I have a strained relationship with magical detective cop series. Ever since Dresden finally got so unbearably bad that I threw out the entire series, I have been slow to pick up or follow through with any of the alternatives on the market. The one exception has been The Fetch Phillips Archives. Now four books in with Whisper in the Wind, I have been surprisingly impressed with every single entry in the series, and Luke Arnold has now shown enough consistency that I think I am ready to trust again.

With Whisper in the Wind being the fourth entry in this series, we have officially hit our detective stride. Fetch is well established in the city, our cast of side characters is expansive and fleshed out, and the core mysteries and motivations of the characters have been established. Now that Arnold has finished constructing his playground, the only thing left to do is play. Whisper continues the series threadline of searching for a way to bring magic back to a dead world, but we also have a side quest involving the press and mysterious deaths. Mister Whisper, a shadowy rebel, has started hijacking newspapers somehow to spread his inciting propaganda. He encourages the people of the city to rise up and throw off the chains of oppression and take down their capitalist overlords. Also, people targeted by Mister Whisper keep exploding under extremely suspicious circumstances. Fetch is once again roped into current events that are way above his head.

Whisper in the Wind, in many ways, is a story about identity. How we perceive ourselves, the face we show to the world, and the way people truly see us are all integral parts of the story. These beats hit at the exact right moment for me in the arc of this larger story, showing that Arnold has a real knack for sensing the larger series story arcs for all his characters. Fetch spends this book coming to terms with all the pieces of his life that built the person he is now. He reckons with the fact that he has lived long enough to become someone in the eyes of the next generation, carrying an influence he has yet to understand. He grapples with how much he cares about how people perceive him, where previously he had power by not caring at all. But he learns to care enough to sculpt his persona and play with people’s perceptions to deceive them to achieve his ends. The entire thing is a marvelous examination of its core identity theme, and I am here for it.

In terms of Whisper’s individual story, I do think the mystery is great, but likely the weakest of the four books. There is so much character work in this book that I feel like there was a shortage of time to establish more of the underlying murder mystery. It’s a trade-off, not a failing, and it’s a swap I am happy to make. Additionally, Whisper does a lot to keep the overarching plot moving. Four books in, and it feels like Arnold is making significant progress towards the central premise (restoring magic), and I feel like everyone is evolving. Each book has felt pleasingly self-contained, and the vibe of each entry has been shifting into new and interesting directions. The series lacks the strained, dragging-out that several of its competitors have become known for. Hopefully, he can keep up the momentum and actually deliver a killer ending at some point.

Arnold has done a tremendous job building a series that stands out in the genre and has restored my buy-in on the believability of fantasy cop series. The characters’ struggles are gripping, well-thought-out, and explored in meaningful ways. Each piece of the series does a fabulous job building out the world and its cast, and I am deeply invested in the central mystery. Four books in, Whisper in the Wind is another fantastic entry into The Fetch Phillips Archives, and it has given me the confidence to firmly state that I am a fan and wholeheartedly recommend the series.

Rating: Whisper in the Wind – 9.0/10
-Andrew

Whisper in the Wind is the fourth in the Fetch Phillips series, which wonderfully blends mystery and fantasy. Thanks to Fetch Phillips, a human, the magic has dried up, instantly turning some magical species extinct and dooming the remaining to lives full of hardships, all while the humans move into Sunder City and make it their own. But Fetch will forever regret what he did, and has worked for three books to atone and find any trace of remaining magic. Now, he’s had enough of that and has turned to a new business opportunity. Unfortunately, Sunder City will always have a unique need for him.

In this fourth book, Fetch has given up his job as Man for Hire and has taken over Georgio’s cafe, serving up good coffee and decent food. Life has become mundane, and just what Fetch needs, until he sees a couple of teenagers, one a human, running from a fire, and invites them in to pretend they had been dining when the cops come by. He doesn’t expect this small thing to turn him back into a Man for Hire or to have to investigate mysterious deaths, but these teens bring their peers, with their more rebellious tendencies, into the cafe, putting them in a spotlight. Meanwhile, public figures, from a lowly constable to the man who runs a very widely read paper, are being mysteriously killed, and Fetch’s sometimes friend, Detective Simms, asks him to investigate, along with a number of characters, all while some mysterious being calling themselves Whisper is circulating letters telling the people what’s really going on in the city and listing off everyone they intend of killing.

I loved Whisper in the Wind both because it gave Fetch something new and different to do and because it introduces some interesting new characters while also bringing in a number of old ones that Fetch has had dealings with in the past. Unlike the previous books, this one doesn’t have Fetch hunting down any remnants of magic; old friends of his are doing that out in the world. Instead, he’s dealing with a rebellion. It’s kind of slow and simmering at first as first one body and then another ends up in the morgue. But then it’s like a fire’s been lit and things just spread, with no thanks to the firefighters Niles, a human on that list, has decided to hire, supposedly to protect the city from fires but mostly to serve as his personal bodyguards. I loved how Whisper in the Wind worked to turn Sunder City inside out, and there were definitely some interesting surprises in store.

Sometimes I felt sorry for Fetch. He’s trying so hard to put his Man for Hire days behind him, because not many people seem to take kindly to him, and others, especially those in charge, prefer to make things difficult for him at every turn. I kind of liked him in the role of cafe owner. In a weird way, it suited him. But his old life comes knocking and he finds no way out of it. I loved the internal conflicts he faced, and just how at odds with who he is and what he wants he turns out to be. He’s an interesting figure in Sunder City as his exploits have seemingly raised him to a kind of mythical status with the city’s youth while those in charge would rather stamp him out. He knows the big figures in the city, and he does what he can to take care of those suffering. He straddles a fascinating line, and I loved how Whisper in the Wind kept making him jump back and forth, making plenty question his loyalties.

But of course it’s the story that’s really interesting. Someone is determined to kill a certain group of people, including the mayor, Niles, and the head of a newspaper. I really liked following this case. It’s twisty and sometimes the clues seemed all over the place. I loved meeting some new players in the city, and was shocked at some of the turns this case took when it came to some old friends. It was also really fun to see Fetch with some old comrades, even if it did hurt a little to find out more about them. There’s so much going on in this story, from everyone wanting Fetch to find Whisper and tell them who it is first to one human youth determined to do something, whether for good or ill, to a young man with no idea who he is. Sometimes this felt a little bloated, but I did feel most of it tied together while also offering more threads for future books to follow.

It’s been really fun to watch how Sunder City has evolved from book to book. From being a city full of powerful magical creatures to one where humans are taking over, this city has seen a lot. There’s an uneasy peace between all residents, with some taking to the changes more gracefully than others. There’s definitely a lot of hurt and pain and anger, but also a sullen determination to make do. It’s almost terrifying what the humans are bringing into the city, making things far more dangerous, and sometimes I felt sad to see what was probably an amazing magical city turn into something I can find just on the other side of my own door.

Whisper in the Wind does not give Fetch an easy task. Sometimes, it felt like the story was almost too big for him. I loved the interplay between his internal conflicts and the conflicts going on right under his nose. This sometimes felt too massive for one book, but I left it feeling satisfied, and a little horrified as it ends on a very surprising cliffhanger. I did feel like the young man Fetch took in was swept to the side too often, but I had so much fun seeing old friends and enemies and meeting new ones. I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to what follows.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Poor Fetch. He’s found some peace slinging eggs and bacon in Georgio’s café, a greasy spoon. Fetch sets his own hours, makes barely enough money to cover costs, but, no one is beating him up and he’s not drowning in guilt and grief. Then, after covering for a pair of teen arsonists from the police, the diner becomes a hangout for them and their disenfranchised teen friends. This is the start to this next Fetch Phillips story.

Someone calling themselves Whisper just released handbills calling out the corruption of Sunder City’s powers (I.e., mayor, cops, etc.), and Fetch has the producer of Sunder’s Star, the daily rag, blackmailing him into ferreting out the identity of Whisper.

Fetch, not happy, but eager to protect the rebellious teens, begins his investigation, and meets a flamboyant priestess who offers Sunder's nonhumans a way to better blend in. The problem is, much to Fetch's consternation and disgust, it involves surgery and a certain amount of self-delusion. He also, with the help of a radio host, breaks a code in Whisper's missives, pointing to people who were killed for their corruption, and others slated to die.

Terrible things happen over the course of this book, including Georgio's café getting blown up. Fetch learns more than he ever wanted to about Niles' and his fellow leaders' intentions for Sunder: accelerating its transformation into a soulless, grim, authoritarian city, where the formerly magical are further squeezed into human-like molds, or squeezed out.

This is a particularly grim instalment, but still compelling. Fetch, no matter how hard he tries to confine himself to the café's kitchen, is forced to engage with the devolving situation in the city. Sunder has always had a grimy, decrepit and battered feel, and it only seems worse now. At the same time, all the people Fetch has somehow, despite himself, ingratiated himself with in his past efforts to right wrongs, begin coming together to save their city. It was such a wonderful moment, and heartwarming, in this post-apocalyptic noir series. Which I adore, and author Luke Arnold has created another winner in this entry.

If you have not read novels yet by this author, start at the first Fetch Phillips story, as this book won't make that much sense without having read the three previous entries.

The ending of this story left me deeply concerned for Sunder and its nonhuman residents, and for Fetch, who seems to continually attract trouble with his smart mouth, and willingness to fight for the little guy. I dearly hope Arnold returns to this world soon.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

More of the same great story by Arnold. This story looks at how a person's worst decision may not be reversible, and how do you live after your decision is made.

This is the fourth (at last!) book in the Fetch Phillips series. Action, adventure, mysterious deaths, struggles against dictators, political unrest, and a journey of self discovery. I so enjoy this world, troubles and all. Hero (never in his own mind) Fetch is more fully fleshed out in this book. The world in which he finds himself seems removed from the outside world, by choice, as he tries to create a more "normal" life. But events, and young rabble rousers, bring trouble right to his door, bringing this flawed, still grieving man out of retirement as man-for-hire.

Thank you Orbit Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

This was the perfect continuation of Fetch Phillips story! I loved him settling down into running the cafe and being more chill, though him being dragged back into detective work is just perfect. I loved the new cast of characters, specifically the kids. I also like that more of Fetch's past coming to catch up with him, and him starting to make peace with it. But also, I feel like every single book my hopes about the world healing and then ban, a cult that cuts of centaur legs and greedy humans AGAIN. Ugh, it is torture. Next book when?

Whisper in the Wind is the fourth book in Luke Arnold's Fetch Phillips Archives series. Former detective Fetch Phillips is trying his best to mind his own business running his cafe in Sunder City. Fetch soon finds himself caring for a group of young activists that picked his cafe to hide out from the police in. A string of vicious killings perpetrated by a person calling themselves "Whisper" ends up bringing Fetch back to the investigative world.

I absolutely love this series. I got into it originally because I am a huge Black Sails fan and was excited to see what Luke could do as an author. He is such a great writer. This series is so creative and I love the characters so much. Fetch is such a complex character. He has been through a lot of trauma but keeps going and does care about others even if he doesn't want to admit it. There are very timely themes that are built into the story as well, police and government corruption, propaganda, and the wealth gap to name a few. These books are also very funny. I really need a network to make this into a TV series too, it would be so much fun. I have already pre-ordered the audiobook and can't wait to do a reread with Luke as the narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After three gritty, soul-bruising adventures, Whisper in the Wind delivers a deeply satisfying and surprisingly introspective continuation of Fetch Phillips’ journey. Fetch has always been a broken man trying to do some good in a city that no longer believes in heroes, and here, his arc feels rawer, sharper, and more emotionally charged than ever. The crumbling magic of Sunder City mirrors his own struggle for redemption, and while the mystery at the heart of the story unfolds a little slower than previous books, the payoff is rich in character growth and haunting atmosphere. Luke Arnold’s writing remains cinematic and full of aching humanity, blending noir grit with flashes of unexpected tenderness. Fetch’s voice is a quiet storm, tired, stubborn, but still reaching for something better, and by the end, you’ll feel like you’ve weathered every battered step right alongside him. A bittersweet, beautifully broken installment that leaves just enough hope flickering in the darkness.

Luke Arnold's ability to world build is second-to-none. In this fourth visit to Sunder, someone is knocking off the bad guys (and one rather non-descript copper) and Fetch is blackmailed into finding out who. And why. And, more importantly, how. With the help of old friends like Baxter and Simms, and a ragtag bunch of teenage wastrels, Fetch just has to figure out hot to stay alive long enough to solve the mystery. Highly recommended.

This is the fourth book in the Fetch Phillips series. I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but some might sneak in.

Fetch Phillips has pretty much had it. He’s retired from his previous job as a P.I., instead taking over a cafe in its owner’s absence. You’d think that’s about as far as you can get from danger, but that’s not the way Sunder City operates. It’s also not how Fetch operates. Trouble seems to like Fetch, and Sunder City has trouble in abundance. In this fourth installment, Fetch finds himself embroiled in a mystery that may be wrapped up in the beginnings of a rebellion. There’s a lot going on, and Fetch might very well be in over his head (once again).

This review is going to be a struggle. The more I enjoy a book, the harder it is to write a review about it. I have a hard time turning my excitement into a coherent post. I become tempted to just write “Read this book” over and over. While the sentiment is deserved, I suppose I should do a little better at articulating my love for this series.

Where to start? I could talk about the plot. How author Luke Arnold raises the stakes, creating a feeling of tension that kept me compulsively reading. The book is fast paced, yet it takes the plot along with it, adding layers upon layers to the mystery, until up is down and the reader might legitimately wonder how on earth it all could be related. And yet, it is. The murders are far from your usual fare and figuring out how everything happened is only part of the fun.

Or I could talk about the characters. How Fetch is the perfect example of a complicated, well-realized protagonist. Life seems to hold a grudge against him. He’s always being knocked down, then kicked while still trying to get up. Life is kind of a butt. At the same time, Fetch is trying so hard to learn from his past mistakes, to be a better person every day. And of course, he may be accidentally becoming involved in a group of idealistic wanna-be revolutionists just to keep things fresh.

And speaking of those maybe rebels, they are great additions to an already fantastic cast of side characters. From Simms, a reptilian (quite literally) cop who finds herself sometimes at odds with Fetch, and sometimes working with him, to the mortician who doesn’t mind using his work as a cover for some odd…experiments, they bring a quirky and creative flair to this fantasy noir. Even the villains are unique and compelling.

Perhaps I should talk about the setting. Sunder City is gritty and grimy, with its seedy side proudly on display. The city itself is a character. It’s the heartbeat that the characters hear. It’s the motivation for their actions. It’s both friend and enemy. If you zoom in a little, you get Fetch’s cafe. How I love that little cafe. It’s not going to win awards for ambience, and the coffee seems decent at best. But the food is plentiful, and it’s a haven for residents who aren’t feeling safe or wanted anywhere else.

I just have to gush about the writing. The author’s voice is brilliant, and Fetch is relatable. These books are yet another example of fantasy being used as a platform through which to explore important themes (because who said that magic and wisdom can’t be combined?), and I find myself mulling over quotes from throughout the series long after reading them. This series is that well-written.

Do you see why this rave is so tough to write? These separate elements combine perfectly to create a world and story that I love to disappear into. Each book in the Fetch Phillips series adds a new facet of “wow,” and Whisper in the Wind continues to up the ante. I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want to.

