Wrong Side of Hell by Sonja Bateman: A Book Review

Man in jacket, turning
Wrong Side of Hell by Sonja Bateman.

Wrong Side of Hell is a 288-page novel, the first of a six-book series about the paranormal adventures of Gideon Black, a rootless young man who lives in his van and transports bodies to the morgue in contemporary Manhattan. I learned about this one via Bookbub and got it for free, or maybe 99 cents. 

Wrong Side of Hell: Manhattan?

Gideon hasn’t had many breaks in life, but seems to have found his niche in his morbid job, until he is called to a crime scene in Central Park. He quickly discovers undeniable evidence of the supernatural, but worse (or better) is evidence of his own paranormal abilities. With his new, nonhuman (“The Others”) allies he uncovers a cruel pogrom against The Others going on behinds the scenes for years. Who are the monsters, really?

A Fun Ride to the Morgue

I found this novel highly entertaining and would recommend it to people that enjoy dark urban fantasy in the Jim Butcher vein. It is written from first person point of view, if that attracts or repels you, and Gideon has a strong, if sarcastic,voice. It is comic bookish, pulp fun.
I wasn’t particularly engaged with the story in the first third or so. I liked it, but had no problem setting it down. While it begins with action scenes almost immediately, including a dramatic prologue, a lot of time is spent laying out backstory, maybe more than required. Also, Gideon must discover much about himself. Once Gideon and his team actually engage with the enemy, I really found myself drawn in and making more time to read! 

The Right Side of the Wrong Side

This book is well edited with decent production values. The writing is generally clear, strong, and tight. It handles the often-tricky first-person point of view quite skillfully.