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A magical maniac is loose in Alanda. The victims are always women, always lower-class, and the weapon is always a three-sided stiletto, most often found among Church regalia. But the killers are never churchmen, and they always commit suicide immediately after the bloody deed. Constable Tal Rufen really cares about his job, and when one of these murder/suicides happens on his beat he becomes obsessed with the case.
A series of ritualistic murders plagues the city of Alanda, forcing a dedicated constable to confront a supernatural threat that defies conventional law enforcement. Constable Tal Rufen finds himself tasked with investigating a string of gruesome killings targeting lower-class women, where the perpetrator invariably commits suicide immediately following the act. As the investigation deepens, Rufen must navigate the complex social strata of his city while contending with the unsettling reality that the weapon used is tied to religious regalia. The narrative follows Rufen's descent into an obsession that threatens his professional standing and personal safety, unfolding through a focused, investigative lens that highlights the tension between civic duty and arcane danger.
This work is characterized by its blend of traditional mystery tropes with the imaginative scope of fantasy world-building. The narrative relies on the methodical progression of a police procedural to ground its more fantastical elements in a gritty, urban reality. Readers often note the focus on the protagonist's internal struggle as he attempts to reconcile his duty with the inexplicable nature of the crimes. The setting of Alanda serves as a functional backdrop that emphasizes the stark social divisions central to the plot's motivation. The story maintains a consistent tone of tension, prioritizing the mechanics of the investigation over high-fantasy spectacle.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
1998-01-01
Publisher:
Harper Collins - Voyager
ISBN-10:
0006480357
ISBN-13:
9780006480358
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