Hard Spell: An Occult Crimes Unit Investigation

By Justin Gustainis

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 ]

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857661166

Reviews for Hard Spell

[seschend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very quick and engaging read that spins far closer to cop-noir than the typical urban fantasy.

It struck me as the cops' end of Law & Order with vampires and assorted horror types...and I could easily see the POV cop played by Jerry Orbach.

Well worth the time to read if you like urban fantasy and police procedurals. No major surprises but a fun melange of elements that make for a fast read.

[kellswitch_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. This is a mix of a more old-fashioned hard-boiled detective story and the supernatural and overall it works really, really well. This was not a typical campy urban fantasy where hot vampires and werewolves run around saving the day, this is a fairly dark world with series consequences and it takes it's supernatural elements serious. The characters were a mix of believable and stereotypical hard-boiled cop, more from the 70's than the current times, and for this world it really works. It even seemed to make the running undercurrent of sexism through the story not quite as painful? At least more like it fit so it didn't quite upset me like it normally would. I feel the author did a great job making the supernatural elements feel...sort of natural, or at least believable and I loved that the setting was not the typical New York or other typical well-known city. Scanton, Pennsylvania makes for a different and therefore potentially more interesting setting. And I can't forget the S.W.A.T. team, oh my god I loved the S.W.A.T. Team (and the Hell hound, I want a Hell hound for myself) and I so very badly hope they show up in future books. They were a fun tough bunch you could feel the camaraderie and sense of a well functioning team that had been together for a while. This felt like a believable cop story that just happened to have vampires running through it, and it wasn't campy at all, it takes itself serious and allowed series consequences and difficult decisions that will play out in future books and I am definitely looking forward to the next one.

[dvkov · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hard Spell is the first in the Occult Crime Unit Investigation series. In Justin Gustainis' world, supernaturals have always exited, though only out in the open in the U.S. in relatively recent history. The main protagonist is Stan Markowski, formerly a normal cop who now works in the Occult and Supernatural Crimes investigation Unit in Scranton, PA. Turns out Scranton is a hotbed of supernatural activity. Stan and the squad are charged with keeping the supes on the right side of the law. His latest case involves a gruesome murder and theft of an ancient tome called the Opus Mago, a book filled with very dangerous black magic spells. As vampires start turning up dead it becomes clear someone is trying to invoke one of the spells. Markowski and company need to figure out who is committing the murders before it's too late. It took me a few chapters to really get into this book, but once I did I liked it a lot for a variety of reasons. The dialog felt genuine, how cops would actually interact with each other. There is a whole host of supernatural creatures that appear as both good guys and bad. I was happy to see not just vampires, witches and werewolves but also trolls, gypsies, witch hunters, ghouls -- a cornucopia of creatures all one one city. Markowski is a flawed person who makes selfish decisions that can and sometimes do hurt those around him. He has a very interesting back story, which isn't fully revealed until a good bit into the book. I liked that everything wasn't laid out neatly in the beginning. The mystery is a good one that I did not think was predictable. By the end I was staying up much later than I should have on a work night because I couldn't wait to see how it ended. All-in-all I found it to be a great read. I started the next book in the series as soon as I finished this one. It's a definite recommended book for me. I received this book for free with the request for an honest review.

[recklessreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A not bad cop mystery with action and no romance to speak of. The paranormal magical world the author develops incorporates religious viewpoints, though a couple of fundamental Christian characters are shallow stereotypical villains. Other religious characters are seen as integral to the protection of law enforcement officials on the 'paranormal' beat. This is unusual in that many authors seem intent on making Christianity, and religion in general, the requisite ignorant bad guy of the story. Gustainis makes several of his religious leaders integral to the paranormal protection of others. I'm not sure how other Christians will view this, but I for one appreciate the change of tenor in this regard.

[emblue-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Didn't care for it at first, but it got better.

[glennis.leblanc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A new book set in an urban fantasy setting where everyone knows about vampires, werewolves and witches. Stan works for the Scranton Police dept in the Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. The book starts with an infodump and a prologue but neither really bothered me that much since the infodump gives you the world setup of how everyone learns about the supernatural and the prologue gets you the set up for the Stan and his new partner.
The main plot has Stan and his new partner trying to find the murderer of a local wizard. Stan recruits a local white witch to summon the sprit to get a lead. This leads to several problems for the witch and does complicate the case a bit for the cops. During the investigation you find out more back story on Stan and what led him to working with the unit. The mystery was solid and the story was enjoyable. I plan on reading more in the series as they come out.

I got this copy off of Netgalley to rewiew.

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Hard Spell isn't the best thing I've ever read, but it was fun -- fairly typical in some ways, for urban fantasy, but still, compelling enough that I finished it and have grabbed the second book from my TBR pile. There's a lot of male gaze-y stuff going on, with a couple of blatant male fantasy characters, but there are some surprises too -- the main character starts with some prejudices pretty well fixed, but he's able to change with the circumstances, which makes for a pretty satisfying end.Overall, the plot is nothing new, but the writing is solid and it avoids shoehorning in sex and romance as the most important thing, which other urban fantasy can fall afoul of. In fact, that's not a thing at all here -- the leading lady in Stan Markowski's life is his daughter, Christine, if anything. He does have a tragic past, etc, which all sets up how the story works out, but at least that all hangs together coherently. There's some cool world building done on the premise that supernatural creatures are a part of the world for good -- SWAT teams exist, but mean something else entirely, for example...This is a pretty ambivalent review, I know. It's pretty much a "hey, Gustainis, better impress me next time" kind of review.

[rrainer-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Conceptually I really enjoyed this one and the ideas behind it, because I've always been an urban fantasy fan, but overall I felt like it was too heavy on the exposition and too light on the characterization. Still, for a fun read I'd pick up more in the same universe.

[ladycato · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I used to be a Law & Order junkie. I watched every incarnation of the show. As soon as I started reading this book, I had to laugh, as it immediately struck me as Law & Order detectives investigate the paranormal. The voice is thick and heavy, abounding with profanity and dry wit, with a gravelly noire feel. Sure, it's a cliche, but one that has some truth to it from what I've seen. Plus, why mess with a good formula? You have a cop who recently lost his partner. You have the new partner, who you're not sure about trusting yet. There's the boss who's about as prickly as a porcupine. Family drama. A loathing of vampires, and yet a case now where the vamps are the murder vics--so you have to set aside your prejudices and do the damn job.Really, the fun of the book is because it does follow the cop show tropes, yet subverts them with paranormal twists every so often. Like the acronym SWAT: Sacred Weapons and Tactics Unit. They bring along holy water, silver bullets, a cop with samurai swords, a flamethrower, and a minister, rabbi, and Jesuit to pray together and nullify any nasty black magic.I read a lot of urban fantasy. I can be jaded about the genre at times. This one is fresh and fun. It reminds me of what I loved about Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander, where a nurse works the hidden paranormal wing of a hospital.

[bearmountainbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this mystery. Oh, there's some overdone foul language in a couple of spots, but it's a very fast-paced enjoyable urban fantasy with a pulp fiction feel. Probably not quite as good as a Frank Tuttle UF/pulp, but a good read and I'll be looking for more by this author.

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good, solid enjoyable read. Stan Mardowski is the cop you want to catch your case -- been there, done that, kind of cop. Hard-boiled without being too calloused. Life has kicked him around, but he's still in there fighting for the little guy. Even if the monsters are getting bigger and badder......

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this urban fantasy version of the hard-boiled detective story. The writing was compelling. I was constantly reading portions to a friend who was visiting. Stan was a remarkable character. His voice was pitch perfect. He is the dedicated, hard-working cop who is determined to keep Scranton safe from supernaturals who break the law. Stan's current case has to do with black magic and a vampire/wizard who is killing vampires to get ready to perform a ritual that can end life as they know it. Stan pursues all leads and angles. The case begins with the torture and mutilation of a local wizard and the theft of something from his safe. With no leads or forensics, Stan consults with his witch contact. She contacts the dead wizard but ends up taken over by him. Next comes a very ancient vampire named Vollman who also wants to find the book that was stolen from the local wizard.The book that was stolen contains the blackest of black magic. Only five copies are in existence. Responsible wizards won't touch it. But someone not only wants it but wants to perform a ritual the needs the deaths of five vampires to complete. Along the way Stan and his partner consult with a visiting professor who has seen a few of the pages. They learn more about the spells but have no way to know what the goal is. They have a name for the wizard/vampire but have no way to locate him or predict what he will do next.As Stan and his partner Karl follow clues and look for more information, they also have to work around Witchfinders who want to question the witch that Stan contacted. These Witchfinders are a more modern version of the witch hunters of the 1600s. Stan also has to deal with personal issues. His wife was accidentally killed by the vampire that she was seeing during an extramarital affair. That certainly gives Stan a prejudice against vampires. Also, at about the same time that his wife died, his only child developed leukemia. To save her life, Stan went to his wife's lover to have him turn his daughter into a vampire. The relationship between Stan and his daughter is not at all good.I liked that the world that Gustainis created was so near our own. The way the supernatural creatures fitted in was very believable. I recommend this story to readers who like urban fantasy and who like mysteries. It would also appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's Dresden series or Glen Cook's Garret series. Even before I finished this one I went to Amazon and bought other books by Justin Gustainis. He is now on my "must buy" list.

[bibrarybookslut · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My name's Markowski. I carry a badge.

As you might expect from the hard-boiled detective novel cover, not to mention his deadpan introduction, Stan Markowski, the hero of Justin Gustainis' Hard Spell, is a Detective Sergeant of the Stranton PD.

Also a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9 mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.

What makes this such a fun story, however, is the fact that Stan is a Detective Sergeant for the Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. Part Joe Friday and part Agent Mulder (with a little Gil Grissom mixed in), he's the kind of man who commands immediate respect. Meanwhile, his partner, Karl Renfer (a hotshot cop with James Bond aspirations) makes a perfect foil. Their relationship borders on the clichéd, but that's intentional - the entire book 'borders' on it, but cleverly challenges every cliché it comes across.

This was just a fun story. The narrative style worked perfectly, and the dialogue was consistently strong. It's not often I pay so much attention to dialogue, but this was the kind of book I wished I could 'watch' in a serialized TV format, just so I could hear the sarcasm. The supernatural elements are handled beautifully, coming across as entirely plausible, and not at all comic or surreal. In many ways I was expecting a Men In Black kind of approach, but this is much closer to The Night Stalker - assuming, of course, that the show was filmed a few decades later, uncensored and granted the kind of budget that cable TV can command.

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. It's not often you come across a group of goblins, addicted to meth, who have to be apprehended for robbery . . . and even less often that you need to dial 666 to summon help from the Sacred Weapons And Tactical (SWAT) unit.

A quick read, this is also a good one - definitely one of the most pleasant surprises I've encountered in a long time. I really hope Justin continues with this world, and gives us more adventures with the Scranton PD.

[ralphd00d-325171 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this copy for free from the author in exchange for review. That being said, why have I not read this author before?!? I was drawn into the story, and found it hard to put down.

Markowski is a Sergeant on the Scranton, N.J., Police force, the Occult Division. In this alternate plane, supernaturals (vampires, werewolves, fairies, wizards, etc.) are common, though society may not embrace them. When the case gets weird, the Occult Division gets called in. This time, it is someone killing off vampires ... and there is something big at stake (pardon the pun).

Gustainis has done a great job in building character and plot in this first installment to the Occult Crimes Unit series. I found myself liking the main characters, with their human failings (love for family, desires to be loved, etc). I am avidly looking forward to reading the next book.

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In a world where the paranormal is just another dark part of normal, cops will surely need a specialized crime squad to deal with magic and myth. Author Justin Gustainis provides just the team, with Detective Stan Markowski , who carries badge and crucifix, wooden stakes and more. SWAT team takes on a whole new meaning (Sacred Weapons and Tactics) but works the same way, and violence and politics continue their underhand agreements, just as in the real world. Just read the Scranton Times-Tribune and see.The (imaginative) swearing will either offend or amuse. But the story will keep any fans of the Dresden Files or other urban fantasies happily engaged in a well-drawn world, with well-timed secrets, convincing narrative voice, and a gleeful mix of mystery, detective work, modern gadgets and spiritual powers.Hard Spell is a fast-flowing story with great characters, cool scares, and an enjoyable depth. Tongue in cheek, stake in heart, gory disaster and pleasing hope—it doesn’t dwell too long in any one place, but pulls the reader on through the streets of Scranton to a place where the whole world might change. I can’t wait to read more.Disclosure: The author kindly gave me a free ecopy and I love it.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A suspense filled supernatural detective story, with a little day-to-day realism thrown in for good measure.Opening Sentence: This is the city – Scranton, Pennsylvania.The Review:Here is what I like about Hard Spell; the detectives come across like their real counterparts. Real police officers have to put themselves into real danger, and are forced to make split second decisions with lasting consequences. Given their inherently important jobs, I still like to think of them as everyday people that also have to deal with everyday mundane issues. Hard Spell is a story of a supernatural cop’s life. His every action feels genuine. Stan Markowski has problems relating to his daughter, has a crush on a co-worker, and tries doing his best while on the job. Can’t ask for more “real” than that.In Markowski’s world, supernaturals are an everyday occurrence; and like all good citizens, there are the police that are there to uphold the law. So when its looks like a string of murders are tied to a missing powerful and forbidden grimorie, the men in blue are on the job. With the help of a witch consultant, an enigmatic and influential vampire, and old-fashioned crime solving techniques, Markowski and his partner, Karl Renfer, are on the hunt. They have to stop a potentially deadly incantation that may “spell” doom for humans and supes alike.This story is very similar to the movie, Blade 2. Supernatural and human banding together to stop a “super” supernatural that threatens both factions. Though the story isn’t new, the delivery and prose are. Each character has very “human” flaws that make them relatable: Markowski harbors an unnatural hatred toward vampires, which his daughter happens to be, Christine looks for her father’s acceptance of her newly undead nature even though he is the one responsible for her becoming a vampire in the first place, and Vollman the vampire withholds vital information on the case for very personal reasons. Even Markowski’s relationship with his new partner, Renfer, exhibits the tentative but growing trust between men that occur when you are responsible for each other lives.Even though there is no real love interest, Markowski is still a guy. He makes mention of a certain lovely married lady that he appreciates visually but refuses to go any farther with. He is a man of ethics and fortitude. I like the fact that he notices her without making it more than what it is; a fantasy. Good man.The other thing to make a note of in this book is the world itself. Supernaturals are a large part of their world. They are accepted much like racial, sexual, and religious differences are for us in this day in age; not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. Discrimination is still prevalent, but not government sanctioned. City and government officials take their special abilities into account and apply the law accordingly. I really enjoyed the new take on the S.W.A.T. team: Sacred Weapons and Tactics. Classic!Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal crime story. A perfect blend of criminal justice and paranormal mayhem. This is a gem found among the multitude of similarly themed books.Notable Scene:A hundred feet or so ahead, a black cat was just starting to lead three of her kittens across the wide street. I’m fond of animals, so I figured I’d better speed up a little- that way, I’d be past them and gone before they reached my side of the road. I could’ve just slowed down and let them go first, but that would mean a black cat – hell, four of them – would be crossing my path. I’m not superstitious or anything, but I still thought that was a bad idea.Turned out I was right.Because if I hadn’t speeded up right about then, the dead body that fell on top of us would have gone right through the windshield, instead of just putting a humongous dent in the roof.Close to two hundred pounds of dead weight moving that fast – it might well have killed one or both of us if it had gone through the glass, or at least hurt us pretty bad.But we were fine. Being scared shitless doesn’t count. Or so they tell me.FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Hard Spell. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payments I receive are hugs and kisses from my little boys.

[readafew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a lot of fun. It’s an urban fantasy crime, we follow a police detective Stan Markowski, a member of the Occult and Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. They investigate all crimes by the supernatural or against them. We meet Stan and his partner as they are trying to negotiate a hostage situation. A couple goblins high on Meth are holding a convenience store clerk and a customer. It’s a rather unique negotiating technique.Later the story actually starts when Stan gets called to a murder. The victim appears to be, or had been a wizard. He was tortured rather gruesomely, for the location of his safe and then put to death. Turns out what he was guarding was a magical book worth fearing. Shortly after that vampires started turning up dead, with strange symbols carved in them. The book could cause end of the world type trouble and Stan and his partner get to try and prevent the Apocalypse.Overall, I found this book to be great fun. It’s hard crime but with the supernatural and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. There was a bit of humor and a lot of action. The main character was fairly decently drawn and the story flowed well. I thought it was a good book and eagerly await the next in the series.

[raboyer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Decidedly Deft DetectiveHard Spell by Justin Gustainis* Received this book from the author for review* Will be released July 26, 2011This book gets a grand 4 gnomes and a gnome hat out of 5 gnomes for having an old school detective story type atmosphere and for being full of paranormal goodness. Hard Spell was so much fun to read and would make for an excellent TV show or movie. The cover may look a tad cheese-tastic but it really fits will with the spirit of the story.I of course wanted to read this book because it takes place in Scranton, PA (the home of one of my favorite TV shows, The Office). The setting and tone of the book make it a must read. It reads like a film noir type novel in places but also happens to have a lot of f-bombs and some great humor which makes for an exceptionally enjoyable read. It’s kind of like NYPD Blue, Psych, and Supernatural all blended together to make some kind of beautiful demon baby. I found myself giggling in the first chapter when they are called to a crime scene that features meth addicted goblins robbing a store.Stan Markowski is a cop who solves crimes that deal with supernatural beings. He seems like the quintessential hard-boiled detective who knows how to get the job done. He and his partner Karl have a lot to do when a case takes a weirder turn then usual. If they don’t solve this case it could be the end of the world, for real. There are a wide range of paranormal creatures/beings in the story. Vampires, Sorcerers, and witches are prominently featured. All of the magic mixed with everything else makes for quite the wild ride. There are some potential love interests but they don’t go beyond potential, at least for now anyway. It was great to see the different people that Stan cares about and watch relationships develop. Stan’s a character who actually seems to grow wiser and more tolerant as the book goes along.Like any great mystery there are some red herrings and danger aplenty. The duo of Stan and Karl are almost killed multiple times and kept guessing about what exactly is going on. This book has an extremely satisfying ending and I know I can’t wait to see what happens next.My favorite quotes:"I was never a Boy Scout, but "Be Prepared" is still a good motto to live by. Especially if you plan to keep on living.""Speaking of the devil doesn't necessarily make him appear – but it might."

[badass_book_reviews · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Received via Netgalley thanks to Angry Robot publishing.Release Date: July 26, 2011To see the publishing blurb for Hard Spell by Justin GustainisGrade: Solid B+ or 4 StarsThis was a fast paced, interesting novel. It reminded me a lot of Harry Dresden by Jim Butcher, which was a good thing as I love Harry. It’s not that Stan reminded me of Harry per say, just the way the novel was written. Justin has a very loose style of writing. It flows naturally out of the MC. There are not a lot of Male protagonists–written by a man– which was I requested to read this novel from Angry Robot via Netgalley. I’m glad I did!Stanley is a Sergeant with the Scranton, PA Supe Squad. Supes are everywhere, and have converged on Scranton due to it’s ley lines. Most are pretty bad, but occasionally you find a supe with an honor code.I like that Stanley wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes and he owns up to them and tries his damnedest to make them right.When a series of gruesome torture murders shows up on the grid, Stan and his partner Karl, set off to investigate.There were a lot of surprises in this novel. One was Christine the other was his wife. I felt for Stan, I really did. He had it rough for a while.Hard Spell is a fairly dark and gritty book. It has it’s gruesome moments, along with some funny lines. I love books that combine horror and humor. You need that balance sometimes.There is no romance in this novel. (Bummer, no sex!)Below slight ending spoiler: Read at own riskshowOverall, if you are a fan of Male Leads, and Harry Dresden type novels, then you will most likely enjoy this novel.

[laurie170 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! Set in Scanton, Pennsylvania, a veritable hotbed of paranormal activity, Stan Markowski and his new partner, Karl Renfer, race the clock trying to find out who ritualistically killed a powerful vampire magician. When a spell goes seriously awry, Stan is unwittingly responsible for putting another close friend and colleague in terrible danger.The uneasy, untested relationship between Stan and Karl was realistic and believable. As their partnership gained cohesion there developed between them a comraderie and trust that felt very natural. Adversity and occasional set-backs only further cemented their partnership. This book combines nail-biting suspense and contemporary forensic science with a magical element full of twists resulting in the creation of a story that is totally captivating and difficult to put down. I hope this is but the first in a series and there are more escapades in store for us in future installments. Reminiscent of Jim Butcher’s, Dresden Files series and P.N. Elrod’s, Vampire Files, but with a decidedly darker, snarkier tone, this is an author to keep on your radar screen.Thanks so much to Net Galley and Angry Robot who provided this book to me in return for my honest review.Reviewed by Laurie-J