The Last Smile in Sunder City cover art

The Last Smile in Sunder City

Book One in the Fetch Phillips Archives: a fantasy set in a world where the magic has disappeared...

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The Last Smile in Sunder City

By: Luke Arnold
Narrated by: Luke Arnold
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About this listen

 The Last Smile in Sunder City is a brilliantly voiced contemporary fantasy for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Rotherweird or Terry Pratchett's Discworld, and the debut novel from high-profile actor Luke Arnold.

Fetch Phillips fought on the wrong side of a war between humans and magical creatures, and his actions helped to drain the world of enchantment. Now he works on the streets of Sunder City, taking what odd jobs he can while trying to help those whose lives he ruined.

His first case is to find a missing teacher. Professor Rye is a four-hundred-year-old vampire with a heart of gold in a husk of a body. In a world without magic, most vamps have already crumbled into dust, but Fetch is happy to go looking for some dirt with pointed teeth if it gets him his drinking money. Then, when a young siren disappears, Fetch finds out that this dark world still hides some monsters - and he'd better clean up his act before they come into the light.©2020 Luke Arnold Action & Adventure Crime Fiction Fantasy Mystery Private Investigators Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Fiction Paranormal Exciting Emotionally Gripping

Critic reviews

This off-piste detective story set in a magical world, now in meltdown, has verve and charm in abundance and a rough diamond hero with quite a story to tell.In short, an actor's dramatic voice has found a pen which can write
Sunder City [is] an evocative creation, it has echoes of Ankh-Morpork, but also a broken melancholy all of its own
This book was a marvellous noir voice; Luke Arnold has captured the spirit of the genre perfectly and wrapped it around a fantasy setting with consummate skill
[A] standout debut . . . winningly combining the grit of Chinatown with the quirky charm of Harry Potter, this series opener is sure to have readers coming back for more
The first instalment of an effortlessly readable series that could be the illegitimate love child of Terry Pratchett and Dashiell Hammett
All stars
Most relevant
I had originally bought the audio to listen to on my commute, but with the pandemic decided to buy the book also - but after one listen to the audio, I couldn't stop because it was just so well read and I was gripped. I just kept making up chores so I could listen to it! A really original and interesting take on the noir world with engaging and likeable leads. Each character was richly developed no matter how short their appearance. really hope this becomes a long series! As for the reading, it's one of the best I've heard so far on audible, Arnold's ability to become so many different people without it being too stark and noticeable is inspired! A definite rec here!

excellent and emotive!

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Loved it. Will definitely listen to the sequel, great story and brilliantly read by the author

Great fantasy detective noir

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Good world building and basis for both the immediate plot and a wider arc that will carry over a series. Fetch is a typical dark and brooding protagonist but it works in the context of this story. Pretty well developed side characters add depth and the themes give some food for thought. Plenty of possibilities for future development.

Narration by the author is very good with a solid voice for Fetch and well differentiated voices for the other characters. Not quite as broad a range as some other audible performers but very listenable.

Good start to a series

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If you have read Rotherweird and love the dystopian world of creatures and humans this is for you.

Beautiful narrative, visual prompts and a fast paced tale of Fetch Phillips P.I.

I loved Rotherweird and have been looking for something as good.

This is.

Sam Spade meets Jonah Oblong

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At first I couldn’t picture this world in my mind’s eye, and that was frustrating. By the end I still can’t quite fathom what time frame this world is set in. Maybe the 1920s steampunk with a bit of 1970s architecture thrown in? No cars. I’m sure they ride around in carriages. Well, there’s one wind-up car, like a Model T maybe. Apart from that, which is a big part, the character is a dolt everyone uses to better their own cause. Also, the metaphors are hilarious. He fell to the ground with a sound like an egg full of snails being stepped on. Or phrases like that. I’ve never heard such silly comparisons that are nothing like what action is taking place. So funny. It’s got personality though, so I think I’ll go ahead with the next book.

Good Over the Top Adventure

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