Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Hell Cop
AUTHORS: Astrid Amara, Nicole Kimberling and Ginn Hale
NARRATORS: Tristan James, John Solo and Kirt Graves
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 8 hours and 29 minutes
RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020
BLURB:
Three award-wining authors bring a magical city and its fantastic defenders to life!
Home to demons, enchanting creatures, sorcerers, and millions of ordinary people equipped with paranormal technology, Parmas City runs on magic. But not all sorcery is benign. Whether they’re murderous spells, supernatural assassinations, demon-fighting rings or illegal incantations, paranormal crimes abounds. Sworn to take on those threats are the tough, tireless, and often troubled members of the Metropolitan Demonic Unit–the Hell Cops.
“Next of Kin” by Astrid Amara: Jay Yervant is a Hell Cop so powerful that his bare skin incinerates anyone he contacts. Isolated, he is tortured by desire, until he meets Brian, a sensual young man who touches him with impunity. But Jay’s burgeoning hope is threatened when a malevolent sorcerer unleashes a host of demonic assassins against Brian. Keeping his lover may cost Jay his life.
“Red Sands” by Nicole Kimberling: Anthropologist Michael Gold’s got problems. His apartment’s been ransacked, his dad’s missing, and he’s been framed for murder. As a half-demon he expects trouble from the city’s Hell Cops. Instead, he gets Argent, a man with intimate knowledge of Michael and whom Michael can’t penetrate with his psychic powers. So does Argent want to clear him or expose him?
“Touching Sparks” by Ginn Hale: When photojournalist James Sparks discovers an underworld of sorcery, blood sports, and demonic drug traffic, he turns to Detective Ben Moran, a hard-bodied Hell Cop whose touch sends James’s pulse racing. But when James uncovers evidence of police corruption he realizes that Moran may be in as much danger as he is.
REVIEW:
“Next of Kin” – 4 hearts/stars
This story was intriguing! Brian has essentially “run away from home” to Parmas. He was not allowed to be himself and was firmly in the closet when growing up thanks to the conservative nature of his family and in particular his stepfather. The reason why he has come to Parmas is not shared with us initially, but his interaction with Jay during a tragic turn of events that has lead to mass death has Jay intrigued. He finds himself wondering more and more about Brian and his abilities that he seems completely oblivious to. When Jay finds out that Brian has been raised in a commune far from the city with some fairly antiquated ideas and really not a lot of knowledge about who he is and more importantly what he is, he finds himself thrust into the role of protector. The fact that he’s attracted to Brian and that they can indulge in all kinds of activities that Jay can’t normally also intrigues him. When he discovers just who and what Brian is, Jay has to potentially put himself in harm’s way – but maybe it will lead to something for both of them.
I really liked this story! I though Tristan James narration was spot on. I could easily follow the action and the characters by the voices and I found the story engrossing. I loved Brian’s naivete and also Jay’s shy but interested approach. Jay really has to teach Brian a lot about the world that he now inhabits in Parmas. As we discover Brian’s reasons for being in town and his nature and ultimately who and what he is, Jay is his rock. He’s the one who takes care of him and gives him the information he needs to stay safe. He really looks out for him. The initial attraction grows into something more 🙂
Red Sands – 3 hearts/stars
Michael is an anthropologist caught in a possible murder charge. He doesn’t remember, but he’s sure he didn’t kill his cousin. There is a bit of a convoluted mystery with a cop and the rest of his family who blames Michael. Unfortunately, the story didn’t really engage me and I didn’t follow the narration very well either. I couldn’t always tell who was talking at some point I was lost enough that I stopped caring. This was the weakest story for me. This is not one of my favorite narrators unfortunately either, so I couldn’t give it more than 3 hearts.
Touching Sparks – 4 hearts/stars
This story was also really intriguing. James Sparks is an information for his former neighbor, a Hell Cop. Ben Moran still remembers James as a kid and has trouble reconciling that with the man who now puts himself in harms way to help Ben catch the bad guys. But as they get caught up in the investigation, the stakes get higher. Lives are lost and both Ben and James are on the brink of losing not only the bad guys, but their lives and each other. But James is pretty tenacious and smart and Ben begins to see him in a new light.
I really liked this one as well. James and Ben were well drawn characters. I also really like the narration – this was my first Kirt Graves book and I really liked it. James and Ben both grew on me during the story and I liked how they meshed together.
RATING: 
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