A Plain-Dealing Villain

Daniel Faust #4

by Craig Schaefer, Adam Verner (Narrator)

It's hard to make a dishonest buck in Sin City, especially when a rogue FBI agent is gunning for your head. Flat broke and one step ahead of the law, Daniel Faust flees Vegas and lands in Chicago, where a risky heist promises to fill his pockets with cash.

There are the risks you can account for, and then there are the risks you never see coming, the ones that leave you blindsided and fighting to survive. Daniel is a stranger in a strange land, out of his element and surrounded by corrupt sorcerers, demons, and worse. Still, with a friend's soul hanging in the balance -- not to mention a pile of stolen cash -- giving up isn't an option.

Before he's done, Daniel will descend into the depths of Chicago's occult netherworld, competing in an underground poker tournament where the winner takes all...and with the infernal Court of Night-Blooming Flowers running the show, "winner takes all" has an entirely new meaning. The Flowers haven't forgotten Daniel's past insults, and if they get their way, he'll never leave the Windy City alive.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Demons, Fiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published January 20, 2015

About the author

Craig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).

Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.

Reviews

[Adina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Faust is my favourite urban fantasy series with a male as main character. I like Daniel because he is not a fully positive character. He is in fact a wizard winning his bread with the help of criminal activities. However, he has a clear set of moral rules and an excellent sense of humour that make him endearing.

This time, our hero moves from Las Vegas to Chicago to try to pull off a dangerous heist. Obviously, things get very complicated, as it always happens with Faust, but his friends are there to help.

Extra points for finally putting insta-love between Daniel and Caitlin under scrutiny.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

➽ And the moral of this rereread is:

“The Play has spoken, my lord.”

And thus begins one of the greatest series arcs in the history of Greatest Series Arcs. Tighten your seatbelts, it's going to be one hell of a ride!

*cue hysterical fangirling*



👋 Until next time and stuff.



[March 2020]

🃏 Get Those Magic Decks Of Cards Out of Storage We're Doing the Danny-Boy-IS-MINE⁠ Thingie Again Buddy Reread (GTMDoCOoSWDtDBIMTABR™) with the MacHalos and Stuff 🃏

➽ And the moral of this rereread is: Freddie Vinter + Indiana Jones refs =



Why it took me such a bloody shrimping long time to realize I need to kidnap adopt Freddie and lock her up offer her shelter in my High Security Harem is and forever shall be one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. Goes to show one can be both ruthlessly nefarious and a bloody fishing clueless nitwit. Sometimes



[April 2018]

☢ Daniel Faust and Cait are Mine Mine Mine Buddy Reread with my MacHalo Wives and Daughters and Stuff (DFaCaMMMBRwmMWaSaS™) ☢

➽ And the moral of this reread is : Danny Boy, you're super hotly amoral and deliciously cunning and stuff, but I think I may be more in 💕 lurve 💕 with your most scrumptious girlfriend than I am with you. Oh, don't you worry your little yummy self, for you are still a member of my Dynamic Trio of the Slightly Fished Up Moral Compass (DTofSFUMC™), and therefore one of the three top mouth-watering residents of the high security ring of my harem and stuff. Still, your girlfriend my Exquisitely Ruthless Soulmate (ERS™) seems to be. Yes, I am afraid it's the Undeniably Undeniable Truthful Truth (UUTT™). I got it bad for Caitlleanabruaudi (aka My Fluffy Cait). Real shrimping bad. I want her to order my food for me. I want to listen to Depeche Mode with her. But most of all? I want her to handle my pest control issues. Because who better than a somewhat merciless, badass (and a little delectable, too) demon to dispose of puny humans for me? Sorry, what? No one, you say? That's right, NO bloody stinking ONE. Ergo, My Fluffy Cait is MINE MINE MINE. QED and stuff.

💌 A very personal message to my Fluffy Cait: Babe, you're so shrimping hot...





[Original (if supremely crappy) non-review]

You are the luckiest bunch of Clueless Barnacles ever. Yes you are. Why? Because I could be heartless and stuff, and put you through yet another Immature, Slightly Silly, Somewhat Fangirling Review (ISSSFR™) for this series. BUT. I'm super considerate and compassionate and magnanimous and kind and stuff, so I won't ← I do hope you're not naïve enough to believe any of this crap. You should know by now that I have no heart, and couldn’t care less about your silly well-being. The only reason you will be spared an ISSSFR™ is because I don't have time to write it. But hey, that doesn't mean you shouldn't thank me for not writing it. It never hurts to be polite, you know.



By the way, I could tell you this instalment is a bit of a filler, and that it is not quite as gloriously awesome as the other ones in this series, but that wouldn't be Proper Danny Boy Fangirl Behavior (PDBFB™). So I won't.

And one last thing:



Bye now. Things to do, tourists to kill and all that crap.

P.S.: I have a trick question for you, so you better round up your two grey cells. Ready? Here goes: who does Danny Boy belong to? Think well before you answer, your life kind of depends on what you are about to say. Here's a friendly hint for you: MINE MINE MINE MINE.



