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Saint Tommy, NYPD #1
Hell Spawn
My name is Officer Thomas Nolan, and I am a saint. I can smell evil. I show mercy to the lesser criminals - the desperate. Even those I’ve put behind bars seem to like me. But now there’s a serial killer bringing darkness beyond imagination to my city. I can smell his stench a mile away. But how can I prove it?
How do you do forensics on a killer possessed by a demon?
From Declan Finn, author of the Dragon Award nominated horror series Love at First Bite.
How do you do forensics on a killer possessed by a demon?
From Declan Finn, author of the Dragon Award nominated horror series Love at First Bite.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2018
101 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Declan Finn
108 books749 followersDeclan Finn is the NYC based author of books ranging from thrillers to urban fantasy to SciFi, including the 2016 Dragon Award Nominated Novel for Best horror, Honor at Stake, 2017 for Live and Let Bite, and 2018 for Codename: Unsub in best Apocalypse. He is known for "his strong fight scenes and is romance novels are sexy without being dirty, providing enough sexual tension to curl toes."
He hosts the Catholic Geek Radio show, and can be found wherever someone is starting trouble. He also writes thrillers, video game reviews, and works for several blogs.
He is one of a legion of writers over at The Catholic Geeks blog (a legion, for we are many). Other books he has written includes the comedy-thriller It Was Only on Stun! where he blows up a sci-fi convention (no, not this one). He co-authored the science fiction espionage novel Codename: Winterborn. However, he is most proud of The Pius Trilogy – which includes “A Pius Man,” “A Pius Legacy,” “A Pius Stand,” and an anthology, “Pius Tales.”
He hosts the Catholic Geek Radio show, and can be found wherever someone is starting trouble. He also writes thrillers, video game reviews, and works for several blogs.
He is one of a legion of writers over at The Catholic Geeks blog (a legion, for we are many). Other books he has written includes the comedy-thriller It Was Only on Stun! where he blows up a sci-fi convention (no, not this one). He co-authored the science fiction espionage novel Codename: Winterborn. However, he is most proud of The Pius Trilogy – which includes “A Pius Man,” “A Pius Legacy,” “A Pius Stand,” and an anthology, “Pius Tales.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
January 3, 2019
So promising but missed the mark with political stances that could have been used to continue to flesh out the story. I like the main character Tommy. I like his partner, his wife and his son. But it went into right-wing rantings that detracted from the book.
November 6, 2018
Thank you for the ARC read, I really like it's in Thomas Nolan's p.o.v. having never read any of Declan Finns books before, I'm now a big fan of his writing. With this book I found it it a rollercoaster ride from the paranormal.
November 1, 2018
I am so glad I backed the Kickstarter program to get this novel off the ground. It is an excellent read. This is the first novel by this author I have read. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy and even some of Finn's other works!
Despite this being based on a Catholic theology, I appreciated the depiction and inclusion of Protestant/biblical theology although this may not be Finn's motive, it is there and it enhances this plot tremendously forming a solid foundation.
The characterisation is well done and believable, readers will endear themselves to "Saint" Tommy, his family, his police partner. I love the realistic depiction of the police procedural.
It is action packed and fast paced. Finn is on a winner with this one! I wish I had more time to write more for this review. I am hoping I can for Book 2.
If you like horror that is close to the Biblical viewpoint, this is for you.
If it was made into a movie very close to this novel, it would also be a winner!
Highly recommended.
Despite this being based on a Catholic theology, I appreciated the depiction and inclusion of Protestant/biblical theology although this may not be Finn's motive, it is there and it enhances this plot tremendously forming a solid foundation.
The characterisation is well done and believable, readers will endear themselves to "Saint" Tommy, his family, his police partner. I love the realistic depiction of the police procedural.
It is action packed and fast paced. Finn is on a winner with this one! I wish I had more time to write more for this review. I am hoping I can for Book 2.
If you like horror that is close to the Biblical viewpoint, this is for you.
If it was made into a movie very close to this novel, it would also be a winner!
Highly recommended.
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November 2, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/2/2019)! 🎁
October 30, 2018
I read Declan Finn’s Saint Tommy novel in ebook format. This is a Kickstarter funded series of 5 books. I’m a patron of this series.
This book introduces Tommy Nolan New York detective from the 105 precinct who just so happens to be a saint in the making. The demon makes its appearance very early in the novel but it’s a tribute to the authour’s skill that he presents it as a mystery that progressively morphs into a supernatural thriller and horror. The demon progressively and relentlessly strikes at Tommy indirectly.
There are 2 rather gory murders but the authour keeps the gore to the what’s needed to advance the plot and not to revel in it. The action is both awesomely over the top like the pulp action thriller it is and it’s still quite plausible given what we’ve experienced through terrorist attacks involving vehicles and shootouts in real life.
Another enjoyable part of the novel is how it presents Catholic horror which is quite distinct to the say Lovecraft Stephen King type horror. Mind you, though the authour pays homage to the first and dismantles the second.
The distinction lies to the despair, indifference and, at times, the latent nihilism that secular oriented horror projects. Catholic horror takes demons and evil quite seriously and present them as mundane realities with fearful consequences. Just as God can make a straight line with crooked timber, the devil can also makes twisted lines with the same crooked timber. Both require free will.
I really enjoyed the novel and allowed me to be a part of Tommy’s adventures. The humour is great and I laughed at certain scenes and dialogue.It was worth funding this series with my beer money and I definitely look forward to the next batch of books.
I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series even at the time of this review they’re not yet available. The readers won’t be disappointed.
xavier
This book introduces Tommy Nolan New York detective from the 105 precinct who just so happens to be a saint in the making. The demon makes its appearance very early in the novel but it’s a tribute to the authour’s skill that he presents it as a mystery that progressively morphs into a supernatural thriller and horror. The demon progressively and relentlessly strikes at Tommy indirectly.
There are 2 rather gory murders but the authour keeps the gore to the what’s needed to advance the plot and not to revel in it. The action is both awesomely over the top like the pulp action thriller it is and it’s still quite plausible given what we’ve experienced through terrorist attacks involving vehicles and shootouts in real life.
Another enjoyable part of the novel is how it presents Catholic horror which is quite distinct to the say Lovecraft Stephen King type horror. Mind you, though the authour pays homage to the first and dismantles the second.
The distinction lies to the despair, indifference and, at times, the latent nihilism that secular oriented horror projects. Catholic horror takes demons and evil quite seriously and present them as mundane realities with fearful consequences. Just as God can make a straight line with crooked timber, the devil can also makes twisted lines with the same crooked timber. Both require free will.
I really enjoyed the novel and allowed me to be a part of Tommy’s adventures. The humour is great and I laughed at certain scenes and dialogue.It was worth funding this series with my beer money and I definitely look forward to the next batch of books.
I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series even at the time of this review they’re not yet available. The readers won’t be disappointed.
xavier
January 4, 2023
Hell Spawn grabs you, starts running, and doesn't stop.
It's been a long time since a book gripped me enough that I finished it in two or three days - Hell Spawn is one of those. A simple purse-snatching quickly devolves into a hunt for a demonic serial killer, and every time you think the stakes have maxed out, it escalates again.
If you're a fan of The Dresden Files, definitely give this a shot!
It's been a long time since a book gripped me enough that I finished it in two or three days - Hell Spawn is one of those. A simple purse-snatching quickly devolves into a hunt for a demonic serial killer, and every time you think the stakes have maxed out, it escalates again.
If you're a fan of The Dresden Files, definitely give this a shot!
November 9, 2018
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This book was very well written. I read in one sitting. The book was full of danger and drama. It was action packed and exciting. A definite page turner to see what happens on the next page. Author did an amazing job developing the plot and the way the characters relate to the plot.
November 15, 2018
Hell Spawn by Declan Finn is an awesome stoy to read. It has horror and action in this whole story which makes this an awesome story to read. I loved reading it and I recommend this story to everyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 14, 2018
This is my first read of Declan Finn's (and it won't be my last), I was hooked from the beginning. Excellently paced with plenty of action and page turning suspense. I found it very easy to believe in the characters and enjoyed the story line. This is an absolute recommend to anyone looking for a great read.
October 31, 2018
Now, Declan Finn has always considered himself to be a fantasy author. He has stated this on his blog, but I'm too lazy to go find a link. Hell Spawn is a damn good book, but this isn't fantasy. Finn has a much better sense of how to write a plot than most Eighties slasher movie writers, but he's got them beat for gore as well. A lot of what happens in the tome is sick, twisted, disturbing and awesome.
Myself and Mr. Finn don't necessarily agree on the all of the finer points of theology (the whole Catholic vs. Protestant thing) but something we do agree on is the power of prayer. There is a lot of it in Hell Spawn. As a matter of fact, there are an awful lot of times when Christian attitudes are shown. I approve. Actually, I'd like to see more of this kind of stuff. Hell Spawn is a Catholic writer telling a story about a saint in the making. It fits. The fact remains that Finn/Tommy's takes on a number of controversial topics, including abortion, are on display for all to see. They're pretty stinkin' close to what I heard from my pastor a few weeks ago. If you're the special snowflake uber liberal type and just can't stand the thought that someone might disagree with you, this might be a good time to go buy a biography of Che Guevara that conveniently omits his stances towards homsexuals and black people. I hate to say it, but Hell Spawn may not be for you. Finn pulls no punches. I love it.
Finn's view of the police is somewhat nuanced as is - surprisingly- his view of saints, but make no mistake about it: Hell Spawn is about a battle between good and evil. Saint Tommy versus the demon (and no, I'm not telling you which demon. That would be spoiling.) is an epic throwdown between the darkness and the light. That much is made clear.
Somewhat missing though, and this may be intentionally, is a clear view of where Tommy v. Demon fits in the framework of the grand battle of God and Satan. It's treated as a personal battle, albeit one fought with allies. We're not really given much of a sense of the more colossal grand battle. That's the view I became accustomed to a long time ago as a fan of fantasy fiction. Then again, this is horror. It works differently. And Hell Spawn is book one in a series, so maybe I'll get to see where this fits in later. Maybe not too. The book was freaking awesome without it and it's Earthbound, so personal appearances by God and Satan might not work.
Finn lives in New York. The book takes place in New York. I've never been to New York (I know, I'm working on it) but having read Hell Spawn I almost feel like I have been. Finn's relationship with New York is in some ways analogous to Anne Rice's relationship with New Orleans. Both have stories that take place outside of their respective hometowns but both continuously return to the city they love in their fiction. It shows in the work. Both authors lay things out in their work that make you love their cities too. I'm really impressed by this. It's almost like you could make the car trips that take place in the story using the directions in the book. Oh, and do you know how I could tell the book was written by a native New Yorker? There were no references to the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street or Broadway. There is not a single scene in Times Square. It's almost like Tommy had lived all his life in the city and had no desire to comment on things that he took for granted. It made him feel more real and human.
I can't say much more about the plot without giving the whole book away, but it moves. It's logical. The entire thing works within the rules of the work itself. There is no massive, gaping plot hole that you could float an aircraft carrier through sideways. That's always a fear when reading a work like this. It's pretty epic and it's easy for an author to get excited and forget about something. That doesn't seem to have happened here and that's good.
That's not to say that Finn tied up all the loose strings. Hell Spawn is the first in a series, not the last. There are some very obvious plot threads still dangling but there need to be. I am, after all, looking forward to the next book. How could there be one if Tommy solved everything the first time?
Myself and Mr. Finn don't necessarily agree on the all of the finer points of theology (the whole Catholic vs. Protestant thing) but something we do agree on is the power of prayer. There is a lot of it in Hell Spawn. As a matter of fact, there are an awful lot of times when Christian attitudes are shown. I approve. Actually, I'd like to see more of this kind of stuff. Hell Spawn is a Catholic writer telling a story about a saint in the making. It fits. The fact remains that Finn/Tommy's takes on a number of controversial topics, including abortion, are on display for all to see. They're pretty stinkin' close to what I heard from my pastor a few weeks ago. If you're the special snowflake uber liberal type and just can't stand the thought that someone might disagree with you, this might be a good time to go buy a biography of Che Guevara that conveniently omits his stances towards homsexuals and black people. I hate to say it, but Hell Spawn may not be for you. Finn pulls no punches. I love it.
Finn's view of the police is somewhat nuanced as is - surprisingly- his view of saints, but make no mistake about it: Hell Spawn is about a battle between good and evil. Saint Tommy versus the demon (and no, I'm not telling you which demon. That would be spoiling.) is an epic throwdown between the darkness and the light. That much is made clear.
Somewhat missing though, and this may be intentionally, is a clear view of where Tommy v. Demon fits in the framework of the grand battle of God and Satan. It's treated as a personal battle, albeit one fought with allies. We're not really given much of a sense of the more colossal grand battle. That's the view I became accustomed to a long time ago as a fan of fantasy fiction. Then again, this is horror. It works differently. And Hell Spawn is book one in a series, so maybe I'll get to see where this fits in later. Maybe not too. The book was freaking awesome without it and it's Earthbound, so personal appearances by God and Satan might not work.
