Book Reviews and More: Cross Over - Declan Finn

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

Cross Over - Declan Finn - Honeymoon from Hell Book 4

Crossover

Honeymoon from Hell Book 4

Declan Finn

ISBN 9798305398601

eISBN 9798227373298

ASIN B0DJBDZWZY

Cross Over - Declan Finn - Honeymoon from Hell Book 4

This is the 51st volume I have read from the masterful 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 fourth story in the Honeymoon from Hell series, and the eighth novel (there are some shorter works out there) featuring Marco Catalano and Amanda Colt and it is another amazing story. There are 5 planned in this series, or this part of Amanda and Marco’s story. At the ends of the previous story we knew where they are headed next and just the mention of joining Tommy Nolan of the St Tommy NYPD fame and man what a team they make. But I am getting ahead of myself, back to the volume at hand.

The description of this volume states:

“Amanda Colt and Marco Catalano's original honeymoon has been extended by an all-expense paid trip to Rome. After fighting off vampires, wendigos, elves, necromancers and mad scientists, the Vatican Ninjas have decided to add to their training.

There is one other students will cross their path: NYPD Detective Thomas Nolan. He has had his own share of nightmare encounters with the forces of darkness.

But devilish things are afoot in Rome. Noises are coming from the catacombs. A film crew is afoul with monsters.

When these three cross over to join forces, they just have to make certain they're not going to cross over for good.”

The chapters in this volume are:

An Offer We’re Going to Refuse

Tommy

Over the Hills and Far Away

Shoot First

Dead Inside

Arrival

Saint, Meet Monster

Controlled Environment

Tightly Wrapped

Unleash Hell

Out of the Dark

After Action

Gunfight at Saint Peter’s Corral

Time to Kill

Shoe Leather

Blind Alleys

Hot Gates

All Hell

Breaking Loose

Death Match

Delusions of Adequacy

Now You Coliseum

After Party

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. And crossovers with more than one of Finn’s other series. For not only is Tommy Nolan and his family dropped in this story but one of their trainers is Sean AP Ryan. This story is the fourth in this series but according to Finn for fans of Saint Tommy, NYPD this story comes between book 6 Deus Vult and book 7, Coven in that series. It also contains some of the material from Principle Necromancy which was released as a short story in the world.

I an still surprised we have not seen either Father Richard Freeman or Father Michael Pearson appear, there are still the final volume to go. 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 I believe just a few days. The main story is Marco’s and Amanda’s continued honeymoon. They are in Rome to train with the Vatican Ninjas, and train with Tommy a cop from New York. If the story had gone on much longer the city might not have survived. For they had battles with Etrucsan mummies, a necromancer, vampire, evil spirits, and much, much more. This story if even full of Finn’s action, adventure and battles a mix of improvised weapons, the normal weapons of Marco at Tommy’s batman like utility belt of sacred items.

We have Marco, Amanda, and Tommy chasing down a new threat and racking up body counts even higher than John Wick. They are in a new place, and with new friends and backup, and yet trouble seems to find them again. It was almost impossible to put this book down. As the penultimate volume in the series it was amazing and leaves you desperate for the final piece in the series.

It is another great read from Finn’s masterful. A book and series 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