Hell in a Head Gasket

The Devil's Daughter #1

by G.A. Chase

When Sere Mal-Laurette escaped hell, she thought she’d left her demons behind her. But now that one has found his way through hell’s gate, others are sure to follow. Then all hell will break loose. If Sere fails to contain the little soulless bastards, the loas of the dead will likely figure out her true identity. Then they’ll be all over her soul, and she can kiss immortality goodbye. Moreover, someone needs to send the demons back to where they came from before they wreak havoc on the citizens of New Orleans. To prevent the demon doppelgängers from killing their human equivalents and taking over their lives, Sere will need the help of people she trusts—and some she doesn’t. It’s time for her to embrace the badass demon hunter she was always meant to be. To do so, however, she’ll have to quickly figure out the line between protector of humanity and murdering psychopath.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Urban Fantasy, Humor

246 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2018

About the author

Greg Chase AKA G.A. Chase, is a science fiction/paranormal mystery author and glass artist living in New Orleans with his wife, fellow author Deanna Chase.


Librarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Amy]

DNF @ 3%, skimmed to 5, and shut down.

I don't know what it was, but I immediately disliked it. Maybe it was because the MC was naked in a hammock in the bayou bitching about demons and then put on skin tight leather to canoe, or perhaps it was the forced self-dialogue, but already I disliked Sere to a point that I didn't care about her story. It was immediate. Shame. Liked the title.

[Nereid]

I have never read anything by this author before and I was invited to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Initially I found the story confusing as there is no back story about Sere apart from the fact that she has escaped hell, died young, is in someone else's body and she is hiding out. The story seemed disjointed at times and the concept of the story was good but I thought the execution could have been better. Half way through the pace picked up and I began to follow along. I only realized at the end of the book that there was another series that explained what happened to Sere and also encompassed some of the other characters such as Kendall and Myles.
This is a stand alone but I would recommend reading the other books first to gain an insight into the history of these characters. Had I done that first I believe I would have enjoyed reading this book more and given it more stars, perhaps the next one will be different.

[Kristine]

This is a great start to a new series. The story is interesting and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The characters are complex and intriguing. I look forward to reading what happens next.

[Elisa]

Hell in Head Gasket was a fantastic read.

I highly recommend reading the Malveaux Curse Mysteries as these series are linked and I really love that series as well, but Hell in a Head Gasket can be read on it's own, the storyline was fantastic, great action, wonderful characters I seriously love Sere she is the title Sere is Hell in a Head Gasket, she takes no shit from anyone and causes mayhem wherever she goes and you just can't wait to turn each page to see what is going to happen next, I also love that Bart the Barman didn't give up on Sere I love how he just knew she would need his help even if she would never admit it they make a great team and Joe is funny as Sere's trainer and father figure he knows how to kick her butt into gear.
It was good to catch up with Kendall, Myles and the Professor as well.

I am really looking forward to more of Sere's antics and adventures.

[Blake]

(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)

3.5*

First time read the author's work?: Yes

Will you be reading more?: Yes

Would you recommend?: Yes


------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)

All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked

Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)

[Jacque]

I got to admit, I tend to pick up books with cutesy, pun-ish titles. Not exactly sure what the lure for me is other than it tells me the author has a sense of humor. I’ve never heard of G.A. Chase before a month ago although I am well acquainted (and love!) his wife’s works. The blurb for Hell in a Head Gasket was interesting and okay sure, maybe I wanted to see if G.A. is as good as Deanna. Maybe it’s a poor excuse to read a book but what the heck, I’ll give it a try.

Color me hooked! Hell in a Head Gasket was a real fun read. The premise of the story, catch an escaped demon doppelgänger and killing it before it could kill its human equivalent, had me curious. What the heck is a demon doppelgänger? Oh boy, now there’s a story! I adore Sere! Smart, tough and a total kicka$$, she is not a cookie you want to mess with. I’m new to Mr. Chase’s works and have no backstory knowledge on Sere. Most of her story was given thorough the book but I still have linger questions which suggests I have some catching up to do.

Now, there are all sorts of interesting additional characters to discover, with Lefty being my favorite, that add fun flavor to this book. He is someone I will let you discover on your own, so I will comment on my second favorite: one Bartender Smooth. Honestly, I can’t remember if we ever learn his real name but I can’t help but laugh how Bartender Smooth eventually evolved into Bart. Sere has a way of nicknaming the people she comes in contact with that gives me the giggles with Bart being the best one. This book isn’t a romance in any sense of the word but I sense a little spark there between Bart and Sele. Maybe… Hopefully… I’ll have to wait and see in futures titles if my predictions hold true.

So as I said before, I wanted to see if one Chase was as good as the other. And my conclusion is: ah yup! G.A. Chase is definitely an author that deserves to be read. I may have to start stalking him to see when the next in the The Devil's Daughter Book series comes out. Not exactly sure if you classify Hell in a Head Gasket as urban fantasy or paranormal mystery, but either way I think it would appeal to readers of both genres.

[Rosemary K]

The story of Sere Mal-Laurette is a wild suspenseful ride. I loved that she's a fiery demon hunter who is determined to prevent the doppelgänger who escaped from hell from wrecking havoc on New Orleans. Her character is a loner who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. She pulled me into her world and wouldn't let me go. I loved the connection with the Malveaux Curse. Hell in a Head Gasket is a well written story filled with non-stop action. All I can say is wow. Sere is an amazing character. I really want to see more of her in action. This is a great start to this new series.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

[Jennifer]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were great, including her friends in the swamp, like Lefty. I had not read G.A. Chase's previous series, which explains Sere's past, so sometimes the world she lives in was a little confusing, but it became clearer as the book progressed, and now I am going to read the past series. Looking forward to more.

[Anita]

The science fiction part of this book was a little mumble-jumble, like "techno jargon, yadda, yadda" science stuff = magic. It should have been more fully thought out and clearer from the beginning. The action parts and the characters were great, though.

The premise is that a private hell exists for a particularly bad man - a devil, or the devil perhaps. He lived in New Orleans a long time ago, though I'm not sure how long. Maybe 50 years? Maybe 100? The only creature he ever loved was his daughter, who committed suicide as a child when she learned about all the evil things he was doing. Something happened. Maybe an explosion? I couldn't get the gist of why the bad man's place of business was destroyed, with him in it. And he went to hell. But hell is an individual experience. So hells are private. And somehow, there are guardians of each hell, and this particular hell is populated by mannequins, or fake constructs, of the real New Orleans, which are somehow generated or monitored or something by a big bank of computers in real New Orleans. The constructs are not "real" - not feeling pain, for example, and sometime have all the dark impulses of the real that exists top-side. This hell is a very violent place.

I can't remember how or when, but the soul of the daughter who committed suicide was shoved into a mannequin and allowed to grow up in hell. She's quasi-real. Somehow, this was to placate or manage the devil. She's escaped to top-side, and lives in the bayou with her hell-gator and all her snake and fish friends. She's been trained as a survivalist and warrior, and in this book, a manequin without a soul escapes hell and she has to hunt it down. She meets a former military bartender who's hot. She has super healing powers. She has friends top-side that helped raise her somehow. She's nuts and rides motorcycles. She doesn't save everyone, but she saves some in the end.

It's complicated and hard to decipher the backstory, but the characters and the plot are really interesting. I think it could have used more time with a tough editor to help clarify the backstory. Otherwise, it was a very entertaining urban fantasy. Free on Kindle unlimited.

[Sheila]

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. First off I will say that I have never heard of this author before, but I am glad I was given the chance to read his works. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading future books! Sere is living a life of peace and quiet in the Bayou, outside of Hell, but when someone finds a way to escape Hell's Gate she needs to find them and get them back before others join him and they destroy New Orleans and everyone in it and give away her whereabouts and identity thus ending her peaceful life of immortality. She is a badass biker demon hunter with some unconventional swamp allies. Sere is a no-nonsense kind of woman, she knows what she needs to do and won't let anyone get in her way and in doing so made some human enemies who want revenge. She does come across some humans who want to help her, sadly some of them end up dying as a result. In her travels she meets Bart, a handsome ex Navy Seal who she is curious about. She does not want his help, but she is going to get it anyway. This book was a fun read and I would recommend it.

[Harold Force]

Won't

be reading another of these. Too many ups and downs and can't we talk dirty... Why is it that two or three of every five books don't need ever being published. Feel free to disagree.

[Jae]

Sere managed to escape hell, but she isn't free from its influences. When a soulless demon also manages to escape, it is bound and determined to kill its mortal equivalent and take over the man's life. Sere can't let that happen, or the loas of the dead will realize who she is, and she'll be stripped of her immortality. Hunting down the doppelganger will take all of her skill, and Sere discovers she's going to have to accept some help along the way. In the meantime, the doppelganger is on a killing spree, perfecting its technique before it eliminates its "real" in the mortal realm. With mortal lives on the line, as well as her immortal soul, Sere must stop the doppelganger and prevent hell on earth.

The more I read this, the more I wondered if it was a spin-off series. Turns out, it is. I didn't have too much trouble following along, but the author could have done a much better job with the backstory. Don't assume your readers have read your earlier series! I liked Sere; she was a tough badass, which is why I was disappointed that <> the author (*cough* a man *cough*) didn't let Sere be the hero on her own. No, she needed help from a man, and a mortal at that. Really? Plus, I never was sure of his name. Sere kept referring to him in her head as "Bartender Smooth", because she first encountered him at the bar where he was, you know, bartending. At some point, he became "Bart", presumably to shorten his nickname. And that's another thing. If Bart has a job bartending, how does he have time to follow (*cough* stalk *cough*) Sere all the way to New Orleans? Sheesh. Also, in many places in the narrative, Sere's thoughts are in quotes. Um, was she talking to herself out loud? It sure seemed that way.

Interesting story, feisty heroine, some humor, some gore. A good read, but not great. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars, but I'm going with 3.

[Carrie]

This book was filled with alternate dimension demons, motorcycles, and bounty hunting. While this is the first book of this series, it read almost like a sequel.

This story just throws you right into the deep end. I ended the book with way more understanding of the universe than when I started, but found myself getting a little frustrated by my lack of knowledge along the way. We join Sere, who has a magical affinity for snakes, kicking butt, and healing herself from large injuries. She is this world’s version of a demon (of sorts) and is tied to her “real” – another identical body that has her own life. If that wasn’t complicated enough, she’s also the daughter of “the devil.” Or something. I’m still not 100% on a lot of things in there.

The larger story (aside from grasping at details about this unique universe setup) is about a “demon” who has escaped from the same place Sere is from. It’s a little unknown how he gets out, or what his real end game is, but Sere has appointed herself as the hunter for this prey. The hunt involves a stalker-ish bartender with a motorcycle, a gigantic hell gator, disguises, gruesome murders, New Orleans, and an accountant. Along the way, like I said, you get dribs and drabs of information about how this world is set up and exactly how it came to be, but I am left wanting so much more! Sere eventually grew on me, as most gritty tough chicks do, so I kind of want to know what happens next in her story.

[Penny]

This first book in a new series is an offshoot of Mr. Chase’s Malveaux Curse Mystery series. You don’t need to have read the previous series to understand this one but doing so enhances what goes on in this one. One thing really struck me after reading this book was that I think I’m going to really enjoy this series more than the previous one as I find it grittier and more interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked them, but this one appeals to me more. While I had a hard time connecting to Sere and a couple of other characters in this book, and at times I was a little confused about the world, I did really enjoy the great writing and the interesting plot so much so that I had a hard time putting this down. By the end of the book, I really want to see what Sere and company are going to get up to next. Don’t let the four-star rating fool you; this book was actually pretty darn good aside from a few minor bumps. Highly recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

[alan l jarbeau Jarbeau]

Southern gal from South of Heaven - Kicks Ass

How amazingly cool to have some hard as nails chick as heroine of a series of novels. Then you up the appeal of the book even further by her being the Devils daughter giving her a pair of handbrake rattles as pets,and bodyguards add to that a prehistoric mutant alligator,and how could you possibly go wrong. The fantastic set of elements doesn't end there she rides a bike although not a Harley-Davidson it is still a motorcycle. Louisiana being the location of the novel absolutely sold me on giving it more than a second glance. The artwork on the cover also helped in giving it consideration as it appeared to be in the French quarter,and our heroine astride her bike in leathers,and red hair . What a fantasy to have come true . Right!!! I would definitely recommend reading this book,and eagerly await the next in the series.

[Denise Belt]

Sere is hiding from the loas so they do not figure out her true identity while trying to follow and deal with a demon that found his way through hell’s gate and is causing havoc. If she can’t contain this problem, her immortality will disappear.

I always love a unique story line that hasn’t been done by every author in the genre, and Hell in a Head Gasket delivered just that. This is the first book I read of the author, so I would have liked a recap at the beginning so those that didn’t read the first series would understand certain things would have helped make sense of certain elements. Chasing demons, immortality and a woman who knows how to handle herself is just the beginning of what this book has to offer.

[Alisa]

Light and love

You're not finding it here...well not just yet. I think there are some very interesting things on the way for Smooth and Sere. I started reading this book and realized there was a previous series that this series referenced. So I stopped reading this one and picked up the first series. I wish I hadn't. The first series is great, this series is great but do they have to be read in order NO. If anything this series is confusing now because of the first. Somethings work great as far as background information but 20 years have passed and the reader is completely clueless as to the happenings in those 20 years. Both series are GREAT but don't read them in order thinking it's absolutely necessary.

[Megan]

DNF at 20%, I felt like I got dropped in the middle of a series and should have already known who the characters are and what was going on in the story. There was no introduction to the world or the characters, we were just expected to piece together the story and what was happening. According to other reviewers, there is another series from this author that introduces the world and some of the characters but I don't want to have to read another series to understand this one, so it loses all of it's stars for that. If there had been some introduction and world building I think I might have enjoyed the story and characters.

[Shirley]

This is the first book in G.A. Chase's The Devil's Daughter series, but it's not the first book in this world. The world building started in the Malveaux Curse Mysteries, which I haven't read, but I fully intend to... soon. I wasn't lost in Hell in a Head Gasket, but I think that I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read those books first.

Sere is an interesting character. She thought she was better off working alone, even though she had plenty of people more than willing to support and help her. She wasn't comfortable with that though, especially when that help was offered from unexpected places.

You may have guessed that she's not the only great character in this book. Hell in a Head Gasket is full of supporting characters that I can't wait to get to know better. The premise was interesting, the characters were witty and the world building was unique. I can't wait for the next book in The Devil's Daughter series.

I received Hell in a Head Gasket in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[T.]

I downloaded Hell in a Head Gasket as a free ebook from Amazon. The book felt disjointed--a lot of good, interesting writing, but erratically slapped together without concrete worldbuilding up front. I felt lost through the first quarter of the book before pieces started coming together. Hell in a Head Gasket still retained lack of worldbuilding throughout, but, while parts of the story seemed disjointed, some stuff made perfect sense when I stuck with it. A tough read for me. I'd picked up book two at the same time, but I think the series is simply not for me.

[Stephanie Bolen]

Interesting and thoroughly crazy

The plot and how Sere gets from point A to B needs work. But the world is vastly different than any I've ever read. The bayou towns were interesting. The fact that she never let him say his name was hilarious. There needed to be some higher level thinking for Sere rather than bull barreling out of the chute, but not bad for a first go.

[Karen Docter]

I really enjoyed this story. Very different world building with demons and doppelgangers, and a heroine who is the devil's daughter. She rode a fine line on her motorcycle between protecting the humans against a psychopath and her longing to separate herself fro the reality that was her life as a demon hunter. I loved how bad-ass she was. Fascinating concept.

[Jason Brock]

Harder than titanium nails

That's one of the best descriptions of the mc sere...this book kept me hooked in from start to finish...one day when can afford it gonna read more of this series and also her backstory...lot of interesting backstories of all the charactures ...til then I give this a 10 of 10 rating...enjoy it you won't regret it

[Josh Warren]

DNF

Could not get past opening pages, author tries to cram a ton of backstory into too few pages at the start with zero flow. Also, couldn't stand the stylistic decision to have the protag talk to herself while all alone. Maybe there's a reason for it later, but I can't get through the wall of ideas being pushed in the first eight or so pages.

[Bec]

An interesting story. The devils daughter is sent to remove demons from earth. It did take me a few chapters to get hooked, but now I wanna know what happens next. I received an arc in return for my honest review.

[Tina Pegar]

I read a lot of this genre and this universe is interesting and different then other books. Sere is a kick-ass main character who was raised in hell and taught to fight by a great group of mentors.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

[Marcus]

This was an interesting book just based on the basic idea. The devil daughter is responsible for returning escaped demons back to hell. You, as a reader, know that these demons are not wanting to return willingly, which is where the actin stems from in the book. An interesting story to read

[Allison]

This was a wild romp through the Gate to Hell in the bayou. Doppelgangers and reals, interesting swamp critters, one bad-ass heroine with a seriously bad attitude. I've started on the sequel, and so far, I am hoping this series continues.

[Wendy Beachley]

Excellent

Wasn't sure how I would like this,or how it would measure up against the first series, it was great! I love the complex person that Sere has become, and all her relationships with the original characters. Great new series!

[Tammy Kenney]

Bought this since I'd gotten the 2nd one for free. Thought if I read it first it would help me figure out the story line and characters. I was lost in the first chapter and it didn't get any better. I kept hoping for some explanation about the characters and how they came to be. 37% and I gave up.