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Dirk Cooper #1
Paranormal Real Estate
The problems in Dirk Cooper's life were Ghosts, Money, and The Mob. The solution was Real Estate.
Join notable hobo Dirk Cooper as he lies, cheats, and steals his way through life. Desperate to recover the things he lost during the housing crash of 2008, Dirk thinks his troubles are over when he is approached by a wealthy and powerful man with haunted houses to sell. Things are not as they seem and soon he is caught up in a web of dark magic and danger the likes of which he has never encountered before.
Join notable hobo Dirk Cooper as he lies, cheats, and steals his way through life. Desperate to recover the things he lost during the housing crash of 2008, Dirk thinks his troubles are over when he is approached by a wealthy and powerful man with haunted houses to sell. Things are not as they seem and soon he is caught up in a web of dark magic and danger the likes of which he has never encountered before.
10 pages, Audiobook
Published January 1, 2022
21 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 23, 2024
Paranormal Real Estate
By Matthew Howry
This is the second review I have written for this. I accidentally deleted the first one! Ugh! I couldn't find a way to undo my deletion.
This is about a cheat/con man who ends up owing a lot of money to some very bad people. He decides to sell real estate. No one wants to live in a haunted house, so he works with a ghost, and they scam people. He magically runs the ghosts out. Gets a large amount of money.
Later, he works for a wealthy man who happens to have a lot of properties that are already haunted. He gets paid very well to get the ghosts to leave.
There's plenty of humor, witty banter, and clever situations. Loved the characters. The ending was great and not a cliffhanger, which I hate. It had a satisfying ending and a fun tease for the next book.
By Matthew Howry
This is the second review I have written for this. I accidentally deleted the first one! Ugh! I couldn't find a way to undo my deletion.
This is about a cheat/con man who ends up owing a lot of money to some very bad people. He decides to sell real estate. No one wants to live in a haunted house, so he works with a ghost, and they scam people. He magically runs the ghosts out. Gets a large amount of money.
Later, he works for a wealthy man who happens to have a lot of properties that are already haunted. He gets paid very well to get the ghosts to leave.
There's plenty of humor, witty banter, and clever situations. Loved the characters. The ending was great and not a cliffhanger, which I hate. It had a satisfying ending and a fun tease for the next book.
October 17, 2023
Paranormal Real Estate (Dirk Cooper #1)" - A Hauntingly Hilarious Debut in the Paranormal Realty Market
"Paranormal Real Estate (Dirk Cooper #1)" by Matthew Howry is a rib-tickling and ghostly start to a series that blends the supernatural with the absurd, all set within the high-stakes world of real estate. Howry's unique concoction of humor and the paranormal makes this book a standout in a crowded genre.
The story follows Dirk Cooper, a down-on-his-luck real estate agent who finds himself inexplicably drawn into the realm of paranormal properties. In a world where haunted houses are prime pieces of real estate, Dirk's escapades in buying and selling these ghostly abodes are the stuff of legend. Howry's narrative style combines quick-witted humor with a touch of the eerie, creating a perfect atmosphere for this quirky tale.
Dirk Cooper is a character who stands out in the paranormal fiction genre. He's not the typical brave ghost hunter, but rather a reluctant and often bumbling agent who's out of his depth. His relatable personality and his humorous reactions to the supernatural occurrences make him an endearing and entertaining protagonist.
The book's take on paranormal elements is refreshingly light-hearted. Instead of dark and ominous, the supernatural occurrences are often comical, adding a layer of absurdity to the story. Howry's imaginative portrayal of haunted houses and their eccentric ghostly inhabitants is a comedic delight.
Humor is the heart and soul of "Paranormal Real Estate." Howry's clever wordplay, witty banter, and the absurdity of Dirk's situations will have you laughing out loud. It's a book that embraces the paranormal while never taking itself too seriously, and the result is a hilarious journey into a world where specters, spooks, and squatters are all part of a real estate agent's daily grind.
As a debut in the paranormal comedy genre, "Paranormal Real Estate" is a promising start. It sets itself apart from its contemporaries by offering a fresh and humorous take on the supernatural, and it showcases Howry's ability to infuse humor into a genre that often veers toward horror or the macabre.
In conclusion, "Paranormal Real Estate (Dirk Cooper #1)" is a must-read for those who enjoy paranormal fiction with a comedic twist. Matthew Howry's witty storytelling, unique blend of real estate and the supernatural, and the hilarious escapades of Dirk Cooper make this book a standout in the genre. It's a lighthearted and entertaining debut that promises more ghostly laughs in the books to come.
