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The Fetch Phillips Archives #4
Whisper in the Wind
Fetch is done being a hero.
Once a detective, all he wants now is to run his café in peace. Sunder City is still recovering from the sudden and violent end of magic, and if one man can't solve all its problems, he can at least stop some people going hungry.
But when a kid on the run shelters in Fetch's café, and a chain of gruesome murders begins among Sunder's high and mighty, trouble is brought to Fetch's door.
There's a word whispered on the wind, and that word is revolution...
Once a detective, all he wants now is to run his café in peace. Sunder City is still recovering from the sudden and violent end of magic, and if one man can't solve all its problems, he can at least stop some people going hungry.
But when a kid on the run shelters in Fetch's café, and a chain of gruesome murders begins among Sunder's high and mighty, trouble is brought to Fetch's door.
There's a word whispered on the wind, and that word is revolution...
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
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712 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 7, 2025
“The cafe was quiet, the city was burning, and I was happy”.
Llevaba mucho tiempo esperando esta continuación. Cuando vi que tenía publicación este año no voy a negar que chillé y lo reservé nada más pude. Yo necesitaba respuestas y más aventuras de Fetch. Además, se ve a leguas que esta saga va para largo. Sus finales no dan pie a otra cosa.
“I know you. I know ypur pain and your hope. You shame and your desire. I know you are here because you are tired of living in the shadows. The shadow of old ideas and old ways”
Creo que ha sido el libro más completo hasta la fecha. Con cada libro que escribe se va consolidando como autor y me encanta. Quizá no sea el mejor argumentalmente pero no me importa.
“You are tired of living a life at the botton of a valley, staring up at mountains all arround. Mountains waiting to be scaled.
Otra cosa que adoro es que vemos un Fetch mucho más maduro desde su primera entrega. Eso sí, sigue haciendo cosas verdaderamente inmorales, pero le quiero igual. No me escondo.
“You are tired of being told that your life is nothing but the death rattle of a brighter age”.
Yo solo necesito la quinta parte y una sexta y séptima de paso.
“But just because you look away from a battle, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening”.
Llevaba mucho tiempo esperando esta continuación. Cuando vi que tenía publicación este año no voy a negar que chillé y lo reservé nada más pude. Yo necesitaba respuestas y más aventuras de Fetch. Además, se ve a leguas que esta saga va para largo. Sus finales no dan pie a otra cosa.
“I know you. I know ypur pain and your hope. You shame and your desire. I know you are here because you are tired of living in the shadows. The shadow of old ideas and old ways”
Creo que ha sido el libro más completo hasta la fecha. Con cada libro que escribe se va consolidando como autor y me encanta. Quizá no sea el mejor argumentalmente pero no me importa.
“You are tired of living a life at the botton of a valley, staring up at mountains all arround. Mountains waiting to be scaled.
Otra cosa que adoro es que vemos un Fetch mucho más maduro desde su primera entrega. Eso sí, sigue haciendo cosas verdaderamente inmorales, pero le quiero igual. No me escondo.
“You are tired of being told that your life is nothing but the death rattle of a brighter age”.
Yo solo necesito la quinta parte y una sexta y séptima de paso.
“But just because you look away from a battle, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening”.
January 9, 2026
Mr. Arnolds, you've done it again. Whenever I think that Fetch is going to catch a break, a Looney Tunes anvil suddenly falls from the sky and knocks him back into the fray with a comically loud sound effect and I eat it up every. single. time.
Second to Dead Man in a Ditch, this is my favorite so far in the series. Arnolds does a wonderful job of weaving relevant commentary into his fantasy setting without sounding derivative or overtly dogmatic. Fetch is such a wonderfully human protagonist and the culmination of his growth as both a person and Man for Hire is on full display in this latest installment; he's come so far from nihilistic drunk we were first introduced to in Last Smile and I for one couldn't be prouder.
I really think Simms is shaping up to become a secondary protagonist in this story; she's this weird antithetical foil to Fetch that experiences a major ideological shift after a police constable is murdered in cold blood. Niles is a fantastically fun character that you love to hate and boy do I (that ending though??? Absolute cinema).
ALSO BAXTER MY BELOVED GETS MORE THAN THREE PAGES OF BOOK TIME I am SO curious as to the mystery surrounding their origins and what that means for the potential return of magic to Sunder and Archetellos as a whole.
Mr. Arnolds, if you ever venture upon this review, please let it be known that I will continue to read anything and everything of yours until the foreseeable future in which carpal tunnel inevitably takes hold and sinks its teeth into your wrists and the keyboard turns static from unuse.
Second to Dead Man in a Ditch, this is my favorite so far in the series. Arnolds does a wonderful job of weaving relevant commentary into his fantasy setting without sounding derivative or overtly dogmatic. Fetch is such a wonderfully human protagonist and the culmination of his growth as both a person and Man for Hire is on full display in this latest installment; he's come so far from nihilistic drunk we were first introduced to in Last Smile and I for one couldn't be prouder.
I really think Simms is shaping up to become a secondary protagonist in this story; she's this weird antithetical foil to Fetch that experiences a major ideological shift after a police constable is murdered in cold blood. Niles is a fantastically fun character that you love to hate and boy do I (that ending though??? Absolute cinema).
ALSO BAXTER MY BELOVED GETS MORE THAN THREE PAGES OF BOOK TIME I am SO curious as to the mystery surrounding their origins and what that means for the potential return of magic to Sunder and Archetellos as a whole.
Mr. Arnolds, if you ever venture upon this review, please let it be known that I will continue to read anything and everything of yours until the foreseeable future in which carpal tunnel inevitably takes hold and sinks its teeth into your wrists and the keyboard turns static from unuse.
March 24, 2025
Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I only discovered this series at my local library in the fall of 2022. By early 2023, I had finished all three of the previous books in this series, having purchased them for my forever shelf. I thought they were a trilogy and that was that. Cut to December 2024 when I saw a fourth book was expected in April 2025 and I didn’t know how I could possibly wait that long to read it. Thank you for not making me wait.
I devoured this book in four days. It had been two years (almost to the day) since I read the third one, so it was nice getting the little reminders of all that happened before as this new story unfolded. I love Fetch as a character. He’s a great hero that doesn’t trust himself and feels guilty from his actions of before, but people still look up to him and want his help. He’s so worthy of their trust.
He’s trying to mind his own business in this one, but he’s dragged back into it to try and help solve what is going on. And he does his best, bumbling through until the lightning of inspiration hits and he figures it all out. I love the world that’s created in this series. It’s gritty and urban, but there are still flashes of fantasy and magic.
And yes, this is NOT a standalone. You must read the first three or it won’t have as big of an impact. And really, go read the first three. They’re awesome. Then read this one when it comes out in April.
I only discovered this series at my local library in the fall of 2022. By early 2023, I had finished all three of the previous books in this series, having purchased them for my forever shelf. I thought they were a trilogy and that was that. Cut to December 2024 when I saw a fourth book was expected in April 2025 and I didn’t know how I could possibly wait that long to read it. Thank you for not making me wait.
I devoured this book in four days. It had been two years (almost to the day) since I read the third one, so it was nice getting the little reminders of all that happened before as this new story unfolded. I love Fetch as a character. He’s a great hero that doesn’t trust himself and feels guilty from his actions of before, but people still look up to him and want his help. He’s so worthy of their trust.
He’s trying to mind his own business in this one, but he’s dragged back into it to try and help solve what is going on. And he does his best, bumbling through until the lightning of inspiration hits and he figures it all out. I love the world that’s created in this series. It’s gritty and urban, but there are still flashes of fantasy and magic.
And yes, this is NOT a standalone. You must read the first three or it won’t have as big of an impact. And really, go read the first three. They’re awesome. Then read this one when it comes out in April.
April 11, 2025
In Whisper in the Wind, the fourth book in the Sunder City series, former detective Fetch Phillips seeks a peaceful life running his café in a city still struggling with the abrupt loss of magic. However, his tranquillity is short-lived when a fugitive child seeks refuge in his café, just as a string of gruesome murders begins targeting the city’s elite. Fetch is once again pulled into the city’s turmoil, although he would much rather not get involved,
I enjoyed how Whisper in the Wind brought a whole new dynamic to this series considering what happened in the previous volumes. Arnold seamlessly blends gritty detective noir with the loss of magic, in what is a richly crafted and imagined world. The characters are complex with some new ones introduced. I particularly enjoyed how the people of Sunder City continue to grapple with the loss of magic and the fallout. The storytelling is engaging, with thought-provoking themes that add depth to the narrative, although the mystery does take a while to establish when it does it leads to a good finale. The action and plot are well-paced, making this a highly readable book with plenty of charm. The ending also sets things up nicely for the fifth volume, leaving plenty to anticipate.
If you’re new to the series you might consider starting with “The Last Smile in Sunder City” to fully appreciate Fetch Phillips’ journey leading up to this latest adventure.
My thanks to orbit and NetGalley for this e-arc.
I enjoyed how Whisper in the Wind brought a whole new dynamic to this series considering what happened in the previous volumes. Arnold seamlessly blends gritty detective noir with the loss of magic, in what is a richly crafted and imagined world. The characters are complex with some new ones introduced. I particularly enjoyed how the people of Sunder City continue to grapple with the loss of magic and the fallout. The storytelling is engaging, with thought-provoking themes that add depth to the narrative, although the mystery does take a while to establish when it does it leads to a good finale. The action and plot are well-paced, making this a highly readable book with plenty of charm. The ending also sets things up nicely for the fifth volume, leaving plenty to anticipate.
If you’re new to the series you might consider starting with “The Last Smile in Sunder City” to fully appreciate Fetch Phillips’ journey leading up to this latest adventure.
My thanks to orbit and NetGalley for this e-arc.
March 24, 2025
Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I only discovered this series at my local library in the fall of 2022. By early 2023, I had finished all three of the previous books in this series, having purchased them for my forever shelf. I thought they were a trilogy and that was that. Cut to December 2024 when I saw a fourth book was expected in April 2025 and I didn’t know how I could possibly wait that long to read it. Thank you for not making me wait.
I devoured this book in four days. It had been two years (almost to the day) since I read the third one, so it was nice getting the little reminders of all that happened before as this new story unfolded. I love Fetch as a character. He’s a great hero that doesn’t trust himself and feels guilty from his actions of before, but people still look up to him and want his help. He’s so worthy of their trust.
He’s trying to mind his own business in this one, but he’s dragged back into it to try and help solve what is going on. And he does his best bumbling through until the lightning of inspiration hits and he figures it all out. I love the world that’s created in this series. It’s gritty and urban, but there are still flashes of fantasy and magic.
And yes, this is NOT a standalone. You must read the first three or it won’t have as big of an impact. And really, go read the first three. They’re awesome. Then read this one when it comes out in April.
I only discovered this series at my local library in the fall of 2022. By early 2023, I had finished all three of the previous books in this series, having purchased them for my forever shelf. I thought they were a trilogy and that was that. Cut to December 2024 when I saw a fourth book was expected in April 2025 and I didn’t know how I could possibly wait that long to read it. Thank you for not making me wait.
I devoured this book in four days. It had been two years (almost to the day) since I read the third one, so it was nice getting the little reminders of all that happened before as this new story unfolded. I love Fetch as a character. He’s a great hero that doesn’t trust himself and feels guilty from his actions of before, but people still look up to him and want his help. He’s so worthy of their trust.
He’s trying to mind his own business in this one, but he’s dragged back into it to try and help solve what is going on. And he does his best bumbling through until the lightning of inspiration hits and he figures it all out. I love the world that’s created in this series. It’s gritty and urban, but there are still flashes of fantasy and magic.
And yes, this is NOT a standalone. You must read the first three or it won’t have as big of an impact. And really, go read the first three. They’re awesome. Then read this one when it comes out in April.
March 17, 2025
Fetch Philips is my favourite urban fantasy series and I believe Luke Arnold does a fine job of balancing bewtween humor, action, fantastical elements and noir mystery. This remains true for this fourth installment in the series.
Fetch though is different this time around. He tries to stay out of trouble and although trouble finds him early on he makes every effort of minding his own business. Alas..
This brings a new dynamic to our hero, one that admittedly, took me some time to get used to. There are lots of new characters introduced, that have potential but are not fully explored here. The mystery aspect takes a while to get going but eventually leads to a fantastic finale. And speaking of finales, the ending has me lots excited of what is yet to come.
I started my review stating how much I like this series. I believe though that there is potential here for greatness. Unfortunately this instalment, though pretty enjoyable, doesn't expand or elevate the series to new highs. Maybe in the next one but while looking for said greatness, I'm very much enjoying the ride.
Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for this arc.
Fetch though is different this time around. He tries to stay out of trouble and although trouble finds him early on he makes every effort of minding his own business. Alas..
This brings a new dynamic to our hero, one that admittedly, took me some time to get used to. There are lots of new characters introduced, that have potential but are not fully explored here. The mystery aspect takes a while to get going but eventually leads to a fantastic finale. And speaking of finales, the ending has me lots excited of what is yet to come.
I started my review stating how much I like this series. I believe though that there is potential here for greatness. Unfortunately this instalment, though pretty enjoyable, doesn't expand or elevate the series to new highs. Maybe in the next one but while looking for said greatness, I'm very much enjoying the ride.
Thanks to Orbit and Netgalley for this arc.
May 13, 2025
Corrupt politician being bought off by rich people, facist police force known for excessive force, news outlets spreading lies
we sure this is fantasy?
we sure this is fantasy?
January 29, 2026
He dejado reposar este libro unos días porque esta saga es una de mis favoritas y este libro es bastante diferente a los anteriores.
En Whisper in the Wind, nos encontramos con un Fetch Phillips y una historia mucho más madura. Nada que ver con las aventuras entretenidas y divertidas (aunque emocionalmente potentes) de las entregas anteriores. Además, es un libro mucho más de misterio que de fantasía, de lo que hay un poco menos.
En todos los libros de la saga, Luke Arnold siempre ha hecho bastantes críticas sociopoliticas un poco de fondo con lo que estaba contando y, su mundo, aunque sea de fantasía, es un fiel reflejo, a veces, de lo peor del nuestro. Con esta cuarta parte ha querido hacer una crítica muy clara, poco sutil y, en base a eso, ha montado una historia. Al principio me sorprendió el cambio pero lo veía bien, luego se me hizo un poco bola porque sentía que la trama siempre iba igual y no avanzaba pero las últimas 100 páginas aprox lo arreglaron todo. Como digo, es un libro bastante diferente a los anteriores pero me acabó gustando mucho. Además, lo que ha querido mostrar en esta historia es un reflejo fiel a nuestra realidad de hoy. No sé si Arnold tenía una palantir o algo, pero es increíble cómo todo lo que ocurre en el libro, de fantasía debo recordar, son cosas que están pasando en nuestro mundo actualmente: el genocidio, el auge del fascismo, cómo los medios manipulan la información, cómo los poderosos y los ricos mueven los hilos de absolutamente todo para amoldar el mundo a su gusto (y por eso hay que comérselos a todos) el abuso de la autoridad (Luke Arndol verdaderamente dijo ACAB aquí) y un sinfín de cosas más.
Pero aunque la historia tenga un tono bastante desalentador y pesimista, también deja espacio para la esperanza y de cómo podríamos cambiar el mundo porque la gente buena es más abundante que la mala.
Por último, también acaba con un cliffhanger de la leche y ya estoy esperando rapidísimo para la quinta parte. Tqm Fetch Phillips (y a ti también Luke Arnold!!)
En Whisper in the Wind, nos encontramos con un Fetch Phillips y una historia mucho más madura. Nada que ver con las aventuras entretenidas y divertidas (aunque emocionalmente potentes) de las entregas anteriores. Además, es un libro mucho más de misterio que de fantasía, de lo que hay un poco menos.
En todos los libros de la saga, Luke Arnold siempre ha hecho bastantes críticas sociopoliticas un poco de fondo con lo que estaba contando y, su mundo, aunque sea de fantasía, es un fiel reflejo, a veces, de lo peor del nuestro. Con esta cuarta parte ha querido hacer una crítica muy clara, poco sutil y, en base a eso, ha montado una historia. Al principio me sorprendió el cambio pero lo veía bien, luego se me hizo un poco bola porque sentía que la trama siempre iba igual y no avanzaba pero las últimas 100 páginas aprox lo arreglaron todo. Como digo, es un libro bastante diferente a los anteriores pero me acabó gustando mucho. Además, lo que ha querido mostrar en esta historia es un reflejo fiel a nuestra realidad de hoy. No sé si Arnold tenía una palantir o algo, pero es increíble cómo todo lo que ocurre en el libro, de fantasía debo recordar, son cosas que están pasando en nuestro mundo actualmente: el genocidio, el auge del fascismo, cómo los medios manipulan la información, cómo los poderosos y los ricos mueven los hilos de absolutamente todo para amoldar el mundo a su gusto (y por eso hay que comérselos a todos) el abuso de la autoridad (Luke Arndol verdaderamente dijo ACAB aquí) y un sinfín de cosas más.
Pero aunque la historia tenga un tono bastante desalentador y pesimista, también deja espacio para la esperanza y de cómo podríamos cambiar el mundo porque la gente buena es más abundante que la mala.
Por último, también acaba con un cliffhanger de la leche y ya estoy esperando rapidísimo para la quinta parte. Tqm Fetch Phillips (y a ti también Luke Arnold!!)
August 30, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Whisper in the Wind is the fourth novel in the urban fantasy series The Fetch Phillips Archive, written by Luke Arnold, published by Orbit. Former detective Fetch Phillips seeks to have a peaceful life while running the cafe in a city still in shock after the loss of magic; however, soon he will be forced to be again involved in the city's turmoil, delivering an adventure that mix the noir and the gritty with more humoristic moments, and with a healthy dose of social messaging.
After just trying to defend a fugitive child who seeks refuge in his cafe, Phillips is blackmailed into investigating a string of assassinations targeting powerful people across Sunder City. A life he tried to abandon to regent the cafe, but which seems to be persecuting him together with his past; all in an instalment that plays into the noir elements of the series, paired with the sudden loss of magic, perfect to create a seemingly impossible to resolve mystery for Phillips.
Something that I found particularly fascinating about Whisper is how Arnold uses the Sunder City setting to introduce themes that are incredibly relevant nowadays, especially regarding the erosion of government structures in favour of a de facto oligarchy with the order forces being used as the support for fascism (it gives me chills to think how accurate it is). A Sunder City that is also still under shock after the loss of magic, with many people still struggling to grasp the situation, making them vulnerable to demagogic discourses and easy solutions; also it is interesting how the revolutionaries are mostly daydreamers, with not so many of them aware of how much you might have to sacrifice for a cause.
In terms of characterization, this new version of Phillips, trying to just run a cafe, is kinda interesting; but we can see how his element is the investigation, even if those in power are totally not his cup of tea. There are also a fair share of new characters, who could have been a bit more developed, but still with some memorable moments; I understand that pacing had a bit of priority in that regard.
Whisper in the Wind is a great instalment in the Fetch Phillips series, a perfect choice if you want to read a noir urban fantasy that will leave you thinking about its themes after you close the book. Hopefully, this won't be Phillips' last adventure!
Whisper in the Wind is the fourth novel in the urban fantasy series The Fetch Phillips Archive, written by Luke Arnold, published by Orbit. Former detective Fetch Phillips seeks to have a peaceful life while running the cafe in a city still in shock after the loss of magic; however, soon he will be forced to be again involved in the city's turmoil, delivering an adventure that mix the noir and the gritty with more humoristic moments, and with a healthy dose of social messaging.
After just trying to defend a fugitive child who seeks refuge in his cafe, Phillips is blackmailed into investigating a string of assassinations targeting powerful people across Sunder City. A life he tried to abandon to regent the cafe, but which seems to be persecuting him together with his past; all in an instalment that plays into the noir elements of the series, paired with the sudden loss of magic, perfect to create a seemingly impossible to resolve mystery for Phillips.
Something that I found particularly fascinating about Whisper is how Arnold uses the Sunder City setting to introduce themes that are incredibly relevant nowadays, especially regarding the erosion of government structures in favour of a de facto oligarchy with the order forces being used as the support for fascism (it gives me chills to think how accurate it is). A Sunder City that is also still under shock after the loss of magic, with many people still struggling to grasp the situation, making them vulnerable to demagogic discourses and easy solutions; also it is interesting how the revolutionaries are mostly daydreamers, with not so many of them aware of how much you might have to sacrifice for a cause.
In terms of characterization, this new version of Phillips, trying to just run a cafe, is kinda interesting; but we can see how his element is the investigation, even if those in power are totally not his cup of tea. There are also a fair share of new characters, who could have been a bit more developed, but still with some memorable moments; I understand that pacing had a bit of priority in that regard.
Whisper in the Wind is a great instalment in the Fetch Phillips series, a perfect choice if you want to read a noir urban fantasy that will leave you thinking about its themes after you close the book. Hopefully, this won't be Phillips' last adventure!
May 13, 2025
Another fun adventure with Fetch!
May 31, 2025
they should invent more stars for me to give this book
Read
April 22, 2025Fetch Phillips has pretty much had it. He’s retired from his previous job as a P.I., instead taking over a cafe in its owner’s absence. You’d think that’s about as far as you can get from danger, but that’s not the way Sunder City operates. It’s also not how Fetch operates. Trouble seems to like Fetch, and Sunder City has trouble in abundance. In this fourth installment, Fetch finds himself embroiled in a mystery that may be wrapped up in the beginnings of a rebellion. There’s a lot going on, and Fetch might very well be in over his head (once again).
This review is going to be a struggle. The more I enjoy a book, the harder it is to write a review about it. I have a hard time turning my excitement into a coherent post. I become tempted to just write “Read this book” over and over. While the sentiment is deserved, I suppose I should do a little better at articulating my love for this series.
Where to start? I could talk about the plot. How author Luke Arnold raises the stakes, creating a feeling of tension that kept me compulsively reading. The book is fast paced, yet it takes the plot along with it, adding layers upon layers to the mystery, until up is down and the reader might legitimately wonder how on earth it all could be related. And yet, it is. The murders are far from your usual fare and figuring out how everything happened is only part of the fun.
Or I could talk about the characters. How Fetch is the perfect example of a complicated, well-realized protagonist. Life seems to hold a grudge against him. He’s always being knocked down, then kicked while still trying to get up. Life is kind of a butt. At the same time, Fetch is trying so hard to learn from his past mistakes, to be a better person every day. And of course, he may be accidentally becoming involved in a group of idealistic wanna-be revolutionists just to keep things fresh.
And speaking of those maybe rebels, they are great additions to an already fantastic cast of side characters. From Simms, a reptilian (quite literally) cop who finds herself sometimes at odds with Fetch, and sometimes working with him, to the mortician who doesn’t mind using his work as a cover for some odd…experiments, they bring a quirky and creative flair to this fantasy noir. Even the villains are unique and compelling.
Perhaps I should talk about the setting. Sunder City is gritty and grimy, with its seedy side proudly on display. The city itself is a character. It’s the heartbeat that the characters hear. It’s the motivation for their actions. It’s both friend and enemy. If you zoom in a little, you get Fetch’s cafe. How I love that little cafe. It’s not going to win awards for ambience, and the coffee seems decent at best. But the food is plentiful, and it’s a haven for residents who aren’t feeling safe or wanted anywhere else.
I just have to gush about the writing. The author’s voice is brilliant, and Fetch is relatable. These books are yet another example of fantasy being used as a platform through which to explore important themes (because who said that magic and wisdom can’t be combined?), and I find myself mulling over quotes from throughout the series long after reading them. This series is that well-written.
Do you see why this rave is so tough to write? These separate elements combine perfectly to create a world and story that I love to disappear into. Each book in the Fetch Phillips series adds a new facet of “wow,” and Whisper in the Wind continues to up the ante. I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want to.
I suppose I’m right back where I started. I give up: Read this book. Read this book. Read this book.
Just read it. You’ll love it.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Oliver Wehner for providing me with a review copy of this book. This did not change my opinion of the book in any way.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
This review is going to be a struggle. The more I enjoy a book, the harder it is to write a review about it. I have a hard time turning my excitement into a coherent post. I become tempted to just write “Read this book” over and over. While the sentiment is deserved, I suppose I should do a little better at articulating my love for this series.
Where to start? I could talk about the plot. How author Luke Arnold raises the stakes, creating a feeling of tension that kept me compulsively reading. The book is fast paced, yet it takes the plot along with it, adding layers upon layers to the mystery, until up is down and the reader might legitimately wonder how on earth it all could be related. And yet, it is. The murders are far from your usual fare and figuring out how everything happened is only part of the fun.
Or I could talk about the characters. How Fetch is the perfect example of a complicated, well-realized protagonist. Life seems to hold a grudge against him. He’s always being knocked down, then kicked while still trying to get up. Life is kind of a butt. At the same time, Fetch is trying so hard to learn from his past mistakes, to be a better person every day. And of course, he may be accidentally becoming involved in a group of idealistic wanna-be revolutionists just to keep things fresh.
And speaking of those maybe rebels, they are great additions to an already fantastic cast of side characters. From Simms, a reptilian (quite literally) cop who finds herself sometimes at odds with Fetch, and sometimes working with him, to the mortician who doesn’t mind using his work as a cover for some odd…experiments, they bring a quirky and creative flair to this fantasy noir. Even the villains are unique and compelling.
Perhaps I should talk about the setting. Sunder City is gritty and grimy, with its seedy side proudly on display. The city itself is a character. It’s the heartbeat that the characters hear. It’s the motivation for their actions. It’s both friend and enemy. If you zoom in a little, you get Fetch’s cafe. How I love that little cafe. It’s not going to win awards for ambience, and the coffee seems decent at best. But the food is plentiful, and it’s a haven for residents who aren’t feeling safe or wanted anywhere else.
I just have to gush about the writing. The author’s voice is brilliant, and Fetch is relatable. These books are yet another example of fantasy being used as a platform through which to explore important themes (because who said that magic and wisdom can’t be combined?), and I find myself mulling over quotes from throughout the series long after reading them. This series is that well-written.
Do you see why this rave is so tough to write? These separate elements combine perfectly to create a world and story that I love to disappear into. Each book in the Fetch Phillips series adds a new facet of “wow,” and Whisper in the Wind continues to up the ante. I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want to.
I suppose I’m right back where I started. I give up: Read this book. Read this book. Read this book.
Just read it. You’ll love it.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Oliver Wehner for providing me with a review copy of this book. This did not change my opinion of the book in any way.
https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
June 16, 2025
Poor Fetch. He’s found some peace slinging eggs and bacon in Georgio’s café, a greasy spoon. Fetch sets his own hours, makes barely enough money to cover costs, but, no one is beating him up and he’s not drowning in guilt and grief. Then, after covering for a pair of teen arsonists from the police, the diner becomes a hangout for them and their disenfranchised teen friends. This is the start to this next Fetch Phillips story.
Someone calling themselves Whisper just released handbills calling out the corruption of Sunder City’s powers (I.e., mayor, cops, etc.), and Fetch has the producer of Sunder’s Star, the daily rag, blackmailing him into ferreting out the identity of Whisper.
Fetch, not happy, but eager to protect the rebellious teens, begins his investigation, and meets a flamboyant priestess who offers Sunder's nonhumans a way to better blend in. The problem is, much to Fetch's consternation and disgust, it involves surgery and a certain amount of self-delusion. He also, with the help of a radio host, breaks a code in Whisper's missives, pointing to people who were killed for their corruption, and others slated to die.
Terrible things happen over the course of this book, including Georgio's café getting blown up. Fetch learns more than he ever wanted to about Niles' and his fellow leaders' intentions for Sunder: accelerating its transformation into a soulless, grim, authoritarian city, where the formerly magical are further squeezed into human-like molds, or squeezed out.
This is a particularly grim instalment, but still compelling. Fetch, no matter how hard he tries to confine himself to the café's kitchen, is forced to engage with the devolving situation in the city. Sunder has always had a grimy, decrepit and battered feel, and it only seems worse now. At the same time, all the people Fetch has somehow, despite himself, ingratiated himself with in his past efforts to right wrongs, begin coming together to save their city. It was such a wonderful moment, and heartwarming, in this post-apocalyptic noir series. Which I adore, and author Luke Arnold has created another winner in this entry.
If you have not read novels yet by this author, start at the first Fetch Phillips story, as this book won't make that much sense without having read the three previous entries.
The ending of this story left me deeply concerned for Sunder and its nonhuman residents, and for Fetch, who seems to continually attract trouble with his smart mouth, and willingness to fight for the little guy. I dearly hope Arnold returns to this world soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Someone calling themselves Whisper just released handbills calling out the corruption of Sunder City’s powers (I.e., mayor, cops, etc.), and Fetch has the producer of Sunder’s Star, the daily rag, blackmailing him into ferreting out the identity of Whisper.
Fetch, not happy, but eager to protect the rebellious teens, begins his investigation, and meets a flamboyant priestess who offers Sunder's nonhumans a way to better blend in. The problem is, much to Fetch's consternation and disgust, it involves surgery and a certain amount of self-delusion. He also, with the help of a radio host, breaks a code in Whisper's missives, pointing to people who were killed for their corruption, and others slated to die.
Terrible things happen over the course of this book, including Georgio's café getting blown up. Fetch learns more than he ever wanted to about Niles' and his fellow leaders' intentions for Sunder: accelerating its transformation into a soulless, grim, authoritarian city, where the formerly magical are further squeezed into human-like molds, or squeezed out.
This is a particularly grim instalment, but still compelling. Fetch, no matter how hard he tries to confine himself to the café's kitchen, is forced to engage with the devolving situation in the city. Sunder has always had a grimy, decrepit and battered feel, and it only seems worse now. At the same time, all the people Fetch has somehow, despite himself, ingratiated himself with in his past efforts to right wrongs, begin coming together to save their city. It was such a wonderful moment, and heartwarming, in this post-apocalyptic noir series. Which I adore, and author Luke Arnold has created another winner in this entry.
If you have not read novels yet by this author, start at the first Fetch Phillips story, as this book won't make that much sense without having read the three previous entries.
The ending of this story left me deeply concerned for Sunder and its nonhuman residents, and for Fetch, who seems to continually attract trouble with his smart mouth, and willingness to fight for the little guy. I dearly hope Arnold returns to this world soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 8, 2025
oh this is my favourite book in the fetch phillips series now
January 7, 2026
Fantastic. No notes.
Well, 1 note:
WHERE IS BOOK 5?!
No longer the "man for hire", Fetch is trying to make a difference in the lives of those in Sunder City in small ways. He's running Georgio's cafe while his friend is off following a vision, and he's feeling good about simply feeding people and getting to know them.
When an old friend of his is murdered, and the media threatens him, he's forced back into his "man for hire" role.
As political turmoil across the city heats up, and people start dying, Fetch has to grapple with his own conscious about which side of things he's really on.
I repeat.
Where is book 5 already?
Fantastic. I don't usually read series back to back, but book 3 was so good that I had to follow with book 4 immediately, now I'm left wanting because book 5 hasn't even been announced yet lol.
This was so good. You get to see softer sides of characters and it paints them with more feeling and makes them feel more genuine.
The political issues were hitting SO close to home right now.
Fetch, as ever, was a decent guy, caught in a bad situation.
This was definitely worth the time to read.
Well, 1 note:
WHERE IS BOOK 5?!
No longer the "man for hire", Fetch is trying to make a difference in the lives of those in Sunder City in small ways. He's running Georgio's cafe while his friend is off following a vision, and he's feeling good about simply feeding people and getting to know them.
When an old friend of his is murdered, and the media threatens him, he's forced back into his "man for hire" role.
As political turmoil across the city heats up, and people start dying, Fetch has to grapple with his own conscious about which side of things he's really on.
I repeat.
Where is book 5 already?
Fantastic. I don't usually read series back to back, but book 3 was so good that I had to follow with book 4 immediately, now I'm left wanting because book 5 hasn't even been announced yet lol.
This was so good. You get to see softer sides of characters and it paints them with more feeling and makes them feel more genuine.
The political issues were hitting SO close to home right now.
Fetch, as ever, was a decent guy, caught in a bad situation.
This was definitely worth the time to read.
March 6, 2025
A big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Whisper in the Wind hits the ground running with mystery and intrigue and doesn't let up until it is over. Fetch, despite his best efforts, cannot stay clear of the goings on in Sunder City. Luke Arnold does not disappoint in this installment. The story is compelling, the pacing is fast, and the characters are memorable.
If you are looking for a unique fantasy world that scratches that "Dresden Files" itch, look no further!
Whisper in the Wind hits the ground running with mystery and intrigue and doesn't let up until it is over. Fetch, despite his best efforts, cannot stay clear of the goings on in Sunder City. Luke Arnold does not disappoint in this installment. The story is compelling, the pacing is fast, and the characters are memorable.
If you are looking for a unique fantasy world that scratches that "Dresden Files" itch, look no further!
April 29, 2025
9 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
The man for hire routine has been officially retired. Fetch is done looking to bring the magic back. Now all he does is hide in the kitchen of his greasy spoon, viewing the world through a two by four foot gap while he cooks for his patrons. That’s enough of the world for him—at least now he won’t have to watch as it goes to shit.
So when Simms drops in to get his opinion on a body, Fetch not-so-kindly shoos her out, much to the delight of his patrons, a gaggle of gutter rats hell-bent on revolution. There are whispers in the wind, but he ignores them. And, with the detective dismissed, he returns to cooking.
But, of course, nothing is ever that easy.
Turns out, the dead body belongs to Bath, a junior detective. Fetch remembers him fondly enough, but it’s still not his problem. Until someone blackmails him into getting involved, that is. Turns out, someone’s gone on a bit of a killing spree in Sunder, and their hit-list focuses on the high and mighty. The high and mighty AND corrupt. Well, the high and mighty and corrupt, but also Corporal Bath. Who decidedly does not fit the pattern.
Despite his best efforts, Fetch is drawn back into the world of mystery and murder. Yet this particular thread is already nearing its end, and he has a lot of ground to make up. The closer he gets to the case, the louder the whispers become. And the word on every tongue is the same: revolution.
—
It’s always the guys with employees, wealth, and well-connected friends who get defensive about their work ethic. Because they so desperately want to believe that the only difference between them and the people who clean their toilets is their ability to apply the elbow-grease. Your story must be pretty fragile if admitting to a bit of good-fortune causes the whole ruse to come crashing down.
—
The fourth Fetch Phillips book starts with a bang. Well, okay, it actually starts with Fetch avoiding trouble—for once—but there’s a bang not too far in, as, once again, he fails. And then, we’re off. The mystery in this one (unlike one or two of the others) is actually quite good. Several twists and turns—and while I had the penultimate one pegged a mile off—and more than enough within to catch you off guard.
Also unlike previous installments, there’s actually some character development from Fetch. Personal growth, even maturity (maybe), and (debatably) common sense. He’s certainly a realist, is Fetch, even if he’s still yet to outrun his past. Said past makes more than one appearance amidst the plot, but at least we’re not subjected to any long flashbacks or info-dumps (minus one later one, which really occurs in natural course).
So, there’s the deeper, more complex mystery, the clipped, action-heavy sequences, the periods of rest and reflection—all reminiscent of previous books. But they seem to cohabit better than usual, instead of jockeying for dominance like they did (particularly) in Last Smile. It appears that, like Fetch, Arnold is finally honing his craft.
Audio Note: As previously stated, Luke Arnold is a trained actor. His mastery of accents and inflections has been on full display over the years, from Black Sails to Nautilus, and he has worked as a voice actor, as well. I think you can see where I’m going with this. His range of voices is… impressive, and I think that since he also wrote these tales, he’s uniquely suited to narrating them. Simms, with her forked-tongue lisp. Ritchie, with his tusked underbite. Vampires, Fae, Humans; accents from all over, inflections and moods, anger and fear, desolation and sympathy—I’ve listened to good narrators and bad, and Arnold is really one of the good ones, especially when performing his own work.
TL;DR
While the first two were okay, I think the Fetch Phillips Archives really took off in One Foot in the Fade. Whisper in the Wind does not take a step back. The mystery is just as good (maybe even better). There’s real, tangible character development. The darkness still resides within, as does the hope. Sunder is just as vibrant and vivid as it appeared in One Foot, debatably more so, as most of this story takes place within its bounds. There are but a few, minor hiccups, but none that cost immersion. I was able to peg one of the twists from far off, but there were still more than enough to surprise me. If you’re still sitting on this series, or on the fence about continuing, I’d definitely recommend diving in now. It seems likely that things will just get better.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
The man for hire routine has been officially retired. Fetch is done looking to bring the magic back. Now all he does is hide in the kitchen of his greasy spoon, viewing the world through a two by four foot gap while he cooks for his patrons. That’s enough of the world for him—at least now he won’t have to watch as it goes to shit.
So when Simms drops in to get his opinion on a body, Fetch not-so-kindly shoos her out, much to the delight of his patrons, a gaggle of gutter rats hell-bent on revolution. There are whispers in the wind, but he ignores them. And, with the detective dismissed, he returns to cooking.
But, of course, nothing is ever that easy.
Turns out, the dead body belongs to Bath, a junior detective. Fetch remembers him fondly enough, but it’s still not his problem. Until someone blackmails him into getting involved, that is. Turns out, someone’s gone on a bit of a killing spree in Sunder, and their hit-list focuses on the high and mighty. The high and mighty AND corrupt. Well, the high and mighty and corrupt, but also Corporal Bath. Who decidedly does not fit the pattern.
Despite his best efforts, Fetch is drawn back into the world of mystery and murder. Yet this particular thread is already nearing its end, and he has a lot of ground to make up. The closer he gets to the case, the louder the whispers become. And the word on every tongue is the same: revolution.
—
It’s always the guys with employees, wealth, and well-connected friends who get defensive about their work ethic. Because they so desperately want to believe that the only difference between them and the people who clean their toilets is their ability to apply the elbow-grease. Your story must be pretty fragile if admitting to a bit of good-fortune causes the whole ruse to come crashing down.
—
The fourth Fetch Phillips book starts with a bang. Well, okay, it actually starts with Fetch avoiding trouble—for once—but there’s a bang not too far in, as, once again, he fails. And then, we’re off. The mystery in this one (unlike one or two of the others) is actually quite good. Several twists and turns—and while I had the penultimate one pegged a mile off—and more than enough within to catch you off guard.
Also unlike previous installments, there’s actually some character development from Fetch. Personal growth, even maturity (maybe), and (debatably) common sense. He’s certainly a realist, is Fetch, even if he’s still yet to outrun his past. Said past makes more than one appearance amidst the plot, but at least we’re not subjected to any long flashbacks or info-dumps (minus one later one, which really occurs in natural course).
So, there’s the deeper, more complex mystery, the clipped, action-heavy sequences, the periods of rest and reflection—all reminiscent of previous books. But they seem to cohabit better than usual, instead of jockeying for dominance like they did (particularly) in Last Smile. It appears that, like Fetch, Arnold is finally honing his craft.
Audio Note: As previously stated, Luke Arnold is a trained actor. His mastery of accents and inflections has been on full display over the years, from Black Sails to Nautilus, and he has worked as a voice actor, as well. I think you can see where I’m going with this. His range of voices is… impressive, and I think that since he also wrote these tales, he’s uniquely suited to narrating them. Simms, with her forked-tongue lisp. Ritchie, with his tusked underbite. Vampires, Fae, Humans; accents from all over, inflections and moods, anger and fear, desolation and sympathy—I’ve listened to good narrators and bad, and Arnold is really one of the good ones, especially when performing his own work.
TL;DR
While the first two were okay, I think the Fetch Phillips Archives really took off in One Foot in the Fade. Whisper in the Wind does not take a step back. The mystery is just as good (maybe even better). There’s real, tangible character development. The darkness still resides within, as does the hope. Sunder is just as vibrant and vivid as it appeared in One Foot, debatably more so, as most of this story takes place within its bounds. There are but a few, minor hiccups, but none that cost immersion. I was able to peg one of the twists from far off, but there were still more than enough to surprise me. If you’re still sitting on this series, or on the fence about continuing, I’d definitely recommend diving in now. It seems likely that things will just get better.
May 19, 2025
A Whisper in the Wind is a great addition to the Fetch Philips Archive seriesqand I have quickly fallen in love with the characters and the world of Sunder all over again
Fetch Philips is constantly trying to do the right thing, trying his hardest to carry on with his life after his previous adventures, while struggling with his own actions and self doubt and repeatedly seeks the approval of those around him. He is constantly making reckless and impulsive decisions with little regard for the consequences untill they are punching him in the face; especially when it comes to protecting those he cares about. He's a rugged and flawed protagonist that you can't help but fall in love with a little
A Whisper in the Wind struggles with the morality of your choices and what its mean to stay quiet in an unjust system, how blind faith isn't the answer while exploring how much the corruption and lies of those who are rich and powerful effect everyone. Exploring how powerful one voice can be to influencing change within a broken system, the importance of friendship and the morality of taking a life to change a corrupt system
Luke Arnold managed to add so much to the world within this installment while adding more life in to the characters we know and showing how important new friendships can be. I was griped with the twist and turns that I love within these books. The narrative kept me guessing in all the right ways as soon as I felt I knew who was responsible or found a just motive for everything something changed and I was left guessing again
This is my favourite book in the series and had me gripped, I am already looking forward to the next one
Fetch Philips is constantly trying to do the right thing, trying his hardest to carry on with his life after his previous adventures, while struggling with his own actions and self doubt and repeatedly seeks the approval of those around him. He is constantly making reckless and impulsive decisions with little regard for the consequences untill they are punching him in the face; especially when it comes to protecting those he cares about. He's a rugged and flawed protagonist that you can't help but fall in love with a little
A Whisper in the Wind struggles with the morality of your choices and what its mean to stay quiet in an unjust system, how blind faith isn't the answer while exploring how much the corruption and lies of those who are rich and powerful effect everyone. Exploring how powerful one voice can be to influencing change within a broken system, the importance of friendship and the morality of taking a life to change a corrupt system
Luke Arnold managed to add so much to the world within this installment while adding more life in to the characters we know and showing how important new friendships can be. I was griped with the twist and turns that I love within these books. The narrative kept me guessing in all the right ways as soon as I felt I knew who was responsible or found a just motive for everything something changed and I was left guessing again
This is my favourite book in the series and had me gripped, I am already looking forward to the next one
May 21, 2025
love this series!
I am loving the fetch Philips series. One of my favourite leads ever. The stories aren’t predictable and full of adventure.
I am loving the fetch Philips series. One of my favourite leads ever. The stories aren’t predictable and full of adventure.
May 26, 2025
The fourth volume of the adventures of Fetch Phillips may well be the best one so far. A series of violent murders of VIPs gets Fetch embroiled in intrigue, horror, and surprises. It’s funny, vivid writing, action-packed and riddled with social commentary and human understanding. I savoured every chapter. Luke Arnold has cemented his place in my top ten writers. Fantasy/noir at its finest
June 8, 2025
After reading Whisper in the Wind, all I can say is - Luke Arnold for president!
April 25, 2025
Luke Arnold's ability to world build is second-to-none. In this fourth visit to Sunder, someone is knocking off the bad guys (and one rather non-descript copper) and Fetch is blackmailed into finding out who. And why. And, more importantly, how. With the help of old friends like Baxter and Simms, and a ragtag bunch of teenage wastrels, Fetch just has to figure out hot to stay alive long enough to solve the mystery. Highly recommended.
April 29, 2025
Another fantastic status quo changing book in the Fetch Philip archive. Luke Arnold combines the sadistic torture of Robin Hobb's Fitz with the themes of Godfather 3 and Dark Knight to push Fetch further into complicated situations. While the book has a bit of quiet, contended start to it, things escalate quickly enough - Fetch has to step back into detectiving as a spate of high profile murders rock Sunder City.
Fetch plays a different role of sorts in this book but is dragged back in. He also has to deal with the accumulated history that he has with a lot of parties in Sunder City, some allies, some adversaries and faces complications of that sort. Sunder City is also further well developed with newer elements coming to light - some rotten as well. Fetch also has to deal with memories of his past life (thats expected) and the assorted rage, guilt and unpleasantless is something Fetch wrestles with all the way through.
I loved the ending of the book - the philosophies that Fetch has to wrestle with along with the happenings. The ending is a major status quo change for Fetch while also ending on a kind of a cliffhanger that brings yet another element of his past into play. This is some seriously good writing all the way and I cant recommend his book enough to everyone
Full RTC
***********************************
I am thankful to Little, Brown Book Group, NetGalley and the Author for the ARC of this book - Below are my honest thoughts on this wonderful book
Robin Hobb sets the gold standard for writing beautifully about characters being put through a dastardly wringer, mentally and physically. The trials and tribulations of Fitz ChivalryFarseer span 9 books, and there are many moments in the books where you laugh, cry, and mourn with Fitz, and it is all written incredibly beautifully and movingly. Luke Arnold runs a very close second to Robin Hobb. Fetch Phillip is a man wracked by guilt and remorse even before we pick up book 1 in this series, and every further instalment nails the pain down for Fetch even further as he confronts the cost of the past weighing down on this present and the future. All of this set in a world in which magic has disappeared, with Fetch playing a not-so-insignificant if involuntary role in that disappearance.
“At a certain point in life, you can no longer be told to run in one direction with a pointy stick and poke anyone who comes the other way. You need a simple, youthful mind for that. A certain kind of corruptible innocence. The more you start thinking for yourself, the less useful you become. Unfortunately, for most of us, that independence of thought happens too late and I was living proof that dressed-up delinquents in positions of power could do ungodly amounts of damage to the world around them”
There is naturally only so much dourness and only so much guilt a book can hold before it weighs down a series. A Foot in the Fade, the previous instalment, started particularly dour and bleak before the author wisely concocts a road trip to brighten things up. While the ending of the major storyline of A Foot in the Fade is again pretty sad, it also puts Fetch onto a different path, a more mellow, contented path that has him kind of out of the business of pain. However, as the refrain goes, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in” - this holds true for Fetch (obviously it has to, else there is no book to go on). The Fetch of Whisper in the Wind is leading a pretty contented life when he sees a pair of youngsters in trouble and saves them. What Fetch doesn’t realize is that in a few months, this act becomes the snowball to the avalanche that rocks Sunder City through a spate of high-profile murders. Fetch is coerced into working the murder investigation even as whispers abound on the corrupted nature of Sunder City - the very things that Fetch fought for in his earlier days before leading his current life.
“Fear of failure and fear of embarrassment all crushed up against the strange new possibility of gaining outside approval. Fighting not for a cause but for validation. That’s how they get you. That’s how the bastards convince you that their desires are worth your life”
For long-term readers of this series, what immediately stands out is the cadence of this book. Fetch is no longer at war with himself, even as he wrestles with his guilt and regret for his actions previously. He takes on more of a mentorship role for the young people and comes across as the voice of reason, and to an extent, cynical apathy, given his history of trying to do the right thing and failing. Nonetheless, there is no escaping his past, and he gets painful reminders of it when people from his past end up in Sunder City. Fetch is wise enough to ignore their aggravations but still human enough to be hurt by the things of the past. His anger, always simmering, is tempered with acceptance of his powerlessness. However, in typical narrative style, Fetch is the fulcrum upon which things turn, and boy, they do turn devastatingly.
“I can still remember believing that my cause was righteous. That it was my inarguable duty to slaughter the monster who’d hurt the people I loved. It has only taken a few encouraging voices to make the horrific sound reasonable. The unconscionable acceptable. The selfish selfless. The true power of men like Niles is how they make their own agenda sound like rational solution”
The beauty of this series has been how Luke Arnold has made Sunder City an integral part of the narrative, a living, breathing city that once housed magical creatures, but post the disappearance of magic, merely holds the shadow of regality. There is, of course, corruption that rots the city whose influence has grown through the series, but this book also brings to light other nefarious elements that live in the shadows - religion as well as certain creatures that have made parts of the city extremely dangerous. A city that bows down to the power amassed from money, authority, and danger while maintaining a facade of equality, industry, and progress. Sunder City has always been the other protagonist of this tale, and Whisper in the Wind exposes the cracks in a one-time regal structure.
“I’m not going to deny the fact that you fucked things up. But maybe it’s time you stopped asking for forgiveness for what the boy did to the world and ask yourself if you’re ready to forgive the world for what it did to the boy”
The Fetch Phillip archives have always been about pain, loss, grieving, and belonging - themes that we see etched in both Fetch and in Sunder City. The loss of magic is a devastating act that has ramifications that aren’t just visible but affects everyone at a primal level, and Fetch struggles through these internal impacts the most right through the series. Whisper in the Wind again hammers home those themes, but adds on a layer of acceptability and responsibility on Fetch. This is a book that moves away from an angry Fetch of A Foot in the Fade to a more mature, accepting, responsible, and yet grieving and simmering Fetch. The series is richer for the growth and development that Fetch goes through. This is the closest that I have seen a book get to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy and its successors. The book is also punctuated with statements that are relevant to the world that we currently live in as especially the unholy nexus of power and media
“Knowing you, you’ll team up with the murderer, go underground and create twice as much trouble as you were hired to stop”
Underneath the character journey of Fetch, the author doesn’t let us forget that this is a detective story as well, and Fetch has to employ his “Man for Hire” skills to solve the murder. That leads him down the rabbit hole of questionable choices, flaky acquaintances, and untrustworthy, arrogant adversaries. While Fetch hides his pain and past well enough, the scars are still fresh below the surface, and some of the writing during this journey is spectacular. While not a light book, the author peppers it with enough of the bureaucratic nonsense that Fetch has to endure, even as he goes through his catharsis, to bring a sardonic smile to your face as you read certain elements of the story.
“I always was susceptible to the will of the mob”
The ending of the story seems truly well realised - there is a frisson of hope that Fetch latches onto even as he has to make status quo-changing decisions. I would say the ending was a bit telegraphed, but it is still immensely satisfying to see Fetch arrive at this decision. The why of the ending seemed pretty well done, but the how of it was possibly a bit rushed - I also had a minor quibble with ending the book on a suspenseful cliffhanger. That has never been the style of this series, but then, given the journeys we had through Fetch’s past, it is a pretty fantastic tease for the next book
“During these young men’s formative years, I was in a position of power. I knew too well the whiplash of seeing an old mentor after many years. The people I’d worked for and served under retained a mystical place in memories, larger than life figures that - even after I witnessed their fallibility, mistakes and flaws - I had trouble removing from the pedestals I’d built beneath them”
Whisper in the Wind is another fantastic addition to the Fetch Phillip Archives and hews to the strengths of the series so far. It takes Fetch through significant character growth while shaking things up for both Fetch and Sunder City. Whisper in the Wind is once again beautifully written with a sense of tragedy and nostalgia permeating the atmosphere of the book that deals with loss, regret, belonging, and acceptance in a world that has seen magic disappear. It’s criminal how underrated this series is - pick it up and lose yourself in the magic (pun intended) of Sunder City
Rating - 4 Magic Destroying Apocalypses on 5
Fetch plays a different role of sorts in this book but is dragged back in. He also has to deal with the accumulated history that he has with a lot of parties in Sunder City, some allies, some adversaries and faces complications of that sort. Sunder City is also further well developed with newer elements coming to light - some rotten as well. Fetch also has to deal with memories of his past life (thats expected) and the assorted rage, guilt and unpleasantless is something Fetch wrestles with all the way through.
I loved the ending of the book - the philosophies that Fetch has to wrestle with along with the happenings. The ending is a major status quo change for Fetch while also ending on a kind of a cliffhanger that brings yet another element of his past into play. This is some seriously good writing all the way and I cant recommend his book enough to everyone
Full RTC
***********************************
I am thankful to Little, Brown Book Group, NetGalley and the Author for the ARC of this book - Below are my honest thoughts on this wonderful book
Robin Hobb sets the gold standard for writing beautifully about characters being put through a dastardly wringer, mentally and physically. The trials and tribulations of Fitz ChivalryFarseer span 9 books, and there are many moments in the books where you laugh, cry, and mourn with Fitz, and it is all written incredibly beautifully and movingly. Luke Arnold runs a very close second to Robin Hobb. Fetch Phillip is a man wracked by guilt and remorse even before we pick up book 1 in this series, and every further instalment nails the pain down for Fetch even further as he confronts the cost of the past weighing down on this present and the future. All of this set in a world in which magic has disappeared, with Fetch playing a not-so-insignificant if involuntary role in that disappearance.
“At a certain point in life, you can no longer be told to run in one direction with a pointy stick and poke anyone who comes the other way. You need a simple, youthful mind for that. A certain kind of corruptible innocence. The more you start thinking for yourself, the less useful you become. Unfortunately, for most of us, that independence of thought happens too late and I was living proof that dressed-up delinquents in positions of power could do ungodly amounts of damage to the world around them”
There is naturally only so much dourness and only so much guilt a book can hold before it weighs down a series. A Foot in the Fade, the previous instalment, started particularly dour and bleak before the author wisely concocts a road trip to brighten things up. While the ending of the major storyline of A Foot in the Fade is again pretty sad, it also puts Fetch onto a different path, a more mellow, contented path that has him kind of out of the business of pain. However, as the refrain goes, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in” - this holds true for Fetch (obviously it has to, else there is no book to go on). The Fetch of Whisper in the Wind is leading a pretty contented life when he sees a pair of youngsters in trouble and saves them. What Fetch doesn’t realize is that in a few months, this act becomes the snowball to the avalanche that rocks Sunder City through a spate of high-profile murders. Fetch is coerced into working the murder investigation even as whispers abound on the corrupted nature of Sunder City - the very things that Fetch fought for in his earlier days before leading his current life.
“Fear of failure and fear of embarrassment all crushed up against the strange new possibility of gaining outside approval. Fighting not for a cause but for validation. That’s how they get you. That’s how the bastards convince you that their desires are worth your life”
For long-term readers of this series, what immediately stands out is the cadence of this book. Fetch is no longer at war with himself, even as he wrestles with his guilt and regret for his actions previously. He takes on more of a mentorship role for the young people and comes across as the voice of reason, and to an extent, cynical apathy, given his history of trying to do the right thing and failing. Nonetheless, there is no escaping his past, and he gets painful reminders of it when people from his past end up in Sunder City. Fetch is wise enough to ignore their aggravations but still human enough to be hurt by the things of the past. His anger, always simmering, is tempered with acceptance of his powerlessness. However, in typical narrative style, Fetch is the fulcrum upon which things turn, and boy, they do turn devastatingly.
“I can still remember believing that my cause was righteous. That it was my inarguable duty to slaughter the monster who’d hurt the people I loved. It has only taken a few encouraging voices to make the horrific sound reasonable. The unconscionable acceptable. The selfish selfless. The true power of men like Niles is how they make their own agenda sound like rational solution”
The beauty of this series has been how Luke Arnold has made Sunder City an integral part of the narrative, a living, breathing city that once housed magical creatures, but post the disappearance of magic, merely holds the shadow of regality. There is, of course, corruption that rots the city whose influence has grown through the series, but this book also brings to light other nefarious elements that live in the shadows - religion as well as certain creatures that have made parts of the city extremely dangerous. A city that bows down to the power amassed from money, authority, and danger while maintaining a facade of equality, industry, and progress. Sunder City has always been the other protagonist of this tale, and Whisper in the Wind exposes the cracks in a one-time regal structure.
“I’m not going to deny the fact that you fucked things up. But maybe it’s time you stopped asking for forgiveness for what the boy did to the world and ask yourself if you’re ready to forgive the world for what it did to the boy”
The Fetch Phillip archives have always been about pain, loss, grieving, and belonging - themes that we see etched in both Fetch and in Sunder City. The loss of magic is a devastating act that has ramifications that aren’t just visible but affects everyone at a primal level, and Fetch struggles through these internal impacts the most right through the series. Whisper in the Wind again hammers home those themes, but adds on a layer of acceptability and responsibility on Fetch. This is a book that moves away from an angry Fetch of A Foot in the Fade to a more mature, accepting, responsible, and yet grieving and simmering Fetch. The series is richer for the growth and development that Fetch goes through. This is the closest that I have seen a book get to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy and its successors. The book is also punctuated with statements that are relevant to the world that we currently live in as especially the unholy nexus of power and media
“Knowing you, you’ll team up with the murderer, go underground and create twice as much trouble as you were hired to stop”
Underneath the character journey of Fetch, the author doesn’t let us forget that this is a detective story as well, and Fetch has to employ his “Man for Hire” skills to solve the murder. That leads him down the rabbit hole of questionable choices, flaky acquaintances, and untrustworthy, arrogant adversaries. While Fetch hides his pain and past well enough, the scars are still fresh below the surface, and some of the writing during this journey is spectacular. While not a light book, the author peppers it with enough of the bureaucratic nonsense that Fetch has to endure, even as he goes through his catharsis, to bring a sardonic smile to your face as you read certain elements of the story.
“I always was susceptible to the will of the mob”
The ending of the story seems truly well realised - there is a frisson of hope that Fetch latches onto even as he has to make status quo-changing decisions. I would say the ending was a bit telegraphed, but it is still immensely satisfying to see Fetch arrive at this decision. The why of the ending seemed pretty well done, but the how of it was possibly a bit rushed - I also had a minor quibble with ending the book on a suspenseful cliffhanger. That has never been the style of this series, but then, given the journeys we had through Fetch’s past, it is a pretty fantastic tease for the next book
“During these young men’s formative years, I was in a position of power. I knew too well the whiplash of seeing an old mentor after many years. The people I’d worked for and served under retained a mystical place in memories, larger than life figures that - even after I witnessed their fallibility, mistakes and flaws - I had trouble removing from the pedestals I’d built beneath them”
Whisper in the Wind is another fantastic addition to the Fetch Phillip Archives and hews to the strengths of the series so far. It takes Fetch through significant character growth while shaking things up for both Fetch and Sunder City. Whisper in the Wind is once again beautifully written with a sense of tragedy and nostalgia permeating the atmosphere of the book that deals with loss, regret, belonging, and acceptance in a world that has seen magic disappear. It’s criminal how underrated this series is - pick it up and lose yourself in the magic (pun intended) of Sunder City
Rating - 4 Magic Destroying Apocalypses on 5
December 30, 2025
3.5/5 frustrating, but had a good payoff. this was a road trip book, so it took a few to finish it.
April 7, 2025
Like the rest of the Fetch Phillips books, this was a wonderful combination of humor, noir mystery, and fantasy. It was interesting to see Fetch trying to separate himself from the work that’s gotten him in so much trouble, and failing to do so. I will say this the first of the books that isn’t expanding things much, it’s far more just for the ride and for hopefully far more to come.
Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2025
I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this- I just finished a reread of the first three in the series in preparation. As usual, the seriousness of the situations are met with Fetch doing the right thing even when that’s not the right thing! (If you know, you know!) I wasn’t expecting the end of the story but again:this is a usual phenomenon with this author. I’m looking forward to the next in series. This is one of my favourite series and this was a worthy addition to it. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
March 19, 2025
I’m primarily a fantasy or epic fantasy reader, and even though I usually prefer a romance element, this series was suggested to me and I have enjoyed it. The characters are varied and vibrant. The writing is strong and promotes thorough imagery. A scene or two can be a bit more descriptively violent than is to my taste, but that is easy enough to skim and it does not stray into anything heinous. The plot and characters are interesting and I continue to come back for more. This is a quality piece for anyone who enjoys the genre. (Thanks for the chance to read this ARC!)
June 19, 2025
Whisper in the Wind is the fourth in the Fetch Phillips series, which wonderfully blends mystery and fantasy. Thanks to Fetch Phillips, a human, the magic has dried up, instantly turning some magical species extinct and dooming the remaining to lives full of hardships, all while the humans move into Sunder City and make it their own. But Fetch will forever regret what he did, and has worked for three books to atone and find any trace of remaining magic. Now, he’s had enough of that and has turned to a new business opportunity. Unfortunately, Sunder City will always have a unique need for him.
In this fourth book, Fetch has given up his job as Man for Hire and has taken over Georgio’s cafe, serving up good coffee and decent food. Life has become mundane, and just what Fetch needs, until he sees a couple of teenagers, one a human, running from a fire, and invites them in to pretend they had been dining when the cops come by. He doesn’t expect this small thing to turn him back into a Man for Hire or to have to investigate mysterious deaths, but these teens bring their peers, with their more rebellious tendencies, into the cafe, putting them in a spotlight. Meanwhile, public figures, from a lowly constable to the man who runs a very widely read paper, are being mysteriously killed, and Fetch’s sometimes friend, Detective Simms, asks him to investigate, along with a number of characters, all while some mysterious being calling themselves Whisper is circulating letters telling the people what’s really going on in the city and listing off everyone they intend of killing.
I loved Whisper in the Wind both because it gave Fetch something new and different to do and because it introduces some interesting new characters while also bringing in a number of old ones that Fetch has had dealings with in the past. Unlike the previous books, this one doesn’t have Fetch hunting down any remnants of magic; old friends of his are doing that out in the world. Instead, he’s dealing with a rebellion. It’s kind of slow and simmering at first as first one body and then another ends up in the morgue. But then it’s like a fire’s been lit and things just spread, with no thanks to the firefighters Niles, a human on that list, has decided to hire, supposedly to protect the city from fires but mostly to serve as his personal bodyguards. I loved how Whisper in the Wind worked to turn Sunder City inside out, and there were definitely some interesting surprises in store.
Sometimes I felt sorry for Fetch. He’s trying so hard to put his Man for Hire days behind him, because not many people seem to take kindly to him, and others, especially those in charge, prefer to make things difficult for him at every turn. I kind of liked him in the role of cafe owner. In a weird way, it suited him. But his old life comes knocking and he finds no way out of it. I loved the internal conflicts he faced, and just how at odds with who he is and what he wants he turns out to be. He’s an interesting figure in Sunder City as his exploits have seemingly raised him to a kind of mythical status with the city’s youth while those in charge would rather stamp him out. He knows the big figures in the city, and he does what he can to take care of those suffering. He straddles a fascinating line, and I loved how Whisper in the Wind kept making him jump back and forth, making plenty question his loyalties.
But of course it’s the story that’s really interesting. Someone is determined to kill a certain group of people, including the mayor, Niles, and the head of a newspaper. I really liked following this case. It’s twisty and sometimes the clues seemed all over the place. I loved meeting some new players in the city, and was shocked at some of the turns this case took when it came to some old friends. It was also really fun to see Fetch with some old comrades, even if it did hurt a little to find out more about them. There’s so much going on in this story, from everyone wanting Fetch to find Whisper and tell them who it is first to one human youth determined to do something, whether for good or ill, to a young man with no idea who he is. Sometimes this felt a little bloated, but I did feel most of it tied together while also offering more threads for future books to follow.
It’s been really fun to watch how Sunder City has evolved from book to book. From being a city full of powerful magical creatures to one where humans are taking over, this city has seen a lot. There’s an uneasy peace between all residents, with some taking to the changes more gracefully than others. There’s definitely a lot of hurt and pain and anger, but also a sullen determination to make do. It’s almost terrifying what the humans are bringing into the city, making things far more dangerous, and sometimes I felt sad to see what was probably an amazing magical city turn into something I can find just on the other side of my own door.
Whisper in the Wind does not give Fetch an easy task. Sometimes, it felt like the story was almost too big for him. I loved the interplay between his internal conflicts and the conflicts going on right under his nose. This sometimes felt too massive for one book, but I left it feeling satisfied, and a little horrified as it ends on a very surprising cliffhanger. I did feel like the young man Fetch took in was swept to the side too often, but I had so much fun seeing old friends and enemies and meeting new ones. I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to what follows.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
In this fourth book, Fetch has given up his job as Man for Hire and has taken over Georgio’s cafe, serving up good coffee and decent food. Life has become mundane, and just what Fetch needs, until he sees a couple of teenagers, one a human, running from a fire, and invites them in to pretend they had been dining when the cops come by. He doesn’t expect this small thing to turn him back into a Man for Hire or to have to investigate mysterious deaths, but these teens bring their peers, with their more rebellious tendencies, into the cafe, putting them in a spotlight. Meanwhile, public figures, from a lowly constable to the man who runs a very widely read paper, are being mysteriously killed, and Fetch’s sometimes friend, Detective Simms, asks him to investigate, along with a number of characters, all while some mysterious being calling themselves Whisper is circulating letters telling the people what’s really going on in the city and listing off everyone they intend of killing.
I loved Whisper in the Wind both because it gave Fetch something new and different to do and because it introduces some interesting new characters while also bringing in a number of old ones that Fetch has had dealings with in the past. Unlike the previous books, this one doesn’t have Fetch hunting down any remnants of magic; old friends of his are doing that out in the world. Instead, he’s dealing with a rebellion. It’s kind of slow and simmering at first as first one body and then another ends up in the morgue. But then it’s like a fire’s been lit and things just spread, with no thanks to the firefighters Niles, a human on that list, has decided to hire, supposedly to protect the city from fires but mostly to serve as his personal bodyguards. I loved how Whisper in the Wind worked to turn Sunder City inside out, and there were definitely some interesting surprises in store.
Sometimes I felt sorry for Fetch. He’s trying so hard to put his Man for Hire days behind him, because not many people seem to take kindly to him, and others, especially those in charge, prefer to make things difficult for him at every turn. I kind of liked him in the role of cafe owner. In a weird way, it suited him. But his old life comes knocking and he finds no way out of it. I loved the internal conflicts he faced, and just how at odds with who he is and what he wants he turns out to be. He’s an interesting figure in Sunder City as his exploits have seemingly raised him to a kind of mythical status with the city’s youth while those in charge would rather stamp him out. He knows the big figures in the city, and he does what he can to take care of those suffering. He straddles a fascinating line, and I loved how Whisper in the Wind kept making him jump back and forth, making plenty question his loyalties.
But of course it’s the story that’s really interesting. Someone is determined to kill a certain group of people, including the mayor, Niles, and the head of a newspaper. I really liked following this case. It’s twisty and sometimes the clues seemed all over the place. I loved meeting some new players in the city, and was shocked at some of the turns this case took when it came to some old friends. It was also really fun to see Fetch with some old comrades, even if it did hurt a little to find out more about them. There’s so much going on in this story, from everyone wanting Fetch to find Whisper and tell them who it is first to one human youth determined to do something, whether for good or ill, to a young man with no idea who he is. Sometimes this felt a little bloated, but I did feel most of it tied together while also offering more threads for future books to follow.
It’s been really fun to watch how Sunder City has evolved from book to book. From being a city full of powerful magical creatures to one where humans are taking over, this city has seen a lot. There’s an uneasy peace between all residents, with some taking to the changes more gracefully than others. There’s definitely a lot of hurt and pain and anger, but also a sullen determination to make do. It’s almost terrifying what the humans are bringing into the city, making things far more dangerous, and sometimes I felt sad to see what was probably an amazing magical city turn into something I can find just on the other side of my own door.
Whisper in the Wind does not give Fetch an easy task. Sometimes, it felt like the story was almost too big for him. I loved the interplay between his internal conflicts and the conflicts going on right under his nose. This sometimes felt too massive for one book, but I left it feeling satisfied, and a little horrified as it ends on a very surprising cliffhanger. I did feel like the young man Fetch took in was swept to the side too often, but I had so much fun seeing old friends and enemies and meeting new ones. I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to what follows.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 2, 2025
I received this book as an arc.
It feels a little like we're cycling back to the first book seeing Fetch in the role of cook. This was a fun read and kept me guessing. We got to see bits and pieces of each book make it's way back to this fourth installment.
It feels a little like we're cycling back to the first book seeing Fetch in the role of cook. This was a fun read and kept me guessing. We got to see bits and pieces of each book make it's way back to this fourth installment.
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