Review of FitzDuncan

[mmm17]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "FitzDuncan" by John J Spearman.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

In FitzDuncan, written by John Spearman, we follow the protagonist, Casimir FitzDuncan (aka Caz), as he investigates the disappearance of Miss Julienne Traval, the daughter of Herbert Traval, a very wealthy merchant trader. Julienne is engaged to marry Bergeron, the Viscount du Pais, who is currently penniless; her fiancé has a terrible reputation, but he is very well connected and a close acquaintance of the Crown Prince, Albert. Throughout the book, Caz, with the invaluable help of his close friend Freddy (Lord Rawlinsford) and an acquaintance of Freddy's who is well-versed in the dark arts (Lucille Austermain, aka Lucy), dives into the mystery of Julienne’s kidnapping.

As the story begins, Sir Oliver, the Principal of the City Watch (constabulary and fire protection services combined) came to see Caz about Julienne’s disappearance, for he was the last person she saw. Caz suspects that Bergeron kidnapped Julienne to perform a black magic ritual. The plot thickens when Caz gets falsely accused of kidnapping Julienne, but no spoilers are allowed!

There are several positives worth mentioning in this entertaining read. For starters, the plot is imaginative and well-woven. In just four days, the obstinate protagonist has to surmount unimaginable obstacles, which include escaping violent thugs and a sojourn in prison, among other things. I thought that the mystery plot was the book’s strongest suit; it was what I liked the most. I also appreciated the author’s writing style; I thought it was vivid and rich. I felt transported the story’s ambiance of castles, nobility, and swords.

Additionally, the characters are multidimensional and well-developed. Caz is a markedly likable protagonist, and I found myself rooting for him, which I enjoyed. He’s not your usual hero, for he makes money helping people in difficult situations by recovering valuables where other (legal) forms of recovery are unavailable. Still, he is a lovely man with a big heart, and the author develops his nuanced personality beautifully. I also liked the author’s portrayal of Lucy, as well as her romantic involvement with Caz, which the author weaves with subtlety. I felt that Lucy's knowledge of the black arts brought a nice touch to the story.

In closing, I rate FitzDuncan 4 out of 4 stars. It is an imaginative and charming mystery story that I enjoyed reading, and there was nothing I disliked about it. The book seemed professionally edited, for I found no errors in it. I believe it will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery stories. However, it may hold less appeal to those who dislike magical elements.

******
FitzDuncan
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Astral Magi]

I am not keen on reading yet another book launching a smear campaign against the occult. Great review though. Well done.

[Pearl Thomas]

The plot seems generic, but it's great that the author has done a fantastic job in character development and storytelling. Nice review.

[Chinaza Nnabuenyi]

The storyline is perfect, I will certainly read this book. Great review!

[Salah bourouba]

i like novels that include the disappearance of characters and investigations, interesting book, great reveiw

[Luchris_michael]

The book seems intriguing. The plot of the book is an amazing one. I would love to read. Thanks for your review.

[NancyDrew12]

This novel seems very entertaining! A kidnaping for a ritual? This sounds thrilling and like my type of novel. I enjoyed your review!

[NetMassimo]

A mystery with fantasy / horror elements with and engaging plot and terrific characters seems like very funny to read. Thank you for your great review!

[Amy Luman]

I just can’t get myself interested in reading this book. It seems to me to be very confusing with all of the royal names.