September 6, 2023
This book could have been good, but it wasn’t. The main character is an idiot that works for the big bad guy for 90% of the story without picking up on very obvious clues that dude was sketchy. He even points out when he thinks something is off but then just goes, eh, I’m sure it’s fine!
I figured out who the bad guy was super early so the “big reveal” was not so big. Also, the way Rudy is this unassuming guy the whole book then suddenly he’s a super demon cult master is just ridiculous. ALSO, supposedly Rudy is not the big movie guy he thought he was and yet Maria (or whatever her name was) was supposedly a big fan but she never noticed?
The last point I’ll make is that I never understood why I should care about Dirk out his dealings at all. He’s a jerk who helps ghosts that are no use to him and uses the others to help him scam people so he can pay his gambling debts. What is his quest? How does he redeem his bad qualities? Why should we root for him and what are we rooting for him to do? None of these questions are answered.
There’s a lot more wrong with this book but I don’t have the energy to write more after all of my life I have already wasted on this story. Do not recommend.
I figured out who the bad guy was super early so the “big reveal” was not so big. Also, the way Rudy is this unassuming guy the whole book then suddenly he’s a super demon cult master is just ridiculous. ALSO, supposedly Rudy is not the big movie guy he thought he was and yet Maria (or whatever her name was) was supposedly a big fan but she never noticed?
The last point I’ll make is that I never understood why I should care about Dirk out his dealings at all. He’s a jerk who helps ghosts that are no use to him and uses the others to help him scam people so he can pay his gambling debts. What is his quest? How does he redeem his bad qualities? Why should we root for him and what are we rooting for him to do? None of these questions are answered.
There’s a lot more wrong with this book but I don’t have the energy to write more after all of my life I have already wasted on this story. Do not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2023
The dollar store version of John Constantine I guess.
Supernatural exorcist that finds haunted houses and flips them for a living. No joke, that's really it.
The writing style is a bit weird, lots of fragmented sentences and threads that lead nowhere. the author loves to meander midsentence which is distracting.
I don't know if this was intentional or power fantasy creep but the book paints two different pictures of the MC. At first he is shown as juvenal, lazy and stupid. In fact the only reason he wasn't dead yet is because he relayed on taming random ghosts that help him out.
Around the midway point though he starts acting more mature, mid thirties instead of early twenties. There is an odd reference to his height, that he is taller than most men? That he's a smart dresser and cleans up nice. All that's missing is "and my boobs are way too big uwu" for the image to be complete.
Oh wait, that was hinted at in a scene when he needed to use the men's bathroom. Nevermind.
The book is a bit meandering, the writing style distracting but over all it's entertaining I guess.
Supernatural exorcist that finds haunted houses and flips them for a living. No joke, that's really it.
The writing style is a bit weird, lots of fragmented sentences and threads that lead nowhere. the author loves to meander midsentence which is distracting.
I don't know if this was intentional or power fantasy creep but the book paints two different pictures of the MC. At first he is shown as juvenal, lazy and stupid. In fact the only reason he wasn't dead yet is because he relayed on taming random ghosts that help him out.
Around the midway point though he starts acting more mature, mid thirties instead of early twenties. There is an odd reference to his height, that he is taller than most men? That he's a smart dresser and cleans up nice. All that's missing is "and my boobs are way too big uwu" for the image to be complete.
Oh wait, that was hinted at in a scene when he needed to use the men's bathroom. Nevermind.
The book is a bit meandering, the writing style distracting but over all it's entertaining I guess.
October 25, 2022
Fun MC and side characters, Cook is the best, little fella always gets a snicker out of me. Setting is MC can see spirit realm and uses it to his advantage while dealing with mobsters and other unsavories. MC however does Not believe in magic/fantasy beings and chalks up any hints of existence to spiritual beings imitating fantasy beings. The ending is not for the light of heart. While the ending is dark it was a surprisingly fun read. Book two which I will also review, had the rare phenomena of being even better than the first.
December 4, 2023
There are plenty of magic using private investigators, police officers, and ghost busting demon-hunters. This is the first time I've seen a paranormal real estate agent. What is even better is that Dirk Cooper uses his ability to communicate with ghosts to, shall we say, "swindle" home owners. After a quick look into his world -- including the rooms where he squats and the various people to whom he owes money -- Cooper is soon drawn into a mystery where he has to deal with multiple ghosts, locations, and humorous subplots.
