Graves Pact

by Matthew C Stinson

FBI agent Landon Graves sold his soul to a devil, becoming a warlock in the process. Though he keeps the supernatural aspects of his life secret, a murder case threatens to bring him out into the open. But that’s a minor concern compared to what will happen if he doesn’t catch the killer before the completion of a powerful ritual that will bring about the apocalypse. Landon must exploit the dark side of his nature and delve into the hidden world of the supernatural in order to stop it. Graves Pact is an action-packed urban fantasy with a wry sense of humor.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Matthew C Stinson lives in Colorado, where he indulges in none of the state’s abundant outdoor activities. Instead, he voraciously consumes stories in every format available, plays video games (poorly), and enjoys the company of his friends usually while playing tabletop games.

Reviews

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I snagged this book sometime in the last couple of months and while on vacation, I cracked it open. And I am glad I did.

Landan Graves did a bad thing for a good reason. He sold his soul to save the life of someone he loved and everything was taken from him. Now he works as a forensic accountant for the FBI, he is divorced living a pitifully lonely life with hardly anything to show for it. He tries to ignore the so-called gifts that the devil gave him when he sold his soul not wanting to live the life of a warlock. When a crime showing signs of an occult like nature occurs, a fellow agent calls him in remembering that Landan had some experience in this field full of nutbags.

Only it is all too real for Landon. He knows the occult is real and that someone tried to do something bad when they were interrupted. Real danger lies ahead if he can't figure out what is going on despite not studying the supernatural and magic the way his master wishes he did.

This was fun. It takes a bit for it to get going, but once it does, you get introduced to a world full of cool stuff. It is but a drop in the well for how much is going on here, but Landan himself says he has tried to avoid this life for a long time so he is out of his depth in trying to prevent a disaster of biblical proportions. We got wizards, demons, Champions of Heaven, sexy librarian types all around as Landan tries to figure out what is going on and how to stop this. He isn't powerful since he neglects his abilities, but he has enough brains to make what he has work for him.

This was a fun read, well worth your time and money and the beginning of what should be a great series. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the life of Landon Graves as he tries to balance his Warlock status with that of the normal life he once dreamed of having.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this sitting on my Kindle for some time and finally got around to reading it...why did it take my so long? Why is there no sequel? This is a fantastic easy read. Reading it was like a Netflix movie...if there was a sequel, maybe a Netflix series. The main character is likeable, funny and relatable, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend to anyone who like a bit of fantasy with there crime. Did I mention there should be a sequel?

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character is flawed & knows it. He's a warlock that basically doesn't know magic & hasn't attempted to learn much, if at all. He's also sold his soul to a devil. He's an FBI agent who is usually behind a desk for his job. He gets tapped to help out on a case, due to his knowledge in occult. He can't explain how he knows things & there are a lot of things he doesn't know & has to learn. He's not a bad guy, but try telling that to the wizards, the chosen (complete with guardian angels at times) & any other person or being that he may have to trust with his life. If you love good urban magic & tales of demons & the humans they trick into selling souls, this is a book you need to read. This is adventure & action & discussions as to why a demon thinks it's not a bad demon. It's a fun fast read & I can't wait for the next one!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good first book

CSI with magic, devils, angels and all the other icing on the cake. This actually worked for me. The hero (and reader) wasn't handed the whole story on a platter. That made it more engaging.

My only quibble was the negative and depressing self-talk of the hero. It has its place, but was overdone.

That being said I look forward to the sequel.

[Andi Pandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really surprised by this book! The author did a great job with character development. I was ready to grab book 2 as soon as I finished this one, but I guess I will have to wait patiently for him to finish Book 2!!

[Brendan Coffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dresden Fans take note!

If you're a fan of Jim Butcher 's Dresden Files, then Graves pact is the book for you. Well-established characters, a coherent cosmology with room to grow, and a wry, noir style make this urban fantasy novel a great read.

[Cory Rathbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author seems new and ... Hmm. Not inexperienced, but like it isn't second hand yet. I definitely enjoyed the story and the premise, even if the eventual "romance" was forecast a long way ahead. I'm looking forward to picking up the sequel and seeing where the story goes.

[Dan Friedline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Stands out in the urban fantasy genre. Can't wait for the next in the series.

[David Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with the previous reviews - Graves Pact will appeal to fans of the Harry Dresden series. It was a good read, and I'll definitely be following up with the sequel once it's published.

[Rhy Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. There was something really lackluster about this for me.