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Arcane Casebook #2
Ghost of a Chance
When a bizarre string of locked-room murders terrorize New York, the police have no leads, no suspects, and only one place to turn. Now private detective Alex Lockerby will need every magical trick in his book to catch a killer who can walk through walls and leaves no trace.
Unfortunately Alex's magic hasn't been working very well. He can't even manage to track down several truckloads of stolen goods, including one belonging to New York's preeminent sorcerer, Andrew Barton. To make matters worse, Alex and his clients are being stalked by a shadowy cabal with strange powers that Alex has never seen before.
With the Ghost killer seemingly able to murder at will and the tabloids, the public, and Alex’s clients demanding results, Alex will need a miracle to keep himself, his clients, and his reputation alive.
Unfortunately Alex's magic hasn't been working very well. He can't even manage to track down several truckloads of stolen goods, including one belonging to New York's preeminent sorcerer, Andrew Barton. To make matters worse, Alex and his clients are being stalked by a shadowy cabal with strange powers that Alex has never seen before.
With the Ghost killer seemingly able to murder at will and the tabloids, the public, and Alex’s clients demanding results, Alex will need a miracle to keep himself, his clients, and his reputation alive.
310 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2019
455 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Dan Willis
63 books316 followersDan is an award-winning, best-selling author who has been writing for most of his life. He wrote for the long running DragonLance series and has worked in the board game and video game industries as well. His current work is the Arcane Casebook series, a fantasy twist on the 1930’s noir detective story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
February 8, 2022
I liked this one as much as the first or even a little better. Willis is clearly growing into the characters in this series and the voices of the characters were much more distinct. I still think Iggy should sound more cultured but other than that I no longer have any complaints about how they all sound.
I particularly liked the new character of Vanessa. (Yeah, you know, I'm bad with names so maybe that's not her name, whatever, she is an alchemist in the book.) The relationship between her and Alex sparks right away, and I enjoyed the verbal interplay between the two. Maybe a few less enigmatic smiles would be nice, but still I was rooting for them as a couple by the end of the book.
Again, Alex is thrust into the middle of multiple mysteries all with the potential to ruin him or his reputation. And, as is not a surprise, they all ended up being linked together, one somewhat tenuously but still they were all solved as a complete puzzle. The clues were available to the reader and there was no silliness of Alex pretending not to know something he had figured out.
Iggy takes a more active role in this story than in the first one, but much of that takes the Nero Wolfe part of giving clues to Archie... uh.. Alex until Alex figures it out on his own. That interplay was also fun to watch.
I've done enough research to know that there are 7 current titles in the series and number 8 to come out this year. I am very interested in reading the remaining books and hope that what has started so well will continue.
I particularly liked the new character of Vanessa. (Yeah, you know, I'm bad with names so maybe that's not her name, whatever, she is an alchemist in the book.) The relationship between her and Alex sparks right away, and I enjoyed the verbal interplay between the two. Maybe a few less enigmatic smiles would be nice, but still I was rooting for them as a couple by the end of the book.
Again, Alex is thrust into the middle of multiple mysteries all with the potential to ruin him or his reputation. And, as is not a surprise, they all ended up being linked together, one somewhat tenuously but still they were all solved as a complete puzzle. The clues were available to the reader and there was no silliness of Alex pretending not to know something he had figured out.
Iggy takes a more active role in this story than in the first one, but much of that takes the Nero Wolfe part of giving clues to Archie... uh.. Alex until Alex figures it out on his own. That interplay was also fun to watch.
I've done enough research to know that there are 7 current titles in the series and number 8 to come out this year. I am very interested in reading the remaining books and hope that what has started so well will continue.
May 27, 2022
4.5 stars
Different narrator - very different impact! In a great way. Woo!
I soaked up this second book. It simply flew by.
A locked-room mystery on top of lots of intrigues and murders and - as always, when this kind of urban fantasy hits home - a sassy main characters. What's not to like!?
The sorcerers and their magic are really cool. I like how excentric they all seem, and coloured by their special magic. I hope we get to see the other four of NYC as the series progress.
I also enjoyed the introduction of alchemy and more schools of rune use. Exciting!
Will I keep going? Oh, yes!
Different narrator - very different impact! In a great way. Woo!
I soaked up this second book. It simply flew by.
A locked-room mystery on top of lots of intrigues and murders and - as always, when this kind of urban fantasy hits home - a sassy main characters. What's not to like!?
The sorcerers and their magic are really cool. I like how excentric they all seem, and coloured by their special magic. I hope we get to see the other four of NYC as the series progress.
I also enjoyed the introduction of alchemy and more schools of rune use. Exciting!
Will I keep going? Oh, yes!
March 31, 2019
Great paranormal vintage mystery
Very absorbing mystery! I couldn’t put it down. It had a great plot and vintage feel. Really caught the favor of the Thirties with a paranormal twist.
Very absorbing mystery! I couldn’t put it down. It had a great plot and vintage feel. Really caught the favor of the Thirties with a paranormal twist.
April 6, 2019
Another great book
This is an author to watch. Great characters, great world, great story lines. You will not be disappointed. Thanks Dan!
This is an author to watch. Great characters, great world, great story lines. You will not be disappointed. Thanks Dan!
March 26, 2023
always great
Another fun installment in this series—as enjoyable as the last and promising great things for the next! I’ll be back for more.
Another fun installment in this series—as enjoyable as the last and promising great things for the next! I’ll be back for more.
February 15, 2022
Ah, consequences! Throughout the whole book, there is a thread of fear (but never regret) about the consequences brought on Alex by using the escape rune in In Plain Sight. His hair is completely white, his magic is feeling less trustworthy, his hands are not as steady as they should and his last finding-rune didn't work. Therefore, yeah, he's quite worried about losing his magic Iggy's comforting words notwithstanding.
If this wasn't enough to sour his day there is some reporter making his life even more difficult by publishing articles in which he is portrayed as some kind of saviour for the bumbling cops who can't do anything right. You can imagine how well this goes with the police, and it's made even worse when it looks like he's leaking info to this reporter.
And he can find neither his client's husband nor the new motor belonging to the Lightning Lord all the while some nameless group is stalking his client and they seem to possess some unknown and very powerful magic.
Although not everything is so dire as our hero is getting a romantic interest in this book and I like her :P.
Ah... I really liked this one too and now I don't know if I should go for the eBooks or wait for the next audiobook. Decisions, decisions *laughs* Whichever I choose I'll be reading the rest of this series :)
If this wasn't enough to sour his day there is some reporter making his life even more difficult by publishing articles in which he is portrayed as some kind of saviour for the bumbling cops who can't do anything right. You can imagine how well this goes with the police, and it's made even worse when it looks like he's leaking info to this reporter.
And he can find neither his client's husband nor the new motor belonging to the Lightning Lord all the while some nameless group is stalking his client and they seem to possess some unknown and very powerful magic.
Although not everything is so dire as our hero is getting a romantic interest in this book and I like her :P.
Ah... I really liked this one too and now I don't know if I should go for the eBooks or wait for the next audiobook. Decisions, decisions *laughs* Whichever I choose I'll be reading the rest of this series :)
September 12, 2022
Alex Lockerby, magical PI in NYC during the Depression is having doubts about his magical ability. After casting a life rune in the previous book cost him years off his life he finds himself not sleeping well and tremors in his hands.
This story has him behind on his bills and needing some work to keep his head above water. He gets involved in three separate cases that keep him scrambling for clues.
Someone tries to kill him, so he knows he's on the right track for at least one of them.
This story has him behind on his bills and needing some work to keep his head above water. He gets involved in three separate cases that keep him scrambling for clues.
Someone tries to kill him, so he knows he's on the right track for at least one of them.
July 4, 2024
A well written mystery with a bit of action and magic. I’m finding the world very interesting and the way it is being explored. I recommend this if you liked the early Dresden files and wished you could get more of the PI side of things.
April 15, 2019
Recommended
It was interesting seeing the consequences of the previous book play out here. Lots of action and mystery as well as hints of future plot developments. Nice.
It was interesting seeing the consequences of the previous book play out here. Lots of action and mystery as well as hints of future plot developments. Nice.
April 11, 2019
A good read!
A 30s detective story with rune magic and interesting characters! The writing is well crafted with only a few errors. One more pass by a proof reader and the errors should be handled.
A 30s detective story with rune magic and interesting characters! The writing is well crafted with only a few errors. One more pass by a proof reader and the errors should be handled.
April 7, 2019
Runes Rock!
Had fun with Alex and his adventures as a 1930’s era gumshoe. Can’t wait for the next installment this July.
Had fun with Alex and his adventures as a 1930’s era gumshoe. Can’t wait for the next installment this July.
August 26, 2021
4.5 Stars
This is the second book in the Arcane casebook series by Dan Willis.
I am so intrigued by this series. It really speaks to me on another level. I love the whole rune books and how Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes is masquerading as Alex’s best friend and roomie. I just get all the feels from this story. Loving it so much.
Alex has used a lot of his life force trying to save the sorceress lady from the last book and now he has this shaky hand which makes it hard for him to write his runes. He goes to a gal to get a potion to help him. And I think he has a bit of a crush on this girl. Since he is having trouble getting his magic to cooperate he has to rely on his smarts and instincts to solve his multiple case load.
This is just a dang good read and you definitely need to check out this series for yourself.
This is the second book in the Arcane casebook series by Dan Willis.
I am so intrigued by this series. It really speaks to me on another level. I love the whole rune books and how Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes is masquerading as Alex’s best friend and roomie. I just get all the feels from this story. Loving it so much.
Alex has used a lot of his life force trying to save the sorceress lady from the last book and now he has this shaky hand which makes it hard for him to write his runes. He goes to a gal to get a potion to help him. And I think he has a bit of a crush on this girl. Since he is having trouble getting his magic to cooperate he has to rely on his smarts and instincts to solve his multiple case load.
This is just a dang good read and you definitely need to check out this series for yourself.
April 2, 2019
Great series so far
A fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character development was great and the plot was fun to follow. I hope to see more in the future.
A fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character development was great and the plot was fun to follow. I hope to see more in the future.
March 27, 2019
Fun Urban fantasy noir
I enjoyed Dan's latest entry in the arcane. The action was tight, the characters were funny, and the plot twisted delightfully.
While i still have some problems with the main character still somehow packing for money given his powers, the fact that he faced some real consequences from his last caper brought a sense of realism and struggle. I enjoyed how he grew from that.
I enjoyed Dan's latest entry in the arcane. The action was tight, the characters were funny, and the plot twisted delightfully.
While i still have some problems with the main character still somehow packing for money given his powers, the fact that he faced some real consequences from his last caper brought a sense of realism and struggle. I enjoyed how he grew from that.
March 27, 2019
Good read that moves along well
This is the second book in the series and it is a good read. A love interest was introduced with a possible second interest in the background. Subplots maintain your interest. Overall good entertainment.
This is the second book in the series and it is a good read. A love interest was introduced with a possible second interest in the background. Subplots maintain your interest. Overall good entertainment.
March 27, 2019
Intriguing
While his life force may have become closer to running out our scribbler continues to do what is right even if he doesn't get paid. How do you solve serial crimes that have no links? Love the problems and the unique setting of this series.
While his life force may have become closer to running out our scribbler continues to do what is right even if he doesn't get paid. How do you solve serial crimes that have no links? Love the problems and the unique setting of this series.
March 25, 2019
Urban Fantasy 1920’s
Great read and takes elements of noire, with a Dashiell Hammet type detective, in a world with some public magic. Magic system is logical and well thought out, with how it works with technology.
Great read and takes elements of noire, with a Dashiell Hammet type detective, in a world with some public magic. Magic system is logical and well thought out, with how it works with technology.
May 31, 2021
Read this series.
Intelligent writing, intricate plots, great characters, cameo appearances of famous historical figures, magic and fun. Can't wait to read the next book.
Intelligent writing, intricate plots, great characters, cameo appearances of famous historical figures, magic and fun. Can't wait to read the next book.
June 7, 2020
I read the first book, In Plain Sight, in 2018 so I didn't remember much. However, I was still in urban fantasy mood and when I browsed my book collection, I saw that I owned this one (probably got it immediately after finishing book #1 but then distracted by other titles) and thought, "Hey, this looks good".
It was easy to get immerse into the alternate universe 1930s Manhattan that Willis created; it's basically Manhattan with magic. Alex Lockerby is a private detective with specialty to find for missing things (including person). He's also the protégé of Dr. Iggy Bell (whom in our world previously more famous as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).
In Ghost of a Chance , Alex is tasked with several cases at once, but apparently all connected. He is trying to find a missing husband, he's trying to find a missing traction motor, while also cracking a mystery of ghost killer
Alex is a likable character for me. He's not a pompous man, he's never try to stir trouble, he doesn't deliberately belittle or make enemies of police department... in fact, one of Alex's good friend is a cop. And even though Alex has magic, he does good ol' investigating to solve these cases! That's always a good point in my book.
Notable secondary characters include the aforementioned Iggy Bell, Alex's cop friend Danny Pak, and Alex's ever awesome secretary Leslie Tompkins. Leslie is NOT Alex's paramour though, she's more like his sister even if she also "handles" Alex especially in terms of finance *laugh*
Now that I have my eyes on this series again, I think I'll try to catch up. Apparently there are three more books that already been released!
It was easy to get immerse into the alternate universe 1930s Manhattan that Willis created; it's basically Manhattan with magic. Alex Lockerby is a private detective with specialty to find for missing things (including person). He's also the protégé of Dr. Iggy Bell (whom in our world previously more famous as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).
In Ghost of a Chance , Alex is tasked with several cases at once, but apparently all connected. He is trying to find a missing husband, he's trying to find a missing traction motor, while also cracking a mystery of ghost killer
Alex is a likable character for me. He's not a pompous man, he's never try to stir trouble, he doesn't deliberately belittle or make enemies of police department... in fact, one of Alex's good friend is a cop. And even though Alex has magic, he does good ol' investigating to solve these cases! That's always a good point in my book.
Notable secondary characters include the aforementioned Iggy Bell, Alex's cop friend Danny Pak, and Alex's ever awesome secretary Leslie Tompkins. Leslie is NOT Alex's paramour though, she's more like his sister even if she also "handles" Alex especially in terms of finance *laugh*
Now that I have my eyes on this series again, I think I'll try to catch up. Apparently there are three more books that already been released!
April 3, 2023
3.5⭐️. I think I liked the first book a little more, but this was still a quick fun read. Nice break from bigger fantasy series.
July 27, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S GHOST OF A CHANCE ABOUT?
Despite the success of the events of In Plain Sight, he's barely scraping by. The financial straits that put Alex into these less-than-savory surroundings are threatening Alex's agency. It doesn't seem like this is a new situation for him—but it might be worse this time than usual.
He gets the chance to make some good money when one of the more powerful sorcerers in the city hires him to find a stolen invention of his that will both enrich the sorcerer and make life better for the residents of NYC. While he's looking for that, Alex is approached by a young woman whose husband has seemingly been kidnapped. Neither of these searches should be that difficult for him, but something is preventing his runes from working—so he has to approach these hunts using his mind, not his magic.
And because that's not quite enough on his plate, Alex is also hired by a woman to find out who killed her husband—there's been a series of murders that are making headlines. People are being killed by someone who leaves no trace—not only that, the victims have been found in locked rooms, with no exits.
As if that's not enough, Alex is dealing with the damage he did to his own health (and, seemingly, his lifespan) from when he rescued the city months earlier. Basically, Alex has a ghost of a chance to make it out of these next few days intact and successful.
SO, WHAT DID THINK ABOUT GHOST OF A CHANCE?
"If the details in the story are correct, the victims were all found alone in locked rooms,” Alex said. “The police had to break in each time.”
“What does that tell you?”
“Locked rooms mean suicide,” Alex said with a shrug.
“You don’t sound sure.”
“According to the story, the victims were all stabbed twice in the chest."
The year's a little more than half over, and I've read a decent number of locked room mysteries so far—I can't help but wonder if I have more headed my way before 2022 is out. This one held its own with the others I've read this year, sure, this one involved the use of magic, so it's a little easier. I did like that magic was utilized in a way that neither Iggy, Alex, or anyone who reads a newspaper in New York had apparently thought of before—so it was a little easier to pull off both the killings and the escape. So it's a little different than what, say, M.W. Craven gave us.
I couldn't help but notice how structurally similar this was to In Plain Sight—three cases that don't seem to have anything to do with each other, one of which involves the police threatening Alex if he doesn't succeed. The two novels don't follow the same outline, but the similarities stand out. But those are thoughts that came to me after I finished—while I was reading, all I thought was that I was having a really good time. It's when I start having those thoughts while I'm reading that I think we're headed for trouble.
I really appreciate what Willis has done here—the world feels pretty established and lived in already. The primary characters are pretty well-fleshed out at this point (which isn't to say we can't learn more about them) and I'm ready to see more of the magic systems at work. There is a seemingly effortless charm to these books. I was entertained throughout and kept wondering why it'd taken me so long to return to this series—I don't intend to repeat that.
---
“How do you let yourself get talked into this?” he said out loud, mostly to keep his mind off his surroundings.
He knew very well what had brought him here, of course. Money.
Or rather, the lack of it.
WHAT'S GHOST OF A CHANCE ABOUT?
Despite the success of the events of In Plain Sight, he's barely scraping by. The financial straits that put Alex into these less-than-savory surroundings are threatening Alex's agency. It doesn't seem like this is a new situation for him—but it might be worse this time than usual.
He gets the chance to make some good money when one of the more powerful sorcerers in the city hires him to find a stolen invention of his that will both enrich the sorcerer and make life better for the residents of NYC. While he's looking for that, Alex is approached by a young woman whose husband has seemingly been kidnapped. Neither of these searches should be that difficult for him, but something is preventing his runes from working—so he has to approach these hunts using his mind, not his magic.
And because that's not quite enough on his plate, Alex is also hired by a woman to find out who killed her husband—there's been a series of murders that are making headlines. People are being killed by someone who leaves no trace—not only that, the victims have been found in locked rooms, with no exits.
As if that's not enough, Alex is dealing with the damage he did to his own health (and, seemingly, his lifespan) from when he rescued the city months earlier. Basically, Alex has a ghost of a chance to make it out of these next few days intact and successful.
SO, WHAT DID THINK ABOUT GHOST OF A CHANCE?
"If the details in the story are correct, the victims were all found alone in locked rooms,” Alex said. “The police had to break in each time.”
“What does that tell you?”
“Locked rooms mean suicide,” Alex said with a shrug.
“You don’t sound sure.”
“According to the story, the victims were all stabbed twice in the chest."
The year's a little more than half over, and I've read a decent number of locked room mysteries so far—I can't help but wonder if I have more headed my way before 2022 is out. This one held its own with the others I've read this year, sure, this one involved the use of magic, so it's a little easier. I did like that magic was utilized in a way that neither Iggy, Alex, or anyone who reads a newspaper in New York had apparently thought of before—so it was a little easier to pull off both the killings and the escape. So it's a little different than what, say, M.W. Craven gave us.
I couldn't help but notice how structurally similar this was to In Plain Sight—three cases that don't seem to have anything to do with each other, one of which involves the police threatening Alex if he doesn't succeed. The two novels don't follow the same outline, but the similarities stand out. But those are thoughts that came to me after I finished—while I was reading, all I thought was that I was having a really good time. It's when I start having those thoughts while I'm reading that I think we're headed for trouble.
I really appreciate what Willis has done here—the world feels pretty established and lived in already. The primary characters are pretty well-fleshed out at this point (which isn't to say we can't learn more about them) and I'm ready to see more of the magic systems at work. There is a seemingly effortless charm to these books. I was entertained throughout and kept wondering why it'd taken me so long to return to this series—I don't intend to repeat that.
November 11, 2022
Starting to get into this series
I don't generally like period shows or books, and this series is set kinda in the 50's i think. But the characters are decent, the MC is likeable, and the mysteries are complex and well thought out.
I am not Catholic, but i really liked the authors portrayal of the church and the people who are in it. It's a pretty minor part of the story but it's refreshing to have religion not be prortrayed in the hate filled bigoted way that most authors portray it.
I see the series is super long so my usual advice to the author is probably wasted, but i'll leave my thoughts none-the-less. The drastic change in how all the characters sounded from the first book was jarring and almost made me return it. I really like the narrator for the audio book of book 1 and his abilty to make all the people sound unique--it added a ton to my enjoyment of the book. The new guy in this book...was mediocre at best. Everyone sounded really similar and i frequently got confused about who was talking (even the women sounded the same to me). Also, and this was probably due to pressure from the left, but the japanese accents were gone from Danny and his dad. I'm a huge anime buff and. I really liked that the story had a few Japanese characters, and i loved that the narrator gave them a slight accent that made them sound like they were Japanese who new english as a second language. If you are going to have a psudeo-secret Japanese crime lord, he should totally have the accent to make him sound dangerous and awesome. BUT in this book the author did an about face and both the characters have no accent at all, the author even put in a blurb that stated the grew up in america and had no accent. Huh? If you are gonna do that you need to change the first book then because they totally had an accent and it was awesome. An accent gave their characters depth, and having a narrator that coukd pull off a reasonable japanese accent was sweet. Book 2, had me confused over and over when the accent was completely removed and written out of the story like it had never been there. Made me bummed because i hate it when they change narrators in a series, and they proably only did it becuase someone whined about it being racist (which is ridiculous, a person having an accent is a normal part of almost everyone who learns a second language.
Long story short, it's a good series if you don't mind the 50's lingo, and the MC's uncanny ability to only bump into beautiful women no matter where he goes (and they all fall for him). So far nothing too bad, but no real romance to speak of, just a few 1 night stands.
I don't generally like period shows or books, and this series is set kinda in the 50's i think. But the characters are decent, the MC is likeable, and the mysteries are complex and well thought out.
I am not Catholic, but i really liked the authors portrayal of the church and the people who are in it. It's a pretty minor part of the story but it's refreshing to have religion not be prortrayed in the hate filled bigoted way that most authors portray it.
I see the series is super long so my usual advice to the author is probably wasted, but i'll leave my thoughts none-the-less. The drastic change in how all the characters sounded from the first book was jarring and almost made me return it. I really like the narrator for the audio book of book 1 and his abilty to make all the people sound unique--it added a ton to my enjoyment of the book. The new guy in this book...was mediocre at best. Everyone sounded really similar and i frequently got confused about who was talking (even the women sounded the same to me). Also, and this was probably due to pressure from the left, but the japanese accents were gone from Danny and his dad. I'm a huge anime buff and. I really liked that the story had a few Japanese characters, and i loved that the narrator gave them a slight accent that made them sound like they were Japanese who new english as a second language. If you are going to have a psudeo-secret Japanese crime lord, he should totally have the accent to make him sound dangerous and awesome. BUT in this book the author did an about face and both the characters have no accent at all, the author even put in a blurb that stated the grew up in america and had no accent. Huh? If you are gonna do that you need to change the first book then because they totally had an accent and it was awesome. An accent gave their characters depth, and having a narrator that coukd pull off a reasonable japanese accent was sweet. Book 2, had me confused over and over when the accent was completely removed and written out of the story like it had never been there. Made me bummed because i hate it when they change narrators in a series, and they proably only did it becuase someone whined about it being racist (which is ridiculous, a person having an accent is a normal part of almost everyone who learns a second language.
Long story short, it's a good series if you don't mind the 50's lingo, and the MC's uncanny ability to only bump into beautiful women no matter where he goes (and they all fall for him). So far nothing too bad, but no real romance to speak of, just a few 1 night stands.
March 5, 2025
Listening to the audiobooks for this series. Really didn't care much for the guy who read book 1 (who, aside from making Alex sound kinda wimpy, also gave both Danny and his dad mildly offensive Asian accents for no reason even though they were both born and raised in the USA). This reader is vastly better and I hope he sticks around for the rest of the series.
Anyhow, as for the actual content of the book: it's more of this series! Still lots of fun with these tropes (noir 1930s detective, fedoras, rune magic, steampunk magitech, SO MANY WAIFUS, etc). Crazy amounts of cigarette-smoking in these books! But then, that was pretty common at the time. Every time the main character (and everyone he's with) just lights up wherever he happens to be, whether restaurant, someone's office, police station, wherever, I'm just reminded of growing up in a time when people could smoke indoors in public places like restaurants and bars and lobbies, and how I hated going to places like that at the time because I hated the smell on my hair and clothing afterwards.
Still, even if the reality of smoking is smelly and involves a lot of throat cancer, spitting on the sidewalk, and yellowed wallpaper, I have to admit that the LOOK of these cigarette-smokers can be cool! And of course, it gives one the excuse to always be carrying (and using) a sweet metal lighter, which I definitely love.
Honestly, I often feel like the author wishes that this were a comic book series; if you've read a lot of comics, the imagery he uses often feels very much like how you'd describe a comic book panel, in terms of what's visible, what everyone looks like, etc, and the characters are always lighting cigarettes during dialogue just when it would look the coolest to have that cupped hand around a flame, or that ember in the darkness... Strong Hellblazer vibes, especially with all the fedoras, long coats, and cool-looking glowing runes. Personally, I think the books would make great comics and he should shop it around to some artists!
Anyhow, as for the actual content of the book: it's more of this series! Still lots of fun with these tropes (noir 1930s detective, fedoras, rune magic, steampunk magitech, SO MANY WAIFUS, etc). Crazy amounts of cigarette-smoking in these books! But then, that was pretty common at the time. Every time the main character (and everyone he's with) just lights up wherever he happens to be, whether restaurant, someone's office, police station, wherever, I'm just reminded of growing up in a time when people could smoke indoors in public places like restaurants and bars and lobbies, and how I hated going to places like that at the time because I hated the smell on my hair and clothing afterwards.
Still, even if the reality of smoking is smelly and involves a lot of throat cancer, spitting on the sidewalk, and yellowed wallpaper, I have to admit that the LOOK of these cigarette-smokers can be cool! And of course, it gives one the excuse to always be carrying (and using) a sweet metal lighter, which I definitely love.
Honestly, I often feel like the author wishes that this were a comic book series; if you've read a lot of comics, the imagery he uses often feels very much like how you'd describe a comic book panel, in terms of what's visible, what everyone looks like, etc, and the characters are always lighting cigarettes during dialogue just when it would look the coolest to have that cupped hand around a flame, or that ember in the darkness... Strong Hellblazer vibes, especially with all the fedoras, long coats, and cool-looking glowing runes. Personally, I think the books would make great comics and he should shop it around to some artists!
February 9, 2022
The last book was a book with a slow start that ended strong and left me wanting more. I came into this book hoping it would focus less on the private eye mystery elements (that were fairly run of the mill and definitely not the hook/strength of the first book) and more on the world building and magical elements. Those elements set against this early 20th century backdrop is a combination that I haven't encountered much and I liked where the author was taking it.
This book however, does the opposite, focusing more on the private eye side of things than those other elements that had such promise. Is this a bad thing? Well that depends on your point of view. If you're here more for fantasy than the private eye story, then this will probably leave you wanting. If however you preferred the private eye part of the story in the first book, then this might be more your cup of tea.
Ultimately this book just felt a little flat for this reader. I was hoping the sequel would give more depth to the characters, the world and a larger story, but instead this felt pretty surface level and didn't do much to move me. I'll pick up the next book in the hope that this might turn around into something more, but if it's more of the same then I will probably part ways with this series.
This book however, does the opposite, focusing more on the private eye side of things than those other elements that had such promise. Is this a bad thing? Well that depends on your point of view. If you're here more for fantasy than the private eye story, then this will probably leave you wanting. If however you preferred the private eye part of the story in the first book, then this might be more your cup of tea.
Ultimately this book just felt a little flat for this reader. I was hoping the sequel would give more depth to the characters, the world and a larger story, but instead this felt pretty surface level and didn't do much to move me. I'll pick up the next book in the hope that this might turn around into something more, but if it's more of the same then I will probably part ways with this series.
September 21, 2022
All good things come in threes. Again Alex is saddled with three cases. Two are high profile cases and one is a missing person case. Later on, his friend Danny asks him for help with one of his cases and it soon is clear that case is connected to one of Alex's. Turns out the missing person case is also connected.
This time Alex seems to struggle quite a bit. Money is short, his magic seems to fail him, and he is struggling with the physical consequences from using a lot of his power in the last book. He falls back on his skills as a detective and it works out fine for him.
I couldn't put the book down. It was quite a ride. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters, the mystery of an unknown runewright school, and the not quite introduction of a character of considerable power who will probably play a role in the future. And though I was suspecting something was off with one particular person, it turned out the person was involved, just not the way I thought. So, Alex was always one step ahead of me and the book stayed suspenseful until the end.
There were a few odd sentences and the reading felt rough here and there, so I'll go with 4/5 stars.
This time Alex seems to struggle quite a bit. Money is short, his magic seems to fail him, and he is struggling with the physical consequences from using a lot of his power in the last book. He falls back on his skills as a detective and it works out fine for him.
I couldn't put the book down. It was quite a ride. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters, the mystery of an unknown runewright school, and the not quite introduction of a character of considerable power who will probably play a role in the future. And though I was suspecting something was off with one particular person, it turned out the person was involved, just not the way I thought. So, Alex was always one step ahead of me and the book stayed suspenseful until the end.
There were a few odd sentences and the reading felt rough here and there, so I'll go with 4/5 stars.
July 4, 2022
Looking for another great adventure story? “Ghost of a Chance” by Dan Willis will fill that need. Alex Lockerby is on the case, well case maybe a loose term here. He has been task to find a stolen expensive brooch stolen by the victim’s maid. Her husband, the valet to said victim, claims she is innocent and tasks Alex to find out what really happened. Alex uses his skills as a runewright and scourers a garbage dump to find the brooch. When he returns to his office his trusted secretary Leslie tells him it is a fake. It doesn’t look promising that he will get paid for finding the brooch. And the adventure begins. I love the way the story evolves, one clue/insight leading to the next until the truth is finally revealed. What a ride! There is plenty of drama, magic, intrigue and just plain fun. The noire setting adds character to the story and makes the characters shine in their environment. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 4, 2022
entertaining urban fantasy detective series
This is an entertaining urban fantasy detective series. A great cast characters and an entertaining storyline. Set back in the 1930s New York in a world much like our own but very different. Magic is real in this world. There are sorcerers alchemists and rune riders. Our main character is a detective/private eye and also a rune writer. He uses magic runes to locate lost items And do other tricks to solve cases. His mentor is a older doctor and also rune writer who owns the large house that our detective lives in. The doctor also happens to be a former detective and writer. He had to leave England after he discovered something when he was younger. You might know him by his former name of sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He now goes by the name of Doctor Ezekiel bill. He is teaching our PI the art of rune craft. It is an entertaining magical adventure And old time detective series. It is very entertaining and a fun read. Check it out
This is an entertaining urban fantasy detective series. A great cast characters and an entertaining storyline. Set back in the 1930s New York in a world much like our own but very different. Magic is real in this world. There are sorcerers alchemists and rune riders. Our main character is a detective/private eye and also a rune writer. He uses magic runes to locate lost items And do other tricks to solve cases. His mentor is a older doctor and also rune writer who owns the large house that our detective lives in. The doctor also happens to be a former detective and writer. He had to leave England after he discovered something when he was younger. You might know him by his former name of sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He now goes by the name of Doctor Ezekiel bill. He is teaching our PI the art of rune craft. It is an entertaining magical adventure And old time detective series. It is very entertaining and a fun read. Check it out
March 25, 2025
“Ghost of a Chance”, second in the “Arcane Casebook” series, sees Runewright and P.I. Alex Lockerby barely getting by.
Money is tight and he is troubled by his mortality (after giving up a chunk of his remaining years in “In Plain Sight”).
He doesn't know how long he has left, just that it is not very long.
He's got four jobs - find a missing man, find a missing and powerful prototype engine, help his friend Danny make sense of a series of baffling thefts, and (above all) identify the mysterious murderer called the 'Ghost Killer' by the popular media.
The first three eventually turn out to be linked but the fourth proves a far more difficult nut to crack (though the author does give the game away around the 75% mark) until the very end.
In the middle of it all, even as the bullets fly, Alex fears that he is losing his magic and has developed a trembling in his hands which makes designing runes almost impossible.
It's a fast and highly enjoyable read.
4 Stars.
Money is tight and he is troubled by his mortality (after giving up a chunk of his remaining years in “In Plain Sight”).
He doesn't know how long he has left, just that it is not very long.
He's got four jobs - find a missing man, find a missing and powerful prototype engine, help his friend Danny make sense of a series of baffling thefts, and (above all) identify the mysterious murderer called the 'Ghost Killer' by the popular media.
The first three eventually turn out to be linked but the fourth proves a far more difficult nut to crack (though the author does give the game away around the 75% mark) until the very end.
In the middle of it all, even as the bullets fly, Alex fears that he is losing his magic and has developed a trembling in his hands which makes designing runes almost impossible.
It's a fast and highly enjoyable read.
4 Stars.
October 31, 2024
Read on a long flight from NY to Athens, this continues the fun mix of 1940s detective noir with magic. I enjoyed figuring out what was going on before Alex did (only to be derailed like him with where-did-that-come-from plot twists). I’m still a little bugged that Alex’s pal Danny Pak is of Japanese decent, but Pak is a Korean surname (I lived in South Korea for seven years.) and this could have used a little proofing. At one point the wife of someone Alex is hired to find “said that when Alex worked for the Coledale mine…”, and that should have been Leroy. And later, Alex is talking to Iggy about a fragment he found in the trash of someone named Gordon, but the narrative said twice it was Watson’s trash (also, David Watson’s named changed to James Watson once.) I have a 14 day cruise and a long flight back so I should be able to see what happens next.
October 10, 2021
I like his writing and his stories I think I just wanted more... it's not that the pacing is bad, I just feel it would be better if it gave a sense of urgency (you know what I mean? It's a mystery and the pacing wasn't edge of the seat-what's going to happen next? And I really felt like this book could have used that. I think the GR average rating is totally fair, I guess I just felt the lack of suspense more keenly. But other than that, fun read. I love the world he's built. The characters are really fun. I keep on expecting the pov/main character to talk like Archie in a Rex Stout book, it's a disappointment to me he doesn't. But I have a feeling it could be the political climate, rather than the author, barring him from this.
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