head and he’s fine). He gets the beautiful girl- she’s a manifestation of his psyche, and literally unable to be attracted to anyone else. And that dark sorcery that we’ve been told all the way through the story is too dangerous to use, and corrupts everyone who tries? Not for Our Hero, it just turns him into Neo from the Matrix but with magic powers. To top it all off, the boffins at Miskatonic University decide to make him their new Dean at the conclusion, but don’t need him to actually do the Dean's job.
One last thing, and I understand that this won’t be an issue for everyone, but the author seems to see Americans as the master race in the same way as the Nazis baddies - who we are told at every opportunity are purest evil - see themselves. For example, we hear folks saying things like "You and your crazy American ways!" every time the protagonist sails through his latest impossible situation, and the American version of the Necronomicon is the best one despite being a translation of a far older work.
In summary, I gave this 2 stars because it evoked irritation more than anything else.
The author has tried to shoehorn as many elements of Lovecraft's fiction into the story as he can manage - without even the slightest modicum of subtlety in any of it - and the result is that it feels more like a monster checklist, lacking any sense of dread or menace as every monster and it’s dog works out in the open with no fear of discovery.
The main character is a dislikable Mary Sue who knows literally everything about everything and overcomes every obstacle with ease. His magic sword and gun make mincemeat of even the most formidable foes, his innate magical abilities allow him to get out of any situation as if it wasn’t there, and his injuries vanish two paragraphs after they are sustained (broken nose? Happens at least 3 times in the course of a week, and yet doesn’t seem to bother him. Hands set ablaze by the same fire that burns away his restraints? Forgotten after the initial description of how painful it is. Gunshot wound? Mildly inconvenient for the length of time it takes to run down a long corridor. Sanity shattered by the horrors he’s seen in the void beyond our dimension? Quick shake to clear the head and he’s fine). He gets the beautiful girl- she’s a manifestation of his psyche, and literally unable to be attracted to anyone else. And that dark sorcery that we’ve been told all the way through the story is too dangerous to use, and corrupts everyone who tries? Not for Our Hero, it just turns him into Neo from the Matrix but with magic powers. To top it all off, the boffins at Miskatonic University decide to make him their new Dean at the conclusion, but don’t need him to actually do the Dean's job.
One last thing, and I understand that this won’t be an issue for everyone, but the author seems to see Americans as the master race in the same way as the Nazis baddies - who we are told at every opportunity are purest evil - see themselves. For example, we hear folks saying things like "You and your crazy American ways!" every time the protagonist sails through his latest impossible situation, and the American version of the Necronomicon is the best one despite being a translation of a far older work.
In summary, I gave this 2 stars because it evoked irritation more than anything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
Kicking Nazi ass, Lovecraft-style
Mathew Davenport’s The Statement of Andrew Doran is the first installment of an occult historical fiction trilogy that takes on a Lovecraftian horror twist. Found in a Nazi-occupied Europe pre-World War II setting, readers are introduced to the dynamic protagonist, Dr. Andrew Doran. Easily seen as a magic-wielding Indiana Jones homage character, Andrew’s exploits are entertaining, though his character is more somber and lacks Dr. Jone’s witty charm.
The narrative and plot are among the best aspects of The Statement of Andrew Doran. The plot rapidly engrosses readers, urging them to continue reading to keep track of the numerous twists and turns that the story takes throughout. The integration of Lovecraftian horror within the narrative was another notable aspect woven expertly into the plot by an author that is clearly a fan and student of the Cthulhu Mythos.
Undoubtedly, the novel shines primarily for its outstanding plot, but it is not without its flaws. The quality of writing was average, and the interplay dialogue between characters could have been more substantial and convincing. Additionally, the narrative seemed to jump between different scenes, making it challenging to follow and connect. This could be attributed to the fact that the book was initially published as an episodic serial adventure and later compiled into its current form as a novel.
Despite these minor shortcomings, the strengths of the book easily outweigh its flaws, making it an enjoyable read. The Statement of Andrew Doran is a must-read for those who love occult historical fiction and Lovecraftian horror, offering a unique and entertaining narrative.
The narration of the audiobook is adequate but not outstanding. Patrick Harvey’s even tone lends an air of confidence to Andrew Doran but is too calm to bring much excitement to action-filled or stressful moments. But characters are voiced well, with various accents and inflections, but overall the narration doesn’t particularly add to or detract from the enjoyability of the novel.
Special thanks to Mathew Davenport, who provided me with this book at my request.
Mathew Davenport’s The Statement of Andrew Doran is the first installment of an occult historical fiction trilogy that takes on a Lovecraftian horror twist. Found in a Nazi-occupied Europe pre-World War II setting, readers are introduced to the dynamic protagonist, Dr. Andrew Doran. Easily seen as a magic-wielding Indiana Jones homage character, Andrew’s exploits are entertaining, though his character is more somber and lacks Dr. Jone’s witty charm.
The narrative and plot are among the best aspects of The Statement of Andrew Doran. The plot rapidly engrosses readers, urging them to continue reading to keep track of the numerous twists and turns that the story takes throughout. The integration of Lovecraftian horror within the narrative was another notable aspect woven expertly into the plot by an author that is clearly a fan and student of the Cthulhu Mythos.
Undoubtedly, the novel shines primarily for its outstanding plot, but it is not without its flaws. The quality of writing was average, and the interplay dialogue between characters could have been more substantial and convincing. Additionally, the narrative seemed to jump between different scenes, making it challenging to follow and connect. This could be attributed to the fact that the book was initially published as an episodic serial adventure and later compiled into its current form as a novel.
Despite these minor shortcomings, the strengths of the book easily outweigh its flaws, making it an enjoyable read. The Statement of Andrew Doran is a must-read for those who love occult historical fiction and Lovecraftian horror, offering a unique and entertaining narrative.
The narration of the audiobook is adequate but not outstanding. Patrick Harvey’s even tone lends an air of confidence to Andrew Doran but is too calm to bring much excitement to action-filled or stressful moments. But characters are voiced well, with various accents and inflections, but overall the narration doesn’t particularly add to or detract from the enjoyability of the novel.
Special thanks to Mathew Davenport, who provided me with this book at my request.
September 2, 2023
This was originally recommended to me as "Indiana Jones versus Cthulhu Nazis." And, there's no denying all the elements are there: definitely Cthulhu Nazis, the Necronomicon, monsters from the madness-inducing void, lots of callbacks to Lovecraft's oeuvre, a globe-trotting archeologist.
But half the fun of Indiana Jones was that you KNEW he was in waaaay over his head. Super-competent at what he knows, of course. But still half the time you could almost hear the little voice in his head shouting, "Ohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrap!" It was a part of his lovable charm.
Not so with Andrew Doran. He's all competent, all the time. Even when he's "in over his head," He's not actually all that fazed by it. Took some of the fun out of it.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, and I'm getting ready to read Book Two. But Indiana Jones he ain't.
But half the fun of Indiana Jones was that you KNEW he was in waaaay over his head. Super-competent at what he knows, of course. But still half the time you could almost hear the little voice in his head shouting, "Ohcrapohcrapohcrapohcrap!" It was a part of his lovable charm.
Not so with Andrew Doran. He's all competent, all the time. Even when he's "in over his head," He's not actually all that fazed by it. Took some of the fun out of it.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, and I'm getting ready to read Book Two. But Indiana Jones he ain't.
June 25, 2019
This book delivers what it says it will on the tin - an occult-inclined archaeologist battling Nazis to reclaim the Necronomicon. Resulting hijinks ensue.
And if that concept sounds appealing then this should be an enjoyable book. It was for me!
I did find the writing to be a little awkward in some instances, but it wasn’t enough to take me out of the story and the action flowed very well.
It helps to be familiar with Lovecraft’s work, as it does with most of these modern day Mythos tales, as references are sprinkled liberally throughout but to me that’s part of the charm. The chapter title will let you know what Mythos monstie/magic Doran will be fighting for those that are in the know. ;)
I look forward to the next Andrew Doran book!
And if that concept sounds appealing then this should be an enjoyable book. It was for me!
I did find the writing to be a little awkward in some instances, but it wasn’t enough to take me out of the story and the action flowed very well.
It helps to be familiar with Lovecraft’s work, as it does with most of these modern day Mythos tales, as references are sprinkled liberally throughout but to me that’s part of the charm. The chapter title will let you know what Mythos monstie/magic Doran will be fighting for those that are in the know. ;)
I look forward to the next Andrew Doran book!
April 27, 2025
Rollicking Good Read
Our hero, titular Andrew Doran, is a blend of Indiana Jones meets Proffesor Croft meets Harry Dresden.
