Book Reviews and More: Vessel - Declan Finn and Josh Griffing

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Vessel - Declan Finn and Josh Griffing - Saint Tommy NYPD Book 12.5

Vessel

A St. Tommy NYPD Short Story 4

Saint Tommy, NYPD Book 12.5

Declan Finn

Josh Griffing

Tuscany Bay Books

eISBN 9798215324288

ASIN B0BHBTCG2M

This is one of three short stories set in the Saint Tommy NYPD world that released just before the final novel. This is the only one written by a different author. Josh Griffing has written a story that fits seamlessly into the Saint Tommy Story arc. The three published short stories in the series. I reached out to Finn to find out where they would fit in the series:

They Burn Witches, Don't They

(between Lupus Dei and City of Shadows)

Principle Necromancy

(between Deus Vult and Coven)

Vessel

(after book 12, Blue Saint)

Thus making this the final story in this world, at least to date. Finn has indicated their may be side stories in the future by the main story is completed. Over the last few months I have read 18 books by Declan, and I had read one prior to that. I have loved what I have read to date. And I have plans to read all that I can lay my hands on. Both the Saint Tommy and the White Ops series are greatly entertaining, and I cannot wait for the Pius trilogy of 5 books to be back in print (hint hint, nudge, nudge). This is a very intriguing story in this series. And Josh did and excellent job staying true to the characters and world building

The description of this story is:

“It's a simple job. Those are the worst kind.

Basic Method Three is to make chaos, exploit it, resolve it, and take the credit. It should be straightforward, and without Saint Tommy around, it shouldn't take all week.

Lim Tong, head of Division Four, Beijing's agency for tracing and acquiring supernatural weaponry, brought his team through the Blue Saint incident with only a fraction of their force left and nothing to show for it. So when the Politburo gets a lead on the Holy Grail itself coming to a golf course down in Georgia, the Division heads down South for a chance at redemption.

But capturing the most famous relic in Christendom takes more than a simple smash-and-grab. And the Grail has powers of its own.”

In some ways this story fits between the end of Blue Saint, Saint Tommy Book 12, and Epilogue: Devil’s Advocate. Or it fits in as part of that Epilogue or the events to soon follow. The main part of this story is an action short story with a battle between Tommy’s son and ward and the Chinese agents. The lead agent falls from grace and Saint Tommy and a saint who appears to Tommy appear and rescue Lim.

About the authors we are informed:

“Declan Finn is the NYC based author of books ranging from thrillers to urban fantasy to SciFi, including the Dragon Award Nominated Novel for Best horror in 2016, Honor at Stake, and the 2017 follow-up, Live and Let Bite. He was also nominated for "Best Apocalypse" novel at the Dragons in 2017. He also won the book of the year award with his novel Hell Spawn from CLFA.

Finn is known for being annoyingly Catholic, his action sequences, and writing faster than most readers can keep up with. In less than a decade, he has written 30 novels, and is waiting for all of them to be published. He's been part of multiple anthologies, and will write for anyone. He is also not allowed to enter Italy ever again for reasons he is more than happy to tell everyone about whenever he gets the chance.”

and

“Josh Griffing is a demolition worker and an Army Reservist in Georgia who writes when he can, and reads whenever he can get away with it. He has three kids, four insolent cats, and a dog and a half. Amazingly, his wife is still very nearly sane, and for this he is eternally grateful. His stories have appeared in Tuscany Bay's Planetary anthologies (Sol, Earth, and Luna, © 2020, 2021), and in Superversive Press's charity anthology Impossible Hope, © 2019.”

I do not believe I have read anything by Josh, but do have a few of the anthologies he has contributed to. But I will be intrigued to read them. For this was an excellent story. For any fans of the Saint Tommy series this is a great addition to the canon.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!

Note: Click here for review of all volumes form Tuscany Bay Books.

Books by Josh Griffing:

Vessel - Declan Finn and Josh Griffing - Saint Tommy NYPD Book 12.5

The Hyperion Signals

Drawing Out the Bestiary

Pyre & Ice

The Night My Father Shot The Werewolf

God Save the King

…

Contributed to:

Earth: Planetary Anthology