A Night Owl Slips into a Diner: A Noir Urban Fantasy Novel (Alexander Southerland, P.I.) Paperback – December 11, 2021

What an enjoyable series! Each one has been well written, and the plots are original and clever. It’s been a while since I’ve relished a collection as much as this one. Interesting, imaginative characters, plenty of twists, and a stalwart hero who makes plenty of well-timed mistakes, but with a sure course. Ready to hop back into Yerba City to see what creatures will be wreaking havoc.

I only occasionally read urban fantasy novels, but the Alex Sutherland series has become my go to choice when I'm in the mood for the genre. Every book in this series has been very entertaining. Night Owl can be read out of order, but I'd encourage you to read the first three books too.

This book was another fun trip with Alexander Southerland, this time introducing us to the spirit world. I think the author performed the hallucinating sequence in the spirit world very well, as dream sequences like that can easily become too blurred or psychedelic and make no sense.I must admit I had problems to follow all the twist and turns as the plot was revealed at the end, but it didn’t matter much as I’m into this series for the bantering and the exploration of the world. And this time we learn something more about the evil dragon lords who usurped the rule of the elves thousands of years ago.If you read this book in sequence to the other books, I think this could be a five star, but for me all the retrospection to earlier books, bugged down the tempo somewhat. The fun thing is that all that was retold in this book, I remembered well, even if it’s close to a year when I read the first book; which means that the earlier books have made a firm imprint on my memory.So if you’re new to this series, do yourself the favour (and fun) and start with book one.And yes, I’m looking forward to read the next book, as Alexander Southerland and his cronies continue to grow on me, from funny likeable stereotypes to become fascinating individuals.

I started this series as a confirmed cozy mystery reader and was blown away by the intricacy of the plots and world building. Now at book 4, I think it's just gotten better each time out. Combine 1930's film noir a la Sam Spade, current and future technology, and a cast of characters from every mythology in the world. The mashup is part familiar and part fantasy with a dark (but not too dark) edge. This time Alex is hired to find out who is stealing secrets from a science firm about to come out with a new technology that could change the world. Since Alex is involved, his findings cause a situation that rapidly disintegrates into murder and mayhem. How he solves not only the murder but teases out all the underlying circumstances is a tour de force.

I love this series! Mr. Lumsden has created a great noir world using mythology and fantasy to make a setting that’s unique and intriguing. The characters are well developed and keep you wanting to learn more about them. The stories twist and turn and as Alex knows he sometimes finds himself doing the wrong thing for the right reasons and vice versa. Please, carry on!

This was an extremely worthy entry in the series. Alex continues to consort with dangerous villains, as well as people who don’t work for the government.This time, a simple case of industrial espionage grows horns and thorns. And once again, Alex is in so far over his head he can’t even see the surface. Things look pretty bad for him. I admit I couldn’t see how he was going to get out of it this time.Dear Author, please give us more Alexander Southerland!

This is book 4 in the Alexander Sutherland, P.I. Series. I am really enjoying these short mysteries with the same character. After a few of these books, all of the characters become like friends! I love the main character and I get a kick out of the endings!

I don’t think I know of a protagonist in a book series that seems to have a closer set of values to my own. I also love the set of myths and legends that inspire this series. I have read little fiction prior to this that uses the ones here.

Being a PI, you expect to be lied to. And mislead, double crossed, beaten up; it all comes with the territory. But when there are were creatures, elves, shape shifters, dragons and any number of supernatural beings, taking a good old fashioned beating may be the least of your worries.Alexander Southerland is called in to investigate a case of industrial espionage. A secret is at stake. And if Southerland fails in his duties, the consequences could be life changing. Southerland has to hope, from a purely personal perspective, that they are not life ending.Just the right balance is struck between a hard boiled PI tale and a fantasy adventure. Southerland is as cynical as the best of them and has the patter off to a tee for your typical downtrodden and underpaid peeper. The fantasy elements add to his woes but you take them in your stride. As you would hope for a fantasy novel, imagination is key and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to the plethora of fiends and foes alike that cross Southerland’s path.The narrative keeps you invested throughout the book. There is plenty of action but something is happening at all times; you never feel as if you are treading water. An immensely enjoyable read and one that straddles two genres masterfullly.

Douglas Lumsden has written another bang-up of a book. This is simply another fascinating and extremely satisfying story in this awesome Universe where you'll never guess all the twists and turns coming up! I swear though: every time I think I've got his plots sussed out, well things get complicated and I realize I'm totally off-base. And this book has enough complicated to go around for everyone. Technical stuff, mystical stuff, deep human (or others) emotional stuff, you name it. It's in here. Lumsden's writing moves with purpose in just about every direction and somehow manages to sift smoothly through all the disorder he creates without serious incident. And least word-wise I mean. What happens to his characters, well, that's a story for you to read through for sure. But trust me: you've got to keep your eyes open in this one just to keep this amazing world and clever plot in clear focus. Anyway, take the word of this old jasper, get in touch with your spirit animal (I think mine is a Sloth) and read not only this book but each and every one of the Alexander Southerland P.I. books. You'll be glad you did!

The fourth installment in a great series and catchy as ever. Twists, turns and over the top action in a unique magical setting. Highly recommended.

This is book 4 in the series and once again we are thrust back into the dark underbelly of Yerba City. With our hero, Alex (Alexander Southerland) up to his neck in trouble.Cards on the table I have been a fan of this series from the first book so I can’t promise an entirely unbiased review. What I can promise is that Douglas has delivered another cracking instalment in his Noir Urban Fantasy series.I won’t try to summarise the preceding books in detail but for those not familiar with the series. This world is one adjacent in some ways to our own, think a 1950’s America but one with some modern technology (phones, computers, the internet etc). However, that’s where the similarities end, in this world we have fantastical and terrifying creatures co-existing with normal humans. Think 500-pound Trolls, were-rats, witches, gnomes, elemental spirits, elves and many more all under a government controlled by an ancient Dragon Lord (yes that’s right!). Alongside that we have a hardboiled PI Alexander Southerland (Alex), an ex-war vet with good heart, an often unhealthy relationship with the bottle and a habit of taking physical punishment that would kill a lesser man. Think of a detective story in the vein of Raymond Chandler with some awesome urban fantasy liberally mixed in. As reader I’m always keen to expand my horizons and learn more about new cultures, I’m pleased to note that as with his past books, Douglas continued to incorporate Meso-and North-American native cultures and mythologies into the story.At the start of the book, we find Alex involved in an industrial espionage case that very quickly escalates into the involvement of this worlds equivalent of the CIA. That being the Lord's Investigative Agency (LIA), an agency personally answering to the Dragon Lord himself.A large part of what I liked with this story and the series for that matter, is that the fantasy elements whilst being a central part, don’t distract from crime/ noir aspects. Both are blended so skilfully that we don’t bat an eyelid when Alex spirit walks as means to carry out some next level computer hacking for instance. This merger of the genres really produces a rich and layered story.Whilst Alex thinks of himself as a loner, the scale of what he is facing means that (whether he likes it or not) he will need to call on the assistance of his motley collection of friends and acquaintances- not all of whom are human. Such as Crawford (wererat), Chivo (a nightmarish creature and consumer of dubious food inc uninvited guests), Lubank a morally grey gnome and lawyer (guess that goes with the territory), Badass & Smokey (wind elementals).Past books have found Alex facing a number of different threats but this time around he is playing with the big boys and the consequences both for him personally and for the wider world escalate accordingly. Theres a scene where is Alex is subject to one of the most harrowing torture scenes that I have read – I have it on good authority the scene may have been inspired by the classic movie, The Marathon Man (the younger crowd may have to google it). It certainly stayed with me long after I had read it and was just once instance that reinforced that the stakes are higher than ever. The character of Deet (who is central to the torture) is definitely one of my new favourite villains.So as to avoid the dreaded spoilers, I don’t want to give away more of the plot. But in summary, we have our trusty PI up to his neck in trouble taking on a megalomanic gnome, corporate espionage, a giant shape shifting owl, government spooks and a conspiracy that could shake the very world he is part of… seriously what more could you want? Luckily there are 6 books in the series with a 7th in the works so there is plenty more to enjoy.Whilst the book could be read out of sequence (and still thoroughly enjoyed), I would recommend starting at the series from the start as each book builds on both the characters but the wider world they are part of.