The Nine by C.G. Harris – Review

CG Harris has a winner with The Nine. This first novel of The Judas Agency series will make you roll with laughter and riddle you with disgust. The story’s originality is a breath of fresh air, sort of. You do have to watch out for the turkey barn.

---

BBNYA is a yearly competition where Book Bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official BBNYA website or Twitter. 

The sign-ups will soon be open for the 2022 BBNYA competition, be it for authors to enter their books, or for bloggers wanting to be part of the new panel, so keep your eyes peeled!!

---

About The Nine

Gabe is recruited to join the most dangerous organization the world has never heard about. 

As a double agent he has to fight within their ranks to stop them, all with no training, no experience and no support. If he’s caught, they will tear him apart. But that’s not the real twist.

Gabe is dead, he lives in Hell and Judas Iscariot just became his new boss.

Judas assigns Gabe a beautiful new partner with plans to sow a disease that could wipe out the modern world. Without revealing his true identity, he must find a way to deal with insect wielding super agents, firestorms, and worst of all, the nauseating envisage travel to get Topside to save the earth.

If you enjoy the Dresden Files snark and Sandman Slim grit, the THE NINE, book one in the Judas Files urban fantasy series, should be the next book added to your bookshelf.

Blurb Provided by BBNYA Tour Organizer The Write Reads

---

Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Order The Nine Now: Amazon US | Amazon UK

---

My Review

Gabe has a great life in the nine. He’s got a shop where he trades goods for secrets. Gabe’s setup allows him to enjoy his death as much as one can enjoy their death in the ninth level of hell. One day a nasty-looking fellow shows up to take Gabe to meet none other than Judas. Judas seeks Gabe’s expertise. He wants Gabe to gather information about what’s happening within the company. Unfortunately, there are very few instructions, and Gabe is flying by the seat of his pants to learn as much as he can. But, things turn ugly fast. Will Gabe wind up in the sulfur pools, or will he prevail over the evils of hell?

Characters

Gabe’s character makes you wonder how he ever landed himself in hell. He seems like a stand-up guy, always looking out for the underdog. When readers learn about Gabe’s past, you still feel that he is a good guy, mostly. He made many mistakes, but his regret allows him to die trying to fix those mistakes.

Gabe finds Stray fresh from the Gnashing Field’s sulfur pools. He takes the girl in and nicknames her Stray. Stray is sweet as they come. She runs Gabe’s business better than Gabe ever did. I loved her because she was crafty, witty, and intelligent. 

Alex becomes Gabe’s new partner at the Judas Agency. She is quite a firecracker of a gal. I didn’t like her at all to begin with, but after a bit, Alex grew on me. She is tough but a bit soft inside.

Setting

Scrapyard City is fabulous! The whole place reads like a steampunk back alley treasure but in hell. Gabe’s shop/school bus shack reminds me of the school bus graveyard near my old town. Then you have the gruesome picture of the Gnashing Fields. The Gnashing Fields are where the dead regenerate after dying again in hell. You soak in the sulfur pools until you reenter society with your memory wiped clean. The Judas Agency building leaves no doubt about who is in charge. The building is as opulent as you could ever imagine. Death and betrayal treat Judas well. 

Further Thoughts

I adore stories set in hell. I have no idea why, but they are all so original. Every author has a different idea of hell, and they are all so fascinating. Harris’s version of hell makes me so happy. I know that this book means to be dramatic and edgy, which it is, but I read with a huge smile on my face. I loved it so much. The imagination involved is brilliant.

Wrapping Up

I award The Nine a full 5 out of 5 stars. There is enough action and adventure to entice any adventure seeker. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a bit of grit in their stories.

---

---

About the Author – C. G. Harris

C.G. Harris is an award-winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey, and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the illusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were kings. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone. 

C.G. Harris is the combined persona of writers Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson.

Authors’ Contact Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook