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In Plain Sight (Arcane Casebook Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Dan Willis (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,199 ratings
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Private Detective Alex Lockerby has a book of spells, a pack of matches, and four days to prove he’s not a killer.

In 1933 New York, there are two kinds of magic, the all powerful sorcerers who use their abilities to acquire wealth and fame, and the runewrights who scratch out what meager spells they can to make a living. Decidedly in the latter category, Alex Lockerby uses his magic to aid him in his work as a private detective, consulting for the police on cases with mystical ties.

When a lethal magical plague is released in a Manhattan soup kitchen, the police fear it is a test for a more devastating attack. They call in the big guns, the FBI and their own consultant, Sorsha Kincaid, New York’s resident sorceress. Wanting to help, Alex instead finds himself under suspicion because of his ties to the priest who ran the kitchen.

With the FBI and their powerful and dangerous sorceress breathing down his neck, Alex has his book of runes, a pack of matches, and four days to find out where the plague came from or the authorities will hang the crime squarely on him.

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  1. Book 1 of 11
    Arcane Casebook
  2. Print length
    276 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    December 4, 2018
  6. File size
    1878 KB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dan Willis is an awesome writer and you should buy this book." - NYT bestselling author Larry Correia.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07KVP3DN2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (December 4, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 4, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1878 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,199 ratings

About the author

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Dan Willis

Dan Willis

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Dan Willis has worked as a programmer, a web designer, and has written for the game industry. He is an award-winning author who has written for the long-running DragonLance series of fantasy novels. He is currently working on the Arcane Casebook series, stories of a down and out detective making a living in a magical, 1930’s New York. The Dragons of the Confederacy series follows a Yankee engineer and a spy as they take on the forces of the South in a steampunk twist on the Civil War. Lastly, The Flux Engine, which takes place in a Steampunk wild west where a young man seeks to reclaim his mysterious heritage only to find that people are willing to kill to possess it.

Dan lives in Utah with his family.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
4,199 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

James Fletcher
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome
Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024
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Different than my normal read. Loved the plot. Story lines and cast. Good development all around. Easy to enter this world.
One person found this helpful
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severus V snape
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best magic- sci fi - detective series ever. 5 stars are too low for this series!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a TOP 5 series in Magic/Detective lore! A group of characters that has a hard working magic worker (Alex) who is more talented than he knows so he relies on detective skills to find bad actors, criminals and dogs (to pay the bills). Along with a mentor - Sir Conan Doyle - thank you very much. Even has Moriarity popping up in the later books. Lots of intrigue, magic, sorcerors, and ever present police in the way to foul things up - with the exception of his best friend police detective Danny. One of the better series I've had the pleasure to read. Each book is better than the one before and the cast of characters grow. One thing remains constant though: Doyle(Iggy) is his mentor and friend, Sorcha is the dynamite sorcerer with a cold touch, and Alex (our hero) stays one step ahead of the bad guys and out of jail - for the most part. Shades of Glen Cook, Jim Butcher, Simon Greene and , of course, Doyle are all over this series. And, honestly I have no idea who is guilty or the bad guys until the very end. I really like this series and Dan Willis doesn't take a back seat to any of them. Love it. Thanks Dan. You've made my year with your writing and storytelling. Great Great job. I'll be waiting for the next ones.

Note: Dan's series reminds me somewhat of Jim Butcher's early Dresden books when they were top notch (long ago).
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Aleese Hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
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In Plain Sight by Dan Willis is officially my favorite read for 2024 so far.
 
In Plain Sight follows Alex, a private detective who is also a talented Runewright. So, you can expect murder mystery elements AND fantasy.
 
I can honestly say that the book kept me guessing—for a while, I didn’t know who the culprits were, so that was very well done. The character development was fantastic (and there were many characters), and the plot was fast-paced and engaging, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
 
My favorite thing about this book was Willis’s world-building. The author’s writing style epitomizes “showing” instead of “telling.” The author developed the world and explained the magic system through character action and interaction.
 
I loved the setting—a historical America but with fantasy involved. The magical and noir feel to the story just elevated it even more.
 
5 out of 5 stars from me!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars First few paragraphs I'm thinking . .
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
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Another cheap ripoff of Ellery Queen, but then it kicked in and I really enjoyed the trip.
Excellent writing, marvelous plotline, worth the time.
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Stephen
5.0 out of 5 stars First series I can’t put down
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
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I can’t remember how long it’s been sense I’ve found a series I can’t put down, (probably sense Harry Potter honestly lol) but this author puts such thought and time into building the world and power/magic system you get sucked in from the start and just can’t stop. I’m on book three now and I can’t wait to keep going!! Highly recommend if you like fantasy detective mystery magic and humor!!!
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Mitch
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute fun tead
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
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The characters are rich, and the story is new ( not much is thease days). I highly recommend this book.
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Michael S.
4.0 out of 5 stars First book in the series, good but they get better
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
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I saw this book through a Facebook ad, one of the few cases of the algorithm getting it right. It was cheap enough to take a shot at and I enjoyed it pretty well. It has some spots where it could do with a bit of copy editing but the story was enough fun to get me to take a chance on book two, then three, and so on. Ordered this at the end of January and I'm just about to finish book ten in mid-April. People who enjoyed Glen Cooke's Garrett series might like this, although it's set in 1930s NYC rather than being full-on fantasy. Give it a shot. 4 stars for the editing (spelling mostly) issues, but the rest of the series will be getting 5 stars.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This is writing at its best.
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
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This is a mystery, fantasy story with a storyline that will keep you spellbound. I wish I had found it sooner.
This is my favorite genre, and I highly recommend it.
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Top reviews from other countries

Rita Mae
5.0 out of 5 stars Runewrights and Sorcerers and Alchemists, oh My!
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2024
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Set in New York in the 1930's, magic is real, and Sorcerers are the ones who help the city run and make a profit doing so. Runewrights work with making runes to keep water off you in the rain, and help you find people who are lost.

Alex is a Private Investigator who is a runewright, who somehow manages to get the police as well as the Sorcerer's Council on his side (how long it stays that way, who knows), and this book kept my interest enough that I will be purchasing others in this series.
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Annie Kay
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2024
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This is a great start to a new series - it has action, tension & humour - the characters are well written - you care about what happens to them
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Jacqueline Sidwell
5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoy fantasy and magic and this fits my bill
Reviewed in France on August 29, 2021
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book because, although it is complete fantasy, set in a New York just before WW2, where magic is fairly normal, magicians commonly known about, if not universally loved. I found the characters to be believable, lifelike and likable, and, magic aside, the idea of people desperately wanting to find something rare for their own gain, not far fetched in the least. I like the principle characters, Alex and Iggy enough to want to read more about them - and the beautiful sorceress!
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Komiker
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good!
Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2019
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Enjoyable roman noir with a zest of magic!
The hero is a minor magic-user in an alternate world in the 30s. He is capable to create magic by writing runes, which can then produce effects.
In the style of the romans noirs of Dashiell Hammett, we follow Alex in his investigation, learn of his past and enjoy a wild ride!

Can't wait for number 2.

Highly recommanded
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Joanne L.
5.0 out of 5 stars There's a new Gumshoe in Town
Reviewed in Australia on October 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
Dan Willis introduces us to Alex, Iggy and their associates in a setting that smacks of 'Sam Spade meets Steampunk'. I ordered the second book in the series before l finished the first because l want these people in my life! An easy to read escape from reality, perfect for a chapter or two before bed. Thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward the next adventure. Thank you, Dan 🙂
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