• Flesh and Steel

  • Warhammer Crime: Warhammer 40,000
  • By: Guy Hayley
  • Narrated by: James Macnaughton
  • Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (624 ratings)

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Flesh and Steel  By  cover art

Flesh and Steel

By: Guy Hayley
Narrated by: James Macnaughton
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Publisher's Summary

A Warhammer Crime audio.

Murder in the neutral zone between Imperial and Adeptus Mechanicus territory sets Probator Symeon Noctis on a dangerous investigation.

Listen to it because: discover tensions between Imperial servants on Varangantua as an extremely odd pair of detectives seeks to solve a murder.

The story: born into riches, Probator Symeon Noctis attempts to atone for his past sins by championing the powerless of Nearsteel district. But the sprawling city of Varangantua is uncaring of its masses, and when a bisected corpse is discovered in the neutral zone between Nearsteel and the Adeptus Mechanicus enclave of Steelmound, Noctis finds himself cast into his most dangerous case yet.

Partnering with the tech-priest Rho-1 Lux of the Collegiate Extremis, Noctis is drawn into a murky world of tech-heresy, illegal servitors and exploitation that could end his career or his life.

Written by Guy Haley. Narrated by James Mcnaughton.

©2020 Games Workshop Limited (P)2020 Games Workshop Limited

What listeners say about Flesh and Steel

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MORE!

Honestly really loved this, I would love for them to continue this storyline with noctis

7 people found this helpful

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This was good, really good.

This was the first 40k story since The Talon of Horus that has had me truly engaged. All I have to say is this is a job well done to Guy Haley, and the narrator James Macnaughton for being able to set the bar so high with this new Warhammer Crime thing.. I was skeptical, but you guys hit the sweet spot with this one. Listen to this story, you will not be disappointed. Hats off to Guy, hats off to James. 👏 These 2 have a synergy together.

4 people found this helpful

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I sad when I finished because now I need to wait

I am really enjoying the 40K crime novels so far. This book was really entrancing and had me wanting to listen all day. Why listen to my family argue over dumb stuff during thanksgiving, when I can listen to the description of how a crashed battleship was turned into a casino or how a servitor is made. The narration was great and I hope to hear James McNaughton again soon.

4 people found this helpful

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A fantasticly Grim Dark Detective story.

Great Characters.
Great descriptions of the scenery. I only wish we heard the ambient noises.

2 people found this helpful

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Warhammer Crime fleshes out the universe

Really loving the Warhammer Crime novels. they really add alot of detail to the universe of Warhammer 40000 by giving you the perspective of what life is like on an Imperial World in a city that's not quite a hive, but more akin to New York in the movie "the Warriors". The characters all feel real, and the stories are not too outlandish. the Narrator in this one did a great job with the voices, and they occasionally bring in a female to narrate as well.

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40k crime?

At first is was suspicious, but as the book went on, I fell into it's embrace.

2 people found this helpful

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a good story for a long drive

I think overall the story was really good the only part that kind of hung out a bit. The performance was Stellar from the voice actors and the overall Ambience of it. It did dragon some locations but I would definitely say it's worth having in your collection of audiobook. Guy Haley as usual always brings out a great story and I see he's trying to few new element along the way. James McNaughton has a nice voice for a young character and seems to be a strong point with flexibility between different characters that are male and female.

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A good time

In 16 years i have never heard servitors called cyborgs, sounds like bloody mainstreaming... But other then that this longbeard has nothing else to grumble about 😉
Pretty decent crime/40k novel otherwise, i enjoyed it a lot

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Nice detective novel

In my opinion this novel is a good continuation of this series. I love detective stories so for me it was a no brainer. Guy Hayley is for me second to Dan Abnett so there’s that. The performance feels genuine. I fully recommend.

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Eager for more

this is such a great insight of the life in the Imperium sides the view of the astartes an I am eager for a continuation of this story of Noctis an Lux

1 person found this helpful

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  • Michael Judge
  • 04-14-21

Loved it

Really enjoying books set in the Warhammer universe that don't involve space marines. Hope to see more Warhammer crime books

7 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 07-15-21

Would recommend

the tale is a nice change from the space marine epics and is "down to earth" in he 40k universe.

3 people found this helpful

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  • Mr. James A. Flinders
  • 07-03-21

my first Warhammer crime book, won't be the last

the characters are fascinating, the closer up view of an imperial world is so interesting and drew me in. Noctis and Lux are fantastic characters, both very relatable despite a time separation of 38,000 years.

excellent narrator too. looking forward to the next Noctis and Lux story now.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 07-01-21

A noir crime novel in the 41 st millenium

I really enjoyed this listen. a great peak into the proceedings of both regular human and mechanicus law enforcement. recommended if you want something else than space marines in your 40k books.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Owen
  • 06-29-21

A fantastic read

I’m loving the crime aspect of the 40k universe, guy Haley is one of my fav authors and James macnughton is now a fav narrator, great story, will recommend!

2 people found this helpful

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  • J. A. Gibson
  • 04-13-21

Gritty crime

I really enjoyed this departure from the usual 40K novel of endless war between superhuman soldiers. This novel gives you a decent cyberpunk crime story wrapped in 40K settings. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Alexander J. Thirkill
  • 12-21-20

Pretty good, slow burn

I think I enjoyed Bloodlines more, I could relate to the downtrodden middle aged guy more, this is pretty strong, with good performances from both leads.

Where it leaves you at the end, you definitely want more, a great cliffhanger.

I'd buy the next one.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Steven
  • 10-12-20

Brilliant listen well done Guy Hayley

Fantastic audio book well written and narrated exceeded all my expectations totally recommend this audio book enjoy

2 people found this helpful

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  • paul sparks
  • 10-05-20

Entertaining

This is a familiar trope used in many crime books the main difference here that it is set in the Warhammer universe, it’s an entertaining listen and I enjoyed it but the use of the first person narration meant far too many “I said, he said” which after a while became annoying, personally I prefer Chris Wraights telling of life in this world, i had not heard this narrator before and he did a really good job and kept the interest alive

2 people found this helpful

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  • Anominousraptor
  • 12-11-22

great read best characters ive read in 40k so far

I cant wait for this story to continue. i love the characters and the interactions between them

1 person found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-06-20

Guy Haley in his best and the worst

The book is... curious.
As a detective story it fails on almost every aspect. There are little tension, little clues gathering or mystery. The investigation feels rushed and abrupt.
However, Guy Haley is still Guy Haley. The main characters - Noctis and Lux (not very subtle) both are complex and interesting. Noctis in particular is a restless soul: tortured by guilt and regrets, but longing for justice, redemption and desire to make things right. It may sound like a cliche that we had seen hundreds of times but it works. You almost instantly like him. The only complaint I have is that he is too similar to another Guy Haley’s character: Honoured Lieutenant Bannick from Baneblade/Shadowsword novels. Disgraced scion of a noble house, driven by guilt and seeking for redemption. However, unlike Bannick, Noctis has more grit, personal charisma and determination. And to be frank, Noctis’ backstory is much more tragic and can give you a punch in the guts. The second main character - Lux is a bit of a mystery. You only know a few things about her history, but as the story progresses she is shown as compassionate as Mechanicus could be. The dynamic between her and Noctis is a bit awkward but also cute and sweet with a lot of hints for further development.
Those two are what make this story work. You want to know what will happen with them. I was supposed to ran 6km, instead I ran 12km because I didn’t want to stop listening the book. Once you started you are on the hook.
Not everything is fun and sun though. First, Haley overuses phrases “he said/she said/I said”. It can be really really irritating when you constantly hear it over and over and over again: “I said, then he said, then she said, then I said, then they said, then I said again, and said, and said, and said”. The second biggest drawback: lack of proper detective story. Everything just... happens. Not through clever investigation or wit and mind games, but through luck and other characters who suddenly appear to spill the bins for our detectives. Deus Ex Machina in its worst.
Third thing and it is really subjective but Haley used that trick so many times in his previous books that I really sick of it already. The plot-lines that are obvious and shameless sequel baits! From Noctis and Lux backstories to stupid subplot about the officials going through Noctis personal journal.
I’ve never regretted buying this book, but the strong feeling of irritation won’t let me until I finally get my grabby hands on the second book and find out what will happen next. And in my book (no pun intended) it worths something.
The performance is superb. The narrator kinda sounds tired and depressed capturing the mood and the atmosphere. Great job!
Overall, I quite enjoyed it but if Guy Haley won’t release the second part soon I will be reeealy really mad.

4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Coen peters
  • 03-03-21

Just crappy tbh

Bad writing and just political bitching about capitalism trying to disguise lack of narrative. Skip

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  • Gabriel
  • 01-31-21

My new favourite from The Black Library

I have liked every story involving the Mechanicus is that I’ve read so far but this one is even better than the rest.
Loved it.
Loved the main characters.
The setting is amazing.
Guy Haley did better with the 40k economy than Dan Abnett did in Eisenhorn.
The supporting characters are cool.
The plot is a wild ride.
This one is right up there with Imperator: Wrath of the Omnissiah by Gav Thorpe.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-16-20

IMO

the noir detective genre fits the Warhammer 40K universe like a glove. add to that a self loathing protagonist and a cast of varangantuas worst, we get a very enjoyable book

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  • Callum rush
  • 10-15-20

A great story with great characters.

Really great story that gives us a look into the lives of people that make up hive cities. these characters aren't super soldiers, they won't change the galaxy or even their own world, but it's intreseting to see how they interact with it. It was also nice to see blacklibrary focusing more on character relationships.