A Plain-Dealing Villain (Daniel Faust Book 4)

It was a surprise to me when I became a fan of the "urban fantasy" genre, which happened when I started reading a certain series of such novels some years back after a TV adaptation was shown. I branched out, discovering close to a dozen authors who write in the genre that I follow. Craig Schaefer is one of those authors and I very much like the Daniel Faust series. The thing about Daniel Faust, is he's a dark hero, an antihero if you like, in the urban fantasy style of fiction. Daniel has a past which he doesn't admire himself, and he still involves himself in gambits that are questionable. Still, there's much about Faust I like and the work he's doing is very often well more admirable than he himself thinks. Here, Daniel needs bucks and takes a difficult assignment, one that rings alarm bells for him at the get-go, and in the process of executing that assignment, things go sideways in a big way. It's what he does afterwards that's the real story. While you could certainly start with this fourth Daniel Faust novel, I recommend starting with the first one, _The Long Way Down_, and going forward from there. Faust is interesting. He carries a magically imbued deck of cards with him and, as a sorcerer, that deck of cards is, for him, a tool and a weapon, and part and parcel of his profession. He's also a member of an underground magical community that inhabits Las Vegas, which he describes as his "family", and the members of that magical family are an important part of each story and a part of what makes for an entertaining read. Most of his exploits take place against the background of Las Vegas, which is the perfect venue for nefarious paranormal ventures involving scams. Things are, in Daniel Faust's world, so often not what they seem to be, which is, I think, true of the real Las Vegas. In this fourth novel, Daniel Faust ends up in Chicago for most of the action, however, and we readers are made privy to the magical mob in the Windy City. It turns out that both Chicago and Vegas are magically "connected", if you get my meaning. Apparently this novel is the first of a three-novel story arc and, frankly, I can't wait for the next book and the one after. Craig Schaefer is a skilled writer and a great story teller who exercises a lot of imagination. Wonder of wonders, between him and his editor, I wasn't subjected to spelling errors and the incorrect choice of a homophone here and there, which is one of the complaints I have about a lot of the eBooks I read nowadays. I've deliberately withheld plot details in this review, because the best way to learn those is to read the book and be entertained in the process. You'll have fun doing just that and, so you should.

Another good one by SchaferThis one has Danny Faust needing money. He still owes the guy he got the weapons from. The weapons that helped him defeat Carmichael and her minions.Faust also has the FBI all over him. Its impossible to do a burglary to get the money to pay what he owes.The FBI agent in charge wants Faust behind bars and since she's a witch with abilities she's always around.So far Danny's lawyer has kept him out of jail. Of course Danny hasn't done anything yet but it sure as hell ain't from lack of trying.Nicky has a job for him. Its a job in Texas. Danny is of two minds about this job simply because Nicky is the contact. A Nicky he has a far from great relationship with.Nicky decides he needs to go to Texas and see about this job. He really needs to pay the man for those weapons.He gets to the airport after sending the FBI on a wild goose chase so they have no idea where he's gone.At the airport at jet is waiting for him. Seems the man who needs his expertize won the lottery. A forty million dollar win. The jet is something he bought with that money.Once on board he meets the mans PA Fleiss by name and Panchenco a guard. Seems Danny has to pass a test before he gets to Texas.So begins another great Danny Faust read.This one has Danny, Cait, the millionaire Drake, a Drake who has problems big time, the FBI, a dagger that Drake wants, a poker game, a coin, a man named Fawcett, murder, Coop and his nephew Augie, a plan to get the gold coin thats one of the grand prizes in the poker game, Danny's occult family, the Chicago mob, doubts about Cait, a necromancer named Echols, a woman named Nadine, another lady named Freddie, a hound from Prince Malpas's court, betrayal that lands Danny in jail, and one kick ass read full of surprises.Five Stars.

SCHAEFER!!!!!!Every TIME I start one of his booksI lose an entire day when I look up and I'm threebooks further in the series with no idea how I got there.As you can imagine Schaefer is an outstanding author.Daniel Faust is a thief.A sorcerer.Sometimes gangster.Surrounded by the Familyhe has built up around himthey fight off threats to theirlively hoodand to the world.Always on the side of the Angelsjust not with the same tactics.

I just finished this book about ten minutes ago, but that isn't completely accurate. I think it would be more to the point to say that I finished the series to this point about ten minutes ago because after picking up the first Daniel Faust book a couple months past, I've read them back to back. To say I like them is the equivalent of saying I like a steak dinner after I haven't eaten all day.This series takes the typical Urban Fantasy tropes (which I truly enjoy, don't get me wrong) and gives them a treatment that I put somewhere between Quentin Tarentino and Elmore Leonard. Gone are the stories of wizened magical counsels and secret conclaves full of magical politics and blah-blah-blah; These books are about flawed, damaged people with amazing gifts who are getting by in a subculture that governs itself by the rules of the street. More than that, it's about the families that are created when people in that world look out for one another.That's not to say there isn't action; the level of ass-kicking is just right and even though the protagonists are flawed, most of the people and things getting their asses kicked are just freaking evil. The action is brutal, dark, and- at times -just the right amount of creepy.If you're looking for a little Dark Urban Fantasy with a tilt towards the criminal side of life, check out all of the Daniel Faust series. They do not disappoint.

Another fantastic read in the Daniel Faust series. Just when you think there is nothing more he can do and he gets a break when when another disaster hits him and he has to fight for his life and that of his friend for family to survive. This is full of twists and turns from the beginning and keeps you captivated from the get go. I love how even dans enemies end up fighting along side of him to get things done. A great book and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Daniel Faust is a hero that evokes a little pathos because he moves in a world where he is forced to make questionable choices. He is easy to relate to and has a good gang of friends who have his back. A great series.

Great way to follow up on the first story arc - press Faust in a new environment and challenges some assumptions without blowing the USPs of the franchise. Possibly readable without having seen the first three, although I had.

I have been waiting for this book for ages and it's everything i hoped it would be!

Another excellent book in the series - well worth reading.