About the book…
A magical serial killer is stalking the Occult town of Wrackton. Hypnotic whistling causes victims to chew their own tongues off, leading to the killer being dubbed the Whistler (original, right?). But outside the lack of taste buds and the strange magical carvings on the victims’ torsos, the murderer leaves no evidence. No obvious clues. No reason – or so it seems.
Enter the Undetectables, a detective agency run by three witches and a ghost in a cat costume (don’t ask). They are hired to investigate the murders, but with their only case so far left unsolved, will they be up to the task? Mallory, the forensic science expert, is struggling with pain and fatigue from her recently diagnosed fibromyalgia. Cornelia, the team member most likely to go rogue and punch a police officer, is suddenly stirring all sorts of feelings in Mallory. Diana, the social butterfly of the group, is hitting up all of her ex-girlfriends for information. And not forgetting ghostly Theodore – deceased, dramatic, and also the agency’s first dead body and unsolved murder case.
With bodies stacking up and the case leading them to mysteries at the very heart of magical society, can the Undetectables find the Whistler before they become the killer’s next victims?
Published by Titan in Spetmeber 2023, ‘The Undetectables’ is the first in a series by Courtney Smyth, where they establish a magical world which co-exists with our own-that of us Apparents-which is being terrorised by a magical serail killer.
Being an election year for Mayor Van Doren, not only does he need it resolved, he needs t done quickly and with minimum publicity so enter the Undetectables, a detective agency who work in return for both a favour, and a financial award for this trio of witches (plus accompanying ghost).
Except…the 3 girls’ relationship has stalled as 2 of them have gone on with their careers, and Mallory has been left behind. Her skills as a forensic expert are on pause, as is her professional progression to university due to a diagnosis of fibromylagia, something that affects every aspect of her existence and makes her too exhausted to carry out magical rites. As she struggles to come to terms with what is her ‘new normal’ , putting pause after pause on uni entrance, she really needs something to keep her going .
Supported by ghost Theodore, their first ‘case’ who is doomed to spend eternity in a cat outfit and as he died on Samhain, his ghostly nature will genuinely last forever, Mallory is at a crossroads in her life until this murder lands in her lap.Now she absolutely needs to reach out to her friends, here is her opportunity to make Undetectables work, but she cannot do this on her own….
Gruesome and darkly delicious, I loved the way these strong and fiercely independent young women handled themselves, their relationships and the ability they have to see the future as something which is there for the taking.
Having raised 5 daughters, I can say that their biggest complaint when reading YA books, is that so many authors write what they *think* a young woman would talk like. Courtney nails it, the disillusionment with growing older and all the accompanying responsibility, how to balance relationships as people grow up and away from each other, and how honesty plays such an important part in re-connecting.
They also write with sensitivity and understanding about invisible illness, which is very much appreciated. If you know one person with fibro, you literally know one person with fibro. Each person with it experiences it, and deals with it in a different way which creates a need for awareness of this ,and a need for listening to what you can do to support that person, rather than making assumptions.
As well as establishing an entire magical world with all its accompanying rules and regulations, they introduce this wonderful cast of flawed, learning people who you feel you are just getting to grips with as they navigate an engaging murder mystery, occult goings-on and political machinations.
This sounds like a lot to chuck into a debut novel, especially given that one of the members of the gang is their first, unsolved murder (Theodore), but its length (400 + pages)belies just how swiftly the plot moves, how quickly you get sucked into the world of Wrackton, and sadly, before you know it, the book is over. It is dark, spooky, funny in a dark and droll way that genuinely tickles your funny bone (god I thought I was dramatic but Theodore, my secret favourite, knocks spots off me!) and is perfect for fans of Edgar Cantero in my humble opinion. Go buy it!
More, much more please Courtney!*
*Goodreads shows that the sequel, ‘The Undead Complex’ is due to be published in September 24! HURRAY!!
About the author…
Courtney Smyth (they/them) is a chronically ill writer of stories, both long and short, from Dublin, currently living in the West of Ireland. They have had a number of short stories published in Paper Lanterns Literary Journal, and appeared in The Last Five Minutes of a Storm anthology from Sans Press. They have been writing about ghosts, demons and murders since they were ten and have no plans to stop.
Twitter @TitanBooks @cswritesbooks
Author
bridgeman.lenny@gmail.com