April 26, 2024
This was a good book! I didn’t know what to expect with the beginning but it quickly became interesting and engaging. It has a good bit of humor, emotion, drama, and interesting twists. The plot stayed on track for the most part, flowed well and kept the story moving along smoothly. I would actually have liked to hear more about some things which were not all explained in this book. I hope the author uses them and explains more in the next book. I read the audio book and the reader’s voice works well with the story. I am looking forward to more in this series!
June 18, 2022
book one
Mistakes: I really wanted to rate this higher, but either the formatting was bad or the editing was. I lost track of the number of broken sentences in this book. I posted them all on GoodReads.
Plot: Best I can say is if you like Harry Dresden you will enjoy this.
Characters: The mc is the exact opposite of a white knight, ok maybe not that bad. He is definitely a tarnished knight though.
4/10 Fix this book of the broken sentences and it becomes an 8/10
Mistakes: I really wanted to rate this higher, but either the formatting was bad or the editing was. I lost track of the number of broken sentences in this book. I posted them all on GoodReads.
Plot: Best I can say is if you like Harry Dresden you will enjoy this.
Characters: The mc is the exact opposite of a white knight, ok maybe not that bad. He is definitely a tarnished knight though.
4/10 Fix this book of the broken sentences and it becomes an 8/10
September 22, 2023
A random title recommend that popped up and it turns out its right up my alley. It went from funny to overly dark and menacing toward the end though to such a degree I was a bit disturbed. Might be better classed as something along the lines of a horror-comedy. Would like to see more of his day to day work but now of course, I want to read the sequel and find out what happened to the unfinished activities of the first. Damn cliff-hanger endings!
February 8, 2023
So the name immediately makes me think of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, and I wasn't disappointed. There's a lot of heart in this book, but boy that ending is nuts.
March 8, 2023
This book can be summed up as "if Constantine was dropped on the head as a child".
Yeah, a slow, not very clever Constantine with not a clue what is going on or what he's doing and basically clueless in every way. It somehow kinda works though and isn't a bad read. Everyone likes to feel smart, and it's easy to feel smart when reading about this guy. It's fun, intriguing and an enjoyable read.
Yeah, a slow, not very clever Constantine with not a clue what is going on or what he's doing and basically clueless in every way. It somehow kinda works though and isn't a bad read. Everyone likes to feel smart, and it's easy to feel smart when reading about this guy. It's fun, intriguing and an enjoyable read.
August 26, 2025
I am in love with this series. Loved every second, every word. It’s funny, keeps you hooked, and has great characters and amazing world building.
I might have wanted to smack the mc on the head a few times but honestly the book was pretty freaking awesome and I’m invested and diving into the next book immediately.
I might have wanted to smack the mc on the head a few times but honestly the book was pretty freaking awesome and I’m invested and diving into the next book immediately.
April 26, 2022
really pleasantly surprised
I’ve passed on reading this more than once and I shouldn’t have. This book was funny action filled and interesting. Filled with witty remarks and great characters that I can’t wait to get more of.
I’ve passed on reading this more than once and I shouldn’t have. This book was funny action filled and interesting. Filled with witty remarks and great characters that I can’t wait to get more of.
May 16, 2022
I called it. No big surprises, no big laughs. Not boring.
October 3, 2022
Excellent storytelling ! Love the humour ......highly recommended!
February 20, 2023
Fantastic book with excellent consequences for the bad guys.
Love it.
Love it.
June 22, 2023
This was a fun listen. I may go back and actually read the book though, because I think I missed a few things.
October 15, 2023
Outrageously fun. A bit macabre in nature. A super hero in hiding.
December 27, 2023
It's so much better than the show.
I hope it stays focused on mMc and doesn't go woke...
I hope it stays focused on mMc and doesn't go woke...
February 26, 2025
Audiobook - loved the narration by Scott Aiello, but thought the story really fell apart in the third act.
October 10, 2025
AUDIOBOOK ~
The narrator, Scott Aiello, was EXCELLENT and really gripped you in the supernatural chaos of Dirk Cooper! I’ve already bought the second in the series.
Bloody BRILLIANT!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
The narrator, Scott Aiello, was EXCELLENT and really gripped you in the supernatural chaos of Dirk Cooper! I’ve already bought the second in the series.
Bloody BRILLIANT!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews