Scales of Justice

Fanuilh #4

by Daniel Hood

Investigator Liam Rhenford and his faithful dragon familiar, Fanuilh, are summoned to find the source of the magic spell that has left a smiling wizard dead.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Dragons

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably my least favorite book of the series so far. It is set up so that Liam is outside our normal city of Southwark, probably in an attempt to keep the series fresh. He has been persuaded to join the traveling court of justice as an Adile, investigating cases that the Judge will try. The problem for me is that I missed the familiar setting and especially Liam's friend the Aedile. In this story he isolated and shunned by the other major characters so that all the interplay is negative. Their are two stops along the route. The first stop and case is interesting but takes up 3/4 of the book. The second case is by far the most intriguing and controversial but is seriously rushed in the last 1/4 of the book. Liam's life is in danger and more of his history is learned but the case and resolution is so rushed that we get much less of Liam's investigative style and the drama that it deserved. I still enjoyed the book but felt that it was slightly flawed by these things. I am eager for the next book and hope that it brings us back to Southwark! Hood is a great writer who brings this world to life very well.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the story is somewhat slow to get off the ground, the beginning lays the groundwork for what comes later. Liam is recruited to serve as Quaestor on a court circuit, and finds himself disliking the other quaestor. Why is he being so obstructive? But perhaps it is just his nature. In their first stop, Liam is surprisingly successful, but then things change . . .

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have said, this was definitely the slowest of the four I’ve read so far, and the pacing was a little imbalanced. TBH the story could have been two different books. THAT SAID!!! I did enjoy it, and really do like Liam. I’m only sad there is only one book left. 🥲

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mystery with magic book with one minor flaw.

[Adam Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book about a detective who works in an LOTR-type world solving magical crimes and mysteries. Really compelling and well-written.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew there were fishy things going on, but didn't pull it all together right away. Still a fun book!

[Fatbaldguy60 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of the Fanuilh books are magical mystery novels, which are fun to read.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet!

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

best one of the series.