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Nick Holleran #3
One Life Left
Nick Holleran’s life in Hell is about to get a whole lot worse.
Failing to learn from his previous escapades, Haven’s one and only Paranormal Detective stumbles through life, and makes deadly enemies in all the wrong places. Implicated in a growing number of murders, Nick scrambles to clear his name and uncover the true culprit, but old habits die hard. Sheltering his girlfriend Rosa, and their ghost ward Diana, from the harsh reality surrounding them, Nick finds himself hunted by an unstoppable creature craving blood and with few allies.
But with reality stranger and vaster than he ever realized, and long-dormant entities on the rise, can Nick Holleran put his past, and his reckless instincts, behind him and carve out a safe existence for himself and those he loves?
It’s the week of Christmas and, with one life left, Nick Holleran’s foes are closing in… And they smell blood.
Failing to learn from his previous escapades, Haven’s one and only Paranormal Detective stumbles through life, and makes deadly enemies in all the wrong places. Implicated in a growing number of murders, Nick scrambles to clear his name and uncover the true culprit, but old habits die hard. Sheltering his girlfriend Rosa, and their ghost ward Diana, from the harsh reality surrounding them, Nick finds himself hunted by an unstoppable creature craving blood and with few allies.
But with reality stranger and vaster than he ever realized, and long-dormant entities on the rise, can Nick Holleran put his past, and his reckless instincts, behind him and carve out a safe existence for himself and those he loves?
It’s the week of Christmas and, with one life left, Nick Holleran’s foes are closing in… And they smell blood.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2023
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
David Green
28 books285 followersDavid Green is a neurodivergent internationally best-selling writer of the epic and the urban, the fantastical and the mysterious.
With his character-driven dark fantasy series Empire Of Ruin, or urban fantasy noir Hell In Haven starring Haven's only supernatural PI Nick Holleran, David takes readers on emotional, character-driven, action-packed thrill rides that leaves a reader needing their next fix.
Hailing from the north-west of England, David now lives in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. When not writing, David can be found wondering why he chooses to live in, and write about, places where it constantly rains.
David represented by Laura Bennett at LLA.
Newsletter, claim your free story: https://mailchi.mp/8c735bf4584e/david...
Follow me here and keep up to date:
https://linktr.ee/davidgreenwriter
With his character-driven dark fantasy series Empire Of Ruin, or urban fantasy noir Hell In Haven starring Haven's only supernatural PI Nick Holleran, David takes readers on emotional, character-driven, action-packed thrill rides that leaves a reader needing their next fix.
Hailing from the north-west of England, David now lives in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. When not writing, David can be found wondering why he chooses to live in, and write about, places where it constantly rains.
David represented by Laura Bennett at LLA.
Newsletter, claim your free story: https://mailchi.mp/8c735bf4584e/david...
Follow me here and keep up to date:
https://linktr.ee/davidgreenwriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 12, 2024
Nick is back in this fantastic installment and he's learning, at glacially slow pace albeit, that he can't keep doing this thing alone. That those around him are completely badass and more than a little capable of taking care of themselves. It was really nice to see the developing relationship between Nick and Rosa and the dynamic that creates with Dianna. And of course Dianna was once again a fantastic character, there is so much more to her than meets the eye and I am cautiously excited to see how her powers evolve. I say cautiously because there is potential for great tragedy there. Either way though I am completely invested in this series.
I have said it before but if you like urban fantasy in gritty, darkly atmospheric settings then give Nick Holleran a go. I recommend starting with The Devil Walks in Blood even though chronologically The Darkness in the Pines comes first. Devil holds your hand a little more and lets you find your feet in Green's version of Hell which gives a richness to the plot of the prequel.
I have said it before but if you like urban fantasy in gritty, darkly atmospheric settings then give Nick Holleran a go. I recommend starting with The Devil Walks in Blood even though chronologically The Darkness in the Pines comes first. Devil holds your hand a little more and lets you find your feet in Green's version of Hell which gives a richness to the plot of the prequel.
September 5, 2024
One Life Left is the book version of Die Hard...it's a Christmas book! Just like Die Hard, this story is full of action, bad guys and also family, love and self realization.
Nick gets himself (along with the regular cast of characters in Diana, Rosa, Ruby, Charron, Suraz etc.) into some really deep trouble. I also like our new characters like the Don! That will be an interesting storyline.
Nick draws the attention of a monster of epic deviance, the sin-eater. Did he have to be able to unhinge his jaw? That visual will stay with me for a bit 😬
I don't know how the author does it....writes total grossness but makes it readable and....fun? Yeah! Fun!
Nick is such a smart talker, which gets him into hot water in hell often, but also gets him out of danger on many occasions. He finally figures out that going it alone makes no sense so becomes a true team with his found family.
I'm worried about Diana for the next book, I better go read it!
Nick gets himself (along with the regular cast of characters in Diana, Rosa, Ruby, Charron, Suraz etc.) into some really deep trouble. I also like our new characters like the Don! That will be an interesting storyline.
Nick draws the attention of a monster of epic deviance, the sin-eater. Did he have to be able to unhinge his jaw? That visual will stay with me for a bit 😬
I don't know how the author does it....writes total grossness but makes it readable and....fun? Yeah! Fun!
Nick is such a smart talker, which gets him into hot water in hell often, but also gets him out of danger on many occasions. He finally figures out that going it alone makes no sense so becomes a true team with his found family.
I'm worried about Diana for the next book, I better go read it!
