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The Edrin Loft Mysteries #1
Thieftaker
Mere days after he takes charge of the Old Gate Watch House, Captain Edrin Loft must solve a crime so shocking that even veteran Sergeant Aliria Gurnt finds it stomach turning. With no witnesses or apparent motive for the crime, finding the culprit seems an impossible task.
But Loft has new scientific methods to apply to crime fighting. His first successful investigation caused a political scandal that embarrassed the Watch. Promotion to his own command was the solution. Known as The Thieftakers, they are the dregs of the Kalider City Watch, destined to spend the rest of their careers hunting criminals in the worst neighbourhoods. After all, what fuss could he cause running down thieves and murderers in the slums?
Old Gate and this murder might be the perfect combination of place and crime to test his theories. The Thieftakers are the best Kalider has at tracking criminals, and Loft must teach them investigative skills to match.
But Loft has new scientific methods to apply to crime fighting. His first successful investigation caused a political scandal that embarrassed the Watch. Promotion to his own command was the solution. Known as The Thieftakers, they are the dregs of the Kalider City Watch, destined to spend the rest of their careers hunting criminals in the worst neighbourhoods. After all, what fuss could he cause running down thieves and murderers in the slums?
Old Gate and this murder might be the perfect combination of place and crime to test his theories. The Thieftakers are the best Kalider has at tracking criminals, and Loft must teach them investigative skills to match.
228 pages, paperback
Published June 8, 2018
8 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Jon Evans
16 books9 followersJon Evans was born in Portsmouth, England and has worked in a fabulously dull series of jobs, none of which constitute a career. While doing these jobs the dream was always to become a writer and there were many false starts and unfinished projects.
With his brother James, he writes military science fiction in the Royal Marine Space Commandos universe. With the launch of Fleet in April 2021, there are now six books in the main series beginning with Commando which kicks off The Deathless War. They're also (slowly!) publishing a series of short stories about Marine X a.k.a. Ten - a fan favourite character with a colourful past.
With co-author Paul Teague the brothers have the By Strength and Guile trilogy, written in the same universe and time period and dealing with a special forces mission to combat a new foe, who inconsiderately reveal themselves while The Deathless War is raging.
Thieftakers is the first book in his renaissance fantasy series that will explore the life and adventures of a group of outsiders, assigned to the least desirable Watch posting in their city. Edrin Loft has plans to revolutionise the City Watch of Kalider and must prove his methods if he's to make headway. The Thieftakers are a rough bunch of misfits, whose only role is to chase the very dregs of society, where other members of the Watch fear to go.
The Edrin Loft Mysteries will be an ongoing series of novels and novellas based in Kalider, once the capital city of what is now known as The Shattered Empire. Once the series is well underway, there will be an epic fantasy series that deals with events on the macro scale, affecting the whole Shattered Empire. Currently this series is on hiatus while Jon works on the military science fiction series, but he intends to resume it once time permits.
He now lives in Cardiff, where his surname fools people into thinking he's a local.
You can follow the author's work at www.jonevansbooks.com
With his brother James, he writes military science fiction in the Royal Marine Space Commandos universe. With the launch of Fleet in April 2021, there are now six books in the main series beginning with Commando which kicks off The Deathless War. They're also (slowly!) publishing a series of short stories about Marine X a.k.a. Ten - a fan favourite character with a colourful past.
With co-author Paul Teague the brothers have the By Strength and Guile trilogy, written in the same universe and time period and dealing with a special forces mission to combat a new foe, who inconsiderately reveal themselves while The Deathless War is raging.
Thieftakers is the first book in his renaissance fantasy series that will explore the life and adventures of a group of outsiders, assigned to the least desirable Watch posting in their city. Edrin Loft has plans to revolutionise the City Watch of Kalider and must prove his methods if he's to make headway. The Thieftakers are a rough bunch of misfits, whose only role is to chase the very dregs of society, where other members of the Watch fear to go.
The Edrin Loft Mysteries will be an ongoing series of novels and novellas based in Kalider, once the capital city of what is now known as The Shattered Empire. Once the series is well underway, there will be an epic fantasy series that deals with events on the macro scale, affecting the whole Shattered Empire. Currently this series is on hiatus while Jon works on the military science fiction series, but he intends to resume it once time permits.
He now lives in Cardiff, where his surname fools people into thinking he's a local.
You can follow the author's work at www.jonevansbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 2, 2017
The first Edrin Loft mystery
For a first book, this was an encouraging beginning. May I suggest a better editor? The punctuation, lack of, and a few misspelled words were just a bit off-putting. That is why only four stars. I find it difficult to get truly involved in a book of there are such obvious errors. Perhaps it happened when the written word is translated into an e-book.
The characters were interesting and I can see much room for further developments. The relationship between Captain Loft and Sergeant Gurntz could become quite entertaining.
The storyline is fascinating! Although this book is fantasy, not historical, I can almost see how our own police procedures and investigative processes came about. There was a definite need for results when serious crime was getting out of hand and criminals released due to not enough evidence. Good plotting, Mr. Evans! Looking forward to more Edrin Loft mysteries!
For a first book, this was an encouraging beginning. May I suggest a better editor? The punctuation, lack of, and a few misspelled words were just a bit off-putting. That is why only four stars. I find it difficult to get truly involved in a book of there are such obvious errors. Perhaps it happened when the written word is translated into an e-book.
The characters were interesting and I can see much room for further developments. The relationship between Captain Loft and Sergeant Gurntz could become quite entertaining.
The storyline is fascinating! Although this book is fantasy, not historical, I can almost see how our own police procedures and investigative processes came about. There was a definite need for results when serious crime was getting out of hand and criminals released due to not enough evidence. Good plotting, Mr. Evans! Looking forward to more Edrin Loft mysteries!
September 14, 2018
A group of misfits that are easy to like at the start of Forensics.
A typical group of misfits set in something like the Roman era but in a different time and place. A new officer assigned that wanted to bring a more disciplined approach to investigating. The chars are fun to watch as they go about trying to keep their new Officer alive and themselves out of trouble.
I initially brought the book because of the Title and the cover. Couldn't decide between 4 or 5 tars but gave it the benefit. I 'll get the next one just to see if it gets any better and how the relationships evolve.
A typical group of misfits set in something like the Roman era but in a different time and place. A new officer assigned that wanted to bring a more disciplined approach to investigating. The chars are fun to watch as they go about trying to keep their new Officer alive and themselves out of trouble.
I initially brought the book because of the Title and the cover. Couldn't decide between 4 or 5 tars but gave it the benefit. I 'll get the next one just to see if it gets any better and how the relationships evolve.
September 25, 2018
I was very much enjoying this read but was disappointed with about the last 20%. All along, we think Edrin Loft is the first forensic evidence collector and thinker. But the climax came down to a literal fight, not a fight of wits and thinking through the evidence.
October 19, 2018
Good read
Excellent book, well passed with great characters. Looking forward to the next already so pleaee Jon put pen to paper
Excellent book, well passed with great characters. Looking forward to the next already so pleaee Jon put pen to paper
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews