Hounds of the Underworld

Path of Ra Book 1

Narrated by Dan Rabarts, Susan Holt
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Pub Date 03 May 2023 | Archive Date 12 May 2023
RDS Audio | Raw Dog Screaming Press

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Description

On the verge of losing her laboratory, her savings, and all respect for herself, Pandora (Penny) Yee lands her first contract as scientific consult to the police department. And with seventeen murder cases on the go, the surly inspector is happy to leave her to it. Only she’s going to need to get around, and that means her slightly unhinged adopted brother, Matiu, will be doing the driving. But something about the case spooks Matiu, something other than the lack of a body in the congealing pool of blood in the locked room or that odd little bowl.


Matiu doesn’t like anything about this case, from the voices that screamed at him when he touched that bowl, to the way his hateful imaginary friend Makere has come back to torment him, to the fact that the victim seems to be tied up with a man from Matiu’s past, a man who takes pleasure in watching dogs tear each other to pieces for profit and entertainment.


Hounds of the Underworld blends mystery, near-future noir and horror. Set in New Zealand it’s the product of a collaboration by two Kiwi authors, one with Chinese heritage and the other Māori. This debut book in The Path of Ra series offers compelling new voices and an exotic perspective on the detective drama.

On the verge of losing her laboratory, her savings, and all respect for herself, Pandora (Penny) Yee lands her first contract as scientific consult to the police department. And with seventeen murder...


Advance Praise

“…a wild and gruesome treat, packed with mystery, action, and dark humor. Horror fans will devour it!” —Jeff Strand, author of Wolf Hunt

“Filled with an incredible unity of voice and magnificent world building, Hounds of the Underworld was impossible to put down. I was hooked on the first page.” —Jake Bible, Bram Stoker Award-nominated novelist and author of Z-Burbia, Mega and Salvage Merc One

“A dark tech-noir so near to our future, it could be tomorrow, hard-boiled and hair-raising! One of the best speculative fiction novels ever written.”—Paul Mannering, Engines of Empathy

"Rabarts and Murray (At the Edge) mix crime drama and horror in this lively, promising series launch set in a near-future Auckland, New Zealand...a delightful, refreshing spin on urban fantasy tropes."--Publishers Weekly

“…a wild and gruesome treat, packed with mystery, action, and dark humor. Horror fans will devour it!” —Jeff Strand, author of Wolf Hunt

“Filled with an incredible unity of voice and magnificent world...


Available Editions

EDITION Audiobook, Unabridged
ISBN 9798368975283
PRICE $14.99 (USD)
DURATION 8 Hours, 17 Minutes, 53 Seconds

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (AUDIO)

Average rating from 34 members


Featured Reviews

I received an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review #netgalley #houndsoftheunderworld

Right from the get go this was my kind of tale - pacey, intense, and all the kinds of clues that leave you wondering. A crime thriller with a dash of supernatural - and I do love ancient Egyptian mythology.
Loved the narrators, I enjoyed listening to a NZ accent rather than an American one.

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Hounds of the Underworld-⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mystery, Horror, near future, detective.
by Dan Rabarts, Lee Murray
Narrated by Dan Rabarts, Susan Holt.

Set in New Zealand - That was one thing that really attracted me to the audiobook. For some reason the mystery, crime stories involving New Zealand seem to be psychologically creepier and twisted. Your imagination is stimulated and the horror is more vivid. Happily I wasn't disappointed.

The colorful descriptions these authors use are brilliant. "The sun drowned by the sea" "her eyes drifting down, down like ash falling from the sky....." I really enjoyed this creepy audiobook. The music was a nice addition. Both narrators have great voices and are perfect for their parts.

I liked the characters, they were well developed. The book ended well and definitely left me with the desire to get the next book.

I'd like to thank RDS audio and NetGalley for this ARC audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I really enjoyed this audiobook performance of Hounds of the Underworld. I thought it was a unique concept and the pace of the book was just right. I liked the tie-back to Egyptian mythology and gods with the Path of Ra. If you like horror with a bit of a twist, I think you will like this book. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.

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Enjoyed this book. First time with Dan Rabarts, but have enjoyed Lee Murray before. Will definitely be reading more from each. The characters were great, and the plot and pacing kept me wanting more. Can't wait to read the next in the series. Also enjoyed the narrators. #HoundsoftheUnderworld #NetGalley

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This was an amazing debut novel, the supernatural detective drama had a strong plot and interesting characters.
I listened to eaudiobook of this arc and the narrators helped to bring the story to life.
The start was a little slow but necessary to help build the world, once you are through that story does a good job of switching between suspense and action.
While this can sometimes feel like a debut book it has a strong start and the sequel should be even more enticing.

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Hounds of the Underworld (#1 of The Path of Ra series) - Dan Raberts & Lee Murray

Thanks to Netgalley and the Raw Dog Screaming Press (isn't that a GREAT NAME?) for the eARC of this thriller.

A well written fantasy, with great plot development, that isn't too outlandish... Basically, good versus evil, as our heroes attempt to save the world from damnation.

A note about this AUDIO release:
I read/listen to books for review in audio or text format, whatever I receive. If the format in which I consumed a book impacted my enjoyment of a novel, then I will note that format in my review. This review is specifically for the audio version of this novel.

This was the first time I encountered this author, and the professionalism of this audiobook greatly added to my enjoyment of the story, it is the most wonderfully well-produced audiobook, a true pleasure to listen to.

When I found out this title was released earlier, in non-audio/text format, I immediately returned to the book site to purchase more novels in this series, however I didn't ultimately do so as they were not available in audio format.

Note: If you enjoyed this first book in The Path of Ra as much as I did, follow along with Penny and her brother, Matiu, as they continue their adventures in later books in this series!

Winner of the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel award.

Until next time, if you are afraid of dogs, beware the hounds of hell in this series!

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