In this brilliant sequel to actor Luke Arnold’s debut The Last Smile in Sunder City, a former soldier turned PI solves crime in a world that’s lost its magic. The name’s Fetch Phillips — what do you need? Cover a Gnome with a crossbow while he does a dodgy deal? Sure. Find out who killed Lance Niles, the big-shot businessman who just arrived in town? I’ll give it shot. Help an old-lady Elf track down her husband’s murderer? That’s right up my alley. What I don’t do, because it’s impossible, is search for a way to bring the goddamn magic back. Rumors got out about what happened with the Professor, so now people keep asking me to fix the world. But there’s no magic in this story. Just dead friends, twisted miracles, and a secret machine made to deliver a single shot of murder. Welcome back to the streets of Sunder City, a darkly imagined world perfect for readers of Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher. Praise for Dead Man in a Ditch: “Superb… With a lead who would be at home in the pages of a Raymond Chandler or James Ellory novel and a nicely twisty plot, this installment makes a strong case for Arnold’s series to enjoy a long run.” ―Publishers Weekly “Arnold’s universe has everything, including the angst of being human. The perfect story for adult fantasy fans—a tough PI and a murder mystery wrapped around the mysticism of Hogwarts, sprinkled with faerie dust.” ―Library Journal (starred review) Fetch Phillips Novels The Last Smile in Sunder City Dead Man in a Ditch One Foot in the Fade
Twinsie Kelly’s Review
I cannot get enough of this series. I highly recommend listening to it via audiobook. The author/narrator is phenomenal! Every gritty corner, unsavory character, questionable moral, is felt as if you are right in the story. I love the wittiness and how irritatingly twisted up it makes you feel while reading/listening to it. Fetch just can’t catch a break and just when he thinks he has things figured out, he is pulled into something else just as chaotic and crazy and going down another rabbit hole….or dragon hole. There is never a slow moment. All the characters bring something to the table. Every. Single. One. Fetch and the police department are getting along now (kind of), he has “friends,” some people from his past pop back up in his life (and seriously gave me some kind of feels!), but most importantly Fetch started trying to figure out exactly what he is doing. He has switched sides and shared secrets he shouldn’t have. He was a huge part of the problem and just wants to do the right thing. But, like most people (religions, politics, etc.), they all can justify their cause. Fetch needs to dig down deep and figure out what his cause really is. I am extremely impressed with this series and NEED more! I am on my way to list to the next in the series! Stay tuned for another review! Bravo, Luke Arnold, on a fantastic job!
Luke Arnold was born in Australia and has spent the last decade acting his way around the world, playing iconic roles such as Long John Silver in the Emmy-winning Black Sails and his award-winning turn as Michael Hutchence in the INXS mini-series Never Tear Us Apart. When he isn’t performing, Luke is a screenwriter, director, novelist, and ambassador for Save the Children Australia.