Sycamore

In a world where portals to monstrous realms can appear at any moment, a smart PI knows that choosing a straightforward serial killer case over battling the unknown is wise. That’s exactly what Felix Renn does, but unfortunately for him, his current case deals with both. Felix is a wisecracking detective who rides the line between hard-boiled and foolish—particularly as his jokes fall flat with the women who surround him. While he may be distracted by a pretty face, he also has the skills and knowledge to survive both the creatures from beyond and the secret organizations who study them. Narrator Andrew Tell gives voice to Felix, crafting an everyman persona who cracks questionable jokes as he tries to ignore the horrors of the world. Felix clearly knows that circumstances, more than talent, make him the best—or perhaps the only—person for the job. Most of the novel’s other major characters are women, requiring Tell to deploy a full range of feminine voices to keep the client, the source, the librarian, and Felix’s ex-wife/assistant distinct.