Johannes Cabal the Detective

By: Jonathan L. Howard

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Johannes Cabal, necromancer of some little infamy, returns in this riotously clever and terrifically twisted tale of murder and international intrigue.

In this genre-twisting novel, infamous necromancer Johannes Cabal, after beating the Devil and being reunited with his soul, leads us on another raucous journey in a little-known corner of the world. This time he’s on the run from the local government.

Stealing the identity of a minor bureaucrat, Cabal takes passage on the Princess Hortense, a passenger aeroship that is leaving the country. The deception seems perfect, and Cabal looks forward to a quiet trip and a clean escape, until he comes face-to-face with Leonie Barrow, an enemy from the old days who could blow his cover. But when a fellow passenger throws himself to his death, or at least that is how it appears, Cabal begins to investigate out of curiosity. His minor efforts result in a vicious attempt on his own life—and then the gloves come off.

Cabal and Leonie—the only woman to ever match wits with him—reluctantly team up to discover the murderer. Before they are done, there will be more narrow escapes, involving sword fighting and newfangled flying machines. There will be massive destruction, not to mention resurrected dead . . .

Steampunk meets the classic Sherlockian mystery in this rip-roaring adventure where anything could happen . . . and does.

©2010 Jonathan L. Howard (P)2010 Random House

Critic reviews

"Johannes Cabal would kill me for saying this, but he's my favorite Zeppelin-hopping detective. The fellow has got all the charm of Bond and the smarts of Holmes -- without the pesky morality. Seriously though, don't tell Cabal I so much as mentioned his name." (Daniel H. Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising and the forthcoming Robopacolypse)

“Is there life beyond death? Definitely! That is, if Johannes Cabal is on your side…The mysteries of past and future--science fiction and the occult, Jules Verne and Robert Anton Wilson--are all wrapped up in Jonathan L. Howard's fast-paced escapade of esoteric adventure.” (Katherine Neville, New York Times bestselling author of The Eight and The Fire)

Just as good as the first

What made the experience of listening to Johannes Cabal the Detective the most enjoyable?

The writing

Have you listened to any of Robin Sachs’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard this narrator before, but I enjoy his reading of this book.

Any additional comments?

I disagree with the comments about the narrator's failure to live up the narrator for the previous book. The comparison is apples and oranges. Sach is not as high energy as the previous narrator, but his dead-pan reading matches perfectly with the tone of the book. Also, he does a wonderful job with the shifting accents. I am enjoying his reading of the book as much as I enjoyed that of the previous narrator.

Great 2nd installment of Johannes Cabal

In the second book of the Johannes Cabal series, we find Johannes carnival-less, on the run, and in the air. While attempting to escape the somewhat sticky situation of stealing the only remaining copy of Volume 5 of a Necromancy book to complete his set, Cabal is forced to assume a false identity, cross country borders, and meddle into lives and situations he'd much rather watch with popcorn from afar, if not at all. Oh, and stay alive. With a re-emergence of a past character, we are treated to another side of Cabal - one that can't leave well enough alone when a suicide (murder?) is committed and his unparalleled intelligence is so obviously needed. With no less than 3 murder attempts at his life - which let's face it, is a weekly occurrence for Cabal - he also finds himself trying to understand things utterly foreign to him: feelings. *GASP* This high flying book is packed with thievery, murder, action, mystery, entomopters, and feelings. *gasp*

While there is a tiny disconnect from book 1 to book 2 due to narrator change, the reading style and emphasis is still very much Cabal. Robin Sachs does his job beautifully and we get accents galore, and they are stupendous. While the comedy is still very much included in this book, it's less relaxed jovial humor (as in JC:N) and more mystery murder humor, but it is definitely, unequivocally Cabal.

NOT a spoiler alert: Book 3 is great as well.

I need more Jonathan L Howard books in my life. I'm halfway through his library and I just don't think it will be enough. Do you hear me Mr. Howard? More, please!



Although I'd have reviewed it anyway, (say it with me in that guy's voice at the end of every audible book recording): this is an AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Another great Cabal adventure...

I love these books. Each highlights something different, i.e. comedy, drama, fantasy, intrigue. Great narration as well.

so very entertaining

Brilliant; this account is simply brilliant and very pleasant to listen to. The first tale in the series was so refreshing to listen to, but this one is just as great, if not better. I personally think everyone should know Johannes Cabal, Necromancer.

Another Great Story by Jonathan L Howard

Jonathan L Howard has quickly become one of my favorite writers, and I enjoyed this installment of the tales of Johannes Cabal. although I liked the first book better, I still enjoyed this book thoroughly.

As the name implies, this book is a mix between detective novel, steampunk, spy novel and supernatural. The tone was pretty playful, and the setting was imaginative.

I didn't enjoy the narrator as much as I did the previous book, but he's no slouch. The narration was excellent--it was just very different.

A great read overall. my next credit is another Jonathan L Howard book!

it's okay

not as good as first one. different reader kept confusing me. liked the first one more

What a Despicable Man

Better than the first in basically every way. Cabal is a far more redeemable creature in this one and the descriptive-and very English-writing made me burst out in unexpected laughter several times. Narration is lovely, if you're going for the audiobook, so I'd highly recommend. The first book isn't even really needed to read this one. Which could be seen as both a plus and a strike against it.

Beyond Fantastic

Robin Sachs does a remarkable job maintaining character and provides a brilliant depth to Johnathan L. Howard's story. I hope that in the future, Sachs lends his talent to the Cabal series again. He has nailed the accents and emotions of Howard's wide case of brilliant characters.

Howard maintains a unique writing style that continues to impress me- Not only because of his tongue and cheek narrative, which he uses to give some small semblance of humorous sympathy for Johannes Cabal, the somewhat morally-gray anti-hero of the series, but challenges the writing style as the hero of the story begins challenging himself as well.
I feel the only criticism I can give, is Howard's sense of timing. He has a love of describing situations in great length- even when the situation in question is relatively short, and consequentially ignores a sense of urgency.

Reminds me of Robert E. Howard's conan stories....

About 3/4 of the way thru, it hit me. These stories move just like the original stories by Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian stories from the 1920's and 30's. If you like that style of story, the pacing, the unique characters, suspensful buildups and subtle surprises, you'll dig this book. I've read the first book in the authors story arc, and his last book of Cabal short stories, and this one is really great - like that 2nd sophomore album that rocks, it's a great listen, and the narration is impeccable. Beware, for you'll be hooked.

An Entertaining New Direction

The first of this series remains my favorite, but this is a great second. Robin Sachs does an excellent job as narrator, though we will miss Christopher Cazenove. The short story that follows the main story picked my spirits from the deflation I sometimes feel when I come to an end of a good story. The necromancy, magic and macabre isn't as prevalent as we see in the first book, but it remains as clear as ever that Johannes is as resourceful as he is dangerous, despite the very human aspects that make him so relatable (and, in my opinion, lovable) to "non-dangerous" people.