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Circles in Hell #3
Deal With The Devil: Circles In Hell, Book Three
A kidnapping, a dangerous new devil: Steve and Orson confront another mystery, involving their closest friends, while Satan tries to recruit Steve to the Demon Corps. Steve, Hell's Super, and Orson, his trusty assistant, are back in another comic romp through the Underworld! The Lord of Hell has a staffing shortage; there aren't enough devils and demons to torment the ever-swelling ranks of the eternally damned. Satan thinks Steve is an ideal candidate for the Demon Corps. He's smart, tenacious and able to dish out punishment when the need arises. But as Old Nick tries to recruit Hell's handyman in chief, Steve gets distracted by a more pressing issue: Florence Nightingale, his on-again, off-again girlfriend, is missing, possibly kidnapped. With a little help from his friends, like BOOH, the storied Bat out of Hell, Steve must solve the mystery of her disappearance, manage Hell's unending flow of maintenance requests, while fending off an aggressive devil chief of police ...not to mention a succubus who is determined to steal Hell's Mr. Fixit away from Flo. "Deal With The Devil" Is the third volume in the fantasy comedy series, "Circles in Hell." It has been compared to other works of "Hell Fiction" including "The Screwtape Letters" and "Good Omens" and to the paranormal humor of Tom Holt, Christopher Moore and Douglas Adams. Click on the book jacket to "Look inside." _______________________________________________ "Comedy Fiction Book Categories" >Satire and Humor >Fantasy Comedy >Hell Fiction >Devils and Demons >Fiction Humor >Paranormal Humor >Paranormal Comedy Romance
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2015
196 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Mark Cain
29 books220 followersWriter living in Austin, Texas.
My work could best be described as satire, with a little fantasy thrown in. This is a good characterization of my comic fantasy series, CIRCLES IN HELL.
Here is a link to the series page.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017...
My work could best be described as satire, with a little fantasy thrown in. This is a good characterization of my comic fantasy series, CIRCLES IN HELL.
Here is a link to the series page.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
April 13, 2020
Oh, a cliffhanger. Love it!
March 31, 2016
(I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.)
Even though I got the punchline early on in Steve’s story this time, I still wanna know what is going to happen to him in the next book. (Unashamed begging Mr. Cain to bestow another audio upon me when the next one is available.)
I’m not gonna tell the ending here. I never like reviews to contain spoilers and avoid them at all costs in my own meanderings. I have to say even though this is third book my appetite is suitably whetted in curiosity for what the hell happens next.
By now, we know the world Mr. Cain has invented for us and none of the details should surprise us, i.e., the name droppings, the descriptions of the levels of hell, etc. The surprises come in the story itself. The chuckles come from knowing what’s going to happen and finding out character reactions.
Other reviews of the previous two installments have lamented on the tedium of the storyline, how random bits of description or the fact that Steve has to do his “job” rather too frequently. If you’ve read the first two and are thinking of reading the third, but are put off by this occurrence, do not let it keep you from reading this one. Mr. Cain has streamlined the events in book number three to carry the reader/listener seamless through to the end. Just about every single scene is essential even if most of them oh so subtly reinforce and foreshadow the ending.
I know I’ve appreciated Michael Gilboe’s narration in other reviews. I believe that this one highlights his talent for entertainment. I think his narration of Deal With the Devil is even better than the first two books of Circles of Hell.
In my opinion more people need to read this and drop some reviews (either positive or negative, both are usually helpful). I do not feel as if enough of those who would appreciate this type of humor have even heard of this series. So into the swarming abyss of the internet my words go.
Check out more reviews at https://trippingthepagefantastic.word...
Even though I got the punchline early on in Steve’s story this time, I still wanna know what is going to happen to him in the next book. (Unashamed begging Mr. Cain to bestow another audio upon me when the next one is available.)
I’m not gonna tell the ending here. I never like reviews to contain spoilers and avoid them at all costs in my own meanderings. I have to say even though this is third book my appetite is suitably whetted in curiosity for what the hell happens next.
By now, we know the world Mr. Cain has invented for us and none of the details should surprise us, i.e., the name droppings, the descriptions of the levels of hell, etc. The surprises come in the story itself. The chuckles come from knowing what’s going to happen and finding out character reactions.
Other reviews of the previous two installments have lamented on the tedium of the storyline, how random bits of description or the fact that Steve has to do his “job” rather too frequently. If you’ve read the first two and are thinking of reading the third, but are put off by this occurrence, do not let it keep you from reading this one. Mr. Cain has streamlined the events in book number three to carry the reader/listener seamless through to the end. Just about every single scene is essential even if most of them oh so subtly reinforce and foreshadow the ending.
