Missing, Presumed Undead
A Franklin Mynos Magimystery, No. 1
by Jeremy Davies
I must say I was entranced (pardon the pun) by the first installment in Jeremy Davies'
Franklin Mynos Magimystery series. Missing, Presumed Undead is unexpectedly refreshing.
Set in an alternative universe where magic runs the mechanisms of a large metropolis,
reminiscent of New York City, the book follows private investigator, Frank Mynos, an imposing
bull minotaur, as he and his magical blade, Rhys, try to find out who snatched the body
of the late Ashley Ash and for what purpose. The tale is told through Rhys' eyes, with
all of his wry wit intact.
Once I understood that Minos' city didn't run by ordinary rules, I happily tagged along
as the pair nosed into the various guilds in the city, including the necromancers who
deal with the dead and the legally undead. I saw that this city also has as much bureaucracy
as any in this universe and also has all of the trappings of any hard-boiled detective
story. Minos is a combination of Mike Hammer, Lou Peckinpaugh (The Cheap Detective),
and Philip Marlowe. Though Minos is by no means smooth or debonair, he is likeable, stubborn
(what do you expect from a bull minotaur), and determined. Minos gets the job done.
Rhys does a great job telling the reader the general history of the beings that they
encounter, and it's all done with great, good humor. In telepathic communication with
Minos, he also adds common sense and comic relief, as any sidekick would do.
The concept of Magimystery hasn't been done since Joseph Dougherty's films Cast a
Deadly Spell and Witch Hunt that were written for HBO in the early 1990s.
I thoroughly enjoyed them and Missing, Presumed Undead was equally good.
Jeremy Davies, when will the next volume be out? |
The Book |
Double Dragon Publishing |
January 2005 |
ebook |
1-55404-214-3 |
Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Mystery |
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at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Janie Franz |
Reviewed 2006 |
NOTE: Reviewer Janie
Franz is the author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!, Relaxation
Techniques for Children, Relaxation Techniques for Adults; Co-author of The
Ultimate Wedding Reception Book and The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book. Coming
Soon: The Ultimate Wedding Workbook, Get Rich on Love, and Sacred Breath
(a sound recording of relaxation meditations). |
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