Sycamore

The Black Lands #1

by Ian Rogers

Back in 1945, the first portal opened--a tear in reality leading from our world into the mysterious Black Lands, a realm of perpetual night filled with strange and deadly entities. Soon another portal appeared. Then another. Today, the government secures every portal they find, but with more and more opening, and no idea how to predict or prevent the next one's arrival, society is teetering on the brink of panic.

Felix Renn knows the Black Lands all too well. His career as a private investigator has dragged him closer to it than most, and has garnered him a reputation for dealing with supernatural threats. But people who interact with the Black Lands have a habit of turning up dead in horrible ways--if they turn up at all--so when the chance comes up to take on a simple missing person's case in the small town of Sycamore, Felix jumps at the opportunity.

Only, something else is happening in Sycamore. A serial killer is on the loose, and as the bodies continue to pile up, it becomes clear that the perpetrator may be something less--or something more--than human.

Felix may have thought he was done with the Black Lands, but he soon discovers a terrifying the Black Lands isn't done with him.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Crime, Monsters, Fiction

330 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2024

About the author

Ian Rogers is the author of the award-winning collection, Every House Is Haunted. His novelette, “The House on Ashley Avenue,” was a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and is currently being adapted into a feature film produced by Sam Raimi. His debut novel, Family, was published by Earthling Publications. He is also the creator of the Black Lands series. The first book, Sycamore, was published by Cemetery Dance Publications.

Ian's short fiction has appeared in several publications, including Tor.com, Cemetery Dance, Broken Pencil, and Shadows & Tall Trees. His work has been selected for The Best Horror of the Year and Imaginarium: The Best Canadian Speculative Writing.

Ian lives with his wife and two cats in Peterborough, Ontario. For more information, visit ianrogers.ca.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that I am an absolute sucker for stories of private investigators meeting the supernatural. Now make him a smart-ass and a Canadian and you have a really, and I mean really, hard to mess up premise for me (I mean the only thing that can improve on that premise as far as I'm concerned is if the detective in question is wearing a clown get up, IYKYK).

I liked Felix and his dynamic with his ex, Sandra, was fun. For a starter to a series, it wasn't all that heavy on the exposition stuff which was great. The pacing was pretty solid too.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Now that's crime and supernatural horror done right! Excellent world-building, characters fully realized, mysterious small town murders - and a wise-cracking private investigator experienced in dealing as much with other-dimensional monsters as with an ex-wife. Let alone crime lords named after the solar system, an agoraphobe agent who never shows her face online, and an 8-year-old girl with truly disturbing habits. Welp.

Felix Renn is a former actor and now a PI whose daddy jokes and cringey comebacks allow him to live through a world identical to our own, one with a 'tiny' difference: portals to a dark dimension called "The Black Lands" have been opening since the 1940s, populating Felix's world with monsters, infecting the visitors with their "influence," and creating good old mayhem in Felix's own Toronto and many other places as well. In "Sycamore," Felix accepts a new job in the small town of Sycamore (to find a dead body!), thinking this will be a much needed breather from his typical cases. Unfortunately, Felix is in for a very BIG surprise, and his lone wolf attitude will be sorely tested; in this new case he's gonna need all the help he can get (and some he can't!).

Rogers calls this type of tales "supernoirtural," and he's absolutely right to do so: his writing captures Felix Renn's hard-boiled adventures with impressive calmness, precision, and restraint typical of the best noir fiction - no cheap gimmicks, no backstage tricks, no fillers; only clarity, both in prose and ideas, intelligent plotting, and compelling, smart, and occasionally hilarious dialogue. In a sense, the answers are right there, staring Felix in the face from the first day he arrives in Sycamore. However, unless we follow him along the back and forth he has to go through, what he sees just won't make the right sense. And isn't this the greatest joy of detective fiction for us readers: the chance to see all the pieces of the puzzle falling into place, even if that place is as gritty and fraught with supernatural danger, as Rogers' Black Lands?

I for one am hooked! And can't wait for Rogers' "SuperNOIRtural Tales" in 2025!

[Brad Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, what a fun book! I can't believe I had this one sitting on my shelf for over a year. If you are a fan of the X-Files or F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack series, then this is for you. I look forward to reading more about Felix Renn and the Black Lands.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review apparently was deleted so I adding it back.

I snagged this ARC from Cemetery Dance, one of my personal favorites for publishers, they just manage to grab authors I really enjoy reading, so when I see them offering up something from a unknown to me author, I know its going to be at least a good read.

This exceeded my expectations, the cover drew me in , but the story held me absolutely hostage.

I want to try to keep this as vague as possible, especially being the first review on Goodreads for the book, I do not want to spoil this for anyone.

This book had the elements I love from my favorite books, and I mean this in the best way possible, it was like The Dark Tower from Sai King and The Threshold series from Peter Clines had the craziest genetic lottery of a love child, that I had no clue I needed.
I read both of those at least once every few months, because nothing scratches that itch, but this, this was it.

I freaking loved Felix, my other small reading obsession happens to be weird WEIRD detectives .
Felix joined that rank quickly. Weird doesn’t always mean weird ( creepy or monster or magical ) I just mean quirky, Gregory Alan from Stephen Whites series, John Taylor from Simon R Greene, Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher, and even Sherlock Holmes, who was my original crazy detective hero .

I just need and want more from the Black Lands.

This just thrilled my dark sci-fi loving, quirky detective, horror thriller black heart.

Excited to say this Author is now on my list to watch for.

This was a solid 5 star from me.

I was going to be cute and add the whole “change my mind” onto the end of this, but you can’t its one of my favorites this year, and I thought after some of the books I’ve read, that it would be hard to add more to that list, but Ian Rogers , you did it.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author describes the genre as supernoirtural and that’s definitely fitting. This was a very well executed book that I enjoyed. I was worried it would fall into too many common tropes when the Black Lands were first brought up, but Rogers does a nice job at still keeping some fresh ideas in there.

In Sycamore we follow P.I., Felix Renn, who has been known to dabble with some supernatural cases. He snags a seemingly simple case but of course things are never what they seem. The pacing is on the slower side as Rogers carves his characters out. I love a slow burn with excellent world building but I do realize some other readers may struggle with the pacing. It picks up significantly around the half way mark and ends up surprisingly twisty. There were a lot of moving parts I didn’t see coming at all.

It’s also a funny book. Not by nature, but Renn has an excellent dry wit and I found myself audibly laughing many times. The characters are solid. The women are written well and feel dimensional. It definitely feels like this could be the start of a series which could have some awesome potential. Of course I have sooo many questions about the Black Lands so I’ll have to check out some of Rogers’ shorter stories while waiting on any possible continuation.

The book has some gore in it but honestly is fairly tame overall. I would definitely recognize this one to those who appreciate slower burn horror with a bit of humor to them.

[Ahbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Although I did not find it all that scary (but that could just be the desensitized avid horror reader in me) it was an overall good read. At times, I felt as though I was reading a dark detective murder investigation story, not horror. But the actual horror in it is so very unique and vivid. Taking classic horror genre monsters and putting them into a more modern story helped create the link between the classic monsters and the new versions of them we seem to crave. The best part is the cast of characters. I believe that any good story will get the reader to associate emotionally with a well written character. We understand their faults, concerns, emotions etc. This is one of those books. The main character Felix Renn, PI has a great sense of humor. One where you laugh out loud and need to re-read the line several times. This would make a great series.

[Nikki C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star read. The writing is great, the story is an excellent mix of true crime and supernatural horror. I felt like I really got to know Felix and Alice, as well as the Weaver family. You know this is part of a series when you get to the end of the book, which may be a con for some. In my case, I'm just impatiently waiting for updates on when book 2 will come out as I'm eager to learn more about Felix's past and see more of the Black Lands.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Stars!!!!
Urban Fantasy, noir, dry humour done at its best.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this "occult detective" story of a private eye heading to a small rural-ish town where a serial killer seems to be on the loose. He's been tasked by his client to find the body of her husband, who appears to be the third victim, but whom the police suspect to potentially be the killer? Okay, that wrinkle never really made any sense, but all the rest of it - the locale, the character of Felix Renn, the mythology of the Black Lands - worked well. I was hooked from the get-go.

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Huge thanks to Ian for the digital copy of this one!*

Firstly, before we dive into this, I owe Ian an apology. He’d posted a bit ago about looking for reviewers on Facebook and I DM’d him. He kindly sent me a digital copy and I slotted it into my TBR ready to get it done in time for him. Then, when he posted about the release date approaching, I realized that I’d completely messed up on when this was coming out. So, I’m super sorry, Ian. I do my best to try and read and review prior to release date, but that mix up was completely my fault.

Ok, so, the review!

If you’ve read any of Ian’s short fiction (and if not go grab ‘Every House is Haunted’ ASAP), you’ll have come across Felix Renn and The Black Lands. I’ve read a bunch of Rogers’ short fiction (and still have the two chapbooks to get through – ‘Black-Eyed Kids’ and ‘The Ash Angels,’ both referenced within ‘Sycamore’) and the world and the character are very, very engaging. Renn is a private detective, working with his ex wife, a former horror movie actress, based in Toronto. The Black Lands refers to the world on the other side of these portals that have started sprouting up around the world, home to every sort of monster possible.

I was very interested to see ‘the start,’ as Ian has already written an entire mythology and characters. The backwards approach to this character and getting these things out into the world was a very ballsy move by Ian, but one I knew an author of his caliber would have no issue tackling.

What I liked: After getting a frantic phone call from a woman in the town of Sycamore, Felix Renn heads there about a job. He’s excited to take this one on, as it doesn’t appear to be Black Lands related. He’s had his hands full with monsters and events and just wants a straight forward case.

But this is Felix Renn we’re talking about. The most sarcastic and lucky PI out there. Of course The Black Lands are involved.

Rogers does a wonderful job of setting the stage, giving us an intriguing ‘twist,’ one where Renn is hired to find the body of the woman’s husband. Everyone believes he’s been murdered, judging by the amount of blood found in his truck. Everyone except the police, who believe he’s actually the serial killer in town.

Renn partners with an unexpected character, one that works as a similarly acting person, but also one who grounds Renn. Felix can’t get a read on them and this makes for some witty banter, some great team-building and when the portal stuff hits the fan, someone Renn can and should depend on.

Throughout, Rogers utilizes the remote, small town aspect to perfection, giving us readers just enough to deflect things, before rerouting us to the truth. When the house of cards finally collapses, it does so with gusto and we get to learn a ton about the government agency investigating the portals and even more about Renn and his potential future partner.

What I didn’t like: I do think this is a book where you get more oomph if you’ve previously read some of Ian’s Black Lands short fiction. There is a lot of Easter eggs and throw away comments, and if you’ve not read that particular story, it may be a case of leaving you wondering what’s going on. If you have read the short stories, then you’ll be in for a much more fulfilling experience, though I wouldn’t say it’s necessary, based on the strength of the story and the writing.

Why you should buy this: Having shown how phenomenal he is at writing short fiction, Ian has now released two novels, both releasing around the same time, this year. It’s wonderful to see just how seamless he was able to make that leap (though behind the scenes he may say otherwise!). The book doesn’t feel padded or filled with unnecessary verbiage to push this longer. Instead, this feels like a celebration. Of an author fulfilling everything fans of Ian’s and The Black Lands have been looking forward for, after this novel was released. This is a tension-filled mystery, wrapped in a supernatural, detective narrative, that delivers some phenomenal set pieces and action sequences. This is everything and more for fans of what Ian’s created leading up to this and now we all have to collective hold our breath, waiting for when we’ll get another Renn full length offering.

Just phenomenal.

[Senoy Yenos · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Personal Take on "Sycamore" by Ian Rogers

Okay, let's talk about Sycamore. This book hit me right where I love my stories—dark, mysterious, and with a twist of the supernatural that keeps you wondering what's around the next corner. Ian Rogers has got this unique vibe going on where he takes the classic detective tale, wraps it in some eerie, otherworldly horror, and just nails it.

I've got to say, from the moment I met Felix Renn, I was hooked. He's the kind of detective who's seen it all, dealt with the weirdest cases, but somehow keeps his cool with a bit of humor. It reminded me of those nights where you're up late, maybe a bit too intrigued by the shadows in your room, but you can't stop reading because you've got to know what happens next.

Sycamore, the town, feels like it could be any small place you've driven through, but the twist of portals to another dimension? That's the kind of storytelling that makes you look at the ordinary world with new, curious eyes. It's like you're right there with Felix, questioning if the shadows are just shadows or something more.

Rogers' writing style is a perfect blend of suspense and wit. It's not just the plot that kept me turning pages; it's the way he describes this alternate reality, making the bizarre feel almost normal. You get this personal connection to Felix, feeling his frustration, his curiosity, his loneliness, and yet, his determination to solve the case.

After reading Sycamore, I'm not just a fan of Ian Rogers; I'm officially a part of the Felix Renn fan club. This book has this way of sticking with you, making you think about the thin line between our world and whatever lies beyond. It's a journey through a dark, fascinating mirror where the detective work isn't just about solving crimes but understanding the unknown.

If you're like me and love your stories with a personal touch of the macabre and a detective who feels like an old friend, Sycamore is where it's at. Ian Rogers might just have become one of my new favorite authors with this one.

[Carson Buckingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you who haven’t read anything by Ian Rogers, you need to remedy that situation with a quickness. He is one of the premier horror authors of our day, ranking right up there with Robert Shearman and Christopher Golden, and…dare I say it…the great Richard Laymon.

Portals to a place called the Black Lands are opening up all over the world, the latest one discovered in Sycamore, a little east-nowhere town about two hours from Toronto. It is here that we meet Felix Renn, a private detective who seems to specialize in occult crime. He doesn’t mean to, it just seems to find him. The Black Lands is a horrific place from which those who venture through a portal to explore scarcely ever return, and the rare few who do are…well, changed.

There is a missing person in Sycamore that Felix has been hired to find. There have also been a number of murders that seem to be linked to this missing person. But nothing and no one is as they seem in this town.

Sycamore is a blend of the supernatural and noir genres, creating something wonderfully new. Think Humphery Bogart hanging out with Shirley Jackson and you’ve got the idea. The author aptly refers to this melding as “supernoirtural.” It is also a funny book. Felix has a dry wit that kept me laughing when it appeared; but was not overdone. All the characters are well-drawn, the story is beautifully written, and the pacing is flawless. I read it in a single sitting—it was impossible to put down.

Felix Renn has popped up in some of Ian Rogers’ short stories, too; but I am hoping for a series of novels featuring this character. Here’s looking forward to future trips to the Black Lands!

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beyond my wildest imagination. Who could have ever thought a serial killer could use a portal to complete his nefarious deeds with no one the wiser. Until, that is, Felix stumbled upon the burying place of the killer’s bodies. Felix despises the Black Lands because of his dealings with the place where the unknown exists. He must join another agent to find out who and how people are using this dangerous place for their own. While some in this book are fascinated with what could exist in the Black Lands, Felix is wise enough to know that where there are things that can move around the earthly plane without being discovered, he dreads what exploring this place could do to adventure seeking humans. I cannot imagine how harrowing Felix’s visit must have been for him to be so adamant about not wanting to solve this missing persons case. Because the danger is lurking in the shadows only makes wondering what might exist in the Black Lands more intriguing for the reader. Luckily the reader can experience what Felix does through him rather than be there instead. Excellent read. I learned new information also.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, well-written story, with the right blend of horror and noir. I thought I’d figured out where it was going, but the ending was a nice surprise. I also really enjoyed reading a work of fiction in my favourite genre that was both written by a Canadian author and set in Canada. I’ve read one book by the author before and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

[Stu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Sycamore completely blind and with zero expectations. One of my favorites of the year. The Black Lands is a whole new realm I am dying to further explore. This was a super fast read because you can’t put it down. Ian Rogers is now on my list of authors to look out for. Highly RECOMMEND!

[Leighah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. I really enjoyed the mix of horror and detective. I even had a few laughs at how dysfunctional the main character was at times. Will definitely be looking out for the next instalment in this series.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! This mystery kept me wanting more, if you look books that keep you guessing this one if definitely for you!
The ending is not one I saw coming either, as an avid reader it is hard to surprise me - my line of thought was going more towards where Felix's thoughts were.

[Gosia Drobny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nie jest to gatunek książki, po który regularnie sięgam, a filmowych odpowiedników nie lubię. Jednak fakt, że w napięciu trzymała mnie fabuła i do późnych godzin nocnych przewracałam strony z walącym jak szalone sercem zasługuje u mnie na 5 gwiazdek.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!!! I would probably give it 5 stars but I'm trying to be more critical nowadays haha it kind of reminded me of dark matter by Blake crouch and I think I'm gonna read every other book by Ian that I can get my hands on.

[Amanda S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read! This book hooked me and I couldn't stop reading. Fast paced, this book kept me on my toes.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!

This was an outstanding thrill ride! I can’t wait to visit more of the Black Lands! Well done, Mr. Rogers, well done!

[Caitlin Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the humour and thriller mix that came into this book, definitely kept me guessing a lot of the time

[Taylor Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I want to know is when book #2 will be here! Need more Felix Renn ASAP!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

World

The tear in reality leads to another world. Felix Renn is a private investigator who believes the person he is looking for is from this strange new world. They may not be human. Will Felix solve the case in time?

[Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

✭✭✭✭

[paganfrogs_bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been eyeing up one of this authors novellas for a while, and then I spotted this novel being promoted on the Cemetery Dance website and I just had to buy it, and its awesome I got a signed bookplate with it :-)
I enjoyed the premise of an almost similar reality to ours, only there have been the appearances of portals to a creepy and dangerous "shadow realm" that people have become lost in as well as allowing supernatural entities to enter our world.
Sycamore introduces us to Felix Renn, who is a private investigator.
I cant wait for the next book to come out.

[Peter Darbyshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Ian Rogers’ tales of The Black Lands, an eerie and deadly realm that intersects with our own and provides PI Felix Renn with supernatural creatures to investigate. So I was delighted to read Sycamore, which follows Renn to small-town Ontario and a mystery involving a string of murders, a missing man, a mysterious librarian, an eerie child — and a hidden portal to the Black Lands. Weird lit at its finest. You’ll be afraid of the dark all over again.

[Jeff McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raymond Chandler mixed in with H.P. Lovecraft, and you have "Sycamore"...the first full length novel of the Black Lands, where any sort of supernatural monster exists, and anything can happen...most of it bad.

Felix Renn is something of a supernatural detective, following in the footsteps as John Silence, Judge Pursuivant, and Jules deGrandin.

Read this book.

Jeff Mcintosh

[Kieran · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars
This book felt like a setup for the series, with a strong focus on characters and worldbuilding. While the supernatural elements were intriguing, the characters leaned heavily on familiar tropes. The main character’s wit and snark, which started out entertaining, grew tiresome as the story progressed. Ultimately, I found the resolution to the plot and mystery underwhelming.

[Erin Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

like all books, this had slow parts but it also had very good fast parts

lots of focus on world building which could be confusing at points but hey if you’re gonna write a series (which i think is the aim?) then that’s necessary i guess

Main guy is a lil annoying at points too

Overall though i liked the story, loved the twists, snd will read the sequel if one is made