The Judas Hit by W.D. Gagliani
Tarkus Press (December 2018)
298 pages; $1.99 e-book
Reviewed by Dave Simms
W.D. Gagliani returns to gift readers with a novel that combines James Bond with Constantine, but with a darker flair in a story that is pure fun to read. Those familiar with his excellent Wolf’s Trap/Nick Lupo series will find plenty of familiar elements here, yet the humor the author imbues ratchets up the entertainment level, along with action scenes that leap off the page in a style that is flawless.
Simon Pound has some dark secrets. Working as an assassin for the Vatican (yes, there really is a secret police for the institution, but the supernatural portion might be a bit sketchy) keeps him busy. Like Bond, he’s a lady killer who enjoys the fruits of his labor — a playboy putting Sean Connery’s suave skills to shame.
However, Pound’s alter-ego, his original name, is Judas Iscariot. The original betrayer copped a deal while the noose pulled tight to work for the power of good. He battles demons and other supernatural forces in his travels. There’s an object that’s killing anyone who comes in contact with it, and the other ones that have gone missing from the Vatican vault must be recovered in order to save mankind. Add in a cult that’s hellbent on killing him and you have a nonstop powerhouse of an supernatural action horror novel. And…there’s a prison beneath the Vatican that houses the worst demons on earth, and it’s about to pop.
Gagliani has created a tantalizing, fun new hero in Simon Pound that will entertain fans of thrillers, horror, adventure, and pure fun reading, yet he adds in a layer of deep mythology that draws the reader in further. Considering The Judas Hit a cross between the Bond film Spectre and Dan Brown’s thrillers wouldn’t be a bad description.
Recommended reading.
