The Case of the Hidden Daemon

Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural #3

by Lucy Banks

Still recovering from saving Lyme-Regis from a serial killer spirit, Dr Ribero’s agency is soon confronted with an even greater threat: a reckless cult conspiring with an ancient and powerful Daemon to open a permanent spirit door. Having just witnessed the lethal consequences uncontrolled spirits can have on the unsuspecting, the agency must join forces to stop the cult from unleashing chaos and ending the world’s fragile protection from dangerous spirits.

Genres: Mystery, Ghosts, Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Audiobook

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2018

About the author

Lucy Banks grew up in provincial Hertfordshire, before fleeing to the wilds of Devon, where she now lives with her husband and two boys. As a child, she spent a disproportionate amount of time lurking in libraries, and prowling car-boot sales to feed both her hunger for books and her book collection. It's fair to say that she's bypassed being a bookworm, and become a book-python instead. Today, most of the available space in her house is stuffed to the brim with literature, which is just the way she likes it.

Regular forays into fictional realms at a young age created a desire for more, and she soon began to create alternate realities through writing. After teaching English Literature to teens, she set up her own copywriting company and turned her love for the written word into a full-time career. However, the desire to create never went away, so Lucy turned her insomnia into a useful tool--penning her novels in the wee small hours of the night and the stolen moments of the day.

Reviews

[Ellana Thornton-Wheybrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this from NetGalley.

The thing I both love and hate about this series is ending on a cliffhanger.

The book is just as amazing as I'd hope it would be, with the return of charming characters and new faces. Just brilliant.

[Arybo ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Don’t let them shut the door,
Don’t let them lie no more,
Join them, elites of truth,
Drive deceivers to the floor,
Open your eyes.”

This is the third book in a series I’ve never read before, I was expecting a bit of confusion about characters and plot because of my absence of experience in this world, But the reading journey wasn’t so bad after all.

I liked the characters and the “magic system”, the internal plot lines and the main story. I enjoyed reading about the main character, even if he sounded stupid sometimes. I loved his fascination for books and ghosts, his great work for the world and the agency. However, his love story wasn’t so great, predictable I would say. The cast in general was entertaining and interesting, the scenes at the concert pretty amazing. Maybe because I didn’t read the first two books some decisions seemed too fast or without meaning at my eyes, but at the end I enjoyed the reading and the writing anyway.

One of the most intriguing part of this book is the secret society of Thelemities, divided into lodges around the world. To the mystery about this society is linked the main theme of the reintroduction of spirits in this world. The discussions between different characters were really interesting and fascinating: there are different spirits and different living humans, so every case of “spiritual travel” has its peculiarity.

Kester, the main character, can open the door between spiritual and normal world, and his power is important to the agency - and to the secret society. He became a part of this game between agencies and found himself involved in something more strange and dangerous than his normal life.

I enjoyed the funny scenes and stories from this adventure, but sometimes they sounded a little bit flat and out of place.
The main storyline is divided into sections because of the little scenes in between and it ruined the mystery vibes, in my modest opinion.

At the end I lost some interest in the book, just because I was exhausted and tired of university life. I enjoined the first part more than the last pages. I can say that If you love this “spiritual world” you’ll like this book.

* I received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review *

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Ribero’s Agency of the Supernatural series. I enjoyed this installment as it introduced and focused on a new supernatural aspect, daemons. This was new to the series as the team wasn’t simply trying to send a spirit back to the spirit realm.

I really enjoyed the elements in the story surrounding the Thelemites. I found this cult-like organization and their interactions with the agency to be interesting, especially how the plot was woven into Anya and Kester’s relationship.

I really liked how Kester started to become more confident in his own skin and was less self conscious and unsure of himself as the book went on. It was enjoyable to see Kester and Anya’s relationship develop and to see how their experiences together helped to shape the change in Kester’s confidence.

What I liked:
🔹The introduction to new supernatural elements
🔹The parts involving the Thelemites
🔹How Kester became less annoying as he gained some confidence

This book leaves you hanging quite a bit, which I both love and hate. Luckily I have the next book in the series so I can see where the story goes!

[Khanh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three. Five stars. Kester, the main character, seems to be more confident in this one, and I liked the aspect of daemons being included here. His relationship with Anya, his maybe girlfriend, was an interesting development that blended nicely into the rest of the story.
There were a couple of minor instances of ableism that I really didn't enjoy. (Maybe if I remember later, I will go back and insert them into this sort of review or whatever this is.)
Overall, a fun and fluffy series for me to read during my workday and when my brain just can't handle a lot of super heavy material. I almost don't want to leave this chaotic and rather goofy cast of characters.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As was the case with the previous book in the series I really loved this. The band of characters is really comical. They each have a specific paranormal ability that helps them with their "ghost hunting". They all have flawed personalities and insecurities, and if they didn't work together they wouldn't work anywhere else. I do wish Kester would kind of find himself and his backbone. He keeps starting to find his courage and then he reverts to the naive, insecure, scared little boy. It doesn't help that people are constantly insulting him all of the time. I do hope that as the series continues Kester begins to conquer his fears and his colleagues begin to respect him. Overall, though I do really like the characters, they are witty and funny, and at the heart of it they really do care about each other.

This particular installment didn't focus on sending a spirit back to the spirit realm, but it did focus on daemons this time which is new for the series. I really liked the way Kester had to step up and solve the clues that the daemon left behind and the inclusion of the Thelemites, a cult-like organization that focuses on human-spirit interaction. As Kester and the agency try to figure out what the daemon and the Thelemites are up to, Kester is also trying to navigate a budding romance with librarian Anya. Anya has gotten herself mixed up in with the Thelemites and Kester is trying to protect her and fumble through his first relationship.

I will say I hate cliffhangers, this one wasn't too bad. The story does end, but it leaves you wanting more. I can't wait for the next book and to see where this is headed. There are so many different ways the story can play out and I'm so exited to see where it goes next. I have so many unanswered questions. Overall, I love this series and I highly recommend it.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cliffhanger. Really? Ugh.

I was really excited to see this book on NetGalley as I really like the first one [that I had to read when I got the second one as a "read now" earlier this year] and I liked the second one even more.
This one was a bit frustrating though and I spent quite a bit of time [figuratively] banging my head against my desk as I read this. I know that Kester is a bit of a doofus and I know that he is totally enamored with Anya, but R E A L L Y?? And this super fantastic agency is just NOT SEEING what is right in front of them?

Sigh.

It was frustrating and then to leave it with a cliffhanger was just irritating on top of the frustration.
And Kester REALLY needs to develop some self confidence. I hope that what happens to him at the end of the book stiffens him up a little and helps him see that he is better than he thinks he is. He is a great character when he isn't moaning about how stupid he is. CLEARLY he isn't stupid, he just makes mistakes and he needs to see the difference [though the stunt he pulls at the end of the book IS stupid and he needed smacked and hugged for that].

I am pretty sure I have one of the bad guys figured out, but I really, really, really, hope I am wrong because its going to be very, very, very, messy if I am right.

Really looking forward to the next one [have to be because, you know, CLIFFHANGER].

A thank you to Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

***A Note:
There was no audiobook for this and I H A D to read it so I did it from my computer Kindle app and I read it a little bit each day [until tonight and my eyes are now fried]. I do not know how long I will be able to do this, but it was truly awesome to actually read, read again and not just listen to the story. I have missed actual reading so very much.

[Annie (is so far behind 😬) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great supernatural series (if you like that sort of thing, that is) and this is the third book in the series. I haven't read book 1, but I did read book 2 and enjoyed it enough that I wanted to get my hands on this edition. It was a bit of a slow start, what with Christmas looming, but I managed to read it relatively quickly.

Apart from Kester's continuing and crippling lack of self-confidence and his mooning about Anya, this story was well done. I like all the characters for different reasons (I'm convinced Mike and Serena will wind up together - they put on a good show of loathing each other), and despite Kester's lack of self-confidence, I have to say it's nice to see a male MC having these issues. Hopefully, this will change as the series continues. It's fine to have relatable characters, but I also read to escape reality and like my MCs to have a bit more backbone (than I do). He's smart and quick when he finally allows himself to slow down and focus on things. He picks his way through a daemon's centuries' old words and various writings, full of anagrams, to discover a plot to open a permanent spirit door that would allow spirits to move freely back and forth, from one plane to another. Obviously, this is not ideal, and Ribero's team is joined up with his sworn enemy Larry Higgins to assist the Government in solving this case.

He rescues his girlfriend from a kidnapping (or does he?), to then be 'kidnapped' himself to be used by the daemon and his human followers as the spirit door opener. The ending is a bit convenient, but there's also cliff hanger to carry us through to Book 4.

Overall, this is a great read and I find it very cleverly done, mixing just enough paranormal with real life places (Exeter, Bath, etc.) that I can find on a map. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there such a thing as a cozy supernatural ghost story? Considering that I am still confused as to which genre this series belongs – it seems too simple to be an adult book, but at times, too much for a young adult, so I continue to question where it belongs.

Dr. Ribero’s Agency of the Supernatural once again bumbles their way through a case that began in the last book, ‘The Deadly Doppelganger’, and jerkily moved the plot forward. This time with added intrigue of an odd cult that teams up with an old and formidable daemon that has inhabited more than one person and is on the lookout for the next.

Using anagrams, which I am not totally convinced were not used during the writing of other parts of this book, Lucy Banks reveals the secrets of who the daemon is and what his plans are. It takes the mind of the least likely band of characters of the Agency to figure out the code, but in doing so, realizes that he has been played and that once again, his heart has been broken.

Though I keep reading, I am not one-hundred-percent sold on this series. There seems to be something missing, that magical quotient that makes for the quintessential cannot put down series.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to make readers aware that even though it’s taken me just over two months to read this, the last (or is it?) book in the Dr Ribero’s Agency of the Supernatural series, it has absolutely nothing to do with the content enclosed within these pages.

Life happens, doesn’t it? And sometimes, no matter how bloody good a book is, you have to put it on the back burn whilst you deal with it.

But, the thing with this book, and it’s two predecessors, is that the story stays with you. It’s always easy to pick right back up where you left off with Banks’s books, and The Case of the Hidden Daemon proves is no exception. The story stuck in my head, rooted itself in my brain, so that, even after days of neglecting it, I dived back in, headfirst and got straight back into it.

The Case of the Hidden Daemon is the perfect end(?) to an absolutely fantastic series. The characters, the settings, the stories - it’s all just superb! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I generally avoid a series these days, just because I want each book I read to be different, stand-out, unique. But, I can honestly say that this series ticks all those boxes for me, and I’m honestly sad it’s finished.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of the Hidden Daemon, the third novel in Lucy Banks' series-- Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural--felt darker and more serious than the first two books of the series, but it was still a well written paranormal fantasy novel with interesting characters and an element of suspense to it. However, because I find the characters to be rather amusing, especially the protagonist, Lester, I don't find these stories to be as scary as they would have the potential to be if this weren't the case. So, anyway, I liked this book, a four star read for me, and I hope that the series will continue.

[Kevin Spire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series that I have read. Overall I've been enjoying these quite a bit. Yes, they are very reminiscent of the Harry Potter stories. But they offer a little something different from that series.

This particular book was not as strong as the last. There really wasn't much added when it comes to understanding the characters in the story. The elements of the story started out good but became very predictable as I read on. And I found the ending rather boring.

For these first three books in the series I have been listening to the audio version. I cannot say enough good things about the narrator. His talent is excellent and amazing. I am hopeful that the next book in the series can pick up some of the interest and intrigue that was held by book number two.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kester and the rest of the team gather to rescue Anya from the Thelemites. The government gathers all of the supernatural agencies to figure out what's going on with a powerful daemon. Kester figures out that there are two daemons and that they are working with the Thelemites to open another spirit door permanently. Having a door open so that spirits can come and go between both realms, with no form of control, seems very threatening to humans. Things get very tense when Kester is kidnapped by the Thelemites. The action and threat level are raised in this book, 3rd in the series. The quirkiness is still present, but the supernatural takes precedence.

[Didi]

”KESTER!!! YOU FOOL!!!”
Well. That’s basically my expression throughout reading - felling like to grab and shaking him and the rest of his teammates.
I’m on the fence about the turn this book take the series with what’s revealed. On one side I gritted my teeth and yelling at the whole cast - seething at the way the story played with the heart of clumsy, timid, and imperfect young man (by exploiting a shiny... being); while on the other hand the ending obviously had me intrigued to find out what the next book would bring. That was not exactly a cliffhanger-ending, but heck I hate how it ended when things got interesting! 😌

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful supernatural mystery in the series

The series continues with this excellent third book, which I enjoyed as much as I did the second book. It has everything I want in a supernatural mystery: a great, well-paced story, good action and especially, well-developed characters. The banter between the characters is excellent and I felt I got to know them even better. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read lighter fantasy.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

[Heidi Mastrogiovanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realize it's impolite to shout...

But since that has never stopped me before... WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES COMING OUT?

I love this series. I've read all three books, and I can't wait to find out what happens next. When I am reading about these wonderful characters (they are by now old friends of mine), I'm on the edge of my seat, and I'm completely absorbed and transported to a different place. I love the writing, and I love the stories. BRAVA to the author for this excellent series!

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and a real treat. A supernatural detective agency. Each book can be read alone but best to read from the start as of there are previous references (although they are explained). Really enjoyed this third book, it captivated me right from the start, a real page turner, before I knew it, I had finished it. I love the characters, all are likeable and peculiar - Most fitting for a supernatural story. I like the way there is a touch of comedy and yet can still build tension. Am eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

[Wensday · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exciting series. If you've not read the first two books, you can still read this one and not feel lost. I strongly recommend reading the first two books and they are a great read also. Those that have read and are fans of Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood series will find this series just as adventurous.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley for my honest opinion

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Case Of The Hidden Daemon” by Lucy Banks is the third book in the Dr. Ribero’s Agency Of The Supernatural. I have throughly enjoyed this series. It has a unique cast of characters who hunt down demons, spirits, incubui and all types of spiritual entities.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh. Poor Sweet Kester! The way they played with his heart was brutal. Like, admit they did him dirty, snicker about it and then give an "invitation" to their secret society.

I saw it coming, but still 😢😢😢.

[Mardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know the problem with writing wonderful books is that your readers pester you for the next installment seconds after the last one's just come out. I'm ready for book 4.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was easy; I guessed it was Anya halfway through. Really enjoyed it. Wish she wouldn't leave it on a knife edge though.

[Susan M. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books!

Fantasy, yet the characters are so believable you can immerse yourself in their lives and have a truly great journey.

[Paige Kensmoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book frustrated me. I could not help but facepalm because of Kester (and once again) his thought process at several moments. I about died though when his father scared the mess out of him!

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every book in this series gets worse and more predictable. If this wasn't the last one I'd have stopped reading anyway.

[Jo ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a truly delightful series to read! cant wait for book four to come out in october 2020!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great continuation of the story. On to the next!

[Sandra Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

The time to save the World has come!

The third book, just like the first two, has been a fun supernatural mystery! Looking forward to start reading the next book in this series!

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy this series, although must confess that this was not my favorite of the titles... For some reason it felt a little sluggish to me - I had a tough time getting into the story and did not enjoy where one of the semi-major (in this volume, anyway) character's storylines went. Poor Kester's haplessness is starting to wear on me also. Often I find myself wanting to give him a firm shake and tell him to snap out of it. Still, the characters surrounding him are fantastic - I love the "Ghost hunters" at Dr. Ribero's agency and to watch the tension with the other companies as they struggle to keep Britain safe from the paranormal. I'm very curious to see where the new developments with Dr. Ribero will take the series also - that storyline is playing out in an unexpected way and I find myself exceptionally curious to see what impact it will have on the others both personally and professionally. Perhaps this will be the thing that forces Kester to come into his own...

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3rd book of this series was just as captivating as the first. I just love this quirky group. The story opens just a couple of weeks after the 2nd one leaves off and the new mystery quickly develops. It was fast paced and full of snark, what's not to love?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Case of the Hidden Daemon (Dr Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural #3) is the third book in a series by Lucy Banks.

I've actually rather enjoyed this series overall! The author does a good job at really fleshing out her characters and giving them big, distinctive personalities. Quite frankly, half of my enjoyment of these books comes from reading what one could describe as the 'non-action' passages, where characters are just talking to each other.

The series follows the main character, Kester, as he struggles to figure out his place in the magical world that he had no idea was all around him; in this world spirits and demons live amongst humans, with some causing more trouble than others, naturally. His father runs a supernatural agency and as Kester has the ability to open portal doors between his world and the spirit world, he becomes a reluctant member of the team that is regularly dispatched to different parts of England to deal with pesky ne'er-do-well spirits.

In this book, Kester's girlfriend Anya has been kidnapped, there's a daemon causing general havoc around England, a dead rockstar, a rival supernatural agency and a lot of the familiar comedic situations that we have come to expect from the first two books.

What I struggled with the most in this particular book was the love story between Kester and Anya. Kester is a hapless character, it's true, but I found myself working overtime to contain my eye rolls and frustration with him in this book. As a result, this book felt slower paced and it was harder for me to get into.

Admittedly, this entry in the series was my least favorite, but it was still enjoyable overall.

I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.