Grimstone Reckoning

Croft & Wesson #3

by Brad Magnarella

The end of an era

In the months since I started mentoring fellow wizard James Wesson, he’s grown into an adept magic-user, less likely to shoot from the hip. We’ve also become good friends.

But when he fumbles what was to have been our final case together – deliberately, I suspect – we’re back to square one, and just as an old enemy we’d figured for bleached bones returns from the dead … with a haunting warning.

A blood-thirsty being is on the rise, resurrecting Old West outlaws. But who is this El Diablo? All evidence points to an eccentric billionaire whose estate lies just outside our jurisdictional reach. Worse, an old-school sheriff seems determined to keep it that way.

As menaces teeter into full-blown madness, I’m counting on James to ramp up his smarts and spell-casting. Success will mean the end of the Croft and Wesson era, but failure could condemn all of Grimstone to a hellish oblivion.

And that’s a sunset ride this magic-toting duo can’t abide.

The Croft & Wesson trilogy is a spinoff of the Prof Croft series (set after Book 4) but stands on its own. If you like buddy wizards, occult mysteries, and wild spell-slinging in one of the Wilder Wests around, you’ll love Croft & Wesson!

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 18, 2023

About the author

Brad Magnarella writes urban fantasy for the same reason most read it – to explore worlds where magic crackles from fingertips, vampires and shifters walk city streets, cats talk (some excessively), and good prevails against all odds. It’s shamelessly fun.

His three main series, Prof Croft, Blue Wolf, and Maddy Deeds, make up the growing Croftverse, with nearly a half-million books sold to date and an Independent Audiobook Award nomination.

Hopelessly nomadic, Brad can be found in a rented room overseas or hiking America's backcountry.

To learn more about the Croftverse, and download two free prequel novellas, visit his website at bradmagnarella.com

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining horror listening 🎶🔰

This is a kindle e-book novel from kindle unlimited book three in the series.

Croft and Wesson team up again in a fantasy world 🌎 adventure mystery to save a British Lord from a demon monster. They need help from several friends. But the ending is a happy ending.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of fantasy horror adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024 😤👑😮🏡😕

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 and seemingly the final Croft and Wesson teamup. Follows the firmly tongue in cheek habits of its predecessors.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure from the annals of Croft and Wesson. This episode has a few more twists to it that directed me (the reader) down a dark alley which then branched off to another vein and I wound up in a place that had me rooting for the good guys that I didn’t know were good guys. I’m bummed because this is probably the last of this spin off and I’m going to miss James. He’s daring, makes recklessness an art form and flies by the seat of his pants. Besides that, he’s smart and a charmer. He’s coming into his own power and with his street sense he’s adding a layer to the partnership of Croft and Wesson. They work well together and make it out of scrapes by the skin of their teeth. I enjoyed how the author spun a tale that included old west outlaws and even a legendary bunny. This story does leave me with two questions. Did the order ever replace James spiffy duster and what is up with our girl Myrtle? Doesn’t she see the good man that is right in front of her face?? I’ll go for coffee with him ANY day!

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brain-rattling oomph

That's such a good way to describe this story and a certain moment within it. My brain was definitely rattled. So many twists to what I thought was happening!
I loved this final (hopefully, only for now) installment of Croft and Wesson. I absolutely love reading their antics together. Both characters experience growth as individuals, magic users, friends, and coworkers. The story starts with a bang and just keeps going through to the epilogue. I loved seeing other characters from previous books, especially a certain "crazy ex" included in this one.
I recently learned there are people who don't read epilogues, and for those readers - Read this one! It did make me laugh but there is information in it that ties up a couple lose threads.
Overall, great story, fun series, and well rounded characters.

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️ such fun. Sad that’s it’s the last one in this series. James is such a great character and hopefully we’ll see him again. An old enemy thought vanquished is back and needs their help, James needs to pass his final tests with high marks indeed and all the monsters need to watch out.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wesson may be ready to fly solo or maybe he's not, either way, Croft and Wesson are going on their last training adventure and nothing goes to plan. These three books are definitely more full out adventures with slightly less world ending consequences than the main series, which makes this another fun read full of twists, turns, and lessons learned. I hope we get to visit Grimstone again one day because this collection og characters is always a good time.

[Holly Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the last installment in the Croft and Wesson trilogy. I really like this series quick and easy read on to Suck It Up the 3rd installment in the Croft and Tabby trilogy also by Brad Magnarella If you are in the mood for a good Urban Fantasy book about wizards fae and strange animals that should not exist this might be the book for you.... Werewolves, Dwarves a jackalope and 2 warring sheriffs..... good book. worth the read or the listen :) Give it a listen you might be surprised

[FionaH · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I've come to expect from this duo, this final book in the Croft and Wesson trilogy gave me witty banter, genuine friendship, laugh out loud moments, an intriguing mystery and a sense of satisfaction (mingled with sadness that it is the last one). Highly recommended.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joy Ki`Ili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy trails

Go out with a Bang! That seemed to be the plan for this trilogy and the author didn't let us down. Scary creatures call for even scarier means to put them down. But our boys can handle things, they work together quite well now. This mentor - mentee relationship has turned into a true partnership.

[Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The sheriff snorted to suggest he already knew all there was to know about us. “Aren’t you boys a little old to be carrying on like a pair of jokers? Don’t you think it’s time you settled down somewhere and found respectable work? Made something of your lives? If you were mine, I’d have straightened you out a long time ago. What do your folks make of all this nonsense?”

[Sally Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grimstone and the most amazing " jackalope"

Ok this has so much action in scary things that could really destroy our guys and then Grimstone! But with all the crazy stuff there were many " people " helping to find and bring the evil totally mashed into nothingness. Ok can we also mention the most important, jackalope creation?

[James Hollander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the material that Mr. Magnarella offers free to the listener, the Croft & Wesson books are my favorite. More developed than the Croft and Tabby short stories and with an engaging character arc and enjoyable western Colorado setting that made for quick reading. The trio of novellas takes place after the fourth book in the Prof Croft series proper and reintroduces James Wesson. Enjoyed.

[explorer99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concluding volume of the Croft & Wesson trilogy wraps up their partnership in fine fashion, with James finally able to stand on his own and Everson ready to head back and tackle his own challenges, once they overcome one final adversary whos' been terrorizing the local countryside of course.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely storyteller

I hope we see more of Croft and Wesson , either together, or in their own adventures. Certainly at least a few stand alone of Wesson.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this final book in the Croft Wesson series. Wish there would be more

[Corinne Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Croft and James

They are quite a team. All kinds of magic and activity to keep the story busy and not slowing down. Sad that I hit the end of the story.

[Kat Lebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, full of fun, action, and humor.

[Steve Lundh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good finish to the series.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best one yet. I really enjoyed this one.

[Tawnya · Rating 4 out of 5]

And with that we conclude “James and the Professor”. I hope we will get some more stories from Grimstone. Most of the characters we met over the years were fun. The less said about others (Loretta), the better. I’m glad we got an epilogue. It was a bit jarring to read about Ricki as just a detective he works with, instead of as his wife. That should be the next short story we get, a family vacation! Picture Ricki and Marge together! Also having a city-dweller like Ricki in a town like Grimstone would be hilarious. Bree-yark and Mae as well, since someone would have to watch the children. Buster could play with Jackie. Seeing Tabby in the desert!!! I can already hear the kvetching about the dust in her fur.
My only quibble is that there wasn’t enough Annie.