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Spectral Detective #3
Twice Damned
All Jake wants is to buy his way into Heaven, so why is he about to walk into Hell?
Ever since Jake became a ghost he’s made a career out of solving London’s grisliest murders and helping fellow phantoms pass on to the other side.
This case is about to lead him into some unfamiliar territory though…
Some very unfamiliar territory.
The person Jake’s helping this time has already passed on, and when he did, he went south.
A Faustian pact landed Jake’s client in Hell, and the only way to get him home is to perform an inter-dimensional jailbreak.
Rescuing a lost soul from damnation promises to be the most dangerous undertaking of Jake’s career. Can he pull him out of Hell, and himself, too, or is the Devil about to claim a new soul?
From the series originally titled "Ghosted".
Ever since Jake became a ghost he’s made a career out of solving London’s grisliest murders and helping fellow phantoms pass on to the other side.
This case is about to lead him into some unfamiliar territory though…
Some very unfamiliar territory.
The person Jake’s helping this time has already passed on, and when he did, he went south.
A Faustian pact landed Jake’s client in Hell, and the only way to get him home is to perform an inter-dimensional jailbreak.
Rescuing a lost soul from damnation promises to be the most dangerous undertaking of Jake’s career. Can he pull him out of Hell, and himself, too, or is the Devil about to claim a new soul?
From the series originally titled "Ghosted".
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
ebook
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About the author
David Bussell
37 books180 followersDavid Bussell is a best-selling British author renowned for his contributions to the urban fantasy genre. He is the co-creator of the Uncanny Kingdom, a series that explores a secret Britain teeming with paranormal suspense stories. His notable works include the "Spectral Detective" series. David's writing prowess has been recognized with the P.G. Wodehouse New Comic Writer Award. Beyond his literary achievements, he is an avid fencer, a lover of synthwave music, and a committed comic book fan.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 11, 2020
Well, I thought the first two books were funny but this takes bizarre to a whole new level.
Jake has a two part quest in this book. The ever bubbly 'Jazz Hands' requires his services after things go missing, and a mysterious woman enlists his help to look for her brother who is in a really bad place.
As usual, the pace is fun, fast and the story is very unusual. The last book had a unicorn with a very special friend. This one sees some creatures that are both laughable and downright strange. The imagination used is part pop culture, part classic literature and a lot of humour, at turns infantile and heading in a slightly darker direction.
Jake Fletcher is a great character and this series is 'Dead good'. If you like ghosts who refuse to die, and use quips as an escape pod, this series is for you.
Jake has a two part quest in this book. The ever bubbly 'Jazz Hands' requires his services after things go missing, and a mysterious woman enlists his help to look for her brother who is in a really bad place.
As usual, the pace is fun, fast and the story is very unusual. The last book had a unicorn with a very special friend. This one sees some creatures that are both laughable and downright strange. The imagination used is part pop culture, part classic literature and a lot of humour, at turns infantile and heading in a slightly darker direction.
Jake Fletcher is a great character and this series is 'Dead good'. If you like ghosts who refuse to die, and use quips as an escape pod, this series is for you.
September 14, 2017
Jake, PPI (paranormal private
Investigator) is trying to undo the karmic imbalance of permanently destroying an embarrassing number of souls (accidentally if course). In life, he worked as an exorcist...not realizing that exorcism should only be performed on demons. The effect on fragile human spirits is...regrettably permanent. As penance, Jake, now deceased, helps lost souls find their celestial reward.
Jake can only blame the enchanted liquor at his favorite Uncanny pub for his decision to take a hellacious case. No. Really! He agrees to bring a soul back from hell when a young man's desperate sister pleads for Jake to rescue her brother from a Faustian pact. Meanwhile, his personal "Q", aka Jazz Hands, needs Jake to retrieve some stolen magical artifacts.
Once again, our protagonist somehow manages to solve his case...but not without some serious detours and a boatload of British humor.
Investigator) is trying to undo the karmic imbalance of permanently destroying an embarrassing number of souls (accidentally if course). In life, he worked as an exorcist...not realizing that exorcism should only be performed on demons. The effect on fragile human spirits is...regrettably permanent. As penance, Jake, now deceased, helps lost souls find their celestial reward.
Jake can only blame the enchanted liquor at his favorite Uncanny pub for his decision to take a hellacious case. No. Really! He agrees to bring a soul back from hell when a young man's desperate sister pleads for Jake to rescue her brother from a Faustian pact. Meanwhile, his personal "Q", aka Jazz Hands, needs Jake to retrieve some stolen magical artifacts.
Once again, our protagonist somehow manages to solve his case...but not without some serious detours and a boatload of British humor.
