Esoterrorism is the first in what I hope is an ongoing series. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, so I will try to keep my review vague in details. The book features Derek Hawthorne, an agent for a secret government agency known as the Red Room that polices the supernatural creatures living on Earth as well as keeping their existence hidden from the general population. The world building in this book is phenomenal; the author paints a vivid picture of the paranormal without getting bogged down in confusing detail. Imagine combining Harry Potter with Men in Black with James Bond, and you have an idea of the world in which Derek operates.
In Esoterrorism, Derek is tasked with preventing an evil mastermind from ruining all the work of the Red Room. He is joined in this task by a new partner, Shannon, who might be hiding some magical powers of her own. Although I liked Derek for his dry sense of humor and self-deprecating internal dialogue, it was the women in the story that stole the show. Shannon is one kick-ass spy with a hilarious sense of humor, the sibling banter between Penny and Derek is touching, and Lucy, Penny’s girlfriend and Red Room magical gadget maker, is goofy and sweet. The book has a high level of action and violence, but it is all very superficial – no blood and guts or gore. If you want a book with plenty of intrigue and excitement with a touch of romance and comedy, Esoterrorism is the perfect choice.
The narration by Jeffrey Kafer is as exceptional as always. His performances are always flawless, the sound quality is incredibly professional, and he can make even the most boring story (which this is definitely NOT) enjoyable. I highly recommend anything narrated by Kafer and Esoterrorism in particular.
I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.