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The Blood Singer: A Haden Church Supernatural Thriller

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Dead men tell no tales. Until now.Haden Church is not your average private investigator. Able to talk to the dead, and possess the recently deceased in order to learn their secrets, he's in demand all over the world, by both the living and the dead.

But when he's hired by a ghost to save a child who's been buried alive, he discovers that even with all his dark talents he's going to need some help to save her.

The Blood Singer, a devil Haden once tried to kill, has all the skills he needs, but the price of her involvement could be Haden's life.

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2018

21 people are currently reading
73 people want to read

About the author

Patrick McNulty

14 books28 followers
Patrick McNulty was born in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. He married his high school sweetheart straight out of high school and then went on to university where he studied Neuroscience. After finding that he would rather write about strange behaviours of the brain than study them he left Ontario for British Columbia where he studied screenwriting and ended up working with the production company called the Zanuck Co.on an original screenplay he wrote called Dark Season. In the end Dark Season was not filmed so McNulty turned that screenplay into his first novel, Sleepers Awake.
After leaving British Columbia, McNulty joined the Canadian Armed Forces where he was trained as a medical technician and was stationed in Petawawa, Ontario. Currently he is a police officer in Ontario living with his high school sweetheart, their three beautiful children and their dog.

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5 stars
18 (27%)
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21 (32%)
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6 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Sara.
1,510 reviews432 followers
November 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Blood Singer is a short story that follows Haden Church, supernatural antihero with the power to inhabit the dead, as he tries to thwart an otherworldly plot by rescuing a girl kidnapped by her father.

This was a quick and easy read. It was fast paced, owing to its short length, but I felt this was largely to the detriment of the story and character development. The first part follows Haden as a boy, taken by his deranged mother from his foster parents, as she believes him to be possessed by evil forces. This should serve as a proper introduction to Haden, and give a background to the supernatural elements he possesses and the world building - but it doesn’t. All that really happens is that we are introduced to Moses, a ghost or spirit guide, sent to Haden to recruit him into an ancient society. It takes until 30% of the way into the novel before anything further is explained into what Haden can actually do, and even then it’s rather fleeting and vague.

A proper introduction into the world would have certainly helped with the chaotic nature of the novel at this point, and helped with my confusion. It’s very head on and straight into the thick of the action and as the story progressed, and more supernatural elements are introduced without much explanation, I felt out of my depth at times, and struggled to get to grips with what was happening. I found the second half very different in tone to the first too, which was rather jarring at first.

Unfortunately, the secondary characters are not really developed well either, although there are hints of intrigue. I was particularly drawn to Olivia the blood singer and really wanted to know her backstory and how she knew Haden. There were hints of a past with Haden and previous hostilities which aren’t explored either, which was a shame. The ending was wrapped up reasonably well considering the short length, and was satisfying enough to cover most aspects of the story.

I felt this just skimmed the surface of its potential. It had the right atmosphere, but no emotional or great depth to it and would have really benefited from being longer and more detailed.
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,404 reviews80 followers
December 13, 2019
This is a 3.5 star read.

I really enjoyed this introduction to the Hayden Church series but I'll admit that I'm still a bit confused about how the whole "demon doing good" thing works, especially when the "good" side are trying to kill him. I'd be very interested in seeing what happens in the next book.
Profile Image for Marie.
1,121 reviews392 followers
July 25, 2018
I would label this more under an urban fantasy/horror book. I have never read anything by this author before and I found myself getting involved in the book.

Hayden Church is considered a reaper for a church called The Ministry. He has the ability to jump into corpses and go into a secret agent mode to help him keep the world free of evil forces. The book starts out with Hayden being young boy and going through torture from his parents as they feel that Hayden is possessed so they try to exorcise the demons from him, but little do they know that it is anything but possession as he was born that way. As time goes on the book moves from him being a young boy to becoming a man that has powers beyond anything people imagined.

The book moves at a fast pace and there were some twists and turns to keep me entertained. Looking forward to reading the second book in this series to see what Hayden Church has in store for us in his future adventures. Three stars for this one.

My thanks to Net Galley and Keningston Books for allowing me to read this book.
Profile Image for Icy_Space_Cobwebs .
5,647 reviews330 followers
June 24, 2018
Review: THE BLOOD SINGER by Patrick McNulty

A delightfully comic horror with an engaging protagonist, a solemn and cynical foil as the protagonist's wise ghost mentor, a premise particularly imaginative and engrossing, combines in a very fast page-turning supernatural novel. There's nothing funny about Haden Church's childhood; his mother is horrid and Haden himself is, if not one of a kind, close to it. Haden sees ghosts, they congregate to him, and his abusive mother considers that the work of Satan and believes it her God-given mission to thoroughly exorcise her son.

As an adult, Haden is in the employ of the Ministry of Wraiths, but he might as well be freelance, he is so obstinate and stubborn, following his own ethical code. When his mentor-companion Moses brings to Hayden the ghost of an elderly lady vitally (and rightly) concerned for her wayward son and her young granddaughter, Haden leaps into the fray irregardless of his personal safety, in order to rescue the child.
Profile Image for Sibil.
1,748 reviews76 followers
May 28, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars

This was an original, gripping and fast-paced reading. I liked the story and the MC a lot, and the worldbuilding has some potentialities in it. It’s not the best ever, but it’s interesting, and the book is a really short one, so maybe with a little bit more of length we could have seen something more of it, but all in all, I enjoyed it and it’s quite original so I would look forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for Southern Today Gone Tomorrow.
497 reviews61 followers
June 21, 2018
Written by Patrick McNulty, this novel follows Haden Church, a reaper who goes off the books. Apparently all the time? And what is a reaper in this world? Someone who can see and speak to ghosts, and can take over their recently deceased bodies.

I really wanted to like this book, but between the editing/grammar errors and the fact that the characters had no depth, I just wasn't interested. Haden was a bit interesting, but it just didn't go any where for me.

The story of the man who kidnapped his child and killed himself, his ex-wife's boyfriend, and his mother was interesting. But even then the characters were so... flat. 

I honestly don't know who I would recommend this book to. I didn't like it, and couldn't get into it.
Profile Image for Sharron Joy Reads.
749 reviews36 followers
September 25, 2023


I enjoyed this story, Haden can speak to and possess the dead. This starts when he is a child running from his deranged mother who always finds him, he is now an investigator for a shadowy organisation and his services are in demand. He is asked by a ghost to find and save a child and needs the help of a specialist demon to do this.

This is a novella and is a fast paced and quick read but I wanted more. More of Haden’s background, more on his ghost companion, Moses, more on the organisation he works for, more on everything really. The story is tied up at the end but I would love to see this as a full length novel.
Profile Image for Hannah.
76 reviews5 followers
June 19, 2018
I read this book in one sitting and I couldn't put it down. I loved Haden's characters and I was rooting for him the entire time. The supernatural kept me on the edge until the very last page and I thought it played out wonderfully.
However, I'm was the edge of uncertainty with the time jumps but I suppose it's all part of how the story plays in the end.
I would definitely recommend this to people who want a really good supernatural and thriller read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Charlotte Lisbon.
195 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Patrick McNulty novel and I am not sure how I feel about this book. It was very catching and interestingly written, but it was more of a short story. It could have been a brilliant dark fantasy thriller but due to the lack of "more" it just turned out very confusing. The magic system seems very complex and could not be sufficiently explained. There were also a lot of different POVs which added to the confusion since you knew none of the people. Maybe this is part of a series and I am just confused but I wish there had been more book to read 😉
Profile Image for Ashley Sartorius.
239 reviews17 followers
July 11, 2018
This book had a lot of potential. I loved the book! The story was great! But I wish it was longer. I felt it was just jumping into the main part of the story to fast. I would have liked to have read more of him growing up and a few of his saving people. Other than that I give it a 3.
Profile Image for Steve Rufle.
197 reviews9 followers
October 28, 2023
Enjoyable but confusing. I found it difficult T times to keep track of the storyline and the interweaving of the characters.
Profile Image for Suzanne Synborski.
Author 3 books10 followers
July 23, 2018

The Blood Singer by Patrick Mcnulty is a supernatural horror novella, a child of the Ministry of Wrath series. The Ministry is a unique, secret organization that dispatches supernatural entities to fight evil. Hayden Church, a member of the Ministry’s supernatural army, is a reaper, an individual who can resurrect and inhabit dead bodies, so he can battle evil—undercover. The tale begins with a heart-breaking glimpse into Church’s childhood, then rockets right into a quest to save the life of a child. His time is limited, so he must move quickly. Wearing the skin of the child’s grandmother, Church has no other option but to go to the blood singer to gain the information he needs to complete his desperate mission.

The characters in this novella are very well drawn. With an economy of words, Mcnulty manages to create characters that are clear, believable, and for the most part likable. The main character Hayden Church is brave, driven, noble, and charming. He is willing to put his life on the line to save an innocent, all the while preserving a droll sense of humor. Church could be considered similar to the beloved Odd Thomas from the Dean Koontz series. Church’s handler, a wraith named Moses, offers support and companionship. The child’s mother is real, believable, and worthy.

The plot is original, tight, and flies leaving no time for boredom. However, some readers might wish for a longer work that would allow time for subplots and glimpses into Church’s backstory. Readers will no doubt wish to see into Church’s mind to learn who he is as a person, not just as a reaper. As it stands, the adult Church is a cypher, and many readers will be sorry to see this striking tale end so quickly.

Mcnulty’s prose reveals intense visual messaging and strong writing skills. His word choices are concise, and his phrasing is beautiful. His metaphors, visual imagery, and descriptions make the settings and action easy to see. Perhaps his strongest point is his ability to portray emotions and feelings via physical symptoms and actions, not through tell. The Blood Singer is a pleasure to read. The only minor flaw one can mention is the tale’s brevity. Church and the Ministry are so appealing that the ending comes far too soon.

The Blood Singer may not be the first choice for hard-core horror fans who insist on more depth. However, for readers who enjoy skillfully crafted fiction or are simply looking for a burst of scary fun will love this delightful tale of supernatural action.

Patrick Mcnulty is a writer of great potential who deserves watching and will no doubt go on to great literary achievements.

The Blood Singer is highly recommended.

RougeskiReads
Profile Image for readsandteas.
43 reviews48 followers
June 23, 2018
Okay... this book was very... unusual - for me, at least. I've never read anything like this before.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning was extremely interesting and promising but then... the story somehow lost the mysterious vibe. Haden Church - The Reaper with supernatural abilities who works for an organisation called Ministry of Wraith? I mean, what an idea! But unfortunately, the potential of this book was just thrown away... so i am pretty disappointed.

The overall development of the story sucked. The characters were still the same, we didn't know their past or anything, they just appeared and that was it. Yeah, we knew something about Haden's childhood but nothing significant. Haden Church, The Blood Singer, Moses, Nyah or the doctor... who were these ppl? I mean, srsly... some family history, backstories? Nothing. There was no depth to them.
The plot's development was better, but still nothing special. It was way too fast and simple.

While reading, I found some editing/grammar errors and i thought: okay, this can happen to anyone... but NOT almost on every fourth or fifth page. Soon enough i was pretty annoyed... but i kept going bc, lol, i really hoped and believed that it will get better. It did not.

In my opinion, this book is a piece of shoddiness. And that's why i am even angrier... it could have been so much better. The author could have played with the story way FUCKING more.

apart from this - I did still enjoy the book. I really liked the idea and everything. Regrettably, Patrick McNulty just didn't put much work into it.
Profile Image for Paulita.
43 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2018
*****UPDATE ON MY PREVIOUS REVIEW*********

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
********I thought it was a good read the only real issues I had with the story was that it felt a little rushed in my opinion the story could of been stretched a little longer if McNulty went into more detail about the characters and events, especially the Blood Singer after all the book was named after her. I would of loved to read more about her and the others like her and to get a back story but her part in the story was pretty short.Like I mentioned earlier It was a good read and i love how he did go into detail on certain parts in the book, example Edna that was very interesting and it even made my face twist in disgust a little I loved it. I believe the more detail the better. Other than those issues I loved the book!************


I liked it I thought it was a good read. Although I do wish the Blood Singer had more of a part in the book, her part ended to quickly and it didn't really give too much detail what exactly she was. In my opinion McNulty could have done better describing the Blood Singer & making her a bigger part, considering that the title was named after her. Other than that I thought it was a good read.
271 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2018
Haden is different. He is a young adult working for the Ministry of Wraiths to track down evil. When a worried Grandmother approaches Haden concerning her Granddaughter, Haden and his sidekick Moses are the only people able to help.

The first thing to make readers aware of is that this is only a novella and not a full length novel. I was quite cross about this as I had invested a lot in the story line, characters and urban fantasy world only for it to come to an abrupt end. Personally I loved the book and I am glad that I read it despite its short length but it is something to consider.

The book hits the ground running in the first few lines and doesn't really stop. It doesn't take the author long to get the reader immersed in the world that he has created. Yes, there is lots still to learn but I was hoping to learn about that in the rest of the book! The characters are three dimensional with clear personalities showing very quickly.

I really loved this book. I would be very keen to hunt out further books in the series provided they are full length novels - I am not a lover of short stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley
Profile Image for M.
1,576 reviews
July 4, 2018
This Book’s a Pleasant Surprise


I chose this short book (144 pages) on a whim, because I wanted a quick read even if it seemed a bit out of my comfort zone. When reading a new-to-me author and a genre that sounds like supernatural-fantasy, I find it best to suspend disbelief, begin reading, follow the plot line, and see how far I get in the book.
I actually liked the supernatural and fantasy elements well enough to keep reading. Besides, who doesn’t want to root for a formerly abused child, now an adult, who risks his life to save an 8 yr old girl named Charlotte (don’t call me Charlie) Walton. Her now-dead father buried her alive, no one knows where, and she’s running out of air.
Lots of new-to-me supernatural and fantasy names/entities, but explanations were given as I read. Character development is modest in this book, but I liked the unconventional main characters.
If you like supernatural-fantasy with some gore, you may like Blood Singer.
Profile Image for Kasey Marie.
202 reviews16 followers
July 9, 2018
I recieved this book from Netgalley to give my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. The story, which has a lot of promise, is about a young man name Haden Church who is apart of some secret organization who can see dead people and help solve crimes... or something like that, unfortunately that is about as much background that is given.

I read this entire book in less than a day since it is more of a short story and sadly I felt like I was missing so much of what was going on.

The author really needs to take this concept and add 200 more pages of details and character development. I feel like I just read the synopses to a movie. Something quick and just touching on the basic idea but not enough to really pull me into the world.

Loved the concept and general idea, just really was disappointed in the execution.
Profile Image for Joseph Sackett.
Author 14 books37 followers
July 9, 2023
"The Blood Singer" by Patrick McNulty is an electrifying, bone-chilling tour de force that turns the phrase - dead men tell no tales - on its spectral head.

Patrick McNulty crafts a hauntingly beautiful dance between the supernatural and suspense, weaving an intricate tale that grips you and refuses to let go. In "The Blood Singer," he effortlessly tunes into the pulse of the horror genre, hitting all the right notes of suspense and supernatural intrigue. Get ready for a nail-biting experience that will leave you humming to its thrilling tune long after the last page is turned.
378 reviews
June 20, 2025
The Blood Singer was a supernatural thriller/horror. The abuse a young boy goes through when his mother thinks beating him and wounding him horribly will make him become what she wants. Her twisted ideas of God and her obscene sense of beating and bloodying or trying to kill this child will chase away the demons she believes are inside him.
The whole book was on the point of making you wonder and think of all the sick people in this world but with a supernatural twist.
The book was interesting and makes you think. a scary sad tale of a young boy without hope, until ....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Angela Maher.
Author 20 books32 followers
July 17, 2018
A relatively short read, but worthwhile reading if you like supernatural, urban fantasy, or dark fantasy. This novella introduces an interesting world with unusual entities, with plenty of room to write further installments, but without an annoying cliffhanger ending. Some aspects of the story and characters could have been given a little more depth, but that could be largely rectified with further, longer books in the series.
I received my copy from NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for AnnaReads.
478 reviews2 followers
August 11, 2018
What first caught my attention about this book was the cover. I saw the cover and I knew this book is for me. And it was. Good read, unfortunately a short one.
The story kept me interested, and I was truly curious about what a blood singer is.
The only character we get to now a little is Haden. I feel the other charcters also have interesting past but we get only some hinst nothing else. I sure hope there will be a full novel, I will definitely read it
Profile Image for Rebecca Waldron.
240 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2018
Pretty good.

I could tell after the first few pages that this was going to be little twisted. It was and I really liked it. At first I thought it was going to be like Carrie. Thankfully it wasn't! If you like supernatural type, twisted books then you should enjoy this book. Good story line and developed characters. Give it go!
Profile Image for Alina.
967 reviews7 followers
July 12, 2018
Pretty much read this in one go. An engagingly dark read that hooks you from the first word. Well developed characters and a strikingly believable world. The Blood Singer is a must read for anyone who loves the supernatural thrillers. Although short, the story ties up well enough to not care.
I would be interested in more of Haden's story.
Profile Image for Ami.
2,407 reviews14 followers
April 1, 2023
The Blood Singer terrified me from page 1! After that, I alternated between terrified and horrified, until the end. Then, I smiled 😉. This short story reminds me of early Stephen King. I will definitely be reading more by the talented Patrick McNulty.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Profile Image for Leighah.
328 reviews4 followers
June 5, 2025
This was a nifty little read. I haven't read anything from this author, which I am now kicking myself now. The story feels like you are on an adventure that keeps you turning pages. The characters are likeable with just enough attitude to not be annoying. I will definitely be adding more titles from this author to my TBR list.
Profile Image for shannon  Stubbs.
1,967 reviews12 followers
October 22, 2020
Not bad but 3.5 stars

It kept my interest. It had a lot of action towards the end. There were a few parts that confused me a little. I'm not sure if this is a start of a series or in the middle of one. I felt like I was missing something from the series.
Profile Image for Rhonda Bobbitt.
570 reviews43 followers
June 11, 2025
A fastening supernatural horror. What happens when the grim reaper goes off the rails? Well you will have to read it to find out. This is a super fast read. Every page was a thrill. I loved it.

“Hide and Seek. Mommy! Hide and seek!” she screamed. “Come play with us!”

"She's already dead..."
Profile Image for Pam.
833 reviews7 followers
November 11, 2018
A very unusual but interesting book, I think if it had been a full novel it would have explored the story further, and filled out the characters.
Profile Image for Mark Abbott.
Author 38 books86 followers
November 13, 2018
Really enjoyed it. First time reading a book in this genre and loved it. Looking forward to more from this author
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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