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Brimstone Files #1
Hex-Rated
A salacious throwback to the detective pulps of the 70s, Hex-Rated kicks off the new urban fantasy series the Brimstone Files.
Fall, 1970. Los Angeles has always been a den of danger and bliss, but even darker tidings brew in the City of Angels. Cults, magic, and the supernatural are leaking into the worlds of glamour and dives of the gutter. To the spectators walking down Hollywood Blvd, it’s just more proof that La La Land is over the cuckoo’s nest. But to former child magician and Korean veteran turned newly-licensed private investigator James Brimstone, it means business is picking up.
After attending his mentor’s funeral, Brimstone signs his first client: Nico, a beautiful actress with a face full of scars and an unbelievable story of sex, demons, and violence on the set of a pornographic film in the San Fernando Valley. The cops chalk it up to a bad trip from a lost soul, but Brimstone knows better.
He takes the case, but the investigation goes haywire as he encounters Hell’s Angels, a lost book of Japanese erotica, and a new enemy whose powers may fill the streets of L.A. with blood. He’ll have to us his Carney wits, magic tricks, and a whole lotta charm to make it out of a world that is becoming . . . Hex-Rated.
Fall, 1970. Los Angeles has always been a den of danger and bliss, but even darker tidings brew in the City of Angels. Cults, magic, and the supernatural are leaking into the worlds of glamour and dives of the gutter. To the spectators walking down Hollywood Blvd, it’s just more proof that La La Land is over the cuckoo’s nest. But to former child magician and Korean veteran turned newly-licensed private investigator James Brimstone, it means business is picking up.
After attending his mentor’s funeral, Brimstone signs his first client: Nico, a beautiful actress with a face full of scars and an unbelievable story of sex, demons, and violence on the set of a pornographic film in the San Fernando Valley. The cops chalk it up to a bad trip from a lost soul, but Brimstone knows better.
He takes the case, but the investigation goes haywire as he encounters Hell’s Angels, a lost book of Japanese erotica, and a new enemy whose powers may fill the streets of L.A. with blood. He’ll have to us his Carney wits, magic tricks, and a whole lotta charm to make it out of a world that is becoming . . . Hex-Rated.
292 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2017
16 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 15, 2017
Pulp fiction joyride across seventies LA.
This is the stuff cult movies are made of. Hex-rated is a mash-up of Magic Castle, A Boy Named Sue, and Lair of the White Worm. Take a disenchanted, down-on-his-luck guy trying to do the right thing, James Brimstone--most of the time. Add some noir elements like a doll and that just ensures trouble.
There is a lot of scathing commentary about history and the revisionist lies we like to tell ourselves. Set in the 1970s, it's unvarnished from the plethora of body odors and various fluids to race relations and the Hollywood machine.
Overall, fun and appropriately tawdry as the cover implies.
By the way, if you're reading this and have even heard of "Lair of the White Worm" let alone seen it, ping the comments section.
~Copy provided by NetGalley~
This is the stuff cult movies are made of. Hex-rated is a mash-up of Magic Castle, A Boy Named Sue, and Lair of the White Worm. Take a disenchanted, down-on-his-luck guy trying to do the right thing, James Brimstone--most of the time. Add some noir elements like a doll and that just ensures trouble.
There is a lot of scathing commentary about history and the revisionist lies we like to tell ourselves. Set in the 1970s, it's unvarnished from the plethora of body odors and various fluids to race relations and the Hollywood machine.
These myopic twits wished all those blacks would go back to where they'd come from before they helped us win the war by doing dangerous munitions and navy work, and that kind of racist amnesia also fed the battle cry for all the Asians to go back home, even though most of them had been here long before the current set of whites who'd fled the dustbowl and came to California and proclaimed it their white Shangri La.
Overall, fun and appropriately tawdry as the cover implies.
By the way, if you're reading this and have even heard of "Lair of the White Worm" let alone seen it, ping the comments section.
~Copy provided by NetGalley~
September 2, 2018
James Brimstone, Private Eye & Magician
Hex-Rated a a tribute to all the cheap tawdry pulpy goofy horror novels of the Seventies. When there's a deadly snake pouring out of an actress' mouth, who you gonna call? James Brimstone, Korean War Veteran, circus performer, conjurer, and private eye, dedicated to helping damsels in distress escape the clutches of supernatural beasts. Everything but the kitchen sink is thrown in from cheap no-tell motels to rather graphic Porno movie stars to demons to midgets to powder blue tuxedos.
Although a bit uneven and a bit meandering, other times it's filled with poetic prose. This is one to read enjoying the different monologues and narrative asides the character Brimstone engages in, but not one to read expecting a smooth clear stay in a the lines type of plot.
Hex-Rated a a tribute to all the cheap tawdry pulpy goofy horror novels of the Seventies. When there's a deadly snake pouring out of an actress' mouth, who you gonna call? James Brimstone, Korean War Veteran, circus performer, conjurer, and private eye, dedicated to helping damsels in distress escape the clutches of supernatural beasts. Everything but the kitchen sink is thrown in from cheap no-tell motels to rather graphic Porno movie stars to demons to midgets to powder blue tuxedos.
Although a bit uneven and a bit meandering, other times it's filled with poetic prose. This is one to read enjoying the different monologues and narrative asides the character Brimstone engages in, but not one to read expecting a smooth clear stay in a the lines type of plot.
June 3, 2017
James Brimstone doesn’t want to have anything to do with magic anymore. With the burial of his cruel mentor, all his remaining bridges to the world of hexes and demons have been burnt. He can start work as a private investigator and leave the supernatural behind him.
His first case, predictably enough, plunges him right back into it all. A actress with hideous facial scarring – scarring that tastes of magic – begs for his help. James Brimstone finds himself going up against Nazi occultists, monstrous snakes and rage-filled gladiators as he investigates the seamier side of Hollywood.
Hex-Rated is the first book in a planned urban fantasy series. It starts very much in medias res, and does lots of world-building through what’s left unexplained, but it is the first book. I checked.
I really wanted to like this book. The cover, the concept, the aesthetic – all of these are exactly my kind of thing. I love the vividness of pulp, and anything containing occult Nazis catches my interest; they’re such fun antagonists. So when I started reading Hex-Rated, I was inclined to view it very positively.
And I did find several positives. I liked the magic – it’s not as present as you’ll find in other books in the genre, and the protagonist’s distaste comes across well. Magic in Hex-Rated is strange and scary. Wizards don’t throw fire – they make perverted pacts with demons and carve sigils into living flesh. The essential elements aren’t original, but the presentation is.
I liked the setting as well. 1970s America is not something I’m very familar with, and its an unusual choice for urban fantasy. All the cultural references are slightly off from where I expect them – different songs on the radio and homeless veterans of different wars. I’m growing a little sick of urban fantasy that takes place in the early and undifferentiated 2000s. The 1970s setting of this book is both fresh and important, permeating the whole plot.
