Specter Inspector (Series Title: Dead and Back Again) is a second series following the Haunted Romance trilogy by C. Rae D’Arc. The reader may start with Specter Inspector without reading the prior series, though the first trilogy is highly recommended. This novel moves forward in time about fifteen years, starts with mostly new characters, and is set in an entirely new area.
The setting is as important as the characters. This magical world is named Novel where each country is representative of a literary genre. Within the countries, states/provinces further subdivide the land into sub-genres. This novel is set in Mystery, particularly, Noir, Mystery (in a city named Shigaqua).
Cool, huh?
Aeron Spade is a recent graduate from a Mystery school. Though he was born in Fantasy (and is thus, a Fantastic), his greatest desire is to become a detective in Mystery. A leading detective firm in Noir promises to hire him if he solves a cold case. Aeron has an advantage over other candidates, though. At night, when he sleeps, he talks to the dead. And not just any dead, but famous literary figures like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.
First, Aeron discusses the cold case with the last two detectives to investigate it. One investigator, named Truth, happens to know his parents and his past, something Aeron is trying to bury. Nita, her partner, is a rugged, no-nonsense detective. She has caught Aeron’s eye. Using his advantage, Aeron starts uncovering new clues and zeroes in on the suspect. It will take standing up to a rageful poltergeist, befriending a lonely spirit, and learning what it takes to be a proper detective to be successful.
The concept of this novel receives full marks. Also, the idea of starting a new series in a different part of the map lends it a new vibe. Specter Inspector is a blend of the mystery and urban fantasy genres with humor and romance mixed in. As an urban fantasy, it succeeds in all the right ways. In having a land that knows magic exists outside its borders, but the country itself isn’t magical, author D’Arc has her cake and eats it, too. This book has fun introducing fantastical elements to an everyday world. As a mystery, it provides clues and concludes the story satisfactorily. Note that it follows more of a noir thriller. This is not a who or a howdunnit.
The romance is interesting as Aeron becomes involved in a lopsided love triangle between the woman he can’t have (his charms mostly work) and the woman he wants (his charms mostly don’t work). And the humor the author pulls out of all of this is rich and wonderful.
If Specter Inspector has a flaw, it is that the narrative is doing too much with too short a plot. The reader has not one but two romances, not one but two mysteries, not one background (Aeron’s time in Fantasy) but two (Aeron’s time in Horror) to absorb in 229 pages. You will certainly get your money’s worth! The subplots could be an entire novel themselves. Fortunately, this accomplished author knows how to pull all of it together in a coherent and exciting narrative. The multiple threads all merge by the finale.
For fans of urban fantasy crime novels, or noir-leaning mysteries, or multi-genre meta-narrative, this book is for you. It should satisfy bibliophiles of many different genres similar to the world it’s set in.