Long Chills and Case Dough

by Brandon Sanderson

Long Chills and Case Dough is a previously unpublished short story, written just before Brandon published his first book. It was released to celebrate the finale of the 2023 "Year of Sanderson," and is published exclusively by Dragonsteel as a "Sanderson Curiosity."

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Novella, Crime

67 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2023

About the author

I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.

During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

If The Sunlit Man was the final book to end the Year of Sanderson, Long Chills and Case Dough is epilogue to it.

I knew it. Since the record-breaking Kickstarter announcement, I knew Sanderson would not let the Year of Sanderson end without preparing a little surprise in another form of an unreleased book. And that's where this short story came in. Long Chills and Case Dough is a previously unpublished short story written just before Sanderson published his first book. This was released to celebrate the finale of the 2023 "Year of Sanderson," and it is published exclusively by Dragonsteel as a "Sanderson Curiosity." You can get the ebook for free from the Dragonsteel website. In a way, Long Chills and Case Dough is similar to Defending Elysium novelette in the Cytoverse universe. It was written before the release of Elantris, and I was worried about this. Defending Elysium is the weakest title I read this year. But thankfully, although Long Chills and Case Dough might not end up proving memorable as a title, I must say I did find myself quite compelled by this detective noir story.

Do not expect anything mindblowing from this less-than-one-hour short story. As Sanderson said, this is a little gift for readers to peek at Sanderson's pre-Elantris writing days. The pleasant surprise from Long Chills and Case Dough for me is to read the seeds of ideas and Sanderson's writing that eventually appeared in The Frugal's Wizard and also even Mistborn: Wax and Wayne series. The writing is not as well-polished, and the characterizations and dialogues need improvement. But for its purpose as a gift to backers and as a quick and engaging read, and absurd and corny one, I think Long Chills and Case Dough did its job.

This year, I read more than ten titles by Brandon Sanderson. Not including word count into the equation, it is the most I've ever done in a year for Sanderson. The four secret project novels, three novels in Skyward, three short novels in Skyward, and then Defending Elysium and Long Chills and Case Dough. This quantity does not certainly equate to Sanderson's usual high-quality Cosmere books due to the experimental nature of the books, when they were written, or the target market, but I am blessed to have read them all. Tress of the Emerald Sea and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter definitely became the spotlight of The Year of Sanderson for me. And I want to, once again, thank Sanderson and the Dragonsteel team for making 2023 more exciting.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!

My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Ambrosius, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Biskit, Brad, Cade, Chris, Christopher, Ciprian, Cullen, Dan, David, Donuts, Dylan, Edward, Elaine, Elias, Ellen, Francesca, Frank, Garrick, Gary, Gregory, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Joie, Jonathan, Jordan, Katrina, Kristina, Lara, Lourdes, Luis, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Mike, Miracle, Mordie, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, RCT, Redmischief, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Sirbu, Steph, Stephanie, Tiffany, Tori, Tracy, Trish, TS, Wendy, Wick, Woodman, Xero, Yosi, Yuri, Zoe.

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sci-fi detective story, originally written in the early 2000s, was released as a “Sanderson curiosity” in a really pretty hardcover edition as part of the December Dragonsteel box in the Year of Sanderson. While I’ve loved his other sci-fi detective stories like Snapshot and Legion, this one just didn’t click with me, mostly because of the noir detective vernacular our first-person narrator Jack Derrins uses. To give you an example, this is him describing an attractive woman: “This dish was such a looker that my orbs nearly burst from the gandering.” It just felt forced to me and not as humorous as probably intended. What I did appreciate was Sanderson creating Jack as a character out of place, a lover of Raymond Chandler’s time and the noir language, tone, and slang, which explains Jack’s use of noir vernacular, even if that use didn’t quite work for me.

The mystery itself was fun and engaging enough though and the 60 pages flew by. I must also say what a wonderful feeling it was to unwrap this surprise “mini-book”; it is definitely a lovely addition to my Sandershelves. Oh, how I will miss getting these boxes every month!

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quite literally made me laugh out loud! It's a quirky and fun short story from Brandon Sanderson following detective in a futuristic setting that models himself after classic noir detectives and really leans into how they spoke. He takes a case to prove a woman who killed a bunch of people on video is innocent and it's entertaining as hell. Definitely recommend this!

[Linh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hm. So this short story was... odd. 😶

Reading this felt like I'm transported to the future (which is quite appropriate, as Long Chill and Case Dough is a sci-fi detective story set in the future). But... you know the future where I'm surrounded by very young people and they're all speaking in some sort of weird slang that I can't quite get. 🤨 It feels like perhaps Brandon Sanderson is experimenting in a narrative style that doesn't quite land with me.

And the main character, private investigator Jack Derrins... He was always almost too sexist and offensive. What's up with that?

Uhm anyway, this was a wrap to my 2023, since I finished this on 12/31/23. This was not bad, but I hope to be able to start next year with something I like more.

[Read By Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look, is this short story high art? No. Is it one of Sanderson's best? Definitely not.

But it was a hoot. It might be the funniest overall story I have ever read from Sanderson, but only because it's so ridiculous that you have to laugh. A detective in the future that yearns for the days of the 1930s so he talks as if he's in that era. Just goofy, amusing fun that you can read in one sitting.

Retroactively makes me likes Frugal Wizard even less, because Sanderson wrote this story 20 years ago and it was more impactful 😝

[Wick Welker · Rating 3 out of 5]

You don’t really need to read this. Weird to have a noir sci fi book written modernly but with the outdated misogyny still in the main character. Also Sanderson needs to stop trying to be funny. Because he’s not. He’s terrible at humor. There’s not much to see here.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The rain had stopped, but my mood was as bad as ever. I slunk down the street like a bad stench.”

Hilarious SF/detective mashup. Written before Sanderson sold his first novel. In fact, the concept dates back to his school days, as he explains Long-time fans will find this a refreshing change of pace. (He’s been doing a lot of that recently.)

“And the act?” “Is it any wonder that a man might think back to another time? A time when there were some people who had the guts to stand up to the mob?” “You know, that’s almost noble—in a twisted sort of way.”
“Yeah, well, me and Quixote.”

A quick, enjoyable read. Characters are stereotypical … and not. Action is predictable … and not. You get the idea. Foreshadows Sanderson’s creative genius as one of America’s best authors. Extra star because it was his first.

“We’re going to get killed, aren’t we?” “Probably.”

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A goofy little short story about a dame in distress, a man out of place in his own time, and a little bit of futuristic technology. I loved it for all its corniness, and appreciated the thought of a young Sanderson writing a college essay in this style. Short and sweet.

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I opened the final A Year of Sanderson box, I teared up when I saw Long Chills and Case Dough. What a privilege it is to be a fan of an author who is so generous with his fans.

Long Chills and Case Dough has its originals in an essay Sanderson wrote during university as he chafed against conventional essay writing. Sanderson said he wrote a detective story discovering and delivering the topic of the essay.

This short story follows Jack Derrins who has a 1920s detective mindset, but lives in the year 2151. Jack is an ex-cop turned private detective. He decides to take on what seems like an open and shut case against his client.

What makes Long Chills and Case Dough an entertaining read is the narrator himself, Jack. Jack only speaks in the vernacular of the 1920s, which singles him out in this ultra futuristic world. His style of speaking isn’t for everyone as I can see it getting old quickly for some readers, however it had me grinning from ear to ear.

Overall, Long Chills and Case Dough is a quick and entertaining read that gives readers more insight into Sanderson’s early writing as well as his personality based on the origins of Jack Derrins.

Thank you again to Brandon Sanderson and his team for the wonderful year that was A Year of Sanderson. It truly was lightning in a bottle.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like Brandon was reading some Asimov and then decided to write a short story inspired by those vibes. It was fun! But nothing spectacular, and I didn't much enjoy the main character's perspective, because why would you choose to be a 1920s misogynist in a future world where nobody else discriminates like that? But the results of the character's nature were entertaining.

[Brenda Waworga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a fun quick read and such a fun surprise from Sanderson to wrap up 2023.. this got murder mystery mixed with crazy tech story (it took setting on year 2151).. don’t expect complicated plot since this is just a short story but the overall story is fun and keep me engaged the whole time

[Shreyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Long Chills and Case Dough' (A Sanderson Curiosity) by Brandon Sanderson.

We’re making this a “Sanderson Curiosity,” our appellation for stories we aren’t quite sure how else to release. This is such a quirky, bizarre little story that I’m not sure I’d be comfortable releasing it in a magazine or the like. But it is also a wonderful picture of the person I was in college, the person looking to take any piece of writing he did and make it fresh and different. So with that, I hope you enjoy reading “Long Chills and Case Dough.”

Rating: 3.5/5.





Review:
'Long Chills and Case Dough' was originally written in the early 2000s as a college essay by a young Sanderson. And it shows – it isn't Sanderson at his peak, but it gives us early glimpses of Sanderson when he was young and new to the world of writing. Brandon later decided to release this short story (a deluxe hardcover edition) as a part of his December Dragonsteel box to cap off the Year of Sanderson (2023).

The story, by itself, is pretty short, amounting to merely 60-odd pages. It is a unique amalgamation of noir detective and sci-fi elements that took me by surprise. It is a story about a damsel in distress, a man still stuck in the old times and old ways living in a futuristic setting, and striving for justice.

I must confess that Jack Derrins's constant usage of noir detective vernacular somehow didn't work for me. However, the book does give a decent reason for him being the way he is. I do appreciate Sanderson for creating the character of Jack Derrins – a man who feels out of place, a lover of Raymond Chandler's stories, and, as a result, someone who resorts to the usage of noir vernacular, slang, and tone. And the story does call him out for his misogynistic noir vernacular. So, yeah, that was good!

The story was short, and the mystery itself was fun and engaging. The plot is pretty straightforward, though, and the twists and turns aren't as amazing as one would expect from a typical Sanderson story – which is kind of expected considering this was Sanderson when he started writing. The story ended well, but I'm still unsure whether I wanted more of this world and the characters. While I found Jack Derrins and the setting intriguing, I still believe this won't work as a series of short stories – if Sanderson wishes to write more of these. Perhaps that's why Sanderson decided to release this book as 'A Sanderson Curiosity' rather than going for a traditional release. I'm happy with this short story being a standalone entry by Sanderson, but I won't be lying if I say that if and when Sanderson decides to write more stories set in this setting, I will be eagerly waiting to read those stories.

“And the act?” Alici prodded.
I paused. This wasn’t the kind of thing I liked to jaw about. “Is it any wonder that a man might think back to another time?” I asked, tipping my hat back down over my eyes. “A time when there were some people who had the guts to stand up to the mob?”

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book suffered from a lack of space. There is a lot to enjoy about it (quirky main characters, interesting setting, fun literary conceit) but its brevity didn't really let any of those positive elements stretch out. Still, it was a free, quick read so I don't have much to complain about.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
✅ mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional

PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
✅ nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown

WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
✅ OK
🔲 nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story

ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
✅ immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book

PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
🔲 page-turner
✅ impossible to put down

Way too over-the-top for my taste.

[Vidumavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always fun to get something extra, so an extra story to finish up the Year of Sanderson was a nice little touch. This was a story he started in the 2000's as a college student. And it shows. Quite a lot to be honest.

While Sanderson has never had the greatest prose - especially not among fantasy writers - it was always easy to digest and did not take away from the story. In this one it does, because the vernacular is such a big part of this story. We follow Jack Derrins, a detective living far in the future but pretending like it's 1920. And I mean pretending in a would-get-you-locked-up kind of way. And because of that, most of the story is written in a strange, 'I guess this is how they spoke in the 1920's' sort of way. Honestly, it's kind of cringe.

The story itself is fine. Its a short mystery, with a few of the standard sci-fi scruples. Yes, we hear about cloning, space travel and cryogenic sleep. It's fine honestly, it's a short story, not a massive tome or extended universe. And honestly, I felt like the overaching plot was more of a device to show us the character of Jack Derrins rather than anything else.

Because even tho the story is solving a case, the real mystery is Jack Derrins. Why does this man like to pretend its 1920? Why did this man leave to police force, but is the force more than willing to get him back? How do criminals know him? And most of all, where in the world did he get that access code that unlocks a buttload of classified information?

Yes, the story is a little cringe. And yes, it's very obvious that this is EARLY Sanderson work. But for a short story, it's quite fun.

[Dustin (dragonarmybooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a BookTube channel where I review books, give reading suggestions, and more! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/dragonarmybooks

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A silly, brief excursion from the stereotypical Sanderson fare into the (gum)shoes of a detective of the future with his heart set on the past. Though Jack Derrins lives and works in a 2151 Chicago, he acts, dresses, and speaks like he's a private detective of the early 1900s. He accepts what appears to be an open and shut case. Leave it to Mr. D. to uncover the concealed truths and heroically save the day.

It's absurd. But it does exactly what it's supposed to do. It's corny, but of course it is. The characters and plot are both deep and interesting enough for a 60-page short story. This is no groundbreaking novel. But it is a fun little excursion from the norm. I'm so glad Sanderson was willing to share this little curiosity with his fans. What a wonderful way to cap off the legendary Year of Sanderson.

[Elif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brandon Sanderson 2023’te kitap üstüne kitap çıkardıktan sonra okurlarına hediye olarak eski bir öyküsünü e-kitap ve baskı şeklinde bastı. Long Chills & Case Dough (berbat bir çeviri yapacağım: uzun ürperti ve para mevzusu) Sanderson’dan okuduğum en enteresan kitap çünkü onun tarzına yakıştırmakta zorlandım. Noir dedektif tarzını bilimkurguya taşımış. James Bond, Indiana Jones tipi filmlerdeki alfa, her kadına cinsel obje gözüyle bakan ve hep beylik laflar eden adamları düşünün ve bunu 2100 senesine taşıyın. Zaten kitabın mizahı ana karakterin böyle toksik bir tip olmasından kaynaklanıyor. Etrafındaki herkes adamın tuhaflığının ve abartılı davranışlarının farkında ve seksist olması da onu iyice abes bir kişilik haline getiriyor. Ufak bir olayı anlatıyor fena değildi o bakımdan ama ana karaktere asla sempati duyamadım çünkü noir tarzı eserlerden hoşlanmıyorum. Ana karakter olduğu haliyle kalsaydı ama asistanın gözünden her şeyi okusaydık bence daha komik olurdu. Sanderson’un hem eski dönemin maço erkek dedektif tipiyle dalga geçmesi hem de bu türe olan sevgisini göstermesi hoş bir detay.

[Jolanta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in a car while everyone around me slept (instead of a driver, obviously). The criteria for the book: something easy, fast, not overly complicated - as I was almost snoozing too. The book fit the bill, I managed to read it until I fell asleep too, but that’s it. It doesn’t leave a lasting impression. It’s not something wow, but I can’t point out any specific bad things.
The book is free on B.S. page.

[Caitlin Ford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brandon I’m so sorry but I did not like this😭

[Connor Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little novella. The noir detective language was entertaining, even if it sometimes went over my head. The juxtaposition of the “old-timey” detective with the sci-fi time period made for an intriguing setting.

Quote: “She’s a tomato stuck behind the eight ball, and I’m her sure-thing man.”

[Jaime Scharfhausen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Empieza siendo un poco aburrida, pero le acabas cogiendo cariño. Lo del slang detectivesco en ingles es un tema aún así.

[Sanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story about misogynist noir detective in the 2100s

[Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this review and hundreds more at The Quill To Live.

Just when I thought the Year of Sanderson was over, it continued with a final flourish. Fresh off the plane from Dragonsteel 2023 and with all four secret projects behind me, my last swag box from Sanderson’s Kickstarter arrived at my doorstep. In it, I found a small black tome adorned with a metallic design on the cover: a fedora-sporting, cigarette-smoking detective in a trenchcoat. On the back cover, a small emblem labeling the novelette a “Sanderson Curiosity.” And on the spin, the title: Long Chills & Case Dough.

This 60-ish-page story is something of a relic, in Sanderson’s terms. He initially wrote the piece before Elantris—his first novel—was picked up for publication. After years dormant in the Sanderson files, he decided to include it as a curiosity in one of the Kickstarter boxes. A curiosity, according to Sanderson himself, is a piece of work he isn’t inclined to share as a fully published work because it doesn’t quite meet his current standards for writing or storytelling.

How, then, is this fan to review it? The author specifically said it’s not up to snuff. Instead, it’s a treat, a morsel for those of us to readily devour his entree-sized books whenever they drop. Here is where I struggle. I didn’t love Long Chills & Case Dough. I’m not mad I read it, by any means, but it’s no harbinger of a storytelling revolution. It’s not supposed to be. So, reader, consider this a long-winded disclaimer. While I have storytelling critiques of Long Chills & Case Dough, the narrative and execution aren’t necessarily the point here.

Jack Derrins is a private investigator in the year 2151. While the world around him embraces the future and its many extravagant gadgets and medical breakthroughs, Derrins (called Dalley by those who know him well) adopts a 1920s air, shouting analogies straight out of the past and throwing around terms like “dame” or “doll.” His secretary Alici patches through a potential client: Camilla Ball, a woman behind a recent mass murder using a barrage of personal missiles. She insists she was framed, and Derrins accepts the case.

Long Chills & Case Dough operates in a weird sort of limbo. The setting is a futuristic Chicago, but our protagonist has all the trappings of your typical misogynistic gumshoe detective. The tonal mismatch simply doesn’t work. Given more words or page count, the story might have room to explain this away through Jack’s past or a weirdly specific interest in old crime thrillers. Such a detour here would likely derail the story, which leaves Jack’s affectations to muddle the narrative and create a mish-mash of dissonant concepts.

The novelette’s length seems to be the root of many struggles. The mystery moves along at a brisk pace, as I would expect a quick-hit thriller to do. It leaves the reader in the dust, though, tying up loose ends with reckless abandon. The glorious worldbuilding that could have occupied some of the space earlier in the story was instead usurped by Jack’s thoughts and conversations, made all the quirkier with his “dolls” and “dames.”

Sanderson’s characters—usually my favorite aspect of his work—falter here, largely for the same reasons. Too few pages, too much plot.

Despite all of this, I can’t fault Sanderson for releasing this. I can’t fault the story for being “meh” because it came with a swag box and is supposed to be a silly little treat for Sanderson fans. On that level, I appreciate Long Chills & Case Dough even if the story itself left me wanting.

[Dustin Rapach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long Chills and Case Dough

On a lazy Saturday after a week long of travel, working the west coast, I had some trouble getting on a flight back East. My flight got delayed so late that I would have missed my chance at even leaving the same day - and I had shown up to the airport at 11.

Luckily I had the sweetest woman, Janette, help me by moving some flights around. With a new layover in Chicago instead of Denver, I’d be on time and show up in Baltimore before midnight, which was way better than wasting a rainy day in a hotel room.

Now, this only matters because it sets the scene for my journey reading this book. Jack Derrins is an eccentric Noir Private Eye, taking on the rough streets of Chicago. He faces the mob head on, with his trusty Colt M1911 on his hip. But it’s not the 1920s. This is a Sanderson book after all.

It’s set in a futuristic 2151, where the world has moved far beyond the times of prohibition and mob ran streets. Or so you’d think. Weapons got deadlier, but the more things change the more they stay the same.

I loved the story for its quirky, new feel. It’s got humor, it’s got personality. I feel like it’s the only cyberpunk noir book out there, but there’s bound to be more now.

It was a great read to get me ready for my layover in the decaying O’Hare airport, and it helped me pass the time with a nice short story. It’s an unreleased story from Sandersons’ 200 level college English class, which makes me even happier that a bored college students outlet for creativity became a published item.

I’d even read a second one, if that ever happens.
3.5 Stars

[Mememomo · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you’re a hardcore Sanderson fan then don’t read this

Never have I rolled my eyes this much when reading a book. If you actually enjoyed reading this then I’m sorry but you’re dumb.

Preeeetttty sure this annoying ass character (Daley) is what Wayne based off of, or maybe not, since characterization is one of Brandons weakest points; which is why all his characters end of looking like poor copies of each other (like how Wayne is a more annoying version of Lopen, and and how Lopen is just a diluted version of insufferable Daley).

Alici (the female main character in this) is also a typical bland Sanderson female character

Quotes that had me cringing into oblivion:

“Alici wasn’t the most patient pair of ankles you’d meet”

“A beautiful frail (referring to a woman lmaoooo) had just appeared in my office”

“Alici (Dalley’s secretary) definitely didn’t understand her place in our relationship. I was supposes to do the gumshoeing, she was supposed to do her nails”

I think BS in general should never write comedy, his jokes never land (cough cough secret projects cough) and this novella obviously shows how he hasn’t improved in that regard

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Sanderson curiosity. I like crime noir detectives but this flips it on his head. The main character feels he is a hard-boiled noi-detective who nobody likes but in reality everyone really likes and appreciates him. He is sort of stuck in this mode. I enjoy this sort of Pratchett-like humor and it has a nice mystery to boot with a twist I didn't see coming. I went into this with adjusted expectations after reading most of the comments but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Amir Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a surprisingly decent little story. It's short, sweet (ok maybe not sweet, it's quite eccentric) and very fun. I think it had one twist too many but otherwise, the plot was solid and kept me invested all the way through.
It's either a 7/10 or a 7.5/10 for me.

Also in spirit of Daniel's review, I did finish this over a couple of visits to the washroom.

[Darleen Ziege · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly one of the silliest short stories I’ve ever read. Would highly recommend doing this as a date-night back and forth narration with a partner that will match your goofy voices. A 10/10 experience.

[Siona Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not something I would usually pick up on my own, but this was a cute ending to the Year of Sanderson (its hard to wrap my head around the fact that I won’t be getting any more boxes or leatherbounds once a month lol).

[Cody Stringfellow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t bad for such an unexpected and short read. I genuinely laughed a few times.