Description:

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets. **File Under: Urban Fantasy** [ Dial V For Vampire | Forbidden Spells | Bite Club | Scranton By Night ] *From the Paperback edition.* ** ### Review “A cool mix of cop show and creature feature. Gustainis had me at ‘meth-addicted goblins’.” - Marcus Pelegrimas, author of the Skinners series “A magical mystery tour of a murder case rife with supernatural suspects. Sit down for an enchanted evening of otherworldly entertainment!” - Laura Resnick, author of Unsympathetic Magic & Vamparazzi *“Hard Spell* deals with hardened professionals looking for supernatural things hiding under rocks, and then dragging them out and giving them a good kicking. The cops act like real cops, the vampires act like real vampires, and the monsters aren’t messing about. The plot twists and turns like a twisty turny thing, and moves like a weasel on speed. The real things feel real, and the supernatural things feel like they might be. The prose is a joy to read, and the whole thing was more fun than is probably legal.” - Simon R Green “Punchy dialogue, a fun alternate history, explosive action, and a hero whose monsters haunt him even beyond the job… Gustainis has given us a fantastic supernatural cop story that just dares you to put it down!” - Chris Marie Green, author of the *Vampire Babylon* and *Bloodlands* books “I enjoyed every page of *Hard Spell*. If Sam Spade and Jack Fleming were somehow melted together, you’d get Stan Markowski. I can’t wait to see what Gustainis does next.” - Lilith Saintcrow, author of *Night Shift* and *Working for the Devil * “A winning mix of urban fantasy and hard-boiled detective fiction.” - Jennifer Estep, author of the *Elemental Assassin* series "If you’re looking for an author who does gritty cop thriller blended with film noir accompanied by a good helping of Urban Fantasy then you really can’t do better than Justin Gustainis." -Falcata Times "I was hooked on the very first page." -Lesa's Book Critiques "Gustainis has had plenty of practice with his art, and here he shows off his exemplar writing skills in a truly entertaining novel." -Theresa Derwin, www.terror-tree.co.uk "Hard-hitting, gritty detective novel meets the paranormal in a witty and entertaining read." -www.fluidityoftime.blogspot.com "*Hard Spell* is hugely entertaining, enjoyable and just downright awesome." -www.walkerofworlds.com "*Hard Spell* is a very good read, one I recommend to fans of Urban Fantasy, paranormal, or even cop dramas." - www.booksavvybabe.com "This is definitely a book I will read over and over again!" - The Bibliophilic Book Blog "Genre mash-ups seem to be all the rage these days, and Justin Gustainis' *Hard Spell* is a perfect example of how to do them right." - Kate Sherrod, www.kateofmind.blogspot.com "...non-stop cop drama with a nice dose of paranormal." - Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog "This is a really fun read, and is a great start to a new urban fantasy series..." - Suzanne Johnson, author of the upcoming *Royal Street * "*Hard Spell* is a good bit of paranormal fiction that is more crime novel than paranormal one. The two elements are mixed well together, and I would certainly enjoy reading another mystery of the Occult Crimes unit in the future." -John Ottinger, www.graspingforthewind.com "Justin Gustainis has given us one of the best supernatural cop stories I’ve ever read." -www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com "Full of suspense, drama, and magic, Gustainis has created another fine fantasy series with interesting characters and riveting mystery. With fast-paced adventure and plenty of twists, the novel was impossible to put down. This new series debut is a must-read for urban fantasy fans." -www.scifichick.com "Much to my surprise, this was a story that worked well as both an urban fantasy and as a police procedural. Take away the supernatural elements, and there is still a good detective story here, but it's the mix of the two that make this such a great read." -www.bibrary.blogspot.com "Gustainis writes with the kind of economy that you might expect in the more standard brand of hard-boiled tale, but he also has a knack for invoking the eerie menace of the supernatural – without going all florid and purple prose on the reader. He skillfully introduces the history of his world’s supernatural elements and brings together his cast of characters in a way that would make Dashiell Hammett or Robert B. Parker proud. His villain’s plan is audacious and well thought out." -Sheldon A. Wiebe, *Eclipse Magazine* ### About the Author Justin Gustainis was born in Northeast Pennsylvania in 1951. He attended college at the University of Scranton, a Jesuit university that figures prominently in several of his writings. After earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. Following military service, he held a variety of jobs, including speechwriter and professional bodyguard, before earning a Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Mr. Gustainis currently lives in Plattsburgh, New York. He is a Professor of Communication at Plattsburgh State University, where he earned the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2002. The author lives in Plattsburgh, New York.