Finn lives in New York. The book takes place in New York. I've never been to New York (I know, I'm working on it) but having read Hell Spawn I almost feel like I have been. Finn's relationship with New York is in some ways analogous to Anne Rice's relationship with New Orleans. Both have stories that take place outside of their respective hometowns but both continuously return to the city they love in their fiction. It shows in the work. Both authors lay things out in their work that make you love their cities too. I'm really impressed by this. It's almost like you could make the car trips that take place in the story using the directions in the book. Oh, and do you know how I could tell the book was written by a native New Yorker? There were no references to the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street or Broadway. There is not a single scene in Times Square. It's almost like Tommy had lived all his life in the city and had no desire to comment on things that he took for granted. It made him feel more real and human.
I can't say much more about the plot without giving the whole book away, but it moves. It's logical. The entire thing works within the rules of the work itself. There is no massive, gaping plot hole that you could float an aircraft carrier through sideways. That's always a fear when reading a work like this. It's pretty epic and it's easy for an author to get excited and forget about something. That doesn't seem to have happened here and that's good.
That's not to say that Finn tied up all the loose strings. Hell Spawn is the first in a series, not the last. There are some very obvious plot threads still dangling but there need to be. I am, after all, looking forward to the next book. How could there be one if Tommy solved everything the first time?
February 22, 2019
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I read a lot of urban fantasy. So much, in fact, that the cliches are beginning to wear thin. The protagonists are invariably socially marginal with an undeserved reputation for shadiness or nastiness, while secretly they are paladins, but they can never ever admit that they are enlisted on the side of the Good. They are always loners, usually outcast from powerful organizations as to which they have benefits of access and support. There is a tendency in these books to treat good and evil as Team A and Team B with no real difference between them so that the hero can stay neutral but not morally ambiguous. In these books, the heroes play at being bad. If you've read enough urban fantasy, you can think of the books that meet this definition. (I will leave a link to my review of Richard Kadrey's "Sandman Slim" in the comments as a classic of the type.)
It is a cognitive dissonance stew.
So, it's very nice to run into this book. The protagonist, Tommy Nolan, is an indisputable good guy. He is on the side of order. He enforces the law. He treats the perps he arrests with dignity as essentially good but twisted by circumstance to the bad.
He is, in fact, a saint, and with that comes the graces to fight unredeemed evil in the form of demons who possess humans unwise enough to give them access. The graces he has been given include bilocation and the ability to smell the reak of evil. He has been given these graces just in time to face a demonic outbreak east Queens.
I enjoyed this book. I thought the pacing and plotting ripped along and kept me interested, which is fundamental for an urban fantasy book. In addition, I liked the New York setting. I am the kind of reader who, when he gets factual details like geography and history, puts the book down downloads online maps and streetside photos to learn something about the setting. So, I enjoyed the New York details, which most may fly past as irrelevant.
I also enjoyed the Catholicness of this book. I am a Catholic - a western Catholic one generation removed from Queens and Brooklyn myself - so I enjoyed some of the quips, remarks and customs that author Finn shares. Like Tommy chiding himself for feeling guilty about not stopping a demon from murdering a friend because "I'm Catholic. Guilt is a thing."
Isn't it, though.
On the other hand, the villains are Catholic villains, including abortion doctors and the barely hidden largest of all abortion providers. Also, the main character goes into battle saying Catholic prayers. Without a doubt, this will set the teeth on edge of many readers, and not just those on the left, because it seems that we've been trained that it is uncouth or just not done to present Catholicism and Catholic values as real and good.
But that is a sign of narrow-mindedness, not open-mindedness. I've read many urban fantasy stories involving demon-fighting atheists or pagans. In such books, Catholic beliefs often are derided or written off ab initio, Certainly, it is never considered necessary to take Catholic beliefs as being serious in books about fighting demons, of all things.
So, consider this book as the balance on the scales. It seems refreshing in a book about fighting quintessentially supernatural evil entities to treat the idea of absolute Good as a reality.
But this book is not about my metaphysical musings. It's a ripping good tale.
Check it out.
I read a lot of urban fantasy. So much, in fact, that the cliches are beginning to wear thin. The protagonists are invariably socially marginal with an undeserved reputation for shadiness or nastiness, while secretly they are paladins, but they can never ever admit that they are enlisted on the side of the Good. They are always loners, usually outcast from powerful organizations as to which they have benefits of access and support. There is a tendency in these books to treat good and evil as Team A and Team B with no real difference between them so that the hero can stay neutral but not morally ambiguous. In these books, the heroes play at being bad. If you've read enough urban fantasy, you can think of the books that meet this definition. (I will leave a link to my review of Richard Kadrey's "Sandman Slim" in the comments as a classic of the type.)
It is a cognitive dissonance stew.
So, it's very nice to run into this book. The protagonist, Tommy Nolan, is an indisputable good guy. He is on the side of order. He enforces the law. He treats the perps he arrests with dignity as essentially good but twisted by circumstance to the bad.
He is, in fact, a saint, and with that comes the graces to fight unredeemed evil in the form of demons who possess humans unwise enough to give them access. The graces he has been given include bilocation and the ability to smell the reak of evil. He has been given these graces just in time to face a demonic outbreak east Queens.
I enjoyed this book. I thought the pacing and plotting ripped along and kept me interested, which is fundamental for an urban fantasy book. In addition, I liked the New York setting. I am the kind of reader who, when he gets factual details like geography and history, puts the book down downloads online maps and streetside photos to learn something about the setting. So, I enjoyed the New York details, which most may fly past as irrelevant.
I also enjoyed the Catholicness of this book. I am a Catholic - a western Catholic one generation removed from Queens and Brooklyn myself - so I enjoyed some of the quips, remarks and customs that author Finn shares. Like Tommy chiding himself for feeling guilty about not stopping a demon from murdering a friend because "I'm Catholic. Guilt is a thing."
Isn't it, though.
On the other hand, the villains are Catholic villains, including abortion doctors and the barely hidden largest of all abortion providers. Also, the main character goes into battle saying Catholic prayers. Without a doubt, this will set the teeth on edge of many readers, and not just those on the left, because it seems that we've been trained that it is uncouth or just not done to present Catholicism and Catholic values as real and good.
But that is a sign of narrow-mindedness, not open-mindedness. I've read many urban fantasy stories involving demon-fighting atheists or pagans. In such books, Catholic beliefs often are derided or written off ab initio, Certainly, it is never considered necessary to take Catholic beliefs as being serious in books about fighting demons, of all things.
So, consider this book as the balance on the scales. It seems refreshing in a book about fighting quintessentially supernatural evil entities to treat the idea of absolute Good as a reality.
But this book is not about my metaphysical musings. It's a ripping good tale.
Check it out.
January 12, 2022
Tommy Nolan is a saint and a police officer those two things seem to be at odds with each other in theory. However with Tommy it fits perfectly. His calm manner and acceptance of people’s faults and quirks allows him to separate their actions from who they are as a person. He does his with a minimum of fuss and with a brand of protectiveness that is sometimes questioned by others within the police force.
The murders are brutal to say the least thankfully the author does not take it to a totally immersed sick level but uses it to keep just enough tension to move the story along.
Tommy is having a hard time having others understand he can smell the killer but he has no way to bring real world evidence to wrap the stink up with a neat bow. There is enough humor to counter the dark nature of the story.
The author does take a political detour for a bit but thankfully comes back before it takes the story in a different direction.
Since we are dealing with a saint there is a religious aspect to the book that some may get a bit standoffish about…however you are reading a book about a saint and expecting no religion theology to be shown would be a bit foolish.
Tommy’s discoveries and his journey as he tracks down this demon is compelling and keeps you interested to following him down that dark alley.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The murders are brutal to say the least thankfully the author does not take it to a totally immersed sick level but uses it to keep just enough tension to move the story along.
Tommy is having a hard time having others understand he can smell the killer but he has no way to bring real world evidence to wrap the stink up with a neat bow. There is enough humor to counter the dark nature of the story.
The author does take a political detour for a bit but thankfully comes back before it takes the story in a different direction.
Since we are dealing with a saint there is a religious aspect to the book that some may get a bit standoffish about…however you are reading a book about a saint and expecting no religion theology to be shown would be a bit foolish.
Tommy’s discoveries and his journey as he tracks down this demon is compelling and keeps you interested to following him down that dark alley.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 9, 2023
A Catholic NYC detective discovers he has miraculous powers he never asked for and this puts him in the crosshairs of demons and their powerful human agents.
Really, an expert-level example of an author helping to create a market and then serving it. This book reads effortlessly and its packed with the kind of action male readers want. I'm not at the center of this book's target audience (I prefer books with more convoluted plots and which wear their philosophies on their sleeves) but I can see the author has identified his audience and is serving it with discipline. I've had the privilege of meeting the author and I instantly discovered his intellectual brilliance, so I know he could aim (and for all I know, has aimed) for more complexity. So, kudos for his success. He does have a philosophy, however--or I should say, a theology--and he slips it in. But it never disrupts the entertainment. Bravo.
Really, an expert-level example of an author helping to create a market and then serving it. This book reads effortlessly and its packed with the kind of action male readers want. I'm not at the center of this book's target audience (I prefer books with more convoluted plots and which wear their philosophies on their sleeves) but I can see the author has identified his audience and is serving it with discipline. I've had the privilege of meeting the author and I instantly discovered his intellectual brilliance, so I know he could aim (and for all I know, has aimed) for more complexity. So, kudos for his success. He does have a philosophy, however--or I should say, a theology--and he slips it in. But it never disrupts the entertainment. Bravo.
January 8, 2020
If you like a fast-paced, action-driven cop story, this might be for you. Officer Thomas Nolan isn’t your ordinary cop though. When reporting to his station for duty one day, Nolan smells a horrific odor—the stench of evil. How is this possible, though a strong Catholic, he’s now mystified as to why evidence of saintly activity would manifest through him. He’s just an ordinary detective … well … perhaps he had been.
His new-found abilities and identity make him and those around him targets for a powerful demon.
Though the body count is high in this book, and some scenes are gruesome, I appreciated the way Officer Nolan incorporates prayer into his battles. A unique approach. Though violent in places (many) I find the idea represented here interesting and so I plan to read the next book in the series.
His new-found abilities and identity make him and those around him targets for a powerful demon.
Though the body count is high in this book, and some scenes are gruesome, I appreciated the way Officer Nolan incorporates prayer into his battles. A unique approach. Though violent in places (many) I find the idea represented here interesting and so I plan to read the next book in the series.
December 13, 2018
Sad.
This author could have taken this idea in a fun and or interesting way, it shows imagination as well as being fairly cohesive. Unfortunately he chose to lazily drag in all of the boogey men of the religious right. LGBTQ, abortionists, Post-birth abortion, BLM, Muslim terror, trivialization of the inequalities of the legal system etc, etc. I’m sure it appeals to a certain group of people, I’m not one of them.
This author could have taken this idea in a fun and or interesting way, it shows imagination as well as being fairly cohesive. Unfortunately he chose to lazily drag in all of the boogey men of the religious right. LGBTQ, abortionists, Post-birth abortion, BLM, Muslim terror, trivialization of the inequalities of the legal system etc, etc. I’m sure it appeals to a certain group of people, I’m not one of them.
November 11, 2019
This was a totally fun novel. I really like it when intriguing ideas are used and their potential is realized in the story. This time it is a cop with some of the charisms of the Saints. Like Declan is prone to do, there is plenty of action and humor. A good mix that doesn't get in the way of each other. This was hitting pretty much on all cylinders. Waiting for the rest of the series.
June 4, 2019
Anti-abortion rant
This whole book and I assume the following books are nothing but an anti-abortion rant. Anyone who isn't anti-abortion is a child sacrificing Satanist. Utter garage. Wish I could give a lower rating.
This whole book and I assume the following books are nothing but an anti-abortion rant. Anyone who isn't anti-abortion is a child sacrificing Satanist. Utter garage. Wish I could give a lower rating.
January 9, 2022
Another Superversive author who should have a Dragon Award to his name.
This opening act sets the stage for what promises to be an incredible series.
This opening act sets the stage for what promises to be an incredible series.
May 15, 2022
This was the first novel I have read by Declan Finn; I have previously read one he cowrote. This one was an excellent read. I now understand why so many people rave about his works. Before reading this, I had also picked up White Ops Book 1, but before I had finished this I picked up the second book in that series and the next three in this series. I have also previously picked up several anthologies that Finn has contributed to, that I have not got around to reading. They as well will be bumped up in my to be read pile. Over the last few years, I have got back into reading mysteries, mainly British Crime Thrillers by Alex Smith, JE Mayhew, KT Galloway and JD Kirk. And I have also read all the Reacher books. This story is like a Catholic version of these stories. And man, what a good story this was. This was a fantastic read. I could hardly put it down. The description of this story is:
“My name is Officer Thomas Nolan, and I am a saint.
I can smell evil. I show mercy to the lesser criminals - the desperate. Even those I've put behind bars seem to like me. But now there's a serial killer bringing darkness beyond imagination to my city. I can smell his stench a mile away. But how can I prove it?
