
A Deliberate Act of Violence: A Vampire Thriller
The Assembly, Book 2
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Narrated by:
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Derek Perkins
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By:
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Steve McHugh
About this listen
An undead investigator hunts a recently turned vampire with a lust for violence in this dark urban fantasy from the author of the Riftborn series.
The peace between humans and vampires balances on a knife's edge, ready to descend into murderous chaos at any moment. It's up to the Assembly to discreetly clean up conflicts and track down criminals before bloodshed becomes a cause for concern. That's where Miles Watson comes in. As an Arbiter, he has free reign to find, adjudicate against, and punish perpetrators. And he operates just far enough outside the law to make sure those who break it get what's coming to them.
But even with unlimited scope and centuries of experience, Miles's latest case has his back against the wall. A series of murders are sweeping through the streets of London, and all evidence points toward a new, young vampire as the perpetrator. The only problem: the vampire in question is also the son of a very powerful businessman backed by the Assembly.
Now Miles must navigate not only the Assembly's usual red tape but also a twisted web of politics, underground crime, and dangerous alliances to stop the villain before the body count gets too high—or the powers that be catch wind of what he's up to.
Bestselling author Steve McHugh blends the best of horror with classic detective noir in this unforgettable continuation of the blood-curdling adventure that began with Those Who Dwell in Darkness.
©2025 Steve McHugh (P)2025 Podium AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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-
Story
How do you keep the people you care about safe from enemies you can’t remember? Ten years ago, Nate Garrett awoke on a cold warehouse floor with no memory of his past and the only clues to his identity were a piece of paper with his name on it and a propensity toward magic. Now he’s a powerful sorcerer and a successful thief for hire, but it turns out that those who stole his memories aren’t done with him yet. When they cause a job to go bad, threatening a sixteen-year-old girl, Nate swears to protect her.
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Testosterone IV Drip
- By V on 08-06-14
By: Steve McHugh
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Mana Mirror: The First Gate
- Mana Mirror, Book 1
- By: Tobias Begley
- Narrated by: Neo Cihi
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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When Malachi Baker stumbles into an offer of apprenticeship from the esteemed and powerful Occultist Orykson, he's left in shock and jumps at the chance to learn... Even if it means taking out a few loans. Unfortunately, his new teacher sees him more as a tool than a student. He has set Malachi near-impossible goals before he becomes worthy of Orykson's full attention, and Malachi's innate power is only somewhat above average. Worse, it turns out that Orykson has enemies more powerful than Malachi had ever imagined—and now their attention has landed solidly on him.
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Exciting, Unique, Intelligent
- By Amazon Customer on 11-24-24
By: Tobias Begley
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The Last Raven: An Urban Fantasy Thriller
- Riftborn, Book 1
- By: Steve McHugh
- Narrated by: Matthew Wolf
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Lucas Rurik used to be part of the Raven Guild. That is, until someone murdered all of its members—except for him. That was seven years ago. Now, Lucas keeps to himself, avoiding getting too close to anyone lest they become targets themselves. But when one of his oldest friends at the Rift-Crime Unit calls upon him for help with a case that’s already taken down people who mean a lot to him, Lucas can’t resist stepping back into the fray. Something is killing FBI and RCU agents alike—something unlike anything Lucas has ever seen before, on Earth or in the Rift.
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I love you Steve but..
- By Casey Seifert on 12-04-22
By: Steve McHugh
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How to Survive at the End of the World
- How to Survive at the End of the World, Book 1
- By: R. C. Joshua
- Narrated by: Lawrence Parker
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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When an accident kicks Sean Lawrence forward in time, he finds himself square in the apocalyptic end-times. The world is doomed, and he only has a mysterious guidebook, a leather jacket, and a homemade knife to keep him company. He could spend his days grinding low-level mobs, gathering rat pelts, and waiting for a chance to escape. Or he could rise up, slay dragons, and fight against the odds. Faced with a choice between the dead-end life he's been living and the possibility of greatness, Sean has to decide if he's willing to risk his life and more for a chance to save Earth itself.
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a poorly written fever dream
- By Amazon Customer on 07-31-24
By: R. C. Joshua
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Blossoming Path: A Xianxia LitRPG
- Blossoming Path, Book 1
- By: Carlos Calma
- Narrated by: Matthew Bridges
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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It is known as the Day of Awakening. Across the continent, the Heavenly Interface appears, presenting each being with a system to track their skills and quests in the name of achieving their goals. Bandits rise to power, forgotten masters come out of seclusion, and spirit beasts arise from their slumber, drawn to the promise of a new era. Little do any of them know, it is Kai, a young herbalist from a small village, who was the cause of the Heavenly Interface's introduction.
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it's good and i want the 2nd book, but....
- By Donovan Mullen on 03-28-25
By: Carlos Calma
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The Best Thing You Can Steal
- By: Simon R. Green
- Narrated by: Gideon Emery
- Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Gideon's planning a heist, to steal the only thing that matters from the worst man in the world. To get past his security, he's going to need a crew who can do the impossible...but luckily, he has the right people in mind. The Damned, the Ghost, the Wild Card...and his ex-girlfriend, Annie Anybody. A woman who can be anyone, with the power to make technology fall in love with her. If things go well, they'll all get what they want. And if they're lucky, they might not even die trying.
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Excellent!
- By Charles on 07-26-21
By: Simon R. Green
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Thresholder: Teaguewater
- By: Alexander Wales
- Narrated by: Henry Kramer, Jessica Threet, Justin Thomas James, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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A portal opened, and Perry's curiosity got the better of him. Once. Twice. Three times did Perry step through a portal, each to a new and strange world. He stepped through into a world of advanced technology, power armor and micro reactors. He stepped through into a world of knights and kings, orcs and goblins, where old wizards handed out magical swords. He stepped through into a world of hidden vampires and rainy streets, where the clocktower tolled the hour as ships sailed by.
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A good start to a new series
- By Susan M. on 03-28-25
By: Alexander Wales
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The Bartender Between Worlds
- Greatest in the Multiverse
- By: Herman Steuernagel
- Narrated by: Shakira Shute
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Low-stakes magic, crafting cocktails, and discovering the power of who we truly are. Emma grew up as a Hunter of the Cursed—those charged with eradicating monsters and magic from the Kingdom. She's good at it too and is revered as one of the King's most skilled hunters. At least she was—until she discovered she possessed magic herself. Before anyone else can discover her secret, Emma abandons her post and flees to the far edge of the Kingdom, where she hopes she can settle down and live a quiet life as a bartender, out of the Hunters' watchful eye.
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New and Entertaining
- By Klatt.b on 04-10-25
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Sorcery Reborn
- The Rebellion Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Steve McHugh
- Narrated by: Simon Mattacks, Elizabeth Knowelden
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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After losing his powers in an epic battle between good and evil, former sorcerer Nate Garrett finds himself living as a humble human in Clockwork, Oregon. While the world thinks Nate is dead, his friends continue to fight against Avalon and the evil it’s intent on spreading. Avalon’s forces turn up in Clockwork, and Nate’s frustration grows with every passing day his magic doesn’t return. He finds himself trying to stop Avalon’s plans while hiding from enemies who would destroy everything in their path to see him dead.
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Not first in series
- By PingThePong on 02-01-20
By: Steve McHugh
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Apocalypse Arena 1: Mortal Gauntlet
- A LitRPG Adventure
- By: J Pal
- Narrated by: Miles Meili
- Length: 16 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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The stronger his opponent, the harder he hits. Saving an innocent from a drug-crazed superhuman should've left Nil broken. Instead, it wins him the Nexus' attention. Nil is done feeling small and watching his family scrape by. He now has the opportunity to make a difference. Apocalypse Arena holds the key; where the multiverse's champions battle and keep the Scourge at bay. Pain, death, and heartbreak await all who run the gauntlets, but Nil has what it takes to grapple his way to the top.
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Good start.
- By Danny Moody on 04-03-25
By: J Pal
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Conscripted
- Chronicles of the Isekai’d Hexinblade, Book 1
- By: Patrick Underwood
- Narrated by: Jonathan Waters, Aurora Bliss
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Have you ever come across those stories with heroes who knew just how to get things done? The ones who were masters in five different martial arts, and knew ten ways to skin a bear after killing it with their bare hands? Yeah, that wasn’t me. Hell, I had trouble asking a girl out on a date. But someone in clerical must have made an error. Because I got ripped from an airplane on my way home after my last day in the Coast Guard. I mean, come on, I wasn’t even in one of the hardcore branches of the military or anything!
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Great start!
- By Brian on 04-09-25
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Hunting and Herbalism: A Druid LitRPG
- Hunting and Herbalism, Book 1
- By: Leif Roder, Synonymoose
- Narrated by: Rhiannon Moushall
- Length: 13 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Zalia Taori is well equipped for life in the remote forest valley she calls home. But while tracking a deer through her snowy stomping grounds—armed with her hunting bow and excellent knowledge of wild plants—she comes across a warp in the fabric of reality. She suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar land where she must learn to survive as both predator and prey. As Zalia explores this forbidding new terrain, she encounters peculiar herbs, terrifying monsters, mysterious rituals, and some unexpected friends.
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Pretty good with a big caveat.
- By Christopher on 12-06-24
By: Leif Roder, and others
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The Coming of God of Death, Book 1
- By: Dmitry Dornichev, Anna Allen - translator
- Narrated by: Christian Leatherman
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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I led a quiet life, peacefully ruling the underworld until that mother of *** showed up with her people and angels. They destroyed everything I'd built with so much effort and nearly killed me. But I managed to return! Wait . . . My only disciple and candidate for a new body is a sick kid who's about to die? Are you serious?!
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Meh.
- By Ruykann on 04-14-25
By: Dmitry Dornichev, and others
What listeners say about A Deliberate Act of Violence: A Vampire Thriller
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- fallenjade
- 04-06-25
I love this series
Miles and church are back and boy did I miss this snark. Exciting new story, action packed and the narration was great. I cannot wait to listen to the next one. I dove right in and finished in record time, to then do a Re-listen of both books. What a great world to visit. Thanks Steve
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-07-25
Hooked again
I am such a fan of Steve McHugh and his writing. I always find that I am smiling or laughing throughout. I am invested in Miles and his utter devotion to Church! I can not wait until the next book.
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- Robin
- 03-27-25
awesome
I loved the flow of the story . The MC is a funny , sarcastic and caring vampire.
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- Kristine
- 04-01-25
Love Miles and Church!
4.5 Stars 🌟
As usual, I never know what to expect when I pick up a Steve McHugh book, I just know that I am going to be entertained. This book was no exception. For whatever reason, I had a hard time remembering the first book in this series, so I just decided to jump right into the second book. Honestly, I think it would be absolutely fine to read as a stand alone because I had no issues with feeling lost or thoughts of confusion - I was just along for the ride.
In this book, we are focused on Miles Watson, who is a vampire and who is an "Arbitor" for the Assembly. Apparently, in this world, vampires are out and co-exist along with the humans fairly peacefully. There is a governing group called the Assembly - who handles vampire crimes and issues in order to try to keep the peace with the humans.
So Miles. He is an extremely funny and sarcastic MMC with a very dry wit and apparently has the ability to back up what he dishes out. He has a side kick - an absolutely wonderful dog/vampire named Church. She is amazingly intelligent and loyal to a fault, and scarily effective. There were some scientists working with combining vampire DNA with canine DNA and the result was Church and one other litter mate. Miles love of her and is protectiveness of her takes his character up a level. The two of them together are awesome.
So- the case. Miles starts investigating a couple of cases that do not seem to be relate at first and then all of a sudden, it becomes apparent that there is more going on than meets the eye. What started as several separate cases end up all being related and before you know it, Miles, Church and team are desperately trying to stop some really bad people/vampires from releasing some crazed vampires into London.
This story was more like a crime or detective storyline. Miles is involved and then gathers additional help from friends that he trusts as it becomes apparent that the scope of the crimes is much bigger than first thought. I loved the comradery between friends, the craziness of the plot and in the end, the build to the climax.
All in all, another great series - but really, did I ever doubt it? Nope.
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- Woo! Woo!
- 03-26-25
Another great series from Steve McHugh!
This is a different world than Hellequin or the Ravens.
A little darker, a little more noir.
And so far, the series is more a detective series, which I really like!
While I still enjoy the Hellequin novelas and hope for more about the Ravens, I am really looking forward to the next book in the Assembly series.
Derek Perkins does a great job too!
Can't wait for the next one!
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- Curious Aquarian
- 04-01-25
McHugh!
Loved it! If you enjoy McHugh story telling you won't be disappointed. The story arc is new and intriguing.
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- SE
- 04-04-25
Good sequel
I really loved the first book in the series and the main character and his side kick dog. This sequel did not disappoint. It was action packed, introduced new characters, and kept true to the prior characters. So if you enjoy fast paced, violent, vampire stories I strongly suggest this book (but listen or the read the first in the series first).
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