This book does a great job of mixing action and the occult. It's nice to see a protagonist who has the moxie to have magical powers and isn't afraid to use them.
The book starts with action and keeps building on that throughout the story, right up until the end.
I highly recommend this book.
Our hero, titular Andrew Doran, is a blend of Indiana Jones meets Proffesor Croft meets Harry Dresden.
This book does a great job of mixing action and the occult. It's nice to see a protagonist who has the moxie to have magical powers and isn't afraid to use them.
The book starts with action and keeps building on that throughout the story, right up until the end.
I highly recommend this book.
July 25, 2021
A little Pulp Fiction - Lovecraft & Indiana Jones of sorts chasing books used by Nazi's, Cultists, and Institutions to the detriment of humanity; Andrew Doran is the Archaeologist taking them down. It's an adventure!
July 29, 2021
Indiana Jones meets Lovecraft. The story is fun, but it is more interested in referencing Lovecraft works than telling its own tale. Worth a read, and I'll continue in the series, because they are short and exciting.
April 1, 2024
The author is enthusiastic and has thrown a load of Lovecraftian tales into a blender together with Indiana Jones. It doesn't work. A lot more rigorous historical research is needed together with a temper to that enthusiasm.
January 12, 2019
Wonderful book! I can't wait to read more about Dr. Doran's adventures!
July 19, 2019
A FINE TALE IT IS.....
Hello, this story is just plain awesome. Very well written and entertaining to read. Why do Nazis make a better story. Thanks.
Hello, this story is just plain awesome. Very well written and entertaining to read. Why do Nazis make a better story. Thanks.
February 20, 2023
Nazi zombies, Insane driven monsters, Elder Gods, and magical weapons, a gun and sword.
Fast, detailed, and a lot of fun, this book has it all. Definitely a winner.
Fast, detailed, and a lot of fun, this book has it all. Definitely a winner.
August 26, 2014
A rip-roaring full-blooded mash-up: Indiana Jones meets HP Lovecraft and comes out fighting...
This is the exact literary equivalent of an old-time classic Saturday morning serial in which the eponymous Dr Moran heads of to Nazi Germany to recover a certain rather important book. And unlike HPLs own fainting-prone heroes, Doran is always ready with a fist, a gun and a ready quip in the face of eldritch horrors.
Every chapter is an episode, and Moran can't get on a boat or walk into a bar without getting into trouble, mainly because the Nazis throw a whole bestiary of Mythos creatures at him. The book takes a few chapters to really hit its stride, but by the time our hero is in a car chase pursued by machine-gun toting Nazi zombies, you're wondering how Davenport is ever going to top that -- but he does.
In between action scenes, Moran has good reason to doubt his own sanity, and needless to say, All Is Not As It Seems. Lovecraft purists might take umbrage at some of the interpretations, but that would be entirely missing the point of this spirited romp. Bring popcorn and enjoy the show.
This is the exact literary equivalent of an old-time classic Saturday morning serial in which the eponymous Dr Moran heads of to Nazi Germany to recover a certain rather important book. And unlike HPLs own fainting-prone heroes, Doran is always ready with a fist, a gun and a ready quip in the face of eldritch horrors.
Every chapter is an episode, and Moran can't get on a boat or walk into a bar without getting into trouble, mainly because the Nazis throw a whole bestiary of Mythos creatures at him. The book takes a few chapters to really hit its stride, but by the time our hero is in a car chase pursued by machine-gun toting Nazi zombies, you're wondering how Davenport is ever going to top that -- but he does.
In between action scenes, Moran has good reason to doubt his own sanity, and needless to say, All Is Not As It Seems. Lovecraft purists might take umbrage at some of the interpretations, but that would be entirely missing the point of this spirited romp. Bring popcorn and enjoy the show.
October 13, 2014
This is a very interesting read, full of surprises. I love the story, and found it very entertaining. I love stories that entertain.
Dr. Andrew Doran, the protagonist of the enchanting story, started off being too boastful for my liking, as well as making himself a super human. But then, he had to be a super human to survive all the beating, falling, and near death escapes he endured.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I have to say that the editor did a vey poor job of keeping the story as free from errors as possible. One error was constant throughout the book, and it was the use of “than” instead of “that.” Chapter four of the book should have been given a much closer editing than it received. There were just too many run-on sentences in this chapter, that after going through them two or three times, I could still not understand what the author was trying to say.
For a story of this beauty, I would advice the author to get a good editor to give the story again, a once over. The story itself is too good to be butchered like that.
Dr. Andrew Doran, the protagonist of the enchanting story, started off being too boastful for my liking, as well as making himself a super human. But then, he had to be a super human to survive all the beating, falling, and near death escapes he endured.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I have to say that the editor did a vey poor job of keeping the story as free from errors as possible. One error was constant throughout the book, and it was the use of “than” instead of “that.” Chapter four of the book should have been given a much closer editing than it received. There were just too many run-on sentences in this chapter, that after going through them two or three times, I could still not understand what the author was trying to say.
For a story of this beauty, I would advice the author to get a good editor to give the story again, a once over. The story itself is too good to be butchered like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2015
Interesting Story
"The Statement of Andrew Doran" was an interesting listen. There were times where I got lost in the plot but overall I liked it. Professor Doran goes all in to get the Necronomicon back from the Nazi's. I think it was ambitious with a considerable amount of detail which made it hard to follow at times.
I would recommend this audiobook and will likely listen to it again for details that I may have missed. Sometimes things make more sense if listened to twice, at least for me. I think it's worth it. It almost had a steampunk-ish feel to me rather than fantasy. There was a lot going on in the story so it requires a lot of attention.
Shaun Toole's narration is what made it better for me. I liked his style in this one. He does a great job with all the character's accents and his timing was good. I liked Olivia and the German voices were terrific. He had a lot to work with and handled it very professionally. Great job from both Matthew Davenport and Shaun Toole.
Audiobook received in exchange for an unbiased review.
"The Statement of Andrew Doran" was an interesting listen. There were times where I got lost in the plot but overall I liked it. Professor Doran goes all in to get the Necronomicon back from the Nazi's. I think it was ambitious with a considerable amount of detail which made it hard to follow at times.
I would recommend this audiobook and will likely listen to it again for details that I may have missed. Sometimes things make more sense if listened to twice, at least for me. I think it's worth it. It almost had a steampunk-ish feel to me rather than fantasy. There was a lot going on in the story so it requires a lot of attention.
Shaun Toole's narration is what made it better for me. I liked his style in this one. He does a great job with all the character's accents and his timing was good. I liked Olivia and the German voices were terrific. He had a lot to work with and handled it very professionally. Great job from both Matthew Davenport and Shaun Toole.
Audiobook received in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 17, 2015
The Statement of Andrew Doran was an enjoy action filled book. Why some parts in the book made me question how anyone could live though the thing Andrew Doran did, but it didn't make the book any less enjoyable. Like the other people said in other reviews it did have a Indiana Jones with Lovecraft. Why I don't normally read Lovecraft, I did enjoy the mix of the two. I would recommend this book but not the audio book version. I just didn't care for one of the characters voice. Over give it a read.
April 8, 2015
Cultists, Nazis and one great adventure
Overall I enjoyed the adventure and was glad to be along for the ride. The character development was great and pulled you into the story so that you were really rooting for Dr. Doran at every twist and turn. With that said there were a few battle sequences that just seemed to make him a bit to perfect or lucky in the fight. That aside this was a fun read with the the Lovecraft mythos as the backdrop of WWII Europe.
Overall I enjoyed the adventure and was glad to be along for the ride. The character development was great and pulled you into the story so that you were really rooting for Dr. Doran at every twist and turn. With that said there were a few battle sequences that just seemed to make him a bit to perfect or lucky in the fight. That aside this was a fun read with the the Lovecraft mythos as the backdrop of WWII Europe.
April 6, 2015
Good storyline and development. Excellent characterizatons of humans and non humans. Descriptions of personalities and weaponry as well as environments clear. Loved the story and set up for next in series. Great fun, grabs you by the brain and won't let go!
May 5, 2015
I was given the audiobook with the proviso that I provide an honest review.
I enjoyed the book. Others have said Indiana Jones fused with Lovecraft but I also felt some Dirk Pitt or Spenser tones as well. The plot did seem hard to follow at times but overall I am a fan and would read more.
I enjoyed the book. Others have said Indiana Jones fused with Lovecraft but I also felt some Dirk Pitt or Spenser tones as well. The plot did seem hard to follow at times but overall I am a fan and would read more.
July 3, 2016
Action packed and a quick moving book, although it's not much of a plot and the characters weren't as well-developed as I would have liked.
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