Hard Spell cover art

Hard Spell

Occult Crimes Unit Investigations, Book 1

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Hard Spell

By: Justin Gustainis
Narrated by: Peter Brook
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About this listen

Scranton, the strangest city on earth has an uneasy “live and let unlive” relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that’s when they call me.

"My name’s Markowski, a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD’s Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. I carry a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets."

Justin Gustainis was born in Northeast Pennsylvania in 1951. He attended college at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit university that figures prominently in several of his writings. He is currently a Professor of Communication at Plattsburgh State University. His popular series of urban fantasy novels featuring investigator Quincey Morris include Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman, and the forthcoming Sympathy for the Devil.

©2011 Justin Gustainis (P)2014 Audible Ltd Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction City Paranormal Witchcraft

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All stars
Most relevant

Would you consider the audio edition of Hard Spell to be better than the print version?

I haven't had the pleasure of the print version - as yet.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I wouldn't be able to settle on a favourite. The whole is so good and better than its parts.

What about Peter Brook’s performance did you like?

His ability, within his vocal tones, to be able to "portray" women, nationalities, accents, etc. he also has a wonderful sense of the funny parts but doesn't make his performance feel like someone has just held up a "Laugh" board to the listener.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh, most certainly.

Any additional comments?

It was simply my ideal mixture, but with added humour for spice. Please keep them coming, Mr Gustianis!

A perfect recipe.

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A fantastic story, it mixes the the urban fantasy with the crime detective novel and adds comedy. The story line keeps you interested to the end, with all the twists and turns you would expect from a detective story. The author also allows the character to grow on you! Stan reminded me of Harry Dresden but with a real detectives brain and no magic!

Refreshing and Funny!

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I liked this book, to a point. The story is good and the narrator does an okay job, but there are certain things that just irritated me.

The author seems obsesses with porn and mentions it incessantly, even when it has absolutely no relevance to the storyline. At times your lucky if he goes more than a few paragraphs without a mention of it.

My other problem is the narrator. He does an okay job but some of his voices are really annoying and grated on me a little.

Other than that the book is worth a listen, and I probably would give another in the series a try.

Okay

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What was most disappointing about Justin Gustainis’s story?

If you're looking for something along the lines of Harry Dresden or Felix Castor, don't look here. This book gives you the most worn-out conventions of police procedural combined with supernatural elements that seem present purely to give the 'good guys' something else to be bigoted about. Genuinely nasty.

Nasty, small-minded, plodding stuff

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Two problems with this. First is that the story just seems a bit too predictable, even for a crime story pastiche. You can see certain plot points a mile off. Second is the narration - there's some truly over the top accents which seem to be there just to telegraph who's speaking when. Worst offence is a Japanese origin character who "speaks better English than me" being voiced with a chop sockey style.

I'd stick to Dresden Files or Rivers of London.

Not as good as Dresden Files or Rivers of London

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