Finn Fancy Necromancy

Phinaeus “Finn” Gramaraye entered the family trade of necromancy, was framed for dark magic, and endured a 25-year exile to the Other Realm. Now Finn wants to pick up the pieces of his life, but sinister forces are still at work against him, and a betrayal and murder may send him back into exile forever. Henderson’s debut is written from the unusual viewpoint of a teenager full of 1980s memories thrown into an adult body in the present day, and Finn faces peril at every turn. Rife with absurdity, this whodunit tries to make an adventure out of investigation. The comedic combat frequently undermines any sense of tension, risk, or urgency that might otherwise have been built. Henderson also makes his mystery unsolvable by intentionally obscuring facts and misdirecting his characters, so the sleuth work lacks impact. The entertaining style and breakneck pace nonetheless make it easy to fall into Finn’s world for a fun, if flawed, getaway. Agent: Cameron McClure, Donald Maas Literary Agency. (Feb.)