Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead

by Marianne Gordon

A cantankerous sorcerer and a thief with a heart of gold join forces to solve a murder after colliding at the crime scene in this charming new fantasy detective series by the author of The Gilded Crown.

Alistair Fall is a misanthropic piece of work. On the road as a Wandering Investigator, he wants nothing more than to focus on crimes that are worth his time, and to use his sorcery outside of the meddling of the State. When he receives a letter from an old friend asking for his help with an enticing case that may finally utilize his talents, he returns eagerly to the city of Osk.

Sunny is everything Fall is not: street-smart, loveable, and—so she thinks —deeply mysterious. She’s a woman with a love of calico cats, baked goods, and stealing shiny things. But when she’s found over the dead body of a High Court barrister, Alistair Fall’s friend, she finds herself on the run and completely on her own. That is, until Fall offers her his help.

Together, they navigate the labyrinthine streets of Osk, a city of forbidden magic, forgotten gods, fractious dragons, and the corruption of necromancy, and discover far greater forces at work than they’d ever imagined.

But the city is not the only one hiding secrets...

Book One of the Alistair Fall Series

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Fiction, Murder Mystery

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 27, 2027

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[Taskin⋆彡⭒ (s-ia) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐
｡𖦹°‧⌛ ⋆✴︎ 🔍 ˚｡⋆
I really wanted to love this book. Like, really wanted to. And honestly? There's a lot going for it. The magic system is fascinating, genuinely one of the more interesting ones I've come across. And weirdly enough, some of the secondary characters ended up sticking with me more than Sunny, the actual main character. One thing I have to give it credit for, though: Alistair and Sunny's relationship stayed platonic instead of turning romantic, which honestly felt like a breath of fresh air.

But man, the pacing. There's just so much thrown at you early on that I kept losing the thread. More than once I had to flip back and reread a page just to figure out what was even happening anymore. It took me a while to really sink into the story, but once the pieces started falling into place, I could not put it down.

The murder mystery is really the heart of it, especially with the necromancy angle. It gave the whole thing a flavor I haven't really seen in other fantasy I've read lately, and I loved trying to piece things together right alongside the characters.

The characters, though, are hit or miss. Sunny was tough for me. Given her job, how gullible she comes across just doesn't add up, and it kept pulling me out of the story. Alistair, though, I was rooting for the whole way.

My biggest complaint: way too many of the big reveals get handled through these long, dragged-out monologues. The villains especially just talk and talk for pages, and it got exhausting after a while. A bit more restraint there would've made a huge difference.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a girl is found standing over the dead body of Alistair's friend, yet he becomes the only person who believes she didn't kill him. crazy.. right??

The story follows two characters; Alistair Fall, a state sanctioned sorcerer, who is called back to The City of Osk after his friend is murdered; and Sunny, a cheerful thief with a lot of secrets on her own, who wants to leave the Thieves' Guild but is faced with a few problems when doing so, resulting her to teaming up with Alistair to clear her name and also help him solve a murder.

the story itself is rich in detail, and full of texts explaining the world they live in. the start was a bit confusing, but once I learned a bit about the plot and the character, it was so enjoyable to read and follow the characters. i loved how alistair's magic and sunny's introduction were straight to the point and from the start we had an idea of who they were and what they were capable of.
the plot and magic system were so fascinating. i might as well assume the author put their entire soul into creating the world and wow it was so worth it. it was pretty easy to understand and imagine how the sorcery worked, I also like the explanations side characters provided about it.

alistair is, in one word, funny, but in a way where he's way too serious and it comes out silly. i wish i could quote some lines that made me laugh but i fear i would have to wait for the final version of the book for it. he appears caring, in his own way, and mysterious which honestly made me like him more. i love him ok. we're gonna get you therapy. ok boy.
oh, and how much i loved sunny 🥹 she really lives up to her name, she's so warm and sweet and her teasing alistair is just pure comedy.. i love following her story and i love how smart she is. some people might disagree, but i think her character was so easy to connect with. i really can't wait to see more of her in the next book.

The lack of romance was refreshing. It's really nice to see them exist as two people trying to solve a murder. it really puts more focus on the plot. their relationship grew as the plot was progressing, and i just love them as a duo. they're so silly..

I don't have anything negative to say about the book. I think we can all tell the author had a strong idea and that it was carefully planned! It's a very promising book series, and I'm super excited for the second book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

[✨ tweety ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc
Loved this so much I need book 2 asap!!!

Thanks so much to DelRey for the arc. Opinions are mine.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always here for a good detective book, and I really enjoyed this one. It genuinely surprised me in the best way, and I’m happy to say the story absolutely lives up to that terrific cover.

This is a fantasy mystery set in a world where, about forty years before the events of the book, all pagan religions were banned by the State and atheism was introduced in their place. Because of that, some practices that still remain, particularly the use of magic, are viewed with suspicion and wrongly associated with religion. Interestingly, magic in this world is treated as something closer to science, which makes the reservations surrounding it feel even more rooted in prejudice. One of our protagonists, Alistair Fall, is a sorcerer who regularly faces that prejudice, including when he uses magic to solve crimes. The other is Sunny, a thief who wants to leave the Thieves’ Guild behind and has quite a few secrets of her own.

What I loved most about this book is how much the worldbuilding actually matters to the mystery. It never felt like the setting existed just so the author could make a point about atheism, religion, or the human need to believe in something. I don’t want to get into spoilers, so I’ll just say that Marianne Gordon cleverly built the mystery around what might happen in a highly stratified State that deliberately forbids religion while leaving the rich with plenty of time on their hands and virtually free from consequences. I’m using the word „mystery” rather than „murder mystery” very intentionally here because there’s much more going on in this book than simply figuring out who killed Alistair’s friend. I’d even say that the identity of the murderer becomes secondary to the larger picture unfolding around it.

The book is extremely fast paced. Even though it takes a while for the actual murder to happen, I was never bored. A lot of that comes down to the characters, who are interesting and very easy to root for. At first glance, Alistair and Sunny might seem like they’re heading straight for the classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I mean, he’s awkward and terrible with people, while she’s literally called Sunny. But there’s more to their relationship than that. One thing that really surprised me was the lack of romance. I did expect some kind of romantic storyline between the protagonists because that feels almost inevitable with this sort of setup, but I actually think the story works even better without it. It makes it very clear that the mystery, the world, and the characters themselves are supposed to be the focus. That said, I wouldn’t be against some romantic developments in future installments, once we’ve gotten to know Alistair and Sunny better as individuals.

The secondary characters surprised me too. Several people turned out to be quite different from what I expected. Characters I was convinced would become allies ended up on the opposite side, while others surprised me in the other direction.

Overall, I really don’t have anything negative to say about this book. It’s obvious the author had a strong idea for this world and then created a mystery that grows naturally out of its rules, history, and problems, rather than simply placing a detective story inside a fantasy setting. The mystery was clever, interesting, and genuinely gripping.

I’m very happy this is only the first book in a series because this world still has a lot of potential. I’ll definitely be reading the next installments. Easily one of the better detective novels I’ve read lately!

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Vavo ☆]

The way I screamed when I got the arc

[Me, My Shelf, & I]

Ingredients for an Intriguing Start to a New Series:
1 Sneak
1 Sleuth
1 calico named Butterscotch, fat and fluffy
1 dragon
10 pagan gods
1 government, corrupt and cocky (aka garden variety)
a couple of walking corpses
a generous handful of suspcious characters
and as many guilds as you feel in your heart (Discworld style)

I was drawn in by the title and absolutely gorgeous cover, only to see that this is a new Fantasy Mystery series from one of my favourite publishers (Del Rey)! Not only did it live up to my expectations, but in some ways it exceeded them :)

The balance between a very physical + personable assistant and their bookish + aloof primary detective is a dynamic that works well in a story like this. I really believed their friendship and appreciated the snark and banter between them. Additionally I was totally in love with the world-building details added to the beginning of each chapter-- most of them don't really seem to relate to this particular plot, but they go a long way to make the world feel more rich and full.

Overall the beginning is a tad slow as the characters are introduced separately before the plot can kick in, but I was really invested from at least the midway point onward. And I always consider it a good sign that a book might be a favourite of the year when I'm taking little screenshots to send to my spouse as I read it, which I'm delighted to say happened here. Looking forward to the next installment! 4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The City of Osk - full of beauty in the day and celebration at night. Where you experience forbidden magic in this cozy fantasy that feels mysterious while a sorcerer/investigator & thief come together to discover a crime that falls on their friend.

I haven’t read much of a detective cozy fantasy read before and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this read! This felt like the perfect fall read and I loved the dynamic between Alistair and Sunny as we were solving crime cases with them 🔎

The world-building was absolutely intriguing and unique where they have mentions of unforgotten gods and the way they live out their days.

I loved Sunny! Not only was she a thief but she had so much heart in her in this story, and the way her and Alistair come together for a crime that so happens to be his friend was a nice touch to the plot! Also, I love the chemistry they have throughout this book.

I can’t wait to continue this series and discover more cases that Alistair and Sunny will work together next! 🤭

Thank you so much Del Rey and Netgalley for the early galley! ✨🖤

[BonniePB · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Alistair Fall, Wandering Investigator, must return to a city he hates to uncover who murdered his friend, a high-up lawyer. When his partner is put in the hospital, Alistair teams up with an unlikely replacement: A thief named Sunny, found at the scene of the crime.

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked the characters of Alistair and Sunny. They struck me as fantasy versions of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. The setting was also pretty detailed, but I didn't always think that the heavy worldbuilding was balanced well with pace and plot. Those three things got in the way of each other quite frequently for me. The mystery could also have been executed better. The answer was much too obvious, much too soon. This made continuing with the rest of the book feel like a bit of a chore instead of an engrossing whodunnit because I was waiting for Alistair and Sunny to catch up.

Even though this didn’t quite work for me, this is a good option for readers looking for a fantasy with a laid-back mystery. Also, there’s dragons.

Thanks to Del Rey for the eARC via NetGalley.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC! I truly enjoyed reading this cozy detective fantasy! It's the perfect start to my Fall reading season. The world-building is rich and well-thought-out; I love the way she created a new calendar and days of the week that correlate with the gods in this world. The grumpy x sunshine duo of Alistair and Sunny was so delightful; I loved their dynamic. I think the way their relationship progresses was well written and believable as she had to build it from reluctant allies to colleagues to friends. Also love the theme of believers vs. atheists and how both sides can go to extremes to win the masses. Overall, a fun read and I'm definitely gonna be reading the rest of the series as they come out.

[Rebecca · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent fantasy murder mystery. It takes a little time to set up, but once it gets going, the mystery investigation is pretty engaging and the characters are interesting. Sunny and Alistair’s dynamic and relationship is pretty fun to watch, and I enjoyed the character arcs they both underwent throughout the plot. My biggest issues I had with the book were the world building and the writing style.

I personally found the world building of this universe to be a little lackluster, even as someone who doesn’t focus that much on world building in general. The different gods and the city of Osk were interesting, but the fact that everyone in Osk was so British did break my immersion sometimes. On top of that, some parts of the pagan religion in this world were clearly taken from Greek mythology — one specific example I remember is the idea that the souls of the dead use coins to pay for passage across a river to get to the afterlife. I don’t think there’s anything wrong in using real life stories as inspiration for a fantasy world, but taking things wholesale from existing mythology kind of breaks the illusion of the fantasy world for me.

I also was not a big fan of the long epigraphs in front of every chapter. They interrupted the flow of the book and they often felt like a chore to get through so I could get to the story again. Many of them lasted for half a page or more before the actual chapter started, and I’m not sure they added enough to the story to warrant that much page space. Also, there were several times where I found the epigraph itself interesting, but in the attribution part, the author would explain in great detail the context of the quote and what it’s supposed to mean. I think they would have done a lot better with less explanation, so that the reader could take their own interpretation from it.

Overall, this book was a decent read. For those who are interested in reading fantasy murder mysteries, I might recommend The Tainted Cup first, but this novel definitely scratched the same itches as well.

[Clarice]

Was approved for the ARC today and can’t wait to read it! Sounds great, and that cover is 👌

[mai ༉‧⋆˚. · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3,8 ★

Thank you for the arc🥹🥹

Official review will be posted 27 April 2027, on release day, as asked by the publisher.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

The reason I persevere in picking up books for review via Netgalley, despite many of them being mediocre or worse, is that sometimes I get one like this.

In a lot of authors' hands, this would have been predictable and bland. The setup looks like a slow-burn grumpy/sunshine romance, based on the blurb - the FMC is actually called Sunny. But it's not that. She isn't the perky, cheery sort her name suggests; she has a dark backstory, and she engages with it, doesn't bury it under a fake sugary veneer. She's sarcastic and smart and capable, but also realistically self-doubting and slow to trust. Sure, she'd like to be a cozy fantasy protagonist - she loves baked goods, and has a favourite little tea shop and a calico cat named Butterscotch - but who she is and where she is mean that she ends up fighting a conspiracy of necromancers instead.

Her opposite number, Alistair Fall, is bad with people, but he knows and regrets it. He'd like more friends, but unfortunately almost his only real friend is murdered early in the book, and he's tasked with investigating. Sunny looks like the prime suspect, but he's a good investigator and doesn't believe it, instead recruiting her to help him find the real killer, which would clear her name. They build a partnership and what might well become a friendship over the course of the book, but it's not a romance, which I appreciate; from time to time it's nice to read about two people who are just good colleagues. Both of them bring genuine strengths to the partnership, as equals.

Solving the mystery happens well before the end of the book, because just knowing who was behind it isn't enough; the pair also have to thwart the antagonists' plot, making the last part of the book more of a thriller. They are significantly at a disadvantage in doing so, and it takes all their courage and ingenuity. And they don't do it in either of the two ways I thought of.

I'm also so used to inadequate worldbuilding in current fantasy novels that it's cause for celebration to read one with worldbuilding that actually matters to the plot, and has had some effort put into it, and is different from the usual generic off-the-shelf scenarios. In this setting, through events which aren't explored in depth, almost 40 years before the story starts the prevailing pagan religion was banned in favour of atheism, imposed by the State of Order, which... is less authoritarian and despotic and dystopian than it could easily have been, though certainly some people are discontented under it, while others are good Statists and parrot the prejudices that the State encourages. One of those prejudices is against the use of magic, which is associated with paganism, and since Fall is a sorcerer (albeit sanctioned by the State), he comes in for a lot of persecution, petty and otherwise.

Yes, the trope of oppressed mages has its problems. Here, though, it's a bit more justified than usual, more of a parallel with, say, the persecution of intellectuals under some Communist regimes. These mages are oppressed because they potentially threaten the State's declaration that the gods are mythical, and the mechanism of their oppression is not so much official persecution as encouraging ordinary people to despise and distrust them.

The worldbuilding, in other words, matters to the characters' circumstances, and it also turns out to be highly relevant to the plot (for spoilerific reasons).

Names (and phrases, and concepts) from our world did make their way in, and the names are the usual mixture of made-up fantasy names and familiar ones from various cultures in our world (including a couple of biblical ones in a world without that cultural context, which is something I should probably give up complaining about, since nearly everyone does it).

There are also married same-sex couples in this setting that's otherwise similar to our world's late 18th/early 19th century. But that's a passing detail, not a central feature as it would be in so many current fantasy books.

Other things I appreciated: Fall's sorcery is limited; not something he can deploy quickly, and it can't just do anything, so it isn't used to cheat on the plot. The editing is also excellent, unlike most books I see via Netgalley (or BookBub), with just a couple of minor vocabulary issues that I'll flag to the publisher, meaning they may well be corrected before publication.

Overall, it's sound, solid, and achieves enough depth in its exploration of the characters and their society that I'm giving it five stars, not something I do often. I definitely want to read more from the author and in this world, and it looks like being a series, so I should get my wish.

[Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGallery
Thank you so much to NetGallery, the publisher and author!

This review could honestly be very short because there’s nothing I disliked in this book. The only bad thing happening is that now I have to wait not only for the official release, but also for the next book.
I didn’t know the author before and I’m so very glad about the discovery because I immediately put the others on my tbr.

For whoever is thinking about picking it up I would say: if you like fantasy, magic in a guild-run city setting and a great writing style for a quick mystery story, it’s for you. Also 🐉 and some Sherlock/Watson/Moriarty that I swear makes sense at the end of the book.

Spoiler free thoughts:
The premise was what caught me and it delivered even more than what I expected. It wasn’t quite a murder mystery the way I expected since the mistery is resolved quickly, but there still are interesting revelations peppered throughout. I loved the worldbuilding because with so many fantasy books from basically the birth of the genre, it could have easily slipped from good to mediocre. Instead it took well established fantasy building blocks like guilds, post-revolution realms, banned magic (which could have turned it into a lukewarm story) giving them a fresh spin.
It feels like the proof that you don’t need the bones of a story to be “original” to write an original story. I appreciated this book so much because it introduced something familiar and added much more to it.

The magic!!! The magic must have been my favourite thing: the way it works through combinations, progressively treated as a science and then a little more. Magic is so common in so many stories, but the descriptions were yet another original element. No spoilers but the description of the magic at the end of the book around the climax really stuck with me. That and the dragons!! I know the dragon appearwd only in a few scene but I will ramble on it anyway, Sunny would agree with me. Big dragons fan of course but the way in which they were described here really made me go: the author gets me. (Big shedding cats.🩷)
The characters were also a big selling point from the first moment and I loved them both individually and in their interactions, how they managed to both be serious and lighhearted when needed. This went for both the main couple and the characters around them. I really appreciated the way the bond was built, with no rushing but a very human way of meeting someone in such a mad circumstance. That’s also why I look forward to the second book so much. That and learning more about Sunny’s past. I kept postponing finishing the last chapters of the book because I didn’t want to let them go yet.



Spoiler: I really really want to see Mirrless (and Alistair interacting with him) again. Him and 🐈🐈

[Roses & Realms (Bex) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this via Netgalley as an Advance copy but my opinions are my own as per usual.

As a fan of mysteries and Sherlock Holmes I seek out stories that give me those cosy, familiar feelings of satisfaction and everything falling into place. With this book it both does that whilst also simultaneously throwing everything out the window.

The mix between mystery and the occult lends itself to that moment where everything you think you know comes crashing down. It is also very much the beginning of something and could very well see many entries into the repertoir - and I'd read them all happily.

What I liked: the characters, the world building and the 'mystery' itself. To avoid spoilers I'll say little about the mystery. Alistair himself is - at first glance - very much the gumshoe silhouette, the essence of sherlock - driven by the need to know and pesrered by the niggling feeling of there being more than meets the eye. But this is tempered by a background of trauma, pain and a realisation of his limits and abilities.

To pair him with Sunny then is quite a shift in dynamic, her being the opposite of him in complementary ways, together they find an acceptance for themselves and each other and work through the strangeness of working together.

The world itself seems small and sheltered but quickly becomes broad with potential. And this, coupled with the religion and sorcery makes you feel like anything could happen.

To compare it to something - it is like Sherlock Holmes but with the intricacies of thought from the likes of Babel (which I do actually mean as a big complement because I did not enjoy Babel overall.) It gets you thinking as well as takes you on a good journey.

What I didn't like: The Villain(s) and the mystery's conclusion. To avoid spoilers I'll simply leave it at this - I suspected who may be the 'bad guy' and also hoped it could be something else...but the book is good at laying it out which did take some of the thinking and suspence from it. I hoped for a conclusion that was more in line with tv episodes where all is revealed towards the end.

All in all I enjoyed this so very much - so much so that I have done nothing EXCEPT read this book for the last 2 days. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this chance.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Marianne Gordon and Del Rey for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Minus one star because it's good but is missing a spark.

First things first, this is such a great title and book cover! Kudos to the team that responsible for making the book eye-catching.

Second, this is a really great kick-off for a series. Alistair Fall is a Wandering Investigator called back to the big city of Osk to help his only real friend with...something. Sunny is a master thief who is going straight after finishing a last request job from her boss. Alistair arrives at his friend's home to find Sunny hiding in the study with Lorcan's dead body. Obviously the two team up to figure out what is happening. Also, there are dragons.

So many things worked so well. Each of the protagonists were multi-dimensional in sometimes surprising ways (I will be trying to make those blueberry muffins in the near future) without destroying their characterization. Some of the secondary characters were excellent, like Orelius. The doctor started off fantastic, but devolved into more of a caricature which is pretty much how the General was the entire time. Still, they fulfilled their roles and got us where we needed to be. The mystery wasn't particularly complex, but the way Gordon wove together multiple different clues throughout the story was skillful. I am hopeful there will be a fuller explanation of the connection between sorcerors and the ensorcelled mirrors in a future book.

What left me a little dissatisfied is the relationship between Alistair and Sunny. Are they friends? Is there a romance brewing? Will they have a sibling dynamic? There is nothing to indicate how these two feel about each other. There was more of a spark, figuratively as well as literally, between Alistair and Dr. Mirrless than Alistair had with Sunny. It's not that they need to be lovers, but it would be nice if they felt like something more than conveniences to each other.

A great start though, and I'm confident there will be more definition to their relationship in the future. Absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a fantastical mystery. Did I mention there are dragons?

[Bri · Rating 5 out of 5]

magic, murder, and pagan gods… what more could you want?

Thank you NetGalley for the E-ARC.

Sunny, a member of the Thief’s Guild who is in the process of leaving the group, finds herself standing over a dead body she definitely didn’t kill.

Enter Alistair, a detective and sorcerer in a world where paganism and magic are banned unless they’re state-sanctioned. Already viewed with suspicion because of his abilities, Alistair is called back to town by an old friend to investigate a case, only to discover that his friend is dead and Sunny is standing over the body.

What follows is a twisting mystery and an unlikely alliance between two people who probably shouldn’t trust each other. Alistair is the one person who should believe Sunny is a murderer, yet he’s also the only one willing to believe that she didn’t do it. As they secretly work together to clear Sunny’s name and uncover the truth behind the murder, things become much more complicated than either of them expected.

We get complex magical rituals and formulas, dark pasts catching up with the characters, a corrupt government, walking corpses, pagan gods, and a cult hiding in plain sight among the rich and powerful. The mystery kept taking turns I wasn’t expecting, and I loved watching everything slowly come together.

But one of my favourite parts was Sunny and Alistair’s relationship. Their bond develops naturally as they work together, and they each help the other confront and accept parts of themselves they’ve spent a long time hiding. It added so much heart to an already fascinating story.

I absolutely loved the combination of mystery, dark fantasy, magic, and mythology in this book. And that ending has me NEEDING a sequel.

I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Sundown Agency and what the future has in store for Sunny and Alistair!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ Rating: ★★★

Sunny must save Alistair Fall in the end because no one else in Osk baked such good blueberry muffins.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well-written, and I thoroughly enjoyed Sunny’s humor, as well as her growth and journey toward self-acceptance. Her personality complemented Fall’s beautifully, and I loved seeing how their dynamic developed throughout the story. I pictured Oscairoth as a 1920s-inspired setting, but with dragons and sorcery, which made for a unique and captivating atmosphere.

The pacing was well balanced, moving at a steady rate that never felt too slow or too fast. Gordon’s writing is descriptive and beautifully crafted, with an almost poetic quality. I especially enjoyed the way the author used simple descriptions to create vivid imagery and atmosphere. One line that stood out to me was, “The snow formed a gentle halo of white around them, giving the odd sensation of solitude.”

The world building and information were introduced in a cohesive manner, making the story easy to follow without feeling overwhelming. The magic system was unique and explained well enough to give me a solid understanding of how it worked.

While I found parts of the story predictable, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The characters, writing style, and immersive setting kept me engaged, making this a story I genuinely enjoyed reading.

Favorite things:
💕 Sunny’s growth and acceptance of herself
✨ The writing style was descriptive, poetic, and flowed well. The plot was predictable but still good pacing and small twist and turns to keep you guessing.

Final thoughts:
If you enjoy mystery with a touch of magic, this book might be right up your alley! However, there is no romance in this story, so if you’re looking for a romantic subplot, you won’t find it here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the opportunity to read this book!
📖 Pub Date: April 27, 2027

[Michelle Hairell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alistair Fall is a state-sanctioned sorcerer in a land that doesn’t believe he should exist. Ever used to being an unwelcome pariah, Alistair mostly keeps to himself. He works as a Wandering Investigator, unfortunately with a partner, as he would rather work alone. After solving their latest case with from an anonymous tip (yet again!) Alistair receives a letter from an old family friend in his hometown requesting that he come immediately to give advice on a serious situation. While Alistair would rather not re-enter the town that shunned him, he knows that his friend wouldn’t ask for help unless necessary. Once he and his partner get to his friend’s house and discover that he has just been recently murdered things really start to go haywire. His partner is seriously injured during a scuffle with a possible murder suspect and is sent to stay in an infirmary indefinitely. Alistair is asked to investigate this grisly murder and begins to seek answers, which leads him to find the same murder suspect that injured his friend at the scene of yet another murder. Could it be a coincidence, or does this young woman just always happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time? Sunny grew up as a thief and previously worked as the left hand to the boss of the Thieves Guild. She does one last heist before leaving only to find herself in a predicament worse than she could have imagined. Why was there a dead body in the study of the place where she was stealing from? Who set her up to take the blame for it? Add that to an insidious cult who have sinister plans, a dragon, and reanimated corpses randomly walking around and you’ve got quite the story! Also, the witty banter between the MC’s is really just top notch!

[Atbash (Emma) · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD. Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

This is a true mystery– something I read a lot of these days, whether I like it or not– but the fantasy setting is really what makes it. I love the worldbuilding, and I love the magic system! I love that the cultural conflict is between the old pagan system (which is still deeply embedded in the calendar and annual holidays, in the architecture and city planning, in the cultural consciousness) and a new atheistic order. I like that we don't have to contend with Thinly Disguised Christianity as one of the options, and I like how both existing systems are shown to produce different kinds of violence. It's a very grounded, compelling setting. AND THE MAGIC MAKES SO MUCH SENSEEEEEEE I love it. I love it.

And I LOVEDDD our detectives. I'm so freaking glad this is a series. I want to read four more books of these two. It's a good, strong, platonic connection, and whether they stay that way or shiptease, I'm enjoying their dynamic enough to follow it whichever way it goes.

Truly, start to finish, I enjoyed this whole book. I got lucky finding this one! And once I buy my own copy I need to make the muffin recipe in the back.

[Bazia · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m not very demanding reader in sense that everything has to be literary masterpiece. sometimes, you just need nice cosy story with interesting plot, some fun characters and a bit of mystery
this one had all ingredients for that
also, i really liked worldbuilding! author went pretty big with it and i actually got feeling that this world exists beyond what characters were seeing. i always appreciate that🩷

pacing was quite fast, although sometimes story took us on little errands away from main plot. honestly, i didn’t mind it too much, at least those parts didn’t drag on forever

for me, the biggest challenge was connecting with main characters. Sunny reminded me of Celaena (if you know what i mean), but i never quite formed same attachment to her. then there was Allistar. i don’t know how to explain it, but he felt a bit too… cardboard-like? almost too perfect? a little too stiff? it made difficult for me to really connect with him and to stay fully invested in the story

thank you to netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review🫶🏻

[Virouet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Marianne Gordon, NetGalley and Del Rey for this eArc

I really enjoyed the story and loved the mix of deadly gore, jokes and sass, and cozy elements (will be trying out that muffin recipe at some point). It was paced well and had a good balance between lulls and more intense segments. The narrative and dialogue was a mix of everyday jargon and more verbose description, and I enjoyed both - though I did find it jarring when at one point Sunny referred to something as "gnarly".

Alistair and Sunny are a dynamic duo, who don't quite get along at first but gradually grow on each other. They're both main characters in their own right, but I felt I got to know Sunny a whole lot more right from the start. The reader was given some deeper insight into Alistairs background and upbringing towards the end. I think an earlier reveal would have emphasised him more as a protagonist, as the story felt more like "Sunny and the Restless Dead" throughout.

They're both delightful though, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Jennah Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead

Sunny is a thief and the best one in the Guild. You’d think with her name she would be the happy, optimistic FMC that you’d come across in almost every book.

Alistair is a sorcerer, a sanctioned one so he’s allowed to weld his powers - seeing as it would be seen as paganism otherwise. He is an investigator with terrible people skills.

Alistair is trying to catch whoever killed his friend, but in doing so he finds himself paired with the person of interest. Sunny wants to clear her name, she’s getting pinned with theft and murder - of which she didn’t do.

Magic, mayhem and the old pagan God of Death leads Alistair and Sunny on a hunt for answers. Over time the friendship form between Alistair and Sunny grows, they begin to trust each other with their secrets, thus leading to the acceptance of their own self-doubts.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great read to get into the Fall mood! It feels a bit like Sherlock Holmes set in a fantasy world.

The standout element for me was the dynamic between Sunny and Alistair. They bring a fun, non-romantic "grumpy/sunshine" vibe to the table, and watching their friendship grow as they tackled the case together was a joy to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It took me a little while to get hooked at the beginning with everything going on, but once the investigation kicked off, things completely changed. The murder mystery was really interesting, especially with the added element of necromancy. That said, it's not overly complex, so you might piece things together before the characters do.

Would recommend if you're looking for a more light-hearted, cozy fantasy murder mystery with standout characters!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead.

[thalia · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

oh, this was such a cute and fun read!!! i really enjoyed seeing how the world and magic worked in this book, it was very interesting and i was very intrigued by the gods.

seeing alistair and sunny’s relationship evolve was really cute and wholesome, they gave me strong sherlock and watson vibes (if watson was bolder, more sarcastic and lowkey a diva) which was very fun.

the ending had me jumping so i can't wait to see how this story continues. i so recomment this book if you like a bit of mystery mixed with fantasy!

[Karyn Silverman · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my favorite things. Secondary world fantasy, urban setting, old gods, cults, grumpy sunshine not romantic pairing, neurodivergent coded characters, mysterious traumatic pasts, puns and wordplay, problematic government structures, thieves, a satisfying mystery plot, and delicious baked goods. Definitely down for book 2.

[laura ᥫ᭡。]

i'd actually sell my soul for this

[Starla Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as an ARC. Really enjoyed it.

[Hank Wu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily providing an honest review.

Premise
A cranky, underemployed sorcerer teams up with an irreverent thief to solve a murder mystery with far-reaching consequences, both political and personal.

Liked
* Brilliant plotting and consistent pacing; the world and lore feel fully inhabited with plenty of room for expansion.
* Absolutely charming lead characters replete with backstories and banter that grow their relationship at each turn.
* Characters (even side ones) that feel like old friends by the end of the book
* The methods and temperaments of the two leads complement each other so that the result is greater than the sum of its parts.
* Satisfying ending with cliffhangers.
* Does a good job of worldbuilding so that it’s never confusing.
* I particularly like the still-unresolved conflicts between the State and the Old Gods.

Not for Me
* Having to wait for the sequel.


Closing Comment
A fun, humorous romp of a cozy fantasy novel that hopefully will be a long running series. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of what the author has in store. Highly recommended.

[Giannina · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Alistair Fall and the Restless Dead was such a fun and action packed fantasy murder mystery. The magical world is expansive: there are sorcerers, dragons, a hint of otherworldly beings, necromancy and shapechangers. This book only touches upon the surface of all of these topics, so I imagine there is still a lot to uncover in the sequels.

At the heart of the story is the murder of a friend of our main character Alistair Fall. Alistair is a state sanctioned sorcerer and judicial investigator in Oscairoth, where performing magic is outlawed, and Sunny is a skilled thief, who is about to retire and harboring a mysterious secret about her past. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they meet at the murder scene of Alistair’s friend, that sets a lot of cogs into motion and they decide to work together to solve the mystery at hand. Their unlikely collaboration works really well, and I enjoyed their friendly banter (in particular about the pastries Alistair bakes when he can’t sleep, and which are just irresistible to Sunny).

This is a very action driven and fast paced book: there are a lot of things going on and a lot of players in play. It comes to no surprise that I devoured this book within a couple of days & I am very curious about the sequel!
_____________________

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.