Touch him and I'll cut your arms off. Among other lovely things.

P.P.S.: if you're in desperate need of an ISSSFR™, click here. You're very welcome. My pleasure and stuff.

· Book 1: The Long Way Down ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: The White Gold Score ★★★★★
· Book 2: Redemption Song ★★★★★
· Book 3: The Living End ★★★★★
· Book 5: The Killing Floor Blues ★★★★★
· Book 6: The Castle Doctrine ★★★★★
· Book 6.1: Sweet, Blissful Certainty ★★★
· Book 7: Double or Nothing ★★★★★
· Book 7.1: A Drive in the Country ★★★★
· Book 7.2: Sixty Six Seconds ★★★★
· Book 8: The Neon Boneyard ★★★★★
· Book 9: The Locust Job ★★★★★
· Book 10: Down Among the Dead Men ★★★★★
· Book 11: Dig Two Graves ★★★★★

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.65 ***


Even better the second time around 🙂!!!


"...“Just think of it like this: you’ve got two options, and you have to pick one.” I held out my hands, palms upward, juggling them up and down like the arms of a scale. “Free money? Bullet in the head? Free money? Bullet in the head? Now, I’m no professional merchant such as yourself, but if it was up to me? I’d take the free money.”..."

Yes, this volume was that good!!! My fellow readers, the way Craig Shaeger writes Urban Fantasy is the way I like it written for me - just enough action, mystery, slide-of-hand, tension, only a sprinkle of magic, life-or-death odds, some monsters, some mob-gang wars, characters belonging to the old Noir Mysteries, and a whole a lot of satisfaction for the lovers of con artists with good hearts and ambiguous intentions! Daniel Faust is back with a vengeance! Also, as always, he is broke as hell and owes money to shady people who would love to see him dead...

"...“Spend enough time living on the wrong side of the law, magic powers or not, you grow a sixth sense for when things are about to go sideways. Think of it as Darwinism for criminals. You learn when to walk away, you stay in the game for another night. You don’t, well…the prisons are filled with guys who didn’t spot a setup until they were being hauled off in handcuffs.”..."

After all the magical and demonic drama of the previous book, Daniel is trying to find a score to make some money. Unbeknownst to him, his exploits have brought him to the attention of a mysterious group of people who now believe, despite him just being a third rate magician and a lowly con-artist, they might have to do something about. Not a good thing for those type of folks to know that you exist... They decide to give him a job in order to evaluate the situation and see if any of the Courts of Hell might stand for him or care at all. He is connected to one of them through his associations with his girlfriend, the Incarnate Demon Catiline. She is awesome and bad-ass, and currently my favorite character of the series:) Faust has no blood relations that we know of, but the people whom he calls family are the gang of other paranormal practitioners of a small caliber, who are always in on the con and make their living swindling people out of sums of money in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Faust loves them as the family that they have become for him and counts on them whenever he gets in deep trouble. However, at the moment they all have to play it on the down-low, since the FBI Agent Harmony Black is on their backs, completely convinced in Faust's need to be imprisoned for life, and obsessed with catching him herself, but he keeps slipping from between her fingers...

"...“If you even think about pulling another heist, I’ll be there. If you rob a bank, I’ll be in the vault waiting for you. If you so much as shoplift a candy bar, I’ll be standing right behind you in the convenience store. Remember this room, because you will be back here. Soon.” “Admission of the intent to harass my client,” Perkins said archly. “Go fuck yourself,” Harmony told him.”..."

Yeah, she is a bit unhealthy in her obsession...

Faust is hired for a job to steal an antique Aztec sacrificial knife in Chicago. He is new in town and attempts to befriend the local wild life. They are not very friendly. Things go seriously wrong, he is being blackmailed into stealing something else in addition, friends get hurt, he finds out that the Chicago mob have their hearts set on owning the city of Las Vegas as well, and all of it seems to be happening under the shadow of those mysterious friendly folks bent on controlling the world. Yep, it all goes to s*%t!

"...“Freedom. You humans do love to prattle on about freedom, and you barely understand the word. How much agency do you think you actually have? From the cradle to the grave, you’re bombarded with media, advertising, cultural and social pressure to conform…it’s amazing you can think at all.”..."

This series has to be your first choice if you were ever a fan of the classic mysteries noir and classy cons! I would recommend it to anyone, since I believe all could find something to enjoy in it! I know I can't wait to jump into the next book!

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes after swim team, my lane mates and I go to a local pub and have a drink. Since we just spent an hour and a half swimming, it means salty snacks to go with the drink. Then we usually order All the Appetizers, which once included chili-oil beer battered fries, homemade chips with chunks of bacon, onion and blue cheese on top, Wisconsin deep-fried cheese curds and a giant soft baked pretzel with three kinds of mustard. Oh, an another drink, to wash down the salt. And by the time I'm back in my house, I'm wondering what on earth I was thinking, eating so much late at night? But you know I'll just do it again.

Ditto for A Plain-Dealing Villain.

At any rate, the story:

"When Harmony Black and her task force came to town, my girlfriend promised she'd find the best lawyer around. That was Perkins. He was so slick he didn't have fingerprints--literally." It's decided to be in Faust's best interest to lie low, so he takes an out of town job, though the audition is quite the almost-killer. After almost-sidetracking in the airport, he ends up with a team in Chicago, quite the contrast to home. "Vegas would steal every penny in your pocket, but it'd make sure you had a great time on your way to the gutter. Chicago didn't have time to play games. It was a machine for printing money, moving at the speed of industry, and it only offered two choices: keep up or be left behind."

Faust needs to steal an artifact from a suspiciously connected jeweler, and the theft in turn leads to a card tournament at the Bast Club. I enjoyed every scene there, particularly the scene-stealing Fredrika the fashion designer. "This is the Cool Kids' Table. I am the Queen of the Cool Kids and I hereby use my magic chalice of office to banish you into the hinterlands of boredom.' Freddie waved her martini glass at him. 'Go suck somewhere else.'"

It's a zero sum game, of course. All the elements I enjoy are here: the rich city description, a fast-moving action, nice characterization and the feeling Schaefer has the one up the sleeve. Faust continues to work as part of a team, which I appreciate, as I'm awfully tired of the solo hero working against the odds. The somewhat sarcastic voice remains. The demons are even more devilish and sadistic, for those who feel like Hell hasn't been doing a good job representing. The ending, however, left me more than a bit uncomfortable. Was that really a good idea?

"All the danger, none of the reward. Or as I like to call it, Tuesday."

But, you know. Only until next time.

[Lo9man88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK let's get to it :

First of all this series is improving by the book , I'm liking Dan more and more , the story is getting better,bigger and complicated , no doubt about it: Faust is a devious "mofo" if you give him an inch, just a little breather: you're gonna be f****ed...

The magic system is still OK, still ritualistic by its nature: the sorcerers need time ,ingredients and focus in order to do serious damage, not much in term of raw energy manipulation..

What's getting a little on my nerves is the repetition of the heist theme , i now Daniel is essentially a thief so that comes with the territory, this is Vegas after all , but i hope the character evolves beyond these limited parameters...

The majority of the events takes place in Chicago :OooKeee , he visited a museum: alright , saw a Trex skeleton: Hell's Bells and one of the main protagonist is a necromancer ?! come on ?!
I mean this is a nice series and all but to have the cojones to take a dig at the king of urban fantasy at his home turf! wow , i wish he didn't do that, the Dresden files series is entirely on another level ...

Any who It was a good read, starting the next installment right away ,,,

[Mr. Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The king is dead. Long live the new king.

It’s impossible to read Urban Fantasy with a male lead without making comparisons to Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden. After finishing Craig Schaefer's latest book I’m going to lay it out there. Schaefer is the man. Daniel Faust has it in spades over Harry Dresden.

Them is some pretty strong words, so let me explain.

First, there is the complexity of the story. Nothing happens by accident. There are threads that are introduced early in the story that seem somewhat unimportant at the time, but come into sharp focus later. The story is well constructed, moves at a fast clip, and constantly surprises – in a good way.

And this is in no small part because Faust is smart. He is, if you know the books, a con man; however, he is not your run of the mill grifter. He doesn't just runs scams. He runs multiple scams; scams within scams. And the best scam is the one that your mark thinks he sees coming. The scams are clever, engaging and interesting. Although Faust isn't above using a little force if the need arises, he tries to get by with subtlety, bluff and brinksmanship. Above all he doesn't rely on his magic. He relies on his wits and his associates.

Still on the subject of Faust, it is also refreshing that there are no creepy relationships. Sure, Faust is in bed with a demon lover from Hell, but they are both adults. In the Dresden books the sexual tension between Harry and Molly always vaguely creeped me out. I find it hard to accept as normal that this type of tension between a grown man and a young woman that he knew as a little girl. Call me a prude, I guess.

And the books aren't loaded with snarky humor and over-played pop culture references that you find in Butcher’s Dresden books or Hearne's Iron Druid books. The author relies on actual humor to lighten up his stories rather than Star Trek or Star Wars quips. For example, when Faust gets a call while waiting to pull off a heist:

Faust: “I’m on the roof of an evil flower shop, and I don’t want to get shot.”

Bentley “That sort of answer, really shouldn't surprise me anymore.”

And then there is the moment when Schaefer takes a shot at Butcher’s Dresden. I had to tip my hat. This story takes place in Chicago rather than Las Vegas. As part of the story he meets a contact at a museum in the shadows of Sue, the T-Rex skeleton on display. The exchange between Faust and Dr. Khoury was priceless:

Khoury: “One of the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons ever discovered. Our pride and joy.”

Faust's internal monologue: I wondered, for a brief instant, what a necromancer like Damien Ecko could do with the skeleton of a T. Rex. I shrugged the idea off. Nobody’s that good.

In Dead Beat, Jim Butcher has Dresden reanimating Sue to stop evil necromancers from destroying the world. The shot at Butcher’s Dresden is clever, funny and ballsy. You don’t take a shot at the titular master of urban fantasy on his home turf unless you can back it up. And, boy, does Schaefer back it up.

Four and a half stars rounded up to five. This was a book that I couldn't put down. And when I had to put it down (dang it, work and family responsibilities!) I couldn't stop thinking about it. Those are both signs of a really good book. If you are a fan of the urban fantasy genre (or heck, just enjoy a good story) do yourself a favor and pick these up. These books are great and just keep getting better. By book four I was already growing tired of the Dresden books. By Schaefer’s fourth book I realized that this guy is just warming up!

[Milda Page Runner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

It was really good to come back to Daniel Faust after the break. I forgot how good Craig Schaefer's writing is. Had a great time with this!
And finally there are some questions, razor sharp questions asked about one character that isn't quite believable to me. Can't wait to find out where it leads to.

On to the next!

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Plain-Dealing Villain
Daniel Faust Volume 4
By: Craig Schaefer
Narrated by: Adam Verner
This has demon action, magic gone bad, worse deals, evil sorcery, and plenty of action! Danger and suspense is constant in this book! Very intense!
Narration perfection!

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daniel Faust series has fast become my favourite UF series of the lot. This fourth book was just as much fun as the previous three instalments of the series. I love the mix of humor and dark happenings.

With Harmony Black in Vegas and breathing down Daniel's neck it is proving impossible for him to pull any of his usual cons and tricks. As a result he jumps at the chance to take an out of town hesit. The job sounds simple, steal a knife from a collector. Of course, the theft proves far more complicated as the current owner of the knife turns out to be a powerful necromancer. It also does not help that Chicago is the territory of the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, and they are not Daniels biggest fans!

The story was a ton of fun. Daniel had to use his wits to outfox both the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers agents in a high stakes poker game and Damien Echo, the necromancer who was in possession of the knife. Lucky for us Daniel is smart enough to realize he needed plenty of help so despite the change of setting we still got to enjoy the banter between Daniel and all of our favourite secondary characters.

A few interesting subplots that ran through the main story, as well as the shock ending, have me bursting with eagerness to get to the next book in the series!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Audio Note: Adam Verner has a few flaws, but is mostly a perfect fit for Daniel and this series. He just gets the tone and the humor.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down, because, cliffhanger! But I’m going to read the next book the moment I finish writing this review: Daniel Faust and his world are just that engaging. The protagonist is a bit too smart for his own good, as the ending demonstrates BUT he’s a joy to follow and after the great finale of the first trilogy I was eager for more adventures and development. Again, I wasn’t disappointed while I followed Daniel and his motley family planning an elaborate heist and fighting obnoxious villains.

Providing more questions than answers is part and parcel of a new story arc.

Yes, and color me sold, since this novel is also setting the stage for a more layered conflict. There is the cliffhanger obviously, as well as the little clues foreshadowing a rift in Daniel’s and Caitlin’s relationship (“complicated” doesn’t even begin to cover it), which is both a subplot and an integral part of the tale. And now the protagonist’s increasing enemies are pressing on all sides. I look forward to seeing how he is going to play the cards destiny, and himself, dealt him out.


Pulling a heist is like going on vacation: you’re never ready when you think you are, there’s always one last thing to pack, and there’s always something you forgot. If you’re lucky, you remember it at the last minute. If not…well, you’re either in for a bad vacation, or you’re going to jail.

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 4 out of  5.

I think this series is getting better with each new book, which is an exciting occurrence. I've seen too many series putter out after the first few books because the author didn't plan the overarching arc well enough or just ran out of ideas, but has contracted to write more books. I'm glad to say that it's not the case here. It really feels like there is a solid plan behind these books and things that seemed unimportant or barely mentioned in previous books suddenly come to play in the next books. I like it when I can trust the author to take me for a wild ride and not loose sight of the destination.

My only compliant here is that it starts a bit slow, with an aborted robbery and way too much time being interrogated/shadowed by Harmony Black in the beginning of the book. Once Faust arrives in Chicago and the action picks up, the book become a lot more interesting. 

What I have noticed is that I only truly get invested in these books when the gang is all together. Daniel Faust by himself tends to charge in without thinking, make a complete mess of the situation, then try to fix what he broke in the first place. Like Pixie told him in this book, you never fix anything, you just try to mitigate the damage. The true magic happens when Cormy and Mama Margaux and Pixie and even Caitlin are there to help him. That's when the cons come to life, that's when the books become an adrenaline-packed ride. And it's a true joy to watch them work together, help each other, trust each other and pull of seemingly impossible things. 

I am also glad that the insta-love between Faust and Caitlin is finally questioned in this book. I've been saying since book one that this felt unnatural to me, and it seems that I'm right. I hope this gets further development in future books, because this is the definition of a toxic relationship - when one of the participants is basically manipulated into feeling what he does. I don't care about justifications or that Caitlin loves him too now, this relationship started with a lie. This at least needs to be addressed between them if there is any future in this.

There are some interesting new plotlines to explore in future books, like the looming hostile takeover of Las Vegas by the Chicago Outfit, which would definitely be a bloody affair. And of course this new shadowy figure pulling the ropes behind the latest heist. Who is he and what is his end goal? What kind of ritual are his minions preparing for? And how will Daniel clear his name from the murder he's been framed for, and will he do it in time to help his friends?

I am definitely picking up the next book in the series.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast-moving heist caper in the life of Daniel Faust.

In this one, he's in Chicago to pick up a "item" for a contact in Texas. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned for Faust, and all of a sudden he's neck-deep in trouble, and this time he's deep in the heart of enemy territory.

This book continues the similarities with a Danny Ocean (Ocean's 11) heist, except this time it's a heist in plain sight, it's funny, it's exciting, and it's wonderfully fun to read!

One thing I really enjoy with this series is how the author ties everything together, the way he sets plot points in motion, and takes several volumes to get to tie everything up with a neat little bow. And it's not just a bow like you might find on a Christmas present. It's a bow like a massive spider web, a matrix of traps that lie in wait for Faust and his friends.

On to the next one: The Killing Floor Blues!

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Actual rating: 3,75***

Still really good, but not as epic as the second and third book. Clearly meant to set the stage for the next books.

[Daniel Kloke · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, the series and writing improves. This particular book set the tone for me that the author wants to write about a street grifter that has magic (rather than the other way around). Our street grifter belongs to an adopted "family" of friends and important people in his life - but let's face it, it's a traditional street gang. As with many gangs, the pathos and drama are set on "high." Nothing is small, and death is a day-to-day question. There are other deadly gangs so treaties, wars, and skirmishes are inevitable.

It's fun to be on the inside of a con. Our protagonist's thought process and planning is fun. His families' planning is also fun. The writing leaves the reader with a sense of risk that things might not work. The resolution is fun.

I gave a previous book in the series two stars -basically for unabashedly hiding the ball in the con. Here, we are taken along for the ride. This book loses one star for me basically because the con has some major holes - like framing someone who could not have committed the crime.

In any event, I hope the author gets better at bringing us along with new and interesting cons and with tigher plots. The next book has promise.

[Maraya21 (The Reading Dragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥 Getting me some Danny boy. Mmhhh. Delicious. Definitely not sharing with my fellow MacHalos. Not even a little. 🔥


Awesomesauce! Can't wait for #5!

[Efka · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the end of, let's call it, the original trilogy I wondered if the series will remain alright. And to my great surprise, I have to admit, that the aforementioned trilogy served only as an introduction into seemingly much more vast and engaging plot. The stakes are up, and the series are still fun, fast and generally alright. 4*.

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Daniel Faust, you have a penchant for dangerous living.”

There’s always more trouble to go around, isn’t there? The Enclave Job storyline wrapped up in The Living End. New danger appears as we stand on the threshold of the Battle of Las Vegas.

Short on cash and with Agent Harmony Black at his heels, Daniel Faust accepts a heist job in Chicago. The job seems simple and the money is good. What could go wrong? Well, everything. And that's just for starters.

The paranormal crowd in Chicago is as interesting and colorful as the one pictured in books focusing on Las Vegas. Necromancers, Rakshasa, Hell Hounds and representatives of different Hell Courts meet in this twisty story that starts new arc of Faust misadventures. I liked the way Chicago was portrayed. Chicago is famous for another wizard - Harry Dresden. In one of the scenes Craig Schaefer tips a hat to Jim Butcher. It was a cool scene. It involves Sue (T-Rex) you may remember from Dead Beat. Nothing as spectacular as Harry driving it, but fun nonetheless.

I believe that in this book Daniel found a distinct voice. As readers, we see clearly who he is -a con-man, occasional cold-blood killer, and bastard and yet it's hard not to like him. He has his moral limits and he will not cross them. He cares about his friends and family but has no scruples over destroying his enemies. Also, in this book a powerful representative of House of Lust plays with his head and makes him question his relationship with Caitlin. While I really like Caitlin I can’t help but ask myself questions that torment Daniel at the moment. Is he just a disposable pawn?

The author does a good job in adding three dimensions to other characters. Most readers will have their favorites. Personally, I like all of them and would love to learn about their pasts and extent of their powers/skills.

The epilogue is pretty strong. It provides more questions than answers as the new story arc starts. I learned to trust Craig Schaefer. He proved that he knows the answers to his own mysteries. He sets up little bits of plot that pay off much further down the line. I hope this story arc will manage to wrap them up as skillfully as it was done in the Enclave Arc or in his Revanche Cycle. As a reader, I enjoy feeling of revelation when it’s done well. I hope that I’ll be able to smile soon and tell myself: so that’s what that was about.

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun read, not serious at all. The equivalent of your favorite junk food. Speaking of which Crown Royal seems to be the whiskey of choice either on ice or as a Crown and Coke. I wouldn't touch Crown Royal with your lips! Ooh, I'm soooo sophisticated. (I'm already reading #5 and it seems Jack Daniels is the bourbon of choice - not even Jack Black!) Hey, the Crown and Coke thing is the equivalent of the Mafia Seven and Seven so I get it. But I'm also wondering if Schaefer was getting some freebies from his product placement efforts. I hope so.

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 3 out of 5]

My complaints about this book are the same as my complaints about the previous three books: that characters are kind of bleh, the romance is off-putting, and the demons act like teenagers. I mean, of course teenagers are evil, but they are also extremely stupid and unaware of how things work in the real world. I think that centuries old demons would have a slight grasp on the workings of people and society. Unless they're extremely inept, which this series also portrays them to be. Oh, and the big "twist", yeah, I get it. Every single one of the books has included an off-page twist that changes everything, so I was utterly not surprised.

Despite some obnoxious factors, the book was readable. Sort of like a fast-food book: something to be consumed quickly and forgotten just as quickly.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness for re-reads, yet again - I liked this more the second time around, and definitely appreciated the double heist more this time around.

Frederika is definitely still the star though. I don't think she'd appear in a book where she wasn't :)

Were it not for Frederika's introduction, I think I would have liked this less - it's a shorter entry in the series, and though Faust works with his team it almost felt rushed? However! It left matters in a delightfully suspended state - on to the next.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was one hell of a cliffhanger! I was going to read something else, but I'll be reading the next book in the series instead. Best book in the series so far. I love Daniel Faust! He's so ordinary but not. Just like the average person he's got money troubles and has a lot of people in his life he can't completely trust. His ability to get himself out of bad situations is why I like him so much.

Once again in his effort to be independent financially he gets into a sticky situation. I admire him for wanting to do things himself but I get annoyed because it's often high risk with little reward. Part of the reason the situations he gets himself into are so dire is because he won't indiscriminately kill. It's good that he has morals, but just once I'd like to see things work out for the guy.

Harmony Black is a bitch! I really hate her in this one. With each book I'm less inclined to read her series. It's great she wants to get the bad guys off the streets, but she's too misguided to realize Daniel isn't one of them. He's not threat to society. She's too stupid to realize that just because someone does bad things it doesn't mean they are a bad person. Why does she think these powerful demons and whatnot need to be put in jail? Can jail really contain some of them? I think not. She should be thanking Daniel not trying to screw him over.

IDK what to think of Caitlin now. She is the same as ever, but the seed of doubt is there. It's so hard to say if he was told the truth about her or not.

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

CLASSIFICATION: Featuring a cast of anti-heroes and with a magician con-man as the protagonist, the Daniel Faust series is Richard Stark's Parker crossed with The Dresden Files and set in Las Vegas.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: This book is the start of a new arc in the Daniel Faust series as evidenced in the prologue of this book. I believe an informal title could be the "Cheshire Smile trilogy" but I have a feeling that this arc might last more than three books. The story begins with the after events of the downfall of Lauren Carmichael and her psychopath sorceress Meadow Brand. Harmony Black however has had enough of Daniel Faust and his illegal meddling. She makes it her business to obstruct every move of his, making it very hard for Daniel to conduct any of his cons. Forced to survive and pay off a big debt, Faust has to take on a new job away from his regular terrain and takes up an assignment to retrieve (read steal) an artifact in Chicago.

That's the start of this story, however once Daniel arrives in Chicago, he assembles a crew for this job but the process is turning out to be much more Herculean than he thought. The main event is to steal a ceremonial knife however its current owner is someone who's not to be trifled with as Faust finds out to his dismay. He also has to contend with the paranormal crowd in Chicago and we get introduced to another motley bunch as well as to the Chicagoan counterpart to the Tiger's Garden titled The Bast Club. This was an interesting place and after reading its introduction, I was intrigued to know more about it (hint the author explores the club and its owner a little bit deeper in Red Knight Falling which is book 2 in the Harmony Black series).

The plot while starting out as a heist story quickly become much more complex as things go south spectacularly and Daniel has his back to the wall (this seems to be a recurring trend...). I'm being purposefully vague here because of potential plot spoilers and the author really digs into Chicago and gives us a detailed look into it as he has done with Las Vegas so far. We get to see another court of Hell in action and are given an intriguing look into Caitlin-Daniel's relationship. Plus the best part about this book is the poker tournament that is focused upon in the latter half of the book.

I really enjoyed this book and one of the main reasons for my enjoyment was the characterization beginning with Daniel Faust himself. With most urban fantasy series being first-person narratives, it's very crucial for authors to find a distinct voice and keep them fresh. Some good examples which come to my mind are Harry Dresden, Kate Daniels, Frank Trigg, etc. Daniel Faust veritably joins this list and it's all due the author's talent. Faust is a bastard and I don't mean that literally. He's a conman who uses his skills to do things that most of us wouldn't do. He cheats, steals and basically even kills people when he thinks that it will save his life or if that someone deserved it. It would be very easy for such a character to become a villain but it's to the author's credit that he showcases the strengths besides Faust's flaws and makes him hard to pin down. He also has his moral limits and he will not cross them, even his relationship with Caitlin is seriously questionable and I liked how the author introduced some pertinent questions in this volume about it. Which puts his actions at the end of Redemption Song in a whole new light.

The author doesn't just stop with Faust, the character cast in the series has been increased with each volume and all characters that we meet have three-dimensional personas which are very intriguing to read about. Most readers will have their favorites and I'm no exception to it. I would love to know more about Faust's mentors and their backstory, Baron Naavarasi's origin, Harmony Black & a few more. This is another solid plus-point about these books that the characters featured within all have their own agendas and can potentially have their own series (Harmony already has gotten her own). Kudos to the author for developing such a strong character cast as well a world wherein nothing is truly what it seems. And to do it in a urban fantasy series, Craig Schaefer is truly writing an epic which I haven't seen anybody attempt to do in this sub-genre.

The action is this book, is a little bit understated than the previous volumes of the series however the author tips his world-building skills with some fascinating bits of Egyptian mythology. The main villain is also someone who shows a rare depth to him and I hope we get to see more of him. The humor in this book is very much in line with the first two books and I loved the reappearance of two certain lackeys from Redemption Song and their interactions with Faust are hilarious to say the least. The author also gives us a lot more revelations with regards to Faust's past, his family, Caitlin's gastronomical inclinations, and the workings of the infernal courts.

We also get to meet some fascinating Chicagoan characters who I believe add to the depth of the world and whom I would love to see more of (especially Dr. Khoury) . This book does end on a solid climax and that beckons the reader into the next book perfectly. I wouldn't call the ending a cliffhanger but some might feel it's one. Lastly the book also introduces some major aspects of the main series arc that the author is hinting at and from what I can ascertain the author has some truly grand plans in motion. The being introduced in the prologue is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these plans. This book also is a first of sorts as the main action is set outside of Las Vegas for almost 90% of the book. While The White Gold Score was also set outside of Las Vegas but it was a novella and was written after this book while chronologically being set much before this volume.

Lastly the epilogue has a major revelation that will be further explored in the fifth book The Killing Floor Blues and I can't wait to see how the author plays up these events. This book also had a fascinating poker plot twist and the author does use it judiciously to play up the climax and then lays out his final plot twist. I loved how the ending seem to come from the left field and the epilogue then further pushes the readers into land of the lost. There were a couple of negatives though, I felt that while the Chicago part of the storyline was very exciting but the other parts didn't quite match its tempo. Lastly the whole behind-the-scenes things that are going on can be confusing to many a reader and I wish that the author could have explained a bit more.

CONCLUSION: A Plain-Dealing Villain is a new salvo in a series that has already won me over and this fourth volume just upped ante with its reveal of the grand series plan in the making. The author just keeps making this series more irresistible with each book and this fourth volume is no exception, give it a read and find out why the Daniel Faust series is the best thing being self-published right now.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANK U, NEXTTTTT

Okay but seriously though, I was actually nervous about this one because I only gave The Living End 4 stars instead of 5 and I didn't want the series to start sliding (especially because there's a ton more books!!) I needn't have worried. TLE seems to have been a "it's not you, it's me" issue, and honestly I can't even remember what exactly didn't feel just right about it. Lots going on, yes, but they all have that. I digress.

This series feels like someone (Heather) put Ocean's Eleven and Supernatural into a blender and I couldn't be happier watching it all unspool. The plots are as tightly woven as Rachel Caine's Great Library series (my *other* favorite series) and although the first three books encompassed their own mini-arc, I can't help but get the idea this series is less episodic and more massive-underlying-arc.

Hmmm. Wonder where I get that idea. *side-eyeing the Schaefer Reading Order*
(and in the Afterword she even says she hates things like Battlestar Galactica and Lost where the creators started without an ending in mind. The bar has been set. Bring ittttt)

I loved the trip into Chicago (The Bean got a shout-out!), the unexpected bad guy along with the fully-expected bad guys, and this Smiley guy has my attention. I'm not as versed in tarot cards as I'd like to be, but I love seeing them included here, even if it's on the fringes so far. Definitely keeping my eyes peeled for any and all of these newbies' eventual returns to the series; one thing I know about Heather already, she introduces characters for a reason, and if they're not dead they can always come back later. And sometimes even if they are (supposedly) dead. Ha.

[Contrarius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm consistently enjoying these books. Schaefer writes well, with interesting characters and twisty plots. A lot of UF is based on mystery templates, but these are mostly more in the caper/con vein. The main character, Daniel Faust, is a magician (in the real sense of doing magic) and thief in the Las Vegas underworld who sometimes ends up getting involved in truly hellish (as in Hell) problems. His girlfriend is a demon and the "hound" (essentially enforcer) for one of the princes of hell.

These are on the darker side of UF -- there's not a whole lot of humor, the attitudes tend toward very cynical, the characters are mostly not admirable people, and some very bad stuff happens. OTOH they're not nearly as gory as, for instance, the Sandman Slim series, and they dwell a lot more on the heists and cons than on violent action.

The only thing I really don't like about this series is the involvement of a nemesis for Faust named Harmony Black. She's supposed to be an FBI agent who deals with the supernatural, but she's a complete asshole and also TSTL. I reaaaaaaally dislike the character, so it's a mystery to me why Schaefer created a whole spinoff series with her as the MC. I've tried that series as well, but I couldn't stand it. She's just awful.

Narrator Adam Verner mostly does a good job. His delivery and voices are fine. My big complaint with him is that he's bad at accents, and specifically that he consistently does a bad Irish accent for one character who is supposed to be SCOTTISH. Bleh.

[Steffan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ocean's eleven, but with magic, demons, blood, betrayal, undead and murder

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

A Plain Dealing Villain starts off a brand new story arc for Daniel Faust and his gang. Lauren Carmichael is dead, her world-ending ambitions ended. Now Daniel is left to deal with the aftermath, like FBI Agent Harmony Black still keen on arresting him, his old gangster boss causing problems, and a slight cash deficiency, compounded by a debt to a biker he really doesn’t want to cross.

All this together means he needs money, fast, and when a job outside of Vegas comes his way he jumps on it. Despite his concerns about the job, he gambles and takes, finding himself in Chicago, dealing with a lot more than he expected and a whole new cast of enemies to deal with.

This book was fun and fast. All of the Daniel Faust books have been quick reads and this one was no exception. It was well-paced with plenty of action, including some nifty scenes showing off Daniel’s skill as a thief.

I also enjoyed the change of scenery, with much of the story taking place in Chicago. New city means new characters and I enjoyed the additions to the series, from a necromancer to some Chicago gangsters to the minions of the demon court that holds sway in the Windy City, the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers. The poker tournament showdown and the finale were all excellent.

Despite all of those good things, there are a couple issues I had with the book. Some of the decisions Daniel made had me shaking my head. He seemed to consistently ignore warning signs.

My biggest issue was one that I’ve seen crop up before in this series, and that’s where things seem to wrap up a little too neatly. Faced with an impossible task, Daniel and his team are able to come up with an ingenuous plan on the fly. It kind of reminds me of the Ocean’s Eleven movies. You know that the incredibly complex and clever plans they use to pull off their schemes would never work in real life but it's still a lot of fun to watch them do it. Same here. Despite the improbability of some of what happens, the author does a great job keeping things entertaining.

4 books in and the Daniel Faust series is still going strong. It doesn’t have quite the world building or the depth (in my opinion) of say the Dresden Files, but it’s still a lot of fun.

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now it gets really good...

This is so far my favorite of the series, and it's not just because Daniel makes a trip to my fair city (although, that was probably a big part of it...Schaefer did Chicago really well!). But the plot in this one was deliciously exciting, my favorite characters were all there, there's a new big-bad in town, and some questions were raised that I myself have been asking about the lovely but deadly Cait...my one big problem with this series was the insta-love, and I finally got some of the tension I've been looking for.

Daniel Faust is quickly becoming one of my favorite anti-heroes: He's witty, smart, cunning and just sensitive enough to make him lovable. The magic in this series and the structure of the world is very subtle and very cool--no big over-explanation needed, no long, convoluted backstory. It just works. And Cait...well, Cait is hot, and that is all.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't like books where the characters take off from their usual setting and leave behind all of their friends. But, I should have had more faith in Daniel. He made it work. There are some hilarious new characters and it was so much fun to read. I like that this book is full of sarcastic smart humor that I actually find really funny. It's funny to be rooting for the criminal, but he is so easy to love. I cannot wait to read the next one. He is definitely one of my favorite characters.

[THE BIBLIOPHILE (Rituranjan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book begins a new turn of events in the life of Daniel Faust. This reads like an Oceans Eleven in the novelized version. There is that thrill, action, and ingenuity which a heist story provides. The apocalyptic chain of events hasn't ended completely yet, rather, it has now become an unpredictable game in the long run of events. It's a brilliant new start for Faust, against an unknown enemy as old as time.

I enjoyed the new setting of Chicago. It brought a fresh change of air, as well reminded me of Dresden. And, Schaefer gives a cool nod to Dresden. We get to meet some new characters, dangerous characters, and see Faust land in some real shit. Meanwhile Harmony Black is on his tail, and Faust has to play the odds against all his rivals.

The new characters were fun, especially Freddie, who might be Hela in disguise, but, I don't know. Nadine was one sadistic demon bitch, and her manipulation of Daniel was subtle and creepy. The Bast Club isn't a place I'll be comfortable in, and Damien Ecko makes one hell of a villain. I enjoyed Daniel's doubt regarding Caitlin, planted by Nadine, and long to see how it will affect their relationship.

The ending was quite fucked-up for Daniel, but, in a good way for the readers. One thing I'm sure about, it will be an eye-opener for our rogue, cavalier, and devil-may-care sorcerer of Vegas. Faust has left a trail of unfinished business behind him, and it's coming to bite him back in the ass. I'm curious to see how Faust is going to tackle his shit, along with his friends and family without getting killed.