What do you think?
Rate this book
Hemlock Connal #1
Another Dead Intern
Boston’s magical community is cursed with a snarky private detective.
Private Investigator Hemlock Connal has a problem with her assistants. They all die... violently. When Morgan Burns became her new intern, they both wonder if he’ll meet a similar tragic end.
As Hemlock and Morgan embark on a case together, she teaches about the unseen and blended landscape of magic. Hemlock introduces Morgan to grungy pixies, Fae royals, and the annoyingly bad musical talents of a half-demon.
Hemlock does her best to help Morgan quickly adapt to his broadening world to keep the two things he needs most: his life and a paycheck.
Can he survive Hemlock’s sarcastic nature, dealing with murderers and magical creatures? Or will Hemlock just get another dead intern?
Another Dead Intern is the inaugural in a humorous supernatural mystery series! If you like absurd detective comedies, macabre humor, and paranormal investigations, then you'll love the first installment in Joel Spriggs's hilarious urban fantasy thrill ride.
Private Investigator Hemlock Connal has a problem with her assistants. They all die... violently. When Morgan Burns became her new intern, they both wonder if he’ll meet a similar tragic end.
As Hemlock and Morgan embark on a case together, she teaches about the unseen and blended landscape of magic. Hemlock introduces Morgan to grungy pixies, Fae royals, and the annoyingly bad musical talents of a half-demon.
Hemlock does her best to help Morgan quickly adapt to his broadening world to keep the two things he needs most: his life and a paycheck.
Can he survive Hemlock’s sarcastic nature, dealing with murderers and magical creatures? Or will Hemlock just get another dead intern?
Another Dead Intern is the inaugural in a humorous supernatural mystery series! If you like absurd detective comedies, macabre humor, and paranormal investigations, then you'll love the first installment in Joel Spriggs's hilarious urban fantasy thrill ride.
231 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2019
49 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Joel Spriggs
12 books41 followersJoel Spriggs (1982-?) was born and raised in Frankfort, IN. He graduated from Franklin College of Indiana in 2004 with a Bachelors of the Fine Arts in Computer Science and Broadcast Journalism.
Joel's first novel, "Over A God's Dead Body" was published on the Kindle platform in June 2018 and is the first in a planned series surrounding the same characters and fantasy world.
Joel has successfully defended his beard from being stolen 1873 times out of 1877 attempts by his elder brother. On the five occasions he failed, Joel immediately set about growing a new beard and refining his defenses.
Joel lives with his wife and three children in scenic Lebanon, IN. He maintains a website and blog at joelspriggs.com. He is also active on Twitter, @joelspriggs.
Joel's first novel, "Over A God's Dead Body" was published on the Kindle platform in June 2018 and is the first in a planned series surrounding the same characters and fantasy world.
Joel has successfully defended his beard from being stolen 1873 times out of 1877 attempts by his elder brother. On the five occasions he failed, Joel immediately set about growing a new beard and refining his defenses.
Joel lives with his wife and three children in scenic Lebanon, IN. He maintains a website and blog at joelspriggs.com. He is also active on Twitter, @joelspriggs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 30, 2019
Thank you BookSprout and Joel Spriggs for this arc.
What a fun world. This was an easy fast paced read for me. The story never let up. There were great characters throughout and they mostly felt real.
I do hope Joel keeps these stories coming.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
What a fun world. This was an easy fast paced read for me. The story never let up. There were great characters throughout and they mostly felt real.
I do hope Joel keeps these stories coming.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
July 1, 2020
Another Dead Intern entertains. Not always subtly, not every joke lands, but I can see it winning readers tired of way-too-serious end-of-the-world narratives. Its tone varies from the pulpy to the dramatic, with the occasional escalation of violence.
Henlock, a snarky protagonist banished from the fae world for misbehavior, needs a new intern - their life span by her side is usually short. Her new applicant, Morgan, prefers to stay alive, though, as he helps her solve supernatural crimes. Will he succeed?
Another Dead Intern will appeal to fans of tongue-in-cheek narratives that poke fun at the tropes of urban fantasy and nod toward well-known stories (like the phrase Hells Bells appearing in the first chapter). Henlock and Morgan's interactions are fun but tend to get repetitious. Situational humor will be a hit and miss, depending on the reader. Bad guys remain cartoonish and underdeveloped and the book could use another pass of editing.
Not a bad book by any means, just for a specific reader.
5.5/10
Henlock, a snarky protagonist banished from the fae world for misbehavior, needs a new intern - their life span by her side is usually short. Her new applicant, Morgan, prefers to stay alive, though, as he helps her solve supernatural crimes. Will he succeed?
Another Dead Intern will appeal to fans of tongue-in-cheek narratives that poke fun at the tropes of urban fantasy and nod toward well-known stories (like the phrase Hells Bells appearing in the first chapter). Henlock and Morgan's interactions are fun but tend to get repetitious. Situational humor will be a hit and miss, depending on the reader. Bad guys remain cartoonish and underdeveloped and the book could use another pass of editing.
Not a bad book by any means, just for a specific reader.
5.5/10
November 16, 2019
I'm a big fan of Joel Spriggs' writing and Another Dead Intern didn't let me down. A constant thread of humour kept me smiling throughout along with an interesting other-world that I can't wait to find out more about in future books. Morgan and Hemlock are great characters that playoff against each other really well. Cannot wait for the next one.
October 14, 2019
A fun, exciting urban fantasy with great characters and an exciting plot. I particularly liked Hemlick and Queen Fand, and all the little spells and tricks the Sidhe can do. The only let down with this book was that I didn’t feel particularly close to any of the characters. It would have been nice to know their thoughts and feelings. However, I hope there will be more Hemlock adventures and if so, I look forward to reading them.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Booksprout in return for an honest review.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Booksprout in return for an honest review.
June 4, 2020
The Fae detective and the intern.
When Hemlock takes Morgan as an intern neither knows just how hard the case will be to solve. The paranormal mystery is a riveting adventure. It will hold you r attention while you try to figure who the real bad guy is.
When Hemlock takes Morgan as an intern neither knows just how hard the case will be to solve. The paranormal mystery is a riveting adventure. It will hold you r attention while you try to figure who the real bad guy is.
June 3, 2020
Very interesting concept. I do love the magical element to what would have otherwise been a crime or investigative style of story. Very interesting characters to say in the least with Hemlock being the lead investigator while at the same time having a supernatural element to her. She does have a problem in that her interns seem to keep dying which makes investigating cases difficult. The story does appear to have a dark comedy element to it more than a traditional detective and crime story. The dark comedy in my view that does make it less of a true noir story. However that being said the story is still exceptional. Great characters. Good plot. Kept me into it the entire time. Well done indeed.
April 20, 2021
I had such a great time with this book, a lovely bit of crime-stopping in an urban fantasy setting.
Personally I would have liked a little more info on the reasoning behind the overall crime (will make sense when you have read it) as I do think whilst it was mentioned it was slightly glossed over. However I still really enjoyed the not knowing what was going on much like the Morgan Burns character. So you could relate to his fish-out-of-water issues.
The play between the characters was great and the author was able to tell you the constraints of his world without it being an exposition dump.
I enjoyed the humour and am really interested to find out what happens in future books for Hemlock Connal.
Personally I would have liked a little more info on the reasoning behind the overall crime (will make sense when you have read it) as I do think whilst it was mentioned it was slightly glossed over. However I still really enjoyed the not knowing what was going on much like the Morgan Burns character. So you could relate to his fish-out-of-water issues.
The play between the characters was great and the author was able to tell you the constraints of his world without it being an exposition dump.
I enjoyed the humour and am really interested to find out what happens in future books for Hemlock Connal.
July 4, 2021
If you like your Fae elfin, gorgeous and noble this is not the book for you. If however you like a good laugh at an unfortunate intern coping with his sarcastic boss, a number of grim witnesses and the complete overturning of his hitherto ordinary sort of life, then you're going to have a ball with this.
It's funny, it's sarcastic and frequently quite dark. It's also well written, cleverly thought out and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I shall be hunting out number 2.
Read on Kindle Unlimited.
It's funny, it's sarcastic and frequently quite dark. It's also well written, cleverly thought out and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I shall be hunting out number 2.
Read on Kindle Unlimited.
June 15, 2020
A great introduction to what promises to be a dark, gritty urban fantasy series. Humour, suspense and old fashioned detective work. Great read. The pacing slowed in areas but overall I definitely recommend this book.
December 3, 2019
Picked this up via Kindle Unlimited on a whim and discovered an entertaining piece of fantasy/noir. The story wastes no time in getting started, and like it's titular (not dead yet) intern, we are thrown right into this world of supernatural beings in and around Boston, and the strange case Morgan the intern and his new boss Hemlock get involved with. It kept me interested the whole way, and the ending twist was definitely unexpected.
While not perfect (it felt rushed in some places and could have used a tad bit more development in spots) it was fun and entertaining, and I look forward to more adventures featuring Hemlock and Morgan.
3/5
While not perfect (it felt rushed in some places and could have used a tad bit more development in spots) it was fun and entertaining, and I look forward to more adventures featuring Hemlock and Morgan.
3/5
December 30, 2019
This was a totally different type of book for me, and I loved it! Hemlock is a trip and Morgan is just naive enough, but not to the point that he’s useless. He’s actually quite good as Hemlock’s new intern. I can’t wait to read more about these two and their P.I. business.
April 11, 2020
Another Dead Intern by Joel Spriggs is a fresh take on the urban fantasy genre. Based in a world where the Sidhe, witches and wizards, and demons all exist quietly among humans, the story features Morgan Burns, a young man who takes on an internship with Hemlock Connal, P.I. (that’s preternatural investigator, obviously, not private investigator). The only issue is Hemlock’s interns have a really nasty habit of dying on her.
I enjoyed this story and the concept behind it. It was kind of like a noir detective novel meets urban fantasy, with a sense of humor that I truly appreciate. I identify with Hemlock’s dry wit and dark humor, and anyone who has suffered through a bad internship before (I interned in D.C., so I get it) can certainly relate to the comical circumstances that Burns finds himself in. My internship had just slightly less death in it, but I still remember some of my reactions to how fucked up some stuff could be.
The characters were amusing, and the plotline was unique, and Spriggs has created an entertaining and unexpected world to live in for a few hours. I especially enjoyed his characterization of Alice (no spoilers but give it a read and you’ll appreciate his dark humored take on it, too) and his droll satire of some of the aspects of our social media powered world. Some of the pacing may have felt slightly off at times, and the characters’ personalities didn’t quite shine through until the second half, but a nice twist ending and snarky bits of unexpected hilarity make up for it. More world building would have really taken this book up a notch, as this is where Spriggs’ comic take on fairies, magic, and mythical creatures really hooks readers. The first half of the book didn’t spark for me as much because I would have loved more character development, but the second half is what grabbed me and will have me picking up a possible sequel.
I enjoyed this story and the concept behind it. It was kind of like a noir detective novel meets urban fantasy, with a sense of humor that I truly appreciate. I identify with Hemlock’s dry wit and dark humor, and anyone who has suffered through a bad internship before (I interned in D.C., so I get it) can certainly relate to the comical circumstances that Burns finds himself in. My internship had just slightly less death in it, but I still remember some of my reactions to how fucked up some stuff could be.
The characters were amusing, and the plotline was unique, and Spriggs has created an entertaining and unexpected world to live in for a few hours. I especially enjoyed his characterization of Alice (no spoilers but give it a read and you’ll appreciate his dark humored take on it, too) and his droll satire of some of the aspects of our social media powered world. Some of the pacing may have felt slightly off at times, and the characters’ personalities didn’t quite shine through until the second half, but a nice twist ending and snarky bits of unexpected hilarity make up for it. More world building would have really taken this book up a notch, as this is where Spriggs’ comic take on fairies, magic, and mythical creatures really hooks readers. The first half of the book didn’t spark for me as much because I would have loved more character development, but the second half is what grabbed me and will have me picking up a possible sequel.
November 6, 2019
A great new Paranormal Investigator series!
I have read quite a few new Paranormal Investigation books, that I've not bothered to review because they were carbon copies of themselves. This book was different enough that I had some fun reading through it and learning the lore.
Firstly, to start with the bad parts, I wasn't sure about the universe of the book, because the main protagonist experiences some supernatural strangeness in his 'job interview' but he doesn't react. This made me question whether this universe was thought out at all.
Anyway, I stuck with it and it didn't disappoint.
I really came to like both protagonists and the story really stood out over the usual Urban Fantasy Paranormal Investigation story.
I would absolutely recommend that you give this book a chance, because it was really fantastic!
I have read quite a few new Paranormal Investigation books, that I've not bothered to review because they were carbon copies of themselves. This book was different enough that I had some fun reading through it and learning the lore.
Firstly, to start with the bad parts, I wasn't sure about the universe of the book, because the main protagonist experiences some supernatural strangeness in his 'job interview' but he doesn't react. This made me question whether this universe was thought out at all.
Anyway, I stuck with it and it didn't disappoint.
I really came to like both protagonists and the story really stood out over the usual Urban Fantasy Paranormal Investigation story.
I would absolutely recommend that you give this book a chance, because it was really fantastic!
May 14, 2024
The only thing we know we will be dealing with on a regular basis is the unknown.
3 1/2 stars overall for a 5-star story that I really loved! Joel Spriggs's "Another Dead Intern: Magic, Murder, Drugs, and Internship Survival (Hemlock Connal Book 1)" is an urban fantasy enthusiast's delight! Ringing richly with the same sort of wacky plot that the masters of the genre regularly produce - and here I'd include Rick Gualtieri, Scott Burtness, and S.G.Tasz as just some of my favoritest of this select coven of creators - this was a fun read. The story and characters themselves - including all manner of weirdly weird beings - are both imaginative as well as entertaining. And including a large dollop of humo(u)r as well as a snarky and cynical main character of questionable heritage (Mom we've met, but I'm still not convinced about Dad) just makes it all that more squee-worthy! And the specializing in white collar crime for the magical community angel, oops, angle? Chef's kiss!
I've got to deal with cleaning up two bodies. I'd better not get a letter from the HOA about this one.
In fact, I'd be out tooting my largest trumpet to everyone about this work if it weren't for a rather poor showing in the editing department. As such, I'm afraid I'll be sticking to a kazoo and one of those clacky applause things you take to sporting events, not to support your team but to irritate every other person in attendance. It's just though this lack of attention to the engineering that irritates me to no end, even to the point of flinging a dagger at what just moments before seemed to be friends for no apparent reason at all. I've said it a million times before (I! am!! counting!!!) but each and every story-writer of merit needs to get a beta review crew together with not just family members and loved ones included, no, but also (wo)man it with a few really nasty and OCD-inflicted bastards that will help put you in your place. And if not you, then at least your punctuation and occasional random words that are not the words you wanted to be wording. Word.
You're secretly a dragon that can hock loogies of hellfire?
To this - and I say this with a fist well-shaken at the gods - it's BRITNEY Spears, not Brittany! Even this AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and obscure punk bands from the late 70s fan knows the difference! OK, I feel better, let's continue, shall we? [aside: trust me - if the author had misspelled any names from the Toy Story franchise, I'd be equally upset. Goddess knows I spent enough money over the years supporting both Disney and Ms. Spears in their endeavours in terms of CDs, DVDs, bedspreads, tee-shirts, action figures, plush thingies, and more for my kids!] {P.S. Did I mention that crows and ravens aren't the same bird? No? OK, we'll do that one next time!}
Shake hands, sniff butts, whatever the hell it is you male egotistical types do to feel better.
So that's the see-saw of conflict I've been riding now since I picked the book up. HOWEVER, I will also note that this will not dissuade me from reading more of Sprigg's work as I've already got "Over A God's Dead Body" locked and loaded on my Kindler (sic) and will also be poichoising (due to the moichoindising, like Yoghurt taught us) immediately the novella that accompanies ADI:MMDaIS. Again, I just found this whole delicious mystery to be right in my wheelhouse and besides the bitching I was doing before, I see immense promise here. I mean, first and foremost, the one and only Hemlock Connal, Preternatural Investigator (do not say Private!) is an absolute hoot and I refuse to let that gravelly voice of hers drive me away under any circumstances (I mean, are we talking Kathleen Turner or Froggy from Little Rascals or who exactly?). As long as she doesn't enchant me into wanting to a shag a pine tree in the middle of a party, we're good!
Should I be only slightly scared or completely terrified?
Even "plain" ol' Indiana born and raised Morgan Burns was a treat! How he went from a midwestern boy - where the only organized crime is the government! - that studied journalism to barely blinking an eye at all the wacky weirdness around him from the get-go was a hoot! I mean, the minute the doctor even asks me for a blood sample, I'm done, let alone having to pay in blood to get into the good pubs! Plus, when the chips are down, he can handle his drugs! Naturally, there are more … folks? that I'm expecting big things from, including Sally Hellscreamer, Bob the Biker (can we break it? Yes, we can!), Deedee (thankfully not Dexter's clumsy sister), and all the rest of the seven dwarves! Seriously, if there were a way to combine these folks with some of the Boston contingent in Gualtieri's books, well, sign me up!
Ben Franklin will be unclogging the toilet, so you can take a bath with the pudding before the mast head falls.
How they handle themselves while dealing with angry Archmages, pixies, nightmares (which, unsurprisingly, are actual mares), banshees, drug dealers, serial killers AND the Irish mob (it IS Boston) is awesome. And lest we forget (we won't), their ability to throw a gender reveal party totally on its head is going to be the stuff of legends. I mean, this is a book where the pacing is fantastic and overall reads smooth as silk. Plus - and perhaps most importantly - it's a lot of fun (I said that before, but what the heck, right?)! Again, the potential is out the roof once some niggly bits are fixed. It is definitely going to be a blast to see where this gang takes us. See you in the next book! OH and before I forget: Go Yankees! Hee hee…
3 1/2 stars overall for a 5-star story that I really loved! Joel Spriggs's "Another Dead Intern: Magic, Murder, Drugs, and Internship Survival (Hemlock Connal Book 1)" is an urban fantasy enthusiast's delight! Ringing richly with the same sort of wacky plot that the masters of the genre regularly produce - and here I'd include Rick Gualtieri, Scott Burtness, and S.G.Tasz as just some of my favoritest of this select coven of creators - this was a fun read. The story and characters themselves - including all manner of weirdly weird beings - are both imaginative as well as entertaining. And including a large dollop of humo(u)r as well as a snarky and cynical main character of questionable heritage (Mom we've met, but I'm still not convinced about Dad) just makes it all that more squee-worthy! And the specializing in white collar crime for the magical community angel, oops, angle? Chef's kiss!
I've got to deal with cleaning up two bodies. I'd better not get a letter from the HOA about this one.
In fact, I'd be out tooting my largest trumpet to everyone about this work if it weren't for a rather poor showing in the editing department. As such, I'm afraid I'll be sticking to a kazoo and one of those clacky applause things you take to sporting events, not to support your team but to irritate every other person in attendance. It's just though this lack of attention to the engineering that irritates me to no end, even to the point of flinging a dagger at what just moments before seemed to be friends for no apparent reason at all. I've said it a million times before (I! am!! counting!!!) but each and every story-writer of merit needs to get a beta review crew together with not just family members and loved ones included, no, but also (wo)man it with a few really nasty and OCD-inflicted bastards that will help put you in your place. And if not you, then at least your punctuation and occasional random words that are not the words you wanted to be wording. Word.
You're secretly a dragon that can hock loogies of hellfire?
To this - and I say this with a fist well-shaken at the gods - it's BRITNEY Spears, not Brittany! Even this AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and obscure punk bands from the late 70s fan knows the difference! OK, I feel better, let's continue, shall we? [aside: trust me - if the author had misspelled any names from the Toy Story franchise, I'd be equally upset. Goddess knows I spent enough money over the years supporting both Disney and Ms. Spears in their endeavours in terms of CDs, DVDs, bedspreads, tee-shirts, action figures, plush thingies, and more for my kids!] {P.S. Did I mention that crows and ravens aren't the same bird? No? OK, we'll do that one next time!}
Shake hands, sniff butts, whatever the hell it is you male egotistical types do to feel better.
So that's the see-saw of conflict I've been riding now since I picked the book up. HOWEVER, I will also note that this will not dissuade me from reading more of Sprigg's work as I've already got "Over A God's Dead Body" locked and loaded on my Kindler (sic) and will also be poichoising (due to the moichoindising, like Yoghurt taught us) immediately the novella that accompanies ADI:MMDaIS. Again, I just found this whole delicious mystery to be right in my wheelhouse and besides the bitching I was doing before, I see immense promise here. I mean, first and foremost, the one and only Hemlock Connal, Preternatural Investigator (do not say Private!) is an absolute hoot and I refuse to let that gravelly voice of hers drive me away under any circumstances (I mean, are we talking Kathleen Turner or Froggy from Little Rascals or who exactly?). As long as she doesn't enchant me into wanting to a shag a pine tree in the middle of a party, we're good!
Should I be only slightly scared or completely terrified?
Even "plain" ol' Indiana born and raised Morgan Burns was a treat! How he went from a midwestern boy - where the only organized crime is the government! - that studied journalism to barely blinking an eye at all the wacky weirdness around him from the get-go was a hoot! I mean, the minute the doctor even asks me for a blood sample, I'm done, let alone having to pay in blood to get into the good pubs! Plus, when the chips are down, he can handle his drugs! Naturally, there are more … folks? that I'm expecting big things from, including Sally Hellscreamer, Bob the Biker (can we break it? Yes, we can!), Deedee (thankfully not Dexter's clumsy sister), and all the rest of the seven dwarves! Seriously, if there were a way to combine these folks with some of the Boston contingent in Gualtieri's books, well, sign me up!
Ben Franklin will be unclogging the toilet, so you can take a bath with the pudding before the mast head falls.
How they handle themselves while dealing with angry Archmages, pixies, nightmares (which, unsurprisingly, are actual mares), banshees, drug dealers, serial killers AND the Irish mob (it IS Boston) is awesome. And lest we forget (we won't), their ability to throw a gender reveal party totally on its head is going to be the stuff of legends. I mean, this is a book where the pacing is fantastic and overall reads smooth as silk. Plus - and perhaps most importantly - it's a lot of fun (I said that before, but what the heck, right?)! Again, the potential is out the roof once some niggly bits are fixed. It is definitely going to be a blast to see where this gang takes us. See you in the next book! OH and before I forget: Go Yankees! Hee hee…
October 21, 2019
This is a great paranormal story with lots of action and a fun storyline. Morgan and Hemlock are a great team of paranormal detectives and this author brings them alive in this story.
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.
May 2, 2020
This book has a flavoring of the Dresden Files. Urban fantasy with an investigator using magical abilities to solve crimes. It is definitely its own beast though. Science may be able to explain a lot of things but there is still plenty of room in the modern world for magic.
May 22, 2020
What a fun ride, with some wonderful characters and well-crafted world building! When I stepped into this world set in modern day Boston I didn't really know what to expect, but what I found was a world as deep and compelling as many others I have read, and Spriggs accomplishes this in less than 250 pages, no less. The magic system of the world was a lot of fun and well-designed. The backstory given for the characters and events which prelude plot, as well as the breadcrumb trail left along the way for figuring out the investigation by the end of the story were also well laid out. Boston I thought made for a good setting for the story, but I think a sequel could benefit from Morgan and Hemlock visiting the magic world, at least then Hemlock's ban should be over.
There are some great character dynamics in the story, which made the characters easier to sympathize with. However, it's in the details where I believe some of the characters suffered detriment when they were over used repetitiously, or for comedy. The entire book takes place over the events of a week, and Hemlock (our preternatural investigator and one of our protagonists) has gotten a new investigative intern, Morgan. Hemlock is forced to keep an intern, after she is unceremoniously banished from the magic world for misbehavior. The first 3 sent to her are cocky and arrogant royals and all die quick because they think they're untouchable in the real world, so Morgan shows up in their place. As I said, it's in some of the details and repetition where I pulled a star for this book. During the investigation, Hemlock introduces Morgan anytime new characters are added into the story because he's her new intern. I understand why it would be good for her to introduce him, but these introductions became a nuisance for me, when it happened nearly every chapter in an already relatively short read. Another Dead Intern is also genuinely funny at times, but I think some of the jokes ran on a bit too long or got used multiple times. For example, I thought it was funny when the dog peed on Morgan in the portal, but less so when he was still struggling with getting through portals by the end of the story. Maybe he'll master it in a sequel.
