Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher – a Review

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Description:
Grimsby, the newest Auditor in the magical Department of Unorthodox Affairs, finds himself in hot water when he intercepts a friend’s case in this fast-paced and thrilling urban fantasy.

Against all odds, Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby has become an Auditor, enforcing laws about magic for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. But Grimsby soon realizes the daily grind of his job is far removed from the glamour he imagined. Overlooked for every exciting case, Grimsby tires of being told to handle mundane magical troubles, and appropriates a case file intended for a friend.

Alongside Leslie Mayflower, the temporarily unretired Huntsman, Grimsby aims to crack the case and discover the origin of a strange, unfinished ritual—one that seems to imitate the handiwork of a foe Mayflower put down twenty years ago.

Together, they’ll have to deal with escaped werewolves, a cursed artifact, and a perilous journey to the mysterious subterranean city below Boston, all to uncover the shocking truth. At any cost, Grimsby must stop this ritual from finally being completed. Yet the cost may be paid not by himself but by his friends. . . .

Review:

Long Past Dues by James J. Butcher is the 2^nd book in his urban fantasy The Unorthodox Chronicles series. Refresher:  The Unorthodox Chronicles is a magic world, with human Usuals and paranormal Unorthodox; the Department of Unorthodox Affairs and Auditors are government magical elites, with witches who use spells to control their power.  It is a world where magic is out in the open but tightly regulated.

Grimsby, our hero, has recently become an Auditor, working for Boston’s Department of Unorthodox Affairs. He is partnered with Mayflower (Huntsman), an assassin for the Unorthodox; but lately Mayflower hasn’t been around, thinking of retiring; and Grimsby is stuck doing menial jobs.  When he is in his boss’s office to complain, he sees a folder for a friend (Rayne) and switches folders to take on an exciting case.  When Grimsby shows the folder to Mayflower, he becomes interested, as he sees something long in the past, that bring them together to find out the truths.

Together, they begin an investigation to discover who performed a recent incomplete ritual, that reminds Mayflower of someone he eliminated 20 years ago. Mayflower does not have certain abilities, such as Grimsby’s witch powers, which helps them discover the danger in the horizon. In a short period, Grimsby becomes concerned about his friend, Rayne, and worries she is in danger, pushing Mayflower to help him find Rayne.

I had noted in my first book review, that Grimsby was a bit unsure of himself, always bumbling things; this does continue in the second book, though nearer to the end he got better.  Having Mayflower as his partner eventually gave him more confidence. I did like Grimsby’s pet friend, Wudge, who was off the wall for the most part.  I also liked Rayne, but the ending was left so open. Because of the cliffhanger, I have not decided if I want to read the next book.

Long Past Dues is an urban fantasy adventure, slow going at times and suspenseful closer to the end.  The last half of the book, Grimsby and Mayflower are constantly thrown into chaos and danger. Long Past Dues was a good story written by James J. Butcher, though I did think there was too many details and redundancy. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher