Caffeinated Reviewer

A Dead Man’s Favor by Chris Tullbane is the fifth audiobook in this delightful urban fantasy series. Narrated by Joel Richards, John is dealing with negotiations as the local supernatural mediator in San Diego. He’s also doing a favor for the local zombie prince, which only brings trouble. Addictive, with a dash of humor and lots of action.

Now that he's back home in San Diego, life is looking up for John Smith, hapless P.I. and supernatural mediator.

And sure, there may be a few flies in the ointment, like the little matter of an ongoing goblin war, the disappearance of John's chief mediator rival, and an ever-growing list of questions about the suspicious events of the past few years, but those are all topics for another day. It's wedding season and the sun is shining, the weather is perfect, and the early fall air is thick with the scent of-

Wait. Is that rotting flesh?

San Diego's zombie prince, Simon, may be long dead, but his descendants are still around and kicking, and one of them, his great-great granddaughter, just went missing. Now, Simon wants John to track her down.

John has never worked across state lines before, but clearly that's going to change. And while New Mexico might not be quite as blissful as Catalina Island, it still sounds pretty sweet. After all, John and his friends have already survived gods, witches, werewolves, and the terrifying guacamole shortage of 2013. What sort of challenge could this case possibly offer by comparison?

He's about to find out.

I love this series from our human PI, who flies by the seat of his pants and loves a vampire girl. I recommend listening from the beginning to learn how John Smith became a mediator for the supernatural, pissed off a vampire queen, and befriended those in the supernatural community.

So we are back from Italy, and things are going well. John’s in the middle of negations for the goblins when he finds himself and Juliette taking a road trip to Ghost Falls, Mexico. San Diego’s zombie prince, Simon, asks him to find his missing great-great granddaughter. The tale that unfolds had twists, turns and unexpected complications that kept me listening into the wee hours.

John is human, but also unique in that mostly he can resist a vampire’s thrall, can’t be turned by a werewolf and can draw on the power of another. I love the snark, back-and-forth banter and John’s interactions with the Duchess.

We meet new characters, including Kevin. Can I just say I loved Kevin! John also met some interesting creatures in Ghost Falls too and the negotiations were hilarious. The story in some ways felt like several shorts rolled into one story, but Tullbane weaved them all together with a few interesting twists. We see some development in the romance department too, but these lips are sealed.

Joel Richards continues to narrate the series and does a stellar job with giving voice to all the characters and their personalities. He takes the story and elevates it, which is why I recommend listening to them.

I cannot wait for the next audiobook in the Many Travails of John Smith series.

Amazon* | Audible

*Available in KindleUnlimited

About Chris Tullbane

Chris Tullbane began as a gleam in someone’s eye, but birth and childhood were quick to follow. He’s been fortunate enough to live in Spain, Germany, and all over the United States of America, and is busy planning a tour of the distilleries of Scotland. He currently lives in Nevada with his angelic wife and ever-expanding whisky collection and occasionally ventures outside to peer upwards, mutter to himself about ‘day stars’, and then scurry back into the house. Chris is the author of two series; The Murder of Crows and The Many Travails of John Smith, as well as a collection of novelettes and stand-alone novels, Stories from a Post-Break World, which are set in the world of The Murder of Crows.

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About Joel Richards

Joel Richards was the kid who did crazy things just to have a good story to tell afterward. On deciding to make his affection his profession, he received a BFA in acting and a BA in English from the University of Utah, and later an MA in oral storytelling from East Tennessee State University. He has narrated over 150 audiobooks (fiction and nonfiction) and continues to tell his original stories to live audiences.

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2024 Audiobook Challenge

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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