Hard Spell

Occult Crimes Unit Investigations, Book 1

By: Justin Gustainis

Narrated by: Peter Brook

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Great story, not so great narrator

I really liked this book. A new voice in urban fantasy with all the requisites! But Peter Brooks pronounces werewolf we'arwolf and coven co-ven. Grr! And a coupleof his voice choices don't jibe with the written characteristics. Like Prescott isn't a 13 year old boy.

Brought the story to life

Great job on bringing the story to life was entertained by the story and highly recommend

Creative writer, R+ rated, strongly anti-christian

The world created was clever. There were plenty of twists and turns. The narrator was great. Unfortunately parts were so needlessly vile that it is not the harmless entertainment that it could be. This has a negative impact for the world.

Entertaining

The story is set in modern day Pennsylvania in a world of which everyone knows of the supernatural existence. The detectives solves little crimes adding up to a possible emergence of a super criminal. I liked the story line because the characters had there own issues to work out. However didn't care much for the character voices. Some were unrealistic.

Overall okay

The story is good. The narrator should stop trying to do different voices. He makes the characters sound like muppets! Gets very annoying.

Great story, well read

Justin Gustainis is a fine writer, and a great addition to the Urban Fantasy genre. I really love the Occult Crimes Unit. And Peter Brook is an outstanding reader. Every character has a distinct voice, accent, and mannerism. This is what I expect in an audiobook, and all too rarely get. If you enjoy good Urban Fantasy, and an excellent reading, this book will repay you in full.

only one small critique

other then being an absolutely flawless gem of a book thebonly single tiny thing that could be changes is calling the clip a magazine other then that I've listened to this book like 4 times and it's just as amazing as the first highly highly highly recommend this to anyone

Great story, well read (but LOADS of swearing)

I love this author and was really pleased to have his books on Audio, having read all of them.

Really well thought out story and good world-building. Narration was top notch too. But the swearing.... What a potty mouth Mr Gustainis has! (I never really noticed it in the print version somehow).

He needs to wash his mouth out with soap! Seriously, it's a good listen and I'm going to download the others in the series.

OK Story, terrible narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Much better stories out there on the subject

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hard Spell?

Overall setting was interesting

How could the performance have been better?

Peter Brook's character voices go from normal to daffy duck. He should probably find another line of work.

Any additional comments?

Probably like this book a lot more if someone else was the narrator.

Narrator issues

When the narrator reads the description of how the character’s voice was supposed to sound and his voice doesn’t even come close to it you know you have a poorly narrated story.