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Jonathan Shade #1-3
The Jonathan Shade Series: Box Set Books 1-3
The first three books in the Jonathan Shade series.
Includes:
Modern Sorcery
Death by dark magic
As soon as I get over my ex, her father hacks her mother apart with a sword.
She hires me to prove dark magic was involved. Hey, it's what I do as a paranormal investigator, so I get why she thinks I can help.
But my secretary, Esther, a ghost from the 1920s flapper era, and Kelly Chan, my magically engineered protector, are dead-set against me getting involved. With all the deadly magic flying around, they may have a point.
Because the sad truth is, I don't have any magic of my own.
Acheron Highway
"He stole my heart, Mr. Shade. I want you to find him and steal it back."
Between the crazy dead lady with a necromancer for a stalker, and a lovesick goddess, who wants me to turn over her lover, I'm buried in relationship issues.
Dead people won't leave me alone. Zombies, skeletons, anything that can shamble out of a grave, but are they working for the goddess or the necromancer?
One thing's for sure. There are no safe exits from Acheron Highway.
Dragon Gate
Ritual murders, guilty clients and inhuman attackers, oh my.
Stephen Noble, a rich old guy on the board of Dragon Gate Industries is executed by a clan from another dimension. Since I still owe a favor to the company, they hire me to provide executive protection services to the dead guy's grown kids. Graham and Rayna.
Rayna is hot, so that's all right, but Graham is a jerk. And it turns out they stole a dragon from the Marshall Clan and brought it to Boulder, Colorado.
Yeah, you heard me right. I said dragon.
Now Kelly and I are faced with protecting spoiled rich people from a team of assassins and the blood-hungry beasts they brought with them. Those things will kill anything in their path.
Includes:
Modern Sorcery
Death by dark magic
As soon as I get over my ex, her father hacks her mother apart with a sword.
She hires me to prove dark magic was involved. Hey, it's what I do as a paranormal investigator, so I get why she thinks I can help.
But my secretary, Esther, a ghost from the 1920s flapper era, and Kelly Chan, my magically engineered protector, are dead-set against me getting involved. With all the deadly magic flying around, they may have a point.
Because the sad truth is, I don't have any magic of my own.
Acheron Highway
"He stole my heart, Mr. Shade. I want you to find him and steal it back."
Between the crazy dead lady with a necromancer for a stalker, and a lovesick goddess, who wants me to turn over her lover, I'm buried in relationship issues.
Dead people won't leave me alone. Zombies, skeletons, anything that can shamble out of a grave, but are they working for the goddess or the necromancer?
One thing's for sure. There are no safe exits from Acheron Highway.
Dragon Gate
Ritual murders, guilty clients and inhuman attackers, oh my.
Stephen Noble, a rich old guy on the board of Dragon Gate Industries is executed by a clan from another dimension. Since I still owe a favor to the company, they hire me to provide executive protection services to the dead guy's grown kids. Graham and Rayna.
Rayna is hot, so that's all right, but Graham is a jerk. And it turns out they stole a dragon from the Marshall Clan and brought it to Boulder, Colorado.
Yeah, you heard me right. I said dragon.
Now Kelly and I are faced with protecting spoiled rich people from a team of assassins and the blood-hungry beasts they brought with them. Those things will kill anything in their path.
758 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2016
12 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 27, 2019
4 star review of The Jonathan Shade Series 1 -3 by Gary Jonas
Audio Review:
Gary Jonas is a new author to me as is the narrator Joe Hempel. This is a genre that I would not normally read. Having said that I actually enjoyed these books. The narrator certainly did a credible job with the narration of unique and interesting stories.
The characters were likeable and I found myself embroiled in the mystery, the magic and the supernatural elements involved in all the stories.
Audio Review:
Gary Jonas is a new author to me as is the narrator Joe Hempel. This is a genre that I would not normally read. Having said that I actually enjoyed these books. The narrator certainly did a credible job with the narration of unique and interesting stories.
The characters were likeable and I found myself embroiled in the mystery, the magic and the supernatural elements involved in all the stories.
June 11, 2025
Not for beginners.
If someone who had read no Urban Fantasy, or Fantasy at all, asked me for a recommendation, it wouldn't be these books. You have to know and accept some 'facts'.
Just one example. On the very first page we are told that the Main Character can see and talk to ghosts, because he died three years ago. This is not the plot.
It is hinted at in a few more places, but we only get a small, partial, explaination ⅔ into the second book.
There are lots of small hints of all kinds of things in all the books, some of them just a few words in a dependenant clause. Possibly all will be revealed in the future. To date there are 17 books in the Jonathan Shade series, with several offshots. I look forward to this.
So, dear fellow readers, read a lot of Urban Fantasy before you tackle this. It also helps to read science fiction, the old-fashioned hard stuff, because Mr Jonas doesn't believe in keeping genres apart. He also respects real science.
There are magical healers, but they are not above using blood transfusions, and in one glorious instance, defibrillation with teensy ley lines. Giggle.
What is worse than murderous sorcerers and evil, unhinged gods?
I'm surprised you can even ask. People. Not quite ordinary people.
Also, weapons don't kill people, people do.
Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
As we all know so very well today (June 2025), police in the US shoot at the drop of a hat, and seriously, you don't really think that they wouldn't notice?
I am hoping very much that Mr Jonas keeps this up.
If someone who had read no Urban Fantasy, or Fantasy at all, asked me for a recommendation, it wouldn't be these books. You have to know and accept some 'facts'.
Just one example. On the very first page we are told that the Main Character can see and talk to ghosts, because he died three years ago. This is not the plot.
It is hinted at in a few more places, but we only get a small, partial, explaination ⅔ into the second book.
There are lots of small hints of all kinds of things in all the books, some of them just a few words in a dependenant clause. Possibly all will be revealed in the future. To date there are 17 books in the Jonathan Shade series, with several offshots. I look forward to this.
So, dear fellow readers, read a lot of Urban Fantasy before you tackle this. It also helps to read science fiction, the old-fashioned hard stuff, because Mr Jonas doesn't believe in keeping genres apart. He also respects real science.
There are magical healers, but they are not above using blood transfusions, and in one glorious instance, defibrillation with teensy ley lines. Giggle.
What is worse than murderous sorcerers and evil, unhinged gods?
I'm surprised you can even ask. People. Not quite ordinary people.
Also, weapons don't kill people, people do.
Don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
As we all know so very well today (June 2025), police in the US shoot at the drop of a hat, and seriously, you don't really think that they wouldn't notice?
I am hoping very much that Mr Jonas keeps this up.
August 29, 2019
Bk 1This was a really well written book 1 of a series.Jonathan Shade was dead,now he's not.This makes him the perfect PI because he can travel in living,dead and magical circles to get answers.In this one the father of an old flame kills his wife in a crowded grocery store,but did he DO it?The answer may surprise you.
bk 2 This is another great Jonathan Shade book !He's a sassy non dead PI who lends his services, in the Denver area, to the living as well as the dead. Narrated nicely by Joe Hempel,this story gives us Miranda,a maybe dead lady who needs to find her heart...literally.Someone took her heart. Meanwhile the dead are being hijacked by demons to ry to find another of Jonathans friends .He will find out who his friends really are in this second book.
bk 3:This is a good read.The third in a series and just as good as book 1 and 2.Johnathon is hired to keep a mobsters adult children from being murdered.They are from the other side of the dimension and honor is everything to them leading to unique issues keeping them alive.Joe Hampel is the perfect narrator for this series."This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost
bk 2 This is another great Jonathan Shade book !He's a sassy non dead PI who lends his services, in the Denver area, to the living as well as the dead. Narrated nicely by Joe Hempel,this story gives us Miranda,a maybe dead lady who needs to find her heart...literally.Someone took her heart. Meanwhile the dead are being hijacked by demons to ry to find another of Jonathans friends .He will find out who his friends really are in this second book.
bk 3:This is a good read.The third in a series and just as good as book 1 and 2.Johnathon is hired to keep a mobsters adult children from being murdered.They are from the other side of the dimension and honor is everything to them leading to unique issues keeping them alive.Joe Hampel is the perfect narrator for this series."This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost
May 20, 2018
A Life of Magic..
This bundle centers around the lead, Jonathan Shade who has an odd relationship with magic.
Overall, this bundle was filled with danger, supsense and a bit of humor.
Joe Hempel was great as the narrator.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 29, 2018
Despite snarky PI of some sort being so frequently a choice for the main character in an urban fantasy series, it works well in this one because the main character is generally interesting enough that you want to read more about him and his supporting cast, with some notable exceptions the stuff he encounters tends to be a notable threat to him too. That notable exception being a slightly disappointing use of time travel to immediately undercut a dramatic moment, but generally this is not a hero that is going to power through his adventures unscathed.
Given that this is a collected edition of three books, it obviously provides great value and shows a progression in the style as we go through them, particularly in the 3rd where the author switches things up and has some chapters being told from the perspective of the other main characters in an enjoyable manner that is only slightly spoiled by the announcing of the perspective each time when the strong and distinctive performance of the narrator renders such an affectation strictly unnecessary as you are fully aware of who is speaking by the changes he makes.
Overall, an enjoyable set of books with a strong performance of the narrator serving only to further enhance that enjoyment, I will be looking out for more of the book in this series for certain.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
Given that this is a collected edition of three books, it obviously provides great value and shows a progression in the style as we go through them, particularly in the 3rd where the author switches things up and has some chapters being told from the perspective of the other main characters in an enjoyable manner that is only slightly spoiled by the announcing of the perspective each time when the strong and distinctive performance of the narrator renders such an affectation strictly unnecessary as you are fully aware of who is speaking by the changes he makes.
Overall, an enjoyable set of books with a strong performance of the narrator serving only to further enhance that enjoyment, I will be looking out for more of the book in this series for certain.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
July 31, 2018
Modern Sorcery: I loved getting the beginning of this series and getting to hear all the smart***ness of Jonathan ( i previously started with book 5). I adore Kelly and her general attitude. This book was great with plenty of action and a bunch of sass. While listening to this there were times that I was just sitting and laughing because of how entertaining John, Kelly and Ester are.
Archeron Highway: I loved getting to see more of Jonathan and the gang. This was a great look at the dead and destruction of everything. Ok not really the destruction of everything, but you'll understand when you read it. I loved getting more of the story and getting to see how its all unfolding. Great read and well worth listening to. I can't wait for more.
Dragon Gate: I missed Jonathan's normal sense of humor, but it was nice to get so many angels on the story. I enjoyed the different twists and turns that the story took. It was a nice treat to get a it of an inside look to Kelly and she helped make up for Jonathan's sense of humor (a bit). I really enjoyed Rayna's attitude and how she was more relaxed and not too uptight. Graham on the other hand is a complete jerk and is just one of those guys that you can't stand. All this made the story more interesting and I loved that they actually had a dragon in modern times flying around.
Archeron Highway: I loved getting to see more of Jonathan and the gang. This was a great look at the dead and destruction of everything. Ok not really the destruction of everything, but you'll understand when you read it. I loved getting more of the story and getting to see how its all unfolding. Great read and well worth listening to. I can't wait for more.
Dragon Gate: I missed Jonathan's normal sense of humor, but it was nice to get so many angels on the story. I enjoyed the different twists and turns that the story took. It was a nice treat to get a it of an inside look to Kelly and she helped make up for Jonathan's sense of humor (a bit). I really enjoyed Rayna's attitude and how she was more relaxed and not too uptight. Graham on the other hand is a complete jerk and is just one of those guys that you can't stand. All this made the story more interesting and I loved that they actually had a dragon in modern times flying around.
May 26, 2018
This is one great series I am hooked! It was hard to stop listening once I got started. Jonathan Shade lives in two worlds the normal human world that we all know and the magical world that we would know nothing about, for instance one of his best friends and secretary (kind of) is a ghost. He has been to the underworld and come back. He can't use magic but he is immune to it. But Jonathan's day job is a private eye, usually to the normal people, that is the way he likes it, but every no and again when the magical walks in, like his ex, things get very messed up.
This was a awesome audio, narrator Joe Hempel does these great voices for each characters that makes them easy to differentiate from one another, he draws you into the story by painting a picture and makes you feel as if you are really there with Jonathan. I can't wait until I am able to get more
This was a awesome audio, narrator Joe Hempel does these great voices for each characters that makes them easy to differentiate from one another, he draws you into the story by painting a picture and makes you feel as if you are really there with Jonathan. I can't wait until I am able to get more
May 23, 2018
I had requested and received audiobook version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
This was an entertaining read. It was like listening to a mix of Supernatural and Criminal Minds. I love good PI stories and I love paranormal stories. Got a mix of both in this 3-book-set. All 3 books are unique in their own way. The characters are fun and somewhat relatable. The stories moved at comfortable pace and kept me engaged. I didn't have difficulty following the stories, which sometimes becomes an issue with audiobooks. Listening to all 3 books in sequence was a pleasure.
The narration by Joe Hempel was a good match for this series. His delivery is perfect, as always. I am always eager to listen to more of his work.
This was an entertaining read. It was like listening to a mix of Supernatural and Criminal Minds. I love good PI stories and I love paranormal stories. Got a mix of both in this 3-book-set. All 3 books are unique in their own way. The characters are fun and somewhat relatable. The stories moved at comfortable pace and kept me engaged. I didn't have difficulty following the stories, which sometimes becomes an issue with audiobooks. Listening to all 3 books in sequence was a pleasure.
The narration by Joe Hempel was a good match for this series. His delivery is perfect, as always. I am always eager to listen to more of his work.
April 29, 2018
A very interesting set of books? Did I enjoys the books, yes! I highly recommend this series of books! You will find lots of action, mystery, romance and even humor. Meet Jonathan Slade, Kelly, Brand, Mike and many more as you read. Are they there wizards, yes, but I really liked meeting Clara. There are some unexpected twists but the best occurs in the second story. You will find betrayal and bits of revenge. Read and learn about Jonathan Slade’s world!
May 2, 2018
My review is based on the audiobook. Jonathan Shade is a wise cracking private investigator who has knowledge of the magical world so he is pulled into many crazy and otherworldly investigations. I really enjoyed this box set, it kept me engaged and invested in the characters. I would recommend reading in order to get the full story. The narration is on point with easy to understand and distinguishable character voices. I look forward to more in this series and from this author.
November 3, 2018
A Life of Magic..
This bundle centers around the lead, Jonathan Shade who has an
odd relationship with magic.
Overall, this bundle was filled with danger, suspense and a bit of humor.
Joe Hempel was great as the narrator.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.
Read
April 11, 2020Book one: 2.5 stars. Hopefully that was the end of Naomi. Plot was OK.
Book two: 2.5 stars. I think thats’s it for me. Plot OK, the characters however annoys me at best, especially the women. Except for Kelly, I quite like her.
Book 3: DNF.
Book two: 2.5 stars. I think thats’s it for me. Plot OK, the characters however annoys me at best, especially the women. Except for Kelly, I quite like her.
Book 3: DNF.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews