In James J. Butcher’s debut novel, Dead Man’s Hand we quickly learn that he is indeed his fathers son. James is the son of Jim Butcher, author of the beloved Harry Dresden series (among others!). I will confess, heading into this novel I was afraid that it was going to be another nepo baby project but was pleasantly surprised to see that he holds his own.
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We meet Grimsby, Govt name: Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby. He’s a witch who was flunked out of The Department of Unorthodox Affairs Auditor program. He’s since resigned to being a magician at a fast food place where the scariest thing he’s seen is upset parents, which lets be honest…that’s terrifying.
Enter Mayflower AKA The Huntsman. We don’t get a lot of backstory for The Huntsman other than he’s retired from the Unorthodox world and is drowning his sorrows in whiskey. Mayflowers’ former partner is killed hiding something from The Department and Mayflower is determined to figure out whodunit, working off only a note left by his former partner. The note leads Mayflower to Grimsby and what happens next is nothing short of meme worthy content.
There’s demons, monsters, phallic compasses and a creature who wears an onion for a hat. We follow Grimsby as he comes to terms with his past, including a fear of fire that left scars on the left side of his body and killed his mother. Mayflower who struggles to trust anyone finds himself being a mentor of sorts to Grimsby and in the end, there’s explosions and animatronic familiars.
I will read the second installment in this series and I’m hoping for more backstory on Mayflower. The wit and humor written into these characters is a refreshing reprieve from the ever serious, ever critical protagonists often seen in urban fantasy worlds. 8/10, only because I felt some more time should have been spent character building but over all, it’s a great read.
OTHER James J. Butcher NOVELS
Long Past Dues (The Unorthodox Chronicles)
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.
Cold Iron Task (The Unorthodox Chronicles Book 3)
Grimsby, a junior Auditor in the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, finds himself on the other side of the law in this spellbinding urban fantasy.