Hotter Than Helltown

Preternatural Affairs, Book 3

By: SM Reine

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

A killer is mutilating bodies in Los Angeles. Agent Cesar Hawke is on the case, but the murderer is ahead of him - way ahead of him.

Wiping the memories of the dead so that the team's necrocognitive can't talk to them? Done. Preventing magical reconstruction of the crime scenes? Oh yeah. And the murders keep getting more brutal while Cesar struggles to catch up.

The best way to heat up a cold case is to go to Helltown, where Los Angeles' most powerful evil hides out, but even those demons are afraid of the murderer. Their fear adds one more question to the growing pile of unknowns: What kind of bad guy is too hot for Helltown?

©2014 SM Reine (P)2014 Red Iris Books

Great Author And Narrator!

Always something new in the Magical Violations Department! This will keep you on the edge of your seat. Think Dresden on government payroll. Something is bound to happen.

Lucretia's back

Cesar Hawke doesn't like dead bodies or blood, so of course he gets a case involving a serial killer mutilator. Throwing up at murder scene is not the kind of manly persona he would like to project. The story starts with Hawke in a Motel 6 with thin walls. It has nothing to do with the story; it's just there for humor. This story delivers on the laugh out loud humor. It also has action, suspense, and surprises. There are likable characters. Just an overall fun UF series. CH is a man's man, with a weakness for the fairer sex, meaning he thinks he needs to protect them, even his partner Suzy who can hit like a sledgehammer. Who doesn't love a guy who can recognize when a woman's tone says 'you'd better listen to me or I'm going to wreak passive aggressive hellfire on your life'. The narration is spot on.

an afternoon well spent

Any additional comments?

Stumbling upon a series of books (usually because the first one is free) that I want to read is not easy. I have pretty snobby tastes in writing. Most of the time, even if the story is interesting, something always keeps me from wanting more. Sometimes it is the lack of detailed editing. Sometimes it is the lack of character development. (I really don’t care to spend more than one book on paper flat characters pigeon-holed into a forced plot.) Sometimes it is the unbelievable plot, the one that makes me roll my eyes, snicker or just downright turns my stomach.

I am still trying to understand the miraculous mix of elements that makes me return to Cèsar Hawke over and over again. He’s not the greatest of characters. He is a little old-fashioned. He does idolize women in a very sensual manner. He makes mistakes. He is stubborn.
Maybe it is all the elements of the plot that simply moves in a nice, unforced flow.

It could even be the smooth voice of Jeffrey Kafer reading me to sleep.

Whatever it is, I keep returning to this series, even holding them to the side, waiting for the moment when I need a magical fix. I am trying to make them last.

My advice? Get the audible version. It’s a quick afternoon listen that will not disappoint.