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The Not So Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne
A down-on-his-luck ex-detective, a jittery professor suspected of murder, and a mystery they can't solve without each other.
If Norman Melamourne, a Source-hating ex-detective, had things his way, the Source wouldn't have snapped into existence twenty years ago. After all, it's the reason his wife lost her life; he lost his job, and now even his favorite restaurants use Source-processed ingredients. He can taste the difference, and it's awful.
When a consulting position lands on his plate, it leaves a bad taste, too. The Source was the apparent method of murder. As much as Norman despises the Source, the one hard and fast rule was it couldn't affect living things. But it seems it had, and to make matters worse, the prime suspect, Lance Delum, is the son of the man Norman blames for his wife's death.
Lance Delum, Professor of Source Studies, can't get the image of his student's, Sasha's, magically burned-out eyes from his head. It was an impossible thing, the Source affecting living material, but it had happened, and Lance, for all his knowledge of the damned field, couldn't figure out how. Or why.
Torn between grief and frustration at his lack of understanding, Lance soon finds himself in a desperate attempt to clear his name. Another body was found days after Lance's release, and more circumstantial evidence points to him.
As he investigates, Norman’s heart says Lance did it. An expert in the field might be able to pull this off, and the kid came from a bad crop as far as Norman was concerned. But his gut says Lance is being set up, and Norman always trusts his gut.
Getting Lance to trust Norman might be about as difficult as clearing the kid’s name, but the two must work together to prove Lance’s innocence and discover why someone is killing with the Source.
If Norman Melamourne, a Source-hating ex-detective, had things his way, the Source wouldn't have snapped into existence twenty years ago. After all, it's the reason his wife lost her life; he lost his job, and now even his favorite restaurants use Source-processed ingredients. He can taste the difference, and it's awful.
When a consulting position lands on his plate, it leaves a bad taste, too. The Source was the apparent method of murder. As much as Norman despises the Source, the one hard and fast rule was it couldn't affect living things. But it seems it had, and to make matters worse, the prime suspect, Lance Delum, is the son of the man Norman blames for his wife's death.
Lance Delum, Professor of Source Studies, can't get the image of his student's, Sasha's, magically burned-out eyes from his head. It was an impossible thing, the Source affecting living material, but it had happened, and Lance, for all his knowledge of the damned field, couldn't figure out how. Or why.
Torn between grief and frustration at his lack of understanding, Lance soon finds himself in a desperate attempt to clear his name. Another body was found days after Lance's release, and more circumstantial evidence points to him.
As he investigates, Norman’s heart says Lance did it. An expert in the field might be able to pull this off, and the kid came from a bad crop as far as Norman was concerned. But his gut says Lance is being set up, and Norman always trusts his gut.
Getting Lance to trust Norman might be about as difficult as clearing the kid’s name, but the two must work together to prove Lance’s innocence and discover why someone is killing with the Source.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 2, 2026
The Not So Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne by G. J. Terral is a fun little novella that knows exactly what it wants to be.
The writing is eloquent, confident, and clearly crafted with intention and there’s a defined structure and a deliberate approach that makes it an easy and pleasant read.
That said, for something with mysteries in the title, it never quite delivers on the mystery. There’s no real twist, no turn that made me stop and reconsider what I thought I knew, and the resolution felt a bit too neat. I also didn’t fully click with the dual-narrative method used to unfold the final action, it pulled me out rather than pulling me in.
Still, this works well as an introduction to Terral’s writing. The voice is strong, the prose is enjoyable, and the foundations are there. I just wanted a few more pages and more room to breathe, and especially more lore around the magic system, which felt intriguing but underexplored.
Overall: a solid, likable novella that left me curious about what this author could do with more space and a deeper dive into the world.
The writing is eloquent, confident, and clearly crafted with intention and there’s a defined structure and a deliberate approach that makes it an easy and pleasant read.
That said, for something with mysteries in the title, it never quite delivers on the mystery. There’s no real twist, no turn that made me stop and reconsider what I thought I knew, and the resolution felt a bit too neat. I also didn’t fully click with the dual-narrative method used to unfold the final action, it pulled me out rather than pulling me in.