How do you do forensics on a killer possessed by a demon?”
Wow! What an incredible story. Spiritual warfare and the war on crime collide. Officer Nolan thought he had his work cut out for him. When a demon takes a personal interest in him things go sideways very quick. Soon he is confronting a darkness like nothing he has ever faced, and it has targeted his city, his friends and even his family. The patron Saint of Detectives is left scrawled in blood at a crime scene. Tommy realizes things are not the normal fight with criminals. Fortunately, he has friends in the clergy who realize what might be happening. He has a loving and supportive wife and even his son realizes the power of prayer and specifically the rosary. And even his Partner comes to accept the new reality they are facing.
This story has action. Battles with MS13, an epic fight with an arrested perp who takes out half a police station. Battles with darkness. Miraculous events. And a man of faith living to protect family, friends and his city.
This is an excellent read. An amazing story in a series that now has 12 books published or announced. If the others are even nearly as good as this one I am in for some amazing reads this year. I highly recommend this story for mature readers. There are some pretty graphic descriptions of the murdered remains. Comparisons with those and late term abortions. But overall a great read in what should be an amazing series!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
“My name is Officer Thomas Nolan, and I am a saint.
I can smell evil. I show mercy to the lesser criminals - the desperate. Even those I've put behind bars seem to like me. But now there's a serial killer bringing darkness beyond imagination to my city. I can smell his stench a mile away. But how can I prove it?
How do you do forensics on a killer possessed by a demon?”
Wow! What an incredible story. Spiritual warfare and the war on crime collide. Officer Nolan thought he had his work cut out for him. When a demon takes a personal interest in him things go sideways very quick. Soon he is confronting a darkness like nothing he has ever faced, and it has targeted his city, his friends and even his family. The patron Saint of Detectives is left scrawled in blood at a crime scene. Tommy realizes things are not the normal fight with criminals. Fortunately, he has friends in the clergy who realize what might be happening. He has a loving and supportive wife and even his son realizes the power of prayer and specifically the rosary. And even his Partner comes to accept the new reality they are facing.
This story has action. Battles with MS13, an epic fight with an arrested perp who takes out half a police station. Battles with darkness. Miraculous events. And a man of faith living to protect family, friends and his city.
This is an excellent read. An amazing story in a series that now has 12 books published or announced. If the others are even nearly as good as this one I am in for some amazing reads this year. I highly recommend this story for mature readers. There are some pretty graphic descriptions of the murdered remains. Comparisons with those and late term abortions. But overall a great read in what should be an amazing series!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!
October 11, 2022
I picked up this book after seeing a rave review for one of the later books in this series. I'm of mixed feelings about this book.
If you are the kind of reader who can't put aside their personal views to enjoy a hero of another faith, pass this book by. There is no need for you to "torment" yourself. The unrepentant Catholicism of Hell Spawn did not bother me. (It is in the book's title and description as well as the "about the author" section, so everyone has fair warning about what to expect!)
I'm the type of reader who likes my protagonists to be of the "good" variety...or at least not as bad as those guys over there. Here, we have a well defined Hero and a clear Villain.
I enjoyed the plot's overall pace, and the main character's unwavering faith. Tommy did his best to see the good in people, even the criminals he dealt with on a day to day basis. If this were a medieval/fantasy setting, Tommy would be a Paladin -- a Knight of God. "Saint Tommy" doesn't experience much in the way of character growth in this first book, but there are 12 or so tales in the series, so I suspect it's a gradual thing. Hopefully, as the series progresses, the support cast (wife, son, work colleagues) are better fleshed out as well.
What I didn't like -- the thing that repeatedly pulled me out of the story (because I am a total English/ Language Arts Nerd) -- was the mediocre editing and the general lack of proofreading. There were SO many instances of misused words, extra words, phrases out of order, typos, etc. These are all things that could have been caught and corrected by a professional editor & proof reader. Reading the book aloud with a writing partner (spouse, friend, whatever you have) is another great tool for catching these types of errors.
Will I read more of this series? Maybe.
If you are the kind of reader who can't put aside their personal views to enjoy a hero of another faith, pass this book by. There is no need for you to "torment" yourself. The unrepentant Catholicism of Hell Spawn did not bother me. (It is in the book's title and description as well as the "about the author" section, so everyone has fair warning about what to expect!)
I'm the type of reader who likes my protagonists to be of the "good" variety...or at least not as bad as those guys over there. Here, we have a well defined Hero and a clear Villain.
I enjoyed the plot's overall pace, and the main character's unwavering faith. Tommy did his best to see the good in people, even the criminals he dealt with on a day to day basis. If this were a medieval/fantasy setting, Tommy would be a Paladin -- a Knight of God. "Saint Tommy" doesn't experience much in the way of character growth in this first book, but there are 12 or so tales in the series, so I suspect it's a gradual thing. Hopefully, as the series progresses, the support cast (wife, son, work colleagues) are better fleshed out as well.
What I didn't like -- the thing that repeatedly pulled me out of the story (because I am a total English/ Language Arts Nerd) -- was the mediocre editing and the general lack of proofreading. There were SO many instances of misused words, extra words, phrases out of order, typos, etc. These are all things that could have been caught and corrected by a professional editor & proof reader. Reading the book aloud with a writing partner (spouse, friend, whatever you have) is another great tool for catching these types of errors.
Will I read more of this series? Maybe.
November 11, 2018
I love Declan Finn’s stories and this is another fantastic addition that is going on to my read again shelf. Finn is a cop he can smell the bad guys he also says that he is a saint but I’m not going to get into all of that but once you read this book you will know what I mean. This is an exciting read full of action, suspense, danger, drama and so much more to keep you entertained and turning the pages. I loved this story but then it’s a Declan Finn book so do I need to say more?. A fantastic story a 5 plus ⭐️ read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
November 10, 2018
A thoroughly enjoyable read. As happens with any new book, it took me a while to get a feel for the characters. Once I did, however, I couldn't put the book down! The book explores many characters and worlds, many interesting power sets and abilities, and varying group dynamics. I was easily able to visualize the adventure while I read, which, for me, is of major importance to my enjoyment of a book. I am eagerly anticipating the second book in this series
July 31, 2022
This book starts out well enough, a friendly detective who doesn't take crime personally. That criminals aren't necessarily bad people, rather just people who have done bad things.
Then it takes a turn into Catholic propaganda, anything that goes against their dogma is evil and the folks who do such things are inherently evil or possibly serving the devil.
Then it takes a turn into Catholic propaganda, anything that goes against their dogma is evil and the folks who do such things are inherently evil or possibly serving the devil.
November 14, 2018
Another great story from one of my favorite authors. The overlap between fantasy and religion work well for me. There is plenty of action to satisfy with some violence that only adds to the story. I am looking forward to more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
November 1, 2018
I LIKE this story. What do you need to make a Saint? Really exciting you need to read this one. It is awesome. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
October 8, 2020
In very slightly expanded form, this review appears on my blog Papa Pat Rambles..
Prefatory materiel! I MUST point out something about perceptions of reality before going into the specifics of the plot and characters. Due to some technical problems, at this moment I can’t see how the book is classified for marketing purposes on Amazon, but I suspect it’s listed as fantasy.
This may sound a bit weird to you, but: there is nothing in this book that would place it beyond the realm of every day reality for the orthodox Christian believer. That’s a pretty bold statement, and feel free to dispute it if you like. It’s true, though, that classic, traditional Christianity teaches that angels, resurrection from the dead, demons, and a variety of miracles, are absolutely valid. Those beliefs are discussed at length in theologically-oriented books, which are readily available. Similar themes are found in some popular movies and television shows.
Where Finn stands apart is that his protagonist, Tommy Nolan, is a good guy, an average blue-collar guy, working as a police detective in New York, who suddenly finds that his work combating conventional crime is “enhanced,” shall we say, by the tools and desire to combat authentic demons from Hell.
And: YES! That can be said to be COMPLETELY CONSISTENT with my belief systems. I’m not the same ‘flavor’ of Christian that Finn is, BUT, as I said earlier, the things he puts forward have traditionally been orthodox teachings of the mainstream Christian churches. If that seems too outrageous for sane people to believe, I recommend you look closer at the history of the Church, PARTICULARLY the foundation documents, including the Biblical accounts.
And now, to the book: As stated, Tommy Nolan is a good guy who finds himself gifted with super-powers so he can fight evil in physical form. That’s the premise, and I have to say that I found it delightful, perhaps largely because of my Christian perspective.
A very few days ago, I was given the opportunity to watch "Constantine," a movie which shares some of the same themes of power, demons, Heaven and Hell. However, the additional themes of betrayal, isolation, and unforgivable sin combined to alienate me, and I stopped less than half-way through.
What I liked about "Hell Spawn: Saint Tommy NYPD" is his constant virtue, in the form of his dedication to his wife and son, and his compassion even for the criminals he has to arrest. Long before he found himself in the role of A SAINT (!), Tommy was investing himself in his community and the people he encountered. This is NOT the story of a worthless, ineffectual dweeb who discovers a magical weapon in the desert, and is transformed into a great American hero. This is a story of a regular guy, who commits himself to BEING a great American hero to his family, friends, prisoners, and anyone else he encounters, just with the tools of his hands and feet, mind, and heart. While the reason he was selected for sainthood and super powers isn’t disclosed in this installment, I believe it was simply a recognition of who he was becoming on his own.
A couple of closing remarks.
1. I don’t read horror. There were elements of this story, in describing the crimes of the Bad Guy, that were horrifying. They may not be tolerable for those who are squeamish, and I would not recommend this to my 15 year old Kenneth. However, those grotesque elements were essential clues to the nature of the killer. So, I hung in there, but I’d kind of like some brain bleach.
2. Although Tommy Nolan is a practicing Catholic, I didn’t see this as a distinctively Catholic novel. True, Tommy DOES use some strictly Catholic elements to battle evil, but it’s not so obscure that it can’t be understood by this non-Catholic. If you have to look up the definition of a word, do it.
3. A couple of real-life murderers are mentioned as patterns/examples for the method the Bad Guy uses to murder his victims. I suggest you do NOT research their names; the crimes were horrific, and the failure of regulatory/supervisory agencies to intervene is likely to cause you to lose faith in certain systems which should be guarding public health. Again: I’d like some brain bleach.
Under normal circumstances, a phrase I have heard before but don’t believe I comprehend, I would have already finished the Saint Tommy series. Keep checking in on me, and lets see how it goes.
Prefatory materiel! I MUST point out something about perceptions of reality before going into the specifics of the plot and characters. Due to some technical problems, at this moment I can’t see how the book is classified for marketing purposes on Amazon, but I suspect it’s listed as fantasy.
This may sound a bit weird to you, but: there is nothing in this book that would place it beyond the realm of every day reality for the orthodox Christian believer. That’s a pretty bold statement, and feel free to dispute it if you like. It’s true, though, that classic, traditional Christianity teaches that angels, resurrection from the dead, demons, and a variety of miracles, are absolutely valid. Those beliefs are discussed at length in theologically-oriented books, which are readily available. Similar themes are found in some popular movies and television shows.
Where Finn stands apart is that his protagonist, Tommy Nolan, is a good guy, an average blue-collar guy, working as a police detective in New York, who suddenly finds that his work combating conventional crime is “enhanced,” shall we say, by the tools and desire to combat authentic demons from Hell.
And: YES! That can be said to be COMPLETELY CONSISTENT with my belief systems. I’m not the same ‘flavor’ of Christian that Finn is, BUT, as I said earlier, the things he puts forward have traditionally been orthodox teachings of the mainstream Christian churches. If that seems too outrageous for sane people to believe, I recommend you look closer at the history of the Church, PARTICULARLY the foundation documents, including the Biblical accounts.
And now, to the book: As stated, Tommy Nolan is a good guy who finds himself gifted with super-powers so he can fight evil in physical form. That’s the premise, and I have to say that I found it delightful, perhaps largely because of my Christian perspective.
A very few days ago, I was given the opportunity to watch "Constantine," a movie which shares some of the same themes of power, demons, Heaven and Hell. However, the additional themes of betrayal, isolation, and unforgivable sin combined to alienate me, and I stopped less than half-way through.
What I liked about "Hell Spawn: Saint Tommy NYPD" is his constant virtue, in the form of his dedication to his wife and son, and his compassion even for the criminals he has to arrest. Long before he found himself in the role of A SAINT (!), Tommy was investing himself in his community and the people he encountered. This is NOT the story of a worthless, ineffectual dweeb who discovers a magical weapon in the desert, and is transformed into a great American hero. This is a story of a regular guy, who commits himself to BEING a great American hero to his family, friends, prisoners, and anyone else he encounters, just with the tools of his hands and feet, mind, and heart. While the reason he was selected for sainthood and super powers isn’t disclosed in this installment, I believe it was simply a recognition of who he was becoming on his own.
A couple of closing remarks.
1. I don’t read horror. There were elements of this story, in describing the crimes of the Bad Guy, that were horrifying. They may not be tolerable for those who are squeamish, and I would not recommend this to my 15 year old Kenneth. However, those grotesque elements were essential clues to the nature of the killer. So, I hung in there, but I’d kind of like some brain bleach.
