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Mystic: The Monk Addison Case Files
Gerald "Monk" Addison used to be a soldier. Sometimes he’s a bounty hunter. Mostly, he’s a killer of killers.
His body is covered with the faces of victims of serial killers, human traffickers, and other monsters. Their blood is mixed with holy water and then inked onto his skin, allowing him to relive their deaths. To feel what they felt, and to see what they saw. The faces of the killers.
And then Monk goes hunting.
He is forever haunted by the ghosts who hire him. A madman mystic. A man driven to darkness and acts of shocking violence. Monk is a good man on a dark and dangerous road in search of personal redemption. In search of red justice.
Mystic collects the Monk Addison case files, pitting him against the most dangerous kinds of human monsters. These are stories of a complex and driven hunter of men. They are tales of a mystic hunting the nightmare streets and back alleys.
New York Times bestselling author and 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author Jonathan Maberry—creator of Joe Ledger, the Rot & Ruin series, and NecroTek—presents tales that are equal parts mystery, horror, supernatural thriller, and breathless action.
Foreword by Jim Butcher, New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files!
His body is covered with the faces of victims of serial killers, human traffickers, and other monsters. Their blood is mixed with holy water and then inked onto his skin, allowing him to relive their deaths. To feel what they felt, and to see what they saw. The faces of the killers.
And then Monk goes hunting.
He is forever haunted by the ghosts who hire him. A madman mystic. A man driven to darkness and acts of shocking violence. Monk is a good man on a dark and dangerous road in search of personal redemption. In search of red justice.
Mystic collects the Monk Addison case files, pitting him against the most dangerous kinds of human monsters. These are stories of a complex and driven hunter of men. They are tales of a mystic hunting the nightmare streets and back alleys.
New York Times bestselling author and 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author Jonathan Maberry—creator of Joe Ledger, the Rot & Ruin series, and NecroTek—presents tales that are equal parts mystery, horror, supernatural thriller, and breathless action.
Foreword by Jim Butcher, New York Times bestselling author of The Dresden Files!
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2024
59 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Maberry
520 books7,787 followersJONATHAN MABERRY is a NYTimes bestselling author, #1 Audible bestseller, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, comic book writer, and producer. He is the author of more than 50 novels, 190 short stories, 16 short story collections, 30 graphic novels, 14 nonfiction books, and has edited 26 anthologies. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was a Netflix original series starring Ian Somerhalder. His 2009-10 run as writer on the Black Panther comic formed a large chunk of the recent blockbuster film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His bestselling YA zombie series, Rot & Ruin is in development for film at Alcon Entertainment; and John Wick director, Chad Stahelski, is developing Jonathan’s Joe Ledger Thrillers for TV. Jonathan writes in multiple genres including suspense, thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and action; and he writes for adults, teens and middle grade. His works include The Pine Deep Trilogy, The Kagen the Damned Trilogy, NecroTek, Ink, Glimpse, the Rot & Ruin series, the Dead of Night series, The Wolfman, X-Files Origins: Devil’s Advocate, The Sleepers War (with Weston Ochse), Mars One, and many others. He is the editor of high-profile anthologies including Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird, The X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Out of Tune, Don’t Turn out the Lights: A Tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Baker Street Irregulars, Nights of the Living Dead, Shadows & Verse, and others. His comics include Marvel Zombies Return, The Punisher: Naked Kills, Wolverine: Ghosts, Godzilla vs Cthulhu: Death May Die, Bad Blood and many others. Jonathan has written in many popular licensed worlds, including Hellboy, True Blood, The Wolfman, John Carter of Mars, Sherlock Holmes, C.H.U.D., Diablo IV, Deadlands, World of Warcraft, Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Predator, Karl Kolchak, and many others. He the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. He lives in San Diego, California. Find him online at www.jonathanmaberry.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 12, 2026
Honestly, if the author of Worldfire Press (yes, you know who you are, you hack) took some time to actually edit these stories, instead of just grabbing them and slapping them into some kind of order (and even the ordering isn't great in this one), you could have edited out a lot of the repetitive stuff that shows up in almost every story.
- the commentary on how the ghosts that haunt him scream a lot and he has to drink to sleep.
- the joke about the "Open All Night" store beside Patty Cakes, that's never been open
- the commentary on Monk's bosses' names, Scarebaby and Twitch
- the commentary on the people Monk goes after, establishing his morality
- the collecting of victim's blood and the addition of seven—never more, never less—drops of holy water
- the entire tattoo ritual, with the bite strap and the screaming and the quick sketch history of Patty Cakes
- the description of Sheriff Crow when he starts showing up
And there's more.
I understand, for individual stories appearing in collections or whatever, yes, you need some context. But in the collection? It gets dull and repetitive.
The stories themselves are some of more grim stuff that Maberry writes. They're all good, and they're better when he breaks out of the "girl got brutalized, found the guy and offed him in a bad way" mold and plays around with the concept more.
It's Maberry, so it's well written, and the action is great. I just wish a little more care and love was put into these collections.
- the commentary on how the ghosts that haunt him scream a lot and he has to drink to sleep.
- the joke about the "Open All Night" store beside Patty Cakes, that's never been open
- the commentary on Monk's bosses' names, Scarebaby and Twitch
- the commentary on the people Monk goes after, establishing his morality
- the collecting of victim's blood and the addition of seven—never more, never less—drops of holy water
- the entire tattoo ritual, with the bite strap and the screaming and the quick sketch history of Patty Cakes
- the description of Sheriff Crow when he starts showing up
And there's more.
I understand, for individual stories appearing in collections or whatever, yes, you need some context. But in the collection? It gets dull and repetitive.
The stories themselves are some of more grim stuff that Maberry writes. They're all good, and they're better when he breaks out of the "girl got brutalized, found the guy and offed him in a bad way" mold and plays around with the concept more.
It's Maberry, so it's well written, and the action is great. I just wish a little more care and love was put into these collections.
May 24, 2025
Monk Addison is a scary man. He has killed a lot of people while wearing fatigue. Then, after being washed out of that life, he had found another life. To call it his fate, or destiny, or 'calling' might anger him— which wouldn’t be a prudent action. So I would refrain from using any such adjective. But it’s a fact that he does something unique.
He is compelled to act on behalf of ghosts of murdered persons so that the perpetrator is stopped from hurting others. He gets their faces tattooed onto his body, and then hunts the killers.
I had started this book with hopes of deriving some guilty pleasures. I mean, ghostly revenge, tattoos... Come on!
How wrong I was! How insanely different this work was!
This book is NOT about choreographed violence. It contains stories and poems about pain, loneliness, retribution, and tiny flashes of redemption.
The tales are grim, relentlessly violent, and full of sadness. Precious lives are lost forever. Broken hearts are left out to shrivel and die. And then comes the thunder of searing rage.
The poems are stories of loneliness and the weird walking hand-in-hand.
The book slowly became my own version of bar— blues buzzing in the background, darkness outside nd within, nurturing little bit of warmth between two palms against the night.
And as the last line was read, I cried.
Can you believe it? A book containing tales about ghosts, psychopaths, violence and sorrow ends, and I'm crying!
Mr. Maberry, Sir, you are a treasure. Please, PLEASE, don't retire Monk Addison anytime soon.
It’s not time yet. Just few more rounds. Please!
Highly recommended.
He is compelled to act on behalf of ghosts of murdered persons so that the perpetrator is stopped from hurting others. He gets their faces tattooed onto his body, and then hunts the killers.
I had started this book with hopes of deriving some guilty pleasures. I mean, ghostly revenge, tattoos... Come on!
How wrong I was! How insanely different this work was!
This book is NOT about choreographed violence. It contains stories and poems about pain, loneliness, retribution, and tiny flashes of redemption.
The tales are grim, relentlessly violent, and full of sadness. Precious lives are lost forever. Broken hearts are left out to shrivel and die. And then comes the thunder of searing rage.
The poems are stories of loneliness and the weird walking hand-in-hand.
The book slowly became my own version of bar— blues buzzing in the background, darkness outside nd within, nurturing little bit of warmth between two palms against the night.
And as the last line was read, I cried.
Can you believe it? A book containing tales about ghosts, psychopaths, violence and sorrow ends, and I'm crying!
Mr. Maberry, Sir, you are a treasure. Please, PLEASE, don't retire Monk Addison anytime soon.
It’s not time yet. Just few more rounds. Please!
Highly recommended.
November 14, 2025
l'm familiar with Gerald "Monk" Addison from Maberry's books Ink & Burn to Shine. He's formerly a member of Spec Ops and also PMC.
His job that puts food on the table is working as a PI mostly doing skip traces. But his side gig is a bit more complicated.
Several excellent stories involving Monk.
His job that puts food on the table is working as a PI mostly doing skip traces. But his side gig is a bit more complicated.
Several excellent stories involving Monk.
October 30, 2024
I received an ARC copy of Mystic: The Monk Addison Case Files, by Jonathan Mayberry from Wordfire Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The unique character of Monk Addison is a literary Dexter, but with more valid motivation and a lot less planning. Monk lives in Pine Deep, a small town where weird occurrances are commonplace and villainous human monsters seem to be in abundance, so those few who know Monk's story take it in stride. Monk is a bounty hunter who sees the dead murder victims, and avenges them, sealing a bond with each one to him with a blood-ink tattoo of their face on his skin. Once the tattoo and bond are complete, he lives their final moments through the victims eyes, be coming them and reliving their pain, their emotions, in the hope of gleening of glimpse of their killers face or other clues to the identity. Then, he seeks out the one or ones responsible and ends them before they can do the same to someone else.
Mystic is a collection of well-crafted short stories and poetry which relate his experiences with that other kind of case. Not the usual skip-trace, but the ones in which it's too late for the client, and the goal is to save future would-be victims from suffering the same fate. I have to give kudos on the cover. It is unique, sums up the character and the story premise visually and is one that won't soon be forgotten.
The unique character of Monk Addison is a literary Dexter, but with more valid motivation and a lot less planning. Monk lives in Pine Deep, a small town where weird occurrances are commonplace and villainous human monsters seem to be in abundance, so those few who know Monk's story take it in stride. Monk is a bounty hunter who sees the dead murder victims, and avenges them, sealing a bond with each one to him with a blood-ink tattoo of their face on his skin. Once the tattoo and bond are complete, he lives their final moments through the victims eyes, be coming them and reliving their pain, their emotions, in the hope of gleening of glimpse of their killers face or other clues to the identity. Then, he seeks out the one or ones responsible and ends them before they can do the same to someone else.
Mystic is a collection of well-crafted short stories and poetry which relate his experiences with that other kind of case. Not the usual skip-trace, but the ones in which it's too late for the client, and the goal is to save future would-be victims from suffering the same fate. I have to give kudos on the cover. It is unique, sums up the character and the story premise visually and is one that won't soon be forgotten.
December 12, 2024
Maberry is amazing.
From the 1st few pages of PATIENT ZERO, way, way back.
It was obvious he could tell a great story, and the people he creates are deeply compelling.
Here we meet Monk Addison. Former spec ops killer who has the curse of seeing the spectres of murder victims.
He can combine some of their blood and tattoo ink and once their faces have been inked onto him he can see the last moments of their life. Meaning when they were murdered.
Monk then sets about tracking down the killers and exacting horrible vengeance on them.
The only drawback is the tortured souls are forever linked to the faces inked onto Monk's skin, and they spend eternity screaming their torment at him.
From the 1st few pages of PATIENT ZERO, way, way back.
It was obvious he could tell a great story, and the people he creates are deeply compelling.
Here we meet Monk Addison. Former spec ops killer who has the curse of seeing the spectres of murder victims.
He can combine some of their blood and tattoo ink and once their faces have been inked onto him he can see the last moments of their life. Meaning when they were murdered.
Monk then sets about tracking down the killers and exacting horrible vengeance on them.
The only drawback is the tortured souls are forever linked to the faces inked onto Monk's skin, and they spend eternity screaming their torment at him.
December 14, 2024
Another gem by Mr. Mayberry
I first became a fan of Jonathan Mayberry with his Joe Ledger novels but have since expanded my readership and love of his work with the, dare I say, "shared universe," of the oh so haunted town of Pine Deep and all those who both live there and venture in and out of. Which brings me to this wondrous collection of tales about the emotionally, physically spiritually tortured Monk Addison. All the good stuff from the Ledger novels is there including **SPOILER** Joe himself, along with plenty of good old fashioned ghostly action. Mr. Mayberry's prose at times brings me to tears, it's that good.
I first became a fan of Jonathan Mayberry with his Joe Ledger novels but have since expanded my readership and love of his work with the, dare I say, "shared universe," of the oh so haunted town of Pine Deep and all those who both live there and venture in and out of. Which brings me to this wondrous collection of tales about the emotionally, physically spiritually tortured Monk Addison. All the good stuff from the Ledger novels is there including **SPOILER** Joe himself, along with plenty of good old fashioned ghostly action. Mr. Mayberry's prose at times brings me to tears, it's that good.
December 9, 2024
Two to four pages of backstory everytime. I get it. Wasting ink here. A little Monk joke. He Works for Scare baby and twitch. Real names. Every story. Oh yeah? I get it. Maybe when you put a bunch of shorts together you edit them so you aren’t repeating yourself. The story with the Nazi lacks common sense. Why have him finish the tat? I mean besides for dramatic effect. The rules governing what is needed and who he saves are flexible based on what the author needs not the character. Other than that…he keeps you engaged and is a good story teller
December 31, 2024
This book was just weird for me. No relevance to the book itself. Just part of my own personal quirks. I don’t particularly like novellas and this was more or less a collection of mini novellas.
On one hand I think the idea is genius but a lot of extra work. Can you imagine writing a complete story in around 20 pages?? I’m long winded on the best of days and the Queen of run on sentences on others 😂
On one hand I think the idea is genius but a lot of extra work. Can you imagine writing a complete story in around 20 pages?? I’m long winded on the best of days and the Queen of run on sentences on others 😂
December 6, 2024
Monk Addison reminds me of Burke by Andrew Vachss. Same general attitude, some of the same triggers and moral compass, and similar ways of dealing with those who get on the wrong side of that moral compass. Even a somewhat similar way of telling their stories......
Really good characters. Really good book.
Really good characters. Really good book.
December 6, 2024
Regular Maberry popcorn, nothing fancy, with the usual inconsistencies resulting from the fact he's simply writing too much of it. This time it's the technique and size of tattoos that varies, adding a fun metagame to the reading experience: "What's he going to forget about THIS time?"
Still, the man can entertain, so three stars it is.
Still, the man can entertain, so three stars it is.
January 13, 2025
maberry doesn’t disappoint!
I love Jonathan Maberry. My love began in Pine Deep PA and Monk Addison has become a favorite character.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the case files and look forward to future writing.
Thank you, sir, for keeping me entertained!
I love Jonathan Maberry. My love began in Pine Deep PA and Monk Addison has become a favorite character.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the case files and look forward to future writing.
Thank you, sir, for keeping me entertained!
December 6, 2024
I love Maberry's books and this one with many familiar characters definitely doesn't disappoint. I loved all the stories and poems.
December 12, 2024
Another fantastic set of short stories, these are a bit darker than his usual horror ones as Monk is a very dark character.
December 17, 2024
Monk rock's
Great reading love the anthology of mini cases monk is a adventure with each story the ledger cross over is awesome give us more
Great reading love the anthology of mini cases monk is a adventure with each story the ledger cross over is awesome give us more
September 1, 2025
Another excellent collection of short stories from Maberry. This time featuring Monk Addison , and with some very welcome appearances from other Maberry favourites.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews