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The Jake Helman Files #2
Desperate Souls
In this action-packed novel, Jake Helman—the ex-cop and zombie killer—has set up shop as a private investigator in lower Manhattan. When a woman hires Jake to prove that her dead grandson is dealing a deadly new drug called “Black Magic” on a Brooklyn street corner, Jake uncovers a plot by a vicious drug lord to use voodoo to seize the streets of New York City. Gun-wielding zombie assassins, hallucinations, and betrayal confront Jake at every corner, but voodoo creates more terror than zombies, and Jake finds himself poised on the edge of insanity as he fights to restore the soul of the one person he trusts. A combination of hard-core horror and hard-boiled crime fiction, this thriller is gripping and suspenseful.
383 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Lamberson
29 books115 followersGregory Lamberson is an author and filmmaker who specializes in horror entertainment. He is a two-time winner of the IPPY Gold Medal for Horror and a three-time Bram Stoker Award finalist. A motion picture based on his award-winning novel JOHNNY GRUESOME will be completed and released in 2017,. Fangoria magazine called him "the hardest working man in horror."
Lamberson is the author of the six-novel occult detective series The Jake Helman Files (PERSONAL DEMONS, DESPERATE SOULS, COSMIC FORCES, TORTURED SPIRITS, STORM DEMON and HUMAN MONSTERS), the werewolf trilogy The Frenzy Cycle (THE FRENZY WAY, THE FRENZY WAR and THE FRENZY WOLVES). In addition to GRUESOME, his stand alone works include BLACK CREEK, THE JULIAN YEAR, the zombie novella CARNAGE ROAD, and the instructional filmmaking book CHEAP SCARES: LOW BUDGET HORROR FILMMAKERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS.
In 2016, Lamberson directed a feature length movie version of JOHNNY GRUESOME, currently in post-production. He previously directed the cult films SLIME CITY, SLIME CITY MASSACRE and KILLER RACK. He is currently hard at work developing his literary properties as films and TV series.
Lamberson is the author of the six-novel occult detective series The Jake Helman Files (PERSONAL DEMONS, DESPERATE SOULS, COSMIC FORCES, TORTURED SPIRITS, STORM DEMON and HUMAN MONSTERS), the werewolf trilogy The Frenzy Cycle (THE FRENZY WAY, THE FRENZY WAR and THE FRENZY WOLVES). In addition to GRUESOME, his stand alone works include BLACK CREEK, THE JULIAN YEAR, the zombie novella CARNAGE ROAD, and the instructional filmmaking book CHEAP SCARES: LOW BUDGET HORROR FILMMAKERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS.
In 2016, Lamberson directed a feature length movie version of JOHNNY GRUESOME, currently in post-production. He previously directed the cult films SLIME CITY, SLIME CITY MASSACRE and KILLER RACK. He is currently hard at work developing his literary properties as films and TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 25, 2012
I have varied reasons for reading books: recommendations, research, writing tips, or because a friend has written one, but sometimes I get the chance to read a book purely because I want to enjoy it, and no other reason.
Desperate Souls is the second instalment of the Jake Helman files, and after reading the first, I had high hopes for this one. I'm so pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed. Much of the same style, as you'd expect with a sequel - the concept was great, the gore and horror reminiscent of so many movies I watched in my youth, and the plot turns certainly kept me entertained. The zombie threat remained a constant menace too with a unique take on a well-established genre. With a couple of crooked cops thrown in, it's a fun read.
I certainly recommend this for some smile-worthy popcorn entertainment.
Desperate Souls is the second instalment of the Jake Helman files, and after reading the first, I had high hopes for this one. I'm so pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed. Much of the same style, as you'd expect with a sequel - the concept was great, the gore and horror reminiscent of so many movies I watched in my youth, and the plot turns certainly kept me entertained. The zombie threat remained a constant menace too with a unique take on a well-established genre. With a couple of crooked cops thrown in, it's a fun read.
I certainly recommend this for some smile-worthy popcorn entertainment.
February 23, 2011
Gregory Lamberson is a man of many talents. Most recently praised for his film making (see our review of Slime City Massacre), we can't forget that he is also an accomplished author. To that end, Lamberson returns to taunt his readers with Desperate Souls, the sequel to 2004's Personal Demons, and the second book to his "Jake Helman Files" series. After seven years, you might think the character of Jake Helman might be a little rusty. You'd be wrong.
Picking up just a short while after the end of Personal Demons, Desperate Souls drags us back into the messed up life of former-cop-now-private-eye Jake Helman. After the mess of drugs and terror his life became at the hands of the serial killer "The Cypher," Helman has opened up his own private investigation practice in the hopes of making a quiet living snapping photos and following unfaithful lovers around. Of course, if that was all that happened, we wouldn't have much of a story to read. A new drug has appeared on the streets, Black Magic, and it's killing its users. The problem is, they're not staying that way. Helman winds up tightly entwined in the investigation and discovers an all-too-familiar world of greed, pain, and the supernatural. And if he's not careful, it could cost him his life.
Desperate Souls is a dark and broody noir piece that hearkens back to the world of Mickey Spillane and Dashiell Hammett, where the good guys aren't always so good, and the bad guys aren't always the ones you need to worry about. The character of Jake Helman is very much cast from the same mold of Sam Spade, Mike Hammer, and Philip Marlowe in that he isn't afraid to bend rules to get the job done, and he's never really sure who to trust. His past haunts him, and we, as readers, get to see him struggle to overcome his past drug addiction, the deaths he caused, and the mistakes that cost him not only his job, but his family. While he's not an "everyman," he is the kind of fellow that most guys would want to be like.
Plot-wise, the story is very straight forward, though there are a few twists that keep the reader guessing. There are also moments where a lesser author would go for the easy out, leaving the reader breathless as the hero comes through unscathed. Lamberson, however, is fearless in the amount of abuse Helman takes, and the reader will sit and cringe with every blood-soaked page. It is Lamberson's ability to take his characters right to the edge and drive them over that is one of the real strengths of this book. And no matter what happens, Helman's personal code of right and wrong carry him through so that we readers know, no matter how bloody and battered, he will keep going until the job is done.
Which is not to say that Desperate Souls is perfect. To be sure, there are a few problems that'll probably drive any English teacher a little crazy, but the story is compelling enough that any complaints come down to nitpicking. The bottom line is, like Helman, the story may not always be pretty, but it works and gets the job done.
Picking up just a short while after the end of Personal Demons, Desperate Souls drags us back into the messed up life of former-cop-now-private-eye Jake Helman. After the mess of drugs and terror his life became at the hands of the serial killer "The Cypher," Helman has opened up his own private investigation practice in the hopes of making a quiet living snapping photos and following unfaithful lovers around. Of course, if that was all that happened, we wouldn't have much of a story to read. A new drug has appeared on the streets, Black Magic, and it's killing its users. The problem is, they're not staying that way. Helman winds up tightly entwined in the investigation and discovers an all-too-familiar world of greed, pain, and the supernatural. And if he's not careful, it could cost him his life.
Desperate Souls is a dark and broody noir piece that hearkens back to the world of Mickey Spillane and Dashiell Hammett, where the good guys aren't always so good, and the bad guys aren't always the ones you need to worry about. The character of Jake Helman is very much cast from the same mold of Sam Spade, Mike Hammer, and Philip Marlowe in that he isn't afraid to bend rules to get the job done, and he's never really sure who to trust. His past haunts him, and we, as readers, get to see him struggle to overcome his past drug addiction, the deaths he caused, and the mistakes that cost him not only his job, but his family. While he's not an "everyman," he is the kind of fellow that most guys would want to be like.
Plot-wise, the story is very straight forward, though there are a few twists that keep the reader guessing. There are also moments where a lesser author would go for the easy out, leaving the reader breathless as the hero comes through unscathed. Lamberson, however, is fearless in the amount of abuse Helman takes, and the reader will sit and cringe with every blood-soaked page. It is Lamberson's ability to take his characters right to the edge and drive them over that is one of the real strengths of this book. And no matter what happens, Helman's personal code of right and wrong carry him through so that we readers know, no matter how bloody and battered, he will keep going until the job is done.
Which is not to say that Desperate Souls is perfect. To be sure, there are a few problems that'll probably drive any English teacher a little crazy, but the story is compelling enough that any complaints come down to nitpicking. The bottom line is, like Helman, the story may not always be pretty, but it works and gets the job done.
September 14, 2013
On the hunt for something to keep me entertained on my commute to and from work, I stumbled across Desperate Souls a novel by multi-talented Gregory Lamberson; and continues the tale of his creation, Jake Helman.
From the synopsis, I wasn't expecting much more than some kind of pulpy cross-genre detective horror story but what I got was a pretty edgy, raw addition to the genre that has all the hallmarks of a film noir yet set in modern-day New York City, coupled with a zombie tale with a classic yet wonderfully different slant.
I am not spoiling the book by telling you that Desperate Souls does not have at its core the Romero-esque zombies or "infected" we have come to expect of today's films and books. Instead, Lamberson returns to the roots of the zombie legends and brings the Haitian voodoo zombie/ zonbie right up to date and this tale comes complete with voodoo priests, curses and what sounds like the bizarre inclusion of zombie drug dealers. However, I can assure you, this all works very well in the world that Lamberson has created.
Some of the characters seem like they could have been lifted directly from other works (corrupt cops, drug dealers, innocent civilians) but I would suggest that their inclusion adds flavour to the mix; importantly, Lamberson's creation Jake Helman is a complex protagonist that you cannot help but like.
My criticism of this book is more my own fault than that of the author.
Arrogantly, having read other titles that are sequels or part of a series, I felt confident that I could dive right in without having read the first of the Jake Helman stories, Personal Demons. Although Desperate Souls is a good stand-alone title, I feel that my appreciation of it would have been enhanced had I read the first in the series, the way the author had intended. Helman's escapades in the first are referred to in Desperate Souls but all this really did was pique my interest and now I must read the first out of turn.
For the fiends among you, there's more than enough gruesome scenes in this book to keep you reading and for those of you seeking something a little more cerebral in your horror, I wonder if you'll spot the twist? I certainly didn't.
This title is easily one of the best cross-genre efforts I have ever read. Moreover, it not only mashes up the detective and zombie sub-genre but revamped my own thinking on zombie lore.
From the synopsis, I wasn't expecting much more than some kind of pulpy cross-genre detective horror story but what I got was a pretty edgy, raw addition to the genre that has all the hallmarks of a film noir yet set in modern-day New York City, coupled with a zombie tale with a classic yet wonderfully different slant.
I am not spoiling the book by telling you that Desperate Souls does not have at its core the Romero-esque zombies or "infected" we have come to expect of today's films and books. Instead, Lamberson returns to the roots of the zombie legends and brings the Haitian voodoo zombie/ zonbie right up to date and this tale comes complete with voodoo priests, curses and what sounds like the bizarre inclusion of zombie drug dealers. However, I can assure you, this all works very well in the world that Lamberson has created.
Some of the characters seem like they could have been lifted directly from other works (corrupt cops, drug dealers, innocent civilians) but I would suggest that their inclusion adds flavour to the mix; importantly, Lamberson's creation Jake Helman is a complex protagonist that you cannot help but like.
My criticism of this book is more my own fault than that of the author.
Arrogantly, having read other titles that are sequels or part of a series, I felt confident that I could dive right in without having read the first of the Jake Helman stories, Personal Demons. Although Desperate Souls is a good stand-alone title, I feel that my appreciation of it would have been enhanced had I read the first in the series, the way the author had intended. Helman's escapades in the first are referred to in Desperate Souls but all this really did was pique my interest and now I must read the first out of turn.
For the fiends among you, there's more than enough gruesome scenes in this book to keep you reading and for those of you seeking something a little more cerebral in your horror, I wonder if you'll spot the twist? I certainly didn't.
This title is easily one of the best cross-genre efforts I have ever read. Moreover, it not only mashes up the detective and zombie sub-genre but revamped my own thinking on zombie lore.
Read
October 20, 2010In this second installment of The Jake Helman Files, the former cop, now private investigator, has discovered that zombies really do exist. While looking into the disappearance of a woman’s grandson Jake discovers that the drug Black Magic is turning its users into zombies….literally. Prince Malachi and his voodoo sorceress girlfriend Katrina have run all of the other drug lords out of business and they are poised to take over the entire city. They have also eliminated the availability of any other street drug in order to push Black Magic. Jake has found himself in the middle of one of the most vicious crime sprees to hit the city, due in part to a bad economy, cuts to services and a threatened strike by the cops. After Jake is almost killed by a gang of zombies—twice—he is determined to find out what is behind their existence and the emergence of Black Magic. With a little help from the psychic next door and Jake’s ex-partner Edgar, who is investigating a series of gruesome machete murders, Jake hopes to rid the city of this threat to its stability.
Part paranormal fantasy, part crime drama, and part horror, Desperate Souls is a great read. The character development is spot-on, and Jake himself is very likeable. The pace of the story holds up the whole way making for quite a page-turner. Greg Lamberson has done his homework, making sure that police procedure is realistic and the voodoo-created zombies quite believable. There are twists to this story that left me saying “holy crap!” and that was even before the unpredictable ending. While you don’t need to have read Personal Demons (book one of The Jake Helman Files) to follow the story in Desperate Souls, I do recommend reading Personal Demons first. With plenty of action, gore and the supernatural, Desperate Souls is highly recommended.
Contains sex, adult language, violence and gore
Colleen Wanglund
Part paranormal fantasy, part crime drama, and part horror, Desperate Souls is a great read. The character development is spot-on, and Jake himself is very likeable. The pace of the story holds up the whole way making for quite a page-turner. Greg Lamberson has done his homework, making sure that police procedure is realistic and the voodoo-created zombies quite believable. There are twists to this story that left me saying “holy crap!” and that was even before the unpredictable ending. While you don’t need to have read Personal Demons (book one of The Jake Helman Files) to follow the story in Desperate Souls, I do recommend reading Personal Demons first. With plenty of action, gore and the supernatural, Desperate Souls is highly recommended.
Contains sex, adult language, violence and gore
Colleen Wanglund
December 30, 2012
Book 2 of the Jake Helman files was my least favorite of the series, but it's really the set up for book 4 which has been my favorite so far.
This book takes place a little less than a year after the 1st one. Jake is now a Private Investigator with his own firm. He is hired by an elderly lady who wants to find her grandson. Her grandson has been caught up in the "Black Magic" craze. Black Magic is a new drug that is hitting the streets, it's highly addictive and users care for nothing more than getting their next fix. Jake calls users "scarecrows" because that's what they look like while they look for ways to score more of the drug. After a certain point they OD and the drug re-animates them and they are like zombies with one catch, they still have souls and they are aware of what they are doing, but they are being controlled by someone else.
It seems like all things point back to Tower Industries at some point or another. Nick Tower had his hand in a lot of different pots at some point and the one pulling the strings of the Zonbies is connected as well. Jake is caught up in the middle of this drug war and is fighting Zonbies and the real Black Magic that is controlling them. Even one of his best friends has a deeper connection than they all realize and ends up paying a pretty high price in the end.
All in all this was a pretty good story and like I said, it's the set up for the 4th book. I did really like Jake in this one and he makes a friend in this one that will be invaluable in the future. Oh, and we get to know Maria in this book and I really do like her a lot as well!
If you like horror and you are looking for something new to read you should definitely pick this series up!
This book takes place a little less than a year after the 1st one. Jake is now a Private Investigator with his own firm. He is hired by an elderly lady who wants to find her grandson. Her grandson has been caught up in the "Black Magic" craze. Black Magic is a new drug that is hitting the streets, it's highly addictive and users care for nothing more than getting their next fix. Jake calls users "scarecrows" because that's what they look like while they look for ways to score more of the drug. After a certain point they OD and the drug re-animates them and they are like zombies with one catch, they still have souls and they are aware of what they are doing, but they are being controlled by someone else.
It seems like all things point back to Tower Industries at some point or another. Nick Tower had his hand in a lot of different pots at some point and the one pulling the strings of the Zonbies is connected as well. Jake is caught up in the middle of this drug war and is fighting Zonbies and the real Black Magic that is controlling them. Even one of his best friends has a deeper connection than they all realize and ends up paying a pretty high price in the end.
All in all this was a pretty good story and like I said, it's the set up for the 4th book. I did really like Jake in this one and he makes a friend in this one that will be invaluable in the future. Oh, and we get to know Maria in this book and I really do like her a lot as well!
If you like horror and you are looking for something new to read you should definitely pick this series up!
August 16, 2011
The book captivated the mind and held the readers attention with its wonderful twists and turns. This book isn't for those with weak hearts due to its nature of gore and mature content. The book rarely has a dry moment and had me captivated and reading more late into the night.I would highly remcommend reading Desperate Souls however I'd suggest reading Personal Demons first. Although it isn't mandatory it would help the reader understand some of the minor references that can really make a huge difference.
January 16, 2016
Totally rad!
Who knew zombies could be smart?! These ones may not win awards for brains, but they definitely are not your normal zombies. These ones are vindictive, and scary as heck!
This book is not for the faint of heart. It's graphic, loads of language, and riddled with drugs. So if you dislike any of the above, don't read it, but if you're like me and feed off violence, this is 100% for you.
I think this is a great story, no matter how far-fetched I believe it to be. I'd still never mess with a voodoo priestess.
Who knew zombies could be smart?! These ones may not win awards for brains, but they definitely are not your normal zombies. These ones are vindictive, and scary as heck!
This book is not for the faint of heart. It's graphic, loads of language, and riddled with drugs. So if you dislike any of the above, don't read it, but if you're like me and feed off violence, this is 100% for you.
I think this is a great story, no matter how far-fetched I believe it to be. I'd still never mess with a voodoo priestess.
July 14, 2015
Wow! Do you like Zombies? How about Witchcraft/Voodoo and a pact with a Demon? This is a very good book that far exceeded my expectations for the second book I have read from this author. This is a highly entertaining book that kept me turning the pages late at night.
I am now a massive fan of this author and the way he writes. Highly entertaining is actually a understatement. I am going to start part 3 ASAP. I cannot reccomend a book or a series higher. Easily 5 starts out of 5!
I am now a massive fan of this author and the way he writes. Highly entertaining is actually a understatement. I am going to start part 3 ASAP. I cannot reccomend a book or a series higher. Easily 5 starts out of 5!
February 5, 2013
Ewwwww . Our hero goes through a lot in this series; the action never ends. Love the voudon zonbis! Definitely horror and gore at it's finest. Lamberson pulls no punches.
February 3, 2014
Zombies? nope... Zonbies. An old school look at zomie fiction. Not your shambling walking dead, voodoo controlled, drug addled zonbies rule this book... And Jake Helman takes the brunt of the damage.
September 26, 2014
I got this book on a whim and then left it for days. I regreted it and thought I wouldnt like it. and then I started reading it. I was sucked in immediately. I loved this book and will be searching out more from this author
January 23, 2011
Amazing, fast paced, and thoroughly enjoyable. I expect no less from Mr. Lamberson.
December 6, 2012
Great bad guys, creepy take on zombies, and great action as usual from Greg.
July 17, 2021
Wouldn´t say it was a great book (maybe should have read the first part before) but it was really an easy reading stuff.
Can´t say it has a great twist or something extraordinary but for a easy summer reading quite a good book!
Can´t say it has a great twist or something extraordinary but for a easy summer reading quite a good book!
October 25, 2011
This book was okay... I'm not really sure what I did & didn't like about it. It was pretty much the same as the first book as in the beginning was a little boring then it starts speeding up a bit towards the middle then towards the end I was left scratching my head at the way that the author brought it to a close. I don't mean that in a bad way, I've always enjoyed books where I was positive I knew how it was gonna end & was totally thrown for a loop. And from the past 2 books I've read by Mr. Maberry, he is definetly not that type of author that you can guess the ending. What I do enjoy about this book, was that I normally wouldn't have picked it up, but since I'm on this zombie obsession, I thought I'd give it a chance, & was pleasantly surprised. The only warning I'd give readers is, yes it is a "zombie book" because there are zombies in it, if you're a HUGE zombie fan and love books where there is non-stop zombie action, I wouldn't suggest this book. It wasn't really about zombies, it's more of a murder mystery book similiar to the first book in the series, Personal Demons. But aside from all that, it did hold my interest, but not enough to give it a 4 or 5 star rating. Overall, I recommend reading it if you've read the first in the series or if you're interested in a murder mystery with a science fiction twist. Definetly pick it up if you want a book that will throw you for a loop!
May 26, 2015
Jake Helman P.I. is back in action fighting against a new drug that is taking over the streets. The interesting side effect of the drug is that it kills you dead. Then you reanimate as a zonbi under the control of an evil Bokor that will have you slinging this new drug on the nearest street corner. I felt that this story was a bit better than the first installment and look forward to where the author will take the story in the next book.
May 9, 2016
I picked this off the library shelf on a whim (what can I say? I'm a sucker for colorful covers). I was pleasantly surprised with it and am glad I did. Glad enough, in fact, that I plan to read the rest of the series, out of order though the reading may be. Enjoyed the noir detective feel to it and the zombies...excuse me, zonbies...were a nice departure from the usual Walking Dead/Night of the Living Dead-style undead.
March 9, 2012
Couldn't decide between 3 or 4 stars. Liked the book. It was different, kept me interested, and for the most part liked it. Though, some parts just honestly lost interest or were too slow, or even found parts of the book that could have been left out. For the most part liked the story/plot.
June 8, 2013
AWESOME.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews