In the House of the Wicked
Praise for the
Remy Chandler Novels
A Hundred Words for Hate
“Sniegoski nicely juggles a large cast and throws in some touching moments (Remy’s conversations with his late wife, Madeline, are especially sweet) and humor (as always, provided by Remy’s dog, Marlowe) to balance the epic violence. There’s more than enough nonintrusive exposition to let new readers jump into the story, while longtime fans will appreciate the development of recurring characters.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“A fun, fast ride that takes advantage of a strong setting and interesting characters. And when a book combines that with serious angel smackdowns, really, what else do you need?”
—The Green Man Review
Where Angels Fear to Tread
“This strong, fast-paced noir fantasy is a treat. Remy is a compelling character as he constantly struggles to hold on to the shred of humanity he forged for himself by suppressing the Seraphim…. Sniegoski adds a creative new spin to the good vs. evil scenario while bringing in some biblical characters that are decidedly different [from] what you read about in Sunday school. This is one of the better noir fantasy meets gumshoe detective series on the market today.”
—Monsters and Critics
Dancing on the Head of a Pin
“[Sniegoski] nicely blends action, mystery, and fantasy into a well-paced story…. A very emotional read with the hero’s grief overshadowing his every move. An intense battle is fought, new secondary characters are introduced, and readers should gain a more solid picture of the hero’s past.”
—Darque Reviews
“Equal measures heartbreaking and honorable, Sniegoski has created a warm, genuine character struggling with his identity and destiny. Although this innovative urban noir draws heavily on Christian beliefs, the author’s deft touch keeps it from being preachy. The fast pace, gratifying character development, and a sufficiently complex plot to hold your interest from start to finish make this one a winner.”
—Monsters and Critics
“A fun read. The pace of the book is excellent, and it never has a dull moment…. The tale is definitely something that you would read out of a 1930s crime noir novel, and it is engaging, tightly written, and moves along at a rapid pace. You won’t find a dull moment.”
—
Sacramento Book Review
“
Dancing on the Head
of a Pin
is the second novel in the Remy Chandler series and a wonderful addition it is…. Remy has this twisted sense of humor that lightens whatever situation and makes the story even more delightful to read. The plot of the stolen weapons is tight and very focused. Along with the great characters, including the secondary ones, and the action-packed plot,
Dancing on the Head
of a Pin
is an entertaining and smart detective story.”
—Night Owl Romance
“A powerful urban fantasy.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
“The most inventive novel you’ll buy this year…A hard-boiled noir fantasy by turns funny, unsettling, and heartbreaking. This is the story Sniegoski was born to write, and a character I can’t wait to see again.”
—Christopher Golden, bestselling author of
Waking Nightmares
“Tightly focused and deftly handled, [
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
] covers familiar ground in entertaining new ways…. Fans of urban fantasy and classic detective stories will enjoy this smart and playful story.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“This reviewer prays there will be more novels starring Remy…. The audience will believe he is on earth for a reason as he does great things for humanity. This heart-wrenching, beautiful urban fantasy will grip readers with its potent emotional fervor.”
—
Midwest Book Review
“It’s kind of refreshing to see the holy side represented…. Fans of urban fantasy with a new twist are likely to enjoy Sniegoski’s latest venture into that realm between humanity and angels.”
—SFRevu
“Blurring the lines between good and evil,
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
will keep readers riveted until the very end. This is an emotional journey that’s sometimes filled with sadness, but once it begins you won’t want to walk away. Mr. Sniegoski defines the hero in a way that makes him very real and thoroughly human…. Fast-moving, well-written, and wonderfully enchanting, this is one that fantasy readers won’t want to miss.”
—Darque Reviews
“A fascinating look at religion and humanity from a different point of view. Mr. Sniegoski has written a compelling story of what emotion can do to even the most divine creatures.
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
is not a book that one can pick up and put down easily. Once you start, you will not want to put it down until you are finished.”
—Fresh Fiction
“An exciting, page-turning mystery with the bonus of the popular paranormal aspects as well. This author has created a compelling central character with both human and angelic features which allows the reader to become completely immersed in the story and the tension as it builds. The suspense alone leaves the reader anxious to come back for more. The story builds to a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting conclusion and will leave you wanting to read more of this character and certainly more of this author.”
—
Affaire de Coeur
“An intriguing, amazing story about a person torn between trying to live as a human while hiding his angel side as well. Remy was a very interesting, complex main character…. A funny yet sometimes heartbreaking story and I had a wonderful time reading it.”
—Night Owl Romance
ALSO BY THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI
A Kiss Before the Apocalypse
Dancing on the Head of a Pin
Where Angels Fear to Tread
A Hundred Words for Hate
IN THE HOUSE OF
THE WICKED
A REMY CHANDLER NOVEL
THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI
A ROC BOOK
ROC
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, August 2012
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright © Thomas E. Sniegoski, 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Sniegoski, Tom.
In the house of the wicked : a Remy Chandler novel / Thomas E. Sniegoski.
p. cm.
ISBN: 978-1-101-61724-3
1. Chandler, Remy (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Private investigators—Fiction. 3. Angels—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3619.N537I5 2012
813’.6—dc23
2011053175
Set in Adobe Garamond
Designed by Alissa Amell
Printed in the United States of America
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
ALWAYS LEARNING
PEARSON
For Hurricane Irene…thanks for nothing….
And for Pat and Bob Dexter, thanks for the juice.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For LeeAnne, as always, for all that you do, and Kirby for making me smile.
Thanks also to Christopher Golden, Ginjer Buchanan, Katherine Sherbo, Liesa Abrams, James Mignogna, Dave “Who Threw the Pies?” Kraus, Kathy Kraus, Pam Daley, Mom & Dad Sniegoski, Mom & Dad Fogg, Pete Donaldson, Kenn Gold, Erek Vaehne, Garrett Jones, and Timothy Cole and the Morlocks down at Cole’s Comics in Lynn.
Farewell and adieu to my dear Spanish Lady…
—Tom
IN THE HOUSE OF
THE WICKED
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven