Review: Flames Over Frosthelm by Dave Dobson

Blurb:

Sometimes, your case takes a left turn. Or three or four. Marten Mingenstern and Boog Eggstrom are provisional inspectors, fresh out of Inquisitor’s Guild training and eager to prove themselves. Assigned the mundane task of tracking down stolen jewels, they instead uncover a mysterious cult set on destroying the city. After a thief explodes, they earn the enmity of a vicious noble, the Chief Inquisitor gets bought off and goes rogue, they are seized by barbarians, and they are sentenced to death at least a couple of times. In a final, frantic race with prophecy, they face ruthless fanatics, a city turned against them, and terrible forces long buried.

Flames Over Frosthelm is the first novel about the Inquisitor's Guild, the investigative arm of the government of Frosthelm, a medieval city-state where criminals thrive, nobles scheme, and dark secrets lurk. Expect intrigue, mystery, swordplay, adventure, politics, romance, and the strong bonds of friendship. And a little magic along the way. Described as Princess Bride meets CSI, this new novel is a tale of classic adventure with a healthy dose of humor.

Review:

I have read a few science fiction books by the author Dave Dobson, but this was my first fantasy from him. I was very intrigued as I am a big fan of mystery and thriller novels. This was pitched to me as a fantasy mystery and it definitely lived up to that description. I was interested in the mystery and would look forward to every chance that I had to delve into the world of the Inquisitor's Guild. I found it fun that the two inquisitors that we follow are brand new to the force and don’t have the years of experience that are usually seen when following the detectives of a typical crime thriller. The mistakes and ideas that they have were all very interesting and made it very compelling for me to keep reading as I connected with the characters. They were a lot of fun to read and seeing the differences between the two really made the relationship more dynamic. The skills were complementary and really added yet another level to how the investigation was able to take place.

The strength of the novel really is what I have come to see as a trademark for Mr. Dobson. It is of course the humor that seems to come so naturally in the books. It adds an element that makes it truly his own. The big thing that really gets me is how the humor can vary according to the character and yet it feels so very natural. I know that I constantly had a smile on my face, followed by fits of laughter, but would also have moments of my jaw dropping to the floor as the shocks would become evident. The twists and turns were great, leading to ever deepening moments of wonder. I really found it refreshing to see a fantasy mystery happen with this level of skill. The one thing I did feel was that the world building was not as detailed as in some other fantasy novels. We are able to see some different areas and different kinds of characters, but it does not delve as deep as some readers may want or expect. I did not find too many issues with the amount, but could definitely see it as a detriment in some aspects. I figure that there will be more shown in the other novels that have this guild involved. I know that this is the first entry in a series, but can definitely be read all on its own without feeling as there is a lot left unfinished. 

I know I am a big fan of Dave Dobson. His humor and natural way of telling a story is something that will always bring me back to his novels. There are similarities in the way that he writes, but all of them have been so very different and unique. I encourage readers to give this book a go, or at least a novel by this author as he has dipped his toes in many different genre pools. I know that I will keep going in this series. I really enjoyed my time in Frosthelm and will gladly talk to many readers about how good it truly is. I hope that many readers are able to enjoy it as much as I did. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!