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Mick Oberon #1
Hot Lead, Cold Iron
Hot Lead, Cold Iron is the first novel in a brand-new fantasy detective series that will appeal to fans of Rivers of London and The Dresden Files
Chicago, 1932. Mick Oberon may look like just another private detective, but beneath the fedora and the overcoat, he's got pointy ears and he's packing a wand.
Oberon's used to solving supernatural crimes, but the latest one's extra weird. A mobster's daughter was kidnapped sixteen years ago, replaced with a changeling, and Mick's been hired to find the real child. The trail's gone cold, but what there is leads Sideways, to the world of the Fae, where the Seelie Court rules. And Mick's not really welcome in the Seelie Court any more. He'll have to wade through Fae politics and mob power struggles to find the kidnapper – and of course it's the last person he expected.
Chicago, 1932. Mick Oberon may look like just another private detective, but beneath the fedora and the overcoat, he's got pointy ears and he's packing a wand.
Oberon's used to solving supernatural crimes, but the latest one's extra weird. A mobster's daughter was kidnapped sixteen years ago, replaced with a changeling, and Mick's been hired to find the real child. The trail's gone cold, but what there is leads Sideways, to the world of the Fae, where the Seelie Court rules. And Mick's not really welcome in the Seelie Court any more. He'll have to wade through Fae politics and mob power struggles to find the kidnapper – and of course it's the last person he expected.
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First published May 13, 2014
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About the author
Ari Marmell
101 books436 followersWhen Ari Marmell has free time left over between feeding cats and posting on social media, he writes a little bit. His work includes novels, short stories, role-playing games, and video games, all of which he enjoyed in lieu of school work when growing up. He’s the author of the Mick Oberon gangland/urban fantasy series, the Widdershins YA fantasy series, and many others, with publishers such as Del Rey, Titan Books, Pyr Books, Wizards of the Coast, and now Omnium Gatherum.
Ari currently resides in Austin, Texas. He lives in a clutter that has a moderate amount of apartment in it, along with George—his wife—and the aforementioned cats, who probably want something.
Ari currently resides in Austin, Texas. He lives in a clutter that has a moderate amount of apartment in it, along with George—his wife—and the aforementioned cats, who probably want something.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
September 3, 2021
Hot Lead, Cold Iron
(Mick Oberon #1)
by Ari Marmell
Narration by a variety of actors
This is a terrific series! A fae, 1930s PI in Chicago, who tries to keep the fact that he is not human under wraps. The whole book is narrated by our hero, Mick, as if he is telling the story and its with the slang and verbiage of 1930s. The other voices come in at the appropriate times as if it's a play. Excellent!
It's fast paced, snarky, fun, and with great characters! This one is about a gal whose hubby is mob related. She thinks her daughter is a changeling. Her mother-in-law knows some old world magic and figured out the daughter's acting funny and came to that conclusion.
So Mick is on the case. After 16 years, how's he going to find the real girl? What to do with the changeling? Who changed the babies and why? A fun and exciting story with a great ending!
(Mick Oberon #1)
by Ari Marmell
Narration by a variety of actors
This is a terrific series! A fae, 1930s PI in Chicago, who tries to keep the fact that he is not human under wraps. The whole book is narrated by our hero, Mick, as if he is telling the story and its with the slang and verbiage of 1930s. The other voices come in at the appropriate times as if it's a play. Excellent!
It's fast paced, snarky, fun, and with great characters! This one is about a gal whose hubby is mob related. She thinks her daughter is a changeling. Her mother-in-law knows some old world magic and figured out the daughter's acting funny and came to that conclusion.
So Mick is on the case. After 16 years, how's he going to find the real girl? What to do with the changeling? Who changed the babies and why? A fun and exciting story with a great ending!
October 15, 2015
Moram da priznam da nisam imao velika ocekivanja od ove knjige. Blurb je neko obican i ne previse originalan i sto se same price tice to i nije daleko od istine.Neko je nestao, detektiv je unajmljen da je nadje. in je opasan dasa jakih morala i sa tamno prosloscu itd. Ali da se desava u americi 20tih, vremena Al Kaponea malo vadi stvar. A cinjenica i da je magija prisutna u velikim kolicinama jos vise vadi mast. Narocito posto magija nije BOM BOM cerzije nego vise suptilna gde utice na srecu o mogucnost da se nesto dogodi ili ne.
Sami likovi su jednostavni i obicni stereotipi ali nisu dosadni pa to i ne smeta previse.
Sve u svemu odlican spoj koji od dve dosadne teme pravi jednu vrlo zabavnu i koja drzi paznju pa ako vas interesuju klasicne gumshoe price ali sa tvistom samo navalite.
Sami likovi su jednostavni i obicni stereotipi ali nisu dosadni pa to i ne smeta previse.
Sve u svemu odlican spoj koji od dve dosadne teme pravi jednu vrlo zabavnu i koja drzi paznju pa ako vas interesuju klasicne gumshoe price ali sa tvistom samo navalite.
August 10, 2016
A book like this--film noir to the hilt, urban fantasy, set in 1930s Chicago--depends on the voice, the strength of the narrator, as much as the premise or the bells and whistles of the setting. If the voice falls flat, or the narrator isn't intriguing, none of the rest much matters, no matter how interesting. And Mick Oberon makes a compelling and engaging narrator, so I was hooked. There are echoes or homages to other fiction out there (which is, let's face it, true of almost everything), but this book spins the tropes and archetypes off in fun new directions, and brings something different to the game.
Some readers seemed put off by the jargon, the heavy lingo and phrasing that shows up pretty much throughout the whole book. I suppose I get that as a criticism, maybe, a little, kind of (it sometimes is more thick sauce than spice), but for me, that really just helped ground the whole thing, reminding you this wasn't 1990 Chicago or 2132 Chicago, but post-Capone 1932 Chicago. Ari obviously did his research, and I respect and appreciate that.
Overall, it was a fun ride with solid action, wicked wisecracks, and a different take on urban fantasy, and and I'm sure I'll check out the next book in the series.
Some readers seemed put off by the jargon, the heavy lingo and phrasing that shows up pretty much throughout the whole book. I suppose I get that as a criticism, maybe, a little, kind of (it sometimes is more thick sauce than spice), but for me, that really just helped ground the whole thing, reminding you this wasn't 1990 Chicago or 2132 Chicago, but post-Capone 1932 Chicago. Ari obviously did his research, and I respect and appreciate that.
Overall, it was a fun ride with solid action, wicked wisecracks, and a different take on urban fantasy, and and I'm sure I'll check out the next book in the series.
November 25, 2022
3 stars. Reread. I actually enjoyed this one more than I did the first time. I didn't expect the narrative style/language the first time I read it, so it threw me. This time, I knew it was coming, so I was prepared for it. Made the reading experience way better.
March 24, 2017
Hard-boiled detective + the Fae = an interesting first book.
When I ran across this title in my public library’s catalog, I was intrigued. Those of you who read my reviews regularly will know that I am a sucker for books that feature Fae characters. I love them! Plus, I am an enormous fan of Raymond Chandler, so this combo was irresistible.
I enjoyed Marmell’s take on the Fae. Mick Oberon (yes, he’s related to THAT Oberon) has a penchant for milk, cream when he’s needs something a bit stronger. He doesn’t always ask for money to pay for his jobs—but he has an instinct for asking for something which later helps with a new problem. He’s also extremely reluctant to head back Underhill for any reason.
Marmell is obviously fully conversant with the whole hard-boiled genre. Mick is tough-talking, hard-(milk)-drinking, and wise-cracking. He gets beat on and thumps others in return. All the correct boxes are ticked. It would be unfair to compare his writing to Chandler—very few can live up to those standards. If I have a niggling annoyance, it’s that I felt the Chicago gangland vocabulary was laid on awfully thick (with a trowel, really).
Still, it’s a fun fantasy world and I will definitely continue on with the series. Not, however, a series that I will want to own. Your mileage may vary.
When I ran across this title in my public library’s catalog, I was intrigued. Those of you who read my reviews regularly will know that I am a sucker for books that feature Fae characters. I love them! Plus, I am an enormous fan of Raymond Chandler, so this combo was irresistible.
I enjoyed Marmell’s take on the Fae. Mick Oberon (yes, he’s related to THAT Oberon) has a penchant for milk, cream when he’s needs something a bit stronger. He doesn’t always ask for money to pay for his jobs—but he has an instinct for asking for something which later helps with a new problem. He’s also extremely reluctant to head back Underhill for any reason.
Marmell is obviously fully conversant with the whole hard-boiled genre. Mick is tough-talking, hard-(milk)-drinking, and wise-cracking. He gets beat on and thumps others in return. All the correct boxes are ticked. It would be unfair to compare his writing to Chandler—very few can live up to those standards. If I have a niggling annoyance, it’s that I felt the Chicago gangland vocabulary was laid on awfully thick (with a trowel, really).
Still, it’s a fun fantasy world and I will definitely continue on with the series. Not, however, a series that I will want to own. Your mileage may vary.
April 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The setting in 1920's Chicago was a refreshing change of pace for an urban fantasy. I liked how the author used historical figures (not as characters, but as reference points), and period slang to make the setting feel authentic, and not an idealized version of the times. The Otherworld was interesting too, and I like the nature of the relationship the fairies have with humans, and the human realm. It's a slightly different spin, but fits a lot of the old mythology well. I liked how backstory was worked into the main narrative, usually in asides where relevant. Others might not appreciate it, but I liked how it helped avoid the dreaded info dumps, and breaking the fourth wall a bit seems a natural fit for Mick.
I really loved the main character. It was nice having a fae main character who felt more alien, and less like a human with magic. Mick isn't human in his thoughts, morality, biology, and culture. Mick constantly has to remind himself to act human, to blink to fidget, to make the humans that surround him feel more at ease. His magic was powerful, and interesting in the way that it worked, but it was by no means the answer to every problem, and it had limitations and restrictions. I also liked the way the human world affected Mick, and made things harder for him.
The lack of even the hint of romance was refreshing as well. With Mick as old, and inhuman as he is, a romance with a human doesn't make sense. They are just too different. Considering his problems with the rest of the fae, a romance there wouldn't have worked for me either. Mick really isn't in a relationship sort of headspace, so I'm glad that the author chose not to go there.
The plot is interesting, and even though it felt like it dragged in parts the ending more than made up for it. I'm really looking forward to reading more about Mick, and what drove him out of his home realm.
I really loved the main character. It was nice having a fae main character who felt more alien, and less like a human with magic. Mick isn't human in his thoughts, morality, biology, and culture. Mick constantly has to remind himself to act human, to blink to fidget, to make the humans that surround him feel more at ease. His magic was powerful, and interesting in the way that it worked, but it was by no means the answer to every problem, and it had limitations and restrictions. I also liked the way the human world affected Mick, and made things harder for him.
The lack of even the hint of romance was refreshing as well. With Mick as old, and inhuman as he is, a romance with a human doesn't make sense. They are just too different. Considering his problems with the rest of the fae, a romance there wouldn't have worked for me either. Mick really isn't in a relationship sort of headspace, so I'm glad that the author chose not to go there.
The plot is interesting, and even though it felt like it dragged in parts the ending more than made up for it. I'm really looking forward to reading more about Mick, and what drove him out of his home realm.
June 14, 2014
The gumshoe in urban fantasy. Its a magical partnership when done well. Ari Marmell is trying to tap into the Dresden files fan base with his new elf gumshoe mystery, and he almost gets it totally right. Hot Lead, Cold Iron is a good read, with a great setting, mafia and gangsters and some great villains, but there were a couple of things that just annoyed me.
Mick Oberon is the gumshoe in question. The setting is 1930s Chicago, a world full of gangsters. Obernon, an elf prince, has left his aes sidhe world and relocated to the human world. He works as a private detective using his wand to manipulate luck and taking on jobs that interest him and earning -- knickknacks. Apparently, Oberon has a magical sense that the objects can be useful. But in this entire novel, not one of those so called useful knickknacks are useful. So what gives.
Instead, Obernon needs cash money to help a friend so takes a case to find out what happened to the daughter of a head member of the Outfit, who was replaced by a changeling. But its been sixteen years. He must travel back to Elphame and the Chicago Otherworld and finds himself trading favors with the evil Queen Mob (Again, you just know this is a plot devise because even we neophyte human readers know you do not promise a future favor to an evil elf). It turns out that the girl in question is back in Chicago.
Obernon will have to track down the gangsters daughter with the help of the gangsters in question. The person who switched the changeling and human child will be a surprise and the reason for it -- a feud with gangsters from the old country, is a little much.
Whats to like in this new urban fantasy detective story - the setting is top notch. Marmell 1930s milieu is pitch perfect. The gunfights, mobsters, coppers and other citizens of Chicago and Elphame are on target. Obernon and his trusty Luchtaine & Goodfello Model 1592 wand are a good combination. There is sly humor, good dialogue and a good plot, but I just did not like the lead in to the story, I did not like the bargain with Queen Mob and I am not sure the whole "luck" manipulation works.
However, I will be first on line to get the next book because there are just too many other good things in this magical detective mashup to skip.
Mick Oberon is the gumshoe in question. The setting is 1930s Chicago, a world full of gangsters. Obernon, an elf prince, has left his aes sidhe world and relocated to the human world. He works as a private detective using his wand to manipulate luck and taking on jobs that interest him and earning -- knickknacks. Apparently, Oberon has a magical sense that the objects can be useful. But in this entire novel, not one of those so called useful knickknacks are useful. So what gives.
Instead, Obernon needs cash money to help a friend so takes a case to find out what happened to the daughter of a head member of the Outfit, who was replaced by a changeling. But its been sixteen years. He must travel back to Elphame and the Chicago Otherworld and finds himself trading favors with the evil Queen Mob (Again, you just know this is a plot devise because even we neophyte human readers know you do not promise a future favor to an evil elf). It turns out that the girl in question is back in Chicago.
Obernon will have to track down the gangsters daughter with the help of the gangsters in question. The person who switched the changeling and human child will be a surprise and the reason for it -- a feud with gangsters from the old country, is a little much.
Whats to like in this new urban fantasy detective story - the setting is top notch. Marmell 1930s milieu is pitch perfect. The gunfights, mobsters, coppers and other citizens of Chicago and Elphame are on target. Obernon and his trusty Luchtaine & Goodfello Model 1592 wand are a good combination. There is sly humor, good dialogue and a good plot, but I just did not like the lead in to the story, I did not like the bargain with Queen Mob and I am not sure the whole "luck" manipulation works.
However, I will be first on line to get the next book because there are just too many other good things in this magical detective mashup to skip.
May 16, 2014
This book is a fun ride. It stands apart from other urban fantasy series from first being set in the 30s, and second from its noir roots.
Inevitably the comparison to the Dresden Files will come so let's put that to bed. There is some: both are PIs in Chicago and have magic. Any other similarities are because both pull from the genres of Urban Fantasy and Noir. And let me tell you, Hot Lead is so pure detective Noir you could set it on fire and the ashes would spell out Mike Hammer and Sam Spade.
That is one of the strengths of the book: it feels like I'm in a speakeasy listening to Mick recounting his case, I feel like I know Chicago from reading this. Some of this comes from Marmell doing his research, from the 30s slang that drips from every page, and from the strength of the narrative itself.
One thing that surprised me about the main character is that Mick Oberon is not nice. Sure, he aspires to be - this whole thing starts because someone Else needs money - but there are times when he's cold and heartless and there's a hint that something darker is underneath the identity he's wearing. In that respect he likely does owe some comparison to Hammer.
What's also cute is how Marmell uses some of the noir tropes to heighten the fantasy elements. Detectives get beat up constantly but soldier on; in the mortal realm, Oberon heals fast from any non-maiming beatdown that doesn't involve iron. Detectives have great and awful luck; Oberon's magic is luck related, and he notes that the type of sidhe he is have very extreme kinds of luck.
But beyond the Noirness of it all, the Urban Fantasy is certainly there. Oberon's jaunt into Chicago's Otherworld lasts only 70 pages, but it's a Trip. Marmell's vision of how the fae realm looks is, I will say it: unique. I've never seen this done, and let me tell you, I'll be checking out the next Oberon book just to see more of it.
The book does have its weaknesses. While the mystery itself is interesting, the villain isn't. We get a reasonable motivation, but I never feel it, I never really feel this villain at all, and it's not really interesting. The power comes from the emotional connections the other characters have to the villain and the real consequences of those actions, even after the villain is put down. Sometimes it also feels like Oberon is not in real danger, but that's only sometimes.
All in all it was fast, fun and colorful read.
Inevitably the comparison to the Dresden Files will come so let's put that to bed. There is some: both are PIs in Chicago and have magic. Any other similarities are because both pull from the genres of Urban Fantasy and Noir. And let me tell you, Hot Lead is so pure detective Noir you could set it on fire and the ashes would spell out Mike Hammer and Sam Spade.
That is one of the strengths of the book: it feels like I'm in a speakeasy listening to Mick recounting his case, I feel like I know Chicago from reading this. Some of this comes from Marmell doing his research, from the 30s slang that drips from every page, and from the strength of the narrative itself.
One thing that surprised me about the main character is that Mick Oberon is not nice. Sure, he aspires to be - this whole thing starts because someone Else needs money - but there are times when he's cold and heartless and there's a hint that something darker is underneath the identity he's wearing. In that respect he likely does owe some comparison to Hammer.
What's also cute is how Marmell uses some of the noir tropes to heighten the fantasy elements. Detectives get beat up constantly but soldier on; in the mortal realm, Oberon heals fast from any non-maiming beatdown that doesn't involve iron. Detectives have great and awful luck; Oberon's magic is luck related, and he notes that the type of sidhe he is have very extreme kinds of luck.
But beyond the Noirness of it all, the Urban Fantasy is certainly there. Oberon's jaunt into Chicago's Otherworld lasts only 70 pages, but it's a Trip. Marmell's vision of how the fae realm looks is, I will say it: unique. I've never seen this done, and let me tell you, I'll be checking out the next Oberon book just to see more of it.
The book does have its weaknesses. While the mystery itself is interesting, the villain isn't. We get a reasonable motivation, but I never feel it, I never really feel this villain at all, and it's not really interesting. The power comes from the emotional connections the other characters have to the villain and the real consequences of those actions, even after the villain is put down. Sometimes it also feels like Oberon is not in real danger, but that's only sometimes.
All in all it was fast, fun and colorful read.
July 1, 2014
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Hot Lead Cold Iron is the first volume in the Mick Oberon chronicles, however it isn’t Mick's first appearance. That honour goes to the short story “The Purloined Ledger” which appeared in Broken Time Blues: Fantastic Tales in the Roaring '20s, a little over three years ago.
This story however does a fantastic job of introducing us to private detective Mick Oberon who lives in 1930s Chicago and does a bang-up job reminding the readers of famously jaded lone-wolf detectives such as Phillip Marlowe, Lew Archer, Sam Spade, etc. He’s however much different in nature while sharing their drive to do good against all odds. He’s not entirely human, scratch that he’s not a human at all but one of the Fae folk. He’s carefully hidden this secret quite skillfully and yet managed to pass among his acquaintances as an eccentric person but a person nonetheless.
His newest case however will have between a rock and a hard place when the wife of a famous Mafiosi requests his aid for their daughter. She claims that a changeling has replaced her daughter and it’s up to Mick to find out where her actual daughter might be. Mick slightly reluctantly takes up the case and that means travelling back to the world of his origin wherein he’s been a persona non-grata for reasons revealed in the story. What happens next is something that most readers can guess but the beauty would be in RAFOing what a magical twist the author has accomplished on the nature and structure of the Fae world.
The story has a very historical feel to it with the characters mouthing words and phrases that seem very specific to the thirties decade. This was really excellent and helped make the story immersion that much smoother. Another aspect that I enjoyed was the pace and the twists that the author throws into the story. Of course due to the nature of the story, some of them are quite easy to predict but then most of them due to the infusion of Fae mythos into the crime structure of the storyline makes it a unique one (as far as I know). Another thing worth mentioning is the fabulous cover art by Julia Lloyd and the way it helps capture a distinct look for the book.
Drawbacks to this story are the same to most urban fantasy books, if you don’ t like the genre then this book won’t be changing your mind about it. Also if you are a tickler for no magic in your mystery then this definitely isn’t your cup of tea. For me there wasn’t much to complain, as I love both genres of urban fantasy and mystery stories. Perhaps the only thing that I lightly grumble about is that sometimes, the main character’s speech patterns can get confusing. But that was just my peeve and not something that should be mildly troubling for everyone.
CONCLUSION: Hot Lead Cold Iron is Ari Marmell’s most imaginative and strongest book so far in career. Give it a shot if you love to read lone-wolf PI stories or love historical crime mysteries or simply innovative urban fantasies. This one didn’t disappoint in the slightest.
May 14, 2014
http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/05/...
Mick Oberon is a Chicago PI, but he’s no ordinary PI. His weapon of choice, in fact, is a magic wand (a Luchtaine & Goodfellow Model 1592, specifically), and he has a little magic of his own on top of that. In 1932 Chicago, one run by mobsters and their ilk, a little magic is a nice thing to have, but tussling with them isn’t Oberon’s favorite thing to do. However, his landlord is about to lose the building, and it’s the only place that Oberon has ever felt at home in the human world. Needless to say, he needs cash, fast. So, when the wife of one of Chicago’s major mobsters asks for his help, he’s hesitant to take the case, but when he finds out that they’re looking for their daughter, who was taken 16 years ago and replaced with a changeling (who is starting to look, and act, less and less like a human girl), he reluctantly agrees that he may be one of the few, er, people, that can help them. The problem is, he’ll have to go Sideways, into Elphame (the land of faerie, the Chicago Otherworld, you get the idea), in order to even begin to catch the trail of their real daughter, and he’s not exactly welcome. Getting help from the Seelie Court won’t be easy, but if anyone can do it, Oberon can, or so he hopes. He also hopes that the trail won’t lead to the Unseelie Court. Good thing luck is on Oberon’s side…most of the time.
Mick Oberon is my kind of hero, and Hot Lead, Cold Iron is my kind of urban fantasy. Oberon is very, very old, a little cranky, loves nothing more than a warm glass of milk, and sometimes takes payment in oddities rather than cash. He also has a rather soft heart, and helping not only the girl that was taken from her family, but the changeling that was put in her place, soon becomes more than a payday. Also, when it’s revealed what the Fae’s idea of a “changeling” includes, it’s pretty shocking. But I digress. Back to Oberon. He has luck on his side and is able to “manipulate” others’ luck, to fantastic effect. Needless to say, it’s handy in a fight. And he gets in plenty of fights, mostly with mob thugs. Luckily, it’s also very difficult to really hurt Oberon, and he heals pretty fast. That said, he ends up dealing with some very powerful, very evil magic, and that can hurt a fellow, even one as old and powerful as our Mick.
This book opens with fists swinging, and barely pauses to take a breath. I loved Marmell’s version of Faerie, and some of the contraptions that Oberon uses while there are very clever (love the Fae camera.) Another thing I really liked (and didn’t really think about until I finished), was the absence of any kind of romance. I don’t mind a little romance in my reading, I really don’t, but to read an urban fantasy where that’s not even hinted at is kind of a nice change of pace. With this book, I was too busy being immersed in Marmell’s fully realized Chicago of the 30s, and Oberon’s charming eccentricities to miss it. Fae magic, witchcraft, and even the hint of other supernatural creatures, combined with the 30s setting, give this book it’s considerable charm. Add a hero like Mick Oberon, and you’ve got a winner. This was lots of fun, and I’m hoping we’ll see more of Oberon soon!
Mick Oberon is a Chicago PI, but he’s no ordinary PI. His weapon of choice, in fact, is a magic wand (a Luchtaine & Goodfellow Model 1592, specifically), and he has a little magic of his own on top of that. In 1932 Chicago, one run by mobsters and their ilk, a little magic is a nice thing to have, but tussling with them isn’t Oberon’s favorite thing to do. However, his landlord is about to lose the building, and it’s the only place that Oberon has ever felt at home in the human world. Needless to say, he needs cash, fast. So, when the wife of one of Chicago’s major mobsters asks for his help, he’s hesitant to take the case, but when he finds out that they’re looking for their daughter, who was taken 16 years ago and replaced with a changeling (who is starting to look, and act, less and less like a human girl), he reluctantly agrees that he may be one of the few, er, people, that can help them. The problem is, he’ll have to go Sideways, into Elphame (the land of faerie, the Chicago Otherworld, you get the idea), in order to even begin to catch the trail of their real daughter, and he’s not exactly welcome. Getting help from the Seelie Court won’t be easy, but if anyone can do it, Oberon can, or so he hopes. He also hopes that the trail won’t lead to the Unseelie Court. Good thing luck is on Oberon’s side…most of the time.
Mick Oberon is my kind of hero, and Hot Lead, Cold Iron is my kind of urban fantasy. Oberon is very, very old, a little cranky, loves nothing more than a warm glass of milk, and sometimes takes payment in oddities rather than cash. He also has a rather soft heart, and helping not only the girl that was taken from her family, but the changeling that was put in her place, soon becomes more than a payday. Also, when it’s revealed what the Fae’s idea of a “changeling” includes, it’s pretty shocking. But I digress. Back to Oberon. He has luck on his side and is able to “manipulate” others’ luck, to fantastic effect. Needless to say, it’s handy in a fight. And he gets in plenty of fights, mostly with mob thugs. Luckily, it’s also very difficult to really hurt Oberon, and he heals pretty fast. That said, he ends up dealing with some very powerful, very evil magic, and that can hurt a fellow, even one as old and powerful as our Mick.
This book opens with fists swinging, and barely pauses to take a breath. I loved Marmell’s version of Faerie, and some of the contraptions that Oberon uses while there are very clever (love the Fae camera.) Another thing I really liked (and didn’t really think about until I finished), was the absence of any kind of romance. I don’t mind a little romance in my reading, I really don’t, but to read an urban fantasy where that’s not even hinted at is kind of a nice change of pace. With this book, I was too busy being immersed in Marmell’s fully realized Chicago of the 30s, and Oberon’s charming eccentricities to miss it. Fae magic, witchcraft, and even the hint of other supernatural creatures, combined with the 30s setting, give this book it’s considerable charm. Add a hero like Mick Oberon, and you’ve got a winner. This was lots of fun, and I’m hoping we’ll see more of Oberon soon!
October 2, 2018
Good mystery/urban fantasy series set in 1930s Chicago about private investigator (and member of the Fae) Mick Oberon. He tries to avoid mob-related jobs, but...
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February 19, 2018Fun. That's all you need to know. It's fun.
June 10, 2014
This is the way to start a series, I mean, wow. Mick Oberon is a P.I. in the rough and tumble days of late-Prohibition-era Chicago. He mixes with the mob, political figures,and other assorted low-lifes, while eking out a living, enough to afford milk, rent and the cheap suits he wears. He can take a beating like nobody's business, and packs a wand rather than rather than a gun. Oh yeah, and he's fae.
I've got a mental checklist that I use to evaluate a new (to me) Urban Fantasy: 1. Is there a strong voice? 2. Do I like the characters/world? 3. Is the magic system interesting? (you can replace vampire/werewolf/etc. system where applicable)
Hot Lead, Cold Iron passes this test easily. Oberon's smart, snarky -- a little disdainful of humanity (but it's not like you can really disagree with him). This Chicago is right out of The Untouchables, and when you add in the supernatural to the world (plus the Seelie/Unseelie Courts) -- this world is a riot. There is so much raw material here that Marmell is set for several books. The magic system? I don't have it all worked out after just one book, but what I've seen, I've liked. Oberson plays with luck -- he takes good luck from people and uses it to power his own, he magnifies people's bad luck to cause mishaps/mayhem, and so on. No big fireballs, or dramatic spells, just little bits of luck here and there going his way. I think that's pretty nifty -- especially the way it's working out so far.
I've enjoyed Marmell's prose in the past, and this is no different, even as it doesn't feel like his other books. The novel is filled with great lines that are the epitome of hard-boiled P.I.s like Phillip Marlowe or Dixon Hill such as, "clad in shirt and trousers creased sharp enough to trim hedges." Or this description of the fae world:
I hope future books spend more time in the fae world (and there's every indication that they will), it's slightly bent/twisted hyper-reality was truly imaginative, and unlike anyone else's take on it. The fae camera, for example, was sort of a mix of something you'd find in a store on Diagon Alley and in Bedrock. I realize that analogy probably makes no sense -- read the book and it will.
Good action, good plot, strong protagonist, strange world and intriguing magic system -- everything a series' first novel needs. Bring on the next!
I've got a mental checklist that I use to evaluate a new (to me) Urban Fantasy: 1. Is there a strong voice? 2. Do I like the characters/world? 3. Is the magic system interesting? (you can replace vampire/werewolf/etc. system where applicable)
Hot Lead, Cold Iron passes this test easily. Oberon's smart, snarky -- a little disdainful of humanity (but it's not like you can really disagree with him). This Chicago is right out of The Untouchables, and when you add in the supernatural to the world (plus the Seelie/Unseelie Courts) -- this world is a riot. There is so much raw material here that Marmell is set for several books. The magic system? I don't have it all worked out after just one book, but what I've seen, I've liked. Oberson plays with luck -- he takes good luck from people and uses it to power his own, he magnifies people's bad luck to cause mishaps/mayhem, and so on. No big fireballs, or dramatic spells, just little bits of luck here and there going his way. I think that's pretty nifty -- especially the way it's working out so far.
I've enjoyed Marmell's prose in the past, and this is no different, even as it doesn't feel like his other books. The novel is filled with great lines that are the epitome of hard-boiled P.I.s like Phillip Marlowe or Dixon Hill such as, "clad in shirt and trousers creased sharp enough to trim hedges." Or this description of the fae world:
The colors. . . They're intense, impossible, almost painful; entities unto themselves, rather'n mere traits of other objects. They're stark, standing out against each other, the richest greens, the sharpest reds, the deepest browns, the brightest yellows. you could try to capture 'em in a painting, but nobody'd buy it: too fake-looking. There's no gradation, nothing muted; the dark and light emeralds of a leaf don't blend into each other, but sit side-by-side with clear demarcation -- as if no one color here would ever lower itself to blend with another.
I hope future books spend more time in the fae world (and there's every indication that they will), it's slightly bent/twisted hyper-reality was truly imaginative, and unlike anyone else's take on it. The fae camera, for example, was sort of a mix of something you'd find in a store on Diagon Alley and in Bedrock. I realize that analogy probably makes no sense -- read the book and it will.
Good action, good plot, strong protagonist, strange world and intriguing magic system -- everything a series' first novel needs. Bring on the next!
April 30, 2018
3 1/2 Stars. A hard-boiled detective narrative filled with both fantasy and humor, this was an enjoyable light read. Combining a 1940's detective story with a tale of otherworldly magic, Hot Lead, Cold Iron is certainly entertaining. The characters and dialogue feel right for the hard-boiled setting as well, not at all forced, and the mystery is admittedly intriguing.
Despite all of this, I can't say that the novel was stellar-- several times I lost interest, read something else, and then came back to it. Partly that was because of a couple of slower places in the narrative, but I think that, honestly, it may have been mostly because of my own penchant for studying mythology. While Hot Lead, Cold Iron was fun, it draws on pop culture ideas of the Fey rather than myth and folklore. That would probably not be a sticking point for many, but personally I found it distracting. (I mean, red and white mushrooms popping up as characters walk through the Otherworld? Really?) While the fantasy aspects were creative, I still had some trouble embracing some of them. I think some were meant to be funny, but they just didn't work for me. That, however, is my fault, not the author's.
To many, as I said, this would probably not matter, and the book was still a fun light read. If you enjoy hard boiled detective fiction and fantasy, and you are more interested in pure fantasy than mythology, you will really enjoy this novel. If you're a stickler for mythology like I am, you may have some trouble with parts, but you may still find it quite entertaining-- especially if you also like a little humor thrown in.
Despite all of this, I can't say that the novel was stellar-- several times I lost interest, read something else, and then came back to it. Partly that was because of a couple of slower places in the narrative, but I think that, honestly, it may have been mostly because of my own penchant for studying mythology. While Hot Lead, Cold Iron was fun, it draws on pop culture ideas of the Fey rather than myth and folklore. That would probably not be a sticking point for many, but personally I found it distracting. (I mean, red and white mushrooms popping up as characters walk through the Otherworld? Really?) While the fantasy aspects were creative, I still had some trouble embracing some of them. I think some were meant to be funny, but they just didn't work for me. That, however, is my fault, not the author's.
To many, as I said, this would probably not matter, and the book was still a fun light read. If you enjoy hard boiled detective fiction and fantasy, and you are more interested in pure fantasy than mythology, you will really enjoy this novel. If you're a stickler for mythology like I am, you may have some trouble with parts, but you may still find it quite entertaining-- especially if you also like a little humor thrown in.
March 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this urban fantasy about a fae detective in Chicago in 1932. It is told in the first person by Mick Oberon who walked away from faerie for reasons he doesn't share with us and who is surviving in Chicago as a private investigator. The mobs are very busy in Chicago and Mick isn't completely excited to work for a mob wife. However, he needs money to save the building where he lives and the mob has the money.
Mick is hired by Bianca Ottati to find his daughter. Bianca has come to believe that the child she knows as her daughter Adalina is actually a changeling; she wants Mick to track down the daughter that was exchanged for her. Mick has to return to faerie to try to track down the missing girl.
The story has all sorts of twist and turns. Mick is beaten up, shot, and otherwise damaged in many ways. Good thing the fae are tougher than the standard human. I loved Mick's voice as he talked about his life and the case. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Chicago gangs and the fae.
I will be reading Mick's next adventure as soon as it is published.
Mick is hired by Bianca Ottati to find his daughter. Bianca has come to believe that the child she knows as her daughter Adalina is actually a changeling; she wants Mick to track down the daughter that was exchanged for her. Mick has to return to faerie to try to track down the missing girl.
The story has all sorts of twist and turns. Mick is beaten up, shot, and otherwise damaged in many ways. Good thing the fae are tougher than the standard human. I loved Mick's voice as he talked about his life and the case. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Chicago gangs and the fae.
I will be reading Mick's next adventure as soon as it is published.
May 19, 2014
Fairytale noir set in prohibition-era Chicago. Magical tommy guns that double as wands? Crazy amounts of period slang? Magic that doesn't break the world? A story that starts out fast and just keeps moving? Sign me up! Marmell has created a really memorable unique world and set a great story in it.
This is not a mystery - you don't get a series of clues that will allow you to deduce who dunnit. Rather, it's an adventure where Mick Oberon, self-exiled aes sidhe and PI, tells you how he found a mob boss's changeling daughter.
Marmell went whole hog on the period slang, to the point that this book is practically written in dialect. At the same time he did an awesome job of introducing the slang so that I wasn't confused by it. Well done.
This is not a mystery - you don't get a series of clues that will allow you to deduce who dunnit. Rather, it's an adventure where Mick Oberon, self-exiled aes sidhe and PI, tells you how he found a mob boss's changeling daughter.
Marmell went whole hog on the period slang, to the point that this book is practically written in dialect. At the same time he did an awesome job of introducing the slang so that I wasn't confused by it. Well done.
September 11, 2016
1930s detective noir, the Chicago Mob, & Fae, along with plenty of other supernatural creatures. Fast-paced thriller that marks a great new entry into the urban fantasy category. If you are looking for a Sam Spade/Philip Marlowe/Mike Hammer hard-boiled PI with the mystical powers of belonging to the Fae, this is a book not to miss.
October 20, 2014
Wants to be Dresden. Isn't.
December 17, 2015
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more of his stuff. It reminded me a little bit of The Vampire Files.
May 30, 2018
The story started off in a more familiar land (1930's Chicago) and gradually built up to more fantastical realms (Seelie and Unseelie versions of Chicago in Elphame) which is the best way to introduce fantastical settings.
I had a hard time imagining most of the fantasy creatures, as Oberon didn't describe more than a handful in detail, but the ones that were I was able to imagine more-or-less clearly. My all time favorite, and most disgusting, description was of the Queen of the Unseelie. Uhhh, it's so gross to imagine her nasty mouths/eye-holes but also so vivid I can't not imagine them. I image Oberon as a hobbit and no one can stop me.
I'm not super familiar with magic systems, but this one felt more balanced that most I have seen. There are clear limits, skill levels, and drawbacks to different types of magic.
Mick Oberon, as a character, first came off as a sly, cold man who gets beat up a lot but can barely pull through in a fight by the skin of his teeth. For a while, I'd get annoyed with him trash-talking humans as if they make him do things when in reality, Oberon, no one makes you fidget or pace. But as I kept reading, I was happy to see him point out flaws in Fae culture as well and that he had a human friend, Pete, who he genuinely cared about and worried for. I also like he tried his best to help the two girls, Celia and Adalina, both victims of the Seelie Court's meddling and their insane/evil grandmother Donna. He may come off as cold and uncaring, but deep down he's got the Fae equivalent of a heart.
Another thing about Oberon, despite his Fae "superiority" over humans, he does have weakness. I loved how electricity and iron freaked him out and could seriously hurt him. It made the moments where he sprung back up after a good beating or being shot-up seem a lot less OP when compared to him clinging to the back seat of a car like a wet cat being shot with a tazer.
The slang. Oh man, in the first chapter I was lost in the sea of 30's slang. By the middle I was doing okay. By the end it wasn't tripping me up anymore. Yes, it's a little confusing at first, but it really helps flesh out the world. A small little detail I would've changed is to have Oberon think in less slang since he dislikes it.
I loved the twists and turns of the plot, finding out bits and pieces of Oberon's past, seeing how far he's willing to go (and not go) for this job who he's willing to use/save/help to do it, which groups or people are responsible for the real Adalina's disappearance and why, and pretty much everything else.
The ending wrapped up a tad too fast for me, but overall I was satisfied with it. I especially love how Adalina (the changeling) became so fleshed out and real in the last few chapters, despite her turning into a fish or something. I'm curious to see what will become of the Ottai family and an exhausted, beaten Oberon. Look forward to reading the next books.
I had a hard time imagining most of the fantasy creatures, as Oberon didn't describe more than a handful in detail, but the ones that were I was able to imagine more-or-less clearly. My all time favorite, and most disgusting, description was of the Queen of the Unseelie. Uhhh, it's so gross to imagine her nasty mouths/eye-holes but also so vivid I can't not imagine them. I image Oberon as a hobbit and no one can stop me.
I'm not super familiar with magic systems, but this one felt more balanced that most I have seen. There are clear limits, skill levels, and drawbacks to different types of magic.
Mick Oberon, as a character, first came off as a sly, cold man who gets beat up a lot but can barely pull through in a fight by the skin of his teeth. For a while, I'd get annoyed with him trash-talking humans as if they make him do things when in reality, Oberon, no one makes you fidget or pace. But as I kept reading, I was happy to see him point out flaws in Fae culture as well and that he had a human friend, Pete, who he genuinely cared about and worried for. I also like he tried his best to help the two girls, Celia and Adalina, both victims of the Seelie Court's meddling and their insane/evil grandmother Donna. He may come off as cold and uncaring, but deep down he's got the Fae equivalent of a heart.
Another thing about Oberon, despite his Fae "superiority" over humans, he does have weakness. I loved how electricity and iron freaked him out and could seriously hurt him. It made the moments where he sprung back up after a good beating or being shot-up seem a lot less OP when compared to him clinging to the back seat of a car like a wet cat being shot with a tazer.
The slang. Oh man, in the first chapter I was lost in the sea of 30's slang. By the middle I was doing okay. By the end it wasn't tripping me up anymore. Yes, it's a little confusing at first, but it really helps flesh out the world. A small little detail I would've changed is to have Oberon think in less slang since he dislikes it.
I loved the twists and turns of the plot, finding out bits and pieces of Oberon's past, seeing how far he's willing to go (and not go) for this job who he's willing to use/save/help to do it, which groups or people are responsible for the real Adalina's disappearance and why, and pretty much everything else.
The ending wrapped up a tad too fast for me, but overall I was satisfied with it. I especially love how Adalina (the changeling) became so fleshed out and real in the last few chapters, despite her turning into a fish or something. I'm curious to see what will become of the Ottai family and an exhausted, beaten Oberon. Look forward to reading the next books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
This is a genuinely fun novel. The plot twists are clever, and paced expertly—rarely does the book seem to rush or drag, but tantalizingly beckon the reader forward. The world was an entertaining and seamless integration of mobster Chicago and the mystical Elphame, with descriptions and features that made me marvel at Marmell’s imagination.
As a narrator, Mick was entertaining and colorful. He’s a complex character who’s rough at the edges, and while doesn’t necessarily have that ‘heart of gold,’ follows his own code of morality in an endearing manner. He’s easy to sympathize with. His constant gangster slang took some time to get used to, but it doesn’t detract from the reading experience, and adds a unique flavor to the novel’s atmosphere.
Other characters, such as Bianca Ottati, Donna Orsola, and gang leader Fino, all add different perspectives to the conflict—where is the missing Ottati daughter, and what to do with the changeling who’s been left in her place? Both Ottati girls, Adalina and the girl she meant to replace, act as foils to one another, strengthening the discussion of the novel’s overarching theme: what does it mean to be human?
It’s a thought-provoking discussion, and Oberon’s own past and current actions shape its flow. While it skims the surface for the most part, it is an interesting aspect of the novel.
The best thing about this novel, though, is the expansiveness of it. With each character interaction, we see hints that there’s more to them than meets the eye, and with each new development in the world, we’re left to wonder what else we haven’t seen. It’s the iceberg principle in action, and it makes the novel seem much more than three hundred pages.
(Lastly, I feel I should add a note here about how this novel compares to Marmell’s debut series, Widdershins. Certainly, some of the same style shines through—the sass, the narrator who’s closer to antihero than hero, even if not quite there—but it’s a marvelous improvement. The snark is more appropriate and natural, and the pacing is centuries ahead. Fans of Widdershins will most definitely enjoy this as well.)
As a narrator, Mick was entertaining and colorful. He’s a complex character who’s rough at the edges, and while doesn’t necessarily have that ‘heart of gold,’ follows his own code of morality in an endearing manner. He’s easy to sympathize with. His constant gangster slang took some time to get used to, but it doesn’t detract from the reading experience, and adds a unique flavor to the novel’s atmosphere.
Other characters, such as Bianca Ottati, Donna Orsola, and gang leader Fino, all add different perspectives to the conflict—where is the missing Ottati daughter, and what to do with the changeling who’s been left in her place? Both Ottati girls, Adalina and the girl she meant to replace, act as foils to one another, strengthening the discussion of the novel’s overarching theme: what does it mean to be human?
It’s a thought-provoking discussion, and Oberon’s own past and current actions shape its flow. While it skims the surface for the most part, it is an interesting aspect of the novel.
The best thing about this novel, though, is the expansiveness of it. With each character interaction, we see hints that there’s more to them than meets the eye, and with each new development in the world, we’re left to wonder what else we haven’t seen. It’s the iceberg principle in action, and it makes the novel seem much more than three hundred pages.
(Lastly, I feel I should add a note here about how this novel compares to Marmell’s debut series, Widdershins. Certainly, some of the same style shines through—the sass, the narrator who’s closer to antihero than hero, even if not quite there—but it’s a marvelous improvement. The snark is more appropriate and natural, and the pacing is centuries ahead. Fans of Widdershins will most definitely enjoy this as well.)
August 3, 2017
I was really interested in reading this one due to the Depression-era Chicago setting, and that aspect of the book certainly didn't disappointment. The world-building was a lot more authentic than I expected, and I appreciated the amount of effort that went into making the setting feel legitimate.
That being said, I had a few issues:
1) While I understand the author's desire to make the era-appropriate jargon realistic, I think the narration was overwhelmed by Oberon's manner of speaking. To the point where I honestly had trouble understanding what he was saying for the first few chapters. I think the author could have toned it down a little without losing the sense of authenticity.
2) The plot was interesting, overall, but I felt it dragged at times -- especially around the middle -- and I think the climax wrapped up too quickly. I would have been more satisfied with a drawn-out sequence, because the way it was written, all the tension drained away pretty quickly, and we were left with a conclusion that wrapped up a little too fast.
3) The characters were interesting, too, but besides Oberon himself, they were all pretty flat. We were never given a chance to "get to know" anyone other than Oberon beyond some superficial details, which were largely conveyed by Oberon's own voice and not through the characters' actions. Now, maybe the author develops the cast more in the sequel -- I can't say -- but there simply wasn't enough for my taste in this installment.
So, overall, this was an okay read. I did enjoy it, and I do plan to continue the series. But I think several aspects of the book could have been better, so I'm giving this one 3.5/5 stars.
That being said, I had a few issues:
1) While I understand the author's desire to make the era-appropriate jargon realistic, I think the narration was overwhelmed by Oberon's manner of speaking. To the point where I honestly had trouble understanding what he was saying for the first few chapters. I think the author could have toned it down a little without losing the sense of authenticity.
2) The plot was interesting, overall, but I felt it dragged at times -- especially around the middle -- and I think the climax wrapped up too quickly. I would have been more satisfied with a drawn-out sequence, because the way it was written, all the tension drained away pretty quickly, and we were left with a conclusion that wrapped up a little too fast.
3) The characters were interesting, too, but besides Oberon himself, they were all pretty flat. We were never given a chance to "get to know" anyone other than Oberon beyond some superficial details, which were largely conveyed by Oberon's own voice and not through the characters' actions. Now, maybe the author develops the cast more in the sequel -- I can't say -- but there simply wasn't enough for my taste in this installment.
So, overall, this was an okay read. I did enjoy it, and I do plan to continue the series. But I think several aspects of the book could have been better, so I'm giving this one 3.5/5 stars.
May 28, 2015
I like stories about the fae and I really enjoyed reading about them in a different setting than what I am used to. This was a very different setting for me!
This is set in 1930's Chicago and it is full of very amusing gangster slang, and many, many nods to black and white Private Detective shows. I liked how Oberon, the main character, "spoke" to the reader as if he was telling the story directly, things like "I should've know then," and "I'll get back to that in a minute." I liked that, it really made me think of the B&W TV programmes, you know with the opening that starts something like... "The dame walked in, with legs up to here, lips of sin and a scent of trouble following her like a bad shadow..."
I was very interested when Oberon went into the fae world, and it was a very fascinating take on it. Having the 'same' city in both worlds was great, and hearing how the fae mimic and how everything is run my magic rather than technology. A lot of other fae books I have read, have the fea are very disdainful of everything human, so they are very medieval in setting and customs and I liked this idea of it. The traditional idea of what makes the fae, the fae is still there, so they are still tricky and you wouldn't want to enter into any kind of deal with them, but it is just updated to keeping up with the times in the human world. Very interesting to read about.
I liked the character of Mick Oberon, he was funny and made me chuckle at several points of the story. Also this is the second fae book to mention Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream', and that, in my opinion, is just wonderful! It gave a little background information about Oberon's choice of name, which is very interesting as I thought at the beginning this was King Oberon, but in a different style. But he is not, he is his third cousin (unless we are being mislead by this.)
There are several things that I want to know more about, mainly about Oberon's background and why he decided to leave 'court' and he fae world behind, and make everyone think that he was 'kicked' out. But this is part of a series and I'm sure more of this information will come along later.
I will be reading the second book as soon as it is out!
I read this as part of my 2015 Reading Challenge, the criteria was a book with antonyms in the title.
This is set in 1930's Chicago and it is full of very amusing gangster slang, and many, many nods to black and white Private Detective shows. I liked how Oberon, the main character, "spoke" to the reader as if he was telling the story directly, things like "I should've know then," and "I'll get back to that in a minute." I liked that, it really made me think of the B&W TV programmes, you know with the opening that starts something like... "The dame walked in, with legs up to here, lips of sin and a scent of trouble following her like a bad shadow..."
I was very interested when Oberon went into the fae world, and it was a very fascinating take on it. Having the 'same' city in both worlds was great, and hearing how the fae mimic and how everything is run my magic rather than technology. A lot of other fae books I have read, have the fea are very disdainful of everything human, so they are very medieval in setting and customs and I liked this idea of it. The traditional idea of what makes the fae, the fae is still there, so they are still tricky and you wouldn't want to enter into any kind of deal with them, but it is just updated to keeping up with the times in the human world. Very interesting to read about.
I liked the character of Mick Oberon, he was funny and made me chuckle at several points of the story. Also this is the second fae book to mention Shakespeare's 'Midsummer Night's Dream', and that, in my opinion, is just wonderful! It gave a little background information about Oberon's choice of name, which is very interesting as I thought at the beginning this was King Oberon, but in a different style. But he is not, he is his third cousin (unless we are being mislead by this.)
There are several things that I want to know more about, mainly about Oberon's background and why he decided to leave 'court' and he fae world behind, and make everyone think that he was 'kicked' out. But this is part of a series and I'm sure more of this information will come along later.
I will be reading the second book as soon as it is out!
I read this as part of my 2015 Reading Challenge, the criteria was a book with antonyms in the title.
July 11, 2014
As far as urban fantasy goes, the concept for this new series of magical detectives couldn’t be better. Take the spiritual home of hardboiled pulp fiction – a hard-assed Chicago of the prohibition period, oozing with booze-dealing Italian gangsters and numbnuts thugs driving flivvers – and introduce that time-honoured reluctant hero, a jaded, hard-bitten private eye with a sharp line in snappy dialogue and a withering distaste for worldly weakness. Plonk him in a scruffy downtown basement office with a sympathetic landlord. Then give him a solid mystery to solve involving the missing daughter of a serious mobster.
Oh. And let’s make the hero old-school fae nobility while we’re at it, shall we?
Mick Oberon is a genuine prince of the Seelie court with some serious innate abilities and no small amount of righteous ire set behind them. Oberon has a complicated back story which we learn a little about in this tale, but the majority of this story revolves around the missing girl…
…and her replacement, a changeling left in her stead some 16 years ago. Oberon follows the trail which zigzags between two realities, bumping heads with bad guys in both places and needing all of his sleuthing skills and supernatural abilities to stay vaguely ahead of the game.
‘Hot Lead’ freely mixes a metric tonne of 1930s gangster slang stacked alongside the ancient Gaelic names of the fae with dozens of references to folklore and myth, mixed in alongside genuine historical characters and events (see
http://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress.... for more details on character and plot developments).
Inventive, imaginative and enjoyable, ‘Hot Lead’ grabbed my attention with a superb action sequence at the start and romped along to the satisfying conclusion. Marmell has an accessible, free flowing style which delivers laugh-out-loud one-liners with aplomb, but is also capable of genuinely tender emotional moments. He’s also introduced a raft of intriguing characters like the policeman who happens to be a werewolf, and Queen Mab/Mob herself, the baddest gal of the Unseelie court. Some of her henchmen are truly unpleasant, and the lady herself shares several scary characteristics with The Corinthian.
Plenty to get your teeth into here, and much promise for the future too.
The sequel is due in 2015. Hurry up.
8/10
Oh. And let’s make the hero old-school fae nobility while we’re at it, shall we?
Mick Oberon is a genuine prince of the Seelie court with some serious innate abilities and no small amount of righteous ire set behind them. Oberon has a complicated back story which we learn a little about in this tale, but the majority of this story revolves around the missing girl…
…and her replacement, a changeling left in her stead some 16 years ago. Oberon follows the trail which zigzags between two realities, bumping heads with bad guys in both places and needing all of his sleuthing skills and supernatural abilities to stay vaguely ahead of the game.
‘Hot Lead’ freely mixes a metric tonne of 1930s gangster slang stacked alongside the ancient Gaelic names of the fae with dozens of references to folklore and myth, mixed in alongside genuine historical characters and events (see
http://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress.... for more details on character and plot developments).
Inventive, imaginative and enjoyable, ‘Hot Lead’ grabbed my attention with a superb action sequence at the start and romped along to the satisfying conclusion. Marmell has an accessible, free flowing style which delivers laugh-out-loud one-liners with aplomb, but is also capable of genuinely tender emotional moments. He’s also introduced a raft of intriguing characters like the policeman who happens to be a werewolf, and Queen Mab/Mob herself, the baddest gal of the Unseelie court. Some of her henchmen are truly unpleasant, and the lady herself shares several scary characteristics with The Corinthian.
Plenty to get your teeth into here, and much promise for the future too.
The sequel is due in 2015. Hurry up.
8/10
February 17, 2015
This book has generated some strong feelings in other Goodreads reviews. It was with that knowledge that I plunged ahead and acquired a copy. And, I am happy that I did, but you might not come to a similar conclusion.
Will you like the P.I. who is at the center of this story?
Mick is a detective just scraping by and, at times, having to work both sides of the street. As the book opens, he is in the midst of a brawl which happened after he was caught trying to get some information in a private office. As he is beat up, we learn his skills and thoughts about the predicament. We also learn why he favors a magic wand rather than a gun.
Will you like the 1930s Chicago that the author uses for his story?
Marmell knows his Chicago well enough not to make any big mistakes as to time and place. The Windy City full of politics and corruption is on display. Not so important are the neighborhoods, but nothing seemed wrong. The slang might have been a little more than necessary, but most of it was fine and didn't at all interfere with the plot or understanding what was going on.
Was the "noir" tacked on or integrated into the story?
Bad guys, double-dealing dames, and getting beat up seemed to fit right into Mick's days (and nights).
How well does the fantasy work?
Mick is an elf. There is a parallel world out there where elves and other creatures that we consign to fantasy are fully functional. Sometimes they can cross-over from their world to ours. Mick is in "exile" having either left or been kicked out of that world. Being a detective is a way for him to survive. Marmell has given plenty of thought to how this might work and, as readers, this helps a lot. Technology is painful to Mick, and to others who have also crossed-over. A ride in a car is almost agony. Using anything powered by electricity is a bit of torture. This is a limitation on Mick's magic (which he draws from the other world). There are many kinds of magic and Mick has to contend with several in this story. He can be cursed, hexed and contained. This story shows us a lot of this as a missing person case morphs into a massive threat to many of the citizens of Chicago. Mick has to decide whether he is willing to sell his soul and/or compromise any future happiness in order to successfully resolve this. It worked for me.
Will you like the P.I. who is at the center of this story?
Mick is a detective just scraping by and, at times, having to work both sides of the street. As the book opens, he is in the midst of a brawl which happened after he was caught trying to get some information in a private office. As he is beat up, we learn his skills and thoughts about the predicament. We also learn why he favors a magic wand rather than a gun.
Will you like the 1930s Chicago that the author uses for his story?
Marmell knows his Chicago well enough not to make any big mistakes as to time and place. The Windy City full of politics and corruption is on display. Not so important are the neighborhoods, but nothing seemed wrong. The slang might have been a little more than necessary, but most of it was fine and didn't at all interfere with the plot or understanding what was going on.
Was the "noir" tacked on or integrated into the story?
Bad guys, double-dealing dames, and getting beat up seemed to fit right into Mick's days (and nights).
How well does the fantasy work?
Mick is an elf. There is a parallel world out there where elves and other creatures that we consign to fantasy are fully functional. Sometimes they can cross-over from their world to ours. Mick is in "exile" having either left or been kicked out of that world. Being a detective is a way for him to survive. Marmell has given plenty of thought to how this might work and, as readers, this helps a lot. Technology is painful to Mick, and to others who have also crossed-over. A ride in a car is almost agony. Using anything powered by electricity is a bit of torture. This is a limitation on Mick's magic (which he draws from the other world). There are many kinds of magic and Mick has to contend with several in this story. He can be cursed, hexed and contained. This story shows us a lot of this as a missing person case morphs into a massive threat to many of the citizens of Chicago. Mick has to decide whether he is willing to sell his soul and/or compromise any future happiness in order to successfully resolve this. It worked for me.
December 23, 2014
I'm not going to write an extensive review, because it has been a while since I finished this book, and over time books dribble out of my memory like an oil leak. However, I do still recall my overall impressions, so I might as well jot them down.
I have to admit, I am a sucker for noir - if it's done well. A hard-bitten, no-nonsense, tough-guy detective in a gritty, grey urban setting in the 1930's, 40's or 50's... I can't resist. Ari Marmell gets the tone and the attitude and the feel of it spot on in this book, with the added bonus of urban fantasy: our detective is from the land of the Fae, living and working in Chicago due to an apparently self-imposed exile.
"Chicago-set urban fantasy?" I hear all you Jim Butcher fans saying. Yep. But I have to admit, I was never a huge fan of the Harry Dresden books. I think Butcher was trying for a noirish tone, and he missed. Anyway, for whatever reason - I'm not doing a Dresden review here - I didn't really get into those books.
This one, on the other hand, grabbed me from the start, from the matter-of-fact way the protagonist, Mick Oberon, talks about his special kind of investigating, to the parallels between Seelie Court intrigue and Chicago mob politics, to the central mystery - who replaced a mobster's daughter with a changeling 16 years ago, and why? - it all comes together to make a taut, enjoyable novel.
Of course, no noir PI worth his fedora would solve a mystery without angering some powerful people - in the Chicago underworld or the Courts of the Fae - and Marmell leaves intriguing questions concerning Mick Oberon's past unanswered. So yeah, I'm looking forward to the next one quite eagerly.
I have to admit, I am a sucker for noir - if it's done well. A hard-bitten, no-nonsense, tough-guy detective in a gritty, grey urban setting in the 1930's, 40's or 50's... I can't resist. Ari Marmell gets the tone and the attitude and the feel of it spot on in this book, with the added bonus of urban fantasy: our detective is from the land of the Fae, living and working in Chicago due to an apparently self-imposed exile.
"Chicago-set urban fantasy?" I hear all you Jim Butcher fans saying. Yep. But I have to admit, I was never a huge fan of the Harry Dresden books. I think Butcher was trying for a noirish tone, and he missed. Anyway, for whatever reason - I'm not doing a Dresden review here - I didn't really get into those books.
This one, on the other hand, grabbed me from the start, from the matter-of-fact way the protagonist, Mick Oberon, talks about his special kind of investigating, to the parallels between Seelie Court intrigue and Chicago mob politics, to the central mystery - who replaced a mobster's daughter with a changeling 16 years ago, and why? - it all comes together to make a taut, enjoyable novel.
Of course, no noir PI worth his fedora would solve a mystery without angering some powerful people - in the Chicago underworld or the Courts of the Fae - and Marmell leaves intriguing questions concerning Mick Oberon's past unanswered. So yeah, I'm looking forward to the next one quite eagerly.
February 21, 2015
I wish that people did not think every urban fantasy with a male main character has to be compared to the Dresden Files. K.A. Stewart, Benedict Jacka, Ben Aaronovitch, Kevin Hearne, Elliott James, and now Ari Marmell (to name some of my favorites) deserve to be judged on their own merits.
I should admit I grew up reading the adventures of Simon Templar, the Toff, Ellery Queen, Solar Pons, and others who embodied or aspired to the hardboiled gumshoe genre. Hot Lead, Cold Iron brought back fond memories of reading Simon Templar's escapades.
Mick Oberon is a wonderfully sarcastic, brutally honest elf just trying to get by in his adopted world. That world just happens to be Chicago in the 1930's, a world of the Depression, organized crime, beauty, and ugliness. He does not try to justify the things he did in the past; he admits he kept human slaves. Mick makes fun of the mimicry of his people who scorn our world which their world is modelled on. Mick's magic is based on luck, and he prefers to carry a wand rather than a gun, but he can use both. Mick Oberon is more elven Peter Gunn or Simon Templar than a 1930's Harry Dresden. Hot Lead, Cold Iron would have been beautifully authentic with a typical dames and guns cover, but Mick is more than an elven gumshoe. He tries to make his adopted world better in his limited way. I am glad I waited so long to read Mick's first adventure, because I only have to wait 3 months for the next book, Hallow Point.
I should admit I grew up reading the adventures of Simon Templar, the Toff, Ellery Queen, Solar Pons, and others who embodied or aspired to the hardboiled gumshoe genre. Hot Lead, Cold Iron brought back fond memories of reading Simon Templar's escapades.
Mick Oberon is a wonderfully sarcastic, brutally honest elf just trying to get by in his adopted world. That world just happens to be Chicago in the 1930's, a world of the Depression, organized crime, beauty, and ugliness. He does not try to justify the things he did in the past; he admits he kept human slaves. Mick makes fun of the mimicry of his people who scorn our world which their world is modelled on. Mick's magic is based on luck, and he prefers to carry a wand rather than a gun, but he can use both. Mick Oberon is more elven Peter Gunn or Simon Templar than a 1930's Harry Dresden. Hot Lead, Cold Iron would have been beautifully authentic with a typical dames and guns cover, but Mick is more than an elven gumshoe. He tries to make his adopted world better in his limited way. I am glad I waited so long to read Mick's first adventure, because I only have to wait 3 months for the next book, Hallow Point.
December 10, 2018
I think it's time to just accept that the "noir" type of story is not my thing. I gave this a chance and hoped for the best but it just did not work for me and I didn't finish it.
There is nothing wrong with this book, or the 70 pages I got through, anyway, but the "feel" of it was just not connecting with me.
Part of the issue is the unique language and verbal structure of the time. As a person who writes for a living, I freely admit to being a grammar nerd, and it bugs me when people - yes, even fiction people - don't speak proper English. That isn't really a fair criticism, I realize, since the 1930s had its own verbal style, and the characters were appropriate to that time in how they talked. So yes, this was a case of "it's not you; it's me" but it still irked me and I wasn't enjoying the writing as a result.
Also, very little had happened by page 70 when I stopped, and I was just not engaged or drawn into the story.
Just not a fit. Moving on to the next book on my massive TBR.
There is nothing wrong with this book, or the 70 pages I got through, anyway, but the "feel" of it was just not connecting with me.
Part of the issue is the unique language and verbal structure of the time. As a person who writes for a living, I freely admit to being a grammar nerd, and it bugs me when people - yes, even fiction people - don't speak proper English. That isn't really a fair criticism, I realize, since the 1930s had its own verbal style, and the characters were appropriate to that time in how they talked. So yes, this was a case of "it's not you; it's me" but it still irked me and I wasn't enjoying the writing as a result.
Also, very little had happened by page 70 when I stopped, and I was just not engaged or drawn into the story.
Just not a fit. Moving on to the next book on my massive TBR.
September 12, 2014
So, the king of the fairies is a player for the Chicago P.D. and is a pretty stroppy guy at that. From the set off with ‘Hot Lead’… you are pretty much thrown in the deep end and it keeps up right the way through. Marmell is a very well regarded writer to me through his work at Wizards of the coast and has proven himself top of the game in crime/fantasy crossover here too. Mick Oberon is one of the best written characters I’ve had the pleasure to discover in recent reading, from his dialect to mood swings to his utter contempt for how things done he is a brilliantly plotted out piece of work, add into this the descriptive efforts in creating both the Chicago of this world and also the world of the Fae which Oberon comes from are top class and provide a perfect backdrop to a tale as equally as skilfully set in place. Brilliant, plain and simple.
December 3, 2015
Overwritten in spots, although the faithful and probably overly extreme recreation of the slang of the time was fun. Unfortunately, that did make a few of the anachronisms stand out more starkly. I got the impression the writer didn't quite trust his readers, what with every other word highlighted to make sure we emphasized the prose where he wanted. The melding of noir and urban fantasy was done completely straight, with nary a wink to the audience. The simple lack of postmodern irony was refreshing -- not every homage needs to be parody, people. Simply pointing to a trope is no substitute for wit. This book skipped over that, allowing me to actually enjoy a fairly well-constructed plot with some good worldbuilding.
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