December 26, 2023
Another great Nick Holleran story!
I love this character and his world in Haven. Nick goes through some great character development this time around, and the people (and ghosts) in his life do too!
Definitely a must read in this paranormal UF investigator series!
I love this character and his world in Haven. Nick goes through some great character development this time around, and the people (and ghosts) in his life do too!
Definitely a must read in this paranormal UF investigator series!
August 15, 2024
This is book 3 in the Nick Holleran series, where Paranormal Investigator Nick has to deal with a Sin-Eater, Lillith the Queen of the Fae, police officers, who don't like him and all the usual bad stuff related to Hell. On top of it all, he now has a girlfriend and a teenage ghost to deal with in the emotional department.
There's so much I love about this book, especially seeing the relationship between Diana and Nick and also Diana becoming stronger and the mystery around her power.
A lot of questions left from the previous books are answered and new ones arise. Not all are answered by the end of this story and I'm looking forward to (maybe) getting the answers in the next installment.
The reader is introduced to new characters and new beings. My favorite new character being the Collector. I'm sure I'll be seeing more of him and I can't wait. He's such an interesting character, but I don't want to go into too much detail as it would spoiler the story for others. Read the book and you'll know what I'm talking about😉
My nerdy heart was beating double time when I read the fantastic LoTR and Star Wars references. Had me laugh out loud imagining the scenes😁
The story is easy to follow and keeps you in it's grip - sadly, it ended sooner than I wanted and makes me want to jump right into the next book.
I'll definitely check out the author's other works as well.
There's so much I love about this book, especially seeing the relationship between Diana and Nick and also Diana becoming stronger and the mystery around her power.
A lot of questions left from the previous books are answered and new ones arise. Not all are answered by the end of this story and I'm looking forward to (maybe) getting the answers in the next installment.
The reader is introduced to new characters and new beings. My favorite new character being the Collector. I'm sure I'll be seeing more of him and I can't wait. He's such an interesting character, but I don't want to go into too much detail as it would spoiler the story for others. Read the book and you'll know what I'm talking about😉
My nerdy heart was beating double time when I read the fantastic LoTR and Star Wars references. Had me laugh out loud imagining the scenes😁
The story is easy to follow and keeps you in it's grip - sadly, it ended sooner than I wanted and makes me want to jump right into the next book.
I'll definitely check out the author's other works as well.
July 21, 2024
Nick Holleran strikes again
This time Nick has gotten in trouble with Lilith the Queen of the Fae. In doing this he also gets into difficulty with Rosa his girlfriend and Diana his ghost 'daughter'. The rest of the book deals with him getting out of the mess he got himself into. This time he asks for help in the final confrontation. Not going it on his own like he used to do. The story is set around Christmas so we learn about Christmas in hell.
This time Nick has gotten in trouble with Lilith the Queen of the Fae. In doing this he also gets into difficulty with Rosa his girlfriend and Diana his ghost 'daughter'. The rest of the book deals with him getting out of the mess he got himself into. This time he asks for help in the final confrontation. Not going it on his own like he used to do. The story is set around Christmas so we learn about Christmas in hell.
August 5, 2024
What a fantastic roller coaster ride!
“Hello snark, my old friend. Greaney rolls his eyes and snorts. Diana shakes her head. One day, I’ll find an audience who appreciates my genius. One day.”
*****
Nick Halloran just can’t stop running his mouth. It’s got him in trouble with the Queen of the Sidhe - and other people, but she’s his biggest issue at the moment. He’s got police riding his tail, and a marauding ancient evil causing havoc and deaths. They’re both giving him grief, but he’s also got Hell’s Gatekeeper and Lucifer’s minions tracking his every movement. It’s making it hard to buy a present for his girlfriend.
As he tries to get it all sorted, his best weapons, it turns out, are his girlfriend and undead adopted daughter.
Detective noir is so much fun. Thank you, David, what a scream.
“Hello snark, my old friend. Greaney rolls his eyes and snorts. Diana shakes her head. One day, I’ll find an audience who appreciates my genius. One day.”
*****
Nick Halloran just can’t stop running his mouth. It’s got him in trouble with the Queen of the Sidhe - and other people, but she’s his biggest issue at the moment. He’s got police riding his tail, and a marauding ancient evil causing havoc and deaths. They’re both giving him grief, but he’s also got Hell’s Gatekeeper and Lucifer’s minions tracking his every movement. It’s making it hard to buy a present for his girlfriend.
As he tries to get it all sorted, his best weapons, it turns out, are his girlfriend and undead adopted daughter.
Detective noir is so much fun. Thank you, David, what a scream.
July 10, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I promised him an extra star)
Oh my God I LOVED this book. This is book 3 in the Nick Holleran series and I absolutely love this story and style of writing.
I definitely don't think you went too far David. I absolutely LOVED the big battle... Was it crazy? Sure. Was it nuts? You betcha. But it was so much fun to read!! Also you sprinkled in some remorse and being a defender so it all cancels out.
Nick is such a badass and I loved the Irish influence on this novel. Also the fact that there is a heavy found family trope in this just makes my heart soar.
I laughed several times while reading this. I've got a smile plastered on my face still from just finishing reading this. I can't wait for the next one...I hope I can get an ARC!
"$h!t went down, as $h!t usually does, and the sonofab!tch wound up dead"
Oh my God I LOVED this book. This is book 3 in the Nick Holleran series and I absolutely love this story and style of writing.
