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The Carter Archives #2
Titan's Day
Now in paperback, the second book in the acclaimed Carter Archives noir fantasy series returns to the gritty town of Titanshade, where danger lurks around every corner.
The city of Titanshade pulses with nervous energy. The discovery of new riches beneath its snowfields has given residents hope for prosperity, but it also means the arrival of federal troops, along with assurances that they are only there to stabilize the situation.
Newcomers flood the streets, dreaming of finding their fortunes, while in the backrooms and beer halls of the city, a populist resistance gains support, its leaders' true motives hidden behind nativist slogans. And in an alley, a gruesome discovery: the mutilated body of a young woman, a recent immigrant so little-regarded that not even her lovers bothered to learn her name. But in death, she's found a champion.
Detective Carter single-mindedly pursues the killer as he navigates political pressures and resists becoming a pawn in the struggles tipping the city toward anarchy. But when more innocent lives are lost and time runs short, he's forced to decide if justice is worth sparking all-out war in the streets during the biggest celebration of the year: Titan's Day.
The city of Titanshade pulses with nervous energy. The discovery of new riches beneath its snowfields has given residents hope for prosperity, but it also means the arrival of federal troops, along with assurances that they are only there to stabilize the situation.
Newcomers flood the streets, dreaming of finding their fortunes, while in the backrooms and beer halls of the city, a populist resistance gains support, its leaders' true motives hidden behind nativist slogans. And in an alley, a gruesome discovery: the mutilated body of a young woman, a recent immigrant so little-regarded that not even her lovers bothered to learn her name. But in death, she's found a champion.
Detective Carter single-mindedly pursues the killer as he navigates political pressures and resists becoming a pawn in the struggles tipping the city toward anarchy. But when more innocent lives are lost and time runs short, he's forced to decide if justice is worth sparking all-out war in the streets during the biggest celebration of the year: Titan's Day.
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 7, 2020
23 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Dan Stout
22 books114 followersDan Stout lives in Columbus, Ohio, where he writes noir with a twist of magic and a disco chaser.
His tales of murder, mystery, and speculative fiction draw on travels around the world as well as an employment history spanning everything from subpoena server to assistant well driller.
Dan's work has appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Nature, and the Stonecoast Review. He is the author of The Carter Archives, a series of noir fantasy thrillers from DAW Books.
Say hello at DanStout.com.
His tales of murder, mystery, and speculative fiction draw on travels around the world as well as an employment history spanning everything from subpoena server to assistant well driller.
Dan's work has appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Nature, and the Stonecoast Review. He is the author of The Carter Archives, a series of noir fantasy thrillers from DAW Books.
Say hello at DanStout.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 14, 2020
Titan's Day is a worthwhile novel and a spectacular sequel.
April 6, 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The city of Titanshade pulses with nervous energy. The discovery of new riches beneath its snowfields has given residents hope for prosperity, but it also means the arrival of federal troops, along with assurances that they are only there to "stabilize the situation". Newcomers flood the streets, dreaming of finding their fortunes, while in the backrooms and beer halls of the city, a populist resistance gains support, its leaders' true motives hidden behind nativist slogans. And in an alley, a gruesome discovery: the mutilated body of a young woman, a recent immigrant so little-regarded that not even her lovers bothered to learn her name. But in death, she's found a champion. Detective Carter single-mindedly pursues the killer as he navigates political pressures and resists becoming a pawn in the struggles tipping the city toward anarchy. But when more innocent lives are lost and time runs short, he's forced to decide if justice is worth sparking all-out war in the streets during the biggest celebration of the year: Titan's Day.
Titan's Day (The Carter Archives #2) by Dan Stout was easily one of my most anticipated sequels of 2020 and somehow I managed to be approved for an ARC via NetGalley. I'm so happy to report that this sequel was just as brilliant and possibly even better than book one in the series, Titanshade. I can officially say that Titan's Day has moved to the top of my favorite reads of the year. Stout's world-building and character development are top notch and feel quite natural. There aren't any huge info dumps to take you out of the story, which is always refreshing to find in a newer fantasy or sci-fi series.
In terms of the world-building, the city of Titanshade is practically a living, breathing character in its own right. We get to explore and see a little more of it this time around. Plus, the 1970s and early 1980s aesthetic really helps it stand out from other urban fantasy series and it adds to its noir style in the best way. The residents of the city are just as fascinating and Stout's development of his two leads, Carter and Ajax, is delightful. Now, the two have gotten used to each other's idiosyncrasies and they've learned to bounce off each other while on the job, especially Carter off of Ajax. Everyone seems like they could just walk right off the page. On that note, I loved the sense of humor in the story - there are some real laugh out loud moments when it comes to the dialogue between Carter and Ajax. Finally, I'd also like to mention that the mystery is a bit more slow burn giving us a some more a time to explore the city and feel out the new characters. We still get plenty of action this time around, but we get to savor the other elements of the story a little longer.
Overall, I can't recommend The Carter Archives series enough. If you haven't picked them up yet, what are you waiting for? Titan's Day and it's predecessor Titianshade are the perfect combination of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, Dirty Harry, Dragnet (the original 1950s tv series) and Chinatown. Plus, just look at Christian McGrath's cover! That is awesome. I can't wait to see what Dan Stout does next!
The city of Titanshade pulses with nervous energy. The discovery of new riches beneath its snowfields has given residents hope for prosperity, but it also means the arrival of federal troops, along with assurances that they are only there to "stabilize the situation". Newcomers flood the streets, dreaming of finding their fortunes, while in the backrooms and beer halls of the city, a populist resistance gains support, its leaders' true motives hidden behind nativist slogans. And in an alley, a gruesome discovery: the mutilated body of a young woman, a recent immigrant so little-regarded that not even her lovers bothered to learn her name. But in death, she's found a champion. Detective Carter single-mindedly pursues the killer as he navigates political pressures and resists becoming a pawn in the struggles tipping the city toward anarchy. But when more innocent lives are lost and time runs short, he's forced to decide if justice is worth sparking all-out war in the streets during the biggest celebration of the year: Titan's Day.
Titan's Day (The Carter Archives #2) by Dan Stout was easily one of my most anticipated sequels of 2020 and somehow I managed to be approved for an ARC via NetGalley. I'm so happy to report that this sequel was just as brilliant and possibly even better than book one in the series, Titanshade. I can officially say that Titan's Day has moved to the top of my favorite reads of the year. Stout's world-building and character development are top notch and feel quite natural. There aren't any huge info dumps to take you out of the story, which is always refreshing to find in a newer fantasy or sci-fi series.
In terms of the world-building, the city of Titanshade is practically a living, breathing character in its own right. We get to explore and see a little more of it this time around. Plus, the 1970s and early 1980s aesthetic really helps it stand out from other urban fantasy series and it adds to its noir style in the best way. The residents of the city are just as fascinating and Stout's development of his two leads, Carter and Ajax, is delightful. Now, the two have gotten used to each other's idiosyncrasies and they've learned to bounce off each other while on the job, especially Carter off of Ajax. Everyone seems like they could just walk right off the page. On that note, I loved the sense of humor in the story - there are some real laugh out loud moments when it comes to the dialogue between Carter and Ajax. Finally, I'd also like to mention that the mystery is a bit more slow burn giving us a some more a time to explore the city and feel out the new characters. We still get plenty of action this time around, but we get to savor the other elements of the story a little longer.
Overall, I can't recommend The Carter Archives series enough. If you haven't picked them up yet, what are you waiting for? Titan's Day and it's predecessor Titianshade are the perfect combination of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, Dirty Harry, Dragnet (the original 1950s tv series) and Chinatown. Plus, just look at Christian McGrath's cover! That is awesome. I can't wait to see what Dan Stout does next!
August 19, 2020
I always give a book one star for every time it makes me swear out loud while writing it. This one earned five plus, easy.
It was a joy to be back with characters I love, and it was a challenge to get new readers up to speed without boring those who are coming in having read Titanshade. This book is always going to be special to me, and I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride!
It was a joy to be back with characters I love, and it was a challenge to get new readers up to speed without boring those who are coming in having read Titanshade. This book is always going to be special to me, and I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride!
March 30, 2020
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A cleverly plotted sequel with plenty of mysteries, Titan’s Day is a strong entry into Stout's fascinating retro/noir urban fantasy world.
Last year I was surprised and delighted by Dan Stout’s debut, Titanshade , as were many other readers, and I couldn't wait to get back into Stout’s unique world. And I’m happy to say the sequel stands up wonderfully to the first book. Titan's Day is a successful sequel that builds on the first book but also introduces some new players. And as with any series review, do be aware that there are minor unavoidable spoilers for Titanshade.
After the thrilling climax of the last book—where Titanshade PD private investigators Carter and Ajex inadvertently discovered a hidden underground supply of manna (the rare, magical substance that comes from whales)—the two have just finished up a six week desk duty stint in order to keep their involvement in the manna strike out of the papers. Their first day back, however, they’re thrust right into the middle of a magical mystery. The dead body of a young Mollenkampi girl is found in an alley, and a broken glass vial under her body reveals she may have been in the possession of snake oil, a dangerous combination of manna and a drug called angel tears. The discovery of a second body close by sends the Titanshade PD into a frenzy and eager to wrap things up before the annual Titan’s Day celebration.
As Carter and Ajax start delving into the murder, they find themselves going head to head with a number of colorful characters, including an investigator named Dungan, who seems to be hiding evidence, a powerful sorcerer who is linked to Gellica, the woman Carter can’t stop thinking about, and the dangerous CaCuri twins who have more than one political agenda and seem to control the entire city. Carter will need to use all his resources to get past the city’s red tape and figure out who the murderer is before Titan’s Day.
One of the things I love best about this series is the way Stout seamlessly integrates his world-building into the story. You won’t find any big info dumps or paragraph after paragraph of exposition. Rather, Carter casually mentions the details of the world as the story progresses. I love this organic way of telling a story, which gives you just enough information but doesn’t over-explain things. For example, the city of Titanshade is built on the ice plains, a frozen landscape warmed only by a buried god, a Titan, who—according to legend—sacrificed himself to save the people of Titanshade. Near the center of the city, where the wealthy live, the heat vents are plentiful and it’s much warmer. But on the fringes of the city where the vents are few and far between, those with fewer resources must wear heavier clothing to keep warm. I feel like there is still a lot we don’t know about this Titan, and whether he’s actually real or just a myth, and I’m hoping the next book goes a little deeper into this mystery.
I also love the retro 70s/80s vibe of this world, which adds a unique touch and sets this series apart from other urban fantasies. Cameras have flash bulbs (anyone remember those?) and when Carter and Ajax type up police reports, they use carbon paper to make duplicates. You won’t find any cell phones in Titanshade, but you will find pagers! Add to all this Carter and his methodical way of solving crimes, and you have what feels like an old fashioned detective story with a dash of magic.
We get to know some new characters this time, most importantly the CaCuri twins Thomas and Katie, who are tied up with the Harlq Syndicate, a dangerous criminal organization. Katie is appealing to the masses who are out of work and trying to get elected to office, but both are pretty scary characters and have some interesting run-ins with Carter. Lots of characters make return appearances. One of my favorites is a woman named Gellica, who is actually a magical construct and needs regular infusions of manna in order to survive. In Titanshade, Gellica and Carter were (sort of) romantically involved, and now in this book they are trying to deal with their feelings for each other. Not to mention the fact that they are on opposite sides of Titanshade’s political arena and belong to completely different classes. There’s a lot of longing and indecision between them, and although it wasn’t the focus of the story by any means, I did love that Carter has no idea how to conduct himself in a relationship. It definitely made him more human.
Which brings me to Carter, who is a truly delightful mix of gruff, street smart, wisecracking and tenacious. Carter is driven to find the truth, even if he has to step on toes to do it. He rubs people the wrong way, and he knows he rubs people the wrong way and just doesn’t care. Ajax acts as someone Carter can bounce off of, but I was happy to see that Stout gives Ajax his own personality and backstory as well. And if you love humor, you’ll love the dialog, particularly between Carter and Ajax. It’s hysterically funny at times and it’s one of my favorite things about this story.
Titan’s Day didn’t have as much action as Titanshade , so for me it was a touch slower than the first book. But that’s really not a complaint, as this slower pace gave the author more room to explore the various mysteries that are going on. This is also a much more political story than the first one. Now that many citizens are out of work, due to the temporary halt of the oil drilling, there’s a push for new leadership, someone who will help the economy get back on its feet. Carter and Ajex find themselves in the middle of this political maneuvering, and I loved watching the way they handle themselves. This is more of a slow burn story where clues are dropped carefully, with plenty of different characters and factions adding to both the mystery of the murders and the mystery of Carter’s sudden affliction when it comes to manna. I’m terrible at figuring stuff out so I was surprised by everything in this story!
There’s a burst of frenetic action at the end as Carter and Ajax finally connect all the dots, but Stout leaves plenty of room for things to develop in the next book. We still don’t know a lot about the new source of manna that’s been discovered, and I’m hoping that Carter and Gellica will get to spend more time together as well. You can take away all the fantasy trappings of this world and still be left with a damn fine police procedural, but the wonderful city of Titanshade and all its mysteries add such a fascinating layer to the story, it just wouldn’t be the same. Highly recommended!
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
Read my review of Titanshade. This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
Last year I was surprised and delighted by Dan Stout’s debut, Titanshade , as were many other readers, and I couldn't wait to get back into Stout’s unique world. And I’m happy to say the sequel stands up wonderfully to the first book. Titan's Day is a successful sequel that builds on the first book but also introduces some new players. And as with any series review, do be aware that there are minor unavoidable spoilers for Titanshade.
After the thrilling climax of the last book—where Titanshade PD private investigators Carter and Ajex inadvertently discovered a hidden underground supply of manna (the rare, magical substance that comes from whales)—the two have just finished up a six week desk duty stint in order to keep their involvement in the manna strike out of the papers. Their first day back, however, they’re thrust right into the middle of a magical mystery. The dead body of a young Mollenkampi girl is found in an alley, and a broken glass vial under her body reveals she may have been in the possession of snake oil, a dangerous combination of manna and a drug called angel tears. The discovery of a second body close by sends the Titanshade PD into a frenzy and eager to wrap things up before the annual Titan’s Day celebration.
As Carter and Ajax start delving into the murder, they find themselves going head to head with a number of colorful characters, including an investigator named Dungan, who seems to be hiding evidence, a powerful sorcerer who is linked to Gellica, the woman Carter can’t stop thinking about, and the dangerous CaCuri twins who have more than one political agenda and seem to control the entire city. Carter will need to use all his resources to get past the city’s red tape and figure out who the murderer is before Titan’s Day.
One of the things I love best about this series is the way Stout seamlessly integrates his world-building into the story. You won’t find any big info dumps or paragraph after paragraph of exposition. Rather, Carter casually mentions the details of the world as the story progresses. I love this organic way of telling a story, which gives you just enough information but doesn’t over-explain things. For example, the city of Titanshade is built on the ice plains, a frozen landscape warmed only by a buried god, a Titan, who—according to legend—sacrificed himself to save the people of Titanshade. Near the center of the city, where the wealthy live, the heat vents are plentiful and it’s much warmer. But on the fringes of the city where the vents are few and far between, those with fewer resources must wear heavier clothing to keep warm. I feel like there is still a lot we don’t know about this Titan, and whether he’s actually real or just a myth, and I’m hoping the next book goes a little deeper into this mystery.
I also love the retro 70s/80s vibe of this world, which adds a unique touch and sets this series apart from other urban fantasies. Cameras have flash bulbs (anyone remember those?) and when Carter and Ajax type up police reports, they use carbon paper to make duplicates. You won’t find any cell phones in Titanshade, but you will find pagers! Add to all this Carter and his methodical way of solving crimes, and you have what feels like an old fashioned detective story with a dash of magic.
We get to know some new characters this time, most importantly the CaCuri twins Thomas and Katie, who are tied up with the Harlq Syndicate, a dangerous criminal organization. Katie is appealing to the masses who are out of work and trying to get elected to office, but both are pretty scary characters and have some interesting run-ins with Carter. Lots of characters make return appearances. One of my favorites is a woman named Gellica, who is actually a magical construct and needs regular infusions of manna in order to survive. In Titanshade, Gellica and Carter were (sort of) romantically involved, and now in this book they are trying to deal with their feelings for each other. Not to mention the fact that they are on opposite sides of Titanshade’s political arena and belong to completely different classes. There’s a lot of longing and indecision between them, and although it wasn’t the focus of the story by any means, I did love that Carter has no idea how to conduct himself in a relationship. It definitely made him more human.
Which brings me to Carter, who is a truly delightful mix of gruff, street smart, wisecracking and tenacious. Carter is driven to find the truth, even if he has to step on toes to do it. He rubs people the wrong way, and he knows he rubs people the wrong way and just doesn’t care. Ajax acts as someone Carter can bounce off of, but I was happy to see that Stout gives Ajax his own personality and backstory as well. And if you love humor, you’ll love the dialog, particularly between Carter and Ajax. It’s hysterically funny at times and it’s one of my favorite things about this story.
Titan’s Day didn’t have as much action as Titanshade , so for me it was a touch slower than the first book. But that’s really not a complaint, as this slower pace gave the author more room to explore the various mysteries that are going on. This is also a much more political story than the first one. Now that many citizens are out of work, due to the temporary halt of the oil drilling, there’s a push for new leadership, someone who will help the economy get back on its feet. Carter and Ajex find themselves in the middle of this political maneuvering, and I loved watching the way they handle themselves. This is more of a slow burn story where clues are dropped carefully, with plenty of different characters and factions adding to both the mystery of the murders and the mystery of Carter’s sudden affliction when it comes to manna. I’m terrible at figuring stuff out so I was surprised by everything in this story!
There’s a burst of frenetic action at the end as Carter and Ajax finally connect all the dots, but Stout leaves plenty of room for things to develop in the next book. We still don’t know a lot about the new source of manna that’s been discovered, and I’m hoping that Carter and Gellica will get to spend more time together as well. You can take away all the fantasy trappings of this world and still be left with a damn fine police procedural, but the wonderful city of Titanshade and all its mysteries add such a fascinating layer to the story, it just wouldn’t be the same. Highly recommended!
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
Read my review of Titanshade. This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
June 25, 2022
Drugi naslov u za sada trilogiji Dena Stauta predstavlja evolutivni pomak u odnosu na prethodni, a ne kvantni skok u kvalitativnom smislu. Ako bih to morao da izrazim u GR zvezdicama, ocena bi bila za 0,25 * viša. U svakom slučaju, ovo jeste dobar zalogaj za ljubitelje mešavine tvrdih krimića i fantastike. Ne bih baš rekao poslastica, jer sladunjavosti nema, već je više reč o recimo dobroj pljeskavici sa crnim lukom ubačenim u mleveno meso i slojem kajmaka preko lepinje natopljene močom.
Staut prilično rizikuje izbegavajući tradicionalnu fantazijsku podelu uloga, pa njegovi romani više podsećaju na naučnu nego epsku fantastiku, makar kada je reč o sedam neljudskih rasa koje obitavaju u njegovom svetu, planeti negde u svemiru koja nije Zemlja. Štaviše, naslućuje se da je osnovna postavka ipak naučnofantastična, slično kao kod Lorensove trilogije Book of the Ancestor, recimo, ali to će tek vreme pokazati.
Takođe, to što je Staut radnju smestio u ekvivalent početka osamdesetih godina dvadesetog veka svakako dodatno otežava savremenom mladom čitaocu da se utopi u njegov svet, jer čak i meni koji sam tada bio živ, što kažu Amerikanci, povremeno zaškripe točkići u glavi dok čitam o recimo magnetnim trakama i zelenim monitorima veličine današnjeg mobilnog, ili o mašinama za kucanje u policijskim stanicama.
Bilo kako bilo, Stautova proza je vrsna i utegnuta. Karakterizacija je vrhunski profesionalna i višedimenzionalna, na nivou prvorazne holivudske serije. Zanimljivo što u ovim romanima muzika igra ulogu koliko recimo u serijalu o Hariju Bošu, a piscu uspeva da potpuno izmišljenim muzičarima, grupama i pesmama oda utisak džeza i bluza kakve obično dovodimo u vezu s tvrdokornim kretenima koji ispravljaju krive Drine i mrtvim magarcima spolovila u detektivskim romanima.
Svaka preporuka. 4*
Staut prilično rizikuje izbegavajući tradicionalnu fantazijsku podelu uloga, pa njegovi romani više podsećaju na naučnu nego epsku fantastiku, makar kada je reč o sedam neljudskih rasa koje obitavaju u njegovom svetu, planeti negde u svemiru koja nije Zemlja. Štaviše, naslućuje se da je osnovna postavka ipak naučnofantastična, slično kao kod Lorensove trilogije Book of the Ancestor, recimo, ali to će tek vreme pokazati.
Takođe, to što je Staut radnju smestio u ekvivalent početka osamdesetih godina dvadesetog veka svakako dodatno otežava savremenom mladom čitaocu da se utopi u njegov svet, jer čak i meni koji sam tada bio živ, što kažu Amerikanci, povremeno zaškripe točkići u glavi dok čitam o recimo magnetnim trakama i zelenim monitorima veličine današnjeg mobilnog, ili o mašinama za kucanje u policijskim stanicama.
Bilo kako bilo, Stautova proza je vrsna i utegnuta. Karakterizacija je vrhunski profesionalna i višedimenzionalna, na nivou prvorazne holivudske serije. Zanimljivo što u ovim romanima muzika igra ulogu koliko recimo u serijalu o Hariju Bošu, a piscu uspeva da potpuno izmišljenim muzičarima, grupama i pesmama oda utisak džeza i bluza kakve obično dovodimo u vezu s tvrdokornim kretenima koji ispravljaju krive Drine i mrtvim magarcima spolovila u detektivskim romanima.
Svaka preporuka. 4*
May 26, 2020
I won an advanced reader’s copy in a contest, thank you to DAW!
This is a sequel to Titanshade, which I loved last year. The atmosphere of the setting is great, and Stout does a great job with prose. All of those high points are showcased again, with an ending that is quite emotional and bittersweet.
If you enjoy police procedurals with a side of suffering due to personal consequences, this is a great book!
January 30, 2020
Another fantastic installment in the Titanshade world! Like the first one, it follows the beats of a good PI story, but this time our two buddy cops have grown into one another’s personalities and make a really heartwarming team as they try to hunt down the murderer of a nameless graffiti artist found in an alley. Stout doesn’t skimp on the details that make his world come fully to life, from the music to the social levels to the gritty underside of detective work. The book is rounded out with a blend of alien cultures and a unique magic system that gives an off-kilter but familiar feel. The prose was wonderful to read; Stout has a gift for pairing the main character’s inner thoughts with his outer world in really poignant and provoking ways. A great new mystery in the series, but also the feel of coming home to an old friend.
*I was given an Advance Readers Copy of Titan’s Day in exchange for an honest review.*
*I was given an Advance Readers Copy of Titan’s Day in exchange for an honest review.*
December 14, 2021
Fabulous second novel in the series!! Why is nobody talking about this?! 🤔
Must read for Dresden Files readers.
Must read for Dresden Files readers.
April 7, 2020
This is the second book in the Carter Archives. This has been a very interesting addition to the UF/Sci fi genre, and this second addition was just as intriguing. Carter and Ajax have been on desk duty since the events of the first book, and they are finally allowed to take a case. This case haunts Carter, and he finds out that there were maybe some aftereffects to his exposure to the manna he discovered in the first book. He must find out what is going on before he decides he’s lost it. I loved this second book, but there was a lot less action than the first one. This one focuses more on the characters and the politics going on in Titanshade than action. I am more of an action fan, but this still was an excellent book. The author weaves details well about the universe, but I still have many questions that will hopefully be answered in future books. I am looking forward to more. Recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
June 5, 2020
My new favorite series. The sequel was just as good as Titanshade, though it had a different feel with a lot more magic and political conspiracies in the plotline.
April 8, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I enjoyed Titanshade last year as a science fiction fantasy with a lot of mystery and thriller woven through the story. Moving on in the Carter Archives series, I already knew the main characters and a bit of the world and its politics.
Eric Carter, the homicide detective, human, has been forced to desk duty ad recuperation after all the events in Titanshade. He hates it and can't wait to get back to real work and cases He and Ajax are sent to a body in the alley, probably a "candy." It's meant to be a nothing sort of case to keep them busy and out of the public eye.
Carter is not going to give up on solving her death even when it runs into some political hot potatoes. I like his efforts to find the truth and do his job. His partner, Ajax may be newish but they work well together and back each other up. I was happy to learn more about Ajax this time. No matter who tries to get the case from him or hide the facts, Carter doggedly works his investigation.
The whole situation is volatile with so many newcomers with the manna strike, the military to try to keep things controlled, and the local citizens who have suffered. There were plenty of bad guys. The politicians wanted their way at any cost. The other detectives who wanted the power in making a name for themselves. The local gangs who want to control things, and their drug trade hurting people.
I enjoyed the character development of these two partners, doing the right thing, but always in trouble. The world was built with learning more of sorcerers, and the other races. I would recommend this book and reading the series in order. I look forward to see what's next for our guys.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I enjoyed Titanshade last year as a science fiction fantasy with a lot of mystery and thriller woven through the story. Moving on in the Carter Archives series, I already knew the main characters and a bit of the world and its politics.
Eric Carter, the homicide detective, human, has been forced to desk duty ad recuperation after all the events in Titanshade. He hates it and can't wait to get back to real work and cases He and Ajax are sent to a body in the alley, probably a "candy." It's meant to be a nothing sort of case to keep them busy and out of the public eye.
Carter is not going to give up on solving her death even when it runs into some political hot potatoes. I like his efforts to find the truth and do his job. His partner, Ajax may be newish but they work well together and back each other up. I was happy to learn more about Ajax this time. No matter who tries to get the case from him or hide the facts, Carter doggedly works his investigation.
The whole situation is volatile with so many newcomers with the manna strike, the military to try to keep things controlled, and the local citizens who have suffered. There were plenty of bad guys. The politicians wanted their way at any cost. The other detectives who wanted the power in making a name for themselves. The local gangs who want to control things, and their drug trade hurting people.
I enjoyed the character development of these two partners, doing the right thing, but always in trouble. The world was built with learning more of sorcerers, and the other races. I would recommend this book and reading the series in order. I look forward to see what's next for our guys.
June 3, 2020
3.5 stars
** EVERYTHING UNDER SPOILER TAB IS SPOILER -- they are plot so I can remember them if I want to read the next book **
I enjoyed this one... because reading it right after Titanshade, I was still familiar with the universe and the characters. I liked Carter... I mean, he's not a complete jacka$$ (oftentimes when it comes to urban fantasy with male characters, they end up like arrogant or not team player kind of hero), he tries to follow instructions, he doesn't belittle his junior partner... I think Carter is an okay guy. But Carter has tenacity to get answers for the dead, which gets him into trouble.
As for the story... I felt like there were TWO glaring things that Carter should realize from the beginning. I was frustrated that I got the "clues" early on and Carter didn't. I was like, "GET ON TO THAT CONCLUSION FASTER!!"
** EVERYTHING UNDER SPOILER TAB IS SPOILER -- they are plot so I can remember them if I want to read the next book **
I enjoyed this one... because reading it right after Titanshade, I was still familiar with the universe and the characters. I liked Carter... I mean, he's not a complete jacka$$ (oftentimes when it comes to urban fantasy with male characters, they end up like arrogant or not team player kind of hero), he tries to follow instructions, he doesn't belittle his junior partner... I think Carter is an okay guy. But Carter has tenacity to get answers for the dead, which gets him into trouble.
As for the story... I felt like there were TWO glaring things that Carter should realize from the beginning. I was frustrated that I got the "clues" early on and Carter didn't. I was like, "GET ON TO THAT CONCLUSION FASTER!!"
May 27, 2020
The mining city of Titanshade (paper) is in the far north on an Earth with eight very different types of people. It’s running out of the oil that has replaced the magical manna. In the first police procedural mystery Detective Carter followed the trail of a murderer straight to a point where people had found a well of Manna deep underground. He’s been on paperwork detail until he and his partner Jax, a Mollenkampi get their first case. The murderer had taken the teeth of a Mollenkampi artist new to the city. No one even knew her name. It’s the time of the Titan's Day (hard from DAW) celebration with an election going on. The city is trying to deal with the gang violence and typical corruption. Carter and Jax persue the case that noone cares about, while the department tries to deal with his notoriety and keep him from finding the murderer. Dan Stout has a gritty, impossible-to-put-down tale and I look forward to more cases. Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press
September 21, 2022
I can't state enough how glad I am to have discovered this series. The first book was a blast and the second didn't disappoint either. Dan Stout managed to expand our knowledge of Titanshade and its inhabitants by further building the world around Carter and those close to him. From beginning to end the book kept me excited. Who are friends, who are foes? What's really going on and why? What will Carter do to solve his case without digging his grave at work deeper than he already has? And what will he do to not make life harder for his few friends with his actions?
If you like noir, mystery, urban fantasy, crime or all of the above, try this series. The plot and the writing will suck you right in and at the end you will probably want more!
If you like noir, mystery, urban fantasy, crime or all of the above, try this series. The plot and the writing will suck you right in and at the end you will probably want more!
June 29, 2023
The follow up to Titanshade delivers the same engaging characters and setting. It's a unique mash-up of genres: part noir, part detective, part fantasy, part sci-fi. Stout's world building is subtle and interesting. The world is just familiar enough so as not to require lengthy exposition, but alien enough to make it interesting and novel. Readers of Michael Connelly's Bosch will see a lot of Bosch in Carter: the commitment to the murder victim; the belief that everybody counts, even in the face of an uncaring and sometimes corrupt bureaucracies.
April 9, 2020
This is a weird but fun mix of 1980s nostalgia, gritty police procedural (but not too gory) and multi species science fiction setting. I enjoy the occasional mystery and this series is a fun combination of that mystery and my preferred genre of science fiction & fantasy.
5 stars to work with really isn’t enough nuance to give a proper impression of a book. This book and the previous book in the series are both perfectly fun reads. I’d cheerfully recommend them to the right reader but I save 4 and 5 stars for the books that really wow me. 3 stars is a perfectly good read and a heavy genre reader will have a perfectly fun time reading this series..
5 stars to work with really isn’t enough nuance to give a proper impression of a book. This book and the previous book in the series are both perfectly fun reads. I’d cheerfully recommend them to the right reader but I save 4 and 5 stars for the books that really wow me. 3 stars is a perfectly good read and a heavy genre reader will have a perfectly fun time reading this series..
April 15, 2020
Gritty noir mystery and fantasy collide in this well-written second book
It was fun diving back into the gritty noir world of Titan. Mr. Stout’s writing is terrific, and he makes you feel the main character’s pain as Carter struggles to do the right thing while politicians vie for supremacy.
The world creation continues as we get introduced to new characters and get deeper into the intricacies that make Titanites love their flawed city. I highly recommend this book.
It was fun diving back into the gritty noir world of Titan. Mr. Stout’s writing is terrific, and he makes you feel the main character’s pain as Carter struggles to do the right thing while politicians vie for supremacy.
The world creation continues as we get introduced to new characters and get deeper into the intricacies that make Titanites love their flawed city. I highly recommend this book.
July 31, 2020
Wow! This one is as good as the first and maybe better in some ways! I really enjoyed revisited the world and main characters. The plot, much like the first reminds me of pot boiler crime noir of the 70s, mixed with a dash of fantasy, and maybe some downbeat cop films mashed in there. I would really like to know more about Ajax's life and what his world is like, maybe we will get more of that in the next one. Either way I'm committed to this series for however long it runs! Well done Dan!
December 1, 2020
What a fun, unique, entirely original world. The world building is top notch, and it feels familiar enough at times that I almost forget it’s a fantasy setting with a really interesting blend of magic and 70s culture and technology. The hero is in the tradition of the best noir cops, and the cases are appropriately gritty and the corruption is as deep as it should be.
Excellent follow up to a great first book. Very excited for the next one.
Excellent follow up to a great first book. Very excited for the next one.
June 1, 2020
A great 2nd book in the series. Expanded the world and am glad that there are no info dumps. We figure out bits and pieces of this strange and familiar world as the story moves along. Felt emotionally connected to the mystery and it made me respect MC's principles and determination. Lot of new directions the story can progress next. Let's see what case Detective Carter latches onto next.
February 8, 2021
Thriller Noir with magic
I am a big fan of Titan shade. Glad not to live there as I'm afraid I'd live far from heat. The characters are straight hardboiled from Chandler or Hammett only differing species with different vices. And Carter's unlike able but determined methods are spot on.
Loved it!
I am a big fan of Titan shade. Glad not to live there as I'm afraid I'd live far from heat. The characters are straight hardboiled from Chandler or Hammett only differing species with different vices. And Carter's unlike able but determined methods are spot on.
Loved it!
June 13, 2021
Another great story by Dan about Carter and his tendency to get quite difficult murder investigations. Poor diets and adversity tend to find Carter like a magnet.
I love the mixture of noir detective and magic . It works so well that it left me wanting to know more about the lore behind the inhabitants of Titanshade. This was a very good story.
I love the mixture of noir detective and magic . It works so well that it left me wanting to know more about the lore behind the inhabitants of Titanshade. This was a very good story.
Read
August 24, 2021I kinda hate to leave this one unfinished, but I was really not that into this one. The concept is fine and the worldbuilding is great but I guess I was struggling with the character and maybe a bit of the plot. So when I ran out of renewals with the library I gave in and admitted I was not going to finish it properly. which is too bad.
May 3, 2025
This is an interesting world with characters worth getting to know. Unfortunately, the drive behind Titan’s Day is a murder victim we get to know almost nothing about. Expecting me, or any ready for that matter, to be interested or have sympathy for someone we aren’t allowed to connect with, just isn’t going to work.
Honestly, I was bored, and closed the book at page 317.
Honestly, I was bored, and closed the book at page 317.
April 10, 2020
Searching for the murderer of a young Jane Doe things tend to get out of hand. With some hilarious high jinx and alot of hearsay Carter and Jax carry on working homicide cases. Dont want to go into too much detail this was an amazing follow up novel to The Carter Archives.
April 30, 2020
Another great book, really enjoyed more time with these characters in this world, and the mystery was intriguing! Carter has something really interesting to deal with that was great to read! Can't wait to read more!
July 27, 2020
The world is still fantastic and there's plenty more on the bone, I had a little trouble following some of the manna sequences so couldn't piece together what was happening until later. Other than that I enjoyed the hell out of it!
March 25, 2021
Wow, Carter and Jax cannot ketch a break after the events of book one. Life gets more complicated and the world of Titenshade gets even more complex. I can't wait to see what happens next...please can we have more?? =)
October 20, 2024
Excellent book. Great detective story. The main character, Carter, is a homicide detective who is constantly finding himself in trouble. I love the 30s detective vibe with 70s technology but set on an alien planet. It all makes for an interesting story with great characters.
May 2, 2020
I really love these books--great characters, very cool setting and worldbuilding.
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