The Inklings Detective Agency

Kelly debuts with an atmospheric series launch featuring C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other literary luminaries as gumshoes. In 1936 Oxford, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sets out to solve the recent murder of his friend, Lord Roger Pennington, who was killed on the night of a full moon. Doyle calls on Lewis, Tolkien, and other literary acquaintances for help, and they end up forming the Inklings Detective Agency. During the Inklings’ initial inquiry, another man is murdered under a full moon, ratcheting up the stakes and moving the Inklings to reach out to Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie for their expertise. Together, the crew infiltrates secret societies, researches the origins of various poisons, and digs into a cold case involving the death of a young boy. Though there’s plenty of sleuthing on offer, Kelly delivers more of a well-researched tribute to his real-life characters than a traditional mystery, offering pages upon pages of unbroken dialogue as they sift through papers, nurse pints of beer, and peruse libraries. The momentum suffers as a result, but Kelly makes up for it with vivid characterizations and plenty of literary Easter eggs. The result is a charming if eccentric detective yarn. Agent: Adam Chromy, Movable Type. (May)