I know I’ve appreciated Michael Gilboe’s narration in other reviews. I believe that this one highlights his talent for entertainment. I think his narration of Deal With the Devil is even better than the first two books of Circles of Hell.
In my opinion more people need to read this and drop some reviews (either positive or negative, both are usually helpful). I do not feel as if enough of those who would appreciate this type of humor have even heard of this series. So into the swarming abyss of the internet my words go.
Check out more reviews at https://trippingthepagefantastic.word...
December 23, 2015
In this comic fantasy/detective story, Satan wants Hell's super, Steve Minion, to become a demon. It would make his afterlife easier, but he's not willing to lose the last of his humanity -- his free will. Then his true love Flo (Florence Nightingale, a saved soul voluntarily in Hell to minister to the damned) goes missing and Steve thinks he's uncovered a plot to destroy all his friends -- unless he agrees to become a demon. What choice does he have?
April 30, 2019
Maybe it was too much of a similar thing in a row, I read book 3 right after book 2. I thought it was a little predictable and not as funny as the first two. That being said, looking forward to book 4 and the last of the series book 5.
August 9, 2017
Moderately amusing but not up to the fist book in the series standards of humor IMHO.
September 15, 2015
Hell's Super was a wild ride on a bat out of hell (BOOH) yet filled with humor and a unique take on religion and technology. (Don't ask ... read!). Book two, A cold Day in Hell is darker as we come to understand the realities of hell and perils of hell freezing over. Now comes book three and it is wonderful, energetic, and a lot of fun.
Deal with the Devil relates the quest of Steve, with BOOH, and Orson (his assistant from Hell's Super) on their journey to find the beautiful Florence Nightingale. Flo is the love of Steve's life and has gone missing. Compelled to deal with the numerous problems of being Hell's Super, still Satan gives Steve permission to look for Flo. And so it begins, and it is wonderful adventure. There are twists and turns, new characters and unexpected hazards. There are heroes and villains - everything we hope for in an epic quest.
Mark Cain is especially gifted at characterizations and prose. I am charmed by his wit and originality in dealing with theology and the canons of hell. His books move quickly and the series is thought provoking, often quite funny, and completely entertaining.
Deal with the Devil relates the quest of Steve, with BOOH, and Orson (his assistant from Hell's Super) on their journey to find the beautiful Florence Nightingale. Flo is the love of Steve's life and has gone missing. Compelled to deal with the numerous problems of being Hell's Super, still Satan gives Steve permission to look for Flo. And so it begins, and it is wonderful adventure. There are twists and turns, new characters and unexpected hazards. There are heroes and villains - everything we hope for in an epic quest.
Mark Cain is especially gifted at characterizations and prose. I am charmed by his wit and originality in dealing with theology and the canons of hell. His books move quickly and the series is thought provoking, often quite funny, and completely entertaining.
May 24, 2016
Throughly enjoyed all three books so far. Looking forward to the next one. The satire, witticisms and references all flow well in each book. Will be interest to see what befalls the new recruit into demon corps.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
Really enjoying this series. This one was a little more predictable but that may be because it's the third book and I am beginning to think like Satan.
September 18, 2016
Review on its way
March 11, 2022
In the mystery genre, there are what's called "cozies." Think Murder, She Wrote. The basics are that someone - usually a woman and NEVER a cop - solves a crime because the cops are inept. She is doubted and dismissed right up until the point where she's proven right.
She almost always has a pet to talk to so she's not talking to herself and she almost always has a gimmick. She's a great cook. She owns a coffee house. She inherited her aunt's Amish quilt shop.
The issue with cozies (besides Murder, She Wrote) is that they become increasingly unbelievable. In a quaint town where nothing ever goes wrong, suddenly there's a string of murders committed by different people and every SINGLE time, the quilt shop owner is the only one who can figure it out.
Maybe it's not that the murders are the unbelievable part, but the string that ties the protagonist to the murder just gets weaker and weaker with every subsequent story.
Enter the Hell's Circle series.
It's got a lot of similarities to cozies: there's little cursing, not too much sex (there's some. I wouldn't put it on speaker and run at a gym, but I'm also not fanning myself because it gave me the vapors), nearly no gore, and someone outside of law enforcement solves the crime despite being dismissed by authorities.
In this case, it's Hell's superintendent, Steve Minion.
But where cozies just get weaker as the series goes on, these books get better. In the first two, Minion had legitimate reasons to be involved with the cases (in the first one, the stairway to Heaven was broken and he was repairing it while he discovered a plan by rebels to... rebel and run the stairs to Heaven. In the second, Hell's HVAC broke and Hell was freezing over.
In this third entry, it was Steve's relationship to his girlfriend that made him part of the mystery. The characters just get stronger and the religious questions get deeper (though always hidden behind comedy).
I really like these books.
They're comedies. They're mysteries. And they sure are nice to get cozy with.
She almost always has a pet to talk to so she's not talking to herself and she almost always has a gimmick. She's a great cook. She owns a coffee house. She inherited her aunt's Amish quilt shop.
The issue with cozies (besides Murder, She Wrote) is that they become increasingly unbelievable. In a quaint town where nothing ever goes wrong, suddenly there's a string of murders committed by different people and every SINGLE time, the quilt shop owner is the only one who can figure it out.
Maybe it's not that the murders are the unbelievable part, but the string that ties the protagonist to the murder just gets weaker and weaker with every subsequent story.
Enter the Hell's Circle series.
It's got a lot of similarities to cozies: there's little cursing, not too much sex (there's some. I wouldn't put it on speaker and run at a gym, but I'm also not fanning myself because it gave me the vapors), nearly no gore, and someone outside of law enforcement solves the crime despite being dismissed by authorities.
In this case, it's Hell's superintendent, Steve Minion.
But where cozies just get weaker as the series goes on, these books get better. In the first two, Minion had legitimate reasons to be involved with the cases (in the first one, the stairway to Heaven was broken and he was repairing it while he discovered a plan by rebels to... rebel and run the stairs to Heaven. In the second, Hell's HVAC broke and Hell was freezing over.
In this third entry, it was Steve's relationship to his girlfriend that made him part of the mystery. The characters just get stronger and the religious questions get deeper (though always hidden behind comedy).
I really like these books.
They're comedies. They're mysteries. And they sure are nice to get cozy with.
June 12, 2025
Hell's superintendent is back, pretty much straight after the events of book 2, and there's yet another mystery to solve. Steve Minion's on/off girlfriend, Florence Nightingale, has been kidnapped. Although he's not officially on the case an exception is made by chief of Hell's Police, Azazel, a super nasty devil. In addition to Flo dissappearing Steve has to deal with Satan trying to get him to sign up to an afterlife of being a demon on account of Steve being perfect material and having a mouth on him. Add into the mix Lilleth the succubus who has a very soft (but luscious) spot for Steve, and his friends slowly dissappearing and you have a great whodunit in Hell.
I loved this book and I'm glad I dove straight into it after book 2, and ftr I will be diving straight into book 4 next (I got the omnibus 4 book edition so I haven't got a choice really). It's well written with great characters. There lots of humour but also so tradional style noir detective elements to it too. I had a lot of fun until the absolute moment of heartbreak where the truth is uncovered, which upset me a little. Isn't it good when a book can evoke those kind of emotions. Do you get angry with the character who has been a dick, or do you have issues with the author for writing the story? Interesting question, but I digress because of course this means the book really captured my imagination and I really enjoyed it.
Even without a massive cliffhanger I'd be straight onto book 4. This is a great series.
I loved this book and I'm glad I dove straight into it after book 2, and ftr I will be diving straight into book 4 next (I got the omnibus 4 book edition so I haven't got a choice really). It's well written with great characters. There lots of humour but also so tradional style noir detective elements to it too. I had a lot of fun until the absolute moment of heartbreak where the truth is uncovered, which upset me a little. Isn't it good when a book can evoke those kind of emotions. Do you get angry with the character who has been a dick, or do you have issues with the author for writing the story? Interesting question, but I digress because of course this means the book really captured my imagination and I really enjoyed it.
Even without a massive cliffhanger I'd be straight onto book 4. This is a great series.
August 2, 2020
It was fine. I would go 2.5 stars if I could because it was still better than the first book, however the story wasn't as compelling as the second book and never felt urgent. From the very start of the book you knew where the story was going and basically how it would conclude. Not a lot of twists, not a lot of suspense, and you were never really worried for any of the characters despite them supposedly being in "peril". One of the positives over the second book is that Cain didn't re-explain all of the "jokes in hell". We all know why you get a pie in the face, we don't need you to tell us the reason behind it every time. This doesn't mean that he steers away from it altogether, just a bit less. And I thank him for that.
If you made it to the third book then you already know if you want to read it or not. I'm going to read the 4th book as well but really only because it came as a set of 4 through Kindle.
If you made it to the third book then you already know if you want to read it or not. I'm going to read the 4th book as well but really only because it came as a set of 4 through Kindle.
July 8, 2019
I had an issue with the story that may not apply to other readers. Even with that issue I still thought it was a well written and enjoyable book so I recommend others read and decide for themselves. I make this recommendation first thing because my issue with the book will SPOIL it. So, seriously, go no further in this review if you have not read the book.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. STOP HERE.
So the story is all about the disappearance of Florence Nightingale, except its not. After 4/5ths of the book focuses on this disappearance the big reveal is that it was all a hoax to get the MC to sign on to becoming a demon. A very anti-climatic resolution to the story.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. STOP HERE.
So the story is all about the disappearance of Florence Nightingale, except its not. After 4/5ths of the book focuses on this disappearance the big reveal is that it was all a hoax to get the MC to sign on to becoming a demon. A very anti-climatic resolution to the story.
October 31, 2018
I absolutely love this series. I have listened to the audiobook series at least 7 times. the series starts off great and just gets better. The thing I like the most is the unpredictability of the plot. Just when you think you know what to expect, you get thrown one hell of a curveball. All of the characters are so rich, no two dimensional characters here! It is amazing that the author can make you care as much about ancillary characters and their story as the main protagonist. I found myself wanting to know as much about Beelzebub, Charon, Booh, and St Peter as Steve and Orson!
August 22, 2025
Right, okay. This was great. The way the story distracts the reader from the solution to the mystery by keeping it in plain sight the whole time is brilliant. When I got to the end and it's all explained, I instantly remembered all the clues and felt rather silly for not noticing how obvious it really was.
That's really all I can say though, lest I give away too much. There is some great misdirection going on here though, and that has me convinced now that I will buy the rest of the series.
That's really all I can say though, lest I give away too much. There is some great misdirection going on here though, and that has me convinced now that I will buy the rest of the series.
March 8, 2018
These books are entertaining quick reads. I was not overly enthused when my boyfriend bought me a book about hell but oddly enough, the story is not overly sacrilegious and the character references are quite humorous. I'm going to finish this series.
July 20, 2020
This was a tough one.
While I like the series and the story in this one, I am not a fan of Flo. I think everyone is infatuated with her and mistakes it for love. That is what ruined the end for me. Hopefully the next one won't be about her as much.
While I like the series and the story in this one, I am not a fan of Flo. I think everyone is infatuated with her and mistakes it for love. That is what ruined the end for me. Hopefully the next one won't be about her as much.
August 4, 2022
Excellent!
This series really grows on you! Each book is better than the previous. Funny story, atypical, witty, it doesn't look like anything I ever read. Hail to Steve Minion, Orson Wells and BOOH! 😉
This series really grows on you! Each book is better than the previous. Funny story, atypical, witty, it doesn't look like anything I ever read. Hail to Steve Minion, Orson Wells and BOOH! 😉
April 10, 2025
Best of the bunch so far. I was rather of glad that both of the love/lust-interests were absent for the majority--Flo's absence especially lets Steve do some soul-searching. The usual cameos and jokes are still amusing, but there's a bit more seriousness injected into this entry. I liked the twists, and I'm curious to see what the repercussions will be.
June 13, 2017
A "who done it" so obvious it hurts. The humor saves it though so 3 stars from me.
Think of it more as book 2.5 in the series then a stand alone and you'll have fun.
Think of it more as book 2.5 in the series then a stand alone and you'll have fun.
October 10, 2018
Best
Best one so far. The series continues to get better book by book. I'm ready to read the next one!
Best one so far. The series continues to get better book by book. I'm ready to read the next one!
November 2, 2018
Great series!
April 16, 2020
Satirical brilliance. Well worth it.
December 22, 2020
Excellent. In places, laugh out loud funny.
November 10, 2021
Cliff hanger! So good 100% would read again. Planning on reading again with all of the others so good!
February 28, 2022
Great
Just goes to show you Hell is full of surprises. Really like the writing. Fast paced, interesting and witty. Cannot wait to read more.
Just goes to show you Hell is full of surprises. Really like the writing. Fast paced, interesting and witty. Cannot wait to read more.
June 22, 2022
A very good book, with a very good message as well.
August 3, 2022
Well, you know a book/series is good when you care about the characters.
And this just made me so sad for them.
Hopefully without a spoiler, poor Steve.
And this just made me so sad for them.
Hopefully without a spoiler, poor Steve.
December 28, 2022
This was a fun book but seems like it was written to change directions for the series. I preferred the first two books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews