Infernal Justice

By: N. P. Martin

Narrated by: Brian Wiggins

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

In a lightless world, only darkness can drive out darkness.

My name is Ethan Drake and I’m a police detective...and I got plenty darkness to give.So does my partner, who’s a demon, and frankly, a royal pain in my ass. But occult investigators are in short supply in the PD, so what are you going to do? Anyway, we just caught a body-snatching case that has the stench of occult workings all over it. Seems someone wants to summon something bad into this world, something that threatens the very fate of humanity. I could care less about the fate of humanity myself, but hey, when it’s your job, you gotta do something, right?

Only my job has been made harder by a demon who’s decided it wants me as a vessel, and will stop at nothing until it gets what it wants. Internal affairs are also gunning for my badge over the murder of some guy who deserved it, and on top of that, I’m trying to solve the murders of my ex-wife and daughter. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the snarkiest Hellicorn in the known universe...you know that thing threatening all of humanity? I might just let it succeed....

Harry Bosch meets John Constantine in this gripping urban fantasy noir thriller.

Grab your copy of the first book in the Ethan Drake Series now!

©2019 Neal Martin (P)2019 Neal Martin

Dark Urban Fantasy with Just Right Humor

Ethan Drake is a broken cop with a fallen angel for a partner he works for the city commissioner in a special Squad X. Unknown to the other cops, he and his partner handle the paranormal cases. Looking for the demonic killer of his ex-wife and 6 year old daughter, Ethan also attempts to solve a body theft, possession and numerous murders in addition to protecting a little girl next door from her mother's abusive boyfriend. Ethan gets through the day by using magical "mud" which dulls his emotions. His band of pint size Muppet-loving body eating demonic Hellbastards and his egotistical, randy Hellicorn provide much needed comic relief and help him clean up the messes that occur when Ethan takes out a demonic foe. Ethan is a heartbroken, biogenetically enhanced soldier with a dark past who just wants to rid the world of the bad guys whoever they might be, demon or human, and is willing to do what it takes to make that happen.

I was not sure what to expect with this title but the story moved at a fast pace, was well written and the world building was tight. I found myself liking Ethan and rooting for him when things went wrong. While the themes of the book and parts of the hat could have been left out. I found them jarring and they really did not forward the plot or storyline. The vulgarity seemed to be just thrown in there. If you are easily offended by language or content, this is not the book for you. I was able to overlook this content but took a star off the story for it.

The narrator was wonderful. I really enjoyed listening to him and he really brought the characters to life, especially the little Hellbastards and the Hellicorn. Overall, this was a solid urban fantasy and I will look to read or listen to the next book in the series and will look at other series by N P. Martin.

**I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my own unbiased review.**

1 person found this helpful

dark and awesome

if John Constantine, Harry Dresden and Van Hellsing had a trist with Malificent, you have what is only a glimpse into the Awesomeness that is this book.

This book was hilarious! (spoilers)

I couldn't decide whether to give this a good star rating or a bad star rating. The book was very bad, but I couldn't stop listening because I couldn't wait to see what other cliche'd character or bad ability the main character (MC) would pull out of his @ss just in the nick of time. I felt that the author wanted to write the most powerful character ever, yet try to keep him sympathetic so it contains just about every urban fantasy trope ever used and the MC has the personality of a wet cat.
Here is the list:
1.) The MC is a police detective magic user
2.) Mysterious past with mysterious dark society
3.) Tragic past concerning wife and daughter (No mention of timeline or detail so who knows if it's related to MC's work at the dark society or if it's put in just to make MC seem angsty)
4.) Beautiful non-human partner
5.) Minions (No explanation how or why, they're just there, I think they're the comic relief element)
6,) Magic user mentor
7.) Internal Affairs is out to get him.
8.) Big baddie demon is out to get him.
9.) Connections in the underworld
10.) Drug / Alcohol addiction
PLUS he has his case to solve.
It also seems like he wants to kill everyone who gets on his bad side. I think that's everyone else in the book. I'm not sure how that's supposed to sync with him being a detective and on the "good" side.
I can't help but have fun with this book. It's almost like audiobook Mystery Science Theatre 3000 The plot holes are almost as much fun. At one point he turns in his gun and badge to Internal Affairs but 5 mins later he has his gun again. Is it the same gun? A new gun? Who knows? Anyway I'm having fun with it. It's a Grammar Nazi's playground.

Lovin’ me some Hellicorns

This seemed to have new take on gods and demons in urban fantasy. I loved it. It took me a few chapters to really get into it but I think it was because I had a lot on my mind while I started listening to it. I absolutely loved this world the author created! Ethan is a bad ass detective with supernatural powers. His little demon helpers are a mess but so adorable. If you can get past them wanting to kill everything lol. The only negative thing was when he spoke telepathically to them back and forth, there was a certain sound. Every time it happened it would startle me lol. But hey, I shouldn’t listen while driving, especially with ear buds. At first I thought it was something with the car. But it wasn’t anything distracting from the book.

Ethan’s partner is amazing. She is a demon occupying someone else’s body. But she’s one of the good guys. I loved what we saw at the end with her. I got warm fuzzies. But Omgosh, my favorite was the Hellicorn, I think his name was Haedamus. I laughed so hard at him. I hope he is in all the other books. If nothing else, people should read it for him.

The narrator is so amazing. He really brought the story to life. He also does Haddamus’s accent perfectly. I feel like he’s real. If you don’t like audiobooks, the books are also in the KU program on amazon if you have that. I thought that was nice.

Great gritty supernatural

I always love the cop/supernatural crossover. I especially enjoyed how this focused just as much on the cop aspect as the supernatural. I especially appreciated the character's love for the job!

Good story

Fun to read story with characters who are well done and feel real and a storyline that moves along nicely and keeps you interested

well done but very dark

The story was well-written and performed. The plot worked well. Just to dark for me.

surprisingly good

i stumbled across this audiobook by accident, in-between new releases from some of my favorite series and authors, and it was surprisingly well written, funny and entertaining! I hope there will be more audiobooks from the series soon!

I really thought book was great

The book itself was excellent and well written.
I thought the performance was awesome

I really didn't want to stop listening. I loved all the characters. I would really like to see a prequel story about Ethan and his life before the police, but I'm sure as the series goes on the more we will learn about his past. I can't wait for the next book!

Magic, mayhem and megawatt entertainment...

This fast-paced first installment of a new series is a page-turner that will capture your imagination and your attention with the first page and won’t let go until the very last sentence. Ethan Drake is a police detective assigned to a paranormal investigative unit called Unit X. During the course of an investigation he and his partner, Hannah Walker (a demon with a complex and captivating backstory) find themselves discredited and must clear their names or relinquish their law enforcement careers forever. All manner of madness ensues taking the reader/listener on a wild ride that includes hellions, hellbeasts, demons, necromancers, and, yes, even vampires (though vampires rate only a cameo appearance). All in all, you get unique and intriguing characters, an introduction to a fascinating paranormal reality to kindle your curiosity, and a satisfying conclusion to the immediate story that leaves plenty of room for more adventures ahead.

For those choosing the audio format, I must comment on the wonderful performance offered by the narrator, Brian Wiggins. It was a pleasure listening to him bring the story along with all the amazing and unique characters to life so vividly.

For those concerned about “hot-button” issues: yes, there is a somewhat graphic sex scene, and yes, there is a generous peppering of coarse language. While not for young readers, this story is, in my opinion, an auspicious beginning for a series that promises to distract and delight the more seasoned individual seeking an imaginative and compelling bit of escapist reading/listening.

I received a free review copy of this audiobook from Audiobook boom! and I am voluntarily leaving this honest and unbiased review.

Not all the fallen are angels...

Ethan Drake is an ex super-soldier security enforcer turned cop, who finds himself still battling the same demons, and frequently outside of the law. Making use of all the bodily upgrades he received in his previous occupation, it takes more than just his cutting-edge biotech to keep the city safe.

It seems there's a fair bit of (one of my favourite Legends), Constantine, in the inspiration for Drake. Ethan lacks John's roguish charm, however, and in many ways is less anarchic than D.C's introspective antihero.

This book is quite graphic in places. If you like to listen to audiobooks in your lunch break this is not the book for you. There are also repeated references to child loss.

I enjoyed Martin's storytelling, and it takes some skill to help the reader (or listener) care about a character who isn't sure whether or not he really cares about himself - or anything else - anymore. The writing is a bit clunky in places with lots of repetition in certain scenes and more than a few clichés, but it doesn't detract from the story.

The Hellicorn provided some much-needed levity, albeit of a very dark kind, and I hope he features in the rest of the series.

Disappointingly, none of the female characters were anywhere near as well-developed as the men, and many conformed to distinct negative stereotypes but, admittedly, the men in this book aren't healthy role models either. None of the characters are really likeable; nor are they meant to be.

This was my first audiobook narrated by Brian Wiggins, but I enjoyed his performance and felt that he had a good pace and tone to his voice. The slightly flattened, hollow tinge to the voice he gives Drake anchors the performance in grief and speaks of a man whose torment has exhausted his spirit. I was less keen oin the echoey telepathy sound-effects.

I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for a new fantasy crime series and is happy with a hero who not only gets his hands dirty but accrues a few nasty stains on his soul as well.

*I received this audiobook free of charge in the hope of an honest, unbiased review.

Very entertaining

I loved this, I'll just mention this before I give a warning about the 'foul' language, there is a lot of it so if this offends you try a different book because you won't like this one, but if, like me, it doesn't bother you, then grab it now.

The story is good, about Ethan Drake a police detective with 'powers' and a demonic partner, long story there, but if you buy it, you'll discover what happened. He's being pursued by another demon who wants his body ...

The production is even better, it's a joy to listen to, Brian Wiggins is a fantastic narrator and has just been added to my top ten male narrators.

I would definitely recommend this book and will be grabbing book 2 if and when it's available.

I received a free copy of this title, at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

Brilliant storyline and laugh out loud in places.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I really enjoyed listening and I was in fits of giggles several time especially at the names of the Hell B@#£&*%s and their escapades. The narrator did a great job of all the characters and I am eagerly awaiting more escapades from Ethan and his Hell-pers 😂