Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1)

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Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1)

by Justin Gustainis (Goodreads Author)

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 722 ratings · 123 reviews

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.

Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifi...more

Paperback, 400 pages

Published July 26th 2011 by Angry Robot (first published July 1st 2011)

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Paranormal Investigation / Ghost- and Demonhunters

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Apr 18, 2013 Carol rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of A.Martinez

Shelves: my-library, urban-fantasy, mystery

So I'm perusing the shelves of the half-price bookstore and happen to find Hard Spell, which I was pretty sure was on my TBR list under a special category for some reason. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember why. Was it because the author was a troll? Because a librarian said it kicked butt? Because it was the next best thing since sliced Harry Potter? I took the risk, bought it and as soon as I was home, checked my GR TBR list.

Well.

The answers were no, no, and most certainly no.

But it was fun, i...more

21 likes · like · see review

Jul 08, 2011 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, netgalley, all-the-right-choices, dark-urban-fantasy, male-pov, murder-mystery, never-saw-it-coming, reviewed-in-2011

The city of Scranton, Pennsylvania abounds with supernatural beings of all sorts – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, wizards and the occasional demon. Of course, with all this magic out in the open, the ‘live and let unlive’ policy the city is so proud of doesn’t always work out very well. There are witches who use black magic, a vampire is likely to bite an unwilling victim (especially if he thinks he can get away with it) and goblins have developed a liking for bank robberies and meth. The Occult...more The city of Scranton, Pennsylvania abounds with supernatural beings of all sorts – vampires, werewolves, ghouls, wizards and the occasional demon. Of course, with all this magic out in the open, the ‘live and let unlive’ policy the city is so proud of doesn’t always work out very well. There are witches who use black magic, a vampire is likely to bite an unwilling victim (especially if he thinks he can get away with it) and goblins have developed a liking for bank robberies and meth. The Occult Crime Unit, where only the best and the craziest detectives can find their place, was formed to deal with such cases.

My name is Markowski. I carry a badge.

When a wizard turned vampire gets killed in the most gruesome way, detective Stanley Markowski and his new partner are called to investigate. Normally Stan wouldn’t lose much sleep over a dead vampire or ten, but this case feels like the beginning of something much larger and far more dangerous. As it turns out, the vampire was the keeper of an incredibly dangerous book called Opus Mago. Here’s how the leader of the supernatural community explains it: Making use of the spells contained in the Opus Mago would be similar to what a friend of mine once said about studying the work of the philosopher Hegel: one must be highly intelligent in order to do such, and profoundly stupid to wish to. It would seem that one such person has arrived in Stranton and it’s now up to Stan and his partner Karl to stop him or her while there’s still time.

Whenever I discover an exciting new urban fantasy series, I feel like a child on Christmas morning. Thanks to Justin Gustainis, I’ve opened my presents early this year! I have to be honest here: I was a little skeptical when I requested Hard Spell. I thought it might be ok at best, but I never even considered the possibility that it would be this good. A male author and a male protagonist are very uncommon in urban fantasy – that’s why the quality of this book makes me even happier. Gustainis did everything right: his world is just dark enough to make you worry about the characters, there are enough funny moments to break the tension, and the plot doesn’t drag for a second!

I’ll probably reread this book some day.
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Feb 11, 2013 Jeffrey Keeten rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the city--Scranton, Pennsylvania.
It’s a good place to live and raise a family--apart from vampires, werewolves, ghouls, wizards, and the occasional demon.
Scranton’s got a “live and let unlive” relationship with the supernatural, just like everyplace else. But when a vamp puts the bit on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that’s when they call me.
My name’s Markowski. I carry a badge.
Also a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Otherwyrld rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-thriller, paranormal

An entertaining mash-up of police procedural with urban fantasy story. The book is set in Scranton, Pennsylvania, which is apparently a hot spot for supernatural beings due to a convergence of ley lines in the area. The main characters are the police who have to deal with crimes committed both by and against said supernatural beings, which includes vampires, werewolves, witches, goblins and ogres, among other things. The story involves a series of sacrifices of vampires, an ancient book of the o...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Gregory Litchfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was a bit reluctant to read Hard Spell, because I’m not a fan of police procedurals. However, despite the fact that Stan Markowski is a detective in the Occult and Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit, the police work is more “Dirty Harry” than “Heat”.

Another refreshing difference from most Urban Fantasy novels is that the main character is not young hot shot, but a grizzled veteran and his world experience gives the first person narrative a more realistic feel.

The plot, involving a magic us...more

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Jan 09, 2013 James rated it 4 of 5 stars

Numerous reviewers have already mentioned many elements of what I would say about this book in a review, so I will (try to) be concise. Hard Spell was recommended to me due to someone noting that I had read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and had mentioned an interest in trying to read some of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher . My interest in the latter was due to my brother recommending them, but by some odd turn of events, I ended up reading Hard Spell prior to any of the Dresden files.

Hard Sp...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-sheila

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A suspense filled supernatural detective story, with a little day-to-day realism thrown in for good measure.

Opening Sentence: This is the city – Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The Review:

Here is what I like about Hard Spell; the detectives come across like their real counterparts. Real police officers have to put themselves into real danger, and are forced to make split second decisions with lasting consequences. Given their inherently important job...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

I stayed up until 1 in the morning reading Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis, published by Angry Robot. It was that kind of book. Once I started it, I just had to finish it.

Who would have thought that Scranton, PA would be such a hotbed of supernatural activity? But for Detective Stan Markowski of the Supernatural Crime Division of the Scranton Police Department, supernatural activity is all part of the job.

Markowski is a proud member of that long blue line of cops going back to forever...he carrie...more I stayed up until 1 in the morning reading Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis, published by Angry Robot. It was that kind of book. Once I started it, I just had to finish it.

Who would have thought that Scranton, PA would be such a hotbed of supernatural activity? But for Detective Stan Markowski of the Supernatural Crime Division of the Scranton Police Department, supernatural activity is all part of the job.

Markowski is a proud member of that long blue line of cops going back to forever...he carries a badge, and a gun, and also some wooden stakes, a vial of holy water, and he loads that gun of his with silver bullets.

[iframe_loader width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/48WN33xl..." frameborder="0" allowfullscreen]

In this hard-boiled urban fantasy, the soldiers who returned from the battlefields of World War II didn't just bring home war brides, they also brought home a few vampires, and werewolves, and every other creature that goes "bump" in the night. And everyone knows. "Supes" even have civil rights by the time Markowski's story begins.

Hard Spell is a both a detective story and a really good urban fantasy. Markowski is a classic cop from that noir school--pessimistic, laconic, driven by dark secrets that are only revealed late in the story. The urban fantasy elements are a kick. McCarthy wasn't just hunting communists, he was also hunting witches! Lucie Bird Johnson married a vampire in a nighttime ceremony, and afterwards, she was known as Luci Bat.

But like all detective stories, there's a murder mystery involved. And like all urban fantasies, there's magic involved. Since those two are tied together, the investigation goes to some very strange and interesting places. Added to this, since this is still a police story, the tried-and-true element of the senior cop breaking in his new, and as yet untrusted, partner is added to the mix.

This is the first book in a series, Occult Crimes Unit. I'm looking forward to the next one. Soon would be excellent.

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Nov 16, 2011 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban_fantasy

I'm not fond of most urban fantasy worlds that toss every supernatural creature into the mix and give them civil rights, but despite that, this novel is far superior to the vast majority of paranormal/urban fantasy efforts that are glutting the market. The first-person hardboiled voice is exceptionally well done and shows more depth of character than your typical UF protagonist. Very good (but subtle) use of the Pennsylvania (Scranton) setting. Nice to see so many slavic character names which yo...more

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Aug 24, 2011 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rating: 3.5 stars.

NO SPOILERS!

Anyone that has read my blog for any period of time knows how much I love Urban Fantasy, even if me and the genre and I have our issues sometimes. However, I have to admit that I don’t tend to be the biggest fan of Male protagonists in UF. Nothing against it, but I just connect better with women, that’s all.

However, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Stan as the protagonist of Hard Spell. I reall...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sadly, I am about to "date myself"by referencing a TV show actually older I am! Stan Markowski, the Detective Sergeant who wrote the How to Recognize a Vampire Guest Post yesterday is a lot of Dragnet's Joe Friday and a lot of CSI or another modern police procedural drama. Now, Dragnet's Joe Friday, played by the shows creator and producer, Jack Webb, would start each episode off by describing a person and a crime then he would say, My name is Friday. I carry a badge

This is a good example of Urb...more Sadly, I am about to "date myself"by referencing a TV show actually older I am! Stan Markowski, the Detective Sergeant who wrote the How to Recognize a Vampire Guest Post yesterday is a lot of Dragnet's Joe Friday and a lot of CSI or another modern police procedural drama. Now, Dragnet's Joe Friday, played by the shows creator and producer, Jack Webb, would start each episode off by describing a person and a crime then he would say, My name is Friday. I carry a badge

This is a good example of Urban Fantasy mixed with Police Procedural. There is no sex, although body parts are referenced, but there is violence. It is on a level with the Anita Blake series.

I enjoyed the story. It is well written and there were a few times I had to look a word up in a dictionary. One regionalism is used that I found in the Urban Dictionary: Haina is a word common in the Wyoming Valley where Scranton (the books locale) is located. It derives from, and means, Ain't It. At first I thought it was Hawaiian.

The characters are well-defined. Some are straight-forward and some we don't know much about except salient facts. Stan is a Joe Friday character—a cop's cop. He has a hard side but knows when something has to be let go. Recovering from the loss of a partner, he is a little wary. His new partner Karl Renfer is also partner is young, interested in the job, and he and Marklowski suit each other well as they share an an equally dry sense of humor. He usually knows what to say to turn Markowski's head around. Karl, I believe, is a sensitive, I mean in the psychic sense. That sense makes him perceptive and allows him to haul Markowski's fat out of the fire a couple of times. Interesting but not overpowering details are given for several incidental characters. Such detail helps place Stan in a community; and I really felt he was part of this Alternate-Scranton. This adds to the "realness" of this Urban Fantasy. That seems to be a gift the author brings to the story.

The story is interesting, and very creative. The prose is well written and droll, which especially suits the cops. The interactions between the cops is realistic banter at times and serious at others. Gustainis makes the impossible believable partly through that important comic acting skill, not acting as if you are acting funny. In this case it would be don't act like you know how much disbelief is being suspended, and on the other hand there is a definite time before which the regular humans didn't know these things that go bump in the night are really here and are very bumpy. Sometimes the language is crude, especially in reference to women by male officers and by one female officer to, as far as I could tell, everyone.

The books pace was good. The story had enough twists to make it unpredictable. It was fun and nostalgic, a bit edgy but not enough that I wasn't able to put it down. I recommend the book and think it may be a book men enjoy as well as women. (less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Qwill / The Qwillery rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hard Spell is the first book in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigations series by Justin Gustainis. I've read a lot of books recently that include some sort of supernatural crime investigation unit - either with humans policing supernaturals, with supernaturals as police/law enforcement or both. I have not read anything quite like this.

While I am not an expert on noir, Hard Spell is definitely noirish. Stan Markowski, the main character, is fairly hard-boiled, he's got an air of desperation about...more Hard Spell is the first book in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigations series by Justin Gustainis. I've read a lot of books recently that include some sort of supernatural crime investigation unit - either with humans policing supernaturals, with supernaturals as police/law enforcement or both. I have not read anything quite like this.

While I am not an expert on noir, Hard Spell is definitely noirish. Stan Markowski, the main character, is fairly hard-boiled, he's got an air of desperation about him for a variety of reasons which become clear in the novel. The novel also pays homage in its way to Dragnet (a police procedural radio then TV show starring Jack Webb). I loved this element in the book. Essentially, however, this is an Urban Fantasy police procedural with noir elements. And it's a very good Urban Fantasy.

Hard Spell is set in an alternate Scranton, Pennsylvania, which I believe is a first. I learned some things from the book: Scranton is in an area of Pennsylvania called the Wyoming Valley. I also learned some slang indigenous to that area. Learning new things is always a plus for me in a book.

I like the main character Stan Markowski a lot. The story is told from his point of view. He's not a typical hero by any means. He's is a good cop though he stretches the rules here and there. His partner, Karl Renfer, makes a perfect foil for Stan. Stan and Karl work for the Occult and Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit, which is nicknamed the "SupeSquad." The police procedural elements are well done. You can tall that Mr. Gustainis did his homework, but he does not bog down the book with too many procedural details.

I really like some of the secondary characters in the book, even some of the creepy and scary ones. The SWAT team is really great. Read the book to find out what SWAT means in this instance.

This is a fast moving book with terrific pacing. Stan and Karl deal with several crimes while also trying to figure out the big mystery surrounding some interrelated crimes. The book moves towards the ultimate showdown while skillfully weaving together several intersecting plot lines. The ending surprised me a bit, but in a good way.

The language can be a bit coarse at times, but it suits the tone of the book. There are some moments that made me laugh and/or smile. For example, you reach the SupeSquad by dialing "666." That actually makes a lot of sense.

This is a very good start to a new series, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

I give Hard Spell 4 Qwills.

(orginally posted at The Qwillery)(less)

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Jul 22, 2011 Gecky Boz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Decidedly Deft Detective
Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis

* Received this book from the author for review
* Will be released July 26, 2011

This book gets a grand 4 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for having an old school detective story type atmosphere and for being full of paranormal goodness. Hard Spell was so much fun to read and would make for an excellent TV show or movie. The cover may look a tad cheese-tastic but it really fits will with the spirit of the story.

I of course wanted to read...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: x-read-in-2011

Its a real honest to goodness Detective story! When I first got this book in the mail, one look at the cover and the voice of Dan Aykroyd from Dragnet (1987) popped in my head - and THAT is the voice of Stan :)

This book is awesome! It starts off explaining the way the Supernatural’s (Supes) came to be known to the world (when Vamps and Were's came home from WW II ) and now living in an everyday life with the rest of us plain old humans .

Stan Markowski is a human - and he's a Decective - but he...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Nathan Shumate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There are two main kinds of urban fantasy (or “contemporary fantasy,” if we want to avoid the connotation of leather-clad kickbutt hotties who’re half vampire/werewolf/angel/demon/fairy/kobold/whatever who fall in lust with the bad boy): those set in our own world in which the fantastic elements are hidden from the everyday folk, and those in a slightly alternate version of our world in which the fantastic elements are part of everyday life. This is one of the latter.

All the standard supernatura...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Laurie Jenkins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, adventure, contemporary, fiction, kindle, paranormal, suspense, thriller, urban-fantasy, vampires, net-galley

I loved this book! Set in Scanton, Pennsylvania, a veritable hotbed of paranormal activity, Stan Markowski and his new partner, Karl Renfer, race the clock trying to find out who ritualistically killed a powerful vampire magician. When a spell goes seriously awry, Stan is unwittingly responsible for putting another close friend and colleague in terrible danger.

The uneasy, untested relationship between Stan and Karl was realistic and believable. As their partnership gained cohesion there develope...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Kathy Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this urban fantasy version of the hard-boiled detective story. The writing was compelling. I was constantly reading portions to a friend who was visiting. Stan was a remarkable character. His voice was pitch perfect. He is the dedicated, hard-working cop who is determined to keep Scranton safe from supernaturals who break the law.

Stan's current case has to do with black magic and a vampire/wizard who is killing vampires to get ready to perform a ritual that can end life as they know it....more I loved this urban fantasy version of the hard-boiled detective story. The writing was compelling. I was constantly reading portions to a friend who was visiting. Stan was a remarkable character. His voice was pitch perfect. He is the dedicated, hard-working cop who is determined to keep Scranton safe from supernaturals who break the law.

Stan's current case has to do with black magic and a vampire/wizard who is killing vampires to get ready to perform a ritual that can end life as they know it. Stan pursues all leads and angles. The case begins with the torture and mutilation of a local wizard and the theft of something from his safe. With no leads or forensics, Stan consults with his witch contact. She contacts the dead wizard but ends up taken over by him. Next comes a very ancient vampire named Vollman who also wants to find the book that was stolen from the local wizard.

The book that was stolen contains the blackest of black magic. Only five copies are in existence. Responsible wizards won't touch it. But someone not only wants it but wants to perform a ritual the needs the deaths of five vampires to complete. Along the way Stan and his partner consult with a visiting professor who has seen a few of the pages. They learn more about the spells but have no way to know what the goal is. They have a name for the wizard/vampire but have no way to locate him or predict what he will do next.

As Stan and his partner Karl follow clues and look for more information, they also have to work around Witchfinders who want to question the witch that Stan contacted. These Witchfinders are a more modern version of the witch hunters of the 1600s. Stan also has to deal with personal issues. His wife was accidentally killed by the vampire that she was seeing during an extramarital affair. That certainly gives Stan a prejudice against vampires. Also, at about the same time that his wife died, his only child developed leukemia. To save her life, Stan went to his wife's lover to have him turn his daughter into a vampire. The relationship between Stan and his daughter is not at all good.

I liked that the world that Gustainis created was so near our own. The way the supernatural creatures fitted in was very believable. I recommend this story to readers who like urban fantasy and who like mysteries. It would also appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's Dresden series or Glen Cook's Garret series. Even before I finished this one I went to Amazon and bought other books by Justin Gustainis. He is now on my "must buy" list.
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Jun 23, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, read-in-2011, urban-fantasy

Whoa. Justin Gustainis has given us a fast-paced, brutal and bloody urban fantasy that kept the hits coming. The worldbuilding here is dark and interesting. The supernaturals aren't cuddly but they aren't all bad guys. Poor Stan and his beleaguered partner get thrown into the middle of a brutal series of crimes and have to unravel the threads of why it's being done as well as who's behind it.

Stan was an interesting character. In most ways he's the very epitome of a level, fair-minded cop, yet he...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Beth Cato rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, urban, fantasy

I used to be a Law & Order junkie. I watched every incarnation of the show. As soon as I started reading this book, I had to laugh, as it immediately struck me as Law & Order detectives investigate the paranormal. The voice is thick and heavy, abounding with profanity and dry wit, with a gravelly noire feel. Sure, it's a cliche, but one that has some truth to it from what I've seen. Plus, why mess with a good formula? You have a cop who recently lost his partner. You have the new partner...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Ben Babcock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 2012-read, alternate-history, fantasy, mystery, urban-fantasy, vampires

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I imagine being a detective is difficult enough without specializing in the supernatural. It probably helps that in Justin Gustainis’ alternative world, the existence of supernatural beings from vampires to ghouls to witches has been public knowledge since after World War II. So at least you don’t run into the common problem of everyone thinking you’re crazy. Still, solving mysteries is difficult enough when you don’t have to worry about failure meaning the end of the world as we know it.

Hard Sp...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Trekscribbler rated it 4 of 5 stars

HARD SPELL Ain't No 'Hard Sell'

“My name is Markowski. I carry a badge.” And so it begins, the continuing saga of Scranton PD’s Occult Crimes Unit lead detective, Stan Markowski, as detailed by author Justin Gustainis in the Angry Robot imprint, HARD SPELL.

To be fair, this is the second book I’ve read off the Angry Robot imprint. The first one? Well, let’s just leave it at it was written by another author, and I found it so confusing that I didn’t even write a review. HARD SPELL, on the other han...more HARD SPELL Ain't No 'Hard Sell'

“My name is Markowski. I carry a badge.” And so it begins, the continuing saga of Scranton PD’s Occult Crimes Unit lead detective, Stan Markowski, as detailed by author Justin Gustainis in the Angry Robot imprint, HARD SPELL.

To be fair, this is the second book I’ve read off the Angry Robot imprint. The first one? Well, let’s just leave it at it was written by another author, and I found it so confusing that I didn’t even write a review. HARD SPELL, on the other hand, has its own charm … enough charm, in fact, that I’ve no doubt that it can fuel a series of novels featuring the lead detective, his partner, and his department.

The story? I’m glad you asked.

Flash forward to a time wherein vampires, witches, and warlocks on not so much things of myth, but they’re real, so real that they’re required to be ‘licensed’ or, at least, ‘aware’ of by the local police department. Into this world comes a hybrid – a possible vampire/sorcerer – and you’ve got something that spells trouble with a capital T. It’s a good thing that Stan’s on the case because – before this is all over – it may well spell the doom for all of mankind … or, minimally, Scranton, Pennsylvania. To say more? Why, that’d spoil the surprise. Let’s just say it all goes to heck in a handbasket – with Markowski even holding a high personal stake in the whole bloody affair. Anything else would contain spoilers, and that’s a no-no.

In all seriousness, Gustainis does a terrific job keeping the pace here. He gives his ‘occult procedural’ its own science in its own reality, and, for the most part, all of it works to great effect. The only overwhelming impression I can share that won’t spoil the fun is that ‘the fun’ as it is – Gustainis’s heavily established ‘sense of fun’ in narrating this contemporary spin in a hard-boiled world – is that ‘the fun’ kinda/sorta comes and goes pretty quickly from section-to-section of the book. Clearly, this is told from Markowski’s point-of-view; in the early pages, it’s all done very tongue-in-cheek, but that disappears a few sections in (the book contains no traditional chapter breaks). After that, that same tone re-emerges sporadically throughout the tale, giving the book an oddly uneven feel at times. Am I supposed to find this funny? Clearly, not all of it, because there’s some obvious violence – with blood, guts, and splatter involved – and he presents that with the requisite grimness. Am I supposed to take all of this seriously? Clearly, that’s not the case, either, as lead Markowski has some fun with the particulars at his own expense. It’s finding that balance – knowing when to pull the tongue out of the cheek – that could use some polish in the novels ahead for writer Gustainis. I’ve no doubt that, once he does that, he’ll have a winning formula to fuel his success … and excess! I enjoyed the book more when it dabbled in that sense of fun than I did some of the more serious moments, but it’s still a world I’d be happy to revisit in future adventures.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Fans of noir might find some prose to get jazzed about here as the author explores some of his dark world’s seedier elements. Fans of the more hard-boiled detective genre will get an occasional kick of out Markowski, a tough guy with a soft spot he’ll always keep away from vampires and their ilk. I’m not sure that ‘urban fantasy’ purists will be excited about it, mostly that’s because I’ve read very little ‘urban fantasy’ to date, but it mostly fits with what I’ve seen elsewhere. Casual readers should find it just good, gory fun.

Justin Gustainis should be commended for launching his own tent-pole book – a franchise he can build upon in the years ahead.
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Aug 07, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, contemporary, earcs, fantasy, mystery, urban-fantasy

Having read a book by the author before and not being terribly impressed, I was pleased to find that I enjoyed HARD SPELL. It's a detective story with a supernatural twist, which makes for fun reading. It wasn't very long, which I suppose works well for the genre, though I was hoping for more. Sometimes the story moved very fast, and I found myself having to reread parts to make sure what I had just read really happened, but that meant that the plot was moving along, and that's good.

Stan Markow...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, review-on-blog, suspense-mystery

*This book was provided for review. You can find this review and more on my blog @ www.booksavvybabe.com*

Hard Spell is a cop/investigation novel, with the supernatural/paranormal mixed in. Stan is a long-time cop in the Supernatural division of the Scranton Police Department. This means that Stan gets do deal with vampires, witches, trolls, werewolves and all sorts of other paranormal creatures. Anytime a paranormal element is involved in a crime, either Stan or another member of the Supe divisi...more *This book was provided for review. You can find this review and more on my blog @ www.booksavvybabe.com*

Hard Spell is a cop/investigation novel, with the supernatural/paranormal mixed in. Stan is a long-time cop in the Supernatural division of the Scranton Police Department. This means that Stan gets do deal with vampires, witches, trolls, werewolves and all sorts of other paranormal creatures. Anytime a paranormal element is involved in a crime, either Stan or another member of the Supe division are called to investigate. Stan has issues with vampires, and in Hard Spell he is called to investigate the strange, sacrificial style deaths of vampires by a dangerous wizard out to change the world as we know it. With his new partner Karl, and sporadic help from the vampire leader, Stan has to apprehend the wizard, before it's too late.
I really like Hard Spell, all of the supernatural/paranormal elements are in place, with the main characters keeping them in line. Now, the setting is Scranton, Pennsylvania, which is a great setting. However, I am a long-time fan of the US TV show "The Office" which is also based in Scranton. So, I have to admit, that for the fist 10% of the book or so, I kept chuckling to myself, hoping Michael Scott would jump out at any second (if you are familiar with The Office, I think you would understand). Thankfully, this was not the case, and I got to know Stan Markowski, investigator of supernatural crime. It is evident that Stan has to deal with a lot of crap in his line of work, and the danger level is pretty high, considering the supernatural status of his investigations. Stan is a good cop, he has bias towards vampires, but he still manages to get the job done. I also like Karl, Stan's new partner. Karl and Stan develop a strong partnership, and while they are in the supernatural division, they are still cops.

The Paranormal/Supernatural community was excellent. All manner of paranormal creatures are there, from vampires and werewolves down to goblins and witches. Hard Spell creates a world where supernaturals and regular humans manage to co-exist successfully. The police force is equipped to handle the supernaturals. I really loved the supernatural SWAT team, with priests and Jesuit special-forces and silver bullets. The mythology of the paranormal mixed right in with an urban city, and the result is a very creative city setting.

The author captures the feel of the cop world and the dynamics between the cops, their superiors, and each other. I can totally see this book as a series on TV, with the local cops chasing the local paranormal riff-raf. The story was fun, the situations were dangerous, and the outcome was unexpected. Hard Spell is a very good read, one I recommend to fans of Urban Fantasy, paranormal, or even cop dramas.(less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Amy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, supernatural, detective-mystery

I'm going to be honest: I didn't like this book. Almost every woman the main character met included a description of her sexual features; no female character was free from either overt sexualization or punishment (or both). Additionally, the book is filled with unnecessary swearing, not simply from the main character, like it's his thing or something, but from almost everyone. The language itself does not bother me in the least--I am not a delicate girl--but I find that kind of writing to be und...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Lorelei rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Very disappointed. I felt like I was reading non-stop backstory. The book started with a heavy dose and then, one of my personal dislikes, tried to create tension by launching into prolonged, unneccessary backstory just before the resolution to every climatic plot point. Grr. It's like someone other than Mr. Gustainis was writing this. I have really enjoyed his Quincy and Libby series. The adage is "show don't tell" and this book is a very good reason why it's out there.

I also really struggled t...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Mandy Luminais rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-vamp-books

Hard Spell, the first book in Justin Gustainis’s Occult Crimes Unit Investigation (Markowski) series, was absolutely amazing, one of the best books I have read in years. Since I usually read paranormal romance novels, I was not sure if I would be able to really sink my teeth into this one, but I am glad that I was wrong. I was totally hooked after reading only a few pages!

Hard Spell begins with an intriguing, alternate history of the existence of supernatural creatures, or “supes” as they are c...more Hard Spell, the first book in Justin Gustainis’s Occult Crimes Unit Investigation (Markowski) series, was absolutely amazing, one of the best books I have read in years. Since I usually read paranormal romance novels, I was not sure if I would be able to really sink my teeth into this one, but I am glad that I was wrong. I was totally hooked after reading only a few pages!

Hard Spell begins with an intriguing, alternate history of the existence of supernatural creatures, or “supes” as they are called by the citizens of Scranton, PA. Not only are their identities no longer concealed from the human population, but they also have the same civil rights and must follow the same set of laws as humans do (in addition to other regulations dealing with magic, infecting humans, and so on), and this is where the Scranton PD’s Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit comes into play. This special unit of officers was created to solve crimes, crimes which have been both committed by and against “supes”, and Detective Sergeant Stan Markowski, with his dark personality, quick wit, and dry sense of humor, is the perfect man for the job.

Although he hates vampires, Markowski gets the job done at any cost, even if the victim is a vampire. Throughout the beginning of the book, the reasons behind his hatred of vampires as well as his passion for the job are unknown but as the story moves forward, Stan’s own secrets jump out at you when you least expect them to, revealing some very intense emotions and motives underneath his hard exterior.

While Markowski is the dark, determined force on the “supe squad”, his partner, Karl Renfer, brings a youthful, light-hearted aspect to the story. The two are the perfect pair - the combination of experience and the rookie, cryptic and clear, dark and hearty - molded into one odd, yet effective partnership which will leave you scowling and laughing at the same time. Early on, the duo find themselves in the middle of a fast-paced, gruesome murder investigation full of twists and turns which leads to a shocking yet entertaining ride for the reader. Each turn of the page left me craving more of these occult detectives - I couldn’t get enough!

I also enjoyed the variation of characters in the novel - human detectives who protected both the human and “supe” populations, a SWAT team (Sacred Weapons & Tactics Unit) compiled of humans, supes, and one ferocious hell-hound named Daisy, goblins high on Meth, white witches who aid the “Supe Squad” when called upon, witches practicing forbidden black magic, an old, creepy vampire-sorcerer named Vollman, an evil supernatural perpetrator on a mission fueled by vengeance, and many, many more creatures that go “bump” in the night. It seems that so many unique characters within one story would be overwhelming, but Gustainis has a brilliant way of weaving each of them into the plot so that the story flows along while still keeping you on the “edge of your seat”.

Gustainis has done a brilliant job of creating an array of unique characters as well as a dark, urban setting full of mystery combined with compelling dialogue, dark humor, and just enough blood and guts. Hard Spell was the perfect blend of reality and fantasy, and Gustainis’s style of writing fuses the known and the occult into one perfectly generated atmosphere where paranormal creatures and humans coincide. This book is now at the top of my “favorites” list, and I recommend that anyone who enjoys reading urban fantasy, mystery, or crime novels, should buy a copy and start reading today. (less)

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Jul 21, 2011 Glennis rated it 3 of 5 stars

A new book set in an urban fantasy setting where everyone knows about vampires, werewolves and witches. Stan works for the Scranton Police dept in the Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. The book starts with an infodump and a prologue but neither really bothered me that much since the infodump gives you the world setup of how everyone learns about the supernatural and the prologue gets you the set up for the Stan and his new partner.
The main plot has Stan and his new partner trying to find...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Bryan457 rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-mystery-detective, monster-hunters, urban-fantasy

A cop on the supernatural crime beat. When a crime occurs in Scranton Pennsylvania involving the supernatural, the men and women on the supernatural division of the PD get called. In the first few pages supernatural PD detective Stan Markowski gets to deal with goblins on meth holding up a liquor store and a cult sacrificing a hooker to summon a demon.

This book has the distinction of being the only book that has ever offended me so badly that I tossed it rather than finish what looked to be an i...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Jennie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis is the first book in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigation series. Its first person narrative follows Detective Stan Markowski as he and his partner Karl Renfer try to solve a series of gruesome murders.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book as I knew nothing about it until I received it in the mail (I won it in a contest done by the publisher, Angry Robot Books). The back blurb reminded me of the old cop series my sister and I used to watch on TV growing up an...more Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis is the first book in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigation series. Its first person narrative follows Detective Stan Markowski as he and his partner Karl Renfer try to solve a series of gruesome murders.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book as I knew nothing about it until I received it in the mail (I won it in a contest done by the publisher, Angry Robot Books). The back blurb reminded me of the old cop series my sister and I used to watch on TV growing up and the story itself did not disappoint.

The setting for the story is an alternate version of present day. In the book’s altered history, supernatural elements from Europe (i.e. werewolves, vampires, and ghouls) were brought back to the States after World War II. While initially despised, supernaturals, or supes, were eventually granted equal rights with humans during the American Civil Rights movement. Now supes are everywhere, and just like humans some are law-abiding citizens and some are, well, less law-abiding.

Stan Markowski is the typical hard-boiled detective whose job is working on cases where either the suspect or the victim is a supe. He’s good at his job and bad at dealing with his family. He has skeletons in his closet, but is trying to do the right things in life. He’s not a super-genius but he is very streetwise and always knows when he’s in over his head, even if it’s too late to do anything about it. And in this world were goblins do meth and True Blood is a documentary, Stan is just trying to keep his town safe and do his best to keep his partner and himself alive one more night.

This was a really fun story to read. It wasn’t very deep and if you ever seriously watched cop shows on TV there won’t be a lot of surprises. But the whole concept of a world where you call 911 in case of emergency and 666 in case of a supernatural emergency is just cool in my mind. My favorite thing about this story is its flavor. Unlike some of the other urban fantasy I’ve read, this is a place where otherworldly things are no longer mystical and seeing a werewolf at the grocery store is something that most people take for granted. Overall it was an interesting take on the genre, fun read if you like cop/detective serials, and I give it 4-1/2 stars. And for myself, I will definitely be picking up book two! :)

Hard Spell is due out in the US on July 26th and is available now in the UK and in ebook format. The sequel, Evil Dark, will be available in April 2012.

For disclosure purposes, I won an ARC copy of Hard Spell from the publisher in a giveaway contest, but chose to review it on my own. Winning the book did not influence my opinion in this review. :)

Read the complete review on Fantasy-Faction.(less)

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Jul 31, 2011 Jessie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fantasy, mystery-supernatural, mystery-crime-thriller

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.

The 5th great wave of immigration to the United States began after WWII with the advent of easy air travel. Since then the "Supes" or Supernatural Creatures (vampires, werewolves, ghouls, wizards and witches, ogres, and the like), have been immigrating from Europe and establishing themselves as legal citizens. The Scranton–Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania area is boasts a large population of Supes due to a felicitous meeting of ley lines running thro...more

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About Justin Gustainis

Justin Gustainis was born in Northeast Pennsylvania in 1951. He attended college at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit university that figures prominently in several of his writings.

After earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army.

Mr. Gustainis currently lives in Plattsburgh, New York, with his wife, Patricia Grogan. He is a Professor of Comm...more

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Books by Justin Gustainis

Evil Dark (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation, #2)

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives

Sympathy for the Devil (Quincey Morris, #3)

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Quotes from Hard Spell

“My name is Markowski. I carry a badge. Also a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.

I was never a Boy Scout but "Be Prepared" is still a good motto to live by. Especially if you plan to keep living.” — 4 people liked it

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Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1)

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