Hard Day's Knight

Black Knight Chronicles, Book 1

By: John G. Hartness

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Lots of Vampires. No Sparkles. Serious Snark.

Children are missing.

The police are stumped.

Halloween is coming, and an ancient evil is on the horizon.

The vampires are the good guys.

This is not your ordinary fall weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Vampire private detectives Jimmy Black and Greg Knightwood have been hired to save a client from being cursed for all eternity, but end up in a bigger mess than they ever imagined.

Suddenly trapped in the middle of a serial kidnapping case, Jimmy and Greg uncover a plot to bring forth an ancient evil. Soon, they've enlisted the help of a police detective, a priest, a witch, a fallen angel, and a strip club proprietor to save the world. This unlikely band of heroes battles zombies, witches, neuroses, and sunburn while cracking jokes and looking for the perfect bag of O-negative.

©2010 John G. Hartness (P)2015 Bell Bridge Books

Snarky Fun

Any additional comments?

Nerdy vampires just trying to make a buck and get laid........and oh, by the way, they need to save the world. Cool book, made my drive time fly by.

Unexpected surprise ! I really enjoyed

This book was shorter than what I am use to. But it was very enjoyable. There was lots of action, humor and laughter. If you enjoy Simon Green tales from the night side and Harry Dresten then you will enjoy this..... Not use to nerdy vampires.... But this was a nice listen!

A vampire book with a real ending. What a concept

What made the experience of listening to Hard Day's Knight the most enjoyable?

I love the concept of what would happen when a couple of young, out-of-shape, bachelors who spend all their spare time playing video games in a cheap basement apartment turn into vampires. A nice break from the gorgeous looking vamps with the rock hard abs that are so common in today's vampire novels.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is fast paced, with multiple mini-adventures taking place along the way, while the hero makes his way to the final conclusion. The narration is voiced particularly well, keeping me in tune with the story throughout my long car ride.

Which character – as performed by Nick J. Russo – was your favorite?

I liked Greg the best. He's the main vampire's side-kick. He's a nerdy, eternally overweight vampire who likes to dress the vampire/superhero part. Cape, spandex, utility belt (that's just a great touch), etc.... He's partners with our hero, but outside of playing dress-up vampire, would obviously rather spend his time sitting in the apartment playing video games.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This really isn't a book that moves you emotionally. It's more of an adventure/fun book to listen to.

Light beer

Critics in the paranormal fiction (especially detective genre) love throwing around phrases like "If you like The Dresden Files..." or "As funny as Jim Butcher's Dresden Files" or "Sarcasm on par with Dresden" blah blah blah you'll love <author's name> <book title>.

Seriously!? Comparing most paranormal fiction to The Dresden Files is like comparing a MacDonalds hamburger to filet mignon, Bud Light to 21 year old scotch, a Geo Metro to an Audi TT, or Good Night Moon to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Epic.

Granted the fault is my own for falling prey to the grade school efforts of Audible/Amazons' marketing "savants". But once in awhile, I'd like a gamble to payoff.

A Hard Day's Night was somewhat entertaining but the book read like the script for a mid series episode of Buffy the Vampire slayer. No character development (as you should already know who these characters are), a plot that an ant could wade ankle deep in, and story climax that was...well, to be fair, not too bad, (far more entertaining than anything Patricia Briggs would be capable of) though the post resolution was a little brief.

If you enjoyed the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series and have not read anything by Jim Butcher, then this is a series for you. If you made the mistake I did and jumped into the paranormal genre at the deeper end, then not so much.

I usually don't like zombie types

I am not much if sci Fi zombie reader but I had fun listening to this one. it was funny and unexpected. I had a good time.

Main character should not be.

This book, while having a pretty good tale, the like of which Butcher fans may appreciate, had one glaring flaw. The main character (of whose perspective the story is from) does nothing to further the plot. Worse, he actually hinders it; and is not even a worthy comic relief.

just mearly ok.

The best thing I can say about this book is that the Narrator has a good voice. The only reason I made it to the end was that voice.

the story itself is just popcorn garbage with nothing really redeeming about it, but at the same time, there is nothing blaringly horrible about it. most of the problems would seen like nitpicks on their own (small errors with religious mythology, having a fat dorky nerd character to shit on, the forced beyond all reason love interest, the heavy no homo overtones, and more) but all together add up to a underwhelming whole.

only really worth it since it was on sale when I bought it.

Really Fun

This was a book I enjoyed for the plot, the characters and the narration. I highly recommend it.

disappointing

Reads and sounds like two fifteen year olds tried to write a tale that was way too far out of their league. One wrote and one read.

Fun, not heavy

If your in the mood for something fantasy, without the serious undertones, this ones for you