2. Although Tommy Nolan is a practicing Catholic, I didn’t see this as a distinctively Catholic novel. True, Tommy DOES use some strictly Catholic elements to battle evil, but it’s not so obscure that it can’t be understood by this non-Catholic. If you have to look up the definition of a word, do it.
3. A couple of real-life murderers are mentioned as patterns/examples for the method the Bad Guy uses to murder his victims. I suggest you do NOT research their names; the crimes were horrific, and the failure of regulatory/supervisory agencies to intervene is likely to cause you to lose faith in certain systems which should be guarding public health. Again: I’d like some brain bleach.
Under normal circumstances, a phrase I have heard before but don’t believe I comprehend, I would have already finished the Saint Tommy series. Keep checking in on me, and lets see how it goes.
November 12, 2018
Ok, the good, the bad and the ugly. The good here is that (subject to a huge caveat noted below) Declan Finn’s Hell Spawn (Saint Tommy, NYPD Book 1) is in many ways a fantastic book. His lead character, Detective Thomas Nolan, really is a saint or at least a saint in the making and (even for a non-Catholic like me) this is a great mashup of a truly gritty and realistic police thriller with horror and Catholic theology. The bad is that the author definitely crams down his Roman Catholic religious views. If you pretend that it’s a fictional religion though that doesn’t really matter as everything holds together and really works well (of course if you are Catholic then presumably no pretending will be needed). The ugly is that the author has taken the pro-abortion / pro-choice /anti-life (I’m trying to be politically neutral here) movement and presumed an innate evil in its members views and aims, including that their actual views are far to the extreme of what I suspect any supporter of that movement would even remotely hold. I can’t say more as it would spoil things but it does reflect what seems to be a extremist view by the author. That conclusion is made even more clear by the author’s comments that while he didn’t specifically name Planned Parenthood when writing about an organization with views that are ridiculously extreme he specifically referenced the actual name and address of their executive offices in Manhattan. Now I happen to be anti-abortion but I can easily recognize that the level of extremism that the author equates Planned Parenthood to have does not reflect reality. Injecting this demonizing of anyone who is “pro-choice” into an otherwise great book detracts from it. I can understand the view of those who are in favor of abortion “rights” that differentiates life between actual “personhood” (for want of a better term) and at least some early stage following conception when a person has not yet come into being, even if I neither agree with it nor think that it’s actually possible to find any such line. Having said that, I don’t think that people who hold that view extend the argument permitting termination to go past some point they believe “personhood” is achieved. The author clearly rejects this and presumes that the pro-abortion / pro-choice /anti-life crowd cannot draw any such lines. It fits what I suspect his religious views are but is distasteful to me as I have many friends who are “pro-choice” and who I consider to be “good people” despite my strong disagreement with their views. Perhaps the author is trying to encourage debate on this. Perhaps he’s simply trying to proselytize his religious / anti-abortion / pro-life / anti-choice (just trying to be politically neutral again) views and is deliberately demonizing those who disagree with him. I don’t know but it does take away from an otherwise superb novel - and is why I took away a star from a book that otherwise is easily 5 stars. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on about this book. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely enjoyable and a great read but only if you either are aligned with the author’s views on the innate evilness of anyone who is in the pro-abortion / pro-choice /anti-life crowd, or can suspend your thinking about that.
February 24, 2019
Not a boring page in it.
While quite fictitious in its details, the book is refreshing in portraying evil as evil. The spirit forces of darkness are indeed real, and so it's fun to fantasize about those spirits getting their butts kicked in an action-movie kind of way.
This is definitely a macho Christian dude's book. This ain't no bonnet-wearing Christian romance novel.
Looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
While quite fictitious in its details, the book is refreshing in portraying evil as evil. The spirit forces of darkness are indeed real, and so it's fun to fantasize about those spirits getting their butts kicked in an action-movie kind of way.
This is definitely a macho Christian dude's book. This ain't no bonnet-wearing Christian romance novel.
Looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
May 11, 2022
This was a mixed bag.
On one side, I was intrigued by the focus on Catholicism as a central facet to the book. Rather than the typical cop or lead who is secular, moral, and may as well be named Standard McDefault, here we have a saint who sets out to balance police work with the charitable side of his faith. I don't agree with some of the takes - the idea that a man who kills his wife but cries after is "a good person who did bad" is a stretch if you're a friend of the wife, after all - but it was something different and I appreciate that. And it wasn't just flavor text. The religious material is present pretty much everywhere, showing the world from the perspective of that particular believer, and that was well done.
I also found the conservative perspective interesting. It's easy enough to find the Liberal view on points like abortion, crime and law enforcement, and religion - just listen to the mainstream - but giving the other side of the aisle their time to talk is nice to see. Some of the material on politics and the realities of what those politics have done to law enforcement, for instance, isn't spoken of enough. That said, it does get heavy handed later on in the book with the identity politics and on the subject of abortion. Agree or not, but there's a certain measure of even-handedness that's due to the opposing side of the argument, and that went out the window more than once.
Where this book loses me is in two places: the mechanics, and the tone. By mechanics I mean grammar and even word usage. I didn't know that this was a Kickstarted project, but even so, for people to be credited as editors and miss regular repetition in the same paragraph, bad grammar, and even the wrong words entirely (a character "speaks allowed." I wish I was kidding), this is pretty bad. It starts off with these sorts of mistakes and carries them right to the end of the book, and while it's not plastered on every page, it's regular enough that I started to lose patience.
Second was tone. This reads with the markings of modernity where every likable character is witty and wise cracking, where understatement is the norm, and where the good guys win in the end because of course they do. This makes the work easy to get into, but it also saps the scenes of their gravitas. People get stabbed and thrown through windows, cars gets flipped by superhuman strength, and rather than these being given the horror edge they deserve, everything's viewed through the lens of wit and sarcasm and one-liners, so I never wondered how or if Tommy was going to be standing afterward. The writer puts the hook in multiple times to make you jump, but my response quickly became, "Okay, how did he get out of it this time?"
All in all, this wasn't a waste of my time by any stretch of the imagination, but it did crack under the weight of its own half-measures. Demon hunting in a city seems like it would be a prime opportunity for some proper horror, the kind of suffocating tone that makes you dread turning every page, but instead we get dry and witty, tongue in cheek modernity that dials everything back and misses its chance.
3.5/5.
On one side, I was intrigued by the focus on Catholicism as a central facet to the book. Rather than the typical cop or lead who is secular, moral, and may as well be named Standard McDefault, here we have a saint who sets out to balance police work with the charitable side of his faith. I don't agree with some of the takes - the idea that a man who kills his wife but cries after is "a good person who did bad" is a stretch if you're a friend of the wife, after all - but it was something different and I appreciate that. And it wasn't just flavor text. The religious material is present pretty much everywhere, showing the world from the perspective of that particular believer, and that was well done.
I also found the conservative perspective interesting. It's easy enough to find the Liberal view on points like abortion, crime and law enforcement, and religion - just listen to the mainstream - but giving the other side of the aisle their time to talk is nice to see. Some of the material on politics and the realities of what those politics have done to law enforcement, for instance, isn't spoken of enough. That said, it does get heavy handed later on in the book with the identity politics and on the subject of abortion. Agree or not, but there's a certain measure of even-handedness that's due to the opposing side of the argument, and that went out the window more than once.
Where this book loses me is in two places: the mechanics, and the tone. By mechanics I mean grammar and even word usage. I didn't know that this was a Kickstarted project, but even so, for people to be credited as editors and miss regular repetition in the same paragraph, bad grammar, and even the wrong words entirely (a character "speaks allowed." I wish I was kidding), this is pretty bad. It starts off with these sorts of mistakes and carries them right to the end of the book, and while it's not plastered on every page, it's regular enough that I started to lose patience.
Second was tone. This reads with the markings of modernity where every likable character is witty and wise cracking, where understatement is the norm, and where the good guys win in the end because of course they do. This makes the work easy to get into, but it also saps the scenes of their gravitas. People get stabbed and thrown through windows, cars gets flipped by superhuman strength, and rather than these being given the horror edge they deserve, everything's viewed through the lens of wit and sarcasm and one-liners, so I never wondered how or if Tommy was going to be standing afterward. The writer puts the hook in multiple times to make you jump, but my response quickly became, "Okay, how did he get out of it this time?"
All in all, this wasn't a waste of my time by any stretch of the imagination, but it did crack under the weight of its own half-measures. Demon hunting in a city seems like it would be a prime opportunity for some proper horror, the kind of suffocating tone that makes you dread turning every page, but instead we get dry and witty, tongue in cheek modernity that dials everything back and misses its chance.
3.5/5.
November 11, 2018
As Detective Thomas Nolan walked along the NY streets, a purse-snatcher he knew well grabbed a woman’s cell phone and purse and ran. But as the detective chased him, something odd occurred – he could see himself running ahead of Anthony, but at the same time standing in front of him while chasing behind him. He didn’t have time to think about that before he caught him. As he walked him to the precinct, Anthony asked how he got in front of him since he was pretty sure the detective was never that fast. But the detective had no answer for that.
Suddenly, Nolan smelled a vile stench that doubled him over, almost retching into a trashcan. No one else seemed affected by the smell. He sniffed around and found the source – a deathly skinny junkie named Simon Hayes. As he got near, the junkie sat up straight and roared in rage as he dislocated his thumb to remove the cuffs and hurled a cop across the room and through a window! He knocked another over with a night stick, then bellowed a strange language at Nolan and attacked. The two battled as other cops jumped into the fight to subdue him. It seemed nothing could contain him! He uttered the odd words and all the glass and computer screens shattered. Nolan wondered if the guy was on PCP or something!
Hayes moved close to Nolan’s face and said more strange words, grinning like a crazy person – or a demon from Hell! As Nolan responds that he doesn’t speak gibberish, he makes a silent prayer and Hayes stops smiling. The fight resumed and it seemed like Hayes was finally feeling some pain! And as Nolan muttered the words of the Rosary, Hayes screeched and writhed. Six large officers piled onto him and he was stopped, his eyes filled with rage and insanity! As they took Hayes away, Nolan remembered he hadn’t even signed in to work yet! It was going to be a rough day! Sure enough, by noon when officers checked on Hayes, they found him hanging from a light fixture by his makeshift pants-leg noose.
When a serial killer is on the loose in the city, Nolan’s abilities become critical. How can the killer be stopped? How can he be captured and contained? And what if he can’t be?
From the start, the hint of humor in the narration during the chase scene let me assume that this was probably going to be a good book, despite the dark overtones of the title. But when the fight scene at the precinct with the demon started, I was ready to scamper out of the way of the fight that made me feel I was right there! Powerful descriptive writing, as the whole scene appeared clearly in my mind and the chaos never stopped! Whew! Believe me, this is a book you’ll want to read, if only to see the mastery of words from this author. I was definitely impressed! What emerged was that Detective Thomas Nolan can actually smell evil, and he is a saint as he claims early on in the story. This book comes down to good versus evil, and I’m glad Nolan is on our side! Don’t miss this series!
Suddenly, Nolan smelled a vile stench that doubled him over, almost retching into a trashcan. No one else seemed affected by the smell. He sniffed around and found the source – a deathly skinny junkie named Simon Hayes. As he got near, the junkie sat up straight and roared in rage as he dislocated his thumb to remove the cuffs and hurled a cop across the room and through a window! He knocked another over with a night stick, then bellowed a strange language at Nolan and attacked. The two battled as other cops jumped into the fight to subdue him. It seemed nothing could contain him! He uttered the odd words and all the glass and computer screens shattered. Nolan wondered if the guy was on PCP or something!
Hayes moved close to Nolan’s face and said more strange words, grinning like a crazy person – or a demon from Hell! As Nolan responds that he doesn’t speak gibberish, he makes a silent prayer and Hayes stops smiling. The fight resumed and it seemed like Hayes was finally feeling some pain! And as Nolan muttered the words of the Rosary, Hayes screeched and writhed. Six large officers piled onto him and he was stopped, his eyes filled with rage and insanity! As they took Hayes away, Nolan remembered he hadn’t even signed in to work yet! It was going to be a rough day! Sure enough, by noon when officers checked on Hayes, they found him hanging from a light fixture by his makeshift pants-leg noose.
When a serial killer is on the loose in the city, Nolan’s abilities become critical. How can the killer be stopped? How can he be captured and contained? And what if he can’t be?
From the start, the hint of humor in the narration during the chase scene let me assume that this was probably going to be a good book, despite the dark overtones of the title. But when the fight scene at the precinct with the demon started, I was ready to scamper out of the way of the fight that made me feel I was right there! Powerful descriptive writing, as the whole scene appeared clearly in my mind and the chaos never stopped! Whew! Believe me, this is a book you’ll want to read, if only to see the mastery of words from this author. I was definitely impressed! What emerged was that Detective Thomas Nolan can actually smell evil, and he is a saint as he claims early on in the story. This book comes down to good versus evil, and I’m glad Nolan is on our side! Don’t miss this series!
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