Alex Southerland is my favourite paranormal detective (after Felix, of course), and I’m always excited to read new installments in this excellent Urban Fantasy series.

What to Expect

A new case for Alex, starting with a studious teenager who disappears at night without going through the front door. In a typical fashion, Alex is dragged further in to conspiracies and cults, tangles with otherworldly forces and ancient sorcerers, and generally getting in over his head in a quest to stay alive let alone solve the case.

What I liked

Lumsden’s writing style is the best mix for me: a noir detective with dark themes of human nature, a well thought-out fantasy & occult world, and a rich alternate history culture. I love his shady characters that aren’t your cardboard cutout but have their own full and surprising personalities. The elaborate and cohesive merging of Meso-American history and magic system makes for a unique world-building that’s a pleasure to spend time in.

What to be aware of

This is book 6 in the series. While each one represents an individual case, there’s always a certain amount of continuity that builds up. While you can jump right in, I’d recommend not missing out and reading the series from the start.

Felix’s Review

Felix and Alex get very well together, swapping stories over drinks (as do their authors). Felix had his own share of possession cases and supernatural spirits and creatures, and sympathises with Alex’s troubles and misadventures. He finds the make up of the multi-faceted magic system intriguing, and the old Aztec & Mayan spirits with their direct manifestations captivating. He certainly delves right into each story, wincing in shared pain but never putting the book down until the end.

Summary

Excellent urban fantasy detective series, one of the best out there. Highly recommended, particularly if you like the old noir detective like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Check out my reviews of previous novels, interviews with the characters (a new one coming in two days!), or the complete series on Amazon.

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Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He’s the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.

Come meet Felix and his world on the free short stories and novels!