Mortedant's Peril

The Trials of Irody Hasp #1

In a city of ancient automata, restless spirits, and slumbering gods, death has a voice—and Irody Hasp is one of the few who can hear it.

As a Mortedant, Irody is charged with reading the final thoughts of the dead. It is an essential calling, but not a respected one. Shunned by much of society and barely tolerated by his fellow clerics, he spends his days handling the cases no one else wants.

Then a routine assignment changes everything. After examining the corpse of a minor records keeper, Irody finds himself at the center of a growing mystery. When his own apprentice is murdered and suspicion falls squarely on him, he must uncover the truth before he becomes the next victim, or faces justice for a crime he did not commit.

His search leads deep into the hidden workings of the city, where powerful figures guard dangerous secrets and corruption festers beneath a veneer of wonder. As enemies close in from every side, Irody uncovers a conspiracy that threatens not only his life, but the fate of the city itself.

Blending murder mystery, dark intrigue, and imaginative fantasy, this is the gripping opening to a new series from acclaimed author RJ Barker.