Audio Book Review: Modern Sorcery

Modern Sorcery

By:  Gary Jonas

Publish Date:  October 21, 2014, Audiobook December 9, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 13 mins
Narrated By:  Joe Hempel

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in Jonathan Shade series

Impression:  Light mystery with magic. Introducing us to the world of Jonathan Shade.

Synopsis:
A SAVAGE MURDER
A husband armed with a sword hacks apart his wife in a Denver grocery store. There are dozens of witnesses, and the crime is captured on the security cameras. To the police, it’s an open-and-shut case.

To Naomi, the daughter of the couple, it’s evidence of dark magic. She hires her ex-lover, a private investigator named Jonathan Shade to prove her father is innocent.

Shade specializes in paranormal cases, but he isn’t buying it. Still, he takes the case, hoping to rekindle their relationship. Instead, Shade finds himself mixed up in supernatural intrigue with wizards, magically engineered assassins, and an ancient sorcerer returned to life who’s willing to kill anyone who stands in his way.

Too bad Shade doesn't have any magic.

First Sentence:
When I stepped off the elevator and started toward my office, Esther stuck her head through the wall.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Jonathan returns to his office to find a client waiting. Naomi Miller. Who is also his ex who left when he asked her to marry him. Naomi wants to hire Jonathan to find her father's innocence, for killing his wife and her mother. There is solid evidence against David, but Naomi hopes Jonathan will find evidence of magic being used on David. What starts as a simple cut and dry case turns into more when Jonathan learns of powerful crystals that were guarded by David, and are to be destroyed. Now whoever is after the crystals housing the spirit of a dangerous wizard, are after Naomi. And Jonathan is determined not to let anything happen to the woman he still loves.

This is a first for me listening to Joe Hempel voice a story. Joe does slight softness and hardness differences in his voice for the woman and men. The narrator also does a southern accent done for a character. The story is from Jonathan's POV, so the story is mainly one voice except when others are talking. I didn't notice that there was much variation in voices though. Joe's voice is clear and easy to understand. The quality of the air around him is clean which makes it easy to listen to the story without distraction.

The story feels as it's light with the jokes Jonathan makes. The writing is easy to follow as we go along in the story finding what Naomi's true agenda is in hiring Jonathan. We are introduced to those that surround Jonathan in a progression that we won't forget them.

First we meet Esther. Oh I loved Esther from the first moment we see her in the very first sentence of the story. She wears a flapper dress as that's what she died in. Then we meet Kelly, his partner in business and who teaches martial arts. There is a story to Kelly, and I'm looking forward to getting more and more with each story. She's strong and something special. It seems she was made this way from the things we learn here. We do meet a detective that is Jonathan's connection to the police. Then we meet Sharon. Aaah. We learn Sharon has her own troubles and history too. This is another very, very interesting past I look forward to hearing about. Of course I can't forget about Jonathan! He's one that comes across with a great sense of humor. He doesn't make me bust out laughing, but I see his humor as trying to break the ice, whether of a tense situation because of conversation topic or fighting with the bad guy. It felt as though there is a potential for Jonathan mentioned at the end of the book. I'm curious where his ability will go in time.

This was a nice start to a series that feels light, fun and interesting to read. I got my cases for Jonathan to solve, that is more than meets the eye, along with action and fighting with magic. There is resolve to the story yet I'm still curious to carry on with the characters and learn their secrets. I do hope to continue with the series!