A Study in Violet: A Sixguns & Sorcery Novella

by Michael Merriam

The brutal murder of a nobleman with connections to British and Fae nobility sends ripples of shock through the country. Arkady Bloom, half-fae Agent of Her Majesty’s Secret Service Supernatural Division, is commanded by the Crown to assist the Metropolitan Police in their search for the killer. As the body count rises, the delicate peace between Humans and Fae threatens to break. As Bloom races to solve the mystery, he is pitted against not only a mysterious murderer, but a shadowy organization threatening the British Empire itself. And now Bloom might just be the next target...

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2021

About the author

Michael Merriam is the award-winning author of the Weird West and Steampunk series Sixguns & Sorcery. His latest novella in the series is Terror at Tierra de Cobre published by Queen of Swords Press. Michael’s work has appeared with Carina Press, Queen of Swords Press, and Uncanny Magazine, among others. He has published fourteen books and over 100 pieces of short fiction and poetry. His scripts have been produced for stage and radio. Like most artists, he has worked various odd jobs over the years, including short-order cook, late-night radio disc jockey, international freight specialist, and manager of a puppet troupe. He lives in Minneapolis, MN, with his wife, housemate, a quiet dog, and a chonky cat. Visit his website at www.michaelmerriam.com

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this quite a bit! If you're looking for a fun steampunk story that mixes mystery and magic, this is a great one to check out.

[Eli]

Sherlock Holmes meets Carnival Row in a fun, fast-paced, and thought-provoking mystery that tests characters’ (and readers') loyalties as thoroughly as their wits.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fae detective to match Sherlock Holmes.

Even in the title, the author tips his hat to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. This world, however, is in a British Empire dealing with fae agents and clockwork devices. A good mix of Fantasy, Steampunk and Mystery!

The mystery itself is rewarding in taking a few twists. However, the star of the writing is the old-world-style language and interactions between the characters. As a past Civil War reenactor, I know it can be hard to avoid interspersing modern words and terms into audience interactions. I can say, that the terminology used in this book is wonderful at immersing you in the setting.

This is one of four books in the series, and I have enjoyed them.