Review: Light-hearted Mystery Stories that Combine Action, Romance, and Suspense
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 11, 2014
“Legendary Detective in the City of Kings” brings us more stories about Kirin, a baby-faced young man who declares in the first book that he is going to make himself a legend through his detective work. In this second collection of stories, Kirin proves that he’s well on the way to making good on his claim!The first story, “Game of Love,” is the strongest and most interesting, perhaps because its length—a novella, really—gives you time to sink into the mystery and really become invested in Kirin and Jake’s efforts to solve it. Though a client’s demand for them to find her lost chickens seems like harmless fun at the beginning, you realize by the end just how important lost chickens can be to sleuthing. “The Big Bad Wolf” introduces a racer and gang leader in danger, but more importantly the Big Wolf—a character you can’t quite pin down—and this tale carries on in “Man of Science and Chaos.” The book concludes with a very brief story called “Shadows,” which is not so much a mystery but a cliffhanger about Kirin and his nature.You don’t need to have read the first novel to enjoy these stories, as the author does a good job of introducing the characters to new readers without making it tedious to those who already know Kirin, Jake, Lee, and the others. I will say also that this collection of stories is smoother and more engaging than its predecessor—the plots are more cleverly constructed, with elements that tie together for satisfying conclusion. There’s also a bit of romance and a lot of action, and Jake becomes a deeper character—he’s the heart, focused on the people in the cases, while Kirin is the brain, focused on the logic. Together, they’re an almost unstoppable pair who face danger head-on.I would recommend “Legendary Detective in the City of Kings” to both adult and YA readers who enjoy mystery stories that combine a light-hearted feel with suspense.