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Everland Mystery #1
Shadow Stitcher
A former pirate faces mobsters and magic in 1950s Neverland.
Basil Stark isn’t the man he once was. A reformed pirate and private detective, he walks the line between criminal and hero, living in the corners of what was once the island of Neverland, its magic slowly fading into the new world of the 1950s. But when a routine missing-persons case turns into a murder investigation, Basil finds himself pulled into a tale of organized crime, murder, unstitched shadows and dangerous espionage. With only a handful of fellow outcasts and a stubborn determination to bring a killer to justice, will he survive the many people who want him dead?
268 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2019
27 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Misha Handman
7 books13 followersBorn on Vancouver Island, Canada, Misha Handman spent his early life immersed in the arts, with one parent a teacher and the other a manager of theatre and opera. Moving across the country to Ottawa, and then Toronto, he began writing at a young age – first writing comics and designing card games for his closest friends and then, buoyed by their approval, gradually expanding out to submissions to magazines and short story collections, and graduating from the University of Toronto with a classic English degree.
Misha has always believed in the transformative power of fiction, and the importance of entertainment to our health and well-being. He is also interested in our shared fictional history, working in game design to develop collaborative games and story-driven experiences and exploring the new worlds that we are sharing. His fascination with these things led to the development of his first novel, Shadow Stitcher, as an exploration of the English classic “Peter Pan.”
When not writing, Misha spends his time in Victoria, Canada, working as a professional fundraiser for charities – a job he describes as “helping people to help people.” He continues to work on game design on the side, and is always excited to see the myriad ways that people approach story construction and creation, both as a voracious reader of genre fiction and a dedicated player of games.
Misha has always believed in the transformative power of fiction, and the importance of entertainment to our health and well-being. He is also interested in our shared fictional history, working in game design to develop collaborative games and story-driven experiences and exploring the new worlds that we are sharing. His fascination with these things led to the development of his first novel, Shadow Stitcher, as an exploration of the English classic “Peter Pan.”
When not writing, Misha spends his time in Victoria, Canada, working as a professional fundraiser for charities – a job he describes as “helping people to help people.” He continues to work on game design on the side, and is always excited to see the myriad ways that people approach story construction and creation, both as a voracious reader of genre fiction and a dedicated player of games.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 24, 2019
This novel hit all the right things for me: a mystery that was complex and satisfying without being convoluted just for the sake of it, a twist that felt earned and didn't come entirely out of left-field, characters who were interesting and whose motivations slowly unspooled in a really satisfying way, and just the right balance of magic and grime.
I have a hard time with dark Peter Pan retellings because sometimes I feel that they lose the spark of magic and wonder that made Peter Pan so beautiful, but Handman does an incredible job of keeping that wonder and magic alive, even in a gritty 1950s industrialized version of the setting we all know and love so much.
Stark is nuanced and flawed in just the right ways, and Holly is a character I want to come back to over and over. It's also worth noting that he tackles the complex challenge of Barry's "indians" with grace and aplomb, creating a truly unique culture and a set of characters I can't wait to see more of. I hope this is is the first in a long set of Basil Stark mysteries!
I have a hard time with dark Peter Pan retellings because sometimes I feel that they lose the spark of magic and wonder that made Peter Pan so beautiful, but Handman does an incredible job of keeping that wonder and magic alive, even in a gritty 1950s industrialized version of the setting we all know and love so much.
Stark is nuanced and flawed in just the right ways, and Holly is a character I want to come back to over and over. It's also worth noting that he tackles the complex challenge of Barry's "indians" with grace and aplomb, creating a truly unique culture and a set of characters I can't wait to see more of. I hope this is is the first in a long set of Basil Stark mysteries!
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October 21, 2019This is a noir-ish mystery story, set in a Neverland as it might have evolved after the events in Peter Pan. Private investigator Basil Stark takes on a case that snowballs into battling factions as well as use of a deadly new power.
The premise was very intriguing. I will say straight off I came into the story with very little knowledge of the original Peter Pan (which I guess I read decades ago) - so I wasn't au fait with many of the references, or even the names.
The entire story is narrated in first person, present tense by Stark himself. I found his voice a bit dispassionate: as if he were carrying on a running commentary without being actively involved. I didn't get much sense of him being surprised, worried, angry or afraid, for example. For me, that kept the tension level rather even.
I very much liked the atmosphere of the city. The snippets of history and how the islands (and people) had developed over the years were a lot of fun.
The plot moved along at a good pace, with plenty of twists thrown in, and things fall into place neatly at the end. However, I'm not sure I kept up with events all that well. Partly, it felt like there were a lot of different characters, and I didn't manage to keep track of them all. So, if a clue was that X said something to Y, I didn't always feel I could grasp the significance. Also, I wasn't clear about what was normal or common in this world. So when Basil came to some conclusion about what's going on, I didn't appreciate his "Aha!" moment myself, since I'd have found any other conclusion he made equally possible.
Overall, a fun read. Possibly better appreciated by Peter Pan aficionados.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.
The premise was very intriguing. I will say straight off I came into the story with very little knowledge of the original Peter Pan (which I guess I read decades ago) - so I wasn't au fait with many of the references, or even the names.
The entire story is narrated in first person, present tense by Stark himself. I found his voice a bit dispassionate: as if he were carrying on a running commentary without being actively involved. I didn't get much sense of him being surprised, worried, angry or afraid, for example. For me, that kept the tension level rather even.
I very much liked the atmosphere of the city. The snippets of history and how the islands (and people) had developed over the years were a lot of fun.
The plot moved along at a good pace, with plenty of twists thrown in, and things fall into place neatly at the end. However, I'm not sure I kept up with events all that well. Partly, it felt like there were a lot of different characters, and I didn't manage to keep track of them all. So, if a clue was that X said something to Y, I didn't always feel I could grasp the significance. Also, I wasn't clear about what was normal or common in this world. So when Basil came to some conclusion about what's going on, I didn't appreciate his "Aha!" moment myself, since I'd have found any other conclusion he made equally possible.
Overall, a fun read. Possibly better appreciated by Peter Pan aficionados.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.
October 28, 2019
Misha Handman’s Shadow Stitcher is a rollicking mystery with a fascinating setting, a magical world with a hardboiled edge. For a novel with noir leanings, it’s a surprisingly bright read; light, airy, and joyous, as if it’s been sprinkled with fairy dust. Handman’s main character, Basil Stark, a reformed ex-pirate on Hook’s crew, is clever, resourceful, and thoughtful. Ready with a quip and cool in a crisis, he’s also fitted with a mysterious past ripe for exploring in this, and hopefully future, outings.
This connection to the initial Peter Pan story helps Handman effectively explore the ethical dilemmas Barrie’s novel raises in a modern reading, particularly Barrie’s exoticized and simplified rendition of Indigenous characters. Stark’s assistant, Holly, and Adelaide, the reporter who joins the case, are also fleshed-out and entertaining characters with agency. The twists in the mystery couldn’t happen anywhere else but Everland, making the setting feel vital and rewarding Barrie fans. You’ll speed - or should I say fly - through it.
This connection to the initial Peter Pan story helps Handman effectively explore the ethical dilemmas Barrie’s novel raises in a modern reading, particularly Barrie’s exoticized and simplified rendition of Indigenous characters. Stark’s assistant, Holly, and Adelaide, the reporter who joins the case, are also fleshed-out and entertaining characters with agency. The twists in the mystery couldn’t happen anywhere else but Everland, making the setting feel vital and rewarding Barrie fans. You’ll speed - or should I say fly - through it.
November 9, 2019
I will say right off the bat that I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, and I am grateful to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book!
The world is pretty rich here, and I will give the author credit that there are "Native" characters here who are allowed to just be characters; I would say, given the source material, there's no real way of escaping racist aspects of the world, but Handman doesn't lean much further into stereotypes so that's kind of refreshing. The mystery was pretty compelling, with many twists and turns, and I had it figured out (loosely) by the end--not in a frustrating way, but just in that satisfactory "ah the pieces have come together!" way of a solid mystery. (ymmv on that--I'm not super familiar with mystery as a genre so it's an Accomplishment when I "solve" a mystery.) All in all, not a bad read!
The world is pretty rich here, and I will give the author credit that there are "Native" characters here who are allowed to just be characters; I would say, given the source material, there's no real way of escaping racist aspects of the world, but Handman doesn't lean much further into stereotypes so that's kind of refreshing. The mystery was pretty compelling, with many twists and turns, and I had it figured out (loosely) by the end--not in a frustrating way, but just in that satisfactory "ah the pieces have come together!" way of a solid mystery. (ymmv on that--I'm not super familiar with mystery as a genre so it's an Accomplishment when I "solve" a mystery.) All in all, not a bad read!
November 14, 2022
The mean streets and crumpled suits of crime noir intermingle with icons of a children’s classic, creating a detective tale where the endless joy isn’t completely gone but has become frayed and dirty.
Decades ago, the adult world reached Neverland. The glorious war between the pirates and the Lost Boys has been replaced by politics, business, and organised crime., and attempts to make childhood magic a commodity have only made it fade faster. Hook’s former first mate Basil Stark makes a living as a private detective. When a businessman hires him to find a missing paramour, he assumes it is just another tawdry tale of a man being conned by a pretty face; however, as he looks deeper he finds evidence of a remnant of the childish past acting with very adult intent.
Handman blends JM Barrie’s Peter Pan with pulp detective stories, producing a 1950’s US city where a new generation of Picadilly Indians live in their own enclave protected by treaty, fairy dust is cut with various substances to make a recreational drug, and the remaining inhabitants of Neverland from before civilisation arrived have started to age. Skilfully echoing the threads of darkness that lie within Barrie’s original tale, the novel resonates with the cynicism and violence of classic noir without losing the sense that this is the same world of eternal childhood japes that the Darlings found. The more fantastical elements, such as fairies, maintain a certain otherness that produces an engaging counterpoint to the solidity of American urbanity and capitalist corruption.
While Handman does not actively go out of his way avoid the obvious metaphor of adult concerns destroying childhood innocence, this is very much a gritty thriller filled with fast-paced action, dogged investigation, and a protagonist who is as much criminal as hero rather than a veneer of story over a portrait of human nature.
Unlike some novels that revisit to classic settings, signature elements of Neverland are fully integrated into the plot rather than merely appearing; thus, while Handman does not shy from allowing a reader’s potential knowledge of Barrie’s world to lead them astray, the events unfold as they do because they occur in Neverland rather than their unfolding also taking the reader on a tour of Neverland.
Stark is a most engaging and characterful protagonist—if not one who will necessarily appeal to readers who wish their detective to possess, or at least achieve by the end of the book, a moral clarity. While neither Barrie nor adaptations of Peter Pan portrayed Hook’s pirates in particular depth and nuance, Handman manages to infuse a sense of continuity without engineering circumstances to be ones that happen to be especially amenable to the skillset of a pirate.
The supporting cast are a sound fit for the setting and plot, built around detective noir tropes but given individual tweaks that make them more than stereotypes. Handman’s handling of those who have come to Neverland after modern civilisation had settled in is perhaps particularly realistic, with a few seeing the events of Peter Pan as childish imagination, a few assuming they mean other equally implausible things are true, and many having let the differences become mundane unless they are forced to acknowledge them.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking gritty urban fantasy or crime noir.
Decades ago, the adult world reached Neverland. The glorious war between the pirates and the Lost Boys has been replaced by politics, business, and organised crime., and attempts to make childhood magic a commodity have only made it fade faster. Hook’s former first mate Basil Stark makes a living as a private detective. When a businessman hires him to find a missing paramour, he assumes it is just another tawdry tale of a man being conned by a pretty face; however, as he looks deeper he finds evidence of a remnant of the childish past acting with very adult intent.
Handman blends JM Barrie’s Peter Pan with pulp detective stories, producing a 1950’s US city where a new generation of Picadilly Indians live in their own enclave protected by treaty, fairy dust is cut with various substances to make a recreational drug, and the remaining inhabitants of Neverland from before civilisation arrived have started to age. Skilfully echoing the threads of darkness that lie within Barrie’s original tale, the novel resonates with the cynicism and violence of classic noir without losing the sense that this is the same world of eternal childhood japes that the Darlings found. The more fantastical elements, such as fairies, maintain a certain otherness that produces an engaging counterpoint to the solidity of American urbanity and capitalist corruption.
While Handman does not actively go out of his way avoid the obvious metaphor of adult concerns destroying childhood innocence, this is very much a gritty thriller filled with fast-paced action, dogged investigation, and a protagonist who is as much criminal as hero rather than a veneer of story over a portrait of human nature.
Unlike some novels that revisit to classic settings, signature elements of Neverland are fully integrated into the plot rather than merely appearing; thus, while Handman does not shy from allowing a reader’s potential knowledge of Barrie’s world to lead them astray, the events unfold as they do because they occur in Neverland rather than their unfolding also taking the reader on a tour of Neverland.
Stark is a most engaging and characterful protagonist—if not one who will necessarily appeal to readers who wish their detective to possess, or at least achieve by the end of the book, a moral clarity. While neither Barrie nor adaptations of Peter Pan portrayed Hook’s pirates in particular depth and nuance, Handman manages to infuse a sense of continuity without engineering circumstances to be ones that happen to be especially amenable to the skillset of a pirate.
The supporting cast are a sound fit for the setting and plot, built around detective noir tropes but given individual tweaks that make them more than stereotypes. Handman’s handling of those who have come to Neverland after modern civilisation had settled in is perhaps particularly realistic, with a few seeing the events of Peter Pan as childish imagination, a few assuming they mean other equally implausible things are true, and many having let the differences become mundane unless they are forced to acknowledge them.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking gritty urban fantasy or crime noir.
November 11, 2023
Sort of a cross between a 1950’s detective novel and a mystical follow up on Neverland (from Peter Pan). Very unusual, with some fun characters (Glimmer). Good mystery too. A few too many characters sort of diluted my interest though.
February 26, 2020
When I read, I tend to alternate between Fantasy, Mystery and Science Fiction, so interestingly enough, the last two books I read combined my interests, being an SF/mystery and this fantasy/mystery. The cover grabbed me right away (shallow, I know) because of the classic sepia-toned noir image was combined with a bit of fancy. Please tell me the buildings in Everland are not that tall.
I really enjoyed this. It reminded me (favourably) of the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, although not with as much sharp wit. I found Basil Stark's sarcasm could make me smile, but not laugh out loud. Still, for a first outing this is quite a good story.
I thought bringing Neverland into the 1950s was a wise choice, considering the inherent racism of the original; the slightly less racist present of the 1950s was a better step than trying to bring Everland all the way into the twenty-first century. I really liked the characters. Unfortunately, although I've read the original Peter Pan, I still had caricatures from the Disney movie stuck in my head for the first half of the book.
I really enjoyed this. It reminded me (favourably) of the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, although not with as much sharp wit. I found Basil Stark's sarcasm could make me smile, but not laugh out loud. Still, for a first outing this is quite a good story.
I thought bringing Neverland into the 1950s was a wise choice, considering the inherent racism of the original; the slightly less racist present of the 1950s was a better step than trying to bring Everland all the way into the twenty-first century. I really liked the characters. Unfortunately, although I've read the original Peter Pan, I still had caricatures from the Disney movie stuck in my head for the first half of the book.
November 3, 2019
Oh My Goodness! This first novel by Misha Handman is a taste of great things to come! I will be keeping my eye out for more by this talented writer. I suggest you get in on the ground floor and follow him as his career grows!
Shadow Stitcher is the perfect choice if you like fantasy or mystery novels. I love both- they are my favourite genres. Handman creates a delectable mystery that is set in a noir world in a fantasy land in the 1950's. The world he creates is so fleshed out, that you believe you could really visit this place. The characters are believable and entertaining. I can't wait to see more of Glimmer!
The action moves along quickly and leaves you both engaged and guessing what will happen next! The mystery is complex enough to keep you interested, but not so much that you don't believe it. I did not want to put the book down!
Shadow Stitcher is the perfect choice if you like fantasy or mystery novels. I love both- they are my favourite genres. Handman creates a delectable mystery that is set in a noir world in a fantasy land in the 1950's. The world he creates is so fleshed out, that you believe you could really visit this place. The characters are believable and entertaining. I can't wait to see more of Glimmer!
The action moves along quickly and leaves you both engaged and guessing what will happen next! The mystery is complex enough to keep you interested, but not so much that you don't believe it. I did not want to put the book down!
October 30, 2019
If you are a fan of Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett with a light dusting of fairy magic, you are going to love this novel. Set in the mythical world of Everland, this murder mystery invokes the spirit its antecedents while remaining original and unpredictable. Handman paints a vivid world left behind when Peter Pan leaves Neverland, just beyond the mists of the known world. Every character is cleanly drawn and engaging, whether hero, criminal or all the shades in between. I read a lot of mystery novels and all I can say is that this one holds up with the best of them. I hope this debut novel gains lots of traction.
November 1, 2019
Everland, the setting of the novel, is a great Hook. (I couldn't resist the pun, since we're talking about 1950's Neverland.) It is unique, vibrant, and has remarkable depth to it. While Everland is certainly its own character within the book, I was left wanting more stories in it, because it was so fascinating! Basil is a delight - charming, complicated, clever, and watching him work through the mystery of a novel is a joy. I actually laughed out loud on transit reading one of the sequences, which is a difficult thing to accomplish. Read the book, buy the book, love the book, so there will be more books in the setting, please!
August 16, 2022
Hey bub, you lookin' for a paranormal PI with a difference? Maybe a bit of 50s comic book flair and a hint of... fairy dust? You came to the right place with this one that's a magical mash-up of the detective drama and... Peter Pan. While it falls more on the noirish mystery side than the fantasy retelling, the way it weaves the world together is utterly inspired.
Meet Basil Stark, formerly one Gentleman Starkey of the Jolly Rodger, now a private detective with a tongue as sharp as his swordstick. Neverland has grown up without the influence of Pan and his nemesis Hook, and been colonized by people (mainly American Nyew Ywork types) looking for opportunities... And fairy dust. Well. Ish. There's still magic left in Neverland, rechristened Everland by its hopeful settlers, but dust is a drug, the mermaid and tigers tend to keep to themselves, the "Indians" are comfortable in their own community, and fairies are a highly regulated species. Oh, and the cops are corrupt, there's a smuggling operation trying to sneak magical goods out into the Real World, and now there's a shadow on the loose (which in (N)Everland, is a Bad Thing). Basil thought he was only looking for a missing girl for a love-lorn client, but there's a lot more to the case than meets the eye. Along with his assistant Holly, a rogue fairy, an undercover reporter, and a guy with a sweet left hook to match his disposition, he's got himself into a whole heap of trouble...
This is your basic noir mystery stuff, but pulpy and delicious. If you like competent PIs (but not unbelievably so) and tangled webs of whodunnits and wait-who-dun-whats with a dose of the paranormal, then this will be right up your dark and thug-filled alleyway. There's a little of the pastiche slang, but not enough to be alienating to anyone not too familiar or friendly towards it. I felt like I was reading a homage to more serious toned 50s comic books, and that's saying something when one of your characters is a literal glittery fairy. The story is complex, and while it did confuse me I find that the case with virtually all mystery novels so take that with a pinch of salt.
Unlike many mysteries with male protagonists, while it's not the sort of mystery where we can play guess who exactly it's not because we're kept in the dark by our narrator. Basil is a witty, polite, skilled and relatively smooth operator, but with enough rough edges to still feel realistic. His backstory and injections of info about how Everland came to be are well-timed and never outstay their welcome. Those little details really paint a picture of the world that's very well thought through; I tip my trilby to the author who thought to make this work.
Side characters both good and "bad" are interesting enough, though I couldn't help but wish we'd gotten to know them a little better (not least Holly, who is very easy to like, and Stephanie who was a bit of an enigma). There's an obvious romance element that's a tad on the underdeveloped side but I didn't find it poorly done as such, just perhaps wished for a little bit more to go on.
The only downside I could see, beyond being a little confused by the mystery plot, was that I had hoped for a little more Pan-lore to have relevance to the story . It didn't have that kind of hook (pun unintentional) that I was hoping for.
A highly original setting that still manages to be familiar and smooth writing make this one a worthy twisty mystery read, with it's love-letter to noir style and winning narration. I'd certainly be curious to know more about what could come from Everland in future.
Meet Basil Stark, formerly one Gentleman Starkey of the Jolly Rodger, now a private detective with a tongue as sharp as his swordstick. Neverland has grown up without the influence of Pan and his nemesis Hook, and been colonized by people (mainly American Nyew Ywork types) looking for opportunities... And fairy dust. Well. Ish. There's still magic left in Neverland, rechristened Everland by its hopeful settlers, but dust is a drug, the mermaid and tigers tend to keep to themselves, the "Indians" are comfortable in their own community, and fairies are a highly regulated species. Oh, and the cops are corrupt, there's a smuggling operation trying to sneak magical goods out into the Real World, and now there's a shadow on the loose (which in (N)Everland, is a Bad Thing). Basil thought he was only looking for a missing girl for a love-lorn client, but there's a lot more to the case than meets the eye. Along with his assistant Holly, a rogue fairy, an undercover reporter, and a guy with a sweet left hook to match his disposition, he's got himself into a whole heap of trouble...
This is your basic noir mystery stuff, but pulpy and delicious. If you like competent PIs (but not unbelievably so) and tangled webs of whodunnits and wait-who-dun-whats with a dose of the paranormal, then this will be right up your dark and thug-filled alleyway. There's a little of the pastiche slang, but not enough to be alienating to anyone not too familiar or friendly towards it. I felt like I was reading a homage to more serious toned 50s comic books, and that's saying something when one of your characters is a literal glittery fairy. The story is complex, and while it did confuse me I find that the case with virtually all mystery novels so take that with a pinch of salt.
Unlike many mysteries with male protagonists, while it's not the sort of mystery where we can play guess who exactly it's not because we're kept in the dark by our narrator. Basil is a witty, polite, skilled and relatively smooth operator, but with enough rough edges to still feel realistic. His backstory and injections of info about how Everland came to be are well-timed and never outstay their welcome. Those little details really paint a picture of the world that's very well thought through; I tip my trilby to the author who thought to make this work.
Side characters both good and "bad" are interesting enough, though I couldn't help but wish we'd gotten to know them a little better (not least Holly, who is very easy to like, and Stephanie who was a bit of an enigma). There's an obvious romance element that's a tad on the underdeveloped side but I didn't find it poorly done as such, just perhaps wished for a little bit more to go on.
The only downside I could see, beyond being a little confused by the mystery plot, was that I had hoped for a little more Pan-lore to have relevance to the story . It didn't have that kind of hook (pun unintentional) that I was hoping for.
A highly original setting that still manages to be familiar and smooth writing make this one a worthy twisty mystery read, with it's love-letter to noir style and winning narration. I'd certainly be curious to know more about what could come from Everland in future.
April 25, 2020
4 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
In a Neverland ruined by development, Peter Pan is long gone, Peter Darling is the head of the police force, and all the pirates have died - except one, Basil Stark, Everland's private detective. When he reluctantly takes on a simple missing persons case, the web of interactions gets more and more tangled - and dangerous.
Review
I had an odd reaction to this book. I’m not a big fan of borrowed worlds, enjoy only select mysteries, and hate joining a series partway through. This book takes place in J. M. Barrie’s Neverland, is about a hardbitten detective (the sole survivor of Captain Hook’s crew of pirates), and is definitely a sequel. At the same time, Handman is a very smooth, engaging writer, and while I didn’t love the setting, the book mostly works.
Regarding Neverland, I never warmed to the idea; I just don’t see any need for it. Handman could have achieved the same effect with his own world, and had more freedom (and originality, obviously). Neverland just doesn’t play a necessary role in the story. We get some of the protagonist’s backstory, and there’s pixie dust, but nothing that’s indispensable. I still think he’d have been better off in his own world. If you love Neverland, you may be thrilled. On the other hand, it’s a pretty dystopian Neverland; maybe you won’t.
This has the definite feel of a sequel. While Goodreads, at least, names the series differently (the first book appears to be Crocodile Tears), there’s not question that quite a bit has gone before, and that there are characters the reader may already have met. To his credit, though, Handman does a very smooth job of providing context, and this is more a complete, self-contained book with a few connecting threads than a bridge book. I had no trouble following along, despite knowing nothing about the series.
The mystery part is where it gets interesting. I like the occasional mystery, but as a genre, I can take it or leave it. Handman, though, does a very good job of keeping the suspense and tension high, largely because he interweaves it with strongly engaging characters. He gives a nod to the protagonist’s dark past, but overall he’s sympathetic, and the other key characters, if somewhat stock in type, are well developed. The book kept me interested, and was a quick read almost all the way to the end. Almost, because unfortunately the end is very thin – a disappointment after the strength of the rest of the book. And just to hammer the point home, Handman ends the book with a clumsy wrap-up epilogue that shouldn’t have been necessary at all. It mostly isn’t, and just making a few points clear in the earlier narrative would have made it possible to drop the epilogue entirely, making the book much, much stronger.
I don’t see picking up any other Everland mysteries, but I will keep an eye open and hope that Handman writes something else in his own world.
Summary
In a Neverland ruined by development, Peter Pan is long gone, Peter Darling is the head of the police force, and all the pirates have died - except one, Basil Stark, Everland's private detective. When he reluctantly takes on a simple missing persons case, the web of interactions gets more and more tangled - and dangerous.
Review
I had an odd reaction to this book. I’m not a big fan of borrowed worlds, enjoy only select mysteries, and hate joining a series partway through. This book takes place in J. M. Barrie’s Neverland, is about a hardbitten detective (the sole survivor of Captain Hook’s crew of pirates), and is definitely a sequel. At the same time, Handman is a very smooth, engaging writer, and while I didn’t love the setting, the book mostly works.
Regarding Neverland, I never warmed to the idea; I just don’t see any need for it. Handman could have achieved the same effect with his own world, and had more freedom (and originality, obviously). Neverland just doesn’t play a necessary role in the story. We get some of the protagonist’s backstory, and there’s pixie dust, but nothing that’s indispensable. I still think he’d have been better off in his own world. If you love Neverland, you may be thrilled. On the other hand, it’s a pretty dystopian Neverland; maybe you won’t.
This has the definite feel of a sequel. While Goodreads, at least, names the series differently (the first book appears to be Crocodile Tears), there’s not question that quite a bit has gone before, and that there are characters the reader may already have met. To his credit, though, Handman does a very smooth job of providing context, and this is more a complete, self-contained book with a few connecting threads than a bridge book. I had no trouble following along, despite knowing nothing about the series.
The mystery part is where it gets interesting. I like the occasional mystery, but as a genre, I can take it or leave it. Handman, though, does a very good job of keeping the suspense and tension high, largely because he interweaves it with strongly engaging characters. He gives a nod to the protagonist’s dark past, but overall he’s sympathetic, and the other key characters, if somewhat stock in type, are well developed. The book kept me interested, and was a quick read almost all the way to the end. Almost, because unfortunately the end is very thin – a disappointment after the strength of the rest of the book. And just to hammer the point home, Handman ends the book with a clumsy wrap-up epilogue that shouldn’t have been necessary at all. It mostly isn’t, and just making a few points clear in the earlier narrative would have made it possible to drop the epilogue entirely, making the book much, much stronger.
I don’t see picking up any other Everland mysteries, but I will keep an eye open and hope that Handman writes something else in his own world.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2020
So I'm not one who gets on the bandwagon with Neverland retellings. I always loved the original story and Robin Williams Pan version. A few years ago, though, a certain retelling my daughter loved changed my mind. With that said, I am still skeptical of how well a spin-off or retelling is achieved when it comes to the Pan world.
Misha Handman's approach with SHADOW STITCHERS erased any worries I first conceived and transformed the world of Neverland, after the time of Pan and Hook, into the possibilities of Everland.
We start with the main character Basil, Captian Hooks's first mate who survived the final battles of Neverland. He's a private investigator fresh on the trail of a missing mistress case, at the request of her lover, however, this is only the first of many layers. The introduction and development of sub-characters rounds out each step one takes into SHADOW STITCHERS leaving no room for questions or assumed outcomes on where the story may lead. Not to mention, how the tales of Neverland are reinterpreted and applied throughout is quite genius.
I mean come on, a shadow that (... I'm not spoiling that for you).
The richness of character development... let me repeat this... THE RICHNESS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, deep pov, pacing, world-building, and plotline within SHADOW STITCHERS compares to some of my best fantasy combo reads. Well, minus the darker side.
Now, I am a dark reading lover, and even though the publisher classified SHADOW STITCHERS as a Noir, I have to disagree. Probably one of the cleaner reads I've had this year other than a middle grade I read. So though it's not classified for ya (more so due to the age of the characters), I think upper ya readers who love investigation fantasy stories would enjoy SHADOW STITCHERS.
Yes, it has some darker interpretations like crime organizations or drinking or bars, but not anything close to blood or gore or trigger violence or sex scenes. I craved a bit more grit at times just cause that's me and my ways and reflects nothing on the story. And if I had to pick at one more aspect, then it would be the prologue. Whack it out. It didn't add anything to the main storyline, nor answer any questions that weren't already addressed within the novel.
I won't base my score on those preferences on my part. 5/5 stars! It took me a bit longer than I wanted to catch up to this TBR and complete my review, but I'm glad I took the time to marinate in Misha's superb storytelling skills.
I received an eARC of SHADOW STITCHERS by Misha Handman in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of the review.
Let’s be honest here. If it was great or sucked, I have no problem writing it out.
And don’t forget to check out the cover review for SHADOW STITCHERS at www.jenarcollins.com
Misha Handman's approach with SHADOW STITCHERS erased any worries I first conceived and transformed the world of Neverland, after the time of Pan and Hook, into the possibilities of Everland.
We start with the main character Basil, Captian Hooks's first mate who survived the final battles of Neverland. He's a private investigator fresh on the trail of a missing mistress case, at the request of her lover, however, this is only the first of many layers. The introduction and development of sub-characters rounds out each step one takes into SHADOW STITCHERS leaving no room for questions or assumed outcomes on where the story may lead. Not to mention, how the tales of Neverland are reinterpreted and applied throughout is quite genius.
I mean come on, a shadow that (... I'm not spoiling that for you).
The richness of character development... let me repeat this... THE RICHNESS OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, deep pov, pacing, world-building, and plotline within SHADOW STITCHERS compares to some of my best fantasy combo reads. Well, minus the darker side.
Now, I am a dark reading lover, and even though the publisher classified SHADOW STITCHERS as a Noir, I have to disagree. Probably one of the cleaner reads I've had this year other than a middle grade I read. So though it's not classified for ya (more so due to the age of the characters), I think upper ya readers who love investigation fantasy stories would enjoy SHADOW STITCHERS.
Yes, it has some darker interpretations like crime organizations or drinking or bars, but not anything close to blood or gore or trigger violence or sex scenes. I craved a bit more grit at times just cause that's me and my ways and reflects nothing on the story. And if I had to pick at one more aspect, then it would be the prologue. Whack it out. It didn't add anything to the main storyline, nor answer any questions that weren't already addressed within the novel.
I won't base my score on those preferences on my part. 5/5 stars! It took me a bit longer than I wanted to catch up to this TBR and complete my review, but I'm glad I took the time to marinate in Misha's superb storytelling skills.
I received an eARC of SHADOW STITCHERS by Misha Handman in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of the review.
Let’s be honest here. If it was great or sucked, I have no problem writing it out.
And don’t forget to check out the cover review for SHADOW STITCHERS at www.jenarcollins.com
July 13, 2020
The author creates a fantastic cast of characters in his Everland. I was never a huge Peter Pan fan--so I wasn't sure how I would feel about a modernized fantasy/mystery pulling from Neverland and the magic that it held. I was immediately drawn to Stark and Holly--and into the world that Handman creates in Shadow Stitcher. While the characters work through the mystery--readers pick through pieces of their pasts and explore an evolved Neverland in Handman's Everland.
Shadow Stitcher Offers Readers a Unique Storyline. I enjoyed the author's writing style and character development. While I didn't think I would enjoy the Peter Pan tie-ins--I found that I enjoyed the overall story very much. I am sure that true Peter Pan fans would have followed some of the novel's twists and relationships a bit easier than I did--and I think reading the first book featuring Basil Stark may have added more details that I felt I was missing from time to time. Yet, I thought Shadow Stitcher was a unique blend of fantasy and mystery sure to interest fans of both.
Would I Recommend Shadow Stitcher. The book was paced very well with just enough humor, twists, and action to keep the novel flowing from page to page. Whether you are a fan of Peter Pan and Neverland--or if you enjoy a well-written fantasy or unique mystery--I think this book and the series should be on your reading list. While this book is a standalone novel, I would like to read Crocodile Tears, an earlier book in the Basil Stark Investigation series (or even re-read Peter Pan). I feel there were pieces of the characters and the mystery that I didn't quickly put together at times. I enjoyed the author's writing style--and his characters--and I look forward to following the characters through more adventures in future books.
I received a copy of the book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
Shadow Stitcher Offers Readers a Unique Storyline. I enjoyed the author's writing style and character development. While I didn't think I would enjoy the Peter Pan tie-ins--I found that I enjoyed the overall story very much. I am sure that true Peter Pan fans would have followed some of the novel's twists and relationships a bit easier than I did--and I think reading the first book featuring Basil Stark may have added more details that I felt I was missing from time to time. Yet, I thought Shadow Stitcher was a unique blend of fantasy and mystery sure to interest fans of both.
Would I Recommend Shadow Stitcher. The book was paced very well with just enough humor, twists, and action to keep the novel flowing from page to page. Whether you are a fan of Peter Pan and Neverland--or if you enjoy a well-written fantasy or unique mystery--I think this book and the series should be on your reading list. While this book is a standalone novel, I would like to read Crocodile Tears, an earlier book in the Basil Stark Investigation series (or even re-read Peter Pan). I feel there were pieces of the characters and the mystery that I didn't quickly put together at times. I enjoyed the author's writing style--and his characters--and I look forward to following the characters through more adventures in future books.
I received a copy of the book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
November 28, 2020
This is a very, VERY good book
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Built on top of the classic story of Peter Pan and Neverland, every detail in this semi-noir detective story has been carefully considered. The world and the characters were so lifelike I could almost have been reading an autobiography- albeit one with murderous shadows and fairy dust. I will be keeping an eye out for the next installation (I certainly hope there will be one, anyway!).
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Built on top of the classic story of Peter Pan and Neverland, every detail in this semi-noir detective story has been carefully considered. The world and the characters were so lifelike I could almost have been reading an autobiography- albeit one with murderous shadows and fairy dust. I will be keeping an eye out for the next installation (I certainly hope there will be one, anyway!).
September 21, 2021
A worthwhile read, and yay Canadian authors!
Maybe a bit squishy on the rules of travel to and from Everland, but otherwise well constructed and explained. Stark is smart but not too smart, snarky but not too snarky, and generally a decent guy. Handman avoids tired tropes (although the many mugs were always steaming, so I waited for "crisp white shirt" to drop.) The bad guys are credible, as are their actions. Glitter was well done, too.
Write another, I'll read it.
Maybe a bit squishy on the rules of travel to and from Everland, but otherwise well constructed and explained. Stark is smart but not too smart, snarky but not too snarky, and generally a decent guy. Handman avoids tired tropes (although the many mugs were always steaming, so I waited for "crisp white shirt" to drop.) The bad guys are credible, as are their actions. Glitter was well done, too.
Write another, I'll read it.
August 3, 2022
pretty good yarn
I enjoyed the book right up to the end. It bothers me when people consider self defense a form of murder. I worked in a prison for years and I can tell you that more people should do the world a favor when confronted by such evil. I can tell you with absolute certainty that those criminals don’t think about their victims. They don’t regret their crimes. They’re only angry they got caught.
I enjoyed the book right up to the end. It bothers me when people consider self defense a form of murder. I worked in a prison for years and I can tell you that more people should do the world a favor when confronted by such evil. I can tell you with absolute certainty that those criminals don’t think about their victims. They don’t regret their crimes. They’re only angry they got caught.
September 7, 2022
Interesting characters, a fun mystery, solid storytelling. Of course, it was a little sad seeing what had become of one of my favorite places in childhood, but I got over it. Using the backdrop of a beloved children's tale to create a fantasy noir novel was brilliant. The author did an amazing job weaving the stories together.
August 9, 2020
I was nominated for the Kobo Rakuten Emerging Writer Prize with Misha and set about reading all the other shortlisted books. The premise of Shadow Stitcher is brilliant and I loved the tone and style of the whole book. Anyone looking for a read of pure imagination and humour, will enjoy this book.
June 28, 2021
A noir mystery fantasy novel, set in Neverland, but in the 1950s, changed by contact with our world.
Effectively uses the tropes of the noir sub-genre. Fun protagonists. A good story.
Not a deep novel, but an enjoyable one, well-constructed. 3.5
Effectively uses the tropes of the noir sub-genre. Fun protagonists. A good story.
Not a deep novel, but an enjoyable one, well-constructed. 3.5
October 25, 2022
Unexpectedly Very Good
I've found myself really enjoying fantasy mysteries lately.
This was so well written and put together. Great premise for place to set stories.
Like Basil, Holly, Todd, Adelaide and Glimmer and look forward to more stories.
I've found myself really enjoying fantasy mysteries lately.
This was so well written and put together. Great premise for place to set stories.
Like Basil, Holly, Todd, Adelaide and Glimmer and look forward to more stories.
August 5, 2022
In my opinion this book stinks and is poorly written.
I did not bother reading the whole thing: it stunk (to me) too badly.
I did not bother reading the whole thing: it stunk (to me) too badly.
August 16, 2022
fast-paced
Good twist on Neverland. Looking forward to the next book. Really enjoyed the verbiage. A touch of the past, no 4 letter words to make a point
Good twist on Neverland. Looking forward to the next book. Really enjoyed the verbiage. A touch of the past, no 4 letter words to make a point
December 6, 2019
(Note: I received a free, pre-publication copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
This is a detective story, set in world with some supernatural, or fantasy, elements. The author borrows J. M. Barrie's story of Peter Pan's Neverworld and sets it down on an island someplace on earth. Like the original story, getting to Neverworld is a mysterious process. However in this story adults, not just children, are able to travel back and forth. Neverworld has the magical elements just as in the original, and there are fairies, and the pirate Captain Hook really did live there in the 19th century.
The story is narrated entirely by a detective, Basil Stark, who was formerly the first mate of Captain Hook. Fate intervened, and forced him to reject pirating in favor of a simpler, more ethical life. A business man asks Basil to find a missing person, a young woman he'd been having an affair with, and this begins a tale involving organized crime, murder, and the stitchers of the book's title.
Telling the story entirely from the detective's point of view has some drawbacks. The advice “show don't tell” is frequently given to writers. In my opinion, this book is “telling” too often and not “showing” enough. Several of the characters are not expressed as clearly as they would have been, if the point of view were more flexible. The exception to that is the fairy, Glimmer. She is very entertaining. But her interactions with the detective involve no speaking, only body language, and somehow that is more successful than the dialog between the detective and the other characters.
I liked the author's description of Neverworld when it is proposed as a real location on earth:
The story was interesting. However, the secondary characters needed to be given more life on their own. I think their development may have been constrained by writing only from the lead character point of view.
This is a detective story, set in world with some supernatural, or fantasy, elements. The author borrows J. M. Barrie's story of Peter Pan's Neverworld and sets it down on an island someplace on earth. Like the original story, getting to Neverworld is a mysterious process. However in this story adults, not just children, are able to travel back and forth. Neverworld has the magical elements just as in the original, and there are fairies, and the pirate Captain Hook really did live there in the 19th century.
The story is narrated entirely by a detective, Basil Stark, who was formerly the first mate of Captain Hook. Fate intervened, and forced him to reject pirating in favor of a simpler, more ethical life. A business man asks Basil to find a missing person, a young woman he'd been having an affair with, and this begins a tale involving organized crime, murder, and the stitchers of the book's title.
Telling the story entirely from the detective's point of view has some drawbacks. The advice “show don't tell” is frequently given to writers. In my opinion, this book is “telling” too often and not “showing” enough. Several of the characters are not expressed as clearly as they would have been, if the point of view were more flexible. The exception to that is the fairy, Glimmer. She is very entertaining. But her interactions with the detective involve no speaking, only body language, and somehow that is more successful than the dialog between the detective and the other characters.
I liked the author's description of Neverworld when it is proposed as a real location on earth:
“For several years, drunk on the promise of pixie dust refineries, weaponized mermaids, and the possibility of eternal youth, investment in the form of both money and immigrants rushed into the newly-founded colony. But with each passing year, it became increasingly clear that there had been a flaw in the original plan. Magic can’t be reproduced, which is why it is magic, and Neverland’s magic in particular was based on innocence and childish games; spotty at the best of times, it was largely useless when put up against cold, hard reality. The vaunted timelessness that once held the island collapsed.”
The story was interesting. However, the secondary characters needed to be given more life on their own. I think their development may have been constrained by writing only from the lead character point of view.
February 21, 2020
The twists keep on twisting!
An excellent read, although I felt the first couple of pages were a bit slow but then it explodes into action. A well written story which takes the Everland of Peter Pan fame into the future and weaves an adult detective story around the magic that was. Very skilfully done and you are left with the thought 'why didn't I think of that .. read and enjoy
An excellent read, although I felt the first couple of pages were a bit slow but then it explodes into action. A well written story which takes the Everland of Peter Pan fame into the future and weaves an adult detective story around the magic that was. Very skilfully done and you are left with the thought 'why didn't I think of that .. read and enjoy
February 29, 2020
Love this book. Very fun read
April 20, 2022
Never judge a book by its cover? The story was good but I honestly felt the Everland would actually play a role. Why set the story, noir private detective style, in NeverNeverLand and not have that actually play an active role? The fairy Stark adopts is the only real connection and she figures predominantly on the front cover but plays no role at all. Glimmer needs some agency in the story. She offers nothing but the slightest bit of N"Everland"ishness. The shadow concept is really interesting but it falls off of actually being really cool. This has all the rights to be a really cool story but I feel the author missed all of the opportunities to actually make it cool. The story is well written and flows along fairly smoothly. Some areas could be tightened up a bit (yah yah we get it move on already). I will consider another Handman story in the world even but I really hope we get to get into the Everlandishness of Everland.
November 7, 2019
This book had me Hooked! (I couldn't resist) Seriously though, I throughly enjoyed the hard broiled/noir detective theme mixed with the fantasy world of Everland, and desperately hope that this will become a series.
I received this book for free from the publisher. This is my honest review.
I received this book for free from the publisher. This is my honest review.
January 13, 2020
Wonderfully entertaining read. Handman creates a film noir mixed with the world of Peter Pan to great effect. Sort of heavy in dialogue and light on action, the novel was still an engaging read.
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