There are no good guys in the world of shadows… but maybe some bad men are better than others. Derek Hawthorne was born to be an agent of the Red Room. Literally. Raised in a conspiracy which has protected the world from the supernatural for centuries, he’s never been anything other than a servant of their agenda. Times are changing, though, and it may not be long before their existence is … exposed. When a routine mission uncovers the latest plan of the magical terrorist, the Wazir, Derek finds himself saddled with a new partner. Who is the mysterious but deadly Shannon O’Reilly? What is her agenda? Couple this with the discovery the Red Room has a mole seeking to frame Derek for treason and you have a plot which might bring down a millennium-old organization. Can he stop the Wazir’s mission to expose the supernatural? And should he?
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This is a great urban fantasy story of spies, terrorists and secret agents, along with a generous dollop of magic and the supernatural. The Red Room is a secret agency that for centuries has protected humanity from discovering that supernaturals exist, but when a zombie creating bioweapon threatens the world, Agent Derek Hawthorne is put on the case. Derek is smart, sarcastic, a little jaded, trusts no one but his twin sister Penny (who is a powerful witch) and is good at his job. With a megalomaniacal villain bent on taking over the world and a power hungry ex-wife who is not only a suspect but also the CEO of a large, powerful corporation, Derek needs all the help he can get. He has hints of James Bond about him but with magic as well as gadgets, and his integrity and insecurities add to his appeal as a character. I loved the interplay and chemistry between him and his new partner Shannon O’Reilly. She is a fabulous, kick-ass character who has a great sense of humour and appears to be on the same page as him but there is that niggling hint of a doubt and you always wonder what her true agenda is. The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, does an excellent job of bringing the story to life and giving the characters voices that fit them well. I especially loved the accent he gave Shannon and his intonation really showed the seductress side of her nature. This story moves along quickly and it definitely keeps your attention. There is plenty of action, intrigue, fights, deception, a bit of steam and some humour in this story, as well as strong characters with unique supernatural abilities, complicated family dynamics and an entertaining plot.
Audible book
Esoterrorism
Red Room, Book 1
By: C. T. Phipps
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. I read the ebook and loved it but really wanted to heat it performed by the great Jeffrey Kafer and it was hilarious! I didn’t do the book justice reading it in my head. It was funnier for sure with Mr. Kafer! I guess that’s why he is the professional.
This book has such fun and clever situations, zany and unique characters, creatures, witty banter between characters, and a unpredictable plot. Magic, mayhem, monster, yep, all there! So is all the fun! I added plenty of giggles, they were forced out of me, really!
I have a rule to never re-read books but C.T. Phipps books are worth it! I have to break my lifelong rule for these and you will see why! They make me feel good and they are smart and witty!
E-book edition
Esoterrorism: From the Secret Files of the Red Room by C.T. Phipps is a book I requested and the review is voluntary. Derek is like a CIA agent but for supernatural creatures. He works for the Red Room and has a new partner, again. He fights all kinds of evil but one of them really is after him with a huge bounty on his head. His company has the neatest toys, forget James Bond..Derek has Lucy to make stuff to battle the paranormal! Wow!
Love the excellent characters, plot, creatures, it’s witty, clever, sprinkled with humor, lots of action, great supervillains, and a flying carpet! Who doesn’t love a book about a flying carpet? Lol!
Lots of fun with twisted mysteries too! Great job!
I really enjoyed this supernatural spy thriller and think it will make a great series! It held my attention from start to finish. As with most of his other books I’ve enjoyed, this book seems to take place in the same world as his others and as always, I did find myself laughing out loud a few times! Great narration by Jeffrey Kafer!