Deicide

Agents of Mortal, Book 1

By: M. K. Gibson

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer, Heather Costa

Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

What happens when all the myths, legends, and things that go bump in the night come out to the world as real? Well, the world does as it always does: It rejected them. 

Welcome to Avalantis, Alaska, the world’s first supercity with over 50 million myth and mundane citizens and home of those rejected by society. Although due to pesky things like murder end explosions, there are a few fewer citizens. When the former Greek god Hermes dies, three unusual cops from the Avalantis PD are recruited into a secret organization known as Mortal, who has apparently been watching the Myths for longer than mankind realizes. 

Their mission is to find and apprehend the mysterious figure known as “The Laughing Man”, the one responsible for a recent string of deaths. These three new recruits will have to use all their skill, strength, and wits to find and defeat the “The Laughing Man”. That is, if they don’t kill each other first. 

Agents of Mortal: Deicide is an action-comedy that is packed with excitement, laughs, and more than a few touching moments.

©2019 Michael Gibson (P)2020 Michael Gibson

Brooklyn 99 meets the Dresden Files

DEICIDE (Agents of MORTAL) by M.K. Gibson is the latest offering from an author that has done a lot of books that I've enjoyed. I've read his TECHNOMANCER, VILLAINS RULE, and SHE DREAMS OF FIRE novels. Like a lot of the indie authors I know, he's on the Kindle Unlimited system and effectively a free-ish book source for subscribers. Gibson's book are heavy on the humor, irony, and cynicism with his protagonists tending to be somewhat sardonic heroes in the Harry Dresden mold.

The premise is that the "myths" have come out: gods, goblins, vampires, and more. Unfortunately, this does not result in a renewal of their worship but all of them being rejected by society. The town of Avalantis, Alaska is reserved for them and becomes a city with 50,000,000 people in it. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a city instead of a nation since even New York City is only eight million people. Really, I'm inclined to think that it should have been only 5 million people but Twin Peaks had 51,000 people despite having only three cops in it so what do I know.

The story follows the recruitment of a up and coming police officer named Jesse into an elite branch of the Avalantis police department called MORTAL. Jesse is a wee bit bitter because despite devoting herself to the APD, she was almost murdered by her partner. It turns out being an overachiever and scrupulously honest cop in a corrupt supernatural reservation doesn't win you any friends.

However, Jesse's devotion to the law is just what needed when a politically sensitive case drops itself on MORTAL's desk: the death of Greek God Hermes. Apparently, he overdosed on a drug that briefly restores divine power and exploded on a bunch of cops. Who gave him the drug, why, and how much more do they have of it? It's a fascinating combination of a very street-level story with an epic mystical one.

I was a big fan of supporting character Cassandra Cross who is a woman that ticks off Jesse in every single way. Whereas Jesse has devoted herself to being meticulous, efficient, conservative, and uptight (a bit like Exley from L.A CONFIDENTIAL), Cross is well-liked and laid back. There's also the fact that Cross doesn't mind being openly sexual and this plays into a lot of Jesse's internalized misogyny. Jesse has sacrificed everything to be the top cop she thinks herself to be and is annoyed that Cassandra is seemingly able to be one without having sacrificed a life.

This is not a particularly serious work but is very humorous with barista gods, party girl goddesses, and even a high priest of Cthulhu from Kentucky. I was a bit uncomfortable with the fact people from real religious groups (Buddha, Kali) had their figures under "myths" but M.K. Gibson books have about as reverence for anything as South Park. It's basically Brooklyn 99 with gods, magic, and fairies.

In conclusion, I got a lot of enjoyment out of this book. I think everyone who enjoyed his other books will enjoy this work as well. This is the perfect afternoon comfort food and if you like your stories crass, fun, and with a surprising amount of heart then you will enjoy this. This is a funny, Brooklyn 99-esque series that people who don't take their urban fantasy too seriously will greatly enjoy.

pick a narrator!

honestly, I liked the story, I like each of these narrators and IF they had read together as respective characters for the entire book, that would have been great. instead, for whatever reason they traded off and on each chapter. I was unable to get a feel for the characters because they kept completely changing in tone, inflaction, cadence etc.

not a fan of this format.

I really liked this book ..

I just wish I would have read it instead. it's really fun, well written and enjoyed the beginning I got through. if it was just the male narrator, I probably wouldn't have exchanged it as he was great. the female narrator, not so much... sorry, I just couldn't go on listening to her voice. it's too bad because the book is really good...

I absolutely LOVE this book

MK Gibson knocked it out of the park once again. the book was hilarious, intriguing, and the whole crew was quirky and the jokes were pretty great. also, F*** pumpkin spice.

Gods on drugs.

Gods live among mortals and other mythical creatures in the modern day city. However, someone is making drugs that not only give the gods their powers back, but also can kill them.

This book was a lot of fun. I was a little confused with the two narrators, because either one of them reading solo would still have been great, but was still cool to listen to them together. As with all MK Gibson's books, this one was full of action, snark and was just plain fun. Can't wait for the next installment.

Didn’t want it to end

This is a fabulous start to the series! I wasn’t sure I’d like it but took a chance. So glad I did because I loved it. The humor is great, story is awesome, characters are outrageously imperfect and unique, narration brings it all together. I can’t wait for the next one! In the meantime, I have another book by this author sitting in my library just waiting to entertain me. I’ve had it forever and can’t believe I’ve waited so long to listen to it. Now, it’s next on the list. Thanks to this book... I’m going on an M.K. Gibson binge!

I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed.

Loved It

Fantastic writing and the narration is exceptional. i highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for great characters and dark humor.

I was hooked before the first chapter ended

This book was seriously enjoyable. I was completely hooked before the first chapter ended.

The new breed of cops have to deal with drugs, vice, and Greek mythological gods. And they must do it before the faeries destroy the world. I loved this listen!

The duo narrators were really a great choice. They complimented each other very well and really worked together to give this wonderful story a seamless listen.

What a fantastic first book!

Great Story And Great Performance

M,K, Gibson has done it again! great story. and Jeffrey Kafer and Heather Costa are always the best! and they wont let you down with this book, BUY IT!

a whole lot of fun!

next one, please! bar is set VERY high! totally recommended! mk rules! encore! amazing stuff!

Laugh out loud escapades.

I received a free code and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don’t think I’ve laughed so much whilst listening to a book before.
Myths and legends sarcasm and laughs galore don’t drink whilst listening it can ruin your device when you spit it all over in fits of laughing 🤣🤣
I need book 2 ASAP please.