Murdered spirits find Atlas Bishop wherever he is. By day, he works the streets of Dublin as a Private Detective plagued with anxiety and anger issues, living with his dead mother. By night, he works on behalf of the “Sacred”—angels, saints, and God Himself—binding murdered souls to those who stole their lives so Hell can claim its dues.
But an ancient pact between Heaven and Hell implodes when Hell’s representative on Earth decides he wants to swell their ranks and take over the world, using dark magic to turn innocents into murderers on an epic scale. Atlas must save Dublin first and then the world, all while trying to bind lost souls, keep Heaven in business, track down his killer father, pine for his married ex-lover, escape various murderous scum…and avoid Hell and being kicked in the face by Hitler, again.
Atlas Bishop is a man haunted by more than just memories—he is pursued by the restless spirits of the murdered, no matter where he goes. By day, he navigates the gritty streets of Dublin as a private detective, burdened with anxiety, anger issues, and the ghostly presence of his deceased mother. By night, Atlas takes on a far more ethereal role, serving the "Sacred"—angels, saints, and even God Himself—by binding the souls of the murdered to those responsible for their deaths, ensuring Hell claims its due.
I received a complimentary digital copy of "Perdition Street" through Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
The cover art and blurb immediately captured my interest, compelling me to request a copy. I’ve always been drawn to characters who can see the dead—figures like Klaus from The Umbrella Academy, Norman from ParaNorman, and Lydia from Beetlejuice. There’s a certain charm to that archetype, and Atlas Bishop fits it well. I thoroughly enjoyed the supernatural elements of the story, particularly the way religion is woven into the narrative. The inclusion of the angel Gabriel and the explanations of the spiritual mechanics added depth to the plot.
One of the most refreshing aspects of the book was its unpredictability; it kept me engaged from start to finish. However, my enjoyment waned slightly towards the end. The sudden introduction of a world-ending threat felt a bit abrupt, and I believe the story could have benefitted from a longer development of this plotline. Despite this, the conclusion was satisfying—I'm always pleased by a happy ending. Overall, Perdition Street was a charming, funny, and thoroughly intriguing read.
✨ I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily ✨
4.5⭐
Perdition Street by Leona O’Neill is a spooky, thrilling, supernatural ride that takes readers on an epic journey unlike any other.
Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The characters in Perdition Street are all at different stages in their lives. Some are happily married and are reaching new, exciting milestones. Others have recently departed this world and are confused or unsure about what comes next. And some, like our main character Atlas Bishop, are struggling with debilitating mental health issues as a result of a traumatic upbringing, and being employed by Heaven to usher souls who have been brutally murdered to Heaven, on top of an alcohol addiction. All of these characters go through unspeakable challenges, but also experience substantial growth that leaves them as better versions of themselves. You could really feel the author pouring herself into these characters, and I think that made them even more likable and believable.
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The plot of Perdition Street is reminiscent of paranormal TV shows like Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s fast-paced, absolutely thrilling, with a sprinkle of humour. The one important part of the plot that the author highlights throughout the novel is Atlas’ struggle with his own personal demons. We are offered a glimpse into his traumatic past to see exactly how he ended up in this situation and throughout the course of the novel, we see Atlas go through some serious character development. I only wish that the book could have been a bit longer! It seemed that just when things were going absolutely crazy, the novel was quickly coming to an end, and I really didn’t want it to end - I wanted MORE!!!
Setting & Vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’ve never been to Dublin, or Ireland for that matter, but I feel like I have now that I’ve read Perdition Street. Leona O’Neill does an incredible job describing the various sights of Dublin, including the perfect amount of descriptors to really immerse you into the story. I also loved the gothic, supernatural vibes throughout the novel. This would be the PERFECT read for a rainy, autumnal day.
If you’ve made it this far and haven’t stopped to add Perdition Street to your autumn TBR list, then feel free to go ahead and do that now! This novel has so many exciting twists and turns, and is perfect for anyone who is a self-proclaimed fan of the paranormal.
Thank you to BookSirens for providing this ARC for me!
I really enjoyed this book. The synopsis caught my attention, and the story didn’t disappoint. The story started strong, continued strong, and ended strong with a satisfying ending.
Atlas, the MC, had strong and continuous character development throughout the course of the book, which was wonderful to read. His was probably some of the best growth I’ve ever read. His eventual friendship with Caliber was well written and heartwarming, and a huge turning point for Atlas.
I’d recommend this to anyone that likes reading paranormal fiction!
I received an advanced copy and am leaving my review freely.
Perdition Street masterfully blends haunting autumnal beauty with a gripping thriller, diving deep into personal demons and redemption. 🍂
Perdition Street is an incredibly captivating thriller that combines vivid autumn imagery with a gripping, suspenseful plot. The setting of Dublin in the fall is beautifully described, with the crisp air and changing leaves adding to the haunting atmosphere. The psychological depth and personal journey make it more than just a standard thriller.
The tension builds steadily, keeping you on edge, but it's also emotional, touching on themes of redemption and personal demons. If you love a story that is both visually stunning and emotionally gripping, Perdition Street is a must-read!
What a tale! Atlas Bishop is one f***ed up bad ass. This book had me gripped from the get go, it’s everything I like and want in a fantasy novel but for once based in my own country where I feel more connected to the characters. I’ve only knocked a star off because once or twice I felt as if the chapters were just a wee bit too long and might have been better split into more chapters rather than one longer one, and also because of one or two small little details such as England v Ireland in a GAA stadium (more fitting of the Aviva?), basically very small details. Otherwise I feel like this was a fab book, the world was developed and written really well. I was emotionally invested in the characters, the world building was fantastic and for a debut novel I think this was more than a fantastic effort. Have already recommended to friends
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the first 1/3 of the book, the premise of a hard to like detective help ghosts get revenge against their killers is a interesting idea.
The story quickly shifts into a different direction and adds a world ending threat which i just couldn't get into. After all the danger and build up, the ending felt like it wrapped up too quickly and cleanly.
I did enjoy seeing Atlas slowly open up and become a better person and calibre was a excellent sidekick.
Not sure this was the story for me but would probably be someone else's cup of tea (maybe with a drop of whisky in).
What a concept. Very dark. Very twisted. Very funny. Great characters and writing. I hope someone has the film rights for this as it will make a great series.
This is a cunning book. It quietly draws the reader in under the guise of a supernatural detective thriller… and then grabs, holding on tight. Because it is completely unafraid to enter dark places that would give Harry Dresden or Anita Blake second thoughts.
Atlas Bishop has many traits of a hard-boiled detective - the sassy secretary, the bottle of whiskey in his desk drawer, the cynical outlook. Except he’s essentially employed by Heaven to ensure that wronged souls find revenge, sending their killers to Hell before passing on to their peaceful rest.
Which sounds both virtuous and challenging (to say the least) - but this is Ireland and when a man shows up at the door with a fatal bullet wound in his head due to gangland violence, you know this isn’t any story you’ll have experienced before.
Because it is an experience. Atlas is frustrating in his bitterness and sympathetic for the same reason - who wouldn’t feel for him, seeing the results of the worst of humanity on a daily basis? His role may be noble, but the reality is as rough as it gets. Anyone who’s experienced grief at any level will understand.
It is great to see the true baddies get their just desserts, and as the story ramps up from ‘everyday crimes’ to ‘fate of humanity’, I felt my heart go out to our hero. No man should have to deal with this, and he doesn’t exactly have the patience of Job.
This is a truly rare book. Darkly brilliant with a core of deep humanity, the author writes to exorcise her own demons, and she does so beautifully. It’s an adventure that I had to regularly pause, just to catch my breath (yes, and occasionally wipe my eyes).
I’m not sure this book is for everyone, but those brave souls who take the step into Atlas’ world will find it haunts them long after the final page.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
Perdition Street by Leona O’Neill is a darkly hilarious and spine-chilling dive into the world of paranormal justice. For fans of horror and the supernatural with a sharp edge of dark comedy, this book is a must-read.
Atlas Bishop, a cynical and anxiety-ridden private detective turned Soul Binder, is an antihero you can’t help but root for. His job? Bind the souls of murder victims to their killers to ensure divine justice. The premise alone had me hooked, but the execution is where the magic lies—O’Neill’s writing is as atmospheric as it is sharp, layering grim horror with biting humor and moments of heartfelt emotion.
The story is a perfect cocktail of eerie encounters, ghostly characters, and laugh-out-loud moments. Atlas’s interactions with the dead—like the begrudgingly cooperative Caliber .22—are as unsettling as they are hilarious. The macabre settings, from the grim streets of Dublin to Atlas’s corpse-haunted office, are vividly crafted, setting the perfect stage for his morbidly comedic escapades.
What sets Perdition Street apart is its ability to balance its horror elements with genuine emotional stakes. Atlas’s struggle with his past, his reluctant compassion, and his sharp wit make him a deeply layered and compelling protagonist. O’Neill’s knack for blending horror, humor, and heartbreak ensures this isn’t just a scary story but also an emotionally resonant one.
If you’re into ghosts, gore, and grim laughs, Perdition Street will keep you hooked from start to finish. A solid 5/5 for horror-comedy lovers craving a unique and chillingly fun read.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I just loved this book! It grabbed my attention from the opening chapter and kept me enthralled from start to finish. The language used in the book was rich and impressively descriptive which painted vivid characters and scenes throughout.
The main character in the story (Atlas Bishop) is a man battling his own personal demons, stemming from a traumatic childhood, as well as real demons on earth, as part of an assigned job given to him directly from God himself. The author successfully develops Atlas' emotional side and strength of character as the book progresses which enables him to fight against and triumph over the emotional scars left on the inside as well as the evil on the outside.
The inclusion of a sidekick, in the form of a ghost called Caliber, is an ingenious way to resonate with the main character keeping him on track and helping him rise like a phoenix from the ashes stronger, smarter and eventually able to find peace with himself and the world.
Overall the author tells a thrilling, supernatural story interweaved with themes of love, loss, tragedy and reconcilliation. The characters are relatable and the story is full of twists and turns. The ending of the story leaves itself open for a sequel which left me wanting to read more. Hopefully this will be the case!
If you are a fan of fast paced, supernatural stories then this is a must read. I would highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this book! Atlas Bishop is a soul-binder, working for Heaven. He must help the murdered souls of Dublin find peace by binding their souls to the person that murdered them, sending the murder's soul to Hell, and the murdered soul to Heaven. Atlas has a counter part that works for Hell, Mr. Smith, who has other plans than the job of binding souls to Hell. Atlas is a deeply flawed character, due to trauma in his childhood. He doesn't know how to deal with his emotions, or those of the souls he has to help. Throughout this book you see how he starts to learn to deal with his trauma, and open himself up. Thanks mostly to the Caliber, one of the souls he must help.
There was just enough humor in the book to lighten up the otherwise darak subject matter. I read this book picturing Atlas as Simon Pegg, Caliber as Nick Frost, and Mr. Smith as Bill Nighy. Enjoyed the end of the book a lot, and how things were "explained."
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked this read! It felt like a cross between the Tv shows Uncanny Counters and Supernatural.
MC Atlas is an alcoholic middle-aged man tasked with being something of a grim reaper. He wants nothing more than to go back in time when his mother was alive and he had the love of a woman. But, as life goes, Atlas is denied these things as he struggles to find any reason to keep fighting the good fight and help wronged souls seek their revenge before ascending to heaven.
This book was wonderfully descriptive and easy to read. The whole time, I kept thinking “this could totally be a tv series. Or at least a series of books”.
My one complaint was that it wasn’t long enough! I would have loved to see different aspects of this created world fleshed out.
For fans of mysteries, supernatural horror, and dare I say, buddy-cop stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A story of darkness and shadows and finding the way to the light. The main character, Atlas, had a lot of darkness which had been with him for much of his life from trauma. He tried hard and fast to escape from it, he resorted to drinking heavily to get away from it all. There was a good cast of characters with enough depth to get a good feel of them. Atlas gets roped into a job he wants no part of as a soul binder doing God’s work. He is not too happy with that, but he does a good job of it. He finds a way to exorcise the demons that haunt him and the book comes to a great conclusion. A good and interesting read. The writing flowed well and the author did a good job of winding its way to the conclusion as Atlas found his way and opened his heart. This is a stand alone story. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.
This is a cracking, and at times very raw, read which looks at guilt, revenge and letting go of anger and grief. As the first book in a series it does a cracking job of setting up a great premise. A bitter detective, harmed by his own trauma, must battle his demons - literal and metaphorical - to help the newly dead avenge their own deaths. It’s a battle between good and evil with the added twist that the good & evil have shades of grey.
That this was written as the author overcame her own PTSD demons gives this an extra layer of feeling.
I’m not usually a fan of the supernatural - but this captured my imagination and has just the right mix of emotion and dark humour to make it a thoroughly enjoyable read.
This was a really interesting book with a plot I've never read before. A rather damaged and broken MC has the job of attaching murdered souls to their murder to get vengeance and to drag them to hell. I both liked and disliked the MC. I liked how much character development he had (thanks to a ghost who I really liked...) but I didn't love that he could be quite self centred and woe is me. For most of the book he couldn't really empathize or see others' perspective. But that's what character development is for. I liked the hints of romance but they also made me roll my eyes some too as he harped on things. I do wish that we got more actual romance than we did. The writing in this book was well done and I enjoyed this book quite a lot. I would read a sequel but I'm also content to leave this world here which is why I didn't rate it 5 stars. I'd recommend this book to many fantasy/paranormal readers! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed reading Perdition Street. Atlas was complex and interesting, and it was fascinating follow him through the book. The idea of a Soul Binder is intriguing and sets up a unique story. The book is well written, suspenseful, and kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I highly recommend Perdition Street for readers who enjoy thrillers with ghosts.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a gripping, atmospheric novel that draws readers into a dark, claustrophobic world. Leona masterfully crafts a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere, leaving a lasting impression long after turning the final page. The characters are complex and flawed, and their stories are intertwined in a gripping and intricate manner.
Leona's prose is both lyrical and sharp, effectively conveying the bleakness and despair of the setting. The pacing is masterful, building tension steadily and culminating in a truly unforgettable climax.
Add this book to the top of your TBR list, you won't be disappointed
Such a thrilling book! The concept and plot was so unique and exciting, so much so that I found the book difficult to put down! The atmosphere the author creates is heavy and enthralling, and it was so easy to become connected and involved with Atlas Bishop's story, and of course Caliber 22. I would highly recommend!
This is a very unique story, with lots of action and a likeable main character. It had one big trigger for me that made me uncomfortable throughout the book, but the writing was well done. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A unique story with many a laugh out loud moment. Incredibly weaved characters. Heartfelt moments and edge of your seat thrills. Visually and sensory stunning. Leona has created a story that will keep you enthralled till the last word. A book I could seriously see turned into a TV show similar to Supernatural.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An edge of your seat, nail- biting, pulse pounding story which very vividly outlines the differences between heaven and hell between a soul-binder, soul collector and the humans in between them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will definetely read more works by this author in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Great book - totally different slant on a good / evil with a wee love story thrown in. Love a slightly edgier ‘paranormal’ based book. Highly recommended!
I received this free ARC copy of Perdition Street by Leona O’Neill and the first thing I must say is that Leona has produced a nail-biting piece of work. Pedition Street is one hell of a good book.
Perdition Street is a standalone novel focused on the plight of one Atlas Bishop, a man in the service of God and the dead. While Atlas doesn’t exactly accept the full understanding of his position, anyone can see pretty clearly why that would be hard given the job description includes the recently murdered following you around in all their gory glory. However, Leona paints the story of a man who is more than just a grouch and a grump, one who, for a God-appointed man, does a hell of a good job when life and eternal death are on the line.
The book is truly an adventure that simmers at the start but goes to full boil by the end. Just when you think Atlas is going to pull it off, things always seem to get worse, but when you think he can’t win, that’s when Atlas Bishop is at his best. He’s a true underdog hero, one who takes a hit but doesn’t stop swinging. I spent the whole book rooting for him, soletikes screaming ar him too, to just stop being an idiot! Atlas was to me, relatable, easy to love, and easy to hate. He’s easily distracted by his thoughts, his memories, and regrets. I sympathized with him, because we’ve all been there, carrying the burden of our own world, and the seemingly insurmountable mountains of our past that stand in the way of any self-fulfillment. I know I’ve been there, and I felt a lot like Atlas.
Leona O’Neill has also produced a catharsis in words, more than just an adventure. I saw the story of a man who opens himself back up to love, and back to life. Perdition Street was like a life lesson wrapped in one of the prettiest covers and waiting to remind you that sometimes, there’s a lot more to life than just living.
I loved every page of this book. Perdition Street is an adventure that you can’t predict, and a journey through heaven and hell, into the deepest pits of the human heart, filled with plenty of angels, demons, and vengeful spirits. It’s a humorous approach to the truly terrifying prospect of death, but an equally grounded perspective on what it’s like to have the fate of heaven and hell riding on your shoulders.
I would highly recommend this book. It’s a solid blend of ghosts, ghouls, and world-ending plots taking place between the eternal and mortal planes of existence. Leona has an incredible imagination, and I stayed hooked till the last bit. I’m thankful to have been an ARC reader for this book, and I hope that Leona produces more work like this in the future. I for one, would definitely read more Adventures of Atlas Bishop, Soul Binder.