Combine a murder mystery with fantasy, sci-fi characters, and an ancient legend, and you get Brendan Walsh’s action-packed thriller, “The Mercury Idol.” This gripping tale begins at the Rat Tail Inn, a dilapidated, shadowy establishment on the far outskirts of an obscure village. It’s the kind of place no one visits unless they’re hiding something—or looking for something dangerous.
Detective Blaise Gideon, a sharp, no-nonsense investigator, finds herself waiting there for a mysterious stranger she’s scheduled to meet. As the night unfolds, she encounters a variety of unexpected guests, each with peculiar and intriguing backgrounds. Among them are several avthos, a humanoid bird species known for their intelligence and enigmatic nature. Although Blaise is fully human, the avthos bring an otherworldly tension to the atmosphere, leaving her questioning their motives and the role they might play in the unfolding events. Walsh's book is packed with suspense, twists, and richly developed characters, “The Mercury Idol” immerses readers in a world where nothing is as it seems and danger lurks in every shadow.
Blaise meets Amory Kipp, the village drunk whose tragic death soon becomes the center of a chilling murder mystery. His death draws Blaise into uncovering a tangled web of secrets, a local scandal, and whispers of a long-lost artifact—the legendary Mercury Idol. As she delves deeper, Blaise learns that the idol is said to grant unimaginable power to whoever possesses it, the power of gods themselves. However, her investigation is complicated by the strict rules of the inn where she’s staying. The owner, a gruff bartender, has declared that no magic is allowed on the premises. Yet Blaise can’t ignore the faint, lingering traces of magic she senses as she questions the inn’s patrons, trying to piece together Amory’s final moments.
Among the suspects is Endrigo Arrimede, a skilled human bounty hunter and sword-for-hire who works directly for the king. Although his loyalty is to the crown, Blaise wonders if he might also be capable of murder—and clever enough to cover his tracks. Then there’s the interracial married couple, respected archeologists from a prestigious university, who openly admit they came to the village to search for the Mercury Idol. For them, it’s not just about discovery but the fame, fortune, and unimaginable power the idol could bring. The deeper Blaise digs, the clearer it becomes that everyone in the village has secrets—and any one of them could be tied to the murder and the hunt for the idol.
Despite magic being strictly forbidden at the inn, strange and fantastical events occur that can only be explained by its presence. Blaise must unravel a murder mystery while contending with supernatural phenomena, erratic wildlife, and eccentric patrons. This story weaves together fantasy, mystery, and action as Blaise meticulously investigates the crime scene. Along the way, bizarre and unsettling characters share their backstories during her interviews, adding layers of depth to the narrative. The plot unfolds as a complex puzzle, filled with unexpected twists, intricate characters, and a conclusion that is both satisfying and delightfully perplexing.
Reader, take note. Slow down and savor every word on the final pages—you won’t want to miss a single clue. The twists and turns in solving the murder, coupled with the shocking climax, will keep you hooked late into the night. Prepare yourself for an ending that will leave you thinking long after you’ve closed the book. And don't forget to check out the author’s other works! Mercury Idol is the first novel in the gripping Blaise Gideon Mysteries series, setting the stage for more thrilling adventures to come.
Reviewed by: Carol W.
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