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Uncanny Kingdom
Necessary Evil
For Jake Fletcher, the end was just the beginning.
Cursed to wander the streets of London as a ghost, the only way he can earn his spot in the afterlife is to atone for his mortal sins.
And so he becomes a spectral detective, a phantom PI who helps restless spirits depart the earthly plane by bringing their killers to justice.
When a mutilated body is discovered with wounds matching the first victim of Jack the Ripper, the police realise they have a copycat killer on their hands, and Jake sees an opportunity to even out his balance sheet.
But while he’s busy chasing down the killer, someone from Jake’s old life resurfaces. Someone who wants to make use of his talents in a nefarious way that definitely won’t curry favour with Him Upstairs.
Coerced into doing his bidding, Jake must maintain a delicate balancing act as he figures out a way to turn the tide on his blackmailer, while at the same time stopping the copycat from attaining the Ripper’s “Canonical 5” kills.
Will Jake earn his just reward, or will he topple even deeper into the twilight world between life and death?
Cursed to wander the streets of London as a ghost, the only way he can earn his spot in the afterlife is to atone for his mortal sins.
And so he becomes a spectral detective, a phantom PI who helps restless spirits depart the earthly plane by bringing their killers to justice.
When a mutilated body is discovered with wounds matching the first victim of Jack the Ripper, the police realise they have a copycat killer on their hands, and Jake sees an opportunity to even out his balance sheet.
But while he’s busy chasing down the killer, someone from Jake’s old life resurfaces. Someone who wants to make use of his talents in a nefarious way that definitely won’t curry favour with Him Upstairs.
Coerced into doing his bidding, Jake must maintain a delicate balancing act as he figures out a way to turn the tide on his blackmailer, while at the same time stopping the copycat from attaining the Ripper’s “Canonical 5” kills.
Will Jake earn his just reward, or will he topple even deeper into the twilight world between life and death?
- GenresUrban FantasyParanormal
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2019
65 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
David Bussell
37 books180 followersDavid Bussell is a best-selling British author renowned for his contributions to the urban fantasy genre. He is the co-creator of the Uncanny Kingdom, a series that explores a secret Britain teeming with paranormal suspense stories. His notable works include the "Spectral Detective" series. David's writing prowess has been recognized with the P.G. Wodehouse New Comic Writer Award. Beyond his literary achievements, he is an avid fencer, a lover of synthwave music, and a committed comic book fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 9, 2019
Engaging, entertaining, and tooootally necessary!!!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and can I just say HOOOOLY WWOOOOOOOWWW!!!
Jake and Co. are back and badder than ever in this full-length, megawatt story brimming with spectacularity, one-liners, and that wonderful Jakey witticism we all love.
With a monstrous killer on the loose, and the bodies starting to pile up, the race is on for Jake to help identify and stop the killer. Things are never easy when you're Uncanny and dead, though, and poor Jakey gets no breaks when his personal life becomes as mired in threats as his professional one.
With a completely memorable, and largely endearing, cast of characters, heinous villians, captivating and entertaining banter, a sweeping story arc, personal ghost growth, and many laugh out loud moments, this is the book Jake Fletcher fans have been waiting for. Seriously, though, any fans of mystery, and snark, will gobble this book right up. I COMPLETELY and TOTALLY recommend this story. Wholeheartedly. For reals.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and can I just say HOOOOLY WWOOOOOOOWWW!!!
Jake and Co. are back and badder than ever in this full-length, megawatt story brimming with spectacularity, one-liners, and that wonderful Jakey witticism we all love.
With a monstrous killer on the loose, and the bodies starting to pile up, the race is on for Jake to help identify and stop the killer. Things are never easy when you're Uncanny and dead, though, and poor Jakey gets no breaks when his personal life becomes as mired in threats as his professional one.
With a completely memorable, and largely endearing, cast of characters, heinous villians, captivating and entertaining banter, a sweeping story arc, personal ghost growth, and many laugh out loud moments, this is the book Jake Fletcher fans have been waiting for. Seriously, though, any fans of mystery, and snark, will gobble this book right up. I COMPLETELY and TOTALLY recommend this story. Wholeheartedly. For reals.
December 18, 2019
Received ARC. Really liked the book. Moved along at a good pace. Engaging characters and multiple plots. Only thing that bothered me was it had a couple of gory scenes. I actually threw up after reading one chapter
January 31, 2020
I think the idea of the zombie and the ghost of the same dead guy teaming up to be detectives is very clever. Certainly not something I had read before.
I initially was going to say it had a lot of extraneous characters and unnecessary info dumps about them but turns out this is a spin off series. These weren't extraneous characters; they were cameos from fan favorites from the original series. I can get behind that. I'm confident I would have enjoyed the check-in if I had read the previous series.
Cons: Beginning was rambling and slow. Ghost Jake is definitely not enlightened. Ghost Jake is not someone I could call a hero or a good guy etc. (I did like FrankenJake.) Heavy handed on the bad guys. Convenient magic system that did what it needed to do with seemingly no rules. I've read too many books that are set in London so they have to include Jack the Ripper.
Pros: Very clever concept, mid book the action picked up quite a bit and the ending was action packed, strong world building. FrankenJake was adorable and expressive with just his limited vocabulary. Lots of well rounded characters with lots of potential for future stories
Worth the read
I received a free copy in exchange for a review.
I initially was going to say it had a lot of extraneous characters and unnecessary info dumps about them but turns out this is a spin off series. These weren't extraneous characters; they were cameos from fan favorites from the original series. I can get behind that. I'm confident I would have enjoyed the check-in if I had read the previous series.
Cons: Beginning was rambling and slow. Ghost Jake is definitely not enlightened. Ghost Jake is not someone I could call a hero or a good guy etc. (I did like FrankenJake.) Heavy handed on the bad guys. Convenient magic system that did what it needed to do with seemingly no rules. I've read too many books that are set in London so they have to include Jack the Ripper.
Pros: Very clever concept, mid book the action picked up quite a bit and the ending was action packed, strong world building. FrankenJake was adorable and expressive with just his limited vocabulary. Lots of well rounded characters with lots of potential for future stories
Worth the read
I received a free copy in exchange for a review.
January 25, 2021
Disclaimer: A free copy of this book was provided by the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
Within the first 5 minutes of starting this book, I was gripped. From the cocky protagonist, the wonderfully descriptive writing style to the perfectly chosen narrator, this was clearly something special.
What happened next was I arranged Friday off work and spent the entire day and half of Saturday with headphones on to finish the story as I simply could.not.stop.
This is the tale of Jake Fletcher, Private Detective and a ghost to boot,working alongside a thoroughly interesting cast of characters to stop a copy-cat Jack the Ripper while juggling incursions from various other sources, both human and other.
Being a ghost, Jake has some particular skills and abilities beyond the mundane as well as a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the supernatural but at no point was this used to try and emulate similar characters such as Harry Dresden or Quincy Harker and the story and setting is fantastically original in pacing and style.
As a Brit, the wordplay and cockiness was brilliant and more than once I was given a bemused look by others as I chuckled, cackled or outright roared with laughter but this by no means a comedy tale and more than one I was beset by gasps and grimaces. The story maintains a perfect balance between the dark and the light, the danger and the comedy and even throws in a beautiful piece of fourth-wall breaking which really had me laughing. All this would of course fall flat if not for the amazing narration provided by Mark Restuccia who seems born to have played Jake as I can imagine no other voice for him.
Throughout the story there seeds dropped suggesting history between characters which was never really expanded upon but I now realise that there has been a series of books prior to this one and soI hope to get the opportunity to experience and review these in the future as this was truly a magnificent tale.
There are so many parts I want to talk about, from the shock I experienced at the end of Chapter 1 and the hilarious trick played by a certain shape-shifter later in the book but to do so would do you a disservice as the book really is just so clever it has to be experienced spoiler-free.
So do yourself a favour and buy this book, it really is one of the best I've read in a long long time.
Within the first 5 minutes of starting this book, I was gripped. From the cocky protagonist, the wonderfully descriptive writing style to the perfectly chosen narrator, this was clearly something special.
What happened next was I arranged Friday off work and spent the entire day and half of Saturday with headphones on to finish the story as I simply could.not.stop.
This is the tale of Jake Fletcher, Private Detective and a ghost to boot,working alongside a thoroughly interesting cast of characters to stop a copy-cat Jack the Ripper while juggling incursions from various other sources, both human and other.
Being a ghost, Jake has some particular skills and abilities beyond the mundane as well as a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the supernatural but at no point was this used to try and emulate similar characters such as Harry Dresden or Quincy Harker and the story and setting is fantastically original in pacing and style.
As a Brit, the wordplay and cockiness was brilliant and more than once I was given a bemused look by others as I chuckled, cackled or outright roared with laughter but this by no means a comedy tale and more than one I was beset by gasps and grimaces. The story maintains a perfect balance between the dark and the light, the danger and the comedy and even throws in a beautiful piece of fourth-wall breaking which really had me laughing. All this would of course fall flat if not for the amazing narration provided by Mark Restuccia who seems born to have played Jake as I can imagine no other voice for him.
Throughout the story there seeds dropped suggesting history between characters which was never really expanded upon but I now realise that there has been a series of books prior to this one and soI hope to get the opportunity to experience and review these in the future as this was truly a magnificent tale.
There are so many parts I want to talk about, from the shock I experienced at the end of Chapter 1 and the hilarious trick played by a certain shape-shifter later in the book but to do so would do you a disservice as the book really is just so clever it has to be experienced spoiler-free.
So do yourself a favour and buy this book, it really is one of the best I've read in a long long time.
December 12, 2019
Jake is back and causing double the usual trouble
Jake Fletcher is my favourite of the lead characters in all the varied series of the Uncanny Kingdom and in this book he has outdone himself. However chauvinistic, sarcastic, impatient, thoughtless, and downright arsey he was in the Spectral Detective series, multiply that by at least twenty for Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigators. He is just so much.... more. And I love it.
Jake is under the kosh this time, trying to solve a series of horrifying murders with his unofficial police partner, the also very arsey DCI Kat Stronge, whilst having an impossible task to complete on a very short timescale for an already familiar adversary, with deadly consequences if he fails. All this does not make for a happy Jake.
We meet old friends, old enemies, new friends, new enemies, the list is endless. And a certain new... something,... errr,,, someone... that plays a huge part in the story. The addition of this character creates a whole new dimension to Jake's story and adds a lot of food for thought for Jake. Not sure at first quite what is happening to his solitary existence, by the end of the book he is embracing the changes and actually appears to be enjoying them.
I'm not absolutely sure whether Jake has added more red to his Heavenly ledger this time out or achieved a few plus points in the right direction instead, but what I can say is that both Jake and his biographer, Mr. Bussell, and this book have scored highly with me. It is as laugh out loud funny as all the Uncanny books (if not more so), as English as English can be in attitude, outlook, humour and language (sorry, all those of you who are not fortunate to be born English!), and magical and murderous and mayhem-ical as you could wish for. If you already love the Uncanny Kingdom and have been waiting for a long time for another book from the pens of David Bussell and Matthew Stott, let me tell you that this was well worth the wait. It is a lot of book to get your teeth into, much longer than previous volumes, and the immortal words 'the bigger the better' definitely applies here. If you haven't read any Uncanny books yet, shame on you and get cracking now.
Jake Fletcher is my favourite of the lead characters in all the varied series of the Uncanny Kingdom and in this book he has outdone himself. However chauvinistic, sarcastic, impatient, thoughtless, and downright arsey he was in the Spectral Detective series, multiply that by at least twenty for Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigators. He is just so much.... more. And I love it.
Jake is under the kosh this time, trying to solve a series of horrifying murders with his unofficial police partner, the also very arsey DCI Kat Stronge, whilst having an impossible task to complete on a very short timescale for an already familiar adversary, with deadly consequences if he fails. All this does not make for a happy Jake.
We meet old friends, old enemies, new friends, new enemies, the list is endless. And a certain new... something,... errr,,, someone... that plays a huge part in the story. The addition of this character creates a whole new dimension to Jake's story and adds a lot of food for thought for Jake. Not sure at first quite what is happening to his solitary existence, by the end of the book he is embracing the changes and actually appears to be enjoying them.
I'm not absolutely sure whether Jake has added more red to his Heavenly ledger this time out or achieved a few plus points in the right direction instead, but what I can say is that both Jake and his biographer, Mr. Bussell, and this book have scored highly with me. It is as laugh out loud funny as all the Uncanny books (if not more so), as English as English can be in attitude, outlook, humour and language (sorry, all those of you who are not fortunate to be born English!), and magical and murderous and mayhem-ical as you could wish for. If you already love the Uncanny Kingdom and have been waiting for a long time for another book from the pens of David Bussell and Matthew Stott, let me tell you that this was well worth the wait. It is a lot of book to get your teeth into, much longer than previous volumes, and the immortal words 'the bigger the better' definitely applies here. If you haven't read any Uncanny books yet, shame on you and get cracking now.