I suppose I’m right back where I started. I give up: Read this book. Read this book. Read this book.

Just read it. You’ll love it.

Whisper in the Wind is the fourth book in Arnold’s Fetch Phillips Archives series. The books follow the eponymous “man for hire” as he tries to salvage what he can from the crumbling, formerly magical Sunder City. The books mesh fantasy with old-school detective fiction to create a unique setting and a strong narrative voice. In Arnold’s new novel, the Sunder City we see is radically different from the one we were first introduced to. Now firmly in the clutches of the capitalist and arms dealer Thurston Niles, the City is creating a new identity as the center of the post-coda (post-magic) world. Fetch Phillips, as ever, is also trying to leave the past behind him. And he’s almost done it this time, too, in his new role as the head chef/proprietor of Georgio’s café. But when a series of strange deaths occur, Fetch once again finds himself on a crash course with mystery, mayhem, and political intrigue.

In some ways, Whisper in the Wind is the most radical of Arnold’s novels, in that it directly interrogates things like freedom of the press, religious fanaticism, and big pharma. However, Whisper is also the least character-focused novel in the series. To state my bias — I love the characters of the Fetch Phillips Archives. The reason I return to this series, despite its flaws, is because I am profoundly invested in Fetch as a character. He’s endearingly pathetic, often abrasive, deeply selfish, and frequently suicidal. I’m invested in him and the progression of his recovery. Sometimes you encounter a fictional character and they ring a bell inside you that can’t be unrung. Whisper is, out of the series’ four books, the least centered around Fetch’s character arc. While I enjoyed the political thriller aspects of the plot, it didn’t grip me emotionally in the way Arnold’s previous books have, likely because it's more plot-motivated than character-motivated. I’m not saying that as a bad thing — the mystery in Whisper is tight and for my money the best yet in the series. But I am, first and foremost, here for the characters — I left the novel just a bit disappointed.

All in all, though, I enjoyed this new entry into the Fetch Phillips Archives. I liked seeing Fetch interact with the rebellious youth of Sunder City, and witnessing the evolution of Fetch’s grief into something a bit softer and more bittersweet. And no spoilers, but the novel’s ending sets up the next installment of the series in a way that I’m very excited about. My feelings about the Fetch Phillips series have always been complicated, but they’ve never been anything other than strong. While Whisper in the Wind wasn’t everything I was expecting, it was still a good time. I’m excited to hear what other fans think of the novel, and I’m excited for the future of the series.

Luke Arnold’s Whisper in the Wind is out on 4/29. Many thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing this e-gally!

3 out of 5. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I've been a fan of this series since I stumbled over the first book. I've always enjoyed the author's tough-guy loner protagonist trying to figure out how to get by in a world that catastrophically lost its magic. I loved that in the first 3 books, we get an expanding idea of what happened and how it affected the world's inhabitants.

This is book #4 in the series, and I think it could be read without having read the other books, although you'd miss the worldbuilding, which was amazing in the previous books, but I really find lacking in this instalment.

Fetch swears he has given up crime solving, and is trying to run an absent friend's cafe, but he gets involved in trying to track down the killer in a series of murders that seems more and more to be politically motivated and conspiracy driven, and protect a bunch of street kids at the same time. Most of the characters are new, and some don't survive for very long. The killer seems to be trying to take down anyone who's got any say in running Sunder...

I found this book felt quite different from the previous ones - it feels more like an alternate reality than a fantasy world - one of the things I enjoyed the most about this series was the reader's growing knowledge of the creatures and the history, and how the world got to the present. In 'Whisper' there's cars and guns and printing presses, so it feels more like the 1930s, and it was quite jarring. There's also a lot of 'money guys are running the place and the little guy is suffering' soliloquys - I get that having Fetch ponder on this in his head is part of the book's tone but after the second time it just got tedious, and to be honest, it was so blatant a commentary on current events that it really took me out of the story (and I think these could be edited to about 10% of their content without losing what they add to the reader's experience).

The reader is left with a lead-in to the next book, so we'll see what happens.

Like the rest of the Fetch Phillips books, this was a wonderful combination of humor, noir mystery, and fantasy. It was interesting to see Fetch trying to separate himself from the work that’s gotten him in so much trouble, and failing to do so. I will say this the first of the books that isn’t expanding things much, it’s far more just for the ride and for hopefully far more to come.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"The fourth installment of Luke Arnold's Fetch Phillips series, Whisper in the Wind, takes readers to a very different Sunder City. One where government corruption is rampant and tensions are rising.

Fetch is done being a hero. Once a detective, all he wants now is to run his cafe in peace. Sunder City is still recovering from the sudden and violent end of magic, and if one man can't solve all its problems, he can at least stop some people going hungry. But when a kid on the run shelters in Fetch's cafe, and a chain of gruesome murders begins among Sunder's high and mighty, trouble is brought to Fetch's door.

There's a word whispered on the wind, and that word is revolution..."

I wish the wind would whisper revolution more often...

This is a book for our time. A riveting fantasy-based mystery story, one that kept me guessing until the end, but also a story of corruption and greed. Whisper in the Wind was a reminder of the power each and every one of us has despite the challenges we face, and the importance of protecting our community. The characters are our neighbors, and you care for each of them in their own way. I love getting continue the stories of our old friends, and each new character only enriched the tapestry of Sunder City. Arnold’s understanding of Fetch’s voice has never been stronger, and you experience his pain, bitterness, anger, and grief right alongside him. And my goodness, what an ending—I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in Fetch’s journey!

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I'll post my review closer to the publication date.

Whisper in the Wind is the fourth book in The Fetch Phillips Archives. I was surprised to find that there was a new installment in the series, as I wasn't expecting it. I really enjoy this series and it was good to be back with the characters. In this installment, Fetch quit his job as a man for hire and now works in a cafe, but the job doesn't seem to be done with him. Once the killings begin, he has to uncover the identity of the Whisper. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy The story is fun to read and ends on a cliffhanger, so I hope we won't have to wait too long for the next book. Also, I love all the covers in this series, but this one is definitely my favorite.

I’m primarily a fantasy or epic fantasy reader, and even though I usually prefer a romance element, this series was suggested to me and I have enjoyed it. The characters are varied and vibrant. The writing is strong and promotes thorough imagery. A scene or two can be a bit more descriptively violent than is to my taste, but that is easy enough to skim and it does not stray into anything heinous. The plot and characters are interesting and I continue to come back for more. This is a quality piece for anyone who enjoys the genre.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whisper in the Wind hits the ground running with mystery and intrigue and doesn't let up until it is over. Fetch, despite his best efforts, cannot stay clear of the goings on in Sunder City. Luke Arnold does not disappoint in this installment. The story is compelling, the pacing is fast, and the characters are memorable.

If you are looking for a unique fantasy world that scratches that "Dresden Files" itch, look no further!

Loved being back in Sunder City and finding out what mystery of the week Fetch is getting up too. Another good sequel to this urban fantasy mystery series! Cannot wait to see what else fetch might encounter definitely recommend! Also the cover art for this series is incredible!

In the fourth novel in Luke Arnold's fantasy detective series, Fetch Phillips (formerly and once again, a "Man for Hire") is back in Sunder city, trying to run a diner and generally just get along in a world that has lost most of its magic. Inevitably, Phillips is drawn back into a world of government corruption and danger. Arnold hits all of the expected genre notes but layers in some thoughtful world building, a real care for his characters, and some none-too-subtle political commentary. If you liked his earlier books, definitely make time for this one. If you haven't read the earlier works, I'm not sure oWhisper in the Wind stands alone but I highly recommend all four books so start on the series and make your way here!