CATCHING SOULS FOR BEELZEBUB

In Haynes’ debut comedy novel, the demon Beelzebub tasks his trusty handyman with ensnaring two of Hell’s souls that have fled to Earth

Abel Freeman’s gig in Hell isn’t so bad. He handles repairs when needed and makes sure everything in the underworld runs smoothly. He even likes his boss, Beelzebub, who prefers to be called Mr. Beel. Suddenly, there’s trouble afoot: Two souls have absconded from The Cells, the first time Hell has seen such an escape. Mr. Beel sends Abel, his “Number One,” to retrieve the souls from Earth. Getting their specific locations requires a trip to Heaven (“They’re sticklers for paperwork up there”), and Abel must stay incognito so God doesn’t get wind of the escapees. He then teams up with Maren, a soul-catching “reaper,” to track down the fugitive shades, who’ve taken up residence in human vessels—one in Las Vegas, the other in Melbourne. Releasing these souls necessitates killing the human vessels; that’s outright murder as far as Abel is concerned, and his understandable reluctance may prevent him from completing his job. The author’s amusing tale paints curious portraits of Heaven and Hell. They’re both akin to places on Earth; Heaven is essentially a giant corporation with technology superior to that of the “old-fashioned” Hell, which still uses pneumatic pipes. Abel is an appealing, easygoing protagonist with an astounding backstory explaining how he wound up in Hell. He stands out in the underworld—he’s human, unlike the grayish and often nameless and genderless demons. The narrative amusingly showcases Abel’s laid-back lifestyle in Hell and his espionage in Heaven, where he poses as a new employee to take a peek at the computers. The earthly scenes, while entertaining, aren’t quite as comedic, as Abel focuses on finding the vessels and faces an unanticipated hurdle. Nevertheless, Maren keeps the fun going—she boasts a welcome bubbly personality, drapes herself in snazzy dresses, and uses such endearments as “luvvie” and “darling.”

A delightful otherworldly story with a zingy assortment of characters.