Blood Hound (1) (Hound of Eden) - Hardcover

"The characters and the world building Baldwin created are simply fantastic. There is an amazing amount of detail/research that he put into not only the occult and magic, but into making sure the structure of the mafia was legit, right down to the pesky Russian love of a million diminutives for each name and using them in the correct circumstances (seriously, as someone who has Russian characters....yeah.). On top of that he also works through the societal stigmas and prejudices that are apparent not only in our current world, but especially in the 1980s and especially in an organization like the mafia. If you haven't bought it or added it to your Goodreads list, you really should do it now. This book is an amazingly crafted, gritty look at an Underworld where magic is used and power can be fleeting. When you think you know who is pulling the strings, another twist is thrown in. And when it all comes to a head, grab some tissues."--The Misplaced Selchie Reviews "The criminal aspect is prominent in both books, as is the magic, but it was while reading Blood Hound that I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Things get weird towards the end - really, really weird - and thanks to the writing style, they also seemed real. It's like that feeling you get when you are partially awake, but still dreaming. If you are into stories that temporarily make you question your reality, this book is for you."--Dilyana Kyoseva Reviews

Alexi Sokolsky is a Spook, a hitman and mage capable of killing with nothing but a word of power and the strength of his will. But arcane ability comes with a price: The same powers that make Alexi indispensable to the Russian Mafia also make him a social outcast, an object of fear and superstition.

When a high-ranking Sicilian Mafioso is sacrificed to the Demon of Feuds and dumped on Russian territory, the Russians blame the only mage they know - Alexi. Forced to play detective to clear his name, Alexi discovers that the gruesome sacrifice is only the opening move of a very dangerous game. Every underworld mage in New York City is on the hunt for a Gift Horse, a mysterious creature rumored to carry the secrets of all creation in her flesh and blood... a creature who is calling to Alexi for help.

If Alexi heeds the Gift Horse's call, he stands to lose his place in the Mafia and his life. If he doesn't, the world will be held hostage by whoever finds her first - and given that a demon-summoning murderous psychopath is in pole position, the odds are not in the world's favor.

Nominated for the 2016 Dragon Award alongside Urban Fantasy greats such as Jim Butcher and Larry Correia, Blood Hound pushes the boundaries of the genre to deliver a dark triple-threat of murder mystery, magic and mafia drama.