Smoke & Dagger

SPECTRA Files #0.5

by Douglas Wynne

Catherine Littlefield was raised in a seaside New England town haunted by whispers of arcane lore that remained tantalizingly out of reach to a daughter of well-to-do Baptists. But when her studies at Barnard College in New York lead to an encounter with a secret society, she is offered access to the knowledge she has always sought...if she can pass a test.

Dispatched to California to infiltrate the occult world of a rival magician—a pioneering rocket scientist with ties to the apocalyptic Starry Wisdom Church—Catherine soon discovers that she’s not the only one spying on Jack Parsons. A fledgling government agency devoted to the investigation of weird science in the aftermath of the World War II has assigned a pair of hard-nosed agents to gather information on her target, whose experiments with sex magic and eldritch artifacts are approaching a cosmic crescendo.

Drawn into the volatile chemistry of Jack’s inner circle and tempted with knowledge and power, Catherine must determine what’s at stake for a world threatened by dark forces and decide where her true loyalties lie.

Genres: Horror, Lovecraftian

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2019

About the author

Douglas Wynne is the author the horror thrillers The Devil of Echo Lake, His Own Devices, and the SPECTRA Files trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and his writing workshops have been featured at genre conventions and schools throughout New England. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and son and a houseful of animals.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SPECTRA FILES books have all been a pleasure to read. Now with SMOKE & DAGGER, we get a peek behind the scenes at the beginning of it all. What fun!

In New York City, feeling far from her seaside home in Massachusetts, Catherine Littlefield haunts the local museums when she's not studying for her college courses. She especially likes to sit and gaze at a certain meteorite. It gives off some kind of...signal, a kind of...hum, which she can actually feel. She notices an elderly gentleman, often on the bench opposite from where she sits, and she wonders if he feels it too. Soon the two meet, one thing leads to another, and then she's working for the man and off to California to investigate! There are reports of black magic, sex magic, spells and singing-all with the intent of bringing through the Old Gods. Who are the people so devoted to doing this? What and who exactly, are the Old Gods? Lastly, will this group be successful? You'll have to read this to find out!

I loved the trilogy of SPECTRA FILES books, and thought the author was finished with those tales, until I saw the beautiful cover of this book on Twitter. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but there are a number of lovely illustrations inside, though many of them are of monsters and the Old Gods themselves. Some are renditions of ancient spells and chants from grimoires devoted to the black arts. These illustrations added another level of "cool" to this tale. (I'd love to see this book come out in a signed/limited edition including the drawings.)

I've come to expect a level of satisfaction from Douglas Wynne when it comes to his SPECTRA FILES books. They combine Lovecraftian type story telling, (dark, ominous and atmospheric), without the flowery language, racism and other distasteful portions of Lovecraft's actual writing. What I really love about Wynne's work though, is his characters. They are always so devoted to protecting the world from the Old Gods all while being unable to claim the credit for doing so. In this book, however, things are a little different. I wasn't sure about Catherine Littlefield's inner motivations, and it was her adventure that kept my eyes glued to the page. I'd love to read more about her in the future, and more about the Order to which she was initiated. In short, I just want more!

You do not need to have read the trilogy in order to appreciate SMOKE & DAGGER, though I recommend you do anyway, because...FUN. This volume can stand alone, tickling your sense of adventure and your curiosity. Combining those things with a brave, admirable heroine, and some Old Gods action, I just cannot see how you wouldn't have a good time!

Highly recommended!

Available everywhere August 20th; you can pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Dagger-S...

*Thanks to Douglas Wynne for the beautiful paperback ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*

**Also, thank you, sir, for the wonderful inscription that made me both blush and smile.**

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Douglas Wynne’s work, so there’s really no excuse for how long this one set waiting on my bookshelf outside of the fact that nowadays I read exclusively digital and this was paper. A lovely edition with original artwork, but still…paper. But then an epic power outage plunged us back into the preKindle days and this was the first book I reached for. And sure enough, a great read. This is actually a prequel to Wynne’s paranormal trilogy, I read book one ages ago and never continued with this for some reason, probably unavailability of further volumes. But the best thing about prequels is that they can all be read pretty much as standalones. And this does very well as a standalone, it does very well in general, it has so many terrific elements…spies, secret agencies, secret societies, dark magic, ancient deities, occult, etc. Plus it’s set back in the post WWII era, so it also qualifies as historical fiction. Plus (major plus) it features an absolutely fascinating character named Jack Parsons (scientist and occultist) who as it turns out in the afterword was a real person and has a biography I really hope our library might have. Wynne’s a very dynamic author, I’m convinced it’s because he’s musician (and this isn’t just because his poetry inserts always read like awesome songs), it’s because there’s a great rhythm to his narratives. So this was fun from the get go, but also it’s just really nicely done, the blending of preexisiting characters and themes from the trilogy with real historical people and facts. And to think this was all inspired by fan art, specifically the art featured in the book. Guess that’s what defines an author, the way their imaginations can just take flights like that with any source of inspiration. Anyway, this was so much fun. I’m actually not sure I want to read the trilogy now, because I’m not sure it can live up to the bar set so high and also there’s only so much cosmic terrors one can enjoy. Then again…kind of tempting. At any rate, this was very entertaining and I’m glad I read it. Apologies to the author who has so kindly provided a free copy for review purposes for taking so long to read it, but here is my review at last, belated, but glowing. Thanks again. Recommended.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok, but not a good indication of how good the Spectra books are.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I haven't read the SPECTRA files novels, to which Smoke and Dagger was a prequel, but I liked the cover so I wanted to give this book a try even though I had no clue what to expect.

It set immediately after WW2 and as such there is a lot of talk about communists and other un-American activities. The main character is the first woman allowed into some kind of Freemason organization and send to investigate a character from another organization, because he likes redheads. There is a lot of talk of the occult and an endless supply of arcane occult artifacts, be it daggers, mirrors or otherwise. Thrown into the mix also is a secret organization investigation the paranormal which is so secret, even its own members don't know what the acronym stands for.

While it was in fact an easy and not unpleasant read, I found the pacing a bit odd at times and I missed something that could give it that little bit extra. I only found out in the acknowledgements that this story is set some generations before the main series, but for now I'm undecided whether to continue with the main series.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prequel to the SPECTRA FILES, a series I could hope will continue unto the End of Time...what is more adventurous than hard-core Lovecraftiana? 1948--in the post-WWII era, a young Barnard College anthropology student on her own search for truth is recruited into a secret wisdom society to spy on a West Coast rocket engineer, a sort of California version of Aleister Crowley, determined on opening a portal to the Great Old Ones. He must be stopped, before the end of the world As We Know It...


Douglas Wynne again delivers a story I can't put down. Just ponder "What If?"

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently the consensus of most readers on this site is that the SPECTRA Files trilogy, of which this is a prequel novella, are much better. So, I'm stoked, as this story was really, really good. Can't wait.

[Matt Shepker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book showed up in a recommended list for me, so I decided to give it a whirl. The concept is interesting... A young college student gets initiated into a normally male-only secret society that is intent on stopping members of another group from summoning some Lovecraftian baddies into this plane of existence. Based either in 1949 or 1952 (one date was inferred and the other spelled out), it has quite a bit of Cold War/Red Scare bent to it. Along the way she gets caught up in another organization called SPEAR, which I think is related to the SPECTRA trilogy that this is supposed to be a prequel for.

The premise of the book was good, but the execution of the book was a bit clunky. It didn't feel like it was occurring in the timeframe that it was supposed to be. The dialog seemed too modern and the attitudes between men and women were too open.


The biggest issue I had with the book was a rather huge plot hold in the leadup to the penultimate scene where the lead character shoots one of the cultists. Several pages earlier, the book talks about how she spent days loading, unloading, and becoming familiar with a gun that she was given. During the climax of the book, she shoots one of the cultists. Two chapters later, they discuss that the gunshots were fake and the lead character was left to believe that the cultist was dead because of charges and chicken blood.

The book was a quick read with a good premise; I just don't think it is going to send me on the search to pick up any other books in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Lucy Gardiner (luc_lostinbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Smoke and Dagger we follow the main character Catherine who is drawn to a mysterious meteorite which emits a strange power. She meets Walter Hildebrand who can also feel the power coming from the stone and invites her to join a secret society as a spy. Her mission is to earn the trust of a Mage called Jack Parsons who lives in California.

The writing is excellent and very articulate. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Egyptian history and mythology. I wasn’t sure what to make of Catherine’s start with but she is a strong heroine, taking no nonsense and seems capable for being the first ever female recruited into the order.

There’s tense spying scenes, dark sex magic and a sense of danger the author cleverly weaves into the plot. I loved the illustrations included in the book as well they really helped to picture things with more clarity.

I haven’t read the Spectra Files series yet but I sure as heck want to now!

Thank you to netgalley, the author and Prometheus publishing for a copy of this Ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Littlefield is a college student. While researching for her studies at a museum, she takes a break to sit in front of a meteorite where she experiences weird energies from it. An elderly man is also sitting there on the other side watches Catherine. Catherine has always been intrigued by the occult nd secret societies. When the man turns out to be a curator of the museum, she is willing to do a task to become a member of a secret society. She is to spy on a man named Jack Parsons who they believe is trying to summon the old gods to the present day. Jack is a rocket scientist and an occult master. He has been working with an Iraqi refugee whose name is Kamen. When Jack notices Catherine’s writing on the beach, he invites her into his house to have a chat. As the hour grows late, Jack tells her she can spend the night. Kamen protest as he doesn’t trust her. Will she spend the night? There are two government agents doing their own investigation and are curious about Catherine spending time with Jack. Will Catherine be spending the night? Will she be successful in her task?

This is a fast paced novel with a few surprises in it. It held my attention as I follow Catherine’s decisions on what actions to take. It is quite suspenseful and fascinating.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Nick Nafpliotis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smoke & Dagger also provides us with another great perspective in the form of LeBlanc and Whittaker, two agents of SPEAR (a predecessor to SPECTRA) who are keeping tabs on Parson’s bizarre activities. Once Catherine’s mission becomes intertwined with theirs, things really kick into high gear. It takes a little while, though. Smoke & Dagger is definitely a slow burn, but one filled with enough intrigue and dread to keep the pages turning and an extra light on in the house.

When the action does hit, it isn’t as plentiful what we got in Cthulhu Blues, but it’s definitely the same caliber of horrifying insanity we’ve come to expect from the series. The story would be scary enough if it only involved cults and bizarre rituals, but Wynne really delivers the goods when it comes to interdimensional monstrosities and how they can mess you up.

Head over to AdventuresInPoorTaste.com to read my full review!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following up on the success of the SPECTRA FILES novels, Wynne penned this present novella to explore the back story of heroine Becca Phillips’ occultist grandmother, Catherine Littlefield, who is the heroine of this story. Here, returning readers will be immersed in the history of the trilogy they enjoyed, while new readers will find a fast-paced introduction into Wynne’s Lovecraftian universe.

Clocking in at 155 pages, this is a quick read. It moves briskly from scene to scene through the use of short chapters and action-packed sequences. This lends itself to exciting reading, but comes at the expense of deep character development.

Though a couple of things hold this book back for me, all in all it is a fun book to read: a Mythos-fueled, Indiana Jones-esque adventure.

For my full review, head over to the Miskatonic Review: https://miskatonicreview.wordpress.co...

[Inkslinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Review posted in its entirety at www.BetwixtTheSheets.com.)

"I don't know what I initially thought I was getting into with Douglas Wynne's 'Smoke and Dagger' when I planned to take on this review.. but it was not what I expected.. and I mean that in the most complimentary of ways.

While early pages are almost clinical and sent me scurrying back to re-read the synopsis, the story is actually filled with intriguing scenes and a good deal of subterfuge on pretty much everyone's part. I won't say that it starts off slow, because it doesn't. There is some storytelling sleight of hand and that's what made me think I didn't remember what I was about to read, though I was still just as eager to get into it.

Normally, I research an author before I settle in--"

(I received this book as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)

[Trish Graboske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prequel to the author's Spectra Files trilogy, but a little brief and sketchy. Like that series, reminds me of Tim Powers in the way that he believably weaves his fantasy (Lovecraftian in his case) into real history: here, Jack Parsons as well as the Egyptian obelisk in New York's Central Park and the Tomanowos meteorite in the American Museum of Natural History..

[Sontaranpr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A prequel to the SPECTRA trilogy. Set in the lat 1940's with a cross over to fact as one of the characters was a real rocket scientist with an interest in the occult.

Remember - always shoot the cultists.

[Allen Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent mash up of pulp and noir, action and occultism!