I definitely don't think you went too far David. I absolutely LOVED the big battle... Was it crazy? Sure. Was it nuts? You betcha. But it was so much fun to read!! Also you sprinkled in some remorse and being a defender so it all cancels out.
Nick is such a badass and I loved the Irish influence on this novel. Also the fact that there is a heavy found family trope in this just makes my heart soar.
I laughed several times while reading this. I've got a smile plastered on my face still from just finishing reading this. I can't wait for the next one...I hope I can get an ARC!
"$h!t went down, as $h!t usually does, and the sonofab!tch wound up dead"
July 8, 2024
While in the Haven Woods harvesting fae wings and blood to make the powerful arcane weapon, the Expunger, our hero extroidanair P I Nick Holleran funs afoul of the Queen of the Fae, Lilith. She swears revenge as she is swept away by Diana, Nick's ghostly ward.
This begins Nick's next leg in his journey through Hell and he's slowly learning to rely on the women in his life a little more instead of trying to shelter them from the harsh realities of Hell.
Old favorites return and some new faces appear in this chapter of Nick's life. My favorites are The Ferryman, Charon who is always hopeful that this will be the time and the Nephilim Suraz who is having his own difficulties.
Nick's life stories through Hell are always fun and entertaining so treat yourself and give him a try.
This begins Nick's next leg in his journey through Hell and he's slowly learning to rely on the women in his life a little more instead of trying to shelter them from the harsh realities of Hell.
Old favorites return and some new faces appear in this chapter of Nick's life. My favorites are The Ferryman, Charon who is always hopeful that this will be the time and the Nephilim Suraz who is having his own difficulties.
Nick's life stories through Hell are always fun and entertaining so treat yourself and give him a try.
December 4, 2023
One Life Left is the second Nick Holleran book by David Green !
I liked the first one, but this one easily knocked it out of the park. It improved on all the tiny niggles I had with book one, and will go straight on my favourite Urban Fantasy shelf!
The characters are much more rounded this time around, and I *adored* the family dynamic in here! Nick really grows into his role of impromptu dad to a teenage ghost, the wobbly relationship drama is over and we have a steady couple, and plenty of strong friendships.
I especially loved how people are accepted as they are in this friend circle / found family, and are taken seriously. The daily pepn really felt realistic and well done, when kids in adult books often feel weird or artificial.
There's a good murder mystery, plenty of action, a lot of Nick getting himself in all sorts of trouble, old and new friends and adversaries, a lot of humour and banter as well as the hint of even more to come...
And as an extra bonus for me, there's a bit of 🎄 Christmas.
I liked the first one, but this one easily knocked it out of the park. It improved on all the tiny niggles I had with book one, and will go straight on my favourite Urban Fantasy shelf!
The characters are much more rounded this time around, and I *adored* the family dynamic in here! Nick really grows into his role of impromptu dad to a teenage ghost, the wobbly relationship drama is over and we have a steady couple, and plenty of strong friendships.
I especially loved how people are accepted as they are in this friend circle / found family, and are taken seriously. The daily pepn really felt realistic and well done, when kids in adult books often feel weird or artificial.
There's a good murder mystery, plenty of action, a lot of Nick getting himself in all sorts of trouble, old and new friends and adversaries, a lot of humour and banter as well as the hint of even more to come...
And as an extra bonus for me, there's a bit of 🎄 Christmas.
January 1, 2024
I received an ARC for this book for an honest review (and because David is simply a great guy!).
This is definitely my favorite Nick Holleran-book so far. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a HollerFan and really liked the first two books. They pretty much set the stage, introduced different characters and gave us some backstory, but now we seem to go for the bigger picture of the story and focus a lot more on the characters. There is just so much character development here!
Now, if you’re not familiar with Nick Holleran yet, please do yourself the favour and do so. Immediately, if you please. At first glance, Nick Holleran seems to be your regular PI: A little run down, making up for it with a lot of attitude, standing up to bullies and antagonizing the big bads, used to working solo, etc. His role in particular, but also the world itself hat a very ‘noir’ feel to it, which is why I dubbed the first two books ‘urban noir fantasy’. But Nick is not your typical PI. First of all, his ‘p’ is also for ‘paranormal’ (or should be). Secondly,…how do I not spoil this? He has a very special condition. There.
In the first two books, Nick acted according to his role or what we are used to from this type of character. Not necessarily predictable, that’s not it. But he just kept doing what he seemed to have been doing for quite some time. And since he came out still standing, he thought himself to be on top of things. Typically, in many cases the main characters, especially males, grow in power and (sometimes) responsibility with time, but they don’t change that much as a person and stick to their routines. They make mistakes, they power through by sheer tenacity and somehow survive. Nick Holleran also does this to a point, but he does something – he changes. He also makes mistakes. A lot of them, really, especially when it comes to any sort of relationship to other people. But he really tries to learn from his mistakes, once he realizes what he has done or where he went wrong. This might not work out all the time and it might take him a while to get there, but he gives it his best and tries to become a better person. A better PI. A better boyfriend/father figure/friend/…
I guess I don’t have to mention that this book is very well-written, because it’s David Green, people. He knows what he’s doing and he does it really well. The world-building here is very unique, I really like it. On top of that, David Green scores extra points for great musical references in this series so far and he does it convincingly. Thumbs up!
Can’t get my next Holleran-fix soon enough!
This is definitely my favorite Nick Holleran-book so far. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a HollerFan and really liked the first two books. They pretty much set the stage, introduced different characters and gave us some backstory, but now we seem to go for the bigger picture of the story and focus a lot more on the characters. There is just so much character development here!
Now, if you’re not familiar with Nick Holleran yet, please do yourself the favour and do so. Immediately, if you please. At first glance, Nick Holleran seems to be your regular PI: A little run down, making up for it with a lot of attitude, standing up to bullies and antagonizing the big bads, used to working solo, etc. His role in particular, but also the world itself hat a very ‘noir’ feel to it, which is why I dubbed the first two books ‘urban noir fantasy’. But Nick is not your typical PI. First of all, his ‘p’ is also for ‘paranormal’ (or should be). Secondly,…how do I not spoil this? He has a very special condition. There.
In the first two books, Nick acted according to his role or what we are used to from this type of character. Not necessarily predictable, that’s not it. But he just kept doing what he seemed to have been doing for quite some time. And since he came out still standing, he thought himself to be on top of things. Typically, in many cases the main characters, especially males, grow in power and (sometimes) responsibility with time, but they don’t change that much as a person and stick to their routines. They make mistakes, they power through by sheer tenacity and somehow survive. Nick Holleran also does this to a point, but he does something – he changes. He also makes mistakes. A lot of them, really, especially when it comes to any sort of relationship to other people. But he really tries to learn from his mistakes, once he realizes what he has done or where he went wrong. This might not work out all the time and it might take him a while to get there, but he gives it his best and tries to become a better person. A better PI. A better boyfriend/father figure/friend/…
I guess I don’t have to mention that this book is very well-written, because it’s David Green, people. He knows what he’s doing and he does it really well. The world-building here is very unique, I really like it. On top of that, David Green scores extra points for great musical references in this series so far and he does it convincingly. Thumbs up!
Can’t get my next Holleran-fix soon enough!
December 21, 2023
What a ride. I love Nick and his unlikable snarkiness and attitude. His ability to be so entirely oblivious at times coupled with his strength to find that internal motivation to just keep keeping on makes me love the little shit head rogue even more.
Love the turns and twists throughout this latest adventure of the only paranormal detective in Haven city.
Absolutely adored the breadcrumbs scattered through the pages that pull me through, demanding answers and resolutions to the mystery.
In many ways an even darker dive into Haven City as Nick learns more about hell, and those within and without. But of course with the same snarky Nick who loves his pop culture references as he tries to embody the charms of certain famous characters.
LOVE this series and David Green’s writing is fantastic!
Love the turns and twists throughout this latest adventure of the only paranormal detective in Haven city.
Absolutely adored the breadcrumbs scattered through the pages that pull me through, demanding answers and resolutions to the mystery.
In many ways an even darker dive into Haven City as Nick learns more about hell, and those within and without. But of course with the same snarky Nick who loves his pop culture references as he tries to embody the charms of certain famous characters.
LOVE this series and David Green’s writing is fantastic!
December 7, 2023
an absolutely cracking read best nick holleran book yet
December 3, 2023
The extremely talented David Green offered me a pre edited version of his 3rd Hell in Haven novel in December 2022–One Life Left—and of course I, ECSTATICALLY accepted…I mean, I may have mentioned a time or two that I was impatiently waiting for it…maybe! And Man am I forever Grateful.
I had no idea going into it that it had a Christmas setting and after receiving it mere days before Christmas I was pleasantly surprised. I do love me a Great Christmassy feel and this one was Joyously Dark! Nick Holleran is still your absolutely Snarky, quick witted, fight tell you die or come out on the other side, completely engaging, MC and I wouldn’t have him any other way! One Life Left is definitely a story I could see myself rereading every holiday season!
One Life Left picks up a few months after the Events of The Devil Walks in Blood, at the height of the Christmas season. Hell on Earth is well, still Hell. The dead and other hellacious beings still walk among us, and only a select few have the ability to see them. Nick is having a difficult time balancing the dangers of his Paranormal PI gig and allowing his girlfriend, Rosa, and his adoptive ghost daughter, Diana in on all the dangerous happenings. But as the story unfolds he finds himself caught up between two unexpected entities and a situation he realizes that he cannot get himself out of on his own…not that the women in his life would let him even if he could. This story has so many awesome and amazing creatures but I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m just going to leave you with the knowledge that you are in for a plethora of fantastical beings. Also, this story took so many wild and unexpected turns and there were several secrets revealed. So many that Nick, himself, came to realize that even he didn’t know as much as he thought he did about the crazy Happenings in Hell. This book was one Hell of a Fabulous Ride (pun intended).
My favorite character is, of course, Nick Holleran. If you haven’t yet noticed I love me a snarky male MC. He is absolutely hilarious! Utterly witty! Sometimes a Smart Ass! But those are the things that make him completely endearing. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I laughed out loud, snorted into my phone, or smiled while shaking my head as I read this book. It was just absolute Gold! Nick, did however, have a lot of personal growth, but was still able to keep his somewhat untamed nature.
However, there are a lot of other wonderful and intriguing characters in this book. For one, I really enjoyed the sprinkling in of the Nephilum and Charon. They always made for some funny and often intense interactions. And Diana is such an endearing but completely mysterious being, you can’t help but love her, but yearn to know more about her.
Soooo…this amazing book is FINALLY RELEASING!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeck! I’m so excited for everyone to get to read it! Hell in Haven: One Life Left was supernatural perfection! And you aren’t going to want to miss it!
