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Salem: Autumn Fool

Jason Crane, Book 5

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Salem: Autumn Fool

By: Richard Gleaves
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
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About this listen

Jason Crane's Salem adventure continues! Caught in the middle of a war, separated from his friends, forced to take sides between the resurrected witch judges of the Appointed and the terrible witch Legion, Jason is fugitive from the noose and from his destiny, but he can escape neither one.

The Jason Crane series is an epic Halloween chase through centuries of real history, myth, and original lore, full of ghosts, curses, witches, monsters, and all sorts of trouble for a rational teenaged hero perpetually in the middle of magical trouble.

Autumn Fool is the fifth of the series, after the Sleepy Hollow trilogy (Rise Headless and Ride, Bridge of Bones, and General of the Dead) and Jason's first Salem adventure (Blood to Drink).

©2025 Richard Gleaves (P)2025 Richard Gleaves
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I waited for this book for what seemed like ages. Pre-ordered the ebook and then waited some more because the first time I read it, I wanted it to be via audio book. It was worth the wait.

Firstly, Eric Michael Summerer is the perfect narrator for these books. He really gets the characters and has enough range and emotional tone to really bring them to life. He is also able to go from wry and occasionally goofy humour, to creepy to sheer horror. When I do a reread of the series, it's going to be a hard choice whether I listen or read (though I have bought all the books).

Jason has grown up a bit in this book. Hardly surprising considering everything that has happened to him. Accused of heinous crimes by both the supposed good guys and the bad guys, Jason escapes one execution only to have to go on the run to escape another. The result is a cast of new characters being introduced while long term favourites - Kate, Joey and Zef - take a slightly less prominent role as they face their own demons.

I really don't want to give away any spoilers but suffice to say that the new characters are as well drawn and interesting as the originals. The plot is tightly woven and twisting. The book is full of action but it's the best kind of action - it's tethered to events and character development rather than being a cheap way to move the plot along. The villains have motives and personality, while never at any point being less than villainous. The fact that they choose their actions makes them both more believable and more terrifying.

There is a certain amount of violence in this book and it is mainly directed towards women - hardly surprising since part of the plot is a recreation of the Salem Witch Trials - however, it is never gratuitous. One of the things I appreciate most about Gleaves writing is that he is willing to allow his characters t entertain very non PC opinions and either grow past them....or not. He allows his characters to have real flaws. I have to add here that the terrible violation that happened to Zef in the last book is actually fully addressed, nor is everything just ok afterwards. This was a refreshing read after far too many books with friendships that do not have pushes and pulls and conflicts.
I got through this in two sittings, audio book or not, and can't wait for the next one. I will though, because it will be worth it.

Worth the wait

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