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The Chronicles of Henry Mack #1
Back in Funeral Black
It’s not easy having a zombie for a sister, but it does come in handy sometimes…
Henry MacDonald—Mack to his friends—is the best-looking catch and dispatch officer to ever liaise with the Scottish Otherworld and Paranormal Department, if you ask him. Of course, no one did, especially not his (un)dead sister Ollie.
Still, it’s a blow to be kept off the latest case: the murder of his own Granda.
The death of the esteemed wizard must be avenged. The murderous demon summoned to kill him, stopped. There’s also the task of tracking down that bit of magic that might bring Ollie back to life properly. Oh, and paperwork to be lodged for the apprentice Mack has taken on.
If only he could find that pen…
Black in Funeral Black is an urban fantasy novel with humour, heart and a touch of horror. It also depicts the reality of living with autism, ADHD and a tendancy for decomposition.
Henry MacDonald—Mack to his friends—is the best-looking catch and dispatch officer to ever liaise with the Scottish Otherworld and Paranormal Department, if you ask him. Of course, no one did, especially not his (un)dead sister Ollie.
Still, it’s a blow to be kept off the latest case: the murder of his own Granda.
The death of the esteemed wizard must be avenged. The murderous demon summoned to kill him, stopped. There’s also the task of tracking down that bit of magic that might bring Ollie back to life properly. Oh, and paperwork to be lodged for the apprentice Mack has taken on.
If only he could find that pen…
Black in Funeral Black is an urban fantasy novel with humour, heart and a touch of horror. It also depicts the reality of living with autism, ADHD and a tendancy for decomposition.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2022
29 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Amy Hopkins
39 books91 followersAmy Hopkins lives in Australia with her husband, two kids, one dog and four chickens. She’s most often seen (or, more to the point, not seen) hiding in the hammock on her back deck, listening to the local wildlife as she reads a very large book.
Her heroes are Lessa of Benden Weyr, Lady Kettricken and Elspeth of Obernewton.
Her heroes are Lessa of Benden Weyr, Lady Kettricken and Elspeth of Obernewton.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 5, 2023
I had so much fun with this book. Read it, you will not regret it!
January 4, 2023
I started writing this review alongside my read, to keep my thoughts together. There is a LOT of... regional dialect to consider with this book, but it is usually isn't too hard to figure out what is being said, or attempted to be said by the various characters. There are A LOT of references to previous interactions, incidents, histories, etc., that make it feel like you were supposed to read something else before this. I am not sure if there IS anything before this, as this is the first book in the series, but it is also the first book I have read by this author, period. I could have missed stuff that was in previous books since I started here, but I am not sure if that's the case or not.
One thing that was a reoccurring issue with this book for me, was, characters would be talking about what time something is supposed to happen. An example, a phone call at 8 about something that is supposed to happen at 11. Then, the main character does a load of dishes... and BAM it's 11! Several times the author points out how long until something is supposed to happen, and it should be HOURS, but it is happening right away for some reason, or something happens that should take almost no time, and then we are running late for the thing that wasn't supposed to happen for a few more hours somehow...? It felt like, as a reader, we are losing time during this story. It is a weird thing to point out time, and then not seem to understand how time works, the way this book repeatedly does.
This also has a few items that were missed in edits (I suppose the TIME thing could count towards that too). Nothing too egregious so far, but I have counted 5 errors by 63% (accidentally using "handing" instead of "hanging", for that specific one).
Honestly, other than the interpersonal relationships Mack has with other characters-- but mostly Annie Fife, the weird relationship between announcing timelines/not making sense within those timelines, the extra bit of thinking to make sense of the Scottishness of it all (for those that is rather foreign to, at any rate), and the need for a bit tighter editing, I would say this was a really good book. The characters feel developed and interesting. The world feels developed and interesting. The plot definitely didn't remind me of any other books I have personally read, so fairly original there as well. There was some indication of interesting places the story can go from here, so there is something to look forward to in future books in the series, without feeling like it was clumsily shoehorned in there, as can sometimes be the case. I liked this well enough that I might check out other books by this author, or the next entry in this series.
One thing that was a reoccurring issue with this book for me, was, characters would be talking about what time something is supposed to happen. An example, a phone call at 8 about something that is supposed to happen at 11. Then, the main character does a load of dishes... and BAM it's 11! Several times the author points out how long until something is supposed to happen, and it should be HOURS, but it is happening right away for some reason, or something happens that should take almost no time, and then we are running late for the thing that wasn't supposed to happen for a few more hours somehow...? It felt like, as a reader, we are losing time during this story. It is a weird thing to point out time, and then not seem to understand how time works, the way this book repeatedly does.
This also has a few items that were missed in edits (I suppose the TIME thing could count towards that too). Nothing too egregious so far, but I have counted 5 errors by 63% (accidentally using "handing" instead of "hanging", for that specific one).
Honestly, other than the interpersonal relationships Mack has with other characters-- but mostly Annie Fife, the weird relationship between announcing timelines/not making sense within those timelines, the extra bit of thinking to make sense of the Scottishness of it all (for those that is rather foreign to, at any rate), and the need for a bit tighter editing, I would say this was a really good book. The characters feel developed and interesting. The world feels developed and interesting. The plot definitely didn't remind me of any other books I have personally read, so fairly original there as well. There was some indication of interesting places the story can go from here, so there is something to look forward to in future books in the series, without feeling like it was clumsily shoehorned in there, as can sometimes be the case. I liked this well enough that I might check out other books by this author, or the next entry in this series.
January 9, 2023
Review - Amy Hopkins, Author - Back In Funeral Black
One of the hardest things about writing a flawed protagonist is how flawed do you make them? And, with all those flaws, how do you make them likeable? Foibles make us human, but they can also become an almost unforgivable annoyance to readers if not handled correctly.
Amy Hopkins doesn't just handle them correctly. She handles them perfectly, with poise and grace. If you've read Urban Fantasy, or even heard about it, you've probably come across another wizard who's name begins with an H. Henry Mack is a million times better. Not only that but there's a much better reason for his weaknesses.
See, without labouring it, Amy Hopkins has given us a character who could be 'the poster boy for adult ADHD'. It's a throwaway line, only mentioned once, but that theme of neurodivergence is evident in the writing of the character, and it makes him so real, and so relatable. I loved every second spent with Mack, in the mean streets of Glasgow. And the supporting cast?
Look, if you've read my novella, you know I'm a sucker for a strong female support character, who's honestly the real badass of the book. Ollie - Henry's not-exactly-zombie-but-definitely-breathingly-challenged sister - is the heart of the book. She's wonderful - a grown woman stuck in a never-aging child's body. Their dynamic is so accurate- that banter and bickering all underlined with exasperated love rings so catagorically true as to elevate the book yet another notch from the already heady pedestal it was on.
Everything in this book - the characters, the conversation, the plot, the world - is wonderfully written and utterly engrossing. My reading schedule is tight and my TBR list expansive, but the moment this came out I picked it up and read it all the way through, all over again.
I just couldn't wait to get back into Amy's world. I didn't want to leave in the first place.
One of the hardest things about writing a flawed protagonist is how flawed do you make them? And, with all those flaws, how do you make them likeable? Foibles make us human, but they can also become an almost unforgivable annoyance to readers if not handled correctly.
Amy Hopkins doesn't just handle them correctly. She handles them perfectly, with poise and grace. If you've read Urban Fantasy, or even heard about it, you've probably come across another wizard who's name begins with an H. Henry Mack is a million times better. Not only that but there's a much better reason for his weaknesses.
See, without labouring it, Amy Hopkins has given us a character who could be 'the poster boy for adult ADHD'. It's a throwaway line, only mentioned once, but that theme of neurodivergence is evident in the writing of the character, and it makes him so real, and so relatable. I loved every second spent with Mack, in the mean streets of Glasgow. And the supporting cast?
Look, if you've read my novella, you know I'm a sucker for a strong female support character, who's honestly the real badass of the book. Ollie - Henry's not-exactly-zombie-but-definitely-breathingly-challenged sister - is the heart of the book. She's wonderful - a grown woman stuck in a never-aging child's body. Their dynamic is so accurate- that banter and bickering all underlined with exasperated love rings so catagorically true as to elevate the book yet another notch from the already heady pedestal it was on.
Everything in this book - the characters, the conversation, the plot, the world - is wonderfully written and utterly engrossing. My reading schedule is tight and my TBR list expansive, but the moment this came out I picked it up and read it all the way through, all over again.
I just couldn't wait to get back into Amy's world. I didn't want to leave in the first place.
March 3, 2023
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I’m eager to read the second one.
This is a creative, quirky, super fun, paranormal story. I’m really, really enjoying paranormal fiction right now in film and writing. I’m pretty done with vampires (I was OBSESSED through most of my childhood) and frankly, zombies are so overdone at this point that in order for me to even bat an eye you need to come in hard and fast with something new (The Last of Us… hello!) so it’s very refreshing to see ghosts in the media again. I like the eerie, spooky factor and there is just so much that can be done with it. Which leads me to the point: this was paranormal, supernatural without being run of the mill. Were there vampires? Yes. Were there zombies? Sure. But it also covered everything in between and sprinkled it with magic!
Now, a few points against the novel….
The language was difficult. There is a lot of Gaelic and Scottish words that do not translate well. There should be an appendix that translates them. There is one line in the earlier chapters that does go over some of the sounds for the Aussie fellow but all the way up to that point and then, even after learning, I kept reading bean sith exactly the way it’s written. I assumed it was some sort of, proprietary Scottish lore only to find out that it’s Gaelic and is actually banshee. And I never learned to pronounce buidseach…. So while this is readable in Scottish … it might be advisable to add a pronunciation key or release versions for countries that don’t speak Gaelic.
The editing. This needs another round. I may have the eye to catch things, as someone in publishing, so a lot of it could be missed but … readers don’t miss much and in the latter half of the novel the editing just fell off. As if the person doing the book ran out of time or got bored and just mailed it in after the first half. There were a few times when it was bad enough to detract from the story.
Overall, it was a fun read.
This is a creative, quirky, super fun, paranormal story. I’m really, really enjoying paranormal fiction right now in film and writing. I’m pretty done with vampires (I was OBSESSED through most of my childhood) and frankly, zombies are so overdone at this point that in order for me to even bat an eye you need to come in hard and fast with something new (The Last of Us… hello!) so it’s very refreshing to see ghosts in the media again. I like the eerie, spooky factor and there is just so much that can be done with it. Which leads me to the point: this was paranormal, supernatural without being run of the mill. Were there vampires? Yes. Were there zombies? Sure. But it also covered everything in between and sprinkled it with magic!
Now, a few points against the novel….
The language was difficult. There is a lot of Gaelic and Scottish words that do not translate well. There should be an appendix that translates them. There is one line in the earlier chapters that does go over some of the sounds for the Aussie fellow but all the way up to that point and then, even after learning, I kept reading bean sith exactly the way it’s written. I assumed it was some sort of, proprietary Scottish lore only to find out that it’s Gaelic and is actually banshee. And I never learned to pronounce buidseach…. So while this is readable in Scottish … it might be advisable to add a pronunciation key or release versions for countries that don’t speak Gaelic.
The editing. This needs another round. I may have the eye to catch things, as someone in publishing, so a lot of it could be missed but … readers don’t miss much and in the latter half of the novel the editing just fell off. As if the person doing the book ran out of time or got bored and just mailed it in after the first half. There were a few times when it was bad enough to detract from the story.
Overall, it was a fun read.
December 27, 2022
I loved this story! It was fascinating and fast moving, lots of action, and great character development. I was pulled into the story right away, with the great set-up of a wizard and zombie trying to basically pull a con job. The writing is tight, and very descriptive, and the dialect is handled really well – frequently dialect can be distracting and difficult, but in this book it just flowed and really highlighted the Scottish characters. The relationship between Henry and Olivia (brother and sister) is so beautifully written, so tender, it made me tear up at times. His love and guilt and hope for her came through clearly; and I thought it was great that the end of the book was kept hopeful, but reality based (OK, as “reality based” as a zombie can be!)
Amy Hopkin’s descriptions of magic in the last couple chapters during the big fight, were sensational – I could picture the magic, so beautiful, ethereal and shimmery, but so strong and golden! It was actually the most visual and visceral description of magic use that I’ve ever read. There is absolutely not ONE thing to dislike about the book, and I’m really hoping there will be a sequel (no pressure!! HA!)
Amy Hopkin’s descriptions of magic in the last couple chapters during the big fight, were sensational – I could picture the magic, so beautiful, ethereal and shimmery, but so strong and golden! It was actually the most visual and visceral description of magic use that I’ve ever read. There is absolutely not ONE thing to dislike about the book, and I’m really hoping there will be a sequel (no pressure!! HA!)
July 20, 2023
Interesting
No Spoilers.....I learnt about this book when the author posted on FB (in a group I'm in) that they had gotten a bad review because the main character is Bi-sexual. So I went and got the book, because ...why not 😁 yes there is a couple of minor references to the MC liking male/female but the book was very clean from that point of view, no spice.
That said, the concept of the story was good. It did drag in a couple of places but that might just have been me, so I won't penalise for that.
The MC and immediate crew around him were excellent, well described and honestly I could hear the Scottish lilt as they spoke (Except for Quinn who I heard as a refined Melbourneite accent). The only thing I'd suggest is for the author to maybe add a little background/description on the different fae supernaturals (there was a little bit not much), I know a lot of Celtic and Gaelic fae history/stories but there were references to some that even I was unsure of, so someone without that little background the reader might be a little lost and less likely to read the next book
I do think the book is worth reading and I am likely to get the rest in the future.
No Spoilers.....I learnt about this book when the author posted on FB (in a group I'm in) that they had gotten a bad review because the main character is Bi-sexual. So I went and got the book, because ...why not 😁 yes there is a couple of minor references to the MC liking male/female but the book was very clean from that point of view, no spice.
That said, the concept of the story was good. It did drag in a couple of places but that might just have been me, so I won't penalise for that.
The MC and immediate crew around him were excellent, well described and honestly I could hear the Scottish lilt as they spoke (Except for Quinn who I heard as a refined Melbourneite accent). The only thing I'd suggest is for the author to maybe add a little background/description on the different fae supernaturals (there was a little bit not much), I know a lot of Celtic and Gaelic fae history/stories but there were references to some that even I was unsure of, so someone without that little background the reader might be a little lost and less likely to read the next book
I do think the book is worth reading and I am likely to get the rest in the future.
December 30, 2022
I received an eARC of this novel. Not even halfway through, I purchased the book. The last 2 books I attempted to read were DNF's. Henry Mack had me hooked within the first few pages. The first half of the book was great. The 2nd half kicked it up another notch and well-exceeded my expectations.
I went into this book kind of skeptically because of the zombie sister bit (I'm over the whole zombie genre), but it's NOTHING like that. Additionally, I went into this book knowing nothing of Scottish mythology. It definitely breathes fresh life into the same old routine of vampires and other supernatural beasties. (Nuckalavee are pretty terrifying)
If you're an urban fantasy lover, picking this up is a no-brainer. The book is well-written, full of action, and has spins with which you'll be unfamiliar.
Now, I just need more.
I went into this book kind of skeptically because of the zombie sister bit (I'm over the whole zombie genre), but it's NOTHING like that. Additionally, I went into this book knowing nothing of Scottish mythology. It definitely breathes fresh life into the same old routine of vampires and other supernatural beasties. (Nuckalavee are pretty terrifying)
If you're an urban fantasy lover, picking this up is a no-brainer. The book is well-written, full of action, and has spins with which you'll be unfamiliar.
Now, I just need more.
December 26, 2022
I have more than enough to read, but when I read the blurb and saw the cover, I had to give this book a try. I am so very glad I did! This is the exact genre I love: urban fantasy with a detective and the paranormal. I fell in love with Henry “Mack” MacDonald, his sister, and his friends. They are such great characters with an interesting backstory…what we know of it. Add in an interesting plot with some threads left over for more to come, and I was more than happy with this book. I want to learn more about Mack, his friends, his sister, and his world. If you love the urban fantasy genre, give this one a try; you will not be disappointed! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
January 1, 2023
I am an Australian who has never been to Scotland so I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the slang etc used in this book but I can say how much enjoyed the 'Scottishness' of it! Glasgow is an uncommon setting for UF so if you are looking for something a bit different this might be the book for you. The story is populated by Scottish paranormals which also adds to the interest. I love how the author developed the flawed MC, Henry, and the fascinating array of strong secondary characters. The world building is top notch, the characters are likeable and solid and the pacing is good. This book sets up the possibility for more stories to come but doesn't leave the reader in a cliff-hanger situation. I've got my fingers crossed for more books in this world.
December 30, 2022
Fun paranormal
Mack, his zombie sister Ollie and his new apprentice Quinn help the special group of police fight the evil paranormals. Someone has summoned a demon that is killing innocent people and it's up to Mack and the group to track it down and stop it. I really enjoyed this book, it has all kinds of paranormal creatures in it as well as magic users. It is also full of humor, murder, action and great characters. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Mack, his zombie sister Ollie and his new apprentice Quinn help the special group of police fight the evil paranormals. Someone has summoned a demon that is killing innocent people and it's up to Mack and the group to track it down and stop it. I really enjoyed this book, it has all kinds of paranormal creatures in it as well as magic users. It is also full of humor, murder, action and great characters. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 30, 2022
Fun Scottish mystery
A magic user with ADHD who helps the police who also a twin undead sister, what's not to like? The magic itself is a little undefined but in no way detracts from the story and the MC and supporting characters are all investing and believable. The Scottish monsters and Scottish phrasing adds a unique twist to the story. Overall, a fun read.
A magic user with ADHD who helps the police who also a twin undead sister, what's not to like? The magic itself is a little undefined but in no way detracts from the story and the MC and supporting characters are all investing and believable. The Scottish monsters and Scottish phrasing adds a unique twist to the story. Overall, a fun read.
October 18, 2023
Good but the ending disappoints.
The writer weaved a good story. I wasn't able to predict the big bad, which is always a plus.
Bit of a slog for this American reader to get through. I am sadly unfamiliar with Scots street slang and swearibg. I had to stop to search a lot.
And I really wanted a different ending than the one I got. But that's me.
The writer weaved a good story. I wasn't able to predict the big bad, which is always a plus.
Bit of a slog for this American reader to get through. I am sadly unfamiliar with Scots street slang and swearibg. I had to stop to search a lot.
And I really wanted a different ending than the one I got. But that's me.
January 14, 2023
Loved this book! Have to admit there were some new monsters I had to research given my own curious nature, but this book was excellent! I was immediately drawn in. The characters were amazing, the monsters terrifying and the action was absolutely non-stop! I highly recommend this book!
February 15, 2023
This was the first book I read by this author. I enjoyed the unique world and rich characters of this new urban fantasy based in Scotland. I found myself immersed in the Scottish vernacular and mythology. I will be watching for the next book in the series.
December 26, 2022
An excellent read
This books was fun and funny and just a delightful story. I’ve read Amy’s stuff before, and I’m looking forward to reading more!
This books was fun and funny and just a delightful story. I’ve read Amy’s stuff before, and I’m looking forward to reading more!
February 14, 2023
I think I'll read them all!
I do love modern magical tales and Henry Mack is a modern guy. Thanks for a rakish hero with a heart!
I do love modern magical tales and Henry Mack is a modern guy. Thanks for a rakish hero with a heart!
May 31, 2023
Absolutely fantastic
I mostly do audiobooks these days so its not often a book pulls my interest enough to get me to read the ebook, but this one did and I’m very glad! It’s fantastic, from the setting, to the characters, to the mythology, I loved it and I want more. I’d also love to hear all those great Scottish accents in an audiobook someday. But in ebook or audio, I will happily revisit this book.
I mostly do audiobooks these days so its not often a book pulls my interest enough to get me to read the ebook, but this one did and I’m very glad! It’s fantastic, from the setting, to the characters, to the mythology, I loved it and I want more. I’d also love to hear all those great Scottish accents in an audiobook someday. But in ebook or audio, I will happily revisit this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews