The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Thara Celehar is a Witness for the Dead:  that is, he can touch a deceased person and sometimes ascertain the answers to questions.  He was once at Court, in the service of the young half-goblin Emperor but now he resides in Amalo, a city far away from the seat of power but still not immune from political machinations. When a young woman is found drowned, Celehar is asked to discover her identity and if she was a suicide.  A touch reveals that she was in fact murdered, but her name is not revealed so Celehar must investigate further.  Meanwhile, a wealthy family has two different wills and Celehar is asked to discover who was intended as the heir.

This description is dry, I’ll grant you. I picked this book up on a whim, not having read The Goblin Emperor which was the first one set in this world but is a standalone novel.  I was intrigued by the idea of someone who can have some limited communication with the dead to solve mysteries.  A Witness for the Dead is an advocate for the deceased, finding justice no matter where the truth leads, which can lead to some uncomfortable situations with the living. It didn’t hurt that there was a blurb from John Scalzi, a writer whose works I enjoy.

Also, I’ll admit, I was attracted to the slimness of the volume.  At 232 pages, I felt we’d get to the stories quickly.  Some books I have read of late have had a certain amount of padding to them, and while that can be entertaining there are times I want the author to just get on with the story.

At first I was a bit put off by the names and honorifics, but I was quickly drawn in by the characters and the world-building.  Celehar is empathetic, honorable, honest, humble, and haunted by things from his past.  He’s someone I would very much like to have as a friend.  The world-building is fascinating, both strange and familiar at the same time.  Most characters are described as elven or goblin, though I wonder if there are humans since some are “half goblin” or “half elven.” There are ghouls, ghosts, and other creatures as well.  There are several mysteries to be solved in the book, and while I’ll admit to getting tangled up in names at times I was fascinated and found it difficult to put the book down—“just one more section” syndrome was in full swing.  I would also classify it as a “feel-good” read, despite the various crimes taking place. It’s almost a cozy mystery, what with the characters having discussions over innumerable cups of tea.  There’s a bit of a homey feel to it, despite the odd names and fantasy trappings.

Addison excels at creating characters who seem real.  I cared what happened to Celehar, and genuinely liked many of the other characters—so much so that I had to find the second book and start it as soon as I finished the first.  Alas, the third book isn’t due out until 2025!