January 11, 2021
Dead & Deader P.I. at your service beyond the grave
“Necessary Evil” marks the start to the “Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigations” Series by David Bussell a mix, mystery, dark humor, the macabre and an irreverent wit so dry it turns to dust by ear 😉
Jake and Frank Fletcher are both and the same, but totally different, let me explain, Jake is a ghost unable to cross to the afterlife before he’s has purged for his mortal sins. Wandering aimless through London doesn’t seem like the best way of atonement, thus Jake decides to be proactive and becomes an spectral detective, catering to restless spirits and by catching their murders, help them to cross over and work his sin-debt off until he is allow to cross himself. And then, there is Frank, who just as Jake was once alive, and now is condemned to an afterlife in zombie—state. Jake and Frank, one and the same in live, so different in dead, a perfect match for ‘each-same’ and a source of endless joy and entertainment for the reader.
The story is excellent: the police found a mutilated corpse that bears all the marks of the ‘Jack the Ripper’ murders, a copycat at work, and the perfect opportunity for Jack to even out his debt balance sheet, would not be for his archnemesis, coming back (Vic Lords), and hooking him up with his own zombified version. And thus, Jake begins to juggle the case, his zombie, Vic’s blackmail and his chance at redemption.
This series is fun, fun, very dark fun, as part of the Uncanny Kingdom verse it fits seamlessly into the verse (with some guest characters in the plot), while being an absolute original and independent addition to the verse. Jake might not the brightest sheet in the cupboard, and Frank rhetoric skills couldn’t win a debate context, nevertheless “they have almost conversations” all the time and get against of all the job done, more or less. The story is, however, not for the ‘weak of tummy’ or the ‘faint of heart’, the plot is gory, chauvinistic, satiric, outrageous at times (not your usual CW YA watered pseudo-horror) and as English as English can be, it can be an acquired taste for newcomers, but it is acquired fast and easy, with lasting reading-satisfaction side-effects.
“Necessary Evil” marks the start to the “Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigations” Series by David Bussell a mix, mystery, dark humor, the macabre and an irreverent wit so dry it turns to dust by ear 😉
Jake and Frank Fletcher are both and the same, but totally different, let me explain, Jake is a ghost unable to cross to the afterlife before he’s has purged for his mortal sins. Wandering aimless through London doesn’t seem like the best way of atonement, thus Jake decides to be proactive and becomes an spectral detective, catering to restless spirits and by catching their murders, help them to cross over and work his sin-debt off until he is allow to cross himself. And then, there is Frank, who just as Jake was once alive, and now is condemned to an afterlife in zombie—state. Jake and Frank, one and the same in live, so different in dead, a perfect match for ‘each-same’ and a source of endless joy and entertainment for the reader.
The story is excellent: the police found a mutilated corpse that bears all the marks of the ‘Jack the Ripper’ murders, a copycat at work, and the perfect opportunity for Jack to even out his debt balance sheet, would not be for his archnemesis, coming back (Vic Lords), and hooking him up with his own zombified version. And thus, Jake begins to juggle the case, his zombie, Vic’s blackmail and his chance at redemption.
This series is fun, fun, very dark fun, as part of the Uncanny Kingdom verse it fits seamlessly into the verse (with some guest characters in the plot), while being an absolute original and independent addition to the verse. Jake might not the brightest sheet in the cupboard, and Frank rhetoric skills couldn’t win a debate context, nevertheless “they have almost conversations” all the time and get against of all the job done, more or less. The story is, however, not for the ‘weak of tummy’ or the ‘faint of heart’, the plot is gory, chauvinistic, satiric, outrageous at times (not your usual CW YA watered pseudo-horror) and as English as English can be, it can be an acquired taste for newcomers, but it is acquired fast and easy, with lasting reading-satisfaction side-effects.
December 6, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.
Before you start, have a Google search tab open. Especially if you are a 'septic tank' like me. You'll need it for all the Cockney slang. This book continues the misadventures of the Spectral Detective. You can read his history in "Spectral Detective: A Three-Book Collection: An Uncanny Kingdom Urban Fantasy (Spectral Detective Collection 1)". It's well worth reading first, especially if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited - it's free for now. You'll meet many of the Uncanny Characters that appear in this book. The outlandish descriptions and over-the-top dialog are continued, and have gotten even more outrageous. Those with delicate sensibilities should not attempt this book! It is full of swearing, blood, gore, pain, torture, vile creatures and other unpleasant things. But the LMAO humor and incredible adventures make it well worth reading if you're not easily offended and you don't have a weak stomach.
Jake Fletcher is in trouble again, with his old nemesis, Vic Lords, who sics a zombie on him. Plus, he finally has another job with Detective Kat Stronge: finding a murderer who left a mutilated body à la Jack the Ripper, but without a ghost for Jake to interview. Now, "On top of having a zombie to take care of, he had a copycat murderer to catch, and a whole other thing going on with Vic Lords", he is hard-pressed to find the strength and determination to improve his record Upstairs, right wrongs, defend the weak and innocent and punish the wicked. We don't really find out who the other Fletcher is until Chapter 18, and it's quite a surprise. It's finally made official in the last chapter. Meantime, Fletcher & Fletcher have their work cut out for them, dodging demons, Vic and his minions and a horde of other evil denizens, of both the human and the Uncanny kingdoms. Fortunately, there are a few good men and/or women to help him overcome the incredible odds.
Before you start, have a Google search tab open. Especially if you are a 'septic tank' like me. You'll need it for all the Cockney slang. This book continues the misadventures of the Spectral Detective. You can read his history in "Spectral Detective: A Three-Book Collection: An Uncanny Kingdom Urban Fantasy (Spectral Detective Collection 1)". It's well worth reading first, especially if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited - it's free for now. You'll meet many of the Uncanny Characters that appear in this book. The outlandish descriptions and over-the-top dialog are continued, and have gotten even more outrageous. Those with delicate sensibilities should not attempt this book! It is full of swearing, blood, gore, pain, torture, vile creatures and other unpleasant things. But the LMAO humor and incredible adventures make it well worth reading if you're not easily offended and you don't have a weak stomach.
Jake Fletcher is in trouble again, with his old nemesis, Vic Lords, who sics a zombie on him. Plus, he finally has another job with Detective Kat Stronge: finding a murderer who left a mutilated body à la Jack the Ripper, but without a ghost for Jake to interview. Now, "On top of having a zombie to take care of, he had a copycat murderer to catch, and a whole other thing going on with Vic Lords", he is hard-pressed to find the strength and determination to improve his record Upstairs, right wrongs, defend the weak and innocent and punish the wicked. We don't really find out who the other Fletcher is until Chapter 18, and it's quite a surprise. It's finally made official in the last chapter. Meantime, Fletcher & Fletcher have their work cut out for them, dodging demons, Vic and his minions and a horde of other evil denizens, of both the human and the Uncanny kingdoms. Fortunately, there are a few good men and/or women to help him overcome the incredible odds.
May 9, 2021
So much for a quiet afterlife…
Jake Fletcher is a private eye in London; the twist is he’s a ghost. With his new partner Frank the zombie, Jake has his hands full. Someone is copycatting the Ripper murders and Jake is working with London Police to bring the killer to justice. At the same time, an old acquaintance is blackmailing Jake to do some unsavory deeds. Can Jake juggle both these jobs and come out on top?
I really struggled with this book. There was a lot to like about the book. I love Urban Fantasy where the author uses something other than Weres or vampires as the main elements. A ghost being the main character is definitely something different. I enjoyed the two plot lines and how the author weaved them together.
On the flipside, there were things I didn’t like about the book. The first was Jake Fletcher’s character came across as smarmy which made him somewhat unlike for me.
The second problem was the author’s prose. Oddly enough, the writing was beautiful and almost poetic at times. It did a great job of setting mood and ambiance of the scenes. The problem I found with it was that it was too verbose and not concrete enough. It made book drag due to its length. I like Urban Fantasy done like a Jack Reacher novel; quick, snappy, and page-turning. This came across more like Epic Fantasy or a Victorian period novel than Urban Fantasy.
The writing style wasn’t my thing, but if you are a fan of Epic Fantasy style of writing, then this might be a book you want to check out.
Jake Fletcher is a private eye in London; the twist is he’s a ghost. With his new partner Frank the zombie, Jake has his hands full. Someone is copycatting the Ripper murders and Jake is working with London Police to bring the killer to justice. At the same time, an old acquaintance is blackmailing Jake to do some unsavory deeds. Can Jake juggle both these jobs and come out on top?
I really struggled with this book. There was a lot to like about the book. I love Urban Fantasy where the author uses something other than Weres or vampires as the main elements. A ghost being the main character is definitely something different. I enjoyed the two plot lines and how the author weaved them together.
On the flipside, there were things I didn’t like about the book. The first was Jake Fletcher’s character came across as smarmy which made him somewhat unlike for me.
The second problem was the author’s prose. Oddly enough, the writing was beautiful and almost poetic at times. It did a great job of setting mood and ambiance of the scenes. The problem I found with it was that it was too verbose and not concrete enough. It made book drag due to its length. I like Urban Fantasy done like a Jack Reacher novel; quick, snappy, and page-turning. This came across more like Epic Fantasy or a Victorian period novel than Urban Fantasy.
The writing style wasn’t my thing, but if you are a fan of Epic Fantasy style of writing, then this might be a book you want to check out.
December 21, 2019
The start of the book is downright corny, but that's over with soon and the real wise-cracking hi-jinks begin. New readers benefit from extremely entertaining synopses of Fletcher's prior adventures whenever they fit into his narrative stylings.
None of this would be necessary if only a ghost could inhabit his own zombie corpse, but he can't so there we are! Meanwhile he's got good guys and bad guys squabbling over his uncanny services while he tries to get used to living as a twin of himself.
As for the 'whodunit', suffice it to say that it's demons again, and they are a serious danger to every person Jake has dared to call friend in this afterlife on London's uncanny streets. He's got a new ally and also encounters an apex predator of the Uncanny sewers, that even the carnivorous fairies down there avoid. It's quite a yarn, with many amusing tie-ins to other series in Uncanny Kingdom.
No sex, lots of gore. Five stars.
None of this would be necessary if only a ghost could inhabit his own zombie corpse, but he can't so there we are! Meanwhile he's got good guys and bad guys squabbling over his uncanny services while he tries to get used to living as a twin of himself.
As for the 'whodunit', suffice it to say that it's demons again, and they are a serious danger to every person Jake has dared to call friend in this afterlife on London's uncanny streets. He's got a new ally and also encounters an apex predator of the Uncanny sewers, that even the carnivorous fairies down there avoid. It's quite a yarn, with many amusing tie-ins to other series in Uncanny Kingdom.
No sex, lots of gore. Five stars.
January 1, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Another Uncanny Kingdom book delivers. This was a great addition to their library. I love the mix of horror and humor, murder and mayhem with honor and caring. The characters are interesting, alive and as a reader I am completely invested in their future. I want the heroes to win and the bad guys to lose. I want the good guys to feel good and the bad guys to live long enough to regret their behavior and know they are paying for it. And they do.
In Necessary Evil Fletcher and Stronge go against some of the strongest evil characters to date. The intricate plots to survive are well spun with the survival well thought out. Nothing false here. Things come together as they should in well done sequences. But there some very good twists. Be careful not to leap ahead. Let the story take you along. I have enjoyed quite a few Uncanny tales and will continue to seek them out. Well worth the read.
Another Uncanny Kingdom book delivers. This was a great addition to their library. I love the mix of horror and humor, murder and mayhem with honor and caring. The characters are interesting, alive and as a reader I am completely invested in their future. I want the heroes to win and the bad guys to lose. I want the good guys to feel good and the bad guys to live long enough to regret their behavior and know they are paying for it. And they do.
In Necessary Evil Fletcher and Stronge go against some of the strongest evil characters to date. The intricate plots to survive are well spun with the survival well thought out. Nothing false here. Things come together as they should in well done sequences. But there some very good twists. Be careful not to leap ahead. Let the story take you along. I have enjoyed quite a few Uncanny tales and will continue to seek them out. Well worth the read.
January 18, 2021
This is my first book by the author, I was gifted and audiobook code and no review was expected of me. But I ended up enjoying so much that I had to came here and leave my peace.
This novel is a mix of action, mystery, suspense and a dash of dark humor. I understand this story could be read as a standalone and it's part of a series, and the worldbuilding is great, I didn't feel lost in any moment. The characters are likable, I adored Frank with all my heart, can't wait to see more of him! But not just him, all side characters are bi-dimensional with a lot of depth.
The only thing I didn't like much was the pace. It's action packed yes, but sometimes it dragged with not much of plot happening.
I knew of Mark Restuccia as another pen name and this is by far his best performance. I always had a tough time understanding him (non native speaker), but this story was easy enough to follow so I had no trouble at all. He is an amazing voice actor.
This novel is a mix of action, mystery, suspense and a dash of dark humor. I understand this story could be read as a standalone and it's part of a series, and the worldbuilding is great, I didn't feel lost in any moment. The characters are likable, I adored Frank with all my heart, can't wait to see more of him! But not just him, all side characters are bi-dimensional with a lot of depth.
The only thing I didn't like much was the pace. It's action packed yes, but sometimes it dragged with not much of plot happening.
I knew of Mark Restuccia as another pen name and this is by far his best performance. I always had a tough time understanding him (non native speaker), but this story was easy enough to follow so I had no trouble at all. He is an amazing voice actor.
December 15, 2019
Jake Fletcher is back from the dead in David Bussell‘s Necessary Evil: A Supernatural Thriller (Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigators Book 1), and this is a very very (very) good thing indeed. I first came across this ghost of a detective in Deathday, a truly excellent prequel which you can get free from the author. I was blown away by the imaginative approach to this character, and this continued in Fresh Hell, the next book featuring Jake (separately reviewed). Set in David Bussell and MV Stott's wonderful "Uncanny Kingdom" urban fantasy universe, these stories - and this new book - have all been rousing adventures with just the perfect paranormal elements, as well as perfect plot, writing, supporting cast and pretty much anything you could think of in a great tale. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2021
No real spoilers in this review!!
Fantastic fantasy again from the Uncanny Kingdom gang with a book so good I’ve stayed up till 2am to finish reading it before writing a review.
To get the best out of the Uncanny Kingdom you really want to read all of the crossover books as well, or you could read ‘em just for the h*ll of it either way this book has it all... a dashing Dashiell Hammet detective (aka Jake the ghost) a hot femme fatale (on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s the rest of the time she’s a he... or is she?...) a stalwart officer of the law (whose a bit Stronge) and last but not least man’s best friend (his own zombie, everyone should have one!)
It’s Jake and Frankenjake (or just Frank if you like) a ghost and his zombified body (reunited and it feels so good) hanging out, burning down buildings, stopping the bad guys and saving the day. Enjoy 😉
Fantastic fantasy again from the Uncanny Kingdom gang with a book so good I’ve stayed up till 2am to finish reading it before writing a review.
To get the best out of the Uncanny Kingdom you really want to read all of the crossover books as well, or you could read ‘em just for the h*ll of it either way this book has it all... a dashing Dashiell Hammet detective (aka Jake the ghost) a hot femme fatale (on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s the rest of the time she’s a he... or is she?...) a stalwart officer of the law (whose a bit Stronge) and last but not least man’s best friend (his own zombie, everyone should have one!)
It’s Jake and Frankenjake (or just Frank if you like) a ghost and his zombified body (reunited and it feels so good) hanging out, burning down buildings, stopping the bad guys and saving the day. Enjoy 😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2019
On my goodness
Being dead is no deterrent to Jake Fletcher. He's got a job to do and the determination to get it done. When the bodies start piling up Jake quickly realizes he is looking at a copy cat of the most nefarious serial killer in history.
With a quirky hero, truly evil antagonists, and unbelievable sidekicks Necessary Evil really pulled me in.
The story felt like i jumped into the middle of an established world, but then the author explains in the end how to find out where the story began . And then i find out there are so many more books to read. And then i did NOT break my leg while doing the Happy Dance, which is a whole new way of doing the happy dance for me.
I strongly recommend this book.
Being dead is no deterrent to Jake Fletcher. He's got a job to do and the determination to get it done. When the bodies start piling up Jake quickly realizes he is looking at a copy cat of the most nefarious serial killer in history.
With a quirky hero, truly evil antagonists, and unbelievable sidekicks Necessary Evil really pulled me in.
The story felt like i jumped into the middle of an established world, but then the author explains in the end how to find out where the story began . And then i find out there are so many more books to read. And then i did NOT break my leg while doing the Happy Dance, which is a whole new way of doing the happy dance for me.
I strongly recommend this book.
July 21, 2020
Necessary Evil is Book 1 of the Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigators series by David Bussell. This is a well written story with exceptional characters. Jake Fletcher, Spectral Detective, is a ghost who must deal with his resurrected zombified body. David Bussell has created a unique story filled with fast paced, action packed, page turning adventure that at times the British humor will have you laughing out loud. I loved this story and am looking forward to the next in series. Do yourself a favor and read this series, you won't be sorry you did. I also listened to the audio book. Mark Restuccia is an awesome narrator. His performance brought this story to life. Received and ARC (ebook and audio book) from the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.
May 29, 2020
As part of the Uncanny Kingdom, Jake Fletcher is a ghost. And a Private Investigator. This isn’t the first book in the series but does work as a stand-alone. With a cast of characters that includes demons, shifters, and zombies, Jake has his hands full trying to even out his ledger with the big Man upstairs.
This book kept me enthralled. It was hard to put it down. And then there are the easter eggs. I loved coming across a phrase I recognized from other books. These references just made it even more fun. You can’t ask for a better reading experience. Great characters, fantastic storyline and wonderful writing. I absolutely can recommend this for anyone who is a fan of urban fantasy.
This book kept me enthralled. It was hard to put it down. And then there are the easter eggs. I loved coming across a phrase I recognized from other books. These references just made it even more fun. You can’t ask for a better reading experience. Great characters, fantastic storyline and wonderful writing. I absolutely can recommend this for anyone who is a fan of urban fantasy.
December 14, 2019
Fletcher is a ghost, oh and a private eye. He consorts with shifters, demons, and even zombies. This story takes you on a wild ride as he is helping the police catch a Jack the Ripper copycat. These are some real characters and it reads a little like an old detective movie just with some otherwordly characters. I highly recomend this book.
I received an advance copy to provide my honest review. Now I am off to find more Fletcher books....
I received an advance copy to provide my honest review. Now I am off to find more Fletcher books....
December 8, 2019
Necessary Evil: A Supernatural Thriller (Fletcher & Fletcher, Paranormal Investigators by David Bussell , M.V. Stott is such an awesome story that I have loved reading. I can not wait to read more from them and I highly recommend it to all.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
May 14, 2020
A spectral detective and a zombie walks into a bar...
I really enjoyed this book, it is such an amazing instalment to the Uncanny Kingdom. I really liked getting to know FrankenJake, too, and still feel for poor Jake — the original spectral detective. I liked the other characters, some I knew from before (hi, Jazz hands!) but I loved Shift. All round greatness.
I really enjoyed this book, it is such an amazing instalment to the Uncanny Kingdom. I really liked getting to know FrankenJake, too, and still feel for poor Jake — the original spectral detective. I liked the other characters, some I knew from before (hi, Jazz hands!) but I loved Shift. All round greatness.
June 26, 2020
I read the Spectral Detective series and it was okay, but this new series really takes Jake's character a step up. Seeing him relate to the other characters, I won't give any spoilers, is what he needed to evolve...and the other characters are absolutely hysterical. Very much looking forward to the next installment.
November 27, 2021
Fletcher is Dead and a ghost and one of the people he use to work with when he drew breath broght his body back as a Zombie and sent it after him. Fletcher unknowingly was destroying dead peoples soul by Extrosie them, and now that he is dead he is trying to get right with the man upstairs by doing the right thing as a PI. This book has humor, ghosts, zombie, and Dames.
September 12, 2022
Would have been more stars but for the rehashing
The rehashing and restating of everything that happened to Jake Fletcher got so old, I was flipping past so many pages before the story got to the point and interesting. By book four, we know about Jake's history. Please get on with the new story!
The rehashing and restating of everything that happened to Jake Fletcher got so old, I was flipping past so many pages before the story got to the point and interesting. By book four, we know about Jake's history. Please get on with the new story!
December 8, 2019
Yessss the Uncanny Kingdom pulls another corker out of the bag!! This was most definitely worth waiting for. Hugely witty, laugh out loud in fact (so beware if you're engrossed whilst on public transport!). A really great "who dunnit" with twists & turns in every chapter. Stuffed with your favourite Uncanny characters. I seriously did not want this to end!! What more could anyone ask for??
December 6, 2019
David Bussell does a wonderful job with this story. The character development is amazing and the story line leaves you wanting to read more about the characters. I especially like Frank and Jake and they way they interact. If you're a Jim Butcher fan, this is a must read.
December 6, 2019
OMG! This was perfectly fantastic! Zombies, demons, Jack the Ripper. So many things all mixed together in such an amazing and enthralling way! I love the books written in this world and this is just another phenomenal addition! I LOVED it!
Read
December 20, 2019Uniquely crazy story! Loved it!
I'm new to this author, but am looking forward to seeing more. This was a one of a kind, and strangely compelling story with unusual characters and plot. Well done!
I'm new to this author, but am looking forward to seeing more. This was a one of a kind, and strangely compelling story with unusual characters and plot. Well done!
February 11, 2021
WOW
This reads like a old Bogart's private eye story and I enjoyed it. I was not sure at first but then I had to find out how it all turned out. A very different but enjoyable story.
This reads like a old Bogart's private eye story and I enjoyed it. I was not sure at first but then I had to find out how it all turned out. A very different but enjoyable story.
July 17, 2021
What a trip!
I wasn’t holding out any hope that this book was going to be good just by reading the first two chapters. But then it picked up…by picked up I mean I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. Can’t wait till the next book.
I wasn’t holding out any hope that this book was going to be good just by reading the first two chapters. But then it picked up…by picked up I mean I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it. Can’t wait till the next book.
December 15, 2019
This is a excellent funny fast paced book.Jake Fletcher is my favorite uncanny kingdom character.He's a hoot!I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
December 17, 2019
Good Book
On boy! Where do I begin? This book has so many elements, suspense, action, supernatural, great characters and a wonderful plot
On boy! Where do I begin? This book has so many elements, suspense, action, supernatural, great characters and a wonderful plot
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews