Blood Deal

Prof Croft, Book 2

By: Brad Magnarella

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Everson Croft here, professor of mythology and nervous as sin. Tonight's the night I tell Caroline the truth: about my feelings, my magic, everything.

So why am I surprised when Detective Vega calls me to a new case? An elusive creature is chewing up residents in a housing project run by rival gangs. One more mangled body and the place will explode into warfare.

Problem is, someone's protecting the killer. All signs point to the vampire Arnaud - who's just upped the stakes. If I don't send Detective Vega down a trail of bad leads, he'll snatch her child. But is Arnaud trying to derail the investigation or twist it to his own ends, ones that could reshape the city?

Worse, Caroline has disappeared, and I'm under suspicion. No one believes I last saw her with Angelus, a mysterious hunk and full-blooded faerie. Dangerous no matter how you slice it.

Two cases: one personal, one professional, and both going to hell in a hurry.

Time to wizard up.

©2016 Brad Magnarella (P)2016 Brad Magnarella

Pretty good book, but the characters really need to evolve more with each book in the series

I am enjoying the series, but I find that the character development needs a little work. The characters are all so set in their ways that they seem unable to adapt to new situations and make the same mistakes over and over. Hopefully they will add a little bit more nuance and flexibility to the characters in the future.

Don't miss it!

urban fantasy, mage, vampire, vampire slayers, Professor Croft, betrayal, relationships

I really enjoy having different urban fantasy series that have some overlapping aspects but are in different locations and with strong but really quite different protagonists. Do I love this series because of Prof Croft or because it is in NYC? Tough call that. This one is more dark side, and Croft gets beaten up a lot, but maybe that just makes him more human than some others. I really felt sorry for him, yet I can't wait for the next one. There are people in this one that were notable in the previous book, and while I think you'd be missing some good stuff if you haven't read it, it does fine as a stand alone.
James Patrick Cronin continues to be super as narrator for this series!

Prof Croft in the dark again

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story and the narrator are great.

What did you like best about this story?

The unpredictable thrill ride through the streets of NYC. The tiny itty bitty bit of romance was nice.

What about James Patrick Cronin’s performance did you like?

He was a perfect cast for Prof Croft.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was disappointed in Vega's attitude. I was off put by her constant persecution of Croft.
It felt like poor Croft couldn't ever catch a break.

Heartbreaking Thriller with Consequences

Wow, what a thrill ride in such a short amount of time. Professor Everson Crofton returns with two mysteries to solve, many twists and turns and the usual scars to prove it. While this novel is in a somewhat supernatural setting, it is a detective style mystery. I love the character of Professor Croft, a good guy trying to do the right thing. I wish he didn't get beat up so much and was more powerful as a wizard, time to let his alpha come out. All the clues are given early and everything comes together in the end, but it costs our hero a great deal. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, as the tide is beginning to turn in this entry in the series. I read this book using immersion reading and the narrator, James Patrick Cronin is up for an Audie award for another title. You can hear why, his narration is excellent. He captures Crofton beautifully. Best voice I've heard since Marc Thompson, who handles many of the Star Wars books. Highly recommend this book.

dresden file like

if you like the Dresden Files you should try this series. The story has quite a bit in common but the hero, back story, and setting are different. The hero shares some of the same qualities, deficiencies, and likeable characteristic. the reader does well with the voices and makes it an enjoyable listen.

Do you like Dresden?

this book is a carbon copy of Dresden. I like Dresden after the first book I was like I think I could do it. but so many similarities I kind of just erks me now.

GOOD. ACTION PACKED AND GOOD PLOT.

What made the experience of listening to Blood Deal the most enjoyable?

The protagonist, Prof Croft is an interesting character. A lot of action and a good story line. Faced with a lot of challenges from enemies and allies, Prof Croft had a difficult time to overcome the obstructions and obstacles. A very likeable person.

If you’ve listened to books by Brad Magnarella before, how does this one compare?

This is the first series and I find it good.

What about James Patrick Cronin’s performance did you like?

An excellent narrator and his voices for the different characters are good.

Great Urban Fantasy book!

Loved the book. The bokk has enough twists and turns to satisfy ones appetite for mystery/investigations. I love the fact the characters have flaws.

Good story

Good story just don’t quite understand the word it is set in as a post apocalyptic one of the one we live in today… doesn’t make sense to me

Love it! Bring on the next one!

This has been the best story yet! Croft learns that magic has integrated into his life more than he thought and it has cost him the love a woman. Secrets are uncovered, and confidences are broken. Half/mixed breeds do not necessarily give aura. Drugs can change you into a monster, literally.

Yes, there is action and old friends with a different gig are fighting the battles.
I really like how the vampires own/control the financial district; there is still Little Italy for the mob, but what about the werewolves? Not to wish bad to happen to someone, I was glad for Detective Vega to get a kick in the ass attitude from the paranormal beings. Just because she is a detective, that does not give her a pass when speaking to some paranormal. She does not have any respect of understanding how the paranormal world works or in dealing with gangs. That shield does not prevent her from a bullet or getting her throat ripped out.

She needs to humble herself and be willing to learn. Croft is given a threat from Thorn, to protect Vega he takes a course of action. Because he could not keep Vega on track, the vampire went through with the threat. With her erroneous inflated sense of invulnerability that she feels the badge gives her, she places blame. She operates like a bull in a china shop without any respect or ability to negotiate. She is a very one-dimensional character. Other than accepting that there are forces out there, which are not normal, she has not changed her method of police procedures. *** spoilers*** Thorn does perpetrate a threat to her son. When she and Croft go to speak to him, she was stopped short. The vamps at the door told her, no he does not want to talk to you.

Plus, for some reason, I do not like her voice.

I like James Patrick Cronin as a narrator. He does my favorite series Demon, which by John Conroe. The voice he uses for Vega he uses in the Accord series for one of the vampires. In this series, for Vega is sounds stilted. Even when working with her son she does not sound maternal

Mother thing. Why is it that when it comes to the parentage of many of the mages/wizards they can make bad choices. Unfortunately, Croft does the same here. For a more original mage try Joshua Roots Paranormal Chaos series. The mage, Shifter’s parents are alive and active in the magic community. Shifter makes questionable decisions but, with that one change in the story line removes the parent dilemma found here and in Jim Butcher, Harry Dresden series.