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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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
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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’m not sure exactly what I was expecting from this book, but damn. The world building was unique and interesting, the lead character was complicated and fascinating. Exploring the seedy underbelly of fantasy worlds is not usually my thing, but this book has absolutely fascinated me.

Delightfully unexpected

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The first Fetch Phillips novel takes a few chapters to find it’s rhythm but stellar word building, confident storytelling and a cast of thoroughly engaging characters shape this into an intriguing and highly enjoyable debut novel from Luke Arnold. I confess I was an easy convert being a firm fan of the magical city / hardboiled detective genre (I’m looking at you Terry Pratchett) and of Luke Arnold himself (Black Sails is the best damn TV show you never saw) but “The Last Smile In Sunder City” stands up on it’s own merit. Truly excellent stuff wonderfully read by the Author. Seriously the Audiobook performance is magic; the bar for audio excellence was set Michael Sheen’s narration of “The book of Dust” and Luke Arnold’s work here really is up there.

A fabulous debut

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I, was a attractive to this audio book by its link to rivers of London books.
Got a say found it a bit off putting with the American Private investigator( 30 style)
But a the story developed and the world was explained
I've grown to like the world of "Fletch"
looking forward to the next book
So, if you like a 30 style P.I lost magic read
Go Fletch

A, slow burner, but Fletching

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Overall I enjoyed the book but won’t listen to anymore of the series as I found the whole thing rather depressing.

Interesting but depressing.

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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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