First published 2020
Pocket of Dog Snogging washes ashore in Greece after his pirate crew abandons him. The wandering fool hopes to win over the local Duke with his wit, but instead earns a death sentence for mocking the ruler's harsh marriage decree. Fleeing into the forest, Pocket encounters Oberon, the fairy king who needs a new jester. His previous fool, Robin Goodfellow, lies dead. Murdered. Oberon strikes a deal with the desperate Pocket: solve Puck's killing and earn both employment and a pardon. But every character in this magical realm has reason to want the mischievous sprite gone. Pocket must navigate a world of feuding lovers, angry parents, and supernatural beings while dodging guards and unraveling motives. This hardboiled mystery transplants A Midsummer Night's Dream into detective fiction, blending Shakespeare's comedy with murder investigation. Pocket races against time to identify the killer before his own neck meets the executioner's blade.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, detective, comedy
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Greece
271 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow