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Paxton Locke #2
Night's Black Agents
Paxton Locke saved the day, killed the witch, and got the girl... after a fashion.
Recovering from his battle with the witch, Paxton and his new partner--don't call her a sidekick--Cassie are headed to Phoenix. A spate of mysterious, ritualistic murders has the police baffled. Who better to find the perp than someone who can speak to the dead?
While Paxton hunts a killer, far deadlier creatures stalk him. In the Valley of the Sun, a mystical cold war is about to go nuclear.
Harry Dresden's sorcery goes on a Supernatural-style road trip. Cool car sold separately.
Recovering from his battle with the witch, Paxton and his new partner--don't call her a sidekick--Cassie are headed to Phoenix. A spate of mysterious, ritualistic murders has the police baffled. Who better to find the perp than someone who can speak to the dead?
While Paxton hunts a killer, far deadlier creatures stalk him. In the Valley of the Sun, a mystical cold war is about to go nuclear.
Harry Dresden's sorcery goes on a Supernatural-style road trip. Cool car sold separately.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2018
97 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Humphreys
19 books510 followersDaniel Humphreys is the author of the Z-Day series of post-apocalyptic sci-fi thrillers and the Paxton Locke urban fantasy series. His first novel, "A Place Outside the Wild", was a 2017 Dragon Award finalist for Best Apocalyptic novel.
Dan loves sci-fi movies, target shooting, and tinkering with computers. He has spent his entire career in corporate IT and suffers from elevated blood pressure due to a lifelong love of the Arizona Cardinals. Daniel lives in Indiana with his wife and family.
He Tweets @NerdKing52 and blogs @ www.daniel-humphreys.net.
Dan loves sci-fi movies, target shooting, and tinkering with computers. He has spent his entire career in corporate IT and suffers from elevated blood pressure due to a lifelong love of the Arizona Cardinals. Daniel lives in Indiana with his wife and family.
He Tweets @NerdKing52 and blogs @ www.daniel-humphreys.net.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 15, 2025
An exhilarating story full of good and evil. Paxton has some great friends and a mission as a warlock. His Mom is his enemy. I am waiting to see if the feds eventually bring Paxton into their fold. It seems like a beneficial outcome to me but who knows. What a great reveal in that final sentence. This is a really fun series and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
September 5, 2018
Good follow on from Fade. Looking forward to reading more of Paxton's story.
October 3, 2019
Paxton Locke book 2. Serious spoilers for book 1 ahead.
Starting with the way Pax and Cassie are having breakfast when a ghost walks into the diner.
It rolls on, with Pax getting asked for help on a case by his old police friends, Division M looking for both him and his mother, a mysterious absence of ghosts, a rehab place, Helen's working with the three remaining girls and doing many evil things, attempts to use the recreated grimoire, and more.
Liked it better than the first.
Starting with the way Pax and Cassie are having breakfast when a ghost walks into the diner.
It rolls on, with Pax getting asked for help on a case by his old police friends, Division M looking for both him and his mother, a mysterious absence of ghosts, a rehab place, Helen's working with the three remaining girls and doing many evil things, attempts to use the recreated grimoire, and more.
Liked it better than the first.
November 14, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"We're in the possibility business."
Helen, Paxton Locke's murderous mother, is out of prison and she wants her book back - the Grimoire Paxton once burned, so terrifying was the idea of it falling into the wrong hands - and Helen's were certainly wrong. But now it had been resurrected, and mother wanted it. She and her three protege witches were traveling across the country, building power. 'We are going to save the world.'
Although humour is inherent in the text, Paxton is not the usual slick talking, paranormal detective. Instead he is more introspective, still trying to know where he should set his line. For a start, he likes living in an RV: no need to look for hotel rooms (especially when so many were haunted!) Well written with vibrant visual effect, good characterisation and dialogue, and full of action, the story is told, in part, in the first person present so the reader is there with Paxton throughout his experiences. And silken voiced Scott Bennett is the ghost dispatching young man, perfectly capturing his thoughts and terrors, and ambiguous feelings for Carrie, his partner. Never over acting and giving voice clearly to all other protagonists, Mr.Bennett, as always, gives a fine performance.
Night's Black Agents, second in the Paxton Locke series, amplifies and expands on the world established in book one, Fade, and although it can be read as a stand alone, is far better with the back knowledge of the previous volume, building, as it does, on what has been learned before. Especially characterisation. And it is a big world full of wonders, or perhaps that should be horrors. My thanks to the rights holder who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. A recommended fun read to anyone enjoying well written paranormal thrillers with an edge - but watch out for the cliffhanger ending. This reader is now anxiously awaiting book three.
"We're in the possibility business."
Helen, Paxton Locke's murderous mother, is out of prison and she wants her book back - the Grimoire Paxton once burned, so terrifying was the idea of it falling into the wrong hands - and Helen's were certainly wrong. But now it had been resurrected, and mother wanted it. She and her three protege witches were traveling across the country, building power. 'We are going to save the world.'
Although humour is inherent in the text, Paxton is not the usual slick talking, paranormal detective. Instead he is more introspective, still trying to know where he should set his line. For a start, he likes living in an RV: no need to look for hotel rooms (especially when so many were haunted!) Well written with vibrant visual effect, good characterisation and dialogue, and full of action, the story is told, in part, in the first person present so the reader is there with Paxton throughout his experiences. And silken voiced Scott Bennett is the ghost dispatching young man, perfectly capturing his thoughts and terrors, and ambiguous feelings for Carrie, his partner. Never over acting and giving voice clearly to all other protagonists, Mr.Bennett, as always, gives a fine performance.
Night's Black Agents, second in the Paxton Locke series, amplifies and expands on the world established in book one, Fade, and although it can be read as a stand alone, is far better with the back knowledge of the previous volume, building, as it does, on what has been learned before. Especially characterisation. And it is a big world full of wonders, or perhaps that should be horrors. My thanks to the rights holder who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. A recommended fun read to anyone enjoying well written paranormal thrillers with an edge - but watch out for the cliffhanger ending. This reader is now anxiously awaiting book three.
July 27, 2018
Paxton Locke was having his breakfast when a ghost walked in the door. Cassie turned to see what had his attention but she couldn’t see ghosts, so he told her they had a visitor. Paxton’s mother had dabbled in black magic and ended up killing Paxton’s father and leaving Paxton with a grimoire and some an ability he calls the “push” which lets him control people. He and his partner, Cassie, were currently headed to another job while recovering after their last battle with the witch.
The ghost directed him to a sedan in the parking lot, gesticulating at the trunk. Paxton tried to get it open as a man from inside the diner walked toward him. Feeling uneasy, Paxton used his “push” to stop him – but the odd man grinned and commented about a magus being such a tasty treat!
Three young women had broken Helen Locke out of prison. Their talents weren’t very good, but at least she was free again. Helen took the life force from a young woman at a frat house party and changed her appearance to one that wouldn’t be on a wanted poster. And the four of them continued their journey. Helen wants to retrieve her grimoire from her son and she will let nothing stop her from her intentions, no matter how much havoc she creates along the way. Will she succeed? Can Paxton win another round with her when he’s still healing from the battle in Book 1?
This was an interesting book that catches the reader’s attention right from the very start. Once snagged, the fast pacing of the story line pulls the reader into the constant action of the story. It just doesn’t slow down! Both the main and secondary characters are developed well and hold the reader’s interest. I particularly liked the humor throughout since otherwise parts of the story might be a bit oppressive without it. But the story was well done and definitely a page-turner!
The ghost directed him to a sedan in the parking lot, gesticulating at the trunk. Paxton tried to get it open as a man from inside the diner walked toward him. Feeling uneasy, Paxton used his “push” to stop him – but the odd man grinned and commented about a magus being such a tasty treat!
Three young women had broken Helen Locke out of prison. Their talents weren’t very good, but at least she was free again. Helen took the life force from a young woman at a frat house party and changed her appearance to one that wouldn’t be on a wanted poster. And the four of them continued their journey. Helen wants to retrieve her grimoire from her son and she will let nothing stop her from her intentions, no matter how much havoc she creates along the way. Will she succeed? Can Paxton win another round with her when he’s still healing from the battle in Book 1?
This was an interesting book that catches the reader’s attention right from the very start. Once snagged, the fast pacing of the story line pulls the reader into the constant action of the story. It just doesn’t slow down! Both the main and secondary characters are developed well and hold the reader’s interest. I particularly liked the humor throughout since otherwise parts of the story might be a bit oppressive without it. But the story was well done and definitely a page-turner!
August 1, 2018
Picking up where the first book left off, Paxton Locke tries to move on with his self-appointed task of ridding the world of ghosts... and maybe his mother the witch... the real kind.
So, disclaimer... I bought this book, but:
1) I beta read for Daniel Humpreys' Z-Day series.
2) I'm a red-shirt character IN THIS BOOK.
There. Now the review.
HOLY CRAP! There is a lot to digest in this one. While a bit slower than book 1, it is chock-full of reveals and new twists that move the series to a whole different level.
The main character is starting to realize that his little 'dismiss the ghosts' thing is just the frost on the tip of the paranormal iceberg. While he is helping his stand-in father-figure to solve some really strange goings-on in Denver, his fugitive Mommy Dearest is tearing around the country gathering her power to... well, gather more power. And a shadow agency begins to reveal its presence to the reader as well. The book is just as engrossing as the first, but for different reasons. You get many new characters with backstory teasers you have to keep reading to figure out. You get much more in depth into Helen Locke's personality (can you say, 'Bitch' with a capital 'B'?) And you get sucked into a whole other arc of story that is seperate, but just as deadly. It's a wild ride.
My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending. I plan to keep reading the series, but I don't like books that end with serious unfinished business. Robert Jordan burned me out of that. Hopefully, the next book will be out soon, though, so I won't have to wait long to find out what's next.
I give this book four stars and call it a 'The Hits Keep Coming' read.
So, disclaimer... I bought this book, but:
1) I beta read for Daniel Humpreys' Z-Day series.
2) I'm a red-shirt character IN THIS BOOK.
There. Now the review.
HOLY CRAP! There is a lot to digest in this one. While a bit slower than book 1, it is chock-full of reveals and new twists that move the series to a whole different level.
The main character is starting to realize that his little 'dismiss the ghosts' thing is just the frost on the tip of the paranormal iceberg. While he is helping his stand-in father-figure to solve some really strange goings-on in Denver, his fugitive Mommy Dearest is tearing around the country gathering her power to... well, gather more power. And a shadow agency begins to reveal its presence to the reader as well. The book is just as engrossing as the first, but for different reasons. You get many new characters with backstory teasers you have to keep reading to figure out. You get much more in depth into Helen Locke's personality (can you say, 'Bitch' with a capital 'B'?) And you get sucked into a whole other arc of story that is seperate, but just as deadly. It's a wild ride.
My only complaint is the cliffhanger ending. I plan to keep reading the series, but I don't like books that end with serious unfinished business. Robert Jordan burned me out of that. Hopefully, the next book will be out soon, though, so I won't have to wait long to find out what's next.
I give this book four stars and call it a 'The Hits Keep Coming' read.
July 4, 2018
We are still following Paxton on his magical ghostly adventure. He and his witch mother Helen are still playing cat and mouse with her just a half a step behind. In this book the body count stacks up a bit alarmingly as Helen tries to reclaim the grimoire from Paxton.
Paxton is learning more about himself and what is now making his absolute line drawn for him to step over. Along the way he and Cassie are sorting through their feelings for each other, plus he’s trying to teach Cassie some magic to try and assist him when things get out of hand.
This part of the story is pretty fast paced for most of it. Lots of new characters are introduced and you start seeing the larger picture at work. I did miss some of Paxton’s snark, which was turned down a bit in this part of the story. The backstory of the secondary characters was explained and explored a bit more. The ghostly aspect is tossed in on a few occasions but it felt more like an after thought in some cases than anything that added to the story.
It was still engaging to see how much Paxton has grown and how much more he realizes he still has to learn.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Paxton is learning more about himself and what is now making his absolute line drawn for him to step over. Along the way he and Cassie are sorting through their feelings for each other, plus he’s trying to teach Cassie some magic to try and assist him when things get out of hand.
This part of the story is pretty fast paced for most of it. Lots of new characters are introduced and you start seeing the larger picture at work. I did miss some of Paxton’s snark, which was turned down a bit in this part of the story. The backstory of the secondary characters was explained and explored a bit more. The ghostly aspect is tossed in on a few occasions but it felt more like an after thought in some cases than anything that added to the story.
It was still engaging to see how much Paxton has grown and how much more he realizes he still has to learn.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2018
This book is the second in a series. Don't let that stop you, as I had not read the first one. I enjoyed it very much, and ended up reading the last 3/4rd of it in one go. It starts slowly, and a bit confusingly at first, but that might be because I had not read the first volume. The story is told from the viewpoint of 3 different people, and their names are indicated whenever this starts. The story is told from their viewpoint, and this is done well, in that when one person is telling the story, you get their viewpoint, but you do not see what they do not know. Also, this gives a view into the motives of 'evil witch', and she wants to save the world. I will be buying the first book in the series, and will look forward to the next. There will be a next book in the series. There must be!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 1, 2018
Fantastic Book worthy of 10*s. This is my first time reading this authors work but will definitely not be the last. The book is well written and thought out with interesting characters especially the hero/anti-hero Paxton. The violence is not over the top considering the subject matter and is balanced with humour. Looking forward to reading the next book to see how both Paxtons powers and his budding relationship with Cassie progresses. Warning there is a massive cliffhanger at the end of the book as well as a huge surprise that I never saw coming. Thoroughly recommend this book to all readers of good fiction.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2018
In book 1 we met Paxton Locke and his "sidekick" Cassie (dont let her hear you say that). The action this time moves out west to investigate some ritual murders. In the meantime Paxton is trying to teach Cassie some magic so she can be even more helpful. Unfortunately, it seems that maybe Paxton didn't quite rid the world of the threat from book 1. We also meet some new supporting characters. The only thing I noticed was that Paxton may have matured a little to much....lol, he seems somehow less sarcastic, which I really liked in the first book, so be warned he may be getting older and more serious about his role in protecting the rest of us
July 31, 2024
The worldbuilding is very good, and still realistic.
The plot is good, even if it is a little confusing to start with.
The other characters are becoming very interesting.
And not through tedious 'evolving'. They are mature adults, that we learn to know.
The worldbuilding is realistic, not as cliché as is usual in this kind of tale.
I heartily recommend this. Maybe not for those who are young enough to want all the characters to go through a lot of anxious suffering in order to 'grow'. Good stories can include people who are already mature too.
The plot is good, even if it is a little confusing to start with.
The other characters are becoming very interesting.
And not through tedious 'evolving'. They are mature adults, that we learn to know.
The worldbuilding is realistic, not as cliché as is usual in this kind of tale.
I heartily recommend this. Maybe not for those who are young enough to want all the characters to go through a lot of anxious suffering in order to 'grow'. Good stories can include people who are already mature too.
October 26, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I laughed at times. This book was a roller coaster ride. Magic used for good and evil.
Amazing characters and a story that kept me reading until the book was done. While
this book is the second in the series, it contains enough back story to be read as a
standalone. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Loved this book.
Amazing characters and a story that kept me reading until the book was done. While
this book is the second in the series, it contains enough back story to be read as a
standalone. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Loved this book.
July 4, 2018
He is recovering from his last battle with the witch and they are heading for Phoenix for another job. The police are baffled and so they try to help. Will they find out who is behind it all? Why are they doing it? Find out the answers
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 10, 2018
I am on the ARC team for Humphreys books and I have to tell you the writing, characters and world are amazing. He has given me a book I will read over and over again because the characters are just too interesting to leave alone for too long. The book continues where Fade left off and the thrills and chills just keep coming along with some interesting twists to the story.
July 18, 2021
I enjoyed this and the previous book in the series. I gave it five stars because it does what it sets out to do -- entertain the reader with a clean horror story that has God in the (deep) background. Not having to be wary of the worldview means I can enjoy the book simply and directly.
July 30, 2018
awesome book that kept me glued to the pages until the end. Recommend you read the first book first as I was a little lost.
September 9, 2018
Not Bad
The first half of the first book really dragged. Did I really need to know Pax "zipped up his backpack"? The second book was much better. More action, interesting story.
The first half of the first book really dragged. Did I really need to know Pax "zipped up his backpack"? The second book was much better. More action, interesting story.
November 7, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
February 12, 2020
Entertaining and fast paced.
May 24, 2024
Well, it's taken some time to get back to the series, life can do that to, but I'm glad I finally got here. Maybe a half notch down from installment #1, but good stuff nonetheless. Next!
December 14, 2020
Have I said I’m a sucker for any book that mentions my hometown, Flagstaff, Arizona, even in passing? Paxton and his not-quite-girlfriend Cassie do simply pass through Flagstaff, as it is the junction between I-40 and I-17, on their way from Wisconsin to Arizona. Since that isn’t likely to matter to everyone else, let me also say that this book was a lot of fun. Paxton is very much the kid I wanted to be when my friends were into LARPing as vampires and werewolves. I just wanted to cleanse the Earth of foul creatures, not to be one.
Following the events of Fade, Paxton Locke is looking for a return to the familiar. So he seeks out Kent Sikora, the detective who took Pax under his wing following Paxton’s mother’s ritual murder of his father. Kent himself understandably needed a change of scenery after those events, so he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona.
Unfortunately for both of them, something is stirring in the Sonoran desert. When Kent asks Paxton to come and help, they both assume it is just a kidnapping case. Neither of them know what they are getting themselves into. Paxton probably should, since he can’t even eat a greasy spoon without stumbling onto a servant of nameless evil, but I guess a little bit of denial is pretty normal even for him.
Plus, now that Paxton’s mother is on the loose rebuilding her power, and the secretive Division M is tracking both Paxton and Helen Locke, we’ve got a great setup for a multi-sided power struggle. One involving magic and explosions.
I rather enjoyed the different dynamics of each group, who have different motivations and personalities within them. Helen’s coven is founded in thirst for power and deception, while Division M has some the bureaucracy of its paymasters. Introducing so many new characters really pays off, as everyone reveals bits of the plot as they pursue their own goals along multiple overlapping paths. It all needs to be seen to be believed, so come along for the ride as Paxton tries to unravel the mystery in Phoenix.
The Paxton Locke books would be a good candidate for a modern version of Appendix N, along with the Gideon Ira books. I see each series as part of the tradition of adventure fiction marketed for men, fantastic adventures with a strong sense of justice. Much like Three Hearts and Three Lions, one of the foundational concepts of Humphreys’ world is orientation to Law or Chaos. In general, the human world is one of Law, even though individual humans may be more or less strongly attached to the laws per se. Chaos, on the other hand, is the pole of eldritch horror and swirling darkness, the home of unspeakable horrors that would devastate the Earth and stock their larders with any survivors.
Magical creatures as such tend toward Chaos, but not all of them are evil. Often, they are just capricious. Humans tend toward Law, but when humans are in conflict with one another, that tends towards the ends of the foul things lurking in the dark. All of this is mostly invisible to the people of Earth, who only find out otherwise if something goes wrong.
Since I really like that kind of story, I really like this embodiment of it. I like Paxton’s sense of humor, and his nerdishness. I find his motivations understandable, even if sometimes less than noble. He is, after all, just a kid who was thrust into circumstances beyond his control, but also gifted with remarkable power. The fun lies in seeing what he does with it.
Following the events of Fade, Paxton Locke is looking for a return to the familiar. So he seeks out Kent Sikora, the detective who took Pax under his wing following Paxton’s mother’s ritual murder of his father. Kent himself understandably needed a change of scenery after those events, so he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona.
Unfortunately for both of them, something is stirring in the Sonoran desert. When Kent asks Paxton to come and help, they both assume it is just a kidnapping case. Neither of them know what they are getting themselves into. Paxton probably should, since he can’t even eat a greasy spoon without stumbling onto a servant of nameless evil, but I guess a little bit of denial is pretty normal even for him.
Plus, now that Paxton’s mother is on the loose rebuilding her power, and the secretive Division M is tracking both Paxton and Helen Locke, we’ve got a great setup for a multi-sided power struggle. One involving magic and explosions.
I rather enjoyed the different dynamics of each group, who have different motivations and personalities within them. Helen’s coven is founded in thirst for power and deception, while Division M has some the bureaucracy of its paymasters. Introducing so many new characters really pays off, as everyone reveals bits of the plot as they pursue their own goals along multiple overlapping paths. It all needs to be seen to be believed, so come along for the ride as Paxton tries to unravel the mystery in Phoenix.
The Paxton Locke books would be a good candidate for a modern version of Appendix N, along with the Gideon Ira books. I see each series as part of the tradition of adventure fiction marketed for men, fantastic adventures with a strong sense of justice. Much like Three Hearts and Three Lions, one of the foundational concepts of Humphreys’ world is orientation to Law or Chaos. In general, the human world is one of Law, even though individual humans may be more or less strongly attached to the laws per se. Chaos, on the other hand, is the pole of eldritch horror and swirling darkness, the home of unspeakable horrors that would devastate the Earth and stock their larders with any survivors.
Magical creatures as such tend toward Chaos, but not all of them are evil. Often, they are just capricious. Humans tend toward Law, but when humans are in conflict with one another, that tends towards the ends of the foul things lurking in the dark. All of this is mostly invisible to the people of Earth, who only find out otherwise if something goes wrong.
Since I really like that kind of story, I really like this embodiment of it. I like Paxton’s sense of humor, and his nerdishness. I find his motivations understandable, even if sometimes less than noble. He is, after all, just a kid who was thrust into circumstances beyond his control, but also gifted with remarkable power. The fun lies in seeing what he does with it.
October 31, 2022
I dig it.
It’s a pretty good story that is fast paced and not overly complicated. I think it’s a hoot that the govt people are part of the good guys. Not something you see to often. I’d like to explore that more.
It’s a pretty good story that is fast paced and not overly complicated. I think it’s a hoot that the govt people are part of the good guys. Not something you see to often. I’d like to explore that more.
Read
August 17, 2018This is the second book in the series but can be read alone. It took a bit to get into the style of writing. I found the jumping bake in forth between several characters distracting. The author's take on how magic worked was different from other books and interesting. The book does end in a cliff hanger, so beware.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews