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The Unorthodox Chronicles #2
Long Past Dues
Grimsby, the newest Auditor in the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, finds himself in hot water when he intercepts a friend’s case in this fast-paced and thrilling urban fantasy.
Against all odds, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby has become an Auditor, enforcing laws about magic for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. But Grimsby soon realizes the daily grind of his job is far removed from the glamour he imagined. Overlooked for every exciting case, Grimsby tires of being told to handle mundane magical troubles, and appropriates a case file intended for a friend.
Alongside Leslie Mayflower, the temporarily unretired Huntsman, Grimsby aims to crack the case and discover the origin of a strange, unfinished ritual—one that seems to imitate the handiwork of a foe Mayflower put down twenty years ago.
Together, they’ll have to deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and a perilous journey to the mysterious subterranean city below Boston, all to uncover the shocking truth. At any cost, Grimsby must stop this ritual from finally being completed. Yet the cost may be paid not by himself but by his friends. . . .
Against all odds, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby has become an Auditor, enforcing laws about magic for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. But Grimsby soon realizes the daily grind of his job is far removed from the glamour he imagined. Overlooked for every exciting case, Grimsby tires of being told to handle mundane magical troubles, and appropriates a case file intended for a friend.
Alongside Leslie Mayflower, the temporarily unretired Huntsman, Grimsby aims to crack the case and discover the origin of a strange, unfinished ritual—one that seems to imitate the handiwork of a foe Mayflower put down twenty years ago.
Together, they’ll have to deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and a perilous journey to the mysterious subterranean city below Boston, all to uncover the shocking truth. At any cost, Grimsby must stop this ritual from finally being completed. Yet the cost may be paid not by himself but by his friends. . . .
401 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
504 people are currently reading
6307 people want to read
About the author
James J. Butcher
4 books605 followersJames J. Butcher spends most of his time in places that don’t exist; some of which he even made himself. What little time he has left is usually spent writing or exercising. He is the son of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher, who introduced him to books, movies and games. He lives in Denver, and is working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
October 8, 2023
James J. Butcher returns with the second novel in his urban fantasy series set in and around Boston, Massachusetts featuring Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby. The world is divided into those without any magical or paranormal capabilities and those that have them and there is access to another dimension called Elsewhere. Grimsby is the newest Auditor in the magical Department. Auditors are the magical elite who are government-sanctioned witches with power and prestige. They enforce the laws about magic, but Grimsby learns not all such tasks are exciting. For six months, he’s handled mundane magical troubles. Fed up with being overlooked for a better case, he takes a case file intended for a friend, Auditor Rayne Bathory.
His partner, Huntsman Leslie Mayflower, has not been showing up for work for a month, but when he sees the appropriated case file, he recognizes the ritual in the case photos as being like one of his cases from 20 years ago. Working together, can they stop the ritual from being completed? Eighteen-inch tall Wudge has also been living with Grimsby for the last six months and is still searching for the mysterious door that had been promised to him in book one of the series.
The dynamic between Grimsby and Mayflower as well as between Grimsby and Wudge was fun to experience has they got to know one another better and worked together. Grimsby is bothered by hypocrisy, dislikes arguing, and he is lonely, loyal, hardworking, and kind. Mayflower has a temper and he’s grouchy, bitter, and dangerous. Wudge provides comic relief and takes conversations very literally. Rayne tends to be cold, calm, professional, stressed, lonely, and feels betrayed. These are just four of the individuals in this novel filled with diverse and well-developed characters.
The plot is layered and has plenty of twists and turns combined with suspense, tension, and action. It is more polished and the pacing is better than book one of the series. There’s a significant surprise in this story line. Once again, it was hard to put the book down because there was always something new happening that piqued my interest. What an ending! It was not what I expected, but it certainly sets the situation up for a fantastic book three. The fantasy part of the world-building was terrific. The story contains elements of fantasy and suspense with a mystery that kept me turning the pages. Additional themes include dealing with failure, not giving up, friendship, trust, betrayal, theft, power, and doing what’s right, as well as human struggles and growth.
Overall, this novel was engaging and entertaining with a vivid fantasy environment created to immerse readers in this new urban world. This series should be read in order. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
Berkley Publishing Group - Ace and James J. Butcher provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for October 10, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
His partner, Huntsman Leslie Mayflower, has not been showing up for work for a month, but when he sees the appropriated case file, he recognizes the ritual in the case photos as being like one of his cases from 20 years ago. Working together, can they stop the ritual from being completed? Eighteen-inch tall Wudge has also been living with Grimsby for the last six months and is still searching for the mysterious door that had been promised to him in book one of the series.
The dynamic between Grimsby and Mayflower as well as between Grimsby and Wudge was fun to experience has they got to know one another better and worked together. Grimsby is bothered by hypocrisy, dislikes arguing, and he is lonely, loyal, hardworking, and kind. Mayflower has a temper and he’s grouchy, bitter, and dangerous. Wudge provides comic relief and takes conversations very literally. Rayne tends to be cold, calm, professional, stressed, lonely, and feels betrayed. These are just four of the individuals in this novel filled with diverse and well-developed characters.
The plot is layered and has plenty of twists and turns combined with suspense, tension, and action. It is more polished and the pacing is better than book one of the series. There’s a significant surprise in this story line. Once again, it was hard to put the book down because there was always something new happening that piqued my interest. What an ending! It was not what I expected, but it certainly sets the situation up for a fantastic book three. The fantasy part of the world-building was terrific. The story contains elements of fantasy and suspense with a mystery that kept me turning the pages. Additional themes include dealing with failure, not giving up, friendship, trust, betrayal, theft, power, and doing what’s right, as well as human struggles and growth.
Overall, this novel was engaging and entertaining with a vivid fantasy environment created to immerse readers in this new urban world. This series should be read in order. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series.
Berkley Publishing Group - Ace and James J. Butcher provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for October 10, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
October 11, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I had a great time with this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was eager to give this second book a try and I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed. Grimsby finally has the job of Auditor that he has always wanted but things are not nearly as glamorous as he had hoped for. Desperate for a real case, he grabs one meant for another Auditor and gets Mayflower to help him out. Of course, things ended up getting much more complicated from there.
There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end and I grew to like this group of characters even more as the story progressed. I found this book to be very exciting with plenty of action to keep things very interesting. I really liked the magic of the world and thought that those elements added a lot to the overall story. The relationship between Grimsby and Mayflower has evolved a bit and I liked seeing Grimsby become more of a leader.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that James Patrick Cronin did a wonderful job with the story. I have enjoyed this narrator’s work in the past and believe that he has a very pleasant voice. I liked the various voices that he used to help bring the cast of characters to life. I am certain that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this book.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This is the second book in The Unorthodox Chronicles which is a series that really should be read in order if at all possible. I found this installment to be very entertaining and I cannot wait for book 3!
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
I had a great time with this book! I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was eager to give this second book a try and I am pleased to report that I was not disappointed. Grimsby finally has the job of Auditor that he has always wanted but things are not nearly as glamorous as he had hoped for. Desperate for a real case, he grabs one meant for another Auditor and gets Mayflower to help him out. Of course, things ended up getting much more complicated from there.
There were a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end and I grew to like this group of characters even more as the story progressed. I found this book to be very exciting with plenty of action to keep things very interesting. I really liked the magic of the world and thought that those elements added a lot to the overall story. The relationship between Grimsby and Mayflower has evolved a bit and I liked seeing Grimsby become more of a leader.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that James Patrick Cronin did a wonderful job with the story. I have enjoyed this narrator’s work in the past and believe that he has a very pleasant voice. I liked the various voices that he used to help bring the cast of characters to life. I am certain that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this book.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. This is the second book in The Unorthodox Chronicles which is a series that really should be read in order if at all possible. I found this installment to be very entertaining and I cannot wait for book 3!
I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.
November 4, 2023
LONG PAST DUES by James J Butcher
Publication: 10/10/2023 by Berkley Publishing Group
An immersive second volume in James Butcher’s magical urban fantasy featuring Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby. He is the newest appointed Auditor in Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. He possesses limited magical powers of three spells, learned from his mother and now is a government sanctioned witch tasked with enforcing the laws pertaining to magic. After six months of handling mundane magical troubles, he finds himself extremely bored. He intercepts a case file of a much more interesting case involving RUINs… rituals of unknown intent and nature. This case was actually intended for his friend, Auditor Rayne Bathory. In order to undertake this case he required a partner. His next action was to coax his friend the “Huntsman” Leslie Mayflower out of retirement. Leslie recognizes this ritual in the case to be similar to a case he was involved in, twenty years ago. The question is … working together can they stop the ritual from being completed, and discover its origin. In order for success they must deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and survive a dangerous journey to the subterranean city below Boston. Along the way, we encounter the captivating character of Wudge…. an eighteen inch tall imp that resides with Grimsby.
Part of the joy of this narrative is experiencing the interactions between Grimsby and Mayflower and Wudge, as they develop a deeper relationship. Mayflower is a temperamental curmudgeon, while Grimsby is much more subdued and avoids arguments at all costs. The comical Wudge takes everything very literally.
Butcher nicely develops these multi layered characters. He proves to be a splendid storyteller as he weaves the many plot lines together, while using twists and turns to ratchet up suspense and intrigue. The denouement ends with a surprise … but obviously suggesting that much more is to come. I would certainly recommend reading the first novel, Dead Man’s Hand, before diving into this second entry. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for proving an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: 10/10/2023 by Berkley Publishing Group
An immersive second volume in James Butcher’s magical urban fantasy featuring Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby. He is the newest appointed Auditor in Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. He possesses limited magical powers of three spells, learned from his mother and now is a government sanctioned witch tasked with enforcing the laws pertaining to magic. After six months of handling mundane magical troubles, he finds himself extremely bored. He intercepts a case file of a much more interesting case involving RUINs… rituals of unknown intent and nature. This case was actually intended for his friend, Auditor Rayne Bathory. In order to undertake this case he required a partner. His next action was to coax his friend the “Huntsman” Leslie Mayflower out of retirement. Leslie recognizes this ritual in the case to be similar to a case he was involved in, twenty years ago. The question is … working together can they stop the ritual from being completed, and discover its origin. In order for success they must deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and survive a dangerous journey to the subterranean city below Boston. Along the way, we encounter the captivating character of Wudge…. an eighteen inch tall imp that resides with Grimsby.
Part of the joy of this narrative is experiencing the interactions between Grimsby and Mayflower and Wudge, as they develop a deeper relationship. Mayflower is a temperamental curmudgeon, while Grimsby is much more subdued and avoids arguments at all costs. The comical Wudge takes everything very literally.
Butcher nicely develops these multi layered characters. He proves to be a splendid storyteller as he weaves the many plot lines together, while using twists and turns to ratchet up suspense and intrigue. The denouement ends with a surprise … but obviously suggesting that much more is to come. I would certainly recommend reading the first novel, Dead Man’s Hand, before diving into this second entry. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for proving an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2023
3.5 stars rounded down -- and I'm a tad bummed since I'd much rather be trying to decide between 4 or 5 stars than be stuck in the nether-region between 3 and 4. I liked this more than I disliked it, but I never fell in love and had a hard time staying fully immersed in the story and getting emotionally invested in what was happening. Still it's a fast-paced and fun tale with a lot of heart that I think will keep most readers engaged over the course of its tense couple days of narrative time.
I didn't fully click with book 1 last year either, but I was engaged enough where I thought the series held a lot of promise for me. I was hoping Dead Man's Hand would feel like more of a prologue and that the overall storytelling style would shift toward something different as the main character's life changed dramatically. Alas, everything felt extremely similar, from the very small-scope plotting and character list, to worldbuilding that lacks impact and full coherence as of yet, to lackluster action set pieces, to the very similar inner character conflicts and interpersonal interactions. Which is great news if you absolutely loved book 1! This feels like a logical and coherent chapter 2 next to last year's chapter 1, and it means you can definitely judge if it's worth continuing based on how you felt about Dead Man's Hand.
These are books that don't quite feel as adult and heavy as the Dresden Files, including the earliest ones when Jim was probably around the same age writing them as his son is now. For the right reader that might be a great thing, and there's an intentional playfulness to the writing and the protagonist with his youthful naiveté that keeps things from ever feeling too dark. Butcher clearly LOVES writing creative similes. In fact I wonder if becoming a published author isn't just his way of having an outlet for his simile-creating hobby. There's probably an average of one simile per page (not an exaggeration), with some pages throwing multiple similes at you one after the next. While they're often creative and interesting comparisons, this continually threw me out of the narrative cuz I kept on thinking how the POV characters wouldn't be having these thoughts, and that they're just author inserts getting in the way of me having an unobstructed view into the characters' internal monologues. Also a clever but weird simile makes you pause to think about the comparison and what effect it's trying to show about the character's emotion or situation.
However, I just don't care about interesting comparisons, and if I did I would read poetry. Here's a typical example that just gets in the way of the story for me: "He sat slumped in the jeep's passenger seat, his exhausted body sinking into the cracked leather like an anvil in damp sand." That sentence could have ended at "cracked leather" and I'd be happier than having to take some time to imagine an anvil in damp sand. The similes are often stronger than that one though in conveying emotion, but even then I would just as well go without them, like this one: "Her breath became more and more constricted with each step. It was like a child was putting one rubber band after another around her chest, just because it was curious about how many it would take to crush her." I appreciate the cleverness in coming up with these but they don't help my engagement or immersion, and that's a me thing that others might not have an issue with.
When the prose wasn't off in simile land I had no issues with it, and my largest issue might be the way that everything feels so small scope. There's not a detail or character that shows up that doesn't tie into the single plot line of the book, and maybe this is another me problem since I usually read epic fantasy/space opera/historical fiction with a much broader scope on every level. This is more of a mystery/thriller type fantasy, and those are genres I barely read, but I can't imagine that most great thrillers are this predictable or obvious with some of the clues or plot beats that get hinted at. Everything felt predictable to me as it unfolded, and I never had that same feeling reading any Dresden book which is by far the closest point of comparison I have. The major departure from Dresden-style worldbuilding is the secret Men In Black style government agency the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, and I expected this one to explore the Department's workings much more than it did, as it still feels barely sketched out on the page for something that plays such a central role.
That being said, I do like the way James J. Butcher writes the main characters, and I find myself attached to Grimsby in particular who's just so earnest and good-hearted. He also gets 90% of the chapters, so for a multi-POV story it's quite unbalanced but in a way I don't mind since he's clearly the main protagonist with the other POVs being more like side characters who I enjoyed getting tidbits from. I'll probably continue on due to the characters and still hope that there's an evolution in the storytelling, though I fear Butcher's writing style might never fully click with me for this to become any kind of favorite.
I didn't fully click with book 1 last year either, but I was engaged enough where I thought the series held a lot of promise for me. I was hoping Dead Man's Hand would feel like more of a prologue and that the overall storytelling style would shift toward something different as the main character's life changed dramatically. Alas, everything felt extremely similar, from the very small-scope plotting and character list, to worldbuilding that lacks impact and full coherence as of yet, to lackluster action set pieces, to the very similar inner character conflicts and interpersonal interactions. Which is great news if you absolutely loved book 1! This feels like a logical and coherent chapter 2 next to last year's chapter 1, and it means you can definitely judge if it's worth continuing based on how you felt about Dead Man's Hand.
These are books that don't quite feel as adult and heavy as the Dresden Files, including the earliest ones when Jim was probably around the same age writing them as his son is now. For the right reader that might be a great thing, and there's an intentional playfulness to the writing and the protagonist with his youthful naiveté that keeps things from ever feeling too dark. Butcher clearly LOVES writing creative similes. In fact I wonder if becoming a published author isn't just his way of having an outlet for his simile-creating hobby. There's probably an average of one simile per page (not an exaggeration), with some pages throwing multiple similes at you one after the next. While they're often creative and interesting comparisons, this continually threw me out of the narrative cuz I kept on thinking how the POV characters wouldn't be having these thoughts, and that they're just author inserts getting in the way of me having an unobstructed view into the characters' internal monologues. Also a clever but weird simile makes you pause to think about the comparison and what effect it's trying to show about the character's emotion or situation.
However, I just don't care about interesting comparisons, and if I did I would read poetry. Here's a typical example that just gets in the way of the story for me: "He sat slumped in the jeep's passenger seat, his exhausted body sinking into the cracked leather like an anvil in damp sand." That sentence could have ended at "cracked leather" and I'd be happier than having to take some time to imagine an anvil in damp sand. The similes are often stronger than that one though in conveying emotion, but even then I would just as well go without them, like this one: "Her breath became more and more constricted with each step. It was like a child was putting one rubber band after another around her chest, just because it was curious about how many it would take to crush her." I appreciate the cleverness in coming up with these but they don't help my engagement or immersion, and that's a me thing that others might not have an issue with.
When the prose wasn't off in simile land I had no issues with it, and my largest issue might be the way that everything feels so small scope. There's not a detail or character that shows up that doesn't tie into the single plot line of the book, and maybe this is another me problem since I usually read epic fantasy/space opera/historical fiction with a much broader scope on every level. This is more of a mystery/thriller type fantasy, and those are genres I barely read, but I can't imagine that most great thrillers are this predictable or obvious with some of the clues or plot beats that get hinted at. Everything felt predictable to me as it unfolded, and I never had that same feeling reading any Dresden book which is by far the closest point of comparison I have. The major departure from Dresden-style worldbuilding is the secret Men In Black style government agency the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, and I expected this one to explore the Department's workings much more than it did, as it still feels barely sketched out on the page for something that plays such a central role.
That being said, I do like the way James J. Butcher writes the main characters, and I find myself attached to Grimsby in particular who's just so earnest and good-hearted. He also gets 90% of the chapters, so for a multi-POV story it's quite unbalanced but in a way I don't mind since he's clearly the main protagonist with the other POVs being more like side characters who I enjoyed getting tidbits from. I'll probably continue on due to the characters and still hope that there's an evolution in the storytelling, though I fear Butcher's writing style might never fully click with me for this to become any kind of favorite.
October 10, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of this one! Below you'll find my honest review.
The author has definitely honed his craft some more!!! This one was fantastic, and really delivered a solid plot, moving at just the right pace, with just the right reveals. It continues some of the storylines set up in book one, pushing them forward and leaving just enough threads dangling for you to know there's more to come without the plot of *this one* feeling unfinished.
The villain in this one was clever. I figured it out early on, but didn't figure out the connections to the main and side plots, so that was a nice surprise.
I really like the character of Wudge. Wildly entertaining, that one. I also love how Grimsby fights for Mayflower as well. And Rayne's story from the first gets amped up in this one, too, as all the storylines head for a big crash into each other near the end.
Recommended for fans of urban fantasy, but please read book one first. :) Can't wait for book three!
The author has definitely honed his craft some more!!! This one was fantastic, and really delivered a solid plot, moving at just the right pace, with just the right reveals. It continues some of the storylines set up in book one, pushing them forward and leaving just enough threads dangling for you to know there's more to come without the plot of *this one* feeling unfinished.
The villain in this one was clever. I figured it out early on, but didn't figure out the connections to the main and side plots, so that was a nice surprise.
I really like the character of Wudge. Wildly entertaining, that one. I also love how Grimsby fights for Mayflower as well. And Rayne's story from the first gets amped up in this one, too, as all the storylines head for a big crash into each other near the end.
Recommended for fans of urban fantasy, but please read book one first. :) Can't wait for book three!
dont-want-to-read
July 23, 2023I made a boo-boo. I accidentally requested Book 2 as an advanced reader copy (ARC) and was accepted. And then realized that it was Book 2... so I thought I should read the first book first.
And I didn't like Book 1. So... I'm not going to read Book 2.
And I didn't like Book 1. So... I'm not going to read Book 2.
November 20, 2023
I was enjoying the beginning... the administration part of the Auditors... the relationships, our hero's struggle to find his place. But... it lost me on this quest part of the story at around 26%.
October 5, 2023
This is the second book in The Unorthodox Chronicles by James J. Butcher. James Butcher is Jim Butcher's (author of The Dresden Files books). I loved the Dresden Files and Harry Dresden's adventures, so I started reading The Unorthodox Chronicles to see how they compared.
Description:
Grimsby, the newest Auditor in the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, finds himself in hot water when he intercepts a friend’s case in this fast-paced and thrilling urban fantasy.
Against all odds, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby has become an Auditor, enforcing laws about magic for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. But Grimsby soon realizes the daily grind of his job is far removed from the glamour he imagined. Overlooked for every exciting case, Grimsby tires of being told to handle mundane magical troubles, and appropriates a case file intended for a friend.
Alongside Leslie Mayflower, the temporarily unretired Huntsman, Grimsby aims to crack the case and discover the origin of a strange, unfinished ritual—one that seems to imitate the handiwork of a foe Mayflower put down twenty years ago.
Together, they’ll have to deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and a perilous journey to the mysterious subterranean city below Boston, all to uncover the shocking truth. At any cost, Grimsby must stop this ritual from finally being completed. Yet the cost may be paid not by himself but by his friends. . . .
My Thoughts:
First of all, let me say that James J. Butcher's world setup around the adventures of Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is as much fun as the Harry Dresden adventures. I like Grimsby, the inexperienced, somewhat timid, new auditor in the story. The subterranean world under the city of Boston was quite an experience. Grimsby's mission in this one was dangerous and tense. If you like fantasy adventures you will enjoy this book!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on October 10, 2023.
Description:
Grimsby, the newest Auditor in the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, finds himself in hot water when he intercepts a friend’s case in this fast-paced and thrilling urban fantasy.
Against all odds, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby has become an Auditor, enforcing laws about magic for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. But Grimsby soon realizes the daily grind of his job is far removed from the glamour he imagined. Overlooked for every exciting case, Grimsby tires of being told to handle mundane magical troubles, and appropriates a case file intended for a friend.
Alongside Leslie Mayflower, the temporarily unretired Huntsman, Grimsby aims to crack the case and discover the origin of a strange, unfinished ritual—one that seems to imitate the handiwork of a foe Mayflower put down twenty years ago.
Together, they’ll have to deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and a perilous journey to the mysterious subterranean city below Boston, all to uncover the shocking truth. At any cost, Grimsby must stop this ritual from finally being completed. Yet the cost may be paid not by himself but by his friends. . . .
My Thoughts:
First of all, let me say that James J. Butcher's world setup around the adventures of Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is as much fun as the Harry Dresden adventures. I like Grimsby, the inexperienced, somewhat timid, new auditor in the story. The subterranean world under the city of Boston was quite an experience. Grimsby's mission in this one was dangerous and tense. If you like fantasy adventures you will enjoy this book!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on October 10, 2023.
February 28, 2024
Grimsby is now an auditor but it is not as glamorous as he thought it would be. It doesn't help that his partner, Mayflower, never shows up for work. When Grimsby starts digging into an unfinished ritual that he came across, dark forces start to emerge. Grimsby and Mayflower join together again only to find the past dangerously catching up with them.
This one started a bit slow for me. Honestly, it was just setting up for the story but I was anxious to get going. Once it did, it never slowed down. Love the characters and love their stories. Look forward to the next book in the series.
This one started a bit slow for me. Honestly, it was just setting up for the story but I was anxious to get going. Once it did, it never slowed down. Love the characters and love their stories. Look forward to the next book in the series.
February 15, 2025
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S LONG PAST DUES ABOUT?
Tired of the grunt-work and make-work befitting a rookie and relatively-untested Auditor (despite the heroics that got him his job), Grimsby acts on impulse and hijacks a case assignment from the closest thing he has to a friend in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs. It's an investigation into the remains of an unidentified ritual. His job is to figure out what the ritual was supposed to do and who was behind it—particularly if the ritual was intended to produce something hazardous to humans. Rayne can't—or won't—tell anyone why she was so curious about this particular ritual, but the fact that Grimsby stole the assignment from her is enough to put their already tenuous relationship at risk.
Jumping into something out of his depth and under orders to make sure he's not working alone, Grimsby tries to shake Mayflower off of his new/renewed attempts at putting the bottle to his head and pulling the trigger. Mayflower eventually emerges to help—not because of anything Grimsby said, or out of a sense of duty. But Grimsby dropped a photo that reminded Mayflower of one of his biggest successes, one of the rare times he shot someone and wasn't haunted by it. How is anything about it back to rear its head?
Grimbsy and Rayne fluctuate between working together, racing each other, and trying to save each other while on this case.
While Grimsby was waiting for the Huntsman to come around, he spent a little time trying to help Wudge with something. It didn't go wholly according to plan. Or much according to plan at all, really. Along the way, Grimsby picked up something that twists his magic in a way he's having trouble adjusting to. And picked up an enemy—or at least adversary—or three. All of which is going to complicate things for him in the immediate future.
DIGGING DEEPER INTO MAYFLOWER
The first book explored both partners, but we learned more about Grimsby for sure. The accent fell more to Mayflower in this book—at least when it came to backstory and filling out the character—Grimsby was the focus of the plot again, to be sure.
That said, I think most readers would've guessed correctly to 95+% of what we learned about Mayflower here. But it's good to have it spelled out for us—not in a spoon-feeding way, but the kind of confirmation that's welcome. We also get a better understanding of what Mayflower sees in Grimsby, why he stuck up for him, and did what he had to to get Grimsby recruited by the Department.
Again, we probably could've guessed it, too. But I liked actually getting to see it.
I enjoy the way the two partners see themselves and each other—the way those perspectives conflict with each other and the way they roughly match up.
WUDGE
It'd be super-easy to consider Wudge as comic relief primarily—with a hint of pathetic. Sure, he's good for another perspective on the supernatural world and to help Grimsby out in a pinch—but he's first and foremost someone to laugh at. Like Dobby. (I'm saying that because I've slipped into it, and that makes me feel better)
But it's a mistake to think that—he's more like Gurgi early on—funny, pitiful, with a hint of malice. Like Hearne's hobgoblin Buck, but less trustworthy (and less easily amused). He's dangerous, he's looking out for himself more than anything—and is perfectly willing to take advantage of Grimsby. You, like Grimsby, can't help but like him when he's around. You feel bad for the guy and hope that Grimsby can give him the assistance he needs.
But something tells me that he's more like the scorpion that stings the frog as they're crossing the water together—his nature isn't to pal around with a human. And we're going to regret chuckling at him in the near future.
Or, I'm way off base and I'm going to have to come along and issue a retraction.
THE ANTI-NICK FURY?
Without getting into particulars, this book ends in a very similar way to the way its predecessor did. Someone out there is scheming, picking up the pieces from whatever Grimsby, Mayflower, and the rest of the Department left behind (and one has to assume they're doing this with non-Grimsby cases, too). Exactly what they're doing with the people and artifacts left behind we're not told. It's clearly ominous, but that's about it.
It's like the opposite of the post/mid-credit scenes in the early MCU movies where Fury is recruiting people for the Avengers Initiative. It's more like those scenes in the Garfield Spider-Man movies (although, it's been a few years so my memory is pretty fuzzy)—everyone, including Spidey, has thought he saved the day, righted the wrongs, and sent the bad guys packing, someone is out there coming along behind him with something clearly nefarious in mind.
Now, if James J. Butcher has really learned much from Jim Butcher, I expect that we'll see/start to see what this has all been leading up to in Book 5. But I figure he knows that readers might expect that—so maybe it'll be Book 4 or 6 instead. Whenever he reveals what's cooking in these last looks, it's going to be big. And it's going to be bad news for Grimsby and Mayflower. It'll be good for the reader, no mistake, but bad for our heroes.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT LONG PAST DUES?
So, yeah, I picked up on the big twist pretty early on. And then the twist to that twist, too—although I'm not sure I got that earlier than Butcher wanted us to. Being ahead (?) of where we were supposed to be didn't diminish things at all for me—if anything it amped up the suspense for me because I wondered how long it was going to take for Grimsby and Mayflower to suss it out, and how bad things were going to have to get for them to see it.
I'm rarely that into a twist surprising me—I'm far more interested in how the reveal is executed and Butcher did it just right here—I wouldn't have minded the heroes putting the pieces together a bit quicker, but I'm not going to complain about how it came about. What I didn't expect was just how it was going to play out after the reveal—and what the long-term ramifications were going to look at. And...whoa.
So much of what I thought was going to happen to/hoped would happen for Grimsby over the next few books went away in a paragraph or two. I feel so bad for him—and am so filled with anticipation to see what Butcher replaces my expectations with.
I really appreciate the way the partnership between the Huntsman and the rookie Auditor is developing. Whatever their bond in Dead Man's Hand may have been, they're not BFF's by any means at this point. There are growing pains ahead, stops and starts to their partnership, and some pretty big obstacles they need to work through. But at the core—that relationship, respect for, need (?) for each other is a great starting point to see both grow as people and agents. I don't know that Mayflower will ever get all his issues resolved, all his personal demons exorcised, etc. But he can get closer, he can maybe become really functional again—and that's enough.
We got a couple of new and potentially recurring characters here that I really enjoyed. The magic—and the magical worlds—are enough to satisfy an Urban Fantasy fan. The monsters—and how they manifest in the real world—are great. The societies—Usual and Unorthodox—are intriguing in all the right ways. The banter is just what a buddy-cop reader wants to read. The moral choices aren't easy or too clear-cut (which is great). The principal characters are engaging and believable. Basically, this series is really working for me. I can't list all the things it's doing right, actually.
I don't have any major criticisms or complaints—I just want more of this series. Next year and for at least a handful of years to come. Long Past Dues didn't disappoint and lived up to the promise of Dead Man's Hand. Can't ask for much more.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
---
"You make them sound like monsters." [Grimsby said]
He scoffed. "If only. Monsters are much simpler to deal with than people." His face grew grim. "Much simpler."
WHAT'S LONG PAST DUES ABOUT?
Tired of the grunt-work and make-work befitting a rookie and relatively-untested Auditor (despite the heroics that got him his job), Grimsby acts on impulse and hijacks a case assignment from the closest thing he has to a friend in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs. It's an investigation into the remains of an unidentified ritual. His job is to figure out what the ritual was supposed to do and who was behind it—particularly if the ritual was intended to produce something hazardous to humans. Rayne can't—or won't—tell anyone why she was so curious about this particular ritual, but the fact that Grimsby stole the assignment from her is enough to put their already tenuous relationship at risk.
Jumping into something out of his depth and under orders to make sure he's not working alone, Grimsby tries to shake Mayflower off of his new/renewed attempts at putting the bottle to his head and pulling the trigger. Mayflower eventually emerges to help—not because of anything Grimsby said, or out of a sense of duty. But Grimsby dropped a photo that reminded Mayflower of one of his biggest successes, one of the rare times he shot someone and wasn't haunted by it. How is anything about it back to rear its head?
Grimbsy and Rayne fluctuate between working together, racing each other, and trying to save each other while on this case.
While Grimsby was waiting for the Huntsman to come around, he spent a little time trying to help Wudge with something. It didn't go wholly according to plan. Or much according to plan at all, really. Along the way, Grimsby picked up something that twists his magic in a way he's having trouble adjusting to. And picked up an enemy—or at least adversary—or three. All of which is going to complicate things for him in the immediate future.
DIGGING DEEPER INTO MAYFLOWER
The first book explored both partners, but we learned more about Grimsby for sure. The accent fell more to Mayflower in this book—at least when it came to backstory and filling out the character—Grimsby was the focus of the plot again, to be sure.
That said, I think most readers would've guessed correctly to 95+% of what we learned about Mayflower here. But it's good to have it spelled out for us—not in a spoon-feeding way, but the kind of confirmation that's welcome. We also get a better understanding of what Mayflower sees in Grimsby, why he stuck up for him, and did what he had to to get Grimsby recruited by the Department.
Again, we probably could've guessed it, too. But I liked actually getting to see it.
I enjoy the way the two partners see themselves and each other—the way those perspectives conflict with each other and the way they roughly match up.
WUDGE
It'd be super-easy to consider Wudge as comic relief primarily—with a hint of pathetic. Sure, he's good for another perspective on the supernatural world and to help Grimsby out in a pinch—but he's first and foremost someone to laugh at. Like Dobby. (I'm saying that because I've slipped into it, and that makes me feel better)
But it's a mistake to think that—he's more like Gurgi early on—funny, pitiful, with a hint of malice. Like Hearne's hobgoblin Buck, but less trustworthy (and less easily amused). He's dangerous, he's looking out for himself more than anything—and is perfectly willing to take advantage of Grimsby. You, like Grimsby, can't help but like him when he's around. You feel bad for the guy and hope that Grimsby can give him the assistance he needs.
But something tells me that he's more like the scorpion that stings the frog as they're crossing the water together—his nature isn't to pal around with a human. And we're going to regret chuckling at him in the near future.
Or, I'm way off base and I'm going to have to come along and issue a retraction.
THE ANTI-NICK FURY?
Without getting into particulars, this book ends in a very similar way to the way its predecessor did. Someone out there is scheming, picking up the pieces from whatever Grimsby, Mayflower, and the rest of the Department left behind (and one has to assume they're doing this with non-Grimsby cases, too). Exactly what they're doing with the people and artifacts left behind we're not told. It's clearly ominous, but that's about it.
It's like the opposite of the post/mid-credit scenes in the early MCU movies where Fury is recruiting people for the Avengers Initiative. It's more like those scenes in the Garfield Spider-Man movies (although, it's been a few years so my memory is pretty fuzzy)—everyone, including Spidey, has thought he saved the day, righted the wrongs, and sent the bad guys packing, someone is out there coming along behind him with something clearly nefarious in mind.
Now, if James J. Butcher has really learned much from Jim Butcher, I expect that we'll see/start to see what this has all been leading up to in Book 5. But I figure he knows that readers might expect that—so maybe it'll be Book 4 or 6 instead. Whenever he reveals what's cooking in these last looks, it's going to be big. And it's going to be bad news for Grimsby and Mayflower. It'll be good for the reader, no mistake, but bad for our heroes.
Grimsby climbed out of the jeep and glanced around at the lot of black, mirrorless cars. Mayflower’s rusted-out vehicle stuck out like a mountain crag in the middle of a rolling black sea.
“Didn’t they offer you a car when you came back?” he asked as they entered the building’s concrete facade.
“They tried,” Mayflower said, then scoffed. “Even insisted.”
“And you said no?”
“That jeep has been with me since the start. I’ve rebuilt her from little more than scrap more than once. I know every sound she makes, every grind of every gear. You think I’d trade that for anything?”
“Okay, but have you ever thought about the ship of Theseus?”
“Yes.” The Huntsman scowled. “But Theseus never had a jeep.”
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT LONG PAST DUES?
So, yeah, I picked up on the big twist pretty early on. And then the twist to that twist, too—although I'm not sure I got that earlier than Butcher wanted us to. Being ahead (?) of where we were supposed to be didn't diminish things at all for me—if anything it amped up the suspense for me because I wondered how long it was going to take for Grimsby and Mayflower to suss it out, and how bad things were going to have to get for them to see it.
I'm rarely that into a twist surprising me—I'm far more interested in how the reveal is executed and Butcher did it just right here—I wouldn't have minded the heroes putting the pieces together a bit quicker, but I'm not going to complain about how it came about. What I didn't expect was just how it was going to play out after the reveal—and what the long-term ramifications were going to look at. And...whoa.
So much of what I thought was going to happen to/hoped would happen for Grimsby over the next few books went away in a paragraph or two. I feel so bad for him—and am so filled with anticipation to see what Butcher replaces my expectations with.
I really appreciate the way the partnership between the Huntsman and the rookie Auditor is developing. Whatever their bond in Dead Man's Hand may have been, they're not BFF's by any means at this point. There are growing pains ahead, stops and starts to their partnership, and some pretty big obstacles they need to work through. But at the core—that relationship, respect for, need (?) for each other is a great starting point to see both grow as people and agents. I don't know that Mayflower will ever get all his issues resolved, all his personal demons exorcised, etc. But he can get closer, he can maybe become really functional again—and that's enough.
We got a couple of new and potentially recurring characters here that I really enjoyed. The magic—and the magical worlds—are enough to satisfy an Urban Fantasy fan. The monsters—and how they manifest in the real world—are great. The societies—Usual and Unorthodox—are intriguing in all the right ways. The banter is just what a buddy-cop reader wants to read. The moral choices aren't easy or too clear-cut (which is great). The principal characters are engaging and believable. Basically, this series is really working for me. I can't list all the things it's doing right, actually.
I don't have any major criticisms or complaints—I just want more of this series. Next year and for at least a handful of years to come. Long Past Dues didn't disappoint and lived up to the promise of Dead Man's Hand. Can't ask for much more.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
October 25, 2023
So, it is not worse than the first. A bit less frantic, and that's good, the characters develop nicely, all of them. The world gets ever bigger, and that's good too.
The soul tho, feels a bit more chaotic to me than in the first book. Here there is a lot going on, things that look separate and that obviously aren't, but in a way they sound forced together a bit. Some of the plot twists were quite predictable, and that broke the rhythm for me at times.
That being said, the flow of the story was almost seamless and there is not much bad to say about this book. I appreciate that the lore gets expanded a bit at a time, so that even a casual reader doesn't get lost in the info dumping like some books do.
I much appreciate a character with such moral stubbornness, so many authors focus on perspective and end up in a horrible cynicism, it is refreshing to be reminded that bad is bad and good is good sometimes, as obvious as that may sound. Good job! Looking forward for the next 4/5
The soul tho, feels a bit more chaotic to me than in the first book. Here there is a lot going on, things that look separate and that obviously aren't, but in a way they sound forced together a bit. Some of the plot twists were quite predictable, and that broke the rhythm for me at times.
That being said, the flow of the story was almost seamless and there is not much bad to say about this book. I appreciate that the lore gets expanded a bit at a time, so that even a casual reader doesn't get lost in the info dumping like some books do.
I much appreciate a character with such moral stubbornness, so many authors focus on perspective and end up in a horrible cynicism, it is refreshing to be reminded that bad is bad and good is good sometimes, as obvious as that may sound. Good job! Looking forward for the next 4/5
October 10, 2023
Grimsby has become the newest Auditor at the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs in Boston. This has been his dream, but sometimes dreams are more exciting than reality. And in reality his job as an Auditor is boring. His partner, Leslie Mayflower, a retired/unretired Huntsman, hasn’t come into the office. Without a partner, he has been stuck knocking on doors and checking magical permits.
Grimsby takes matters into his own hands, by switching case assignments, and convinces Mayflower to help him. The tale that unfolds had twists and plenty of action. Grimsby must have a lucky rabbit’s foot, because I am not sure how he survived. He is a complete noob, but a noble knight with good intentions and utterly untested. I like Grimsby. He is clever, but needs resources, backup, and an engaged partner. Mayflower is skilled but seemed as lost as Grimsby. He has his own personal demons to address.
I am hoping to see the stories and flow tighten a little as the series progresses. Butcher has done a stellar job of building his characters. Although Grimsby had little growth in this second novel. However, the story and world are intriguing. The flow is still choppy and the inner dialogue hinders the climatic scenes, slowing them down. Despite that, I had a blast listening and look forward to more.
The story miraculously wrapped up with our protagonist still with us. Mayflower will partner with him going forward.
James Patrick Cronin narrates and did a delightful job. His pacing, voices and tone all lend perfectly to the series. I hope he continues to narrate them. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Grimsby takes matters into his own hands, by switching case assignments, and convinces Mayflower to help him. The tale that unfolds had twists and plenty of action. Grimsby must have a lucky rabbit’s foot, because I am not sure how he survived. He is a complete noob, but a noble knight with good intentions and utterly untested. I like Grimsby. He is clever, but needs resources, backup, and an engaged partner. Mayflower is skilled but seemed as lost as Grimsby. He has his own personal demons to address.
I am hoping to see the stories and flow tighten a little as the series progresses. Butcher has done a stellar job of building his characters. Although Grimsby had little growth in this second novel. However, the story and world are intriguing. The flow is still choppy and the inner dialogue hinders the climatic scenes, slowing them down. Despite that, I had a blast listening and look forward to more.
The story miraculously wrapped up with our protagonist still with us. Mayflower will partner with him going forward.
James Patrick Cronin narrates and did a delightful job. His pacing, voices and tone all lend perfectly to the series. I hope he continues to narrate them. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
December 28, 2023
Stars: 4 out of 5.
I really liked the first book in the series, so I picked up the next installment with a lot of trepidation. Too many times I was left disappointed by the direction in which authors took their series after the opening book. I am glad to say that it is not the case with the Unorthodox Chronicles. This book delivers everything I liked in the first one and ramps it up a notch.
We begin our story about six months after the events of the last book, and Grimsby finally got his dream of becoming an Auditor. Only the job isn't exactly what he had dreamed it to be, since he is stuck doing house calls and babysitting various Unorthodox whom the Department wants to keep an eye on. It's boring and mind-numbing, and makes Grimsby wonder if his life in the fast food industry was any better.
One of the reasons he is stuck with rookie jobs is because Mayflower, his partner, hasn't shown up for work in six months. And doesn't plan on showing up any time soon... That is until Grimsby does something desperate and steals a case intended for another Auditor. A case that has a lot of similarities with one that Mayflower encountered over 20 years ago. A case that Mayflower thought was closed, since the main perpetrator had her brains blown out...
This was a roller-coaster of a story. So many things happen, and the action keeps moving along. It was also a better plotted story than the first book, in my opinion. Even though there was a lot of action, all of it served to further the story and move it along, and we got some nice character development throughout as well.
I admit that Grimsby can be a little infuriating in his absolute lack of faith in himself. His self-esteem is lower than the location of Underton, and that place is buried deep under Boston. But even though I found his mopping around and self-doubt ratter irritating at times, I also understood where it was coming from. All his life he'd felt like he has less than everyone else. Because of his scars interfering with his magic, because of his inability to learn any other spells than the 3 he knows. And when Mansgraf kicked him out of the Auditor program, it only reinforced his belief that he was a failed witch and a failed human being.
So I understand that he feels like he didn't earn his badge so to say, that he is an impostor in ill-fitting clothes just playing at being an Auditor. I like that by the end of this book, he'd made peace with that idea, and decided that he will be the best Auditor he can be with the abilities he's given. Granted, by then, he has bigger issues to deal with than his self-doubt, but it's still a nice piece of character growth.
I loved that Grimsby stays true to his core believes - that violence, especially the terminal kind that Mayflower is so good at, is a last resort. Or that you should always try to do your best to help your friends. He demonstrates that over and over again when he helps Wudge, then does everything to save both Wudge and Mayflower from Mother Frost, or even when he rescues the familiar. Speaking of Mansgraf's familiar, I wonder if it will have a role to play in future books?
We learn a lot about Rayne in this book as well, and I'm sad that things happened the way they did. Because both her and Grimsby could have been the friend each of them needed, but that is probably not in the cards anymore. I would like to know what is that birthright she worked so hard to suppress all her life. I'm sure we will hear more of that in the next books.
As it stands, I am definitely eagerly awaiting book 3, even though it probably won't come out until next year.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
I really liked the first book in the series, so I picked up the next installment with a lot of trepidation. Too many times I was left disappointed by the direction in which authors took their series after the opening book. I am glad to say that it is not the case with the Unorthodox Chronicles. This book delivers everything I liked in the first one and ramps it up a notch.
We begin our story about six months after the events of the last book, and Grimsby finally got his dream of becoming an Auditor. Only the job isn't exactly what he had dreamed it to be, since he is stuck doing house calls and babysitting various Unorthodox whom the Department wants to keep an eye on. It's boring and mind-numbing, and makes Grimsby wonder if his life in the fast food industry was any better.
One of the reasons he is stuck with rookie jobs is because Mayflower, his partner, hasn't shown up for work in six months. And doesn't plan on showing up any time soon... That is until Grimsby does something desperate and steals a case intended for another Auditor. A case that has a lot of similarities with one that Mayflower encountered over 20 years ago. A case that Mayflower thought was closed, since the main perpetrator had her brains blown out...
This was a roller-coaster of a story. So many things happen, and the action keeps moving along. It was also a better plotted story than the first book, in my opinion. Even though there was a lot of action, all of it served to further the story and move it along, and we got some nice character development throughout as well.
I admit that Grimsby can be a little infuriating in his absolute lack of faith in himself. His self-esteem is lower than the location of Underton, and that place is buried deep under Boston. But even though I found his mopping around and self-doubt ratter irritating at times, I also understood where it was coming from. All his life he'd felt like he has less than everyone else. Because of his scars interfering with his magic, because of his inability to learn any other spells than the 3 he knows. And when Mansgraf kicked him out of the Auditor program, it only reinforced his belief that he was a failed witch and a failed human being.
So I understand that he feels like he didn't earn his badge so to say, that he is an impostor in ill-fitting clothes just playing at being an Auditor. I like that by the end of this book, he'd made peace with that idea, and decided that he will be the best Auditor he can be with the abilities he's given. Granted, by then, he has bigger issues to deal with than his self-doubt, but it's still a nice piece of character growth.
I loved that Grimsby stays true to his core believes - that violence, especially the terminal kind that Mayflower is so good at, is a last resort. Or that you should always try to do your best to help your friends. He demonstrates that over and over again when he helps Wudge, then does everything to save both Wudge and Mayflower from Mother Frost, or even when he rescues the familiar. Speaking of Mansgraf's familiar, I wonder if it will have a role to play in future books?
We learn a lot about Rayne in this book as well, and I'm sad that things happened the way they did. Because both her and Grimsby could have been the friend each of them needed, but that is probably not in the cards anymore. I would like to know what is that birthright she worked so hard to suppress all her life. I'm sure we will hear more of that in the next books.
As it stands, I am definitely eagerly awaiting book 3, even though it probably won't come out until next year.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, check out my blog.
September 23, 2024
I was worried at first, because this one started off with some tropes I didn’t love, and at times felt a bit more all over the place, but I really enjoyed how it all pulled together in the end! I continue to love Grimsby and Mayflower, although I wish Mayflower was in it more. I’m looking forward to the next book being released!
October 31, 2023
This series has promise, but it’s taking too long to fulfill.
In the meanwhile, we are stuck with a protagonist who is self-pitying, self-doubting, and self-depreciating, and as a result of all this self-centeredness is continually doing stupid things. It was literally chapter 16, before Grimsby made a competent decision. One, single, competent decision. That’s just painful as a reader.
Grimsby’s one saving quality is his goodness and morality. Except even that is corrupted by his low self-esteem. Usually he makes moral choices—unless a friend asks him to do something wrong—like break into someone’s house and steal their stuff. And then he does it without question. AND HE NEVER EVEN REALIZES IT’S WRONG. That is just really frustrating.
Grimsby is clearly supposed to grow up and become more competent over time. But, oh my gosh, it is taking too long. I tolerated him in the last book, expecting him to get better this time. But he got worse.
I may give the next book a try. But there’s a good chance I won’t.
In the meanwhile, we are stuck with a protagonist who is self-pitying, self-doubting, and self-depreciating, and as a result of all this self-centeredness is continually doing stupid things. It was literally chapter 16, before Grimsby made a competent decision. One, single, competent decision. That’s just painful as a reader.
Grimsby’s one saving quality is his goodness and morality. Except even that is corrupted by his low self-esteem. Usually he makes moral choices—unless a friend asks him to do something wrong—like break into someone’s house and steal their stuff. And then he does it without question. AND HE NEVER EVEN REALIZES IT’S WRONG. That is just really frustrating.
Grimsby is clearly supposed to grow up and become more competent over time. But, oh my gosh, it is taking too long. I tolerated him in the last book, expecting him to get better this time. But he got worse.
I may give the next book a try. But there’s a good chance I won’t.
November 7, 2023
VErrry disappointing. I loved the first in this series and was really looking forward to the next installment. However, It was about 100 pages too long VERY repetitious ( I got what RUIN stood for the first five times it was brought up) and lost a whole lot of the humor and witty banter that made the first novel so much fun to read. Also a cliff hanger, but not sure I will invest in the 3rd one.
September 12, 2025
I had my fingers crossed for this second book, after the issues I had with book one. I put those issues down to the fact that book one was a debut. But even with that, it was obvious James Butcher had talent. I just figured he might need a little more experience to hone it. Unfortunately, that hasn’t quite come about… yet.
Long Past Dues has a good story, lots of moving parts and intersecting plotlines, which he skilfully intertwines. We meet some new characters here, and Butcher does a great job of giving them their own unique character. This story introduces us to a new city, hidden from our world directly below Boston. This is a delightful addition, welcome and intriguing, but a little lacking in development.
Again, here as in book one, the world-building takes a back seat to character involvement. Even our two main characters, Grimsby and Mayflower, are still a mystery to us. We see them in action and how they live, but we never get any real backstory. We still don’t fully understand Grimsby’s scarring, or why Mayflower walked away from being the Huntsman, or what happened to his wife. These are all basic character-building aspects I would expect to be revealed at the end of book one, but here we are, having finished book two, and we still don’t know. This isn’t tantalising me as a reader; it's frustrating me.
Butcher’s writing has come on in the second book. It’s tighter, and there are fewer rookie hiccups, but there are lulls; some areas are noticeably less polished than others, aspects I’d expect an editor to point out. Unless he doesn’t use an editor. I have noticed there are no acknowledgments in any of his books.
But I still have faith. I also already own book three, so let’s see what James can make of his third time out.
Long Past Dues has a good story, lots of moving parts and intersecting plotlines, which he skilfully intertwines. We meet some new characters here, and Butcher does a great job of giving them their own unique character. This story introduces us to a new city, hidden from our world directly below Boston. This is a delightful addition, welcome and intriguing, but a little lacking in development.
Again, here as in book one, the world-building takes a back seat to character involvement. Even our two main characters, Grimsby and Mayflower, are still a mystery to us. We see them in action and how they live, but we never get any real backstory. We still don’t fully understand Grimsby’s scarring, or why Mayflower walked away from being the Huntsman, or what happened to his wife. These are all basic character-building aspects I would expect to be revealed at the end of book one, but here we are, having finished book two, and we still don’t know. This isn’t tantalising me as a reader; it's frustrating me.
Butcher’s writing has come on in the second book. It’s tighter, and there are fewer rookie hiccups, but there are lulls; some areas are noticeably less polished than others, aspects I’d expect an editor to point out. Unless he doesn’t use an editor. I have noticed there are no acknowledgments in any of his books.
But I still have faith. I also already own book three, so let’s see what James can make of his third time out.
May 15, 2023
Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher is the second book written by the son of Jim Butcher of Dresden Files fame. While this book urban fantasy like the Dresden Files there are numerous differences and the younger Butcher does an admirable job of building a magical universe that is all his own. (Note: I came into this series with book 2 and have not read the first book in the Unorthodox Chronicles, Dean Man's Hand).
Long Past Dues centers on Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby, or just Grimsby, a starting auditor in the Boston branch of the Department of Unorthodox Affairs (unorthodox being the term used to describe magical powers/beings in the universe). Unlike Harry Dresden, Grimsby is not a powerful wizard. In fact he seems to have only two spells that he can use and seems unable to learn more. As the novel begins he has been relegated to menial duties at the Department and still does not have an office of his own.
What Grimsby does have going for him is a big heart and a strong moral compass that guides him to do what is right. He also has a partner, Leslie Mayflower, AWOL as the book begins, and a friend/roommate/pet named Wudge who plays magical practical jokes on him like closing the drain on his shower.
The book is a pleasant read and it is great to see the characters grow and to learn more about the world that Butcher is building. I will be following this series in the future and searching out a copy of the first book.
The copy I read was provided as an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Long Past Dues centers on Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby, or just Grimsby, a starting auditor in the Boston branch of the Department of Unorthodox Affairs (unorthodox being the term used to describe magical powers/beings in the universe). Unlike Harry Dresden, Grimsby is not a powerful wizard. In fact he seems to have only two spells that he can use and seems unable to learn more. As the novel begins he has been relegated to menial duties at the Department and still does not have an office of his own.
What Grimsby does have going for him is a big heart and a strong moral compass that guides him to do what is right. He also has a partner, Leslie Mayflower, AWOL as the book begins, and a friend/roommate/pet named Wudge who plays magical practical jokes on him like closing the drain on his shower.
The book is a pleasant read and it is great to see the characters grow and to learn more about the world that Butcher is building. I will be following this series in the future and searching out a copy of the first book.
The copy I read was provided as an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2025
Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher brings us back to Grimsby, who steps into a new job while still dealing with the lingering threads of the first book. I really enjoyed that the story picks up six months after the previous events, giving a sense of continuity without feeling repetitive.
The action scenes are as sharp and engaging as ever. Butcher has a talent for writing fast paced sequences that remain clear and exciting. Even more impressive is the overall writing style, which never drifts into sluggish exposition or heavy infodumps. The story moves with confidence, and the suspense surrounding the case builds in a natural and satisfying way.
I also appreciated the brief snippets from other points of view. They add depth to the world and help flesh out the side characters without pulling attention away from the main narrative.
I flew through this book. The buddy cop dynamic between Grimsby and his partner continues to shine. Their contrast, with one being the weary cynic who has seen it all and the other the hopeful idealist, remains one of my favorite parts of the series.
Overall, Long Past Due delivers on everything that made the first book fun while pushing the story forward with energy and charm.
The action scenes are as sharp and engaging as ever. Butcher has a talent for writing fast paced sequences that remain clear and exciting. Even more impressive is the overall writing style, which never drifts into sluggish exposition or heavy infodumps. The story moves with confidence, and the suspense surrounding the case builds in a natural and satisfying way.
I also appreciated the brief snippets from other points of view. They add depth to the world and help flesh out the side characters without pulling attention away from the main narrative.
I flew through this book. The buddy cop dynamic between Grimsby and his partner continues to shine. Their contrast, with one being the weary cynic who has seen it all and the other the hopeful idealist, remains one of my favorite parts of the series.
Overall, Long Past Due delivers on everything that made the first book fun while pushing the story forward with energy and charm.
November 27, 2023
Since reading the first book in January of 2023, my mind has found its way back to James Butcher's world containing Grimsby and the Huntsman. It was great to get back to this world so soon!
As with the previous book, I enjoyed the plot and adventure but had a difficult time getting emotionally invested in the story. Most of our favorites end up in danger at some point or another, but I had a hard time caring if they lived or died.
Although this book was definitely an improvement from the first one, I think I might end my time reading this author's work.
December 21, 2023
Seems like too many different things are happening at the same time, but they're wrapped up neatly. While I'm not a fan of the writing style, I like the stories enough to read the next one as soon as it's out. Hopefully the protagonist works on powering up instead of constantly feeling sorry for himself.
February 26, 2024
This was the continuing saga of the unlikely alliance of Grimsby and Mayflower in the magical realm of the Unorthodox. James J. Butcher's sequel to Dead Man's Hand takes the two, now Auditors, further down the rabbit hole of the Elsewhere. Grimsby, trying to help his bizarre new friend, Wudge, throw off a curse, is saddled with a near impossible task. Even his gnarly partner Mayflower isn't much help on this one. Couple that with what seems to be an unrequited love with the lovely Rayne, his superior in the Department, the never confident Grimsby has his magical hands full.
The pace of the action is fast and we move from dire circumstances to dire circumstances, one after the other. Grimsby is forced to make a choice at the end that is almost Spock-like - the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. All in all, a pretty good book for a second try.
The pace of the action is fast and we move from dire circumstances to dire circumstances, one after the other. Grimsby is forced to make a choice at the end that is almost Spock-like - the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. All in all, a pretty good book for a second try.
November 12, 2023
I was hoping the 2nd book would be better, but this is like reading a would be writer. Too many good books out there to waste my time on this.
February 28, 2024
That was pretty good. It does a good job of showing Grimsby's difficulties with his new job that he may not be qualified for and weaves the two separate plot lines together well and opens up the world quite a bit.
The book did a good job of being self contained with the main plot but leaving plot threads hanging for future installments while also unveiling some of Mayflower and Mansgraf's backstory to open up the world future and past. And Wudge's side plot felt inconsequential (to me, certainly not to him) but still wove into the main plot and opened up the question to just what the heck is the deal with Wudge's door?
And I still really like Butcher's approach to descriptions. He generally doesn't identify what the creature is. Like Wudge is physically described and you get an idea of what he can do but Grimsby doesn't say. Same thing with Mother Frost and one of the later creatures that Grimsby runs into. It's an interesting approach to descriptions that makes the whole world feel more alien.
I suspect the intent is to show that Grimsby doesn't know what he's encountering because one of Rayne's PoV chapters does identify two of the creatures but I'll be interested to see how this description approach is used in the future.
Also, Mayflower's character is unveiled more. Not necessarily in a surprising manner but it was well done how . It's nice to see him thaw out and get more comfortable with Grimsby but I hope this series doesn't get too idealistic.
But Butcher's off to a good start so I'll see where he goes with this.
The book did a good job of being self contained with the main plot but leaving plot threads hanging for future installments while also unveiling some of Mayflower and Mansgraf's backstory to open up the world future and past. And Wudge's side plot felt inconsequential (to me, certainly not to him) but still wove into the main plot and opened up the question to just what the heck is the deal with Wudge's door?
And I still really like Butcher's approach to descriptions. He generally doesn't identify what the creature is. Like Wudge is physically described and you get an idea of what he can do but Grimsby doesn't say. Same thing with Mother Frost and one of the later creatures that Grimsby runs into. It's an interesting approach to descriptions that makes the whole world feel more alien.
I suspect the intent is to show that Grimsby doesn't know what he's encountering because one of Rayne's PoV chapters does identify two of the creatures but I'll be interested to see how this description approach is used in the future.
Also, Mayflower's character is unveiled more. Not necessarily in a surprising manner but it was well done how . It's nice to see him thaw out and get more comfortable with Grimsby but I hope this series doesn't get too idealistic.
But Butcher's off to a good start so I'll see where he goes with this.
November 13, 2023
So...this is a tough book to review.
For context, I loved Dead Man's Hand. Spent a really fun Halloween blitzing my way through it, really liked the world, and saw a lot of potential for the future of the series, which was great because at the time I was almost out of Dresden Files books, which I use as my "palate cleanser" series, and I was hoping that this could take its place, since it looked like there might be a new book in the series every October. This was one of my most anticipated books for the year.
Um...I didn't finish it in one sitting. Took me a couple weeks. Didn't love it like I loved book one.
It was very three star.
But let's talk details...
The Still Good:
- The world of the Unorthodox is still quite interesting. I still really like the idea of an Urban Fantasy where the world is fully aware of the magical world around them, with an interesting dynamic between the normal world and the magical world.
- I still like the dynamic and relationship between Grimsby and Mayflower, and their characters work well off of one another, with some really fun character foil moments. I'm a big fan of good character foils, and this fits nicely into that box.
- There were some good plot ideas in the book, even if I don't think they were executed to their fullest potential, and I liked what Butcher was going for. It was a very ambitious story he was trying to tell, even if that's both a positive and a negative for the book.
The Disappointments:
- I have a weird relationship with plot twists. A book should stand strongly even if the twist is predictable or known to the reader (like Dune), BUT I still want a twist to feel clever and take me a while to figure out. Ultimately, I feel like a reader shouldn't figure out a twist until right before the twist is unveiled.
There is a twist in this book, and I figured it out within the first couple chapters. And then I had to read the rest of the book as the plot dances around the twist, feeling like it thought it was really clever for it, only serving to make me more annoyed with every new clue presented rather than feeling rewarded.
The worst part? None of this would have been a problem if one of the character POVs -- the POV of a side character, no less -- had been cut.
Basically...(major spoilers ahead, if for whatever reason it doesn't get marked in formatting)...
Again, I don't mind if I can predict a twist, but for crying out loud. This was a really obvious one, and knowing it so early made the read really annoying. All that would have been needed would have been a cut of the entire POV, with little hints about what's happening with her dropped on occasion.
- The way Grimsby got involved in the case just didn't work for me. The fact that he got involved due to stealing the case sounded kind of funny in the blurb, but the way it was executed and the complete lack of real-feeling ramifications for his actions just rubbed me the wrong way. It didn't feel like it came off as Grimsby being ambitious as it did him being a short-sighted idiot.
- There were a lot of plot lines in this: the stolen case, the Therians, Grimsby and Mayflower's personal struggles with the job, Wudge's sidequest, and even a few others.
The problem isn't the number of plot threads. The problem was that, ESPECIALLY in the beginning, it really felt all over the place. The book would start on one thread, only to hard-turn into another, with that thread not coming back for several chapters only to be abruptly thrown back in. By the end everything did come together and become relevant, but the problem is that as they were introduced it felt like whiplash. It felt a lot less like "scene A causes B, which leads into C," and a lot more like "scene A happens, and then scene D happens, and then we go to scene B, and then scene F happens, but then D causes E, in order to reach plot point C." It was like looking at a crocheted blanket that hadn't had the ends woven in properly, leaving some areas looking messy and bizarre, even if, at the end, the blanket was still made.
The story Butcher was going for was quite ambitious, which I can appreciate, but I don't think he managed to pull it off as cleanly as it could have been, and it shows.
Overall:
Is this a bad book? Honestly, no. If you don't pick up on the twist right away, and if you don't mind a little bit of messiness in a plot, it's really not that bad.
Unfortunately, I did pick up on everything too quick, and the plot had a kind of messiness I just couldn't ignore. My editing brain turned on almost immediately, wanting to fix the issues I was having, and it didn't turn off for the rest of the read, which made it, for me, really frustrating.
Would I pick up book three, should it come out next year and keep the October release schedule going? Yeah. This is still really early in James J. Butcher's career, and it can take a bit for a writer to get themselves figured out. It wasn't offensively bad by any means, just not as tight as I'd like. Hopefully he learns and improves with his next project.
I still see a lot of potential in this series, and I'd love to see it grow and thrive. All I can do is hope that this isn't setting the pattern for the rest of the books, and that the next one will feel closer to the quality of book one.
For context, I loved Dead Man's Hand. Spent a really fun Halloween blitzing my way through it, really liked the world, and saw a lot of potential for the future of the series, which was great because at the time I was almost out of Dresden Files books, which I use as my "palate cleanser" series, and I was hoping that this could take its place, since it looked like there might be a new book in the series every October. This was one of my most anticipated books for the year.
Um...I didn't finish it in one sitting. Took me a couple weeks. Didn't love it like I loved book one.
It was very three star.
But let's talk details...
The Still Good:
- The world of the Unorthodox is still quite interesting. I still really like the idea of an Urban Fantasy where the world is fully aware of the magical world around them, with an interesting dynamic between the normal world and the magical world.
- I still like the dynamic and relationship between Grimsby and Mayflower, and their characters work well off of one another, with some really fun character foil moments. I'm a big fan of good character foils, and this fits nicely into that box.
- There were some good plot ideas in the book, even if I don't think they were executed to their fullest potential, and I liked what Butcher was going for. It was a very ambitious story he was trying to tell, even if that's both a positive and a negative for the book.
The Disappointments:
- I have a weird relationship with plot twists. A book should stand strongly even if the twist is predictable or known to the reader (like Dune), BUT I still want a twist to feel clever and take me a while to figure out. Ultimately, I feel like a reader shouldn't figure out a twist until right before the twist is unveiled.
There is a twist in this book, and I figured it out within the first couple chapters. And then I had to read the rest of the book as the plot dances around the twist, feeling like it thought it was really clever for it, only serving to make me more annoyed with every new clue presented rather than feeling rewarded.
The worst part? None of this would have been a problem if one of the character POVs -- the POV of a side character, no less -- had been cut.
Basically...(major spoilers ahead, if for whatever reason it doesn't get marked in formatting)...
Again, I don't mind if I can predict a twist, but for crying out loud. This was a really obvious one, and knowing it so early made the read really annoying. All that would have been needed would have been a cut of the entire POV, with little hints about what's happening with her dropped on occasion.
- The way Grimsby got involved in the case just didn't work for me. The fact that he got involved due to stealing the case sounded kind of funny in the blurb, but the way it was executed and the complete lack of real-feeling ramifications for his actions just rubbed me the wrong way. It didn't feel like it came off as Grimsby being ambitious as it did him being a short-sighted idiot.
- There were a lot of plot lines in this: the stolen case, the Therians, Grimsby and Mayflower's personal struggles with the job, Wudge's sidequest, and even a few others.
The problem isn't the number of plot threads. The problem was that, ESPECIALLY in the beginning, it really felt all over the place. The book would start on one thread, only to hard-turn into another, with that thread not coming back for several chapters only to be abruptly thrown back in. By the end everything did come together and become relevant, but the problem is that as they were introduced it felt like whiplash. It felt a lot less like "scene A causes B, which leads into C," and a lot more like "scene A happens, and then scene D happens, and then we go to scene B, and then scene F happens, but then D causes E, in order to reach plot point C." It was like looking at a crocheted blanket that hadn't had the ends woven in properly, leaving some areas looking messy and bizarre, even if, at the end, the blanket was still made.
The story Butcher was going for was quite ambitious, which I can appreciate, but I don't think he managed to pull it off as cleanly as it could have been, and it shows.
Overall:
Is this a bad book? Honestly, no. If you don't pick up on the twist right away, and if you don't mind a little bit of messiness in a plot, it's really not that bad.
Unfortunately, I did pick up on everything too quick, and the plot had a kind of messiness I just couldn't ignore. My editing brain turned on almost immediately, wanting to fix the issues I was having, and it didn't turn off for the rest of the read, which made it, for me, really frustrating.
Would I pick up book three, should it come out next year and keep the October release schedule going? Yeah. This is still really early in James J. Butcher's career, and it can take a bit for a writer to get themselves figured out. It wasn't offensively bad by any means, just not as tight as I'd like. Hopefully he learns and improves with his next project.
I still see a lot of potential in this series, and I'd love to see it grow and thrive. All I can do is hope that this isn't setting the pattern for the rest of the books, and that the next one will feel closer to the quality of book one.
October 16, 2023
What happens when you take a young, idealistic, underpowered wizard and team him up with a grizzled, veteran, overpowered tank to take on "just one last case" to shut the door on a 20 year old case? Why, "Long Past Dues," of course!
This volume picks up with Grimsby and Maywflower dealing with the ongoing difficulties inherited at the end of the first volume: Grimsby has finally achieved his dream of becoming an Auditor and finds... it's boring? He's at the bottom of the totem pole, underpowered, and given babysitting and pencil pushing duties so that he's forced to question what the point of being an Auditor is and how he fits into those questions. Mayflower, on the other hand, is jaded not by youth, but by long service and too many failures--he's ready to punch his clock and sit in his "evening robe" and drink his life away. But neither can, because there's an old visitor coming to haunt their past and their present and unless these two can figure out how to navigate the ideal and reality, they'll both end up dead.
James Butcher still has big shoes to fill, but with his second volume it's clear that he's doing a good job in filling them. I said in my review of the first volume that it *felt* like a first volume. This one didn't. It's significantly better and stands on its own two feet nicely. If you like urban fantasy, I'd give this series a try!
This volume picks up with Grimsby and Maywflower dealing with the ongoing difficulties inherited at the end of the first volume: Grimsby has finally achieved his dream of becoming an Auditor and finds... it's boring? He's at the bottom of the totem pole, underpowered, and given babysitting and pencil pushing duties so that he's forced to question what the point of being an Auditor is and how he fits into those questions. Mayflower, on the other hand, is jaded not by youth, but by long service and too many failures--he's ready to punch his clock and sit in his "evening robe" and drink his life away. But neither can, because there's an old visitor coming to haunt their past and their present and unless these two can figure out how to navigate the ideal and reality, they'll both end up dead.
James Butcher still has big shoes to fill, but with his second volume it's clear that he's doing a good job in filling them. I said in my review of the first volume that it *felt* like a first volume. This one didn't. It's significantly better and stands on its own two feet nicely. If you like urban fantasy, I'd give this series a try!
October 21, 2024
Maybe I am still stuck in trying to compare the author to his father in all honesty. This book turned out to be much more predictable than the first one and no real shocking twists in my view. The pacing was also slower than I expected and really didn’t pick up until all the pieces started to fall into place. My hope is that the third installment will be better when it comes out in a few months.
In brief, this story follows Grimsby on his first real case as an Auditor. As the story unfolds, the case connects to an old case that Mayflower worked on decades ago and even connects to another Auditor that Grimsby considers a friend. Interesting set up but, like I have already said, a little too predictable. Still worth checking out if you like Dead Man’s Hand.
In brief, this story follows Grimsby on his first real case as an Auditor. As the story unfolds, the case connects to an old case that Mayflower worked on decades ago and even connects to another Auditor that Grimsby considers a friend. Interesting set up but, like I have already said, a little too predictable. Still worth checking out if you like Dead Man’s Hand.
November 27, 2023
This was still good, just… not AS good as the first one. The characters that I liked were still amazing, and their interactions had me invested and wanting more, it’s just it got broken up by a lot more focus on Rayne, who I couldn’t give a shit about. She’s supposed to be so smart and yet was making dumb person decisions left and right. Again, the magic and humour was fun, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the world and the main characters backstories. Dear Mr. Butcher, if you can hear me, more sad dilf Mayflower, please and thank you.
October 27, 2023
This was as fun as the first one and really drew me in more to the world.
I love the MC and his propensity toward kindness. He’s quirky and um usual and a little work and yet it works for him!
Def recommend and will be looking forward to more in this world!
My rating: 4.3*
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Thanks for NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
I love the MC and his propensity toward kindness. He’s quirky and um usual and a little work and yet it works for him!
Def recommend and will be looking forward to more in this world!
My rating: 4.3*
—-
Thanks for NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 27, 2024
Another round with my lovely short king! Grimsby is now living his dream, he's an auditor in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs. His suits a little large for his frame and his magic isn't up to the standards of most of the other auditors, but Grim is determined to prove he can be a witch worthy of the auditor badge. I can't wait to read the next chapter of the Unorthodox Chronicles!
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