Unfortunately, I felt that the positives were outweighed by a significant negative. The issue is Brimstone himself; he’s very hard to like. In some ways he’s the standard urban fantasy protagonist – impoverished, worried about falling to the darkness, and surrounded by beautiful women. It’s a common archetype now, and it is a little hackneyed and objectionable. Normally though, the annoying parts of these characters are tempered by humility or incompetence, so the character ends up sympathetic.
Brimstone isn’t humble. He knows how good he is. He’s not particularly great at magic, but he rarely uses it – again, in this book, magic is a strange and dangerous thing. Brimstone solves most of his problems through either fighting or sex. And he’s very, very good at both of them.
I struggle to worry about a character who outclasses all of his opponents – regardless of size or magical assistance – with relative ease. Brimstone knows all the martial arts. He can disable his enemies’ limbs through the careful tapping of pressure points. He moves incredibly fast and can see in the dark. There’s little tension to the combat because he’s essentially unstoppable, and while the author does try and make situations seem desperate, it rings rather hollow – the reader has already seen how capable he is, so pretending he is in trouble doesn’t actually work.
There’s a lot of sex in the book. Quite a lot more than I was expecting. That’s fine – it’s not a problem – but some kind of earlier hint would have been nice. And once Brimstone starts having sex with people, he just doesn’t stop. By my (admittedly rough) count, he has sex with five different porn actresses only a few hours. It’s very detailed, and not really justified that well by the plot. Most importantly, it’s amazing; those of his partners who discuss it (at length) declare sex with Brimstone to be a transcendental experience. In case you were in any doubt over this, his internal monologue also repeatedly explains just how great he is in bed.
Characters must be flawed to be relatable. I don’t know about you, gentle reader, but I’m not an unstoppable god of sex and violence. If I was, I wouldn’t spend all my time congratulating myself on that fact. Brimstone’s abilities are essentially superpowers, and he’s really smug about them. He even has the gall to lecture the reader on being respectful to women, and then immediately takes advantage of a distraught victim of a brutal attack or has a threesome with two strangers just to avoid having to tell the truth.
I get that pulp is about sex and violence. I’m okay with that. But there are limits. One of those limits, it turns out, is graphically describing sex with multiple porn stars while congratulating yourself on your thrusting technique. It’s gratuitous, and not in a fun way. Brimstone comes across as arrogant and self-obsessed, which makes it hard to root for him.
I wanted to like Hex-Rated; I really did. There’s a lot to like about it – the originality, the setting; even the prose, at points, is snappy and compelling. But it’s hard to enjoy a book when the protagonist needs shaking. If you are riding in someone’s head, it needs to be a head that’s interesting to be in. Not the head of a good person, necessarily, but one who you can sympathise with. With a toned-down protagonist and less emphasis on sex, I’d have enjoyed the book a lot more. As it is, Hex-Rated is a bundle of interesting ideas let down by the overall execution.
His first case, predictably enough, plunges him right back into it all. A actress with hideous facial scarring – scarring that tastes of magic – begs for his help. James Brimstone finds himself going up against Nazi occultists, monstrous snakes and rage-filled gladiators as he investigates the seamier side of Hollywood.
Hex-Rated is the first book in a planned urban fantasy series. It starts very much in medias res, and does lots of world-building through what’s left unexplained, but it is the first book. I checked.
I really wanted to like this book. The cover, the concept, the aesthetic – all of these are exactly my kind of thing. I love the vividness of pulp, and anything containing occult Nazis catches my interest; they’re such fun antagonists. So when I started reading Hex-Rated, I was inclined to view it very positively.
And I did find several positives. I liked the magic – it’s not as present as you’ll find in other books in the genre, and the protagonist’s distaste comes across well. Magic in Hex-Rated is strange and scary. Wizards don’t throw fire – they make perverted pacts with demons and carve sigils into living flesh. The essential elements aren’t original, but the presentation is.
I liked the setting as well. 1970s America is not something I’m very familar with, and its an unusual choice for urban fantasy. All the cultural references are slightly off from where I expect them – different songs on the radio and homeless veterans of different wars. I’m growing a little sick of urban fantasy that takes place in the early and undifferentiated 2000s. The 1970s setting of this book is both fresh and important, permeating the whole plot.
Unfortunately, I felt that the positives were outweighed by a significant negative. The issue is Brimstone himself; he’s very hard to like. In some ways he’s the standard urban fantasy protagonist – impoverished, worried about falling to the darkness, and surrounded by beautiful women. It’s a common archetype now, and it is a little hackneyed and objectionable. Normally though, the annoying parts of these characters are tempered by humility or incompetence, so the character ends up sympathetic.
Brimstone isn’t humble. He knows how good he is. He’s not particularly great at magic, but he rarely uses it – again, in this book, magic is a strange and dangerous thing. Brimstone solves most of his problems through either fighting or sex. And he’s very, very good at both of them.
I struggle to worry about a character who outclasses all of his opponents – regardless of size or magical assistance – with relative ease. Brimstone knows all the martial arts. He can disable his enemies’ limbs through the careful tapping of pressure points. He moves incredibly fast and can see in the dark. There’s little tension to the combat because he’s essentially unstoppable, and while the author does try and make situations seem desperate, it rings rather hollow – the reader has already seen how capable he is, so pretending he is in trouble doesn’t actually work.
There’s a lot of sex in the book. Quite a lot more than I was expecting. That’s fine – it’s not a problem – but some kind of earlier hint would have been nice. And once Brimstone starts having sex with people, he just doesn’t stop. By my (admittedly rough) count, he has sex with five different porn actresses only a few hours. It’s very detailed, and not really justified that well by the plot. Most importantly, it’s amazing; those of his partners who discuss it (at length) declare sex with Brimstone to be a transcendental experience. In case you were in any doubt over this, his internal monologue also repeatedly explains just how great he is in bed.
Characters must be flawed to be relatable. I don’t know about you, gentle reader, but I’m not an unstoppable god of sex and violence. If I was, I wouldn’t spend all my time congratulating myself on that fact. Brimstone’s abilities are essentially superpowers, and he’s really smug about them. He even has the gall to lecture the reader on being respectful to women, and then immediately takes advantage of a distraught victim of a brutal attack or has a threesome with two strangers just to avoid having to tell the truth.
I get that pulp is about sex and violence. I’m okay with that. But there are limits. One of those limits, it turns out, is graphically describing sex with multiple porn stars while congratulating yourself on your thrusting technique. It’s gratuitous, and not in a fun way. Brimstone comes across as arrogant and self-obsessed, which makes it hard to root for him.
I wanted to like Hex-Rated; I really did. There’s a lot to like about it – the originality, the setting; even the prose, at points, is snappy and compelling. But it’s hard to enjoy a book when the protagonist needs shaking. If you are riding in someone’s head, it needs to be a head that’s interesting to be in. Not the head of a good person, necessarily, but one who you can sympathise with. With a toned-down protagonist and less emphasis on sex, I’d have enjoyed the book a lot more. As it is, Hex-Rated is a bundle of interesting ideas let down by the overall execution.
April 25, 2017
I received this from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it didn't really capture my attention. I didn't connect with the characters, and it turned into another run-of-the-mill urban fantasy that failed to live up its potential.
I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it didn't really capture my attention. I didn't connect with the characters, and it turned into another run-of-the-mill urban fantasy that failed to live up its potential.
August 19, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. Urban fantasy set in the seedy side of 70's era, Los Angeles? Yes, please. But I couldn't connect with Brimstone at all. The overuse of metaphors lost my attention page after page. Why use one, when you can use three? Well, because the reader has forgotten what you're even talking about after a whole paragraph of metaphors. I just found my attention constantly wandering and in a lunch hour where I'd typically read 70 pages, I found myself reading the same 10 pages again and again.
Received an advance copy from Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from Skyhorse Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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July 15, 2017I'm putting this one aside until I'm maybe in a better mood to try it. I'm hating the main character too much right now.
November 26, 2017
If Jason Ridler had written this when I still considered making movies, I'd have optioned it. This is a phenomenal story, the kind fo novel that seems to exist in a magnificent world that could not be more designed for me personally than if I had commissioned it! I loved the prose, loved the characterizations, and I especially loved the pacing, which helped me to make it one of three books I've managed to complete since the birth of my twins!
July 27, 2017
Just fun to read. This book is a throwback to the sleazy paperbacks(and I mean that in the kindest way) of the seventies(not the fifties as are most of these "homages"). Fun, sexy, violent and mostly tongue in cheek--read it, man, now!
March 31, 2018
Urban fantasy is an interesting animal... its a chameleon becoming what it wants. You want romance (with magic) there's urban fantasy for you, you want spy novel (with magic) there's urban fantasy for you, you want police procedural (with magic) there's urban fantasy for you. However, without a doubt, the most popular disguise that urban fantasy will take is of the private investigator style mystery... the Mike Hammers or Sam Spade's of the world, only with magic. The grandfather of this style of urban fantasy is, of course, the Dresden Files, so its natural to judge every other novel of this ilk to that juggernaut.
If Harry Dresden is Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe, James Brimstone is Mike Hammer or the lurid pot-boilers of the 70's filled with buxom women who fall into bed with the protagonist at the drop of the hat... the cover and the back of this novel tell you everything you have to know about the plot.... its really fairly pedestrian if you're familiar with the genre.
What is amazing is the author's voice... this is vintage 70's cheese... the language is amazing. There are places where his language is positively poetic.
Hardly perfect... the 70's feel to the novel would have been fine in the 70's... we're not in the 70's now... even in the 80's Mike Hammer's buxom women falling for Stacey Keach in the 80's still seemed a bit much... now, it just feels forced and moderately 'unpleasant'.
The overall plot was a bit thin but enjoyable.
End of the day, this is a winner... hopefully the author's world continues to grow because I enjoyed this first visit.
If Harry Dresden is Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe, James Brimstone is Mike Hammer or the lurid pot-boilers of the 70's filled with buxom women who fall into bed with the protagonist at the drop of the hat... the cover and the back of this novel tell you everything you have to know about the plot.... its really fairly pedestrian if you're familiar with the genre.
What is amazing is the author's voice... this is vintage 70's cheese... the language is amazing. There are places where his language is positively poetic.
Hardly perfect... the 70's feel to the novel would have been fine in the 70's... we're not in the 70's now... even in the 80's Mike Hammer's buxom women falling for Stacey Keach in the 80's still seemed a bit much... now, it just feels forced and moderately 'unpleasant'.
The overall plot was a bit thin but enjoyable.
End of the day, this is a winner... hopefully the author's world continues to grow because I enjoyed this first visit.
June 21, 2017
Sometimes you are attracted to a book because of an author. Sometimes a publisher. Or Sometimes it's a cover. The latter was the case with Hex Rated. I was just tentatively exploring Netgalley ( a site that lets you apply for review copies of books ) not intending to go for anything, just see how it works. Then my eyes fell on the cover for Hex Rated. I almost broke my fingers applying to review it.
SNAKES, MOVIE CAMERA, DAMES whats not to love - and fall head over heels in love with it I did.
No way the book inside I picked purely on a whim, from an author or a publisher I'd never heard of could be as good?
The book inside is even better than the cover.
I've never been to 1970's L.A. I feel like I have now thanks to Ridler's unobtrusively excellent descriptive style. He doesn't monotonously describe every single brick, he just tells you about a wall in such a way you can see it. This guy can set a scene and environment like no ones business. This is one of the most cinematic books I've read. I could visualize almost everything as I read without missing a beat.
James Brimstone is a heel. We shouldn't like him early on in the book he has almost zero redeemable features but yet we root for him and by the end of the book you love the guy, that level of character development takes a lot of skill from the author. Gives you hints of a back story and origin without hitting you over the head with it. The other characters no matter how fleeting are well fleshed out and the book is all the better for it. I particularly enjoyed the character of Nico, the way her scars are described made me actually make a little intake of breath as I read about them for the first time.
The magic described here isn't for the faint-hearted. it's dark and it's dangerous. Hex Rated is not Harry Potter. Tentacles, sex acts, you name it.
On the subject of sex one of the only things that I felt was a let down in the book were the number of sex scenes. I know this is a throw back to pulp books from the era. I know some of it's scenes are on a porn film set but apart from the first one, at the hotel near the beginning, the sex scenes just get in the way of the plot . They feel forced and unnecessary. This book has so much other titillation going on it doesn't need them. At one point I just wanted Brimstone to put his "piece" away so I could get to the rest of the story.
Dialogue here is just great. It feels of the era, noir and pulpy but not cliched. The cadence feels right and reads as smoothly as can be. It's also really funny. It reminded me heavily of Shane Black's Good Guys,in setting obviously - but also style and comic timing.
There is so much back story left to explore, a great antagonist to come back and so many more cases for Brimstone to solve in 1970's Hollywood, California. This is the first of the Brimstone Files novels and I can't wait for the next one. Filthy, magical and dangerous Hex Rated and Jason Ridler should both definitely be on your radar.
SNAKES, MOVIE CAMERA, DAMES whats not to love - and fall head over heels in love with it I did.
No way the book inside I picked purely on a whim, from an author or a publisher I'd never heard of could be as good?
The book inside is even better than the cover.
I've never been to 1970's L.A. I feel like I have now thanks to Ridler's unobtrusively excellent descriptive style. He doesn't monotonously describe every single brick, he just tells you about a wall in such a way you can see it. This guy can set a scene and environment like no ones business. This is one of the most cinematic books I've read. I could visualize almost everything as I read without missing a beat.
James Brimstone is a heel. We shouldn't like him early on in the book he has almost zero redeemable features but yet we root for him and by the end of the book you love the guy, that level of character development takes a lot of skill from the author. Gives you hints of a back story and origin without hitting you over the head with it. The other characters no matter how fleeting are well fleshed out and the book is all the better for it. I particularly enjoyed the character of Nico, the way her scars are described made me actually make a little intake of breath as I read about them for the first time.
The magic described here isn't for the faint-hearted. it's dark and it's dangerous. Hex Rated is not Harry Potter. Tentacles, sex acts, you name it.
On the subject of sex one of the only things that I felt was a let down in the book were the number of sex scenes. I know this is a throw back to pulp books from the era. I know some of it's scenes are on a porn film set but apart from the first one, at the hotel near the beginning, the sex scenes just get in the way of the plot . They feel forced and unnecessary. This book has so much other titillation going on it doesn't need them. At one point I just wanted Brimstone to put his "piece" away so I could get to the rest of the story.
Dialogue here is just great. It feels of the era, noir and pulpy but not cliched. The cadence feels right and reads as smoothly as can be. It's also really funny. It reminded me heavily of Shane Black's Good Guys,in setting obviously - but also style and comic timing.
There is so much back story left to explore, a great antagonist to come back and so many more cases for Brimstone to solve in 1970's Hollywood, California. This is the first of the Brimstone Files novels and I can't wait for the next one. Filthy, magical and dangerous Hex Rated and Jason Ridler should both definitely be on your radar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
I saw a lot of Jim Butcher in this book. Ridler’s style is different and he is more graphic and sets more adult scenes than Butcher. Glenn Cook also has a magical private eye and again quite different than Ridler’s style. That I see this work as a reflection of Cook and Butcher is not in any way disparaging Ridler or his work. I truly enjoy those authors’ work and enjoyed Ridlers.
The book looks like it will be a series and I look forward to reading more. Ridler portrays a protagonist that has had a rough life and hopes to help others deal with their rough lives. James Brimstone, the protagonist, is flawed and quite human.
Brimstone sets out to help a damsel in distress and discovers that there is far more involved than originally met the eye. I particularly enjoyed the detergent box reference and wonder how many readers will recognize the significance. Perhaps only us old guys.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
The book looks like it will be a series and I look forward to reading more. Ridler portrays a protagonist that has had a rough life and hopes to help others deal with their rough lives. James Brimstone, the protagonist, is flawed and quite human.
Brimstone sets out to help a damsel in distress and discovers that there is far more involved than originally met the eye. I particularly enjoyed the detergent box reference and wonder how many readers will recognize the significance. Perhaps only us old guys.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
October 12, 2017
My brother's book!! I had so much fun reading this.
July 31, 2017
It's Los Angeles in the 70's and James Brimstone is a down and out ex-carney, burying the man who taught him magic (real magic) while endeavoring to launch his Private Eye practice. When a woman shows up outside his office, covered in scars of a supernatural bent, he signs on for a lot more than he had intended. Car chases, fight scenes, porno movies, Nazi magic, and our Korean war hero, Brimstone, just trying to hold his own between two worlds he doesn't fully understand. A raucous, sexy, silly, action-packed mystery.
A book that was written as an homage to 70's occult detective pulp achieved its aim with aplomb. Rating this was difficult, as it accomplished precisely what it set out to (it's delightfully pulp-y). I think that Ridler has set up a fantastically fun detective for his series to come. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters were significantly less developed (with the notable exception of Cactus), often verging on the one-dimensional. A retro read for anyone eager for a throwback read to troubled Los Angeles in the 70's that is coupled with titillating fantasy adventure.
As a side note: I read a lot of ARCs and am accustomed to encountering minor mistakes that are easily fixed in a round of proofreading. I am totally unalarmed by these errors. However, this is not an ARC and it really needs another once over. Forget grammar, this book has actual spelling errors. Bit of a shame.
A book that was written as an homage to 70's occult detective pulp achieved its aim with aplomb. Rating this was difficult, as it accomplished precisely what it set out to (it's delightfully pulp-y). I think that Ridler has set up a fantastically fun detective for his series to come. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters were significantly less developed (with the notable exception of Cactus), often verging on the one-dimensional. A retro read for anyone eager for a throwback read to troubled Los Angeles in the 70's that is coupled with titillating fantasy adventure.
As a side note: I read a lot of ARCs and am accustomed to encountering minor mistakes that are easily fixed in a round of proofreading. I am totally unalarmed by these errors. However, this is not an ARC and it really needs another once over. Forget grammar, this book has actual spelling errors. Bit of a shame.
August 12, 2017
I really wanted to like this book as it seemed to be right up my alley. However, being set in 1970 (assuming this since MASH was in the theater in one scene in the book) some details did not add up. Not going to list them here as another Amazon reviewer has already taken the time to write a whole list of these items but a tiny bit of editing and research could have prevented these inconsistencies.
The thing that I really couldn't get past here was the overuse of a slur that rhymes with maggot. If you are trying to make these characters sound macho by verbally attacking another man there are many other witty or unoffensive words and/or phrases that could have been used. Despite the main character slogging off these insults with comebacks of his own I felt the author was acting very juvenile in only employing that same slur over and over. Not only juvenile but lazy.
Some of the sex scenes were definitely juvenile as well and read like they were written by a 12 year old boy who has yet to see a woman naked in real life and has only stared greedily at breasts depicted in Playboy or Penthouse magazine.
In short I thought this new series had promise but everything failed to hit the mark for me.
The thing that I really couldn't get past here was the overuse of a slur that rhymes with maggot. If you are trying to make these characters sound macho by verbally attacking another man there are many other witty or unoffensive words and/or phrases that could have been used. Despite the main character slogging off these insults with comebacks of his own I felt the author was acting very juvenile in only employing that same slur over and over. Not only juvenile but lazy.
Some of the sex scenes were definitely juvenile as well and read like they were written by a 12 year old boy who has yet to see a woman naked in real life and has only stared greedily at breasts depicted in Playboy or Penthouse magazine.
In short I thought this new series had promise but everything failed to hit the mark for me.
July 23, 2017
Hollywood Detective with Magic
Hex-Rated: A Brimstone Files Novel: 3 stars
James Brimstone is Jack of many trades: former child magician in circus, Korean veteran and now a licensed private investigator. His new life starts with his mentor’s funeral and his first client Nico, the scarred beautiful actress with a tale of black magic, demons and revenge on the set of a pornographic film. With knowledge of the hidden dark magics and no money in pocket, Brimstone takes the case that takes him to places which he vowed never to visit again.
When I started reading Brimstone felt like bombastic combo of Dan Turner (Hollywood Detective), Jake (Chinatown) and Dean (Supernatural).
Then why just 3 stars?
I was all over this book the second James Brimstone was introduced. Sleek, charismatic and a wonderful liar – the stupendous ragged hero. Nico was introduced perfectly as the damsel in distress of a pulp. Everything was super even the needless sex and action scenes were spot on as per a pulp. The LA setup is wonderful and tasty, the mystery is intriguing and the book is full of magical action. With ‘sexy’ written all over and weird magic gluing all together, I had set my mind to the extreme gear of ppppulp novels. But then I realized how flat the characters are. Generally, characters of pulps are written a bit ‘over-the-top’ which compliments the book and fits like a jigsaw. Hex-rated has characters which are transparent and have good and bad written on their forehead as soon as they are introduced.
All these being said, I still loved it. Somehow it grew upon me and the ride to the last page was very satisfying. I sincerely hope to see more of a better Brimstone.
Damn it I almost forgot: Thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing a free copy for this honest review.
Hex-Rated: A Brimstone Files Novel: 3 stars
James Brimstone is Jack of many trades: former child magician in circus, Korean veteran and now a licensed private investigator. His new life starts with his mentor’s funeral and his first client Nico, the scarred beautiful actress with a tale of black magic, demons and revenge on the set of a pornographic film. With knowledge of the hidden dark magics and no money in pocket, Brimstone takes the case that takes him to places which he vowed never to visit again.
When I started reading Brimstone felt like bombastic combo of Dan Turner (Hollywood Detective), Jake (Chinatown) and Dean (Supernatural).
Then why just 3 stars?
I was all over this book the second James Brimstone was introduced. Sleek, charismatic and a wonderful liar – the stupendous ragged hero. Nico was introduced perfectly as the damsel in distress of a pulp. Everything was super even the needless sex and action scenes were spot on as per a pulp. The LA setup is wonderful and tasty, the mystery is intriguing and the book is full of magical action. With ‘sexy’ written all over and weird magic gluing all together, I had set my mind to the extreme gear of ppppulp novels. But then I realized how flat the characters are. Generally, characters of pulps are written a bit ‘over-the-top’ which compliments the book and fits like a jigsaw. Hex-rated has characters which are transparent and have good and bad written on their forehead as soon as they are introduced.
All these being said, I still loved it. Somehow it grew upon me and the ride to the last page was very satisfying. I sincerely hope to see more of a better Brimstone.
Damn it I almost forgot: Thanks to Netgalley and the author for providing a free copy for this honest review.
November 10, 2017
I really should have been warned by the title. I thought it was just a clever clue to the plot, where a PI with magical powers investigates a case on a porno film set. I even figured it was likely that the MC might get a little action himself. But wow, this guy is so irresistible to women that he is able to have sex with 4 -including 2 at one time- all in one day. And while he is describing the incredible experiences (yes, plural) that he is giving each one of these lucky ladies, he's also talking about how other men just don't know how to pleasure women and don't respect them like he does, etc. etc. Much eye-rolling ensued.
Even though (because?) the synopsis sounded familiar- a PI with a magical background who was taught by an abusive mentor- I went into this hoping for more. But James Brimstone takes himself WAY more seriously than Harry Dresden and isn't nearly as entertaining. I did finish it (eventually), but I won't recommend it.
Even though (because?) the synopsis sounded familiar- a PI with a magical background who was taught by an abusive mentor- I went into this hoping for more. But James Brimstone takes himself WAY more seriously than Harry Dresden and isn't nearly as entertaining. I did finish it (eventually), but I won't recommend it.
July 20, 2017
A contender for Best Book of the Year!
"Brown bags littered the gutters like the corpses of squashed rats. The air fluttered with the launching of a dozen different burger wrappers that danced in and out of traffic like kamikaze birds."
The above are just random sentences from the book. You can pretty much open the book to any random page, and find other sentences just as superbly written.
I am not really sure why this book is classified as Fantasy. (because of the magic?) I found it to be more in the vein of a crime/noir/pulp novel, so if you enjoy any of those, then you will definitely enjoy this book!
This book is a page-turner in every sense of the word. It is difficult to put down and will keep you reading late into the night. I am so glad that this is the first in a series. The next book cannot come fast enough! Thank you, Jason Ridler, for sharing James Brimstone with us!
"Brown bags littered the gutters like the corpses of squashed rats. The air fluttered with the launching of a dozen different burger wrappers that danced in and out of traffic like kamikaze birds."
The above are just random sentences from the book. You can pretty much open the book to any random page, and find other sentences just as superbly written.
I am not really sure why this book is classified as Fantasy. (because of the magic?) I found it to be more in the vein of a crime/noir/pulp novel, so if you enjoy any of those, then you will definitely enjoy this book!
This book is a page-turner in every sense of the word. It is difficult to put down and will keep you reading late into the night. I am so glad that this is the first in a series. The next book cannot come fast enough! Thank you, Jason Ridler, for sharing James Brimstone with us!
August 8, 2017
A great, totally fun and sleazy noir tale with a really cool take on magic. Fun and fast read, my only problem was the main character.
I COULDN'T LIKE HIM. Being an antihero is fine, being an asshole not so much.
still a fun read though, check it out
I COULDN'T LIKE HIM. Being an antihero is fine, being an asshole not so much.
still a fun read though, check it out
November 11, 2017
"outlook not so good"
Narrated in the first person by one James Brimstone, an ex-child magician, now a PI in California, whose business "Odd Job Squad" it is to investigate that which falls outside of the norm - ie: crimes dealing with those involved in the world of sorcery and magic. He is, by all accounts, "like some dime novel hero" who, following the death of mentor Edgar Vance, is drawn back into the world he was trying to escape by the waif-like Nico.
As long as you don't take this too seriously, then this is a humorous, witty,satirical, tongue-in-cheek spoof, written in the 1970s pulp fiction style. Noir fiction ...... borderline in the classic sense, but possible not in the modern sense ..... if that makes any sense ..
Narrated in the first person by one James Brimstone, an ex-child magician, now a PI in California, whose business "Odd Job Squad" it is to investigate that which falls outside of the norm - ie: crimes dealing with those involved in the world of sorcery and magic. He is, by all accounts, "like some dime novel hero" who, following the death of mentor Edgar Vance, is drawn back into the world he was trying to escape by the waif-like Nico.
As long as you don't take this too seriously, then this is a humorous, witty,satirical, tongue-in-cheek spoof, written in the 1970s pulp fiction style. Noir fiction ...... borderline in the classic sense, but possible not in the modern sense ..... if that makes any sense ..
October 24, 2017
A bit George Chesbro, a bit James Crumley, all low rent smutty supernatural detective.
