Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

This one was a bit slow for me and kept losing my interest. I had a hard time completing it. On a good note, the premise was unique and I would try another book from the author.

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Thank you for the chance with this ARC.

I’m giving this book three stars because there were parts of the story I loved and parts of the writing I really enjoyed but this book just wasn’t my style I suppose.

This author does a good job bringing this story to life but there is a bit of unnecessary dialogue in there I feel like which made it a very slow start for me. But once I got about halfway through I was able to finish it out.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I loved the comedic elements in this book, it reminded me of the Dresden files series. The characters are fun and interesting although I would like to know more about them, maybe that comes in book 2.
The gore was toe curling and very well described, especially in the beginning scene.
The perfect light hearted horror with just the right amount of gore.
Thank you NetGalley, Free mouse publishing and Christopher Harvard for my copy of this arc.

The Hangman‘s Belief is the first book in A Trials Of The Servunday Novels by Christopher Harvard. When the book begins hangman who on this adventure is going by the name fleet Fredrickson is heading to the Rosewood Hotel. Not far from where they found a severed hand and he is going there believing a tryst is nearby. Hangman and his best friend Curtis work for an agency that rounds up rogue tryst who attack innocent people. Hangman a.k.a. fleet starts out making mistakes but in the end he just may be the one thing that stands between innocent citizens and the rogue twist he’s hunting. This book is not only interesting it is so funny and right when you think you’re getting a handle on what’s going on or rather what’s not going on there is an OMG moment that made me want to throw my phone out of excitement and not seeing it coming. The great thing about this book is more than once I thought oh would this be a good ending but no they had lots more of the book to go and OMG did it go oh I love this book there is so much I want to say but we’re scared of giving out spoilers because the book wasn’t ruined for me and it made it that much better if you love good against evil Shapeshifting not to mention lol OMFG funny books with a dash of mystery thrown in then you will definitely love this book. Once again not to mention the great characters in the book from some of the hotel guest to the strange and weird people that just seem to pop up out of nowhere. Love this book!#NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #ChristopherHarvard, #TrialsOfTheServunday, #TheHangman’sBelief,

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Christopher Harvard’s debut novel, The Hangman’s Belief, the first book in the Trials of the Servunday series, introduces readers to a world where the line between hunter and hunted blurs in the most unexpected ways. The story follows a rookie werewolf hunter, known only as “Hangman,” who embarks on his first solo mission to investigate a gruesome murder at a run-down motel.

From the first page, Harvard’s narrative grips you with its blend of suspense, dark humor, and vivid imagery. The protagonist, Hangman, is a compelling character whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about solving the mystery.

The plot is masterfully woven, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep you riveted.

Harvard’s ability to create a palpable sense of dread and anticipation is commendable.

One of the standout aspects of The Hangman’s Belief is its dark humor. Harvard skillfully balances the macabre with moments of levity, making the narrative both engaging and entertaining.

The book’s pacing is generally well-maintained, though there are moments where the narrative slows down, particularly during the protagonist’s introspective passages. 

The Hangman’s Belief is a promising start to the Trials of the Servunday series. Christopher Harvard has crafted a tale that is thrilling and thought-provoking, with a protagonist who is as intriguing as the mysteries he unravels.

Fans of mystery-thrillers and dark comedies will find much to enjoy in this novel. I eagerly await the next installment in the series.

If you’re looking for a book that combines horror, mystery, and dark humor, The Hangman’s Belief is a must-read. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a scare with a side order of wit and charm.

I finished this book really, really conflicted, so I have been thinking about it since then trying to figure out how to review this. I can say unequivocally that this is a very interesting and captivating novel. This author very skillfully wove a narrative that slowly unraveled the whole story very slowly, and as a reader you don’t know everything until the very end. That really made me think what a great book this is. However, since it took its time in some spots, I wasn’t completely captivated until a little further along in the story. Once there, I was completely engrossed. For a debut book, this is an extremely well-written, complex tale, so please give it time. It’s so very worth it. I think there’s going to be more, and I’m very happy about that. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

Review: This was an unexpected delight. Mr. Harvard takes us on an interesting journey of discovery while developing character personalities that are vivid and engaging. Who doesn't like hooker vomit flying around and Werewolves sauntering about?

The pacing is spot on with some dull moments from Lowy whom will probobly be central to the series theme. Hangman and Curtis play off each other in ribald fashion with some extras thrown in as sacrifices. This is a conflicted mystery that demands vengeance for those wronged that do wrong.

I like this author's writing style and will definitely be following the Hangman in the future.

4.7/5

The hangman’s beliefs


For fans of supernatural, Grimm, Deadpool, This werewolf hunting book has the best characteristics of all three.

Usually I speed read through books wanting to getting to the end but this one was something special. I took my time as the words playing out like an action movie in my head. The mystery of each character unfolded leaving an incredible story behind.

The characters were well detailed in a way that made you love them or hate them. There was comic relief as not to take itself to seriously. It’s easy to right a “cringe” werewolf book but this was written well knowing to play into tropes and when to make fun of them in order to make it more “realistic”.

Definitely an adult book with heavy topics and some hard to swallow dialogue but understandable for the topic.

Excited to see where this series goes and eagerly await the next book!

Thank you for the opportunity to previewThe Hangman’s Belief.
Fleet has an undercover gig and that’s to find a monster in the middle of nowhere.
Destination is an old motel filled with an odd group of people.
Fleet has a back story to sell and he has to find what’s and I mean what is killing people. A monster of some sort.
But this book has way too much unnecessary dialogue and a meandering plot.
I guess not my cuppa.
2.5

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review The Hangman's Belief. If you enjoy banter and what I would call peak dad humor this is definitely the book for you. This book had a cast of hilarious characters who sometimes were frustrating but still lovable. I'd ride for Oreen anyday and let me tell you I at first was like "sir you are being a little much right now" but he grew on me. I loved how suspenseful this book was at times and how you never really knew what was coming. Although I did clock the ultimate baddie in the beginning, I've got an eye for those types. I enjoyed how Fleet always had a joke, didn't matter what was going on that man was going to get his little joke in. It reminded me of something my dearly departed dad always said about me but in particular at a funeral he once proclaimed "You just find everything so funny", pj version for my review. So, me too Fleet, me too. We can joke in the face of awfulness to the end. The horror in this book was top notch I could visualize it so well, Christopher Harvard definitely knows how to put your imagination in the moment. I overall really enjoyed this book especially when the action really kicked in. I can't wait to one day read the next installment and get more answers!

This book really won me over after a somewhat rocky start. It has an interesting take of the werewolf mythos, combined with a number of really exciting action set-pieces and smart plotting that made it really hard to put down once my claws found purchase. It is a debut novel, and that does peek through a little here and there, but by and large it is an incredible achievement to hit the ground running this fast.

I think any sort of paranormal investigation story is always a strong premise, and a secret agency that only tracks werewolves (or, err, “trysts,” as they call them, with some heavy lamp-shading regarding the name later in the story) is a great launching point. I will mention the plotting first, because it affects the rest of my review. The story contains a number of twists and turns, of reveals, some of them way more obvious and telegraphed than others. I think they all worked, even the obvious ones. None felt like they dragged on too long or questioned the intelligence of the reader. I won’t reveal any of those in my review. The plotting was strong and builds in a really enjoyable way. The story looks like it is coming to a conclusion about halfway through, so you know it isn’t really ending and you’re rewarded with the places it goes and the way it escalates the story. It isn’t like the chapters ended on cliffhanger after cliffhanger, but they definitely kept you invested and pulled you through the story. I almost finished this in one setting, leaving the last bit for the next day only because I became aware of the time, which had escaped me as I fell into the story. The writing complements the plotting and the story, being rather straightforward without anything fancy or contemplative, a pretty typical action-adventure kind of prose. I am not knocking it; it was exactly what this story needed. There were a number of gory action sequences that were really well handled, they felt like they really existed in space, and while these were kind of backloaded into the story once they hit they were really compelling and exciting.

There was one thing the author did that was a little strange, however. The story is all omniscient third person, usually narrating the action but every once in a while jumping into the head of the characters to share what they are thinking and so on. But it might jump into the perspective of two different characters on the same page, over the course of one conversation, for instance. It felt awkward and made me constantly have to assess who we were following. But not having the chapters dedicated to a specific PoV it let the author move around a little more freely, which was fine. The majority of the story’s action followed one character and it was only occasionally that we moved to others, so dedicating whole chapters to them would have been the perfect opportunity for fluff. Yet the way it was avoided, but sometimes sliding in and out of different perspective without any clear kind of movement from one character to the next just felt it needed to be refined. It didn’t hurt the story for me, but it did put a little more distance between me and the characters. I did think the main antagonist was rather under-developed. That was by choice, in so far as this is the first book in a series and clearly we will learn more about them as the series continues. Plus, since it is framed as a mystery or investigation story we do not have confirmation of who the big bad is until quite near the end (though it is easy to guess). We only get a glimpse into their motivations and ideas near the end, not nearly enough time to flesh them out in a meaningful way, and they felt a little cartoonish as a result. It would have been nice if they could have felt a little more specific, if maybe a few of their secrets could have been spilled here instead of saving them for the future. That might have saved them from feeling so cartoonish and stereotypical, since it is clear there is more story with them to tell. Again, this didn’t ruin the story for me by any stretch of the imagination, but it is an area where there could have been an additional layer of depth or nuance that would have elevated the book.

Otherwise, the characters were fun. The weren’t that much more elaborate than archetypes or stereotypes, but they did have some personality, enough to keep me interested in them, at least the protagonist. The handful of secondary characters have different degrees of being interesting. Some definitely could have felt a little more genuine, like they were doing more than fitting into a premade slot, but they all served the purpose they needed to in the story. One of the hurdles this story faced, in terms of its overarching story and some of its character representation, is that it is clearly intended to be a series, having “Book 1” in the subtitle. Because of this some of the characters, the two central ones especially, have pasts that are mentioned in the periphery, but there is still information held back. A lot of what could help make them more robust and genuine characters is being parceled out in bits and pieces, leaving stuff for the sequel to divulge and build upon. That kind of manipulation felt pretty clear throughout the story, you knew as a reader you weren’t being given the complete picture and you can only assume it is because it would be necessary for future plot points. Again, it was something that was noticeable, and a more seasoned author may have been able to refine that a little more, but as it was I never felt like I was being deceived, and the characters had enough going for them that I could imagine spending time with most of them.

I mentioned it was hard to get started, for me. Some of the writing and dialogue is a little clunky, but what really was hard for me was this early scene where our protagonist checks into this middle-of-nowhere motel and the motel owner decides to have all of the guests roast s’mores together around a campfire. It didn’t for a second feel believable, and it made it hard for me to buy in to the story. In addition, it takes a while to get a feel for the protagonist, Fleet, and the most central of the supporting characters, Lowy. It felt like the author didn’t really know how he wanted to write them. This is Fleet’s first solo mission, sure, but he is strong and capable and damned good at his job, as we see later. Yet he makes decisions, and has trains of thought, that feel like they would be a day-one kinds of mistakes, not day solo after training for years and being deemed competent to be on your own and have your own handler and so on. He clearly isn’t an incompetent fool, and while he is more brawn than brain he also has skill in and a nose for the investigative work, too, and that just feels like it comes and goes as the plot needs. Is Fleet a total rookie that doesn’t know his ass from his elbow, or is this something he is actually really good at and has trained extensively for but just needs to have some self-confidence? There is a similar inconsistency in Lowy, and while that up and down is central to her character—trying to navigate trauma and expectations and still feel like she is in control of her own destiny and that she is worthy of friendship and attention—her moods or experiences swung in wildly unrealistic ways that felt like they had far more to do with imminent plot demands than they had to do with character.

This character waffling was especially noticeable at the start, and that combined with that somewhat ludicrous campfire scene really gave me pause, it felt like a new author with not enough experience to contain their excess of ideas. Yet while those characters did have constantly moving internal targets things did settle down as the story moved forward, and the sense of contrivance mostly dissipated as the story found its teeth. The story clearly leads us to ask questions about what it means to outrun not only our pasts but also our secrets. Once it got going I didn’t want to put it down, and it blended gory action with an intriguing world and mythos in a creative way that leads me to want to keep reading. It obviously left a lot of threads dangling for future installments, but it still felt mostly like a contained story. If I were to not read the sequels I wouldn’t feel cheated, even though I do still have questions, leaving me excited to see how he plans on following this up.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Free Mouse, LLC, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As clever and imaginative as it is gory and intense - a different take on shifters, good versus bad, hiding in plain sight. And beneath it all a conspiracy secret to most - no spoilers, shifter and splatterpunk fans rejoice in this one!

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me

I couldn’t get on with the authors writing style and found it was written very young but with adult themes if that makes sense

Dnf at 10%

This cover drew me in immediately. I mean look at it, it’s absolutely stunning. I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC and leave a review.

There were several moments during this book that I was like huh I wasn’t expecting the narrative to encapsulate these themes. The writing is very witty, it has moments of tender humour and a dose of satire that I don’t think many authors manage to pull off successfully.

The action scenes do not disappoint with a healthy dose of gore and violence in contrast with some great, painfully, humorous interactions.

There were a few plot twists within the work, some more obvious than others. There is enough intrigue to keep the storyline moving with just enough left over to garner interest in the sequels to come.

The villain I felt was lacking, it was so obvious and they feel boring compared to the other characters that we come across. Especially the other trysts that are involved- I need answers IMMEDIATELY about you know who!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it would have been a 5 star read if the relationship building felt more natural. Between 20-50% of the book really focuses on setting up relationships and little else happens during this time that felt relevant to the overall scheme of the work. There’s some characters I felt played little role to the plot yet had large amounts of storyline which could have been remedied.

If you’re a fan of classic werewolf horror stories, especially those that feel like werewolf by night, I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait to see where the second book takes Fleet and the gang. I’ll definitely be following along.

If I could I would give this book a 3.50 but I am rounding it up to 4/5 stars because it is almost there to being a true 4/5 stars.

I loved the whole concept of this book and I was so invested in the murders, that I did not see that twist coming. The horror cliches were top notch and had me laughing. The gory scenes were brutal and had me cringing. I will die for Fleet and Curtis and dammit, I want to know the backstory behind that red toy car.

The major problem that I have with the book is the dialog. Although it is hilarious, at times it really bogged down the pacing and it made what should have been fast-paced scene a lot slower. There were about three spots that this occurred (for me at least) and I battled through it, because I knew it would pick up.

Hats off to Christopher for writing a comedy slasher book, especially since those are two very difficult genres to pull off and I can't wait to see what else they will publish.

I gave this book 3 stars because I thought I would like this book better than I liked. It was a good story but It's not my type of book. But I recommend everyone to read this.