Damnable

Demonic mind bending original thriller

Wow! This book definitely caught me unaware as to the scope, depth and nature of the story. If you think it's just another heaven/hell (good vs. evil) generic romp then you are in for a pleasant surprise. The author weaves a twisting tale with such skill and precision that you may have to reread it to get the full effect. The plot can't hardly be summed up to do it full justice but the back cover synopsis does a good job of wetting your appetite. The main lead, Jacob Hatcher, is a reluctant anti-hero who finds himself drawn into the infernal affair. Tough as nails, smart, and cunning but still vulnerable in certain lights; he is great driving force and really helps bring the story to life. A fine supporting cast on both sides of the coin shows many different views on what is unfolding and each bring their own strengths/weaknesses to the overall situation. The pace and description in the book are top notch by keeping you guessing at every turn and teasing you with revelations that only open more questions. The NYC landscape is given good treatment with shady locations and the ever present sense of defilement. The violence/gore is well represented as well as when applied to different characters actions. Some gruesome scenes are depicted which help add a sinister layer to the already wicked evil intentions. The fight scenes paint a very realistic image with the impact of each blow felt on the page. Don't want to ruin the plot so just as that they are more twists and turns than a labyrinth and will have you guessing till the last page. Overall; a superb original entertaining entry into the horror/thriller genre that will keep you on your toes and going along full tilt with Hatcher till the bitter end. Can't wait to see more offerings from this fine author.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is an exhilarating Noir

The US Army trained Jake Hatcher to use enhanced extraction techniques to obtain information; the combat vet was good at this task and was rewarded by the military who sent him to prison for doing exactly what they trained him to do as a "rotten apple" grunt taking the fall when the program is exposed. He is freed from incarceration to attend the funeral of his brother though he never knew he had a brother until his sibling died. With a desperate need to know who Garrett was, why he never heard of him, and how he died, Jake investigates.

Jake learns how difficult it is to make inquiries into someone who more often than not lived in the shadows of the other side of the law. With what he has found out about Garrett, he finds it an anomaly that Garrett died trying to save the life of a woman. Unfamiliar with finesse investigative techniques as he was trained in harsh methods, Jake is a bull in a china shop that has two detectives deciding what to do about him. Meanwhile a wealthy psychopath gets his kicks slicing and dicing women and the eerie Carnates secret society of females each have reasons to silence the soul of the DAMNABLE Jake.

This is an exhilarating Noir as Jake makes inquiries into the brother he never knew existed until he attended the funeral. Fans will enjoy his wild exploits as he only knows one way to extract information, the Cheney method. However, the downside of his approach is not so much the quality of the extraction, but the noise he makes brings him to the attention of others who want him either dead or back in prison. The aptly titled DAMNABLE applies as that is surely what Jake is as two detectives, a society of women and a psychopath await to personally greet him.

HaRRIET KLAUSNER

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Good quick Read

This was a good and very strange read. Good job for a new author. Look for his next book

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very good book.

"Damnable" was a book that I bought on a whim. It was a well written suspense/thriller/supernatural novel. Before I buy a book, I read the reviews. I recommend always checking the reviews prior to a purchase. Two of them were very descriptive and helpful. The third was too brief to be useful.

"Harstan" has posted a lot of reviews, for many good reads, that are copacetic with my own opinions. So, when I see her 4 and 5 star reviews, I check out those books. That is what happened with this one, too. I am glad that I did. I liked it so much that I bought the sequel (Diabolical) as well.

Jake Hatcher is what the military calls a "Kitten". It is a military slang word for those people who use physical and psychological torture on prisoners to extract "vital" information from "the enemy". And, Hatcher is excels at his job. Unfortunately for him, Hatcher is turned into a scape-goat. He is court-martialled, and sent to a military prison.

Two months prior to Hatcher's release date, he is offerred 30 days of furlough to attend his (as yet, unknown) brother's funeral. Then, he is to report back to the prison for an early release, provided he stays out of trouble while out on furlough. But, nothing ever goes as planned. (This is where the story gets really good.)

The majority of the book happens while Hatcher is on a bereavement furlough for a brother (Garrett) that he never knew existed. Hatcher uncovers additional family secrets that disrupt his long held world views. He is determined to figure out who his dead brother was, and why he died.

Supposedly, Garrett died in an auto accident while attempting to save a woman from the psycho that abducted her, in broad daylight, from the cafe where he was dining. Hatcher is not satisfied by the official explanation of Garrett's death. He focused on finding out the truth, but ends up involved in an occult apocalypse scheme.

Hatcher always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when the cops arrive. An NYPD cloud of suspicion hangs over him throughout the book. Hatcher encounters many strange and interesting characters including crooked cops, demons, sexy demon hybrids, and a psycho billionaire.

Jake Hatcher is a well developed character. At first, I did not like him, but he grew on me after a while. My favorite part is that he is just a man doing his best. Hatcher does not want to be a hero. He is compelled to do the right thing, in his own way. And at times, that means using violence and employing his unique skill set.

This book is a very good read. The main characters are introduced in a way that is easy to follow. The story is told through Hatcher's point of view, primarily. But the p.o.v. does switch to omniscient narrator at times. There were, however, excessive scenery descriptions. The plot twists and turns kept me reading, but the suspense and unanswered questions were maddening. Fortunately, everything gets wrapped up at the end. The closure I got from the ending and the epilogue were appreciated.

There is alot of bad language, sex and violence in this novel, so I can only recommend this book to older readers. I do recommend this book to those who like supernatural thillers. I will warn you, that I did spend a lot of time Googling demons, angels, and references to the occult. Definitely worth the read.

-AvidReader

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