Killing Pretty

A Sandman Slim Novel

By: Richard Kadrey

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Sandman Slim investigates Death’s death in this hip, propulsive urban fantasy through a phantasmagoric LA rife with murder, mayhem, and magic.

James Stark has met his share of demons and angels, on earth and beyond. Now, he’s come face to face with the one entity few care to meet: Death.

Someone has tried to kill Death—ripping the heart right out of him—or rather the body he’s inhabiting. Death needs Sandman Slim’s help: he believes anyone who can beat Lucifer and the old gods at their own game is the only one who can solve his murder.

Stark follows a sordid trail deep into LA’s subterranean world, from vampire-infested nightclubs to talent agencies specializing in mad ghosts, from Weimar Republic mystical societies to sleazy supernatural underground fight and sex clubs. Along the way he meets a mysterious girl—distinguished by a pair of graveyard eyes—as badass as Slim: she happens to be the only person who ever outwitted Death. But escaping her demise has had dire consequences for the rest of the world . . . and a few others.

For years, Slim has been fighting cosmic forces bent on destroying Heaven, Hell, and Earth. This time, the battle is right here on the gritty streets of the City of Angels, where a very clever, very ballsy killer lies in wait.

THE BEST SANDMAN SLIM STORY SINCE THE FIRST

Would you listen to Killing Pretty again? Why?

Yes. I'm planning to. Kadrey is a complex writer. It's hard to pick up everything in one reading. I love that he is unique, complicated, that his characters don't do the expected and that Kadrey is willing to take chances with his storylines.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sandman Slim is one of the all-time great character, but the varieties of angels, fallen angels, not to mention god-not-so-almighty are all great. Still, Slim wins if I have to pick one. He is so complex and he keeps growing and changing. And saving the world, though I think he isn't sure why he bothers.

What about MacLeod Andrews’s performance did you like?

MacLeod Andrews is a great narrator. There wasn't anything I didn't like.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I did, pretty much.

Any additional comments?

GREAT book. But it helped that I'd already read the previous books in the series. I don't think anyone should start with this one.

shorter than expected

shorter than usual but it was a great story as always. Looking forward to the next one.

My favorite so far.

Great episodic new characters and a return to the playfu balance between good and not so good made this my favorite so far. Thanks 🤪

I have enjoyed every one of these in this series.

This review is not very deep stuff, I simply find Richard Kadrey's work very entertaining. I have been in the habit for many years of listening to recorded books in between as I get opportunities through the week, I have found his work to be memorable. This book more or less fits my definition of enjoyment along with his others, which is to say I have liked them all.

Andrews is a fantastic reader and Kadrey is great

Killing Pretty went full PI mystery and it wasn't quite as compelling as the previous novels. It's all relative though. It's still a silky smooth combination of badassery, comedy, and action that you can feel comfortable diving into and binging. MacLeod Andrews was fantastic as always. Poor guy probably ruins his voice with every Sandman Slim novel.