May 24, 2018
Hex-Rated is an electrifying blend of pulp noir and horror. Jack Brimstone, LA’s newest Private investigator is looking forward to leaving a life of magic behind and spending his days chasing cheating husbands and finding lost dogs. Burying his mentor means freedom from all things strange and wondrous- at least until a beautiful woman shows up after an attack by a vicious demon. Naturally Jack wants to help, besides he’s flat broke and Bee’s locked him out. A paying client is just what he needs. From nazis to porn stars, fist fights to hot sex, Hex Rated has it all.
Armed with a flash wit, the ability to take a punch and a way of leading the ladies purring in satisfaction (not to mention knowledge of the uncanny), Jack charms readers and supporting characters alike. Jason Ridler has a way of making even the most horrific moments humorous through his choice of phrasing.
I loved Hex-Rated, the first Odd Jobs novel. It is quirky, thrilling and definitely sexy. This is not a novel for teens. I simply have to say hurrah for Jason Ridler’s resurrection of pulp.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Hex-Rated from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Armed with a flash wit, the ability to take a punch and a way of leading the ladies purring in satisfaction (not to mention knowledge of the uncanny), Jack charms readers and supporting characters alike. Jason Ridler has a way of making even the most horrific moments humorous through his choice of phrasing.
I loved Hex-Rated, the first Odd Jobs novel. It is quirky, thrilling and definitely sexy. This is not a novel for teens. I simply have to say hurrah for Jason Ridler’s resurrection of pulp.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Hex-Rated from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
May 21, 2018
Very sweaty and occasionally amusing PI novel with lots of triggers.
May 30, 2021
This is a tough one as I have mixed thoughts and feelings.
On one hand, I REALLY like it for what it is: Tough, Gritty, In Your Face (no puns intended), Urban Fantasy, a shout out to good old fashioned Classic Private Detective fighting evil demons! That's awesome!
The writing is very clever and pulls you into this strange messed up world, which is impressive since this is written in first person. First Person books can be a challenge to read (or write) because even if the author has a great story it can drag if the first person writing style isn't clever and interesting. So, FIVE STARS for the world building, the characters, and for the foul language. There are too many new authors who are too sensitive and scared. So, huge thank you to Mr. Ridler. However, you'll notice I didn't officially rate this gem 5 stars. Instead, I gave it 3. I might later change it to 4. I am still thinking about it. The reason?
I don't like being constantly lectured at. There are parts in the book that I didn't think were necessary and I thought how odd it was even there. Or how it was written. Yet at the same time, it isn't odd because of the journey James Brimstone is on. When you are driving all over the city trying to solve a supernatural case you are going to meet interesting people (good and bad) from all walks of life. That's critical in any mystery/detective book (any book actually).
When James meets some of these folks he is very judgmental. Sometimes it is warranted like dealing with racist biker thugs, and other times it isn't like confronting a bunch of random young adults leaving a movie theater.
You mean teenagers say ignorant AAAND stupid things???? No way...I'm shocked...
James is a veteran of the Korean War (1950-1953) and overhears these kids talking about the hit M*A*S*H movie and their ignorant disrespect pisses him off so he stomps over and yells a lecture at them. For context at the time, James was high on adrenaline because he just got out of a life and death situation and was still heated. Still, the encounter felt forced as another way for readers to see how much James really fights for Social Justice.
Dude...WE GET IT! It's very obvious James has a passion for fighting for the people. That was obvious in chapter one. It's why he wanted to became a PI. To help the voiceless. It's very noble of him. James even knows he isn't going to make a huge profit in this business, but does it anyways because he cares. Yet nonetheless, his strong sense of justice is hammered over and over even if it doesn't accomplish anything like with these random boys.
I'm bringing this up because I get the impression the author himself is lecturing to readers multiple times through the situations James Brimstone finds himself in. Perhaps this is only a character flaw in James? Maybe. Maybe not. That's how good Mr. Ridler's writing is because you cannot definitely say for certain.
But if I had to guess based on what info I do know about the author I would bet he is lecturing his readers. It is what it is.
If you like pulp fiction, magic, sex, sex magic, hardboiled detectives or dectetives with attitudes then this book is worth reading.
On one hand, I REALLY like it for what it is: Tough, Gritty, In Your Face (no puns intended), Urban Fantasy, a shout out to good old fashioned Classic Private Detective fighting evil demons! That's awesome!
The writing is very clever and pulls you into this strange messed up world, which is impressive since this is written in first person. First Person books can be a challenge to read (or write) because even if the author has a great story it can drag if the first person writing style isn't clever and interesting. So, FIVE STARS for the world building, the characters, and for the foul language. There are too many new authors who are too sensitive and scared. So, huge thank you to Mr. Ridler. However, you'll notice I didn't officially rate this gem 5 stars. Instead, I gave it 3. I might later change it to 4. I am still thinking about it. The reason?
I don't like being constantly lectured at. There are parts in the book that I didn't think were necessary and I thought how odd it was even there. Or how it was written. Yet at the same time, it isn't odd because of the journey James Brimstone is on. When you are driving all over the city trying to solve a supernatural case you are going to meet interesting people (good and bad) from all walks of life. That's critical in any mystery/detective book (any book actually).
When James meets some of these folks he is very judgmental. Sometimes it is warranted like dealing with racist biker thugs, and other times it isn't like confronting a bunch of random young adults leaving a movie theater.
You mean teenagers say ignorant AAAND stupid things???? No way...I'm shocked...
James is a veteran of the Korean War (1950-1953) and overhears these kids talking about the hit M*A*S*H movie and their ignorant disrespect pisses him off so he stomps over and yells a lecture at them. For context at the time, James was high on adrenaline because he just got out of a life and death situation and was still heated. Still, the encounter felt forced as another way for readers to see how much James really fights for Social Justice.
Dude...WE GET IT! It's very obvious James has a passion for fighting for the people. That was obvious in chapter one. It's why he wanted to became a PI. To help the voiceless. It's very noble of him. James even knows he isn't going to make a huge profit in this business, but does it anyways because he cares. Yet nonetheless, his strong sense of justice is hammered over and over even if it doesn't accomplish anything like with these random boys.
I'm bringing this up because I get the impression the author himself is lecturing to readers multiple times through the situations James Brimstone finds himself in. Perhaps this is only a character flaw in James? Maybe. Maybe not. That's how good Mr. Ridler's writing is because you cannot definitely say for certain.
But if I had to guess based on what info I do know about the author I would bet he is lecturing his readers. It is what it is.
If you like pulp fiction, magic, sex, sex magic, hardboiled detectives or dectetives with attitudes then this book is worth reading.
February 7, 2023
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
Take Harry Dresden from the uber-popular Dresden Files series and put him in a 'sleaze' novel from the late 1960's (ala my recently reviewed Man From O.R.G.Y. series) and you get something akin to Hex-Rated by Jason Ridler.
It's the 1970's and James Brimstone is a newly licensed Private Investigator in Los Angeles. Brimstone was at one time a child magician and a soldier in Korea. He's tough and has an amazing charisma - such that every woman wants to sleep with him and those that do will swear that he's the best lover they've ever had. And to top it off, he's got some supernatural skills which makes him impervious to a lot of otherwise potential damage.
In his first official job, Brimstone takes on a case of an actress whose face is horribly scarred and she begs for his help. He can tell there's something supernatural behind this and that he's the right man for the job.
In general, I liked the pulp feel to this book, and the 'sleaze' aspect is right in line with those 'sleaze' books from the 60's that I've read. But...
The protagonist is too perfect (by his own admission) and too unlikeable. He's a P.I. about to start investigating some supernatural elements, but we never feel he's in danger, then this book had better be about the mystery and the search. But it's not. It's about Brimstone and his awesomeness and his clever repartee. And his sexual escapades.
Sex in books is nothing new, but the written sex here is down and dirty, described in full, sweaty detail and of course Brimstone is super great and he leaves women in an absolute trance, swearing he's the best ever.
He'll go into a big one-on-one battle - the climax of the book - but is it much of a climax when you already know he can't really be hurt?
The world-building is ... eh. We don't ever really learn anything about Brimstone's abilities or why he has them. We don't understand this world of the 70's with magic and supernatural creatures. Why is it this way? Where is everything coming from? It seems to play a major part in the plot, but we're never given much background on it.
This works if you're just looking for some pulp-like action, dialog, and sex. But if you want a solid, urban fantasy, there are many better choices out there.
Looking for a good book? Hex-Rated by Jason Ridler doesn't quite fit the bill.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Take Harry Dresden from the uber-popular Dresden Files series and put him in a 'sleaze' novel from the late 1960's (ala my recently reviewed Man From O.R.G.Y. series) and you get something akin to Hex-Rated by Jason Ridler.
It's the 1970's and James Brimstone is a newly licensed Private Investigator in Los Angeles. Brimstone was at one time a child magician and a soldier in Korea. He's tough and has an amazing charisma - such that every woman wants to sleep with him and those that do will swear that he's the best lover they've ever had. And to top it off, he's got some supernatural skills which makes him impervious to a lot of otherwise potential damage.
In his first official job, Brimstone takes on a case of an actress whose face is horribly scarred and she begs for his help. He can tell there's something supernatural behind this and that he's the right man for the job.
In general, I liked the pulp feel to this book, and the 'sleaze' aspect is right in line with those 'sleaze' books from the 60's that I've read. But...
The protagonist is too perfect (by his own admission) and too unlikeable. He's a P.I. about to start investigating some supernatural elements, but we never feel he's in danger, then this book had better be about the mystery and the search. But it's not. It's about Brimstone and his awesomeness and his clever repartee. And his sexual escapades.
Sex in books is nothing new, but the written sex here is down and dirty, described in full, sweaty detail and of course Brimstone is super great and he leaves women in an absolute trance, swearing he's the best ever.
He'll go into a big one-on-one battle - the climax of the book - but is it much of a climax when you already know he can't really be hurt?
The world-building is ... eh. We don't ever really learn anything about Brimstone's abilities or why he has them. We don't understand this world of the 70's with magic and supernatural creatures. Why is it this way? Where is everything coming from? It seems to play a major part in the plot, but we're never given much background on it.
This works if you're just looking for some pulp-like action, dialog, and sex. But if you want a solid, urban fantasy, there are many better choices out there.
Looking for a good book? Hex-Rated by Jason Ridler doesn't quite fit the bill.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2019
I have to get over the bad editing that seems to have become normal in today's book publishing business. When reading a book nowadays, I often find myself adding definite articles, changing an
"a" to an "an," making tenses agree. This is not the fault of the author. You might say, "Yes, it is." But, the editor is supposed to find these grammatical mistakes in a manuscript numbering in 100s of pages. They are the final eyes for content and grammatical correctness. Often this detracts from the book, as it takes me out of the world the author has created. And Jason Ridler has created a fun and magical noir romp through the seedy side of 1970s Los Angeles.
To be blunt, this is not a book reaching for literary heights. It is not a book trying for anything new. This is a book trying to tell a fun story full of all the things we like to distract ourselves with -- Sex, Magic, and Nazis. Ridler achieves this all wrapped in a baby blue tux. He takes us on a 24 hour joy ride from a funeral to a porn set. All the while being challenged by ex-lovers, war veterans, the aforementioned Nazis, and librarians. This is the classic Summer read that is fun and memorable.
The joy the author had writing it is obvious, as it moves with break neck speed through it's twists and turns. Giving nods to it noir roots in people like Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler, and their ilk. A friend once said to me, that you can have a true noir/crime novel set any other place than L.A. Not sure if this is true. Yet, often the ones I remember the most have run me through the streets of L.A. as a tourist taken to the underbelly. And like a good tourist, I keep going back. I already have the second book in the series on its way to me.
"a" to an "an," making tenses agree. This is not the fault of the author. You might say, "Yes, it is." But, the editor is supposed to find these grammatical mistakes in a manuscript numbering in 100s of pages. They are the final eyes for content and grammatical correctness. Often this detracts from the book, as it takes me out of the world the author has created. And Jason Ridler has created a fun and magical noir romp through the seedy side of 1970s Los Angeles.
To be blunt, this is not a book reaching for literary heights. It is not a book trying for anything new. This is a book trying to tell a fun story full of all the things we like to distract ourselves with -- Sex, Magic, and Nazis. Ridler achieves this all wrapped in a baby blue tux. He takes us on a 24 hour joy ride from a funeral to a porn set. All the while being challenged by ex-lovers, war veterans, the aforementioned Nazis, and librarians. This is the classic Summer read that is fun and memorable.
The joy the author had writing it is obvious, as it moves with break neck speed through it's twists and turns. Giving nods to it noir roots in people like Mickey Spillane, Raymond Chandler, and their ilk. A friend once said to me, that you can have a true noir/crime novel set any other place than L.A. Not sure if this is true. Yet, often the ones I remember the most have run me through the streets of L.A. as a tourist taken to the underbelly. And like a good tourist, I keep going back. I already have the second book in the series on its way to me.
June 9, 2017
Perhaps the 70s just wasn't for me?!
The concept of this book is intriguing, and should have kept me voraciously reading this book.
But it didn't.
James Brimstone is a strange fellow, I didn't love or hate him, but I also didn't connect with him, which ultimately pushed me out of the story.
The thing that really irked me was the writing. I found the overly descriptive prose to be tedious and took far longer to read and understand than if the book had've been written in plain English.
An example (the whole book is like this!):
This was an unproofed ARC, I noticed copious errors that need to be corrected before publication.
Overall, an interesting magical idea but the story tries too hard to be groovy and delved too far into kitsch realm to be entertaining.
It might appeal to those who enjoy PI stories who can stomach a hefty layer of cheesiness and a dash of magic and general mayhem. Just not my thing...
**Note: I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
The concept of this book is intriguing, and should have kept me voraciously reading this book.
But it didn't.
James Brimstone is a strange fellow, I didn't love or hate him, but I also didn't connect with him, which ultimately pushed me out of the story.
The thing that really irked me was the writing. I found the overly descriptive prose to be tedious and took far longer to read and understand than if the book had've been written in plain English.
An example (the whole book is like this!):
Brown bags littered the gutters like the corpses of squashed rats. The air fluttered with the launching of a dozen different burger wrappers that danced in and out of traffic like kamikaze birds.
This was an unproofed ARC, I noticed copious errors that need to be corrected before publication.
Overall, an interesting magical idea but the story tries too hard to be groovy and delved too far into kitsch realm to be entertaining.
It might appeal to those who enjoy PI stories who can stomach a hefty layer of cheesiness and a dash of magic and general mayhem. Just not my thing...
**Note: I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
October 26, 2017
Pulp fiction in the classic sense. A story designed to entertain, titillate, and provide maximum value for your reading buck.
In the dedication (to his mum) when the author references watching The Rockford Files, Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The Twilight Zone as a kid I knew I was with a kindred spirit.
It starts with James Brimstone, clad in a baby-blue tuxedo, presiding over the funeral of his former mentor - the Amazing Edgar Vance. Recently removed from something akin to indentured servitude Brimstone is now a licensed private investigator in the state of California and sole proprietor of the Odd Job Investigative Services.
Long story short Brimstone ends up chasing demons on the set of a porno film. Yeah... it's not as creepy as it sounds but it's not for the faint hearted or easily offended.
I liked it except there was too much graphic sexual content for my taste. Granted, it fits in with the general storyline - it doesn't come out of nowhere - but, for me, that type of thing just brings the overall story to a halt and ends up being skimmed over until I can get back to the "real" story.
James Brimstone is sort of like a grittier, low-rent version of Harry Dresdan. I mean that in the best possible way - James Brimstone is like the Mike Hammer to Harry Dresdan's Philip Marlowe.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this title.
In the dedication (to his mum) when the author references watching The Rockford Files, Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The Twilight Zone as a kid I knew I was with a kindred spirit.
It starts with James Brimstone, clad in a baby-blue tuxedo, presiding over the funeral of his former mentor - the Amazing Edgar Vance. Recently removed from something akin to indentured servitude Brimstone is now a licensed private investigator in the state of California and sole proprietor of the Odd Job Investigative Services.
Long story short Brimstone ends up chasing demons on the set of a porno film. Yeah... it's not as creepy as it sounds but it's not for the faint hearted or easily offended.
I liked it except there was too much graphic sexual content for my taste. Granted, it fits in with the general storyline - it doesn't come out of nowhere - but, for me, that type of thing just brings the overall story to a halt and ends up being skimmed over until I can get back to the "real" story.
James Brimstone is sort of like a grittier, low-rent version of Harry Dresdan. I mean that in the best possible way - James Brimstone is like the Mike Hammer to Harry Dresdan's Philip Marlowe.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this title.
January 15, 2018
When I picked this up, I thought it would be in the vein of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files or Simon Green's Nightside series. And it is, vaguely. The main character is a PI who is a tough guy with a heart of gold who lives in a gritty reality. But that's where any similarities end. This book is much more like an edgy romance novel with its several really long, really detailed sex scenes except that the main character doesn't wind up in a relationship when the story is over. He's just this dude who has all these graphic, random sexual encounters in order to pad out chapters and make the book longer.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with that if that was the goal of the book. Except this is marketed as a mystery and the mystery aspect of the story was a real let down. I figured out who the "bad guy" by Chapter Nine, which is like 70 pages into the book. I haven't definitively ID'd the antagonist in a mystery that fast since I read Nancy Drew books as a middle schooler. In defense of the book, though, I did not nail the antagonist's motive.
This book comes across a bit fan fic-ish to me. Main character is a Gary Stu or at least a complete cliche of a PI, plus he's super talented sexually and just gets all these ladies panting after him. And he kills a really, really big snake by decapitating it with the lid of a washing machine.
If this is the first in a series, I'd probably pass on picking up the next one. Thank goodness I borrowed this from the library.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with that if that was the goal of the book. Except this is marketed as a mystery and the mystery aspect of the story was a real let down. I figured out who the "bad guy" by Chapter Nine, which is like 70 pages into the book. I haven't definitively ID'd the antagonist in a mystery that fast since I read Nancy Drew books as a middle schooler. In defense of the book, though, I did not nail the antagonist's motive.
This book comes across a bit fan fic-ish to me. Main character is a Gary Stu or at least a complete cliche of a PI, plus he's super talented sexually and just gets all these ladies panting after him. And he kills a really, really big snake by decapitating it with the lid of a washing machine.
If this is the first in a series, I'd probably pass on picking up the next one. Thank goodness I borrowed this from the library.
February 3, 2024
The nicest thing I can say about Hex-Rated, the urban fantasy by author Jason Ridler, is that it's got an awesome cover. Appropriately pulp, it cries out to be cracked open and read. I remember picking it up solely because of how kick-ass the cover was.
Too bad the story told between the covers is hot garbage. Hex-Rated has all the ingrediants of a good urban fantasy but none of the taste. It's flavourless dross. Our hero, Jason Brimstone, is what one reviewer on here dubbed a 'Gary Stu' and that's a spot on description. Not only is he the best at martial arts but he's the best at sex as well, and every woman he sleeps with can't stop herself from singing his praises over and over and over again. He's got no flaws and there's never an inkling that he's in any kind of real danger.
It's a joke of a book, and maybe that's what Ridler was going for; satire. Regardless, none of it works and I found myself skimming through in order to get it over with. I think there's a sequel but I won't be bothering with it. There's plenty of good Urban fantasy out there - I recommend Dresden Files or the first 10 books of Sandman Slim (don't bother with the final two volumes). Hex-Rated simply isn't one of them.
Too bad the story told between the covers is hot garbage. Hex-Rated has all the ingrediants of a good urban fantasy but none of the taste. It's flavourless dross. Our hero, Jason Brimstone, is what one reviewer on here dubbed a 'Gary Stu' and that's a spot on description. Not only is he the best at martial arts but he's the best at sex as well, and every woman he sleeps with can't stop herself from singing his praises over and over and over again. He's got no flaws and there's never an inkling that he's in any kind of real danger.
It's a joke of a book, and maybe that's what Ridler was going for; satire. Regardless, none of it works and I found myself skimming through in order to get it over with. I think there's a sequel but I won't be bothering with it. There's plenty of good Urban fantasy out there - I recommend Dresden Files or the first 10 books of Sandman Slim (don't bother with the final two volumes). Hex-Rated simply isn't one of them.
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