Still, this works well as an introduction to Terral’s writing. The voice is strong, the prose is enjoyable, and the foundations are there. I just wanted a few more pages and more room to breathe, and especially more lore around the magic system, which felt intriguing but underexplored.
Overall: a solid, likable novella that left me curious about what this author could do with more space and a deeper dive into the world.
September 3, 2025
Solid little urban fantasy/detective noir novella with a ton of tension and some cool vibes. If you're looking for something to scratch that classic bitter detective and anxious partner/witness with an urban fantasy twist, pick this up!
September 22, 2025
An enjoyable fantasy-noir mystery! I really liked the back and forth between Lance and Norman, and I love the world Terral built here. I’d love to read more in this world! I recommend this one to all the fantasy noir fans out there look for something with some mystery, excellent prose, and two really great main characters. There were some moments that happened a bit fast for me, and a few of the characters didn’t get as much page time as I would have liked, but I was entertained throughout.
January 16, 2026
my rating is 4.25
What a great big story wrapped up in a compact novella package!
The author has created a whole world, awesome characters and a story that I absolutely want more of.
I am always into a fantasy noir/murder mystery type of vibe and this delivers that feeling. The pacing is great and once I started reading, I just kept turning pages. Norman is a complex, flawed main character but you can't help but to root for him. All the characters bring something to the table in their own way. I really enjoyed the reluctant friendship that happens between Norman and Lance, that was well done. The magic/science is very cool and I hope we get to see more of it in a subsequent book down the road.
What a great big story wrapped up in a compact novella package!
The author has created a whole world, awesome characters and a story that I absolutely want more of.
I am always into a fantasy noir/murder mystery type of vibe and this delivers that feeling. The pacing is great and once I started reading, I just kept turning pages. Norman is a complex, flawed main character but you can't help but to root for him. All the characters bring something to the table in their own way. I really enjoyed the reluctant friendship that happens between Norman and Lance, that was well done. The magic/science is very cool and I hope we get to see more of it in a subsequent book down the road.
August 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an eARC.
This was a great fantasy novella. I really enjoyed the fast paced writing of the book. The dynamic between the different characters was well done, especially between Lance and Norman. I liked the way the world's magic was described and would have liked to see more details. I think it would have been even better if there had been more explanations on what exactly the Source was, in terms of lore/background, although the mysterious nature of it did add to the atmosphere. I also felt like the book focused more on Lance than Norman despite the book being named after the latter. I would love to see a sequel for this book, clearing up some of the loose ends. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced fantasy novella.
This was a great fantasy novella. I really enjoyed the fast paced writing of the book. The dynamic between the different characters was well done, especially between Lance and Norman. I liked the way the world's magic was described and would have liked to see more details. I think it would have been even better if there had been more explanations on what exactly the Source was, in terms of lore/background, although the mysterious nature of it did add to the atmosphere. I also felt like the book focused more on Lance than Norman despite the book being named after the latter. I would love to see a sequel for this book, clearing up some of the loose ends. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced fantasy novella.
August 28, 2025
This is a speculative murder mystery. It has a straight line plot without a lot of subplots, twists, or any side quests. Therefore it's the sort of novella that a person would read when they are in the mood to get right to the point. For my preferences, I would have preferred a little more detail about what the Source was as I didn't feel like I ever understood completely. I also would have liked a little more character rounding. I wished I understood the character's thoughts, feelings, and wants better. Does Lance want to catch the killer or just clear his name? Toward the end there are several scenes where the same scene is examined once from Lance's head and once from Norman's. I would have preferred a third person narrative combining the two. But you know what they say, right? If I want all my preferences I have to write my own story. I received an ARC from the author.
September 7, 2025
This is a really fun take on the classic mismatched partners storyline. Lance is an academic, an awkward guy who keeps to himself and dedicates his life to something called The Source. When he discovers the murdered body of one of his students, Lance ends up working alongside Norman - a washed up ex-detective barely keeping himself going. Together they work to solve the case and clear Lance's name before something even worse arrives.
I would say that this is more of a cosmic horror book than a paranormal fantasy, there are definitely some elements of that at the very least. This is a fast paced novella, really compelling and very much makes you want to read more. There are definitely a few loose ends and unanswered questions (around how certain conclusions are come to, exactly what evidence is looked at etc.), but rather than being annoying they serve to make me want to come back to this world. I feel like the ending leaves things nicely open for a sequel, so I will be keeping an eye out for that!
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
I would say that this is more of a cosmic horror book than a paranormal fantasy, there are definitely some elements of that at the very least. This is a fast paced novella, really compelling and very much makes you want to read more. There are definitely a few loose ends and unanswered questions (around how certain conclusions are come to, exactly what evidence is looked at etc.), but rather than being annoying they serve to make me want to come back to this world. I feel like the ending leaves things nicely open for a sequel, so I will be keeping an eye out for that!
- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
November 4, 2025
I listened to the audiobook. This is one of those stories I consider perfect for audio and it played with all the things I’ve really been enjoying in my books lately. Solid writing and exquisite narration.
September 6, 2025
A paranormal mystery where a retired detective and the prime suspect team up to find a killer. I had high expectations as I love this niche genre, but G.J. Terral managed to meet them effortlessly. What I particularly enjoyed were the sprinkles of information along the way that weren't highlighted at all, but a reader paying attention would manage to pick up on. The world into which 20 years ago magic suddenly appeared was really interesting and explained well.
There was also a lot of worldbuilding and paving the way to (I assume but isn't confirmed) a longer series. While I look forward to a next book with these characters, I did think a novella was too short to really spend that much time in worldbuilding and setting the scene. I wish there was just a bigger focus on the mystery itself. But that's my only criticism of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and G.J Terral for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
There was also a lot of worldbuilding and paving the way to (I assume but isn't confirmed) a longer series. While I look forward to a next book with these characters, I did think a novella was too short to really spend that much time in worldbuilding and setting the scene. I wish there was just a bigger focus on the mystery itself. But that's my only criticism of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and G.J Terral for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2025
A fast-paced noir mystery following the hard-boiled detective Norman Melamorne, who had recently retired but was pulled back in for one last case. Lance Delum is an eccentric professor, expert on the source which is a telekinetic magic power that the world has not yet adjusted to. Together they investigate the murder of a student named Sasha, who died in an impossible way.
The setup for the mystery was well done with The Source and I absolutely love that we start out following a befuddled Lance, who is wallowing as he's supposed to be an expert on the subject. All in all, a great beginning to the story.
Next we are introduced to Norman, who is the eponymous detective. Aside from his revulsion to The Source, he is a stock noir detective, which works for the plot and atmosphere.
Without going into spoilers, I enjoyed how the mystery unraveled. The twists, turns, and revelations were all exciting and action packed—from the slow build-up, to the tense discussions, to the dramatic climax. As usual, Terral's approachable prose makes it easy to get invested.
While I was glued to the page the entire read-through, I do find myself thinking that I'd have liked it if the intrigue had been wrapped up a bit more thoroughly. The Source and the murder motives could've been better explained. There is a moment of lucidity at the end where I was expecting some deeper truths to be revealed but they never came.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Not So Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne and recommend it to anyone interested in the blend of noir mystery and fantasy.
The setup for the mystery was well done with The Source and I absolutely love that we start out following a befuddled Lance, who is wallowing as he's supposed to be an expert on the subject. All in all, a great beginning to the story.
Next we are introduced to Norman, who is the eponymous detective. Aside from his revulsion to The Source, he is a stock noir detective, which works for the plot and atmosphere.
Without going into spoilers, I enjoyed how the mystery unraveled. The twists, turns, and revelations were all exciting and action packed—from the slow build-up, to the tense discussions, to the dramatic climax. As usual, Terral's approachable prose makes it easy to get invested.
While I was glued to the page the entire read-through, I do find myself thinking that I'd have liked it if the intrigue had been wrapped up a bit more thoroughly. The Source and the murder motives could've been better explained. There is a moment of lucidity at the end where I was expecting some deeper truths to be revealed but they never came.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Not So Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne and recommend it to anyone interested in the blend of noir mystery and fantasy.
September 4, 2025
My honest review was provided in exchange for an ARC on NetGalley. Thank you, G.J. Terral, for giving me this ARC!
This novella was such a pleasant surprise. What starts as a murder mystery quickly grows into something stranger and more layered, blending fantasy, philosophy, and character-driven drama.
Lance Delum, an anxious professor of Source Studies, is accused of a crime he couldn’t possibly commit—the brutal, magical murder of his student. Enter Norman Melamourne, a retired detective with a grudge against the Source, a love of liquor, and zero patience for Delums of any kind. Watching these two reluctant allies circle each other while digging into Sasha’s death was thoroughly enjoyable. Norman’s sharp, gruff perspective kept me smiling, while Lance’s inner turmoil gave the story its heart.
The Source itself—a strange, pervasive power that blurs the lines between magic and science—is fascinating. Terral leaves much of its lore undefined, which both frustrated and intrigued me. The ambiguity adds to the unsettling tone, where even the rules of reality feel unsteady.
For a novella, the worldbuilding is rich and the mystery tightly woven. I found myself second-guessing theories right up until the end, and the final reveal was both surprising and satisfying. The pacing was brisk but never rushed, making this a one-sitting read.
If I had one critique, it’s that I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I hoped to be—I wanted a bit more depth in the characters’ inner lives. Still, Norman and Lance made a memorable duo, and I’d happily follow them into future mysteries.
All in all, this is a fun, smart, and atmospheric whodunnit with just the right mix of humor, magic, and grit. Fans of speculative detective stories will definitely want to check it out.
This novella was such a pleasant surprise. What starts as a murder mystery quickly grows into something stranger and more layered, blending fantasy, philosophy, and character-driven drama.
Lance Delum, an anxious professor of Source Studies, is accused of a crime he couldn’t possibly commit—the brutal, magical murder of his student. Enter Norman Melamourne, a retired detective with a grudge against the Source, a love of liquor, and zero patience for Delums of any kind. Watching these two reluctant allies circle each other while digging into Sasha’s death was thoroughly enjoyable. Norman’s sharp, gruff perspective kept me smiling, while Lance’s inner turmoil gave the story its heart.
The Source itself—a strange, pervasive power that blurs the lines between magic and science—is fascinating. Terral leaves much of its lore undefined, which both frustrated and intrigued me. The ambiguity adds to the unsettling tone, where even the rules of reality feel unsteady.
For a novella, the worldbuilding is rich and the mystery tightly woven. I found myself second-guessing theories right up until the end, and the final reveal was both surprising and satisfying. The pacing was brisk but never rushed, making this a one-sitting read.
If I had one critique, it’s that I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I hoped to be—I wanted a bit more depth in the characters’ inner lives. Still, Norman and Lance made a memorable duo, and I’d happily follow them into future mysteries.
All in all, this is a fun, smart, and atmospheric whodunnit with just the right mix of humor, magic, and grit. Fans of speculative detective stories will definitely want to check it out.
September 19, 2025
If you're looking for a well-written, intriguing, little fantasy mystery, this is the book for you. Terral manged to catch my attention from the beginning and never let it go, with an interesting magic system, even if not explained in detailed, and a depiction of characters that makes you want to know more about them — not easy in a novella of this kind, where the focus tends to be on the events.
I'd love to read more about this world, the Source, and the characters! Meanwhile, I'll definitely read more by Terral.
My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
I'd love to read more about this world, the Source, and the characters! Meanwhile, I'll definitely read more by Terral.
My thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
September 17, 2025
Interesting read overall! I loved the concepts of Source and how it changed people and society. Lance and Norman both grew quite a bit, even if they were both stubborn and set in their ways. Lance’s world was full of Sourcery and the idea that he had to live up to his father’s standing within the studies. Norman, set in his ways of hating Source with every bit of him, was forced to confront his feelings and see it in action.
I think this was a well-paced novella with potential for more. It would be pretty cool to learn more about the early studies of it or the fallout of what happens in the end of this one.
Overall, an engaging read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to review.
I think this was a well-paced novella with potential for more. It would be pretty cool to learn more about the early studies of it or the fallout of what happens in the end of this one.
Overall, an engaging read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy to review.
September 4, 2025
This was a nice surprise of a short novel. I thought the dialog was snappy and there was just so much story jammed into so few pages.
I liked how the magical elements were woven into the story. Even though this is not normally the type of book that I read, I was so drawn into it and really enjoyed reading it. I’m wondering if this book will have a sequel or even its own series. I could see a set of these very dense short novels. It’s the perfect novella for busy lives or people who like a lot of depth in a book.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!
I liked how the magical elements were woven into the story. Even though this is not normally the type of book that I read, I was so drawn into it and really enjoyed reading it. I’m wondering if this book will have a sequel or even its own series. I could see a set of these very dense short novels. It’s the perfect novella for busy lives or people who like a lot of depth in a book.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!
September 7, 2025
An atmospheric roller coaster ride that will leave you wanting more.
The story is overcast with bits of humor piercing the cover like the occasional sunbeam through the clouds. A short read, but well worth reading. I'm hoping for more from this author in this universe.
The story is overcast with bits of humor piercing the cover like the occasional sunbeam through the clouds. A short read, but well worth reading. I'm hoping for more from this author in this universe.
August 28, 2025
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.
Rating: 3.5 stars
The books starts with Lance Delum, being interviewed by a detective, after he finds the body of one of his students, eyes burned by the Source.
The next chapter we are introduced to Norman Melamourne. Closed off after a tragedy and early retired from the police, he now works as a private detective.
This book has a lot of potential. I can see this becoming a series and expending this beautiful world into something no one would ever expect. I loved the descriptions and the characters so much. I cannot wait so see what G.J. Terral writes next.
Rating: 3.5 stars
The books starts with Lance Delum, being interviewed by a detective, after he finds the body of one of his students, eyes burned by the Source.
The next chapter we are introduced to Norman Melamourne. Closed off after a tragedy and early retired from the police, he now works as a private detective.
This book has a lot of potential. I can see this becoming a series and expending this beautiful world into something no one would ever expect. I loved the descriptions and the characters so much. I cannot wait so see what G.J. Terral writes next.
January 12, 2026
7/10 (3.5/5 rounded up to 4)
I read The Not so Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne by G. J. Terral as part of the semifinal round of the SFINCS3 novella contest. My review is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect that of my team.
Norman Melamourne is an old-school, whiskey-drinking private detective with a hat, paunch, and clothing style that made me think of seventies TV detectives such as Peter Falk’s Columbo.
He inhabits a near futuristic world in which people can channel “The Source” in order to affect inanimate objects. This gives channelers superhero-like abilities such as stopping bullets. Up to the point when this story begins, the Source has only been able to affect inanimate objects, never living beings. Unfortunately, this has changed with the death of a university student, Sasha, whose eyes have been burnt out by the Source. Some people are unable or unwilling to channel the Source and some have very weak abilities, such as Sasha’s Source Studies professor, Lance Delum, who is the prime suspect in her murder. When more bodies start to show up, each with a connection to Delum, Norman is convinced he is innocent but needs to prove to himself, as much as the local police, why he feels that way. Norman also has a connection to Delum, through Delum’s father, Albert, who unsuccessfully tried to use the Source to save the life of Norman’s wife many years ago.
I enjoy character-driven noir detective stories like this and mysteries where the reader is led along by the author, piecing together clues, so I was excited to read this novella, but I did not really connect with either Norman or Lance. Lance’s emotions on discovering Sasha seemed genuine, but as a scholar of the Source, he was more obsessed with finding out what this could mean for future studies than worried about the kind of future this change in the Source would create for humanity. I found myself disliking Lance and not really caring if he was being framed.
Norman was a great character for an old-school detective series, but his presence in this futuristic, science fiction story seemed anachronistic to me. It almost felt as if two separate stories had been spliced together. The narrative seemed disjointed when Lance and Norman discovered a cult right up the hallway from Lance’s university office, using unspecified, possibly alien machinery to create some sort of portal that was not fully explained. This part of the story didn’t seem to flow smoothly from the previous noir detective lead-up.
The climax of the story, was confusing and never satisfactorily explained. What did the portal and machinery do? Whose blood was used to paint the symbols on the walls throughout the university? Lance was standing in the machine until Norman managed to persuade him to get out, but it wasn’t clear what would have happened to him had he stayed inside.
This author is a talented writer of well-structured prose, with imaginative ideas, but I think this particular story was a confusing blend of genres that needed more time spent fleshing out its climax.
I read The Not so Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne by G. J. Terral as part of the semifinal round of the SFINCS3 novella contest. My review is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect that of my team.
Norman Melamourne is an old-school, whiskey-drinking private detective with a hat, paunch, and clothing style that made me think of seventies TV detectives such as Peter Falk’s Columbo.
He inhabits a near futuristic world in which people can channel “The Source” in order to affect inanimate objects. This gives channelers superhero-like abilities such as stopping bullets. Up to the point when this story begins, the Source has only been able to affect inanimate objects, never living beings. Unfortunately, this has changed with the death of a university student, Sasha, whose eyes have been burnt out by the Source. Some people are unable or unwilling to channel the Source and some have very weak abilities, such as Sasha’s Source Studies professor, Lance Delum, who is the prime suspect in her murder. When more bodies start to show up, each with a connection to Delum, Norman is convinced he is innocent but needs to prove to himself, as much as the local police, why he feels that way. Norman also has a connection to Delum, through Delum’s father, Albert, who unsuccessfully tried to use the Source to save the life of Norman’s wife many years ago.
I enjoy character-driven noir detective stories like this and mysteries where the reader is led along by the author, piecing together clues, so I was excited to read this novella, but I did not really connect with either Norman or Lance. Lance’s emotions on discovering Sasha seemed genuine, but as a scholar of the Source, he was more obsessed with finding out what this could mean for future studies than worried about the kind of future this change in the Source would create for humanity. I found myself disliking Lance and not really caring if he was being framed.
Norman was a great character for an old-school detective series, but his presence in this futuristic, science fiction story seemed anachronistic to me. It almost felt as if two separate stories had been spliced together. The narrative seemed disjointed when Lance and Norman discovered a cult right up the hallway from Lance’s university office, using unspecified, possibly alien machinery to create some sort of portal that was not fully explained. This part of the story didn’t seem to flow smoothly from the previous noir detective lead-up.
The climax of the story, was confusing and never satisfactorily explained. What did the portal and machinery do? Whose blood was used to paint the symbols on the walls throughout the university? Lance was standing in the machine until Norman managed to persuade him to get out, but it wasn’t clear what would have happened to him had he stayed inside.
This author is a talented writer of well-structured prose, with imaginative ideas, but I think this particular story was a confusing blend of genres that needed more time spent fleshing out its climax.
August 21, 2025
A 3.5 starrer
This is an interesting novella especially if you are willing to juxtapose the Source with the current situational elements of AI that we are all grappling with. The Source in this case is like a force that has allows people to move and control inanimate objects and has become almost a way of life like for a lot of people and businesses (sound familiar). However, a murder of a student researching in the Source by the Source marks the professor of the student, Lance Delum as the prime suspect.
Norman Melamourne, a wry cynical anti-Source PI is roped into this despite his complicated relationsip with Lance's father who he believes is responsible for his wife's death. Norman is a stand-in for all the anti-AI stuff that people are cynical about and the situation forces them to join hands to find out the real perpetrator
This is a fast-paced book that works on the duality of the characters, one pro-Source and other anti-Source, in the chapter framing. This phrasing of the dichotomy works really well and the murders keep on escalating with the past histories tied up to Lance's dad also rearing up and the complication is quite fun
However, for a book that does so well to build up the tension and the suspense, the climatic sequences kind of veer into slightly unclear territory - the resolution in terms of the killer is well done but the way the confrontation plays out and the motivations behind are kind of murky and I just felt the book didnt end as strongly as it started. It could also be due to the length of it and things happened in a bit of a rush
Overall, this is a promising book with a fantastic premise that has parallels with our world - it could have benefited with maybe some more space to breathe and explore overall to truly land with an impact
This is an interesting novella especially if you are willing to juxtapose the Source with the current situational elements of AI that we are all grappling with. The Source in this case is like a force that has allows people to move and control inanimate objects and has become almost a way of life like for a lot of people and businesses (sound familiar). However, a murder of a student researching in the Source by the Source marks the professor of the student, Lance Delum as the prime suspect.
Norman Melamourne, a wry cynical anti-Source PI is roped into this despite his complicated relationsip with Lance's father who he believes is responsible for his wife's death. Norman is a stand-in for all the anti-AI stuff that people are cynical about and the situation forces them to join hands to find out the real perpetrator
This is a fast-paced book that works on the duality of the characters, one pro-Source and other anti-Source, in the chapter framing. This phrasing of the dichotomy works really well and the murders keep on escalating with the past histories tied up to Lance's dad also rearing up and the complication is quite fun
However, for a book that does so well to build up the tension and the suspense, the climatic sequences kind of veer into slightly unclear territory - the resolution in terms of the killer is well done but the way the confrontation plays out and the motivations behind are kind of murky and I just felt the book didnt end as strongly as it started. It could also be due to the length of it and things happened in a bit of a rush
Overall, this is a promising book with a fantastic premise that has parallels with our world - it could have benefited with maybe some more space to breathe and explore overall to truly land with an impact
August 26, 2025
The Not So Mundane Mysteries of Norman Melamourne is the kind of novella that sneaks up on you. I picked it up expecting a quirky detective story and found myself pulled into something stranger, sadder, and more magical than I’d anticipated.
Norman, our reluctant ex-detective, is all gruff edges and quiet grief. Lance, the jittery professor accused of an impossible crime, is the perfect foil—sharp, anxious, and unexpectedly endearing. Their dynamic is what makes the story sing: reluctant trust, dry banter, and the slow unraveling of shared pain.
The Source—this world’s peculiar brand of magic—is fascinatingly under-explained, which somehow works. It adds to the eerie, off-kilter atmosphere, where even the rules feel slippery. I wanted more lore, but I also appreciated the restraint. It kept the focus on the characters, their histories, and the mystery that binds them.
It’s a fast read, but not a forgettable one. The emotional beats land quietly, and the ending leaves just enough unresolved to make you hope for a sequel. I’d happily spend more time with Norman and Lance, especially if they’re still bickering their way through magical murders.
With thanks to GJ Terral, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Norman, our reluctant ex-detective, is all gruff edges and quiet grief. Lance, the jittery professor accused of an impossible crime, is the perfect foil—sharp, anxious, and unexpectedly endearing. Their dynamic is what makes the story sing: reluctant trust, dry banter, and the slow unraveling of shared pain.
The Source—this world’s peculiar brand of magic—is fascinatingly under-explained, which somehow works. It adds to the eerie, off-kilter atmosphere, where even the rules feel slippery. I wanted more lore, but I also appreciated the restraint. It kept the focus on the characters, their histories, and the mystery that binds them.
It’s a fast read, but not a forgettable one. The emotional beats land quietly, and the ending leaves just enough unresolved to make you hope for a sequel. I’d happily spend more time with Norman and Lance, especially if they’re still bickering their way through magical murders.
With thanks to GJ Terral, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 7, 2025
I'm always a little nervous about a stand alone novella, how can you explain a world, characters and plot in so few pages? This one comes closer than most. It suffers a little from its low page count, but only in that I wanted so much more, and a few things aren't really explained. It's fast paced, dramatic and will keep you turning the page until it's done.
The two main characters couldn't be more opposite - a washed up detective who hates the Source - which seems to be mostly telekinesis - and a young man who has dedicated his live to studying it. They truly are an odd couple, but they work well together and I felt for both of their opposing struggles and wishes. Norman's grief was very well done, his reasoning was flawing but incredibly human and struck home despite the supernatural elements around it.
It's more cosmic horror than paranormal to me - cultists, blood sacrifices, talking of 'He who hungers' is all very Lovecraftian, which was a pleasant surprise. We need more crazy cults in books.
All in all, a very enjoyable read, and I hope we see more of Normy and the Source world.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
The two main characters couldn't be more opposite - a washed up detective who hates the Source - which seems to be mostly telekinesis - and a young man who has dedicated his live to studying it. They truly are an odd couple, but they work well together and I felt for both of their opposing struggles and wishes. Norman's grief was very well done, his reasoning was flawing but incredibly human and struck home despite the supernatural elements around it.
It's more cosmic horror than paranormal to me - cultists, blood sacrifices, talking of 'He who hungers' is all very Lovecraftian, which was a pleasant surprise. We need more crazy cults in books.
All in all, a very enjoyable read, and I hope we see more of Normy and the Source world.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
January 9, 2026
*This story was reviewed as a semi-finalist for SFINCS*
The two main characters, Lance and Norman, were what stood out most to me in this novella. They both have very strong voices and I think Terral did a good job at letting their motivations shine through. It's always nice to see autistic representation, and (while I don't know if Lance is autistic for certain it feels heavily implied) I think Lance's view on the world and the Source makes for an interesting perspective.
The pacing and repetitiveness of this story made it a bit of a slog to get through for me. The mystery element of the story didn't fully deliver, with a lack of foreshadowing for the 'twist' that didn't make the payoff feel worth it. And while at first I liked the back and forth POV between Norman and Lance, during the climax each chapter backtracks several paragraphs which completely killed the tension and pacing.
Overall, this story didn't quite land for me, but if you like urban fantasy with a sort of noir feel and a main character stuck between a moral dilemma and his own desire to learn then this might be a good read for you.
The two main characters, Lance and Norman, were what stood out most to me in this novella. They both have very strong voices and I think Terral did a good job at letting their motivations shine through. It's always nice to see autistic representation, and (while I don't know if Lance is autistic for certain it feels heavily implied) I think Lance's view on the world and the Source makes for an interesting perspective.
The pacing and repetitiveness of this story made it a bit of a slog to get through for me. The mystery element of the story didn't fully deliver, with a lack of foreshadowing for the 'twist' that didn't make the payoff feel worth it. And while at first I liked the back and forth POV between Norman and Lance, during the climax each chapter backtracks several paragraphs which completely killed the tension and pacing.
Overall, this story didn't quite land for me, but if you like urban fantasy with a sort of noir feel and a main character stuck between a moral dilemma and his own desire to learn then this might be a good read for you.
August 29, 2025
Lance is a Professor of Source Studies, a magic like telekinesis where people can move inanimate objects.
His student is found dead with suspicions the Source was used, and Lance is suspect number one.
His father can't remember his name and keeps calling him Lawrence.
Norman an ex-detective who hates the Source, is pulled in to investigate if Lance could have done it.
For a novella there was so much packed in.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, I was really interested in the evolution of the Source.
My favourite quote - 'You don't get to give up the bad, the uncomfortable, and trade it for something you wanted. Usually, you have to give up what made you comfortable'.
(ARC provided by NetGalley)
His student is found dead with suspicions the Source was used, and Lance is suspect number one.
His father can't remember his name and keeps calling him Lawrence.
Norman an ex-detective who hates the Source, is pulled in to investigate if Lance could have done it.
For a novella there was so much packed in.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, I was really interested in the evolution of the Source.
My favourite quote - 'You don't get to give up the bad, the uncomfortable, and trade it for something you wanted. Usually, you have to give up what made you comfortable'.
(ARC provided by NetGalley)
August 28, 2025
For just 158 pages, this novella delivers more worldbuilding and character depth than many 500-page books I’ve read. The no-nonsense plot delivery is absolutely chef’s kiss.
I thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end and finished it in a single sitting, feeling completely satisfied. Short, sharp, and spot on, well done.
I thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end and finished it in a single sitting, feeling completely satisfied. Short, sharp, and spot on, well done.
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