Publisher's Synopsis
As a private inquisitor, Jak Barley's job is fairly mundane-finding errant debtors and missing property, or proving the unfaithfulness of roving spouses. It's not a vocation that makes many friends. Though a frequent patron of dark, wretched bars seldom visited by the more fastidious citizens of Duburoake, he still can be squeamish about some things - such as ghosts and rabid magicians. Barley's latest cases are just that more upsetting, dragging him into contact with sinister specters, malicious mages, irate harpies, creepy death deities and royal plots. It will take all of his backstreets cunning to stay alive, as well as the help of alchemist Olmsted Aunderthorn, his half brother, who uses the latest metaphysical laboratory techniques in solving crimes.