August 12, 2017
What an absolute delight! I love this series, and especially Jake (no middle name) Fetcher. Excellent writing as per usual, good storyline, and just plain fun!
July 30, 2017
Jake isn't having the best of times again. He really is going to Hell this time but hopefully just for a quick visit, in and out before anyone catches him. As always, nothing ever goes to plan. He is far too trusting in all his dealings with his clients and this could be the worst mistake he has made yet. You just have to love him, though, and hope that it all turns out well for him in the end.
This book certainly plays with the emotions and I loved every page. Even Jazz Hands gets almost emotional at one point, though she maintains it's nothing to do with Jake. I felt wrung out by the time I finished it.
Ghosted is a marvellous series and Jake is an unusual protagonist. He is smart-mouthed, empathetic, naive and trusting and still very human, despite being a ghost. The other two series in the Uncanny Kingdom realm, London Coven and Dark Lakes, also have unusual protagonists and worth reading too. All the books are standalones but some characters overlap and they are all as enjoyable as each other. I recommend you read them all because (a) they will make more sense and (b) they are too good not to!
I received an Advance Reader's Copy but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.
This book certainly plays with the emotions and I loved every page. Even Jazz Hands gets almost emotional at one point, though she maintains it's nothing to do with Jake. I felt wrung out by the time I finished it.
Ghosted is a marvellous series and Jake is an unusual protagonist. He is smart-mouthed, empathetic, naive and trusting and still very human, despite being a ghost. The other two series in the Uncanny Kingdom realm, London Coven and Dark Lakes, also have unusual protagonists and worth reading too. All the books are standalones but some characters overlap and they are all as enjoyable as each other. I recommend you read them all because (a) they will make more sense and (b) they are too good not to!
I received an Advance Reader's Copy but this review is my own opinion and is not influenced by the author.
September 14, 2017
Let me start by noting that I've loved the prior two books in David Bussell's Ghosted series and think that the story universe he and his partner in crime have created to share for their loosely linked Uncanny Universe stories (which also includes Stott's wonderful Dark Lakes and London Coven series, is the ideal platform for urban fantasy tales.
As for Twice Damned, David Bussell has once again hit a home run. I'm not going to summarize the well done and wonderfully written plot, as the kindle blurb and others do so well (and I don't want to accidentally spoil anything) but I will say that this book (and series) easily exceeds what I call my Dresden Test, i.e. is it as good or better than Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files stories? There are some other authors who pass this test (Simon R.Green’s Nightside tales come to mind) but it's hard to think of others who excel like the Uncanny Universe duo do so consistently, and Twice Damned is perfect evidence of that. Jake, the lead here, is the perfect urban fantasy noire detective, and I love his empathetic, snarky, naive, brilliant and overly trusting soul. While a ghost, he's more "human" than many among the living and you have to love him for that. Wonderful series and a wonderful addition to it. Highly recommended.
As for Twice Damned, David Bussell has once again hit a home run. I'm not going to summarize the well done and wonderfully written plot, as the kindle blurb and others do so well (and I don't want to accidentally spoil anything) but I will say that this book (and series) easily exceeds what I call my Dresden Test, i.e. is it as good or better than Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files stories? There are some other authors who pass this test (Simon R.Green’s Nightside tales come to mind) but it's hard to think of others who excel like the Uncanny Universe duo do so consistently, and Twice Damned is perfect evidence of that. Jake, the lead here, is the perfect urban fantasy noire detective, and I love his empathetic, snarky, naive, brilliant and overly trusting soul. While a ghost, he's more "human" than many among the living and you have to love him for that. Wonderful series and a wonderful addition to it. Highly recommended.
August 4, 2017
Once I finished this story I had to shake my head and say men lose all brain power when a pretty woman asks for help. So book 3 was a bit different from the first 2. This time Jake ends up trying to help a live woman get her brother back from Hell. I found the description of Hell and what Jake goes through down there to be hilarious and a completely different Hell then other books portray. Of course something goes wrong with this "straight forward" job. Once I started it, I had to finish the story all in one setting to see how stupid Jake would be. PS the answer is really stupid. My honest review is that book 3 was just as hilarious and a perfect mind numbing read that is great for a laugh as the last 2 books in the series.
January 8, 2019
Jake Fletcher, the Spectral Detective, would be damned to Hell for obliterating souls instead of freeing them, if he were to be judged by Him. In this investigation, his quest for Brownie points and his good intentions lead him literally to Hell for his second damnation. It's not anything like he expected. While there, his investigation figuratively 'goes to hell' as he tries to rescue an 'innocent lad'. Can he escape from the Pit and its denizens? And somehow remedy the mess he's made of the investigation? YES! Lots of very vivid and colorful imagery in descriptions of characters (I can't limit it to people), places and things. The writing is smooth, and flows from one situation to the next.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Jake's adventures as a detective.
I'm looking forward to reading more of Jake's adventures as a detective.
August 25, 2017
Double blessed by this installment!!
Hot damn, Jake Fletcher is up to tricks and proving he is still my favourite ghostie ever.
This round has Jakey facing down the ghosts of his own past, literally braving Hell and dealing with what feels like a betrayal left and right. The pace was swift and the writing excellent as we get the feels for poor Jake while also learning more about his past. About what essentially makes Jake tick.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot and seriously hope there will be many more stories to come for Jake (No Middle Name) Fletcher, P.P.I..
Sidenote, am I the only one ridiculously in love with the covers?
Hot damn, Jake Fletcher is up to tricks and proving he is still my favourite ghostie ever.
This round has Jakey facing down the ghosts of his own past, literally braving Hell and dealing with what feels like a betrayal left and right. The pace was swift and the writing excellent as we get the feels for poor Jake while also learning more about his past. About what essentially makes Jake tick.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot and seriously hope there will be many more stories to come for Jake (No Middle Name) Fletcher, P.P.I..
Sidenote, am I the only one ridiculously in love with the covers?
November 14, 2021
Twice Damned by David Bussell is Book 3 in The Spectral Detective series. This is a phenomenally well written, fast paced, action packed, page turning thrill ride into Hell to rescue a client. Jake (MC) is a ghost who deals with humans as well as "uncannies". He is hired to rescue someone from Hell as well as find some stolen magical items for his friend Jazz and as it turns out both cases are related. Jake is a well developed character who is funny, empathetic and too trusting and I just love him. Loved this book, once started I could not put it down. I highly recommend it and this series. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary review.
July 29, 2017
Well, H. E. double hockey sticks! This was a humdinger of a job for Jake.
Full of surprises, there is humour, enough twists to turn you into a pretzel, and an ending that gets a massive thumbs up.
The joy of having a ghost as the main character is that he can do spectacular things and I'm looking forward to more from Mr Fletcher.
Wickedly good.
Full of surprises, there is humour, enough twists to turn you into a pretzel, and an ending that gets a massive thumbs up.
The joy of having a ghost as the main character is that he can do spectacular things and I'm looking forward to more from Mr Fletcher.
Wickedly good.
August 9, 2017
I've enjoyed all of the Uncanny Kingdoms books so far. Bussell and Stott both write a lot of action and humour into their stories. I find them to be more entertaining then the general "bad-ass heroine with trust issues saves the world". This book gave a lot of closure from the first (even though the first does not have a cliffhanger ending) and, as always, it was a solid story.
August 22, 2019
Filed with action, unusual denizens of Hell and humor.
Jake is hired to find stolen magical merchandise from his friend Jazz's. He is also hired to go to Hell and rescue someone. In Hell, he encounters danger and unusual creatures. Both jobs are connected. The story is action packed and filled with humor.
Jake is hired to find stolen magical merchandise from his friend Jazz's. He is also hired to go to Hell and rescue someone. In Hell, he encounters danger and unusual creatures. Both jobs are connected. The story is action packed and filled with humor.
August 6, 2017
I liked it alot
Funny, irreverent, cool British slang with non stop action. I really thought Jake's middle name was hilarious (no spoilers). I am having a bit of a hard time getting into the other two series of the uncanny kingdom, but the ghosted series is a riot. Thanks Dave.
Funny, irreverent, cool British slang with non stop action. I really thought Jake's middle name was hilarious (no spoilers). I am having a bit of a hard time getting into the other two series of the uncanny kingdom, but the ghosted series is a riot. Thanks Dave.
February 24, 2019
Book three in the series and just as good as the others. Jake Fletcher who may have a middle name after all certainly is getting about a bit. Roll on book four. That is I hope there’s going to be one, more than one too. Highly recommended.
July 6, 2020
Jake’s latest case is Hell, quite literally!
Several revelations for Jake in this one as he unravels the mystery behind a break in and tries to help a tricked soul.
Another very enjoyable story, if you’re looking for a read/listen that’s fun and entertaining then this world is for you.
August 3, 2017
Well that had an interesting twist! I loved how hell was portrayed! Better than any other version I've ever read. I can't wait for the next book!
February 5, 2019
Roll eyes, call out idiot.
January 2, 2020
This is a series that moves at a page turning pace. You don't want to stop reading until the book is done. You wait with anticipation for the next installment. Likeable characters and engaging plot.
May 28, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Still like the books and the character but Jake should be learning a little from his mistakes, at least by the end of the book.
Still like the books and the character but Jake should be learning a little from his mistakes, at least by the end of the book.
June 12, 2020
He is sooooooooooo stupid.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews