A Bad Place to Be a Hero

Written by Jerry F. Westinger

Narrated by Vicki-Jo Eva

"There is no bigger bastard than a man who thinks he's a hero."

Thessa is a young noblewoman who has an unfortunate run-in with a werewolf on her engagement night. Lokenn is a fugitive necromancer, out to restore the reputation of his maligned art. Corlis is an innkeeper with a dying aunt and rapidly mounting debts.

In a string of bad luck and worse decisions, the three of them land neck-deep in an undercover investigation. Soon enough, they’re skulking in warehouses, dining with crime lords, and occasionally bleeding in alleys. The powers that be give them three days to find answers, but the real question is whether they can put up with each other that long.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Máté Safranka
• Release date: Mar 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9789152724682

Reviews for A Bad Place to Be a Hero

[Billie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A Bad Place to Be a Hero
by Jerry F. Westinger
The Bad #1
Fantasy Urban Mystery
Scribd Audio
16+

Thessa is running away from her arranged marriage and gets bitten by a wolf. Loken is a necromancer in hiding, whose goals are not to resurrect the dead with his gift, but to save the living. Corlis took over the inn after his aunt got sick, and to keep her pain-free and alive he has creative ways to keep the debt collectors somewhat sedated.

But when their paths cross, they get themselves into a lot of trouble. They are given the chance to save themselves if they can solve the investigation they accidentally stopped.

Not quite a 'cozy mystery' but it came close. There was a little bit too much action, violence, and blood. The characters were interesting, but their backstories were a little lacking, especially Thessa's. I feel there should have been more of her history before she came into Corlis' inn.

As to the mystery, I felt as if there wasn't enough 'drama' about why what was being done was wrong. Sure the reasons were brushed over, but details on what and why and the repercussions would have added more layers to the story and might have pushed it along a little faster.

Not a bad story, but a little slow. The characters were pretty interesting, though I didn't care much for one, but a part of me wonders if I wasn't supposed to like them. Sometimes it was kind of hard to follow as it/the characters tended to wander from the topic, but they found their way back.

As to the next book in the series... Maybe.

3 Stars