Books
Dying Is My Business

by Nicholas Kaufmann
St. Martin’s Press, October 2013, $15.99

Although Nicholas Kaufmann’s dark fantasy/urban noir Dying Is My Business is set in the Big Apple, it is a version of that metropolis that has rarely been seen before, as the New York City depicted there is home to numerous sorcerers, demons, and mythical creatures. Kaufmann’s hero is the tortured Trent, a man who can’t die; he also can’t remember anything about his life prior to awakening a year ago. Trent makes a living running errands for a crime boss named Underwood, and it is because of this job that he becomes embroiled in mystical battle where the very survival of New York City is at stake.

Stoker and Thriller award nominee Kaufmann throws several disparate balls into the air at the beginning of Dying and manages to juggle them all pretty well. New York history and mythology? It’s here, well mined and well utilized. Monsters? Present, including werewolves, gargoyles, vampires, and heck, even a dragon. Sorcerers? Yup. Apocalypse? Of course. Witty banter, romance? Check. As an added bonus, the story moves forward at a blistering pace, not allowing readers to question any of the fantastic goings-on, even for a second. So, if you’re in the mood for a fast, funny, inventive, and compelling read, your search is over. I strongly encourage you to check this one out, if only because I selfishly need to see the sequel implied by the many unanswered questions about the mysterious Trent that Kaufmann still needs to address.

Hank Wagner

Although Nicholas Kaufmann’s dark fantasy/urban noir Dying Is My Business is set in the Big Apple, it is a version of that metropolis that has rarely been seen before, as the New York City depicted there is home to numerous sorcerers, demons, and mythical creatures. Kaufmann’s hero is the tortured Trent, a man who can’t die; he also can’t remember anything about his life prior to awakening a year ago. Trent makes a living running errands for a crime boss named Underwood, and it is because of this job that he becomes embroiled in mystical battle where the very survival of New York City is at stake.

Stoker and Thriller award nominee Kaufmann throws several disparate balls into the air at the beginning of Dying and manages to juggle them all pretty well. New York history and mythology? It’s here, well mined and well utilized. Monsters? Present, including werewolves, gargoyles, vampires, and heck, even a dragon. Sorcerers? Yup. Apocalypse? Of course. Witty banter, romance? Check. As an added bonus, the story moves forward at a blistering pace, not allowing readers to question any of the fantastic goings-on, even for a second. So, if you’re in the mood for a fast, funny, inventive, and compelling read, your search is over. I strongly encourage you to check this one out, if only because I selfishly need to see the sequel implied by the many unanswered questions about the mysterious Trent that Kaufmann still needs to address.

Teri Duerr
3521
Kaufmann
October 2013
dying-is-my-business
15.99
St. Martin’s Press