In Truth and Claw (Mick Oberon #4)

Mick Oberon never gets the easy cases, of course. Well, maybe he does, but we schmoes don’t get to hear about the times it all goes smooth, everything comes up roses.

We get to see Mick when the roses all wilt into the compost heap.

Wasn’t like things were great to start with; the end of the last book, Mick had just found out his bad-luck curse came from someone who was supposed to be DEAD, the nastiest witch he’d met in donkey’s years: Dame Orsola.

This comes with a whole slew of problems, the biggest being that her being alive is something he *ought* to tell the Ottatis… but seeing as he kinda dug up her grave to make sure, there doesn’t seem to be a diplomatic way to discuss the issue, since Fino “the Shark” Ottati really loved his mother, even if she WAS a witch.

There’s other things going on, though — not counting the fact that his memories and power, that he sealed away ages ago, seem to be trying REALLY HARD to come back; there’s more and maybe worse. Starting with vampire watermelons, and going downhill from there.

(What? You think I’m kidding? Read the book!)

In Truth and Claw is at least as well written and diamond-clear period work as the others, and Mick Oberon is as hard-boiled a detective (with a heart of silver, if not gold). But this is, as I said, his toughest case yet, and no one gets out of it unscathed. If you thought the last book ended with a whammy, you’d better make sure you’re ready for another.

I love this series. Being the first-person viewpoint of a magical private eye in a Chicago with a secret underworld of Fae and magicians, it can’t help but bring to mind that OTHER Chicago-based private detective, Harry Dresden. While there are certainly similarities, superficially, and I’d like to think Harry and Mick would get along, they’re also very different. Ari Marmell and Jim Butcher may draw from similar wells, but what they DO with the water from the mythology of the fae and supernatural around the world is rather different, and they have very different approaches to magic which makes both books very distinct reads.

Strongly recommended, and if you haven’t read the others, do that first! All of them!

After I finished this I came back to Amazon and was surprised at the scarcity of reviews – this book deserves lots of them, and all of them five stars. It uniquely hits on all cylinders, being a historical noir urban fantasy detective novel with a great protagonist, a collection of entertaining characters, moments of unexpected humor, innovative villians (looking at you, vampire watermelons) and a rollicking pace. If you like Jim Butcher and Kevin Hearne, snap this series up too. Highly recommended.

As always Ari Marmell has spun a wonderful tale of intrigue. The whole ’30’s crime novel setting adds to the noirish of the tale.
This one is worth the read

Another fantastic read in a wonderful and fun series. I cant wait for the next one, but I guess I must.

Just as good as the first four.

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