The Devil You Know

By: Mike Carey

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Author of The Girl with All the Gifts Mike Carey presents the first book in his hip supernatural thriller series featuring freelance exorcist Felix Castor.

Felix Castor is a freelance exorcist, and London is his stomping ground. It may seem like a good ghostbuster can charge what he likes and enjoy a hell of a lifestyle, but there's a risk: sooner or later he's going to take on a spirit that's too strong for him.

When Castor accepts a seemingly simple ghost-hunting case at a museum in the shadowy heart of London, what should have been a perfectly straightforward exorcism is rapidly turning into the Who Can Kill Castor First Show, with demons and ghosts all keen to claim the big prize.

But that's business as usual: Castor knows how to deal with the dead. It's the living who piss him off....

©2007 Mike Carey (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Engrossing...perfect...an ingeniously multilayered tale." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Carey transcends his comic roots in this quirky, dark and imaginative tale that compels reader to keep turning pages long after they should have gotten to sleep." (Kirkus, starred review)

"An imaginative spin on the hard-boiled detective...mixes horror and humor in a way that spells good omens for future Castor novels." (Entertainment Weekly)

A great listen

This was recommended because I liked the Dresden files. I found it much more enjoyable actually.

Urban Fantasy Done Right

I've read a good amount of urban fantasy and after being burned by The Iron Druid Chronicles I wasn't sure that I wanted another book in the genre outside of the Dresden Files so soon. Felix Castor though scratched my occult itch admirably. Less fantasy and more hard-boiled detective, I was happy that it was so self contained. the atmosphere is dark and a bit stylishly grubby, like London should be and the characters are just morally twisted enough to make them interesting. I will definitely come back for more and can barely wait for my next credit!

Never lets you down

Went from Koli to this. Slow at first but another classic with good twists to the end.

Definitely British in nature

The story was quite good. And there were so many references to people places and things that I had no clue about. I think you have to be British to completely enjoy some of, what I assume were, tongue-in-cheek references.

Good

Went into this story blind because it was on sale. I'm, glad I took a chance on it. It's entertaining. I'm open to listening to other titles in this series.

Pretty frickin’ good

Didn’t know what to expect at first but man this story was pretty frickin’ good.

Amazing

I loved the story. it was enthralling. I've already recommended it to a few people. It was just that good.
Also, Michael Kramer's voice gave me the shivers.

Adequate, but not earth shattering

I really wanted this to hook me.

I was excited to see Mike Carey, an author of some of my favorite graphic novels, penning a dark, gritty, Constantine-esque urban fantasy. I was even more excited to see that it was the beginning of a series, so I had high hopes that it might be my new go to after series like the Dresden Files and Sandman Slim.

But alas, it just wasn’t “enough” for me. A little too mainstream mystery, not enough of the fantasy elements, not quite quippy enough, not quite enough magic…

Don’t get me wrong, not BAD. I still listened to the whole book, but I hope-listened until the end. It was satisfying enough that I’m not upset about the purchase, but I don’t think I’ll continue the series.

a great supernatural mystery

it's in the same vein as The Dresden Files or the Nightside books, though a bit darker than most of those. Not far from a Constantine story.

Gritty

Occasionally the author gets a little to wordy in his explanations. The sex trade industry is fairly well described, enough to hurt your heart.