I had no idea going into it that it had a Christmas setting and after receiving it mere days before Christmas I was pleasantly surprised. I do love me a Great Christmassy feel and this one was Joyously Dark! Nick Holleran is still your absolutely Snarky, quick witted, fight tell you die or come out on the other side, completely engaging, MC and I wouldn’t have him any other way! One Life Left is definitely a story I could see myself rereading every holiday season!
One Life Left picks up a few months after the Events of The Devil Walks in Blood, at the height of the Christmas season. Hell on Earth is well, still Hell. The dead and other hellacious beings still walk among us, and only a select few have the ability to see them. Nick is having a difficult time balancing the dangers of his Paranormal PI gig and allowing his girlfriend, Rosa, and his adoptive ghost daughter, Diana in on all the dangerous happenings. But as the story unfolds he finds himself caught up between two unexpected entities and a situation he realizes that he cannot get himself out of on his own…not that the women in his life would let him even if he could. This story has so many awesome and amazing creatures but I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m just going to leave you with the knowledge that you are in for a plethora of fantastical beings. Also, this story took so many wild and unexpected turns and there were several secrets revealed. So many that Nick, himself, came to realize that even he didn’t know as much as he thought he did about the crazy Happenings in Hell. This book was one Hell of a Fabulous Ride (pun intended).
My favorite character is, of course, Nick Holleran. If you haven’t yet noticed I love me a snarky male MC. He is absolutely hilarious! Utterly witty! Sometimes a Smart Ass! But those are the things that make him completely endearing. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I laughed out loud, snorted into my phone, or smiled while shaking my head as I read this book. It was just absolute Gold! Nick, did however, have a lot of personal growth, but was still able to keep his somewhat untamed nature.
However, there are a lot of other wonderful and intriguing characters in this book. For one, I really enjoyed the sprinkling in of the Nephilum and Charon. They always made for some funny and often intense interactions. And Diana is such an endearing but completely mysterious being, you can’t help but love her, but yearn to know more about her.
Soooo…this amazing book is FINALLY RELEASING!!!! Eeeeeeeeeeck! I’m so excited for everyone to get to read it! Hell in Haven: One Life Left was supernatural perfection! And you aren’t going to want to miss it!
December 5, 2023
I'm going to take this opportunity to regale you all with some context-free spoilers from this paranormal powerhouse of a book, which was so good I stayed in the bath reading for WAY too long and still can't feel my fingers or toes but it was totally #worthit nevertheless!
If you like paranormal PIs who are simultaneously dumb as rocks while also brilliant, endearing, and full of heart (and also caffeine and nicotine 😏) plus a revolving cast of supernatural beings up the wazoo (except for werewolves), go grab this book!! The entire series is phenomenal with every installment somehow managing to be bigger and better than the last!
GO ORDER THIS BRILLIANT BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!
Did I mention it's also the perfect holiday read? 🎄👻
#Iheartholleran #faefucker #hohoholyshit
If you like paranormal PIs who are simultaneously dumb as rocks while also brilliant, endearing, and full of heart (and also caffeine and nicotine 😏) plus a revolving cast of supernatural beings up the wazoo (except for werewolves), go grab this book!! The entire series is phenomenal with every installment somehow managing to be bigger and better than the last!
GO ORDER THIS BRILLIANT BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!
Did I mention it's also the perfect holiday read? 🎄👻
#Iheartholleran #faefucker #hohoholyshit
September 10, 2024
Another amazing book in the Nick Holleran series! Set shortly after the previous book, Haven is not getting ready for Christmas. Needing fae wings for his Expungers, Nick manages to survive the Fae Queen, Lilith, only to be thrown into another supernatural sh*t storm. Stranger than normal things are happening in Hell - TV's and radios are going into static, lights are flickering, and sinners are dying. And along with solving this mystery of Hell, Nick must also prove his innocence to the detectives and one of the victim's relatives wants answers and payback as well.
Nick is a man who seemingly just cannot learn his lesson. He can't hold his tongue and it gets him into trouble with just about everyone. And he can't seem to break the habit of going it alone to try to keep others safe. He's a man set in ways, but will it cost him everything? But despite all that you can't help but love him. He is definitely humorous though. I laughed every time he wondered what a group of fae was called and even looked it up myself. And what the fae ate made me snort a little - it was just so random and unexpected.
I love how strong willed both Rosa and Diana are. They are the perfect balance to Nick's character and keep him in check. Rosa is such a caring person and it's amazing how she cares for Diana even though she can't see her. They both give Nick a reason to be cautious (well, comparatively I suppose). And even though she is a ghost, Diana is still a typical teenager.
There were definitely some twists and turns in this book as well! They get help from unlikely sources and dare I say maybe Nick is growing on more than just Rosa, Diana and Ruby? Nick's past was revealed and there were more hints as to what the future holds. I can't wait to start the next book - and I have in fact already started it!
Nick is a man who seemingly just cannot learn his lesson. He can't hold his tongue and it gets him into trouble with just about everyone. And he can't seem to break the habit of going it alone to try to keep others safe. He's a man set in ways, but will it cost him everything? But despite all that you can't help but love him. He is definitely humorous though. I laughed every time he wondered what a group of fae was called and even looked it up myself. And what the fae ate made me snort a little - it was just so random and unexpected.
I love how strong willed both Rosa and Diana are. They are the perfect balance to Nick's character and keep him in check. Rosa is such a caring person and it's amazing how she cares for Diana even though she can't see her. They both give Nick a reason to be cautious (well, comparatively I suppose). And even though she is a ghost, Diana is still a typical teenager.
There were definitely some twists and turns in this book as well! They get help from unlikely sources and dare I say maybe Nick is growing on more than just Rosa, Diana and Ruby? Nick's past was revealed and there were more hints as to what the future holds. I can't wait to start the next book - and I have in fact already started it!
July 4, 2024
One Life Left follows our street wise yet common sense dumb supernatural PI as he comes face to face with some of the toughest challenges yet and it is both entertaining and full of action. It builds on the relationships introduced in the first two instalments, making Nick's group very much a 'found family' rather than Nick either a lone wolf or in a 'is it/isn't it' romantic entanglement.
The side characters definitely steal the show here, with Diana being both absolutely kick ass for a teenage ghost as well as having her own mystery and potential for chaos in the making. For the one human with no ties to the supernatural world other than through Nick, Rosa absolutely stands out from the crowd. And then you have the incidentals, the small bit players, who are all manage to grab you. I particularly liked the scenes with the police officers who have had it out for Nick since the beginning. Nick is probably the most frustrating character of the lot and even if you can understand why he makes the choices he does, you still want to join Rosa in shaking him until he stops with the stupid.
On top of this, you have some fantastic world building, bringing in creatures from the darker and deeper realms of the supernatural and expanding Nick's understanding of the world around him. My only niggle was sometimes the writing choices and contractions in particular pulled me out of the writing; I can get behind a character using words like 'gotta' in actual dialogue, but randomly interspersed in the meat of the text kept drawing my attention. A really minor niggle though, so just me being anally retentive I suspect.
The side characters definitely steal the show here, with Diana being both absolutely kick ass for a teenage ghost as well as having her own mystery and potential for chaos in the making. For the one human with no ties to the supernatural world other than through Nick, Rosa absolutely stands out from the crowd. And then you have the incidentals, the small bit players, who are all manage to grab you. I particularly liked the scenes with the police officers who have had it out for Nick since the beginning. Nick is probably the most frustrating character of the lot and even if you can understand why he makes the choices he does, you still want to join Rosa in shaking him until he stops with the stupid.
On top of this, you have some fantastic world building, bringing in creatures from the darker and deeper realms of the supernatural and expanding Nick's understanding of the world around him. My only niggle was sometimes the writing choices and contractions in particular pulled me out of the writing; I can get behind a character using words like 'gotta' in actual dialogue, but randomly interspersed in the meat of the text kept drawing my attention. A really minor niggle though, so just me being anally retentive I suspect.
September 21, 2024
One Life Left by David Green
*****
There is a train that leads to the fae realm. That's reason enough to pick this book up and read it. How many steam trains have you heard about in fantasy books? UNH HUNH. You go visit that store page now and go get you a copy of David Green's, One Life Left.
This entry had even more humor in it than the previous and I really appreciated Green upping the comedy. I think dark fantasy and humor are not common themes I've seen together, just another reason why you should pick up this series! This entry, unlike the first book, occurs in the month of December. I guess it would be fitting to read this series in either September or December if you are a vibes reader who appreciates those kinda' things. This series is filling my need to read a spooky story as it's that time of the year for me now.
This story has been really fun to follow for it's odder and lesser known fantasy creatures on display. In this entry, we have something called a sin-eater, as well as a fae queen named Lilith, Charon, a couple Nephilim's and more. And by this point, I can see a greater character arc taking place in the main character, Nick Holleran. There are also arc's for the other characters that you will meet. The mystery in the storytelling will have you eagerly turning pages to see what happens next.
One Life Left is a must read and I think many readers will find it full of intrigue.
*****
There is a train that leads to the fae realm. That's reason enough to pick this book up and read it. How many steam trains have you heard about in fantasy books? UNH HUNH. You go visit that store page now and go get you a copy of David Green's, One Life Left.
This entry had even more humor in it than the previous and I really appreciated Green upping the comedy. I think dark fantasy and humor are not common themes I've seen together, just another reason why you should pick up this series! This entry, unlike the first book, occurs in the month of December. I guess it would be fitting to read this series in either September or December if you are a vibes reader who appreciates those kinda' things. This series is filling my need to read a spooky story as it's that time of the year for me now.
This story has been really fun to follow for it's odder and lesser known fantasy creatures on display. In this entry, we have something called a sin-eater, as well as a fae queen named Lilith, Charon, a couple Nephilim's and more. And by this point, I can see a greater character arc taking place in the main character, Nick Holleran. There are also arc's for the other characters that you will meet. The mystery in the storytelling will have you eagerly turning pages to see what happens next.
One Life Left is a must read and I think many readers will find it full of intrigue.
June 20, 2025
So, after reading the prequal to the series – The Darkness in the Pines – we return to modern day Nick Holleran with book three which takes place after Dead Man Walking and The Devil Walks in Blood. If you haven’t read these books, I suggest you do before taking on this one.
For those who are interested in getting started, 43-year-old Nick Holleran has escaped death, and as a result, he can now see all the ghoulish things that live invisibly among us. Ghosts, demons, and other monsters, he discovers Hell is on Earth, and we’re living it. Nick takes his PI business from Private to Paranormal Investigation, and all Hell breaks loose – almost literally.
This means the return of Diana, the eyeless teenage ghost from the 1960s and Rosa, Nick’s girlfriend, who is a librarian and martial artist in Aikido (what a combo). Throughout the book, Nick feels he needs to protect the women in his life from the dangers of Hell but he must learn how to trust his badass found family. Green ensures everyone knows how great these women are throughout this book and the previous novels so if you’re looking for damsels in distress, you won’t find them here.
Much like the show Supernatural, this book deals with ghoulish monsters while ensuring that the reader is having the most fun throughout. Holleran has to deal with the Fae as well as a Sin-Eater (which is a gross monster which can unhinge its jaw) and while he tries to take these things on his own, it becomes very obvious he needs all the help he can get. Especially since the police are on his back, suspecting him of the wave of murders Holleran is determined to solve.
Dark and ominous things are happening to Diana, and I think it’s fair to say we’re worried, which is a testament to Green and how much he makes us care for his characters.
Very much looking forward to the next instalment.
For those who are interested in getting started, 43-year-old Nick Holleran has escaped death, and as a result, he can now see all the ghoulish things that live invisibly among us. Ghosts, demons, and other monsters, he discovers Hell is on Earth, and we’re living it. Nick takes his PI business from Private to Paranormal Investigation, and all Hell breaks loose – almost literally.
This means the return of Diana, the eyeless teenage ghost from the 1960s and Rosa, Nick’s girlfriend, who is a librarian and martial artist in Aikido (what a combo). Throughout the book, Nick feels he needs to protect the women in his life from the dangers of Hell but he must learn how to trust his badass found family. Green ensures everyone knows how great these women are throughout this book and the previous novels so if you’re looking for damsels in distress, you won’t find them here.
Much like the show Supernatural, this book deals with ghoulish monsters while ensuring that the reader is having the most fun throughout. Holleran has to deal with the Fae as well as a Sin-Eater (which is a gross monster which can unhinge its jaw) and while he tries to take these things on his own, it becomes very obvious he needs all the help he can get. Especially since the police are on his back, suspecting him of the wave of murders Holleran is determined to solve.
Dark and ominous things are happening to Diana, and I think it’s fair to say we’re worried, which is a testament to Green and how much he makes us care for his characters.
Very much looking forward to the next instalment.
December 4, 2023
I love Nick Holleran! The humor of this book just totally hits me right and I started grinning from the first page. Nick is exceptionally smart mouthed and absolutely incapable of not making a snarky remark, but he’s also hilarious!
It’s Christmas in Haven, but Nick gets on the bad side of a Fae Queen and has to deal with the fallout. At the same time, something even weirder than usual is going on in Haven - actual, literal Hell on earth, and the Nephilim are acting strange.
Nick has to learn how to manage his relationship with both Rosa and Diana and keep his desire to keep them safe from shutting them out of his life. And as much as I love Nick, I think Diana (a teenage ghost with dark pits for eyes that Nick and his girlfriend Rosa have adopted) is my favorite character. I was really glad to see so much of her in this story!
These books are very, very different than my usual reads, but tremendously entertaining. If you like Harry Dresden, you’ll love Nick Holleran.
All in all, an excellent episode in the Hell in Haven series!
Cw: lots of swearing, extremely and excellently creepy settings and situations
Thanks to the author for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
It’s Christmas in Haven, but Nick gets on the bad side of a Fae Queen and has to deal with the fallout. At the same time, something even weirder than usual is going on in Haven - actual, literal Hell on earth, and the Nephilim are acting strange.
Nick has to learn how to manage his relationship with both Rosa and Diana and keep his desire to keep them safe from shutting them out of his life. And as much as I love Nick, I think Diana (a teenage ghost with dark pits for eyes that Nick and his girlfriend Rosa have adopted) is my favorite character. I was really glad to see so much of her in this story!
These books are very, very different than my usual reads, but tremendously entertaining. If you like Harry Dresden, you’ll love Nick Holleran.
All in all, an excellent episode in the Hell in Haven series!
Cw: lots of swearing, extremely and excellently creepy settings and situations
Thanks to the author for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
December 4, 2023
Nick Holleran and his grizzled yet hopeful film noir voice are back just in time to stuff your stocking, and he’s got an army of fae on his heels that want him stuffed into a box and buried 6 feet under. Trust me when I say he’s done everything to deserve their ire and then some and at the rate he’s going he’s not going to make it to see Jolly ol’ St.Nick…oh…wait…he’s a fae too.
HOLLERAN!!!
While it isn’t horror, this installment of the adventures of Nick has one of the scariest scenes I’ve ever read. Green has a masterful way of taking you down into the moment and reminding you that while this is a snarky urban fantasy setting with al the irreverence that entails, it’s not a playground for our anti-hero.
This tale masterfully weaves in previous lore while setting things up for the future. Answers are given only to branch out into twelve more questions and I always find that to be highly satisfying.
If you haven’t read the previous ones, this can be read as a standalone but you’ll get more out of it if you read the others first.
The ending is pure, adrenaline-fueled mayhem that had my jaw on the floor. Does. Not. Disappoint. <3
HOLLERAN!!!
While it isn’t horror, this installment of the adventures of Nick has one of the scariest scenes I’ve ever read. Green has a masterful way of taking you down into the moment and reminding you that while this is a snarky urban fantasy setting with al the irreverence that entails, it’s not a playground for our anti-hero.
This tale masterfully weaves in previous lore while setting things up for the future. Answers are given only to branch out into twelve more questions and I always find that to be highly satisfying.
If you haven’t read the previous ones, this can be read as a standalone but you’ll get more out of it if you read the others first.
The ending is pure, adrenaline-fueled mayhem that had my jaw on the floor. Does. Not. Disappoint. <3
October 30, 2024
Alright, so first we have Lilith queen of the fae, Diana and Rosa having this cute little mother daughter relationship without Rosa being able to even see her. Then we have some weird vampiric thing going on that Nick is now on the hook for both with the local law (man these guys are dicks) and now a Don on the gang he has been trying to steer clear of for the last while, WAIT DID HE SAY MAGIC IS REAL?!
But now we also deal with the Nephilim getting upity and where's Charon?...oh shit is he scared? Okay so this Sin Eater thing is really wanting Nick, coincidence I think not!
(Btw I definitely guessed where it came from so early, was very proud of myself!)
Oh damn the cop can see now, well that's a good thing for Nick! But now we head off to the fae realm! (That's the part I guessed 😉)
Oh There's Charon!
So yeah...sin is a real thing, everything you think you know about hell is only a very surface level amount, and magic is totally real...fuck.
I loved this book, took my a while to get started but from 40% on I couldn't put it down 😊
But now we also deal with the Nephilim getting upity and where's Charon?...oh shit is he scared? Okay so this Sin Eater thing is really wanting Nick, coincidence I think not!
(Btw I definitely guessed where it came from so early, was very proud of myself!)
Oh damn the cop can see now, well that's a good thing for Nick! But now we head off to the fae realm! (That's the part I guessed 😉)
Oh There's Charon!
So yeah...sin is a real thing, everything you think you know about hell is only a very surface level amount, and magic is totally real...fuck.
I loved this book, took my a while to get started but from 40% on I couldn't put it down 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
This is another great read in the Nick Holleran series. Once again, the worldbuilding truly stands out and I absolutely loved the twisty plot and some rather unexpected monsters. Nick has grown on me as a character and I really enjoyed his personal growth in this particular volume. I also appreciate the threads set up in the preceding novellas that really come together to weave an intriguing and action-packed story with a nice sprinkling of home truths.
Anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, film noire, and mysteries will have a lot of fun with this series, and if you like stories featuring the fae but want something unusual that follows the mythological source material but presents things in new and unique ways, then you have to check it out! Definitely recommend.
Anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, film noire, and mysteries will have a lot of fun with this series, and if you like stories featuring the fae but want something unusual that follows the mythological source material but presents things in new and unique ways, then you have to check it out! Definitely recommend.
January 15, 2024
I can count on one hand the books that work in present tense. Three of them are in this series!
David Green has conceived a rich and fascinating supernatural world in the Nick Holleran series and it's one of the few series I've been reading back to back. This despite the fact I don't usually read P.I. stories!
This third book has built on the world building of the previous books in the series and they just keep getting better and better!
Some very interesting innovations on supernatural entities and the nature of Hell. Highly recommended to anyone who likes supernatural elements in stories
David Green has conceived a rich and fascinating supernatural world in the Nick Holleran series and it's one of the few series I've been reading back to back. This despite the fact I don't usually read P.I. stories!
This third book has built on the world building of the previous books in the series and they just keep getting better and better!
Some very interesting innovations on supernatural entities and the nature of Hell. Highly recommended to anyone who likes supernatural elements in stories
November 21, 2024
Celery! LMAO! I loved No. 3! There was so much development in this book, building on the others in a great way. Nick finds and deals with new “villains.” And, our found family gets larger with new allies too, sometimes unsavory. I love that things are rarely black and white in his world. The author does an amazing job of creating complex scenarios and wrapping them up, but never too neatly. The world is a messy place after all! If you liked the first two, I highly recommend continuing your journey through Hell!
August 23, 2024
What a wild ride! These characters go through so much, but I love love love how they stick together through it all as their own little found family. I love how this book happens around/during Christmas, and has those sweet little Christmas moments, while still being mostly epic and dark and just absolutely fantastic! I'm jumping straight into the next book, and can't wait to see what adventures it holds!
September 9, 2025
One Life Left by David Green is a fast and entertaining supernatural mystery. Nick Holleran is a paranormal detective who finds himself framed for murder while trying to protect the people he cares about. The story blends humor, action and magic with a found-family feel that makes the characters easy to root for. It is a fun read with a witty narrator and plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages.
December 4, 2023
Hell
Nick is just trying to start a normal life with his girlfriend and ghost daughter. Unfortunately, Hell has other plans for him. He faces fae a sin eater and other horrors. Can Nick save himself and those he loves.
Nick is just trying to start a normal life with his girlfriend and ghost daughter. Unfortunately, Hell has other plans for him. He faces fae a sin eater and other horrors. Can Nick save himself and those he loves.
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September 23, 2024review to come post british fantasy awards ceremony
February 25, 2025
There has not been one Nick Holleran book that I have not adored! Another superb addition to the series and yet another to mark off my "Have The Book - TBR" Goals list.
August 16, 2024
I continue to adore Nick with his snarky comments and boyish charm and the trademark smile that seems to get him nowhere.
Diana is becoming a favourite character as well especially with her ability to hold her own against Nick, but also her new found father/daughter relationship that is forming between the two. Nick has also grown from this relationship and instead of trying to do everything himself he seems to be truly letting people in.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next and i know that book 4 is coming out in September which isn't that far away but it feels like a HELL of a long time to wait.
Diana is becoming a favourite character as well especially with her ability to hold her own against Nick, but also her new found father/daughter relationship that is forming between the two. Nick has also grown from this relationship and instead of trying to do everything himself he seems to be truly letting people in.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next and i know that book 4 is coming out in September which isn't that far away but it feels like a HELL of a long time to wait.
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