I think the book suffers a little more in some generic details that get overused. When Hemlock always had a cheshire grin, squeezes her nose in angst, or Morgan walks really loudly, that the characters a little flatter for me, and the space could be used to give side characters more detail, like Bobbi, or Bob, or build a more engrossing setting.
My last real criticism of the book is the exact effects and implications that the crimes committed (the plot) have for the world. The investigation comes together nicely, but I never quite understood the perpetrators motivations at large in doing what they did, beyond to be be evil and make money. Also I thought the implications of how actions like the murders, drug distribution, and nightmares, would ripple throughout Boston and the magic world were sparse. I think it would have been fine to add another 30 pages or so and show some more large scale effects on the population of Boston. Honestly, most of this is just how I think a larger world/plot could be expanded in an episodic fashion with more more installments.
Overall, Another Dead Intern takes you on a quick, enchanting journey through a colorful world with a wonderful cast of characters. I would certainly return for a sequel. I think there's substantial potential here. Hemlock and Morgan have a great dynamic, and the setting plus the side characters, and world building, made this a charming read that was over too quickly. Nice work Spriggs.
There are some great character dynamics in the story, which made the characters easier to sympathize with. However, it's in the details where I believe some of the characters suffered detriment when they were over used repetitiously, or for comedy. The entire book takes place over the events of a week, and Hemlock (our preternatural investigator and one of our protagonists) has gotten a new investigative intern, Morgan. Hemlock is forced to keep an intern, after she is unceremoniously banished from the magic world for misbehavior. The first 3 sent to her are cocky and arrogant royals and all die quick because they think they're untouchable in the real world, so Morgan shows up in their place. As I said, it's in some of the details and repetition where I pulled a star for this book. During the investigation, Hemlock introduces Morgan anytime new characters are added into the story because he's her new intern. I understand why it would be good for her to introduce him, but these introductions became a nuisance for me, when it happened nearly every chapter in an already relatively short read. Another Dead Intern is also genuinely funny at times, but I think some of the jokes ran on a bit too long or got used multiple times. For example, I thought it was funny when the dog peed on Morgan in the portal, but less so when he was still struggling with getting through portals by the end of the story. Maybe he'll master it in a sequel.
I think the book suffers a little more in some generic details that get overused. When Hemlock always had a cheshire grin, squeezes her nose in angst, or Morgan walks really loudly, that the characters a little flatter for me, and the space could be used to give side characters more detail, like Bobbi, or Bob, or build a more engrossing setting.
My last real criticism of the book is the exact effects and implications that the crimes committed (the plot) have for the world. The investigation comes together nicely, but I never quite understood the perpetrators motivations at large in doing what they did, beyond to be be evil and make money. Also I thought the implications of how actions like the murders, drug distribution, and nightmares, would ripple throughout Boston and the magic world were sparse. I think it would have been fine to add another 30 pages or so and show some more large scale effects on the population of Boston. Honestly, most of this is just how I think a larger world/plot could be expanded in an episodic fashion with more more installments.
Overall, Another Dead Intern takes you on a quick, enchanting journey through a colorful world with a wonderful cast of characters. I would certainly return for a sequel. I think there's substantial potential here. Hemlock and Morgan have a great dynamic, and the setting plus the side characters, and world building, made this a charming read that was over too quickly. Nice work Spriggs.
August 4, 2024
I had a tough time getting through this one, and the truth is that it was mostly due to a lack of editing.
The story and characters here are great, but they're undermined at every turn by a lack of development, pacing issues, and patterns of grammatical errors and typos that serve as constant distractions. I love urban fantasy, and the way worldbuilding so often gets slipped in piece by piece, surprise by surprise, is a lot of fun, but the lack of development of any of these world-building pieces, on top of a lack of character development, made most of this book one-note. And what was that one note? Jokes. Constant jokes. And I'm all for humorous SFF, but when jokes take over to the point that character interactions become repetitive, there's a lack of emotional depth or development, and the pacing keeps getting thrown off because, yet again, the characters have to joke about a side-matter for a page and a half, it's tough to have any patience or interest in those jokes, to be perfectly honest.
And when you add in an undeveloped plot, action scenes that are more joking around than action, and constant editing issues, from run-ons to straight-forward patterns of grammatical errors that any experienced editor would have caught...well, there's no two ways about it. The read becomes a slog. And while I know I'm a professional editor and get caught up on things like this more than others may, I can't ignore the issue when there are often multiple errors per page.
I may try another Spriggs book, but I don't think I could pick up another self-published one just because the lack of editing made this one so difficult to enjoy on any level.
The story and characters here are great, but they're undermined at every turn by a lack of development, pacing issues, and patterns of grammatical errors and typos that serve as constant distractions. I love urban fantasy, and the way worldbuilding so often gets slipped in piece by piece, surprise by surprise, is a lot of fun, but the lack of development of any of these world-building pieces, on top of a lack of character development, made most of this book one-note. And what was that one note? Jokes. Constant jokes. And I'm all for humorous SFF, but when jokes take over to the point that character interactions become repetitive, there's a lack of emotional depth or development, and the pacing keeps getting thrown off because, yet again, the characters have to joke about a side-matter for a page and a half, it's tough to have any patience or interest in those jokes, to be perfectly honest.
And when you add in an undeveloped plot, action scenes that are more joking around than action, and constant editing issues, from run-ons to straight-forward patterns of grammatical errors that any experienced editor would have caught...well, there's no two ways about it. The read becomes a slog. And while I know I'm a professional editor and get caught up on things like this more than others may, I can't ignore the issue when there are often multiple errors per page.
I may try another Spriggs book, but I don't think I could pick up another self-published one just because the lack of editing made this one so difficult to enjoy on any level.
February 10, 2020
I love satirical takes on fantasy, so when the author offered me a copy of this book for review, I gladly accepted.
The humor is in full effect in this book and it works incredibly well. Morgan Burns is wide-eyed and Midwest-naive in an adorable way, but incredibly resourceful. Hemlock is the perfect kind of sarcastic PI that a book like this needs, despite a background that would make her an overly dramatic heroine in another setting. I particularly liked that Hemlock's relationship with her mother wasn't one of those generic "she just doesn't get me" cliches.
As for the plot, it flows very well. Often times 20 to 30 pages would pass before I noticed just how much I'd read. There are psychotic pixies, a biker fae queen and a hilarious witchy gender reveal party showing giant genitals in the clouds. The book doesn't take itself too seriously and it's too it's credit.
All the humor isn't without heart, though. There are some softer moments between characters, including one of the victims they're trying to save. There is a genuine desire to do some kind of good in the world and some grief between both characters for parents lost. The dynamic between the "buddy cops" is there in plenty.
This book is definitely for a specific kind of person. If you need your fantasy to be serious and angsty, this is probably one you should skip. But if you love tongue-in-cheek urban fantasy that likes to poke fun at the tropes of the genre (with a delightful and surprising twist at the end) then this is definitely the book for you!
The humor is in full effect in this book and it works incredibly well. Morgan Burns is wide-eyed and Midwest-naive in an adorable way, but incredibly resourceful. Hemlock is the perfect kind of sarcastic PI that a book like this needs, despite a background that would make her an overly dramatic heroine in another setting. I particularly liked that Hemlock's relationship with her mother wasn't one of those generic "she just doesn't get me" cliches.
As for the plot, it flows very well. Often times 20 to 30 pages would pass before I noticed just how much I'd read. There are psychotic pixies, a biker fae queen and a hilarious witchy gender reveal party showing giant genitals in the clouds. The book doesn't take itself too seriously and it's too it's credit.
All the humor isn't without heart, though. There are some softer moments between characters, including one of the victims they're trying to save. There is a genuine desire to do some kind of good in the world and some grief between both characters for parents lost. The dynamic between the "buddy cops" is there in plenty.
This book is definitely for a specific kind of person. If you need your fantasy to be serious and angsty, this is probably one you should skip. But if you love tongue-in-cheek urban fantasy that likes to poke fun at the tropes of the genre (with a delightful and surprising twist at the end) then this is definitely the book for you!
March 27, 2021
I particularly enjoy this genre which I'd describe as snarky urban fantasy/mystery but have trouble finding enough of it to read so I was happy to discover another author who excels at this particular mix. Hemlock is an outcast Faerie who's turned to private investigating. Morgan is her new, somewhat bumbling partner, just another in a line of assistants as none of her "interns" seem to survive in her company for long. This book reads a bit like the first in a series in that time is spent setting up the universe and characters that likely would be unnecessary in later outings, so some readers may find it a bit slow in parts but I was continually intrigued by the original twists and turns of the plot. The case Hemlock and Morgan are working on as they get to know each other was both exciting and terrifying as night "mares" take on a more tangible and sinister form, wreaking havoc along the way. There is both a lot of plot and a lot of characters, which I didn't mind, but you have to pay attention as some things that seem like throwaways at first, become crucial to the story later on. Great mix of humor, absurd situations, and supernatural beings with all the thrills and chills of a good PI/mystery and horror novel.
April 17, 2020
What a rare find this book was. It was a satirical take on a paranormal world filled with some laugh out loud moments. The characters and the world created are very engaging, and the dialogue between Hemlock and Morgan is downright spectacular. The action was crisp and the paranormal elements sprinkled throughout were fun and interesting. The author did a great job of moving the story along, although I would've liked a bigger window into the characters' thoughts. Overall, a truly enjoyable story. A fun read from a new-to-me indie author!
December 7, 2023
This is an immensely entertaining book. And it is the start of a series.
The book is a mashup of Sherlock Holmes detective stories and fantasy denizens, such as the Fae, pixies, demons, and witches.
Hemlock is an exiled Fae whose human father was a detective, and so she picked up the trade and the business in her exile. Morgan winds up has her intern. Yeah, very Sherlock and Holmes.
The action is fast. The story is fun. The characters are great.
Be warned -- people do die. And sometimes in quite unpleasant ways. This is not a "witchy cozy mystery" by any means.
The book is a mashup of Sherlock Holmes detective stories and fantasy denizens, such as the Fae, pixies, demons, and witches.
Hemlock is an exiled Fae whose human father was a detective, and so she picked up the trade and the business in her exile. Morgan winds up has her intern. Yeah, very Sherlock and Holmes.
The action is fast. The story is fun. The characters are great.
Be warned -- people do die. And sometimes in quite unpleasant ways. This is not a "witchy cozy mystery" by any means.
September 15, 2021
I loved this book! It’s funny, quirky, absurd and had me laughing out loud. The 4 vs 5 stars is a little tough to explain but this is the first book I’ve read by Joel Spriggs and though it may not be perfectly polished, I can tell that his writing will improve drastically as he continues telling his incredible stories. I will be pre-ordering the second book as soon as it’s available. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
July 16, 2023
Another Dead Intern was an entertaining, fun, fast-paced, easy read with a twist of dark comedy rather than your more traditional gritty detective Urban Fantasy.
Hemlock is a a snarky outcast Faerie, who's turned to private investigating. Morgan is her new, somewhat inept partner, just another in a line of assistants as none of her "interns" seem to survive in her company for long.
I liked Morgan quite a bit, and will be picking up the next in the series.
Hemlock is a a snarky outcast Faerie, who's turned to private investigating. Morgan is her new, somewhat inept partner, just another in a line of assistants as none of her "interns" seem to survive in her company for long.
I liked Morgan quite a bit, and will be picking up the next in the series.
March 18, 2020
What an enjoyable read, I initially wanted to pick this up as kindle but I’m having a paperback year this year and what a great read.
Morgan Burns answers a job advertisement to help a PI and ends up dealing with more than be bargained for.
If you like action with a supernatural edge you’ll love this.
Morgan Burns answers a job advertisement to help a PI and ends up dealing with more than be bargained for.
If you like action with a supernatural edge you’ll love this.
May 4, 2020
This is a fun, modern fantasy that injects humor into gritty mystery. I enjoyed Joel Spriggs' characters and world building, and the story was engaging.
Sometimes the writing style threw me a bit (specifically the overuse of sentence splicing), and I never could decide whether it was a style choice or an editing oversight. Didn't stop me from enjoying the story, but it did slow me down.
Sometimes the writing style threw me a bit (specifically the overuse of sentence splicing), and I never could decide whether it was a style choice or an editing oversight. Didn't stop me from enjoying the story, but it did slow me down.
June 11, 2020
This was a pretty good book. I liked the relationship between Morgan and Hemlock. In the story we follow himlock a supernatural fairy private investigator who just so happens to be half fairyand her partner or intern Morgan at least try to figure out who’s killing people across the city and stealing their memories. I didn’t really understand some of the humor. But I did like the characters.
August 20, 2020
Heaps of fun
This is a fun light read with engaging characters. It’s only missing the fifth star due to the occasional contradictory turn of phrases like “looked down with raised eyes” and “the song hung mutely”. Well worth the read and looking forward to more adventures in this world.
This is a fun light read with engaging characters. It’s only missing the fifth star due to the occasional contradictory turn of phrases like “looked down with raised eyes” and “the song hung mutely”. Well worth the read and looking forward to more adventures in this world.
October 15, 2021
I guess I don't like/care for/understand satirical reads.
I understood that this story avoided the 'serious detective work' found in noir settings, but it got old fast. Nearly all the jokes/humor went over my head, and I didn't connect with the characters. Especially Morgan. He's a regular guy but takes on this paranormal investigator intern position having no experience with the paranormal and going along with everything just fine... I know this is urban fantasy, but his lack of questioning things/reaction didn't feel natural.
Another issue was that this needed a good deal of editing, too.
I understood that this story avoided the 'serious detective work' found in noir settings, but it got old fast. Nearly all the jokes/humor went over my head, and I didn't connect with the characters. Especially Morgan. He's a regular guy but takes on this paranormal investigator intern position having no experience with the paranormal and going along with everything just fine... I know this is urban fantasy, but his lack of questioning things/reaction didn't feel natural.
Another issue was that this needed a good deal of editing, too.
April 19, 2022
Format: audiobook
Narrator: Daniel Vuillaume
Another dead intern is described as a humorous supernatural mystery and it certainly lived up to that, a host of great characters, witty banter and a twist at the end for Hemlock.
Oh and look out for the fairy, it’s certainly not the classic idea of what a fairy is lol.
Good narration I’m happy to listen to more from this narrator.
Narrator: Daniel Vuillaume
Another dead intern is described as a humorous supernatural mystery and it certainly lived up to that, a host of great characters, witty banter and a twist at the end for Hemlock.
Oh and look out for the fairy, it’s certainly not the classic idea of what a fairy is lol.
Good narration I’m happy to listen to more from this narrator.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews