Podcast #5 Crimes, Cops & Criminals in Magical Fantasy
https://anchor.fm/alchemyofgenres/episodes/Crimes--Cops--Criminals-in-Magic-and-Fantasy-eetv3o
The link to the podcast is above, if you'd prefer to listen.
I decided to focus on Crimes/Criminals/Cops because it's a cross-section that is quite large which many outside of fantasy are unaware of, which brings together a cop drama or a classic mystery with magical beings or elements. I am not the biggest reader of mystery books, though I love a good suspense novel and I've noticed that many mystery readers feel the same; they are much happier with a crime to solve than with magical fairies flying around. I think there is a good number of people in the middle, who like elements of both; and so now is a great time to share books that focus there.
Magic, if viewed as a tool; can be the means to commit a crime or the means to solve one; or possibly both. If it is a tool, it stands to reason that there are those who misuses it and thus the need to have oversight of some kind. Many fantasy books, especially urban fantasy bring in special units focused on magic or supernatural; or they just use them quietly for "unexplainable crimes".
If you were thinking of maybe trying out some fantasy, these may be right up your alley.
I swear I'm not obsessed (ok, maybe a little) with Laurell K Hamilton (I realize I have mentioned her a few times) but it IS relevant as Anita Blake is a US Marshall with the Preternatural Crimes Unit. She doesn't start that way, but as were-animals and vampires gain more legal rights, there becomes a need to have more legal ways of catching them and jail isn't an option if you can punch your way out of a steel door (weres) or just tell them to let you go (vampire)....so those non-humans pretty much get executed pretty quickly if a crime is committed and they are found guilty. Again, Hamilton doesn't shy away from the violence, but also doesn't shy away from the sex. Anita Blake is one tough gal....and I have the biggest crush on her.
Merry Gentry series is in a different universe than the Anita Blake one...more Fae, less vampires. Merry Gentry is a PI, working for a private firm that usually helps those affected by magic or helping magical creatures. She is also a fairy princess in hiding.
This series (will delve in deeper another time), basically does require a bit of knowledge of the courts of the Fae and perhaps a bit of how Fae culture works. Also, it delves deep into creepy situations and there is lots & lots of sex....so...yeah (it's awesome! sorry, fangirl moment....haha)
Holly Black writes for YA, but trust me, you can enjoy this as an adult.
The Curse Workers series is based on the premise of magic (or curses) being a criminal enterprise and so everything tied to it has a criminal element. It's actually set in NJ (bonus!); and the main character is from a legacy curse work family but has no magic of his own. What he does have is the hidden knowledge that he killed his best friend when he was 14 and the consequences of that night destroyed his family and still are causing ripples. Now he is 17 and sleep walking while dreaming about a white cat; so he is sent home and while home starts unraveling what happened that night. Could there be more to the story than what he was told? Why doesn't he remember?
Black does a fabulous job of building characters in this world where magic is a crime that everyone wants a piece of (like alcohol during Prohibition); and the main character is a likeable scoundrel.
Soulbound series is one of my new favs (and an obsession)
Patrick Collins is an agent of the Supernatural Operations Agency (a branch of federal gov't like FBI) and a veteran war mage. He is sent to NYC because a crime spree needs his demon expertise. He meets Jonothon de Vere, a bartender & werewolf and the Fates (technically a seer but still, essentially the gods) tell Patrick to keep Jon near him, it's vital to the mission.
Patrick is pretty sure his father is involved, because his father is usually involved with demon slayings and such as he is trying to become a god; so he needs to kill a few along the way. Patrick is a classic "rogue cop" who does things his own way; but Jono is a whole other thing, at first they are forced together (as I said, gods commanded they stay together) but soon they are beginning to acknowledge attractions, then ok; sex is good...but that is all it is, all it can be.....but you can feel them actually trying to build something in spite of the logic saying it won't work. Of course they are also trying to figure out how to stop the end of the world, which is an issue, as is the fact that Patrick never stays in one place for long.....but what if he could? The soulbound thing is a spoiler so I won't get into it, and honestly, this is only 1/3 romance and the rest is a roller coaster of action & suspense. This series is amazing and I am truly shocked no one has grabbed it for a tv or series adaptation. The book is only available from Amazon, and the audio is on Audible, but is also very good.
Shade Renard is a witch who has decided she would rather be a PI, and her first case seems simple...figure out who stole a book from a vampire. But it isn't simple (of course) and now she has to figure it out and also, not die. She is a powerful witch but no experience in crime solving so she gets herself into some messes. I really have enjoyed the series thus far, it's the bumbling detective trope mixed with magic and it is magical.
This is another series that I have brought up before, but definitely works in this context so am doing it again (also I love them). Jon's Mystery books center on Jon who is a psychic at an agency that works with law enforcement a lot, and also with Donovan who is brought in as a sort of bodyguard (lots of criminals really hate when someone can read their intentions and tell they are lying); but also becomes his anchor & lover.
Mack's Marvelous Manifestations series involved Donovan's little brother Brandon and his work as an anchor working with a medium, and the Very Merry Haunted Christmas is where they meet (and quickly fall for each other).
Both of these involve crimes of a sort, though one is more ghosts and the other actual criminals; but both are equally fun and entertaining and having the series' involve main characters of color, discuss & show loving LGBT relationships and also solve cool crimes.....just magical.
In this universe, Vampires & Vampire crimes have their own unit. Finn is human but with a lot of determination (and a little bit of trickery) has managed to get a spot as the first human detective working with the VRC (Vampire Related Crimes). He is partnered with Marcus, an older vampire who is really not impressed with Finn, but who is impressed with him despite himself....and also kind of attracted to him
A couple of things that stand out with this series, is A: the humor, Winters uses it a lot (and to great effect) and B: the fact that it is the only romantic book I have read with a partner that has multiple amputations. The fact that Finn is working with superhumans makes it even more stressful, but honestly, it isn't A THING, so much as "hey, it's ok, it's just a thing", it's awesome.
Burn for Me is set in a world where magical families rule kind of separately but in the same world as "normals". The magic is psychic based (telepathy, telekinesis, etc); but the power can be off the charts (like blow up a building kind of thing). Nevada runs a small investigation agency but is blackmailed into helping with a bigger job and run into Connor "Mad" Rogan. Rogan is powerful both in gifts and in wealth/connections but they have to work together to live through this investigation....and also they are kind of digging each other (yeah, paranormal romance PLUS suspense...WINNING!). Ilona Andrews does a great job of creating real characters and scenarios and if you enjoy suspense, it works....and yeah, the whole "House Rules" =getting away with actually anything, makes for an interesting universe.
Not a lot of people think of Koontz for magical stories, but the Odd Thomas books definitely go there with their main character who sees dead people and works with the police to solve the questions of their deaths. This is a very creepy, suspenseful series (duh! Koontz!) but still solidly in the "whodunnit" type of thing and Odd Thomas is an amazing character. The audiobooks are also very well done.
This series is definitely more SF with a bit of magic; but solidly in the crime & criminals box as Kaylin is a Hawk which is Elantra's version of a cop. It defines her, it grounds her and literally is a huge part of how she sees the world. This series is less a series of crimes (though they are there) then an series of adventures & save the world escapades; but they are amazing.
The Diane Tregarde Investigations books had gone away but now are back with a new book. Diana is a witch and a Guardian who helps all who need it in a world where people try to ignore magic when they can. Lackey does a bang up job on these and I cannot wait to read the newest addition.
I am not a huge fan of the Dresden Files but wanted to bring them up because they are definitely classics in the Wizard/PI for hire genre. Butcher writes with a very noir feel that is not my cup of tea but is very well done and is on everyone's list of top urban fiction writers...so if you love a good hard boiled detective story and don't mind that this detective can throw spells, you may really enjoy them.
Allie is a Hound, which means she can smell magic and magical signatures. This is a useful skill and one that is used with law enforcement. In her first novel she has to figure out who is killing people while leaving her father's magical signature behind. There is a bit of romance (more in later books) but mostly just a fly by the seat of your pants suspense here. Really fun ride.
Here I am bringing up a series that when made for NBC (one of those networks) involved Lucifer helping a copy to solve crimes; so many have assumed that the books are the same. They are not. Carey's graphic novel series based on the Sandman books characters are nothing alike, but feel free to enjoy them all the same.
Jackaby is set in a sort of magical historical fiction world of the 1800s. Think Sherlock Holmes meets steam punk and you'll have it. Jackaby is a magical investigator, and Miss Rook is his newly hired assistant who is learning all about magic and crimes along with the reader. This series is written for YA, but feel free to enjoy it regardless of your age.
Royal Street features a Jr Wizard Sentinal who is trying to save the city of New Orleans when the actual Sentinel disappears right as a supernatural wave of ghosts begins appearing all over New Orleans. This is a different kind of crime agency, with layers of governmental oversight and also keeping hidden away from "normals"; and it's a rollicking good mystery suspense.
The link to the podcast is above, if you'd prefer to listen.
I decided to focus on Crimes/Criminals/Cops because it's a cross-section that is quite large which many outside of fantasy are unaware of, which brings together a cop drama or a classic mystery with magical beings or elements. I am not the biggest reader of mystery books, though I love a good suspense novel and I've noticed that many mystery readers feel the same; they are much happier with a crime to solve than with magical fairies flying around. I think there is a good number of people in the middle, who like elements of both; and so now is a great time to share books that focus there.
Magic, if viewed as a tool; can be the means to commit a crime or the means to solve one; or possibly both. If it is a tool, it stands to reason that there are those who misuses it and thus the need to have oversight of some kind. Many fantasy books, especially urban fantasy bring in special units focused on magic or supernatural; or they just use them quietly for "unexplainable crimes".
If you were thinking of maybe trying out some fantasy, these may be right up your alley.
Merry Gentry series is in a different universe than the Anita Blake one...more Fae, less vampires. Merry Gentry is a PI, working for a private firm that usually helps those affected by magic or helping magical creatures. She is also a fairy princess in hiding.This series (will delve in deeper another time), basically does require a bit of knowledge of the courts of the Fae and perhaps a bit of how Fae culture works. Also, it delves deep into creepy situations and there is lots & lots of sex....so...yeah (it's awesome! sorry, fangirl moment....haha)
Holly Black writes for YA, but trust me, you can enjoy this as an adult.
The Curse Workers series is based on the premise of magic (or curses) being a criminal enterprise and so everything tied to it has a criminal element. It's actually set in NJ (bonus!); and the main character is from a legacy curse work family but has no magic of his own. What he does have is the hidden knowledge that he killed his best friend when he was 14 and the consequences of that night destroyed his family and still are causing ripples. Now he is 17 and sleep walking while dreaming about a white cat; so he is sent home and while home starts unraveling what happened that night. Could there be more to the story than what he was told? Why doesn't he remember?
Black does a fabulous job of building characters in this world where magic is a crime that everyone wants a piece of (like alcohol during Prohibition); and the main character is a likeable scoundrel.
Patrick Collins is an agent of the Supernatural Operations Agency (a branch of federal gov't like FBI) and a veteran war mage. He is sent to NYC because a crime spree needs his demon expertise. He meets Jonothon de Vere, a bartender & werewolf and the Fates (technically a seer but still, essentially the gods) tell Patrick to keep Jon near him, it's vital to the mission.
Patrick is pretty sure his father is involved, because his father is usually involved with demon slayings and such as he is trying to become a god; so he needs to kill a few along the way. Patrick is a classic "rogue cop" who does things his own way; but Jono is a whole other thing, at first they are forced together (as I said, gods commanded they stay together) but soon they are beginning to acknowledge attractions, then ok; sex is good...but that is all it is, all it can be.....but you can feel them actually trying to build something in spite of the logic saying it won't work. Of course they are also trying to figure out how to stop the end of the world, which is an issue, as is the fact that Patrick never stays in one place for long.....but what if he could? The soulbound thing is a spoiler so I won't get into it, and honestly, this is only 1/3 romance and the rest is a roller coaster of action & suspense. This series is amazing and I am truly shocked no one has grabbed it for a tv or series adaptation. The book is only available from Amazon, and the audio is on Audible, but is also very good.
This is another series that I have brought up before, but definitely works in this context so am doing it again (also I love them). Jon's Mystery books center on Jon who is a psychic at an agency that works with law enforcement a lot, and also with Donovan who is brought in as a sort of bodyguard (lots of criminals really hate when someone can read their intentions and tell they are lying); but also becomes his anchor & lover.
Mack's Marvelous Manifestations series involved Donovan's little brother Brandon and his work as an anchor working with a medium, and the Very Merry Haunted Christmas is where they meet (and quickly fall for each other).
Both of these involve crimes of a sort, though one is more ghosts and the other actual criminals; but both are equally fun and entertaining and having the series' involve main characters of color, discuss & show loving LGBT relationships and also solve cool crimes.....just magical.
A couple of things that stand out with this series, is A: the humor, Winters uses it a lot (and to great effect) and B: the fact that it is the only romantic book I have read with a partner that has multiple amputations. The fact that Finn is working with superhumans makes it even more stressful, but honestly, it isn't A THING, so much as "hey, it's ok, it's just a thing", it's awesome.
Burn for Me is set in a world where magical families rule kind of separately but in the same world as "normals". The magic is psychic based (telepathy, telekinesis, etc); but the power can be off the charts (like blow up a building kind of thing). Nevada runs a small investigation agency but is blackmailed into helping with a bigger job and run into Connor "Mad" Rogan. Rogan is powerful both in gifts and in wealth/connections but they have to work together to live through this investigation....and also they are kind of digging each other (yeah, paranormal romance PLUS suspense...WINNING!). Ilona Andrews does a great job of creating real characters and scenarios and if you enjoy suspense, it works....and yeah, the whole "House Rules" =getting away with actually anything, makes for an interesting universe.
This series is definitely more SF with a bit of magic; but solidly in the crime & criminals box as Kaylin is a Hawk which is Elantra's version of a cop. It defines her, it grounds her and literally is a huge part of how she sees the world. This series is less a series of crimes (though they are there) then an series of adventures & save the world escapades; but they are amazing.
The Diane Tregarde Investigations books had gone away but now are back with a new book. Diana is a witch and a Guardian who helps all who need it in a world where people try to ignore magic when they can. Lackey does a bang up job on these and I cannot wait to read the newest addition.
I am not a huge fan of the Dresden Files but wanted to bring them up because they are definitely classics in the Wizard/PI for hire genre. Butcher writes with a very noir feel that is not my cup of tea but is very well done and is on everyone's list of top urban fiction writers...so if you love a good hard boiled detective story and don't mind that this detective can throw spells, you may really enjoy them.
Allie is a Hound, which means she can smell magic and magical signatures. This is a useful skill and one that is used with law enforcement. In her first novel she has to figure out who is killing people while leaving her father's magical signature behind. There is a bit of romance (more in later books) but mostly just a fly by the seat of your pants suspense here. Really fun ride.
Here I am bringing up a series that when made for NBC (one of those networks) involved Lucifer helping a copy to solve crimes; so many have assumed that the books are the same. They are not. Carey's graphic novel series based on the Sandman books characters are nothing alike, but feel free to enjoy them all the same.
Royal Street features a Jr Wizard Sentinal who is trying to save the city of New Orleans when the actual Sentinel disappears right as a supernatural wave of ghosts begins appearing all over New Orleans. This is a different kind of crime agency, with layers of governmental oversight and also keeping hidden away from "normals"; and it's a rollicking good mystery suspense.
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