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Judas Investigations #1
The Soul Trade
When you’re the one and only Private Eye in Purgatory no case is going to be easy, but when a lost young woman walks through Patrick Judas’ door things take an even more dangerous turn than normal.
The City he calls home might be full of the worst people north of Hell, but there have always been rules. Live a good life this time around and your final journey in the great Elevator might take you to a better place, live a bad one and… well you get the idea.
But now someone is breaking those rules, switching the fates of decent people with the worst scum in the City - and Judas' new client seems to be caught up in the middle of it all. With only his wits, a foul-mouthed cat, and the help of the scariest receptionist in the universe, Judas will have to risk everything to save the City he hates.
The City he calls home might be full of the worst people north of Hell, but there have always been rules. Live a good life this time around and your final journey in the great Elevator might take you to a better place, live a bad one and… well you get the idea.
But now someone is breaking those rules, switching the fates of decent people with the worst scum in the City - and Judas' new client seems to be caught up in the middle of it all. With only his wits, a foul-mouthed cat, and the help of the scariest receptionist in the universe, Judas will have to risk everything to save the City he hates.
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236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2021
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83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 26, 2024
Soul Trade
By Edward Rose
This story takes place in Purgatory. Our guy is Judas, the name given to him when he arrives. He's been there 5 yrs and waiting for the call of the elevator to take him up or down. He is the only PI here, and he gets a lot of business.
There's gangs, corrupt cops, bars, gambling houses, and even a priest. There are demons and other creatures, too. Judas lives with a cat that's sentient and can speak. His name is Sampson. He is only a handful of animals like that, and Sampson is one of them.
This book has a lot of action, some a little gory. It has magic, creatures, great fantasy, and dark humor. I found it smart, entertaining, and witty. My kind of book! I'm definitely going to read the next book!
By Edward Rose
This story takes place in Purgatory. Our guy is Judas, the name given to him when he arrives. He's been there 5 yrs and waiting for the call of the elevator to take him up or down. He is the only PI here, and he gets a lot of business.
There's gangs, corrupt cops, bars, gambling houses, and even a priest. There are demons and other creatures, too. Judas lives with a cat that's sentient and can speak. His name is Sampson. He is only a handful of animals like that, and Sampson is one of them.
This book has a lot of action, some a little gory. It has magic, creatures, great fantasy, and dark humor. I found it smart, entertaining, and witty. My kind of book! I'm definitely going to read the next book!
October 5, 2022
3,5* rounded up
🔥Read for SPFBO, this is only my *personal* opinion, the group verdict might differ wildly! 🔥
This is a new Urban Fantasy with a nice twist in the world building I really enjoyed!
I also liked the tone and voice of the main character, and both of these together did make me enjoy the book overall, despite having some gripes along the way.
The great bit is the story being set in purgatory, and me always having loved anything to do with Death made this an easy hook! The city felt real and gritty, and I liked the noir flare it had - and how the author made it fit so smoothly, because not everything does make sense in a world caught in the in-between of life and death.
Quite some mysteries in there as well (I so wanna know more about Barbara for example!), which worked very well to keep me glued to the pages.
The banter and sarcasm did work well for me, even though it was a bit cheap at times. It made me chuckle every so often though, so I still count this in the books favour!
It had been expecting an easy kill. Instead, it found itself blasted with Magick, which in the City is rarer than rocking-horse shit. It's about the same odds as a cat cornering the only mouse in the City who, it turns out, has a serious steroid addiction and owns a chainsaw.
Now to the things that I didn't like as much.
The investigation just seems to be very random, and not really "solving a puzzle". Judas just seems to randomly find or know things, or rather have no clue at all about things, but getting somewhere anywhere.
Which would be ok, sometimes you do get lucky - though he's definitely not a lucky person overall. But it also seems whatever he does doesn't even have any effect of the overall plot at all. He just runs around, and things happen, and he is confused and clueless. That just didn't fit well with the private eye theme for me.
That is also why the end was quite a let down for me. Don't get me wrong the mystery kept me interested enough I do want to read on in this series, but the end definitely felt a bit unsatisfying. If you took Judas out of the story, it would almost all have ended up the exact same way.
Another problem I had was being constantly told he's at the end of his powers, capabilities, too hurt to keep going, and so on. Yet he just keeps going anyway. I liked the "I would have to pay for this use of Magick" setup, so I found it quite annoying it never actually seemed to happen. Beat him up, throw him around, get him hurt, whatever - on we go. That lack of consequences really took away some of the suspense and immersion for me.
Aside from these gripes, this was a quick and enjoyable read, and I definitely want to read more in this setting!
🔥Read for SPFBO, this is only my *personal* opinion, the group verdict might differ wildly! 🔥
This is a new Urban Fantasy with a nice twist in the world building I really enjoyed!
I also liked the tone and voice of the main character, and both of these together did make me enjoy the book overall, despite having some gripes along the way.
The great bit is the story being set in purgatory, and me always having loved anything to do with Death made this an easy hook! The city felt real and gritty, and I liked the noir flare it had - and how the author made it fit so smoothly, because not everything does make sense in a world caught in the in-between of life and death.
Quite some mysteries in there as well (I so wanna know more about Barbara for example!), which worked very well to keep me glued to the pages.
The banter and sarcasm did work well for me, even though it was a bit cheap at times. It made me chuckle every so often though, so I still count this in the books favour!
It had been expecting an easy kill. Instead, it found itself blasted with Magick, which in the City is rarer than rocking-horse shit. It's about the same odds as a cat cornering the only mouse in the City who, it turns out, has a serious steroid addiction and owns a chainsaw.
Now to the things that I didn't like as much.
The investigation just seems to be very random, and not really "solving a puzzle". Judas just seems to randomly find or know things, or rather have no clue at all about things, but getting somewhere anywhere.
Which would be ok, sometimes you do get lucky - though he's definitely not a lucky person overall. But it also seems whatever he does doesn't even have any effect of the overall plot at all. He just runs around, and things happen, and he is confused and clueless. That just didn't fit well with the private eye theme for me.
That is also why the end was quite a let down for me. Don't get me wrong the mystery kept me interested enough I do want to read on in this series, but the end definitely felt a bit unsatisfying. If you took Judas out of the story, it would almost all have ended up the exact same way.
Another problem I had was being constantly told he's at the end of his powers, capabilities, too hurt to keep going, and so on. Yet he just keeps going anyway. I liked the "I would have to pay for this use of Magick" setup, so I found it quite annoying it never actually seemed to happen. Beat him up, throw him around, get him hurt, whatever - on we go. That lack of consequences really took away some of the suspense and immersion for me.
Aside from these gripes, this was a quick and enjoyable read, and I definitely want to read more in this setting!
August 12, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Scoring: 7/10
The Soul Trade is perfect for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy within a noir setting. The story is fast-paced and entertaining, with enough mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages to the very last one. It is a quick, easy read – a good introduction to a series that has the potential for more.
To read my full review please follow the below link:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review.
Scoring: 7/10
The Soul Trade is perfect for anyone who enjoys urban fantasy within a noir setting. The story is fast-paced and entertaining, with enough mystery and intrigue to keep you turning the pages to the very last one. It is a quick, easy read – a good introduction to a series that has the potential for more.
To read my full review please follow the below link:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review.
July 24, 2022
I read this because of the SPFBO Round 8. I am NOT a judge. This is one of many titles that caught my interest.
Review below synopsis.
Synopsis:
When you’re the one and only Private Eye in Purgatory no case is going to be easy, but when a lost young woman walks through Patrick Judas’ door things take an even more dangerous turn than normal. The City he calls home might be full of the worst people north of Hell, but there have always been rules. Live a good life this time around and your final journey in the great Elevator might take you to a better place, live a bad one and...well you get the idea. But now someone is breaking those rules, switching the fates of decent people with the worst scum in the City-and Judas’ new client seems to be caught in the middle of it all. With only his wits, a foul-mouthed cat, and the help of the scariest receptionist in the universe, Judas will have to risk everything to save the city he hates.
Everything in this review is solely based on my opinions.
The synopsis of this book drew me in and was the main reason I picked it up in the first place. It’s very different from any story I’ve read and dealt with the Heaven/Hell aspect in a unique way.
We’re following Patrick Judas who has been in Purgatory for a long time and is a Private Investigator. We see him on a few cases but the newest one turns everything upside down and it’s different from any he’s taken on before. Patrick is an interesting character and not what I was expecting. He has a dark sense of humor and always expects the worst to happen, but in a place like Purgatory I can understand why. Not to mention his choice of work. I enjoyed that Patrick was really invested in this newest case and knew that something was wrong. I liked that he had some redeeming qualities for someone in Purgatory and having the name Judas.
I really enjoyed a few of the side characters and found that they really helped the story not feel too down and depressing.
The author did a great job as making this a feel like an old noir detective mystery novel.
The Plot was easy to follow and moved forward pretty quickly and the bits of magick was explained enough to understand also. I felt like the flashbacks fell right where they needed to and didn’t take me out of the story.
A few things bothered me throughout the book. One of them is that our main character was able to jump from one clue to the next too easily. Yes he had run ins with people and daemons alike, but he was easily able to find a way out and get the next piece he needed for the puzzle he was trying to solve.
The other thing that bothered me was that the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. The build up was there but I feel like we could have had a little bit more to really pull it all together. The ending really let me down and I was just hoping for more. The synopsis makes it sound like something is happening and we just didn’t really get that.
Overall I enjoyed this story and might pick up the next book and see what Patrick and the rest of Purgatory are up to.
I would never have heard of this book if it weren’t for SPFBO8.
Review below synopsis.
Synopsis:
When you’re the one and only Private Eye in Purgatory no case is going to be easy, but when a lost young woman walks through Patrick Judas’ door things take an even more dangerous turn than normal. The City he calls home might be full of the worst people north of Hell, but there have always been rules. Live a good life this time around and your final journey in the great Elevator might take you to a better place, live a bad one and...well you get the idea. But now someone is breaking those rules, switching the fates of decent people with the worst scum in the City-and Judas’ new client seems to be caught in the middle of it all. With only his wits, a foul-mouthed cat, and the help of the scariest receptionist in the universe, Judas will have to risk everything to save the city he hates.
Everything in this review is solely based on my opinions.
The synopsis of this book drew me in and was the main reason I picked it up in the first place. It’s very different from any story I’ve read and dealt with the Heaven/Hell aspect in a unique way.
We’re following Patrick Judas who has been in Purgatory for a long time and is a Private Investigator. We see him on a few cases but the newest one turns everything upside down and it’s different from any he’s taken on before. Patrick is an interesting character and not what I was expecting. He has a dark sense of humor and always expects the worst to happen, but in a place like Purgatory I can understand why. Not to mention his choice of work. I enjoyed that Patrick was really invested in this newest case and knew that something was wrong. I liked that he had some redeeming qualities for someone in Purgatory and having the name Judas.
I really enjoyed a few of the side characters and found that they really helped the story not feel too down and depressing.
The author did a great job as making this a feel like an old noir detective mystery novel.
The Plot was easy to follow and moved forward pretty quickly and the bits of magick was explained enough to understand also. I felt like the flashbacks fell right where they needed to and didn’t take me out of the story.
A few things bothered me throughout the book. One of them is that our main character was able to jump from one clue to the next too easily. Yes he had run ins with people and daemons alike, but he was easily able to find a way out and get the next piece he needed for the puzzle he was trying to solve.
The other thing that bothered me was that the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. The build up was there but I feel like we could have had a little bit more to really pull it all together. The ending really let me down and I was just hoping for more. The synopsis makes it sound like something is happening and we just didn’t really get that.
Overall I enjoyed this story and might pick up the next book and see what Patrick and the rest of Purgatory are up to.
I would never have heard of this book if it weren’t for SPFBO8.
December 9, 2022
I received a digital copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for a review.
To begin with, in the version I had, there were some punctuation errors and such that hopefully were fixed in other versions. Other, inconsequential observations about technicalities: there seemed to be more hyphenated words than I thought necessary and there were a lot of short paragraphs that weren't a big deal in digital form, but that could get annoying if in print.
The basic premise is that there's a mediocre private eye (Patrick/Judas) trying to figure out a conspiracy happening in noir Purgatory. The first bit of the book felt like a lot of exposition, so it was clear that this is meant to be the first in a series. I thought that the general ideas were interesting, even if the delivery felt a bit clunky. Part of the reason for that is because it's all told through Patrick's point of view, and he has the personality of someone who thinks he's witty and needs to let you know it. But even so, I was still left with some questions as to how Purgatory works. At the end, when he figures out who is behind it all (which wasn't a total surprise and didn't feel like it mattered a whole lot since none of the characters other than Patrick and Samson, the cat, were really developed), there's not any hint at the logistics of what set things in motion to begin with. Patrick acknowledges how anticlimactic the conclusion feels, and I agree.
All that being said, I still did overall find the story to be an interesting, quick read. I think the setting gives the series potential for some unique stories, and I also want to know more about Samson.
To begin with, in the version I had, there were some punctuation errors and such that hopefully were fixed in other versions. Other, inconsequential observations about technicalities: there seemed to be more hyphenated words than I thought necessary and there were a lot of short paragraphs that weren't a big deal in digital form, but that could get annoying if in print.
The basic premise is that there's a mediocre private eye (Patrick/Judas) trying to figure out a conspiracy happening in noir Purgatory. The first bit of the book felt like a lot of exposition, so it was clear that this is meant to be the first in a series. I thought that the general ideas were interesting, even if the delivery felt a bit clunky. Part of the reason for that is because it's all told through Patrick's point of view, and he has the personality of someone who thinks he's witty and needs to let you know it. But even so, I was still left with some questions as to how Purgatory works. At the end, when he figures out who is behind it all (which wasn't a total surprise and didn't feel like it mattered a whole lot since none of the characters other than Patrick and Samson, the cat, were really developed), there's not any hint at the logistics of what set things in motion to begin with. Patrick acknowledges how anticlimactic the conclusion feels, and I agree.
All that being said, I still did overall find the story to be an interesting, quick read. I think the setting gives the series potential for some unique stories, and I also want to know more about Samson.
December 28, 2024
I received a copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only. It’s in the supernatural genre and is quite an enjoyable read. Patrick Judas is the only private investigator in Purgatory. His not so trustworthy but definitely potty mouthed side kick is a talking cat named Samson. Everything living there is waiting to be compelled to the elevator which either takes them to Hell (which is where most end up) or to Heaven. The names they have in Purgatory are not the ones they had when they were alive. They’re renamed according to the major sins they committed on Earth. Although we never learn what Judas’ sins were, it’s pretty safe to assume he betrayed the trust of someone in his Earthly life. He’s the only resident who’s remained in Purgatory for over five years. An attractive young woman shows up at his office requesting his help because she can’t remember who she is. He decides to call her Eve and coincidentally, strange things start happening in Purgatory that haven’t happened before. The rules are being bent or broken and it’s up to Patrick and Samson to solve the mystery! I recommend the book to anyone who likes this genre. There is at least one book to follow and I look forward to reading it.
December 21, 2022
The Soul Trade is a noir set in Purgatory. While many questions about the City and its workings are left unanswered, what will bring me back to the Judas Investigations is the charm I found in these pages. This book had a very brisk pace right from the off, and for all the grittiness of a daemon-fighting PI story it was a delight to read. The Soul Trade hits every noir trope any fan could desire, and does so with a slightly tongue in cheek love for the genre that is compelling for dedicated enthusiasts and accessible for all. For all its death and darkness this book is never heavy going, but rather carries the reader along for Judas' wild ride. While I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will absolutely be following further releases in the series, it has to be said that the main character does carry the story. The pace which keeps the book fresh and exciting comes at a cost, in this case in the form of time lost that could have been spent exploring more of the city, the world, and the rest of the cast. Still, perhaps that price is no more than one should expect where daemons are involved.
I received a free review copy of this book
I received a free review copy of this book
January 8, 2023
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Voracious Readers.
This was a fairly well written story with excellent character development, a punchy story line and quite a bit of humour.
I was immediately amused by Tennessee and her particular flair and humour. There is a casual way in which she speaks that had me immediately in her corner. In fact, all the characters are well rounded and have the reader rooting for them throughout the story.
The story is fast paced and full of twists and turns. Each new threat, despite be bizarre and OTT, had me fully engaged in the story and its characters.
However, there are significant gaps in the storyline that I found frustrating and confusing. The cohesion between one scene and the next, one event and the next pull a bit of attention from the story and left this reader just a tad annoyed.
Let me be clear, none of that was enough to make me stop reading and it certainly did not hamper my enjoyment of the book enough to give me much pause.
I am considering purchasing the whole series as I was invested in the characters fully and my interest in what happens next is annoyingly persistent.
This was a fairly well written story with excellent character development, a punchy story line and quite a bit of humour.
I was immediately amused by Tennessee and her particular flair and humour. There is a casual way in which she speaks that had me immediately in her corner. In fact, all the characters are well rounded and have the reader rooting for them throughout the story.
The story is fast paced and full of twists and turns. Each new threat, despite be bizarre and OTT, had me fully engaged in the story and its characters.
However, there are significant gaps in the storyline that I found frustrating and confusing. The cohesion between one scene and the next, one event and the next pull a bit of attention from the story and left this reader just a tad annoyed.
Let me be clear, none of that was enough to make me stop reading and it certainly did not hamper my enjoyment of the book enough to give me much pause.
I am considering purchasing the whole series as I was invested in the characters fully and my interest in what happens next is annoyingly persistent.
January 15, 2025
This is a fun read. Set in purgatory, you follow the life of Judas, a private detective, as he attempts to solve his latest case.
The setting is fab - the hospital, the elevator and the city are well described. You get a real sense of this world. There didn't however feel like there was enough character development for me to really feel for them in times of peril or during their demise. That being said, they were extremely likeable (for people who live in purgatory!) and this was still an entertaining read.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from author Edward Rose via Voracious Readers Only and this is my honest unbiased review*
The setting is fab - the hospital, the elevator and the city are well described. You get a real sense of this world. There didn't however feel like there was enough character development for me to really feel for them in times of peril or during their demise. That being said, they were extremely likeable (for people who live in purgatory!) and this was still an entertaining read.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from author Edward Rose via Voracious Readers Only and this is my honest unbiased review*
November 20, 2024
A fun supernatural Noir read! The location is a new twist on Purgatory, where PI Patrick Judas takes on a case that provides more excitement, mystery, action, and intrigue than he ever thought possible. The end reveals a completely unexpected pattern to the events he experiences and makes for an exciting fast-paced story. I understand this is one of three in the series; I look forward to reading the other two!
I was delighted to receive this advanced review copy through Voracious Readers Only.
I was delighted to receive this advanced review copy through Voracious Readers Only.
December 26, 2021
An Entertaining Rollercoaster
The Soul Trade is a rollercoaster of a tale, following Purgatory's only private detective, Patrick Judas, as an apparently simple case turns complex and dangerous. Rose has found a sweet spot between an urban fantasy and an old style noir detective novel. The plot is intriguing and builds to a satisfying climax, with a loose end that suggests there's more to come. I'll be looking out for Judas's next case.
The Soul Trade is a rollercoaster of a tale, following Purgatory's only private detective, Patrick Judas, as an apparently simple case turns complex and dangerous. Rose has found a sweet spot between an urban fantasy and an old style noir detective novel. The plot is intriguing and builds to a satisfying climax, with a loose end that suggests there's more to come. I'll be looking out for Judas's next case.
February 5, 2024
Supernatural film noir
The equivalent of a film noir (those old black and white detective movies) in a book. The hard boiled detective, the convoluted clues that keep him running after leads without regard for consequences he may incur. The story starts a little slow, but continues to gain pace right up until the end! Everything revealed, tied up in a package for a satisfying conclusion.
The equivalent of a film noir (those old black and white detective movies) in a book. The hard boiled detective, the convoluted clues that keep him running after leads without regard for consequences he may incur. The story starts a little slow, but continues to gain pace right up until the end! Everything revealed, tied up in a package for a satisfying conclusion.
December 17, 2024
Loved this! I couldn't put it down which means it has to be bl**dy good!
The story gripped from the first page, the characters believable and the story was wonderful. I guessed the baddie quite early, LOL, but unlike many stories that leave you disappointed to be right, I loved how this book ended and can't wait to read the next instalment.
I was gifted this book by Voracious Readers Only, but will be purchasing next copies myself - I need to know what Judas gets upto next!
The story gripped from the first page, the characters believable and the story was wonderful. I guessed the baddie quite early, LOL, but unlike many stories that leave you disappointed to be right, I loved how this book ended and can't wait to read the next instalment.
I was gifted this book by Voracious Readers Only, but will be purchasing next copies myself - I need to know what Judas gets upto next!
January 14, 2022
Good
Mostly an enjoyable story. There are a lot of references to events that happened to the characters before this. Which can be strange since this is the first book. At the same time a character must start somewhere. Why not in the middle?
Mostly an enjoyable story. There are a lot of references to events that happened to the characters before this. Which can be strange since this is the first book. At the same time a character must start somewhere. Why not in the middle?
December 22, 2022
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you.
What a refreshing read. The setting is brilliant, showing life in the underbelly of the city, with a dark, otherworldly twists
Enough action and mystery to keep you reading. Enjoyed the humour.
What a refreshing read. The setting is brilliant, showing life in the underbelly of the city, with a dark, otherworldly twists
Enough action and mystery to keep you reading. Enjoyed the humour.
January 26, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reminiscent of The Dresden Files. Fast paced action, old-style gumshoe. Purgatory should only be for those who belong there. Looks like someone is substituting. Who is it?
Thank you to the author and Voracious Readers Only for providing a copy.
Thank you to the author and Voracious Readers Only for providing a copy.
February 6, 2023
A very good read
I gave 5 stars because I really enjoyed reading this. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here
I gave 5 stars because I really enjoyed reading this. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here
September 7, 2023
witty and original
The author makes good use of the noir tradition to narrate the adventures of a detective in literal purgatory. Sarcastic bloody fun.
The author makes good use of the noir tradition to narrate the adventures of a detective in literal purgatory. Sarcastic bloody fun.
January 15, 2025
The main character in the story was very entertaining. It was a quick read once I got going. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
May 26, 2022
Read for SPFBO8 - review to come later.
Caveat: This is my rating only - I am only one judge of a team.
Caveat: This is my rating only - I am only one judge of a team.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews