Book Reviews and More: The Neck Romancer - Declan Finn

The Neck Romancer

Honeymoon from Hell Book 1

Declan Finn

ISBN

eISBN

ASIN B0DHV5FJ86

The Neck Romancer - Declan Finn - Honeymoon from Hell Book 1

This is the 49th volume I have read from the pen of Declan Finn, I read most in under a year after first discovering his works. I read them at the pace of about a book a week. This is the first story in the Honeymoon from Hell series, and the fifth story featuring Marco Catalano and Amanda Colt and it is an amazing story. And I believe it is the first of 5 planned in this series. And from where we leave off in this one I am not sure which city the two will be unleashed upon next.

The description of this volume states:

“They're going to make it to the Church on time. And God help anyone who gets in their way.

Marco Catalano and Amanda Colt have survived vampires legions, unkillable demons, supernatural assassins and a full on army of darkness. With their allies, they have taken down a paranormal Illuminati called simply "The Council."

Now they have to deal with their next threat: marriage.

Can Marco and Amanda survive the preparations for their own wedding? And if they manage that, can they fight their way through their honeymoon?

But the biggest question of all: Who invited the zombies to the ceremony?”

The chapters in this volume are:

Prologue: The Wedding

We Need to Talk (2 Years ago)

Talk Later

Murphy

When in Doubt

Follow the Screaming

Breaking the News

Invites

Cards

Area 51 is Not Enough

Out in the Open

Incense and Iron

Rehearsal for Murder

Uninvited Guests

Offers You Can’t Refuse

The Morning After

Night Train to Chicago

Railroaded

Off the Rails

Zombie Jamboree

Walk, Don’t Run

Sex and Death

Clean up

Tourists

Bad Boys

Cabrini-Green Zone

On Fire

Firing Range

Shake Hands with the Devil

Amen and Attack

Emergency Holy

Dancing with the Dead

Dead Beat

Last Dance

Death Warmed Over

Loose Threads

Epilogue: Playing the Field

The chapter Area 51 Is Not Enough appeared previously in the anthology Storming Area 51. But other than that I believe the novel is an entirely new work. This story also ties this series into other works by Finn that I had not known were previously connected. Especially finding out that Galadren was a cousin or uncle to Marco, and that his full name is Galahad Wren. And that he works for Sean A.P. Ryan And Associates, private security company. We have a convoluted cast of characters in this story and it ties to many of Finn’s other series in one way or another. Our main cast includes:

Marco Catalano – the groom, a physician assistant. Killer of evil, brilliant with a supercomputer like mind, and like Kirk does not believe in no win situations nor does he know how to back down.

Amanda Colt – 100 year old vampire, force for good. Takes communion, goes to confession, and has fought in almost every war for a century and is a spy with top clearance.

Jennifer Bosley – 400 year old vampire, president of the New York Vampire Association, mentor to Amanda,.

Raymond Wilson – Police Commissioner – Bosley’s plus one.

Enrico – crime family contact for Marco.

Galadren – relation to Marco, most dangerous man in middle earth.

Merle Kraft – spook specializing the weird, strange and unusual. Runs a team out of San Francisco, has previously worked with Marko.

Doctor Panda – you will find out.

Rory – aka Sean Allis Treacy, a vampire who fights for good, an Irishman who still reminisces about eh old days.

Father William Rodgers

Vatican Ninjas

SpecOps

Street Gangs – loyal to Marco in NY Tigers and Dragons

Mafia

…

Foes:

Wendigo

Ahanu Achak – with some powerup amultes and such.

Zombies

Chicago Street Ganges – The Latin Kings and The Gangster Disciples

A corrupt politician – the jokes write themselves.

A necromancer

And a demon

…

With all the characters dropped in this story I was surprised not to have seen either Father Richard Freeman or Father Michael Pearson appear, but then we are in the first book of this new series. In an older edition of Madeline L’Engle’s Space Quartet there was a family tree that included her Kairos, Chromos Series as well as other volumes including her non fiction. I am beginning to feel like someone needs to make such a character tree for Finn’s ever expanding canon of work. But back to the book at hand.

The events in this story take place over more than 2 years and they appear to begin shortly after the last novel in the Love at First Bite Series. The main story is Marco’s and Amanda’s engagement, and upcoming nuptials. It also includes the beginning of their honeymoon a tripped planned to take months and travel across America by train from New York to the west coast. It involves many who Marco has worked with in the past. And they make some new allies along the way. When a Zombie hoard attacks the wedding all who care about the newlyweds jump to action to find the best way to try and protect them. Then an attack on the night train to Chicago, and the fun really begins.

This story if full of Finn’s usual action. Improvised weapons, the normal weapons of Marco and a new toy sent as a wedding present. Battles with multiple Zombie hordes, more than one encounter with gangs including almost an entire gang at once. An evil fae, and a necromancer whose job you just will not believe because it is typecasting. And an old foe in a summoning circle.

We have Marco, Amanda and those who care for them and have worked with them coming together to fight the good fight. There are a few surprises and some interesting twists. It was nearly impossible to put this book down. I stayed up way too late on a work night finishing it. And it leaves you desperate for the next volume.

Another amazing read from the masterful pen of Finn. The first in what looks like an amazing new series. A book I can easily recommend.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Declan Finn:

Love At First Bite Series:

Short Stories:

Blood Stained Cliffs of Dover

Bad Date

Mad Dog Moon

…

Novels:

Honor at Stake

Demons Are Forever