In the shadowy corners of London, where streetlights struggle against persistent rain and ancient buildings harbor secrets older than their foundations, Michael “Mick” Hargraves is fighting demons. Literally.
“Black Eyes & Broken Souls” introduces us to Mick—an ex-detective turned private investigator whose career ended after a devastating case involving a child killer. When we meet him, he’s drowning his guilt in bourbon, his promising career reduced to checking on cheating spouses and tracking down petty thieves.
But one night, in an abandoned church, Mick’s self-destructive spiral takes an unexpected turn. He wakes up three days later with a voice in his head that isn’t his own—a voice that belongs to Marchosias, an ancient entity with his own agenda.
What follows is a masterful blend of noir detective fiction and supernatural horror that keeps you guessing at every turn. As Mick investigates a series of disappearances connected to a mysterious occult symbol, he must navigate not only the dangerous underworld of human trafficking but also the politics of entities far older and more dangerous than anything he encountered on the police force. The novel shines in its portrayal of the reluctant partnership between Mick and Marchosias. Their relationship evolves from antagonistic to something more complex as they influence each other in unexpected ways. The demon experiences ice cream for the first time (with digestive consequences Mick warned him about), while Mick confronts the moral implications of having access to supernatural judgment.
Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Diana Reeves—Mick’s former partner—is conducting her own investigation into a series of bizarre deaths. Deaths that somehow always connect back to Mick. Her pursuit of the truth puts her on a collision course with a reality she’s not prepared to accept. With its rain-slicked streets, morally complex characters, and a mystery that spans both human cruelty and supernatural malevolence, “Black Eyes & Broken Souls” delivers a fresh take on both detective fiction and occult horror. The prose is sharp and evocative, with moments of genuine terror balanced by unexpected dark humor.
If you enjoy the gritty realism of detective noir but crave something beyond the ordinary, this novel offers a compelling journey into shadows both human and otherworldly. Just be prepared—once you start reading, you might find it hard to distinguish which voice in your head is urging you to turn the page.
Black Eyes and Broken Souls: A Mick Hargraves Novel