Hot Lead, Cold Iron: A Mick Oberon Job Book 1 Paperback – May 13, 2014

This book is a fun ride. Hot Lead Cold Iron stands apart from other urban fantasy series from first being set in the 30s, and second from its strong noir bona fides.Inevitably the comparison to the Dresden Files will come so let's put that to bed. There is some: both are PIs in Chicago and have magic. Any other similarities are because both pull from the genres of Urban Fantasy and Noir. And let me tell you, Hot Lead is so pure detective Noir you could set it on fire and the ashes would spell out Mike Hammer and Sam Spade.That is one of the strengths of the book: it feels like I'm in a speakeasy listening to Mick recounting his case, I feel like I know Chicago from reading this. Some of this comes from Marmell doing his research, from the 30s slang that drips from every page, and from the strength of the narrative itself.One thing that surprised me about the main character is that Mick Oberon is not nice. Sure, he aspires to be - this whole thing starts because someone Else needs money - but there are times when he's cold and heartless and there's a hint that something darker is underneath the identity he's wearing. In that respect he likely does owe some comparison to Hammer.What's also cute is how Marmell uses some of the noir tropes to heighten the fantasy elements. Detectives get beat up constantly but soldier on; in the mortal realm, Oberon heals fast from any non-maiming beatdown that doesn't involve iron. Detectives have great and awful luck; Oberon's magic is luck related, and he notes that the type of sidhe he is have very extreme kinds of luck.But beyond the Noirness of it all, the Urban Fantasy is certainly there. Oberon's jaunt into Chicago's Otherworld lasts only 70 pages, but it's a Trip. Marmell's vision of how the fae realm looks is, I will say it: unique. I've never seen this done, and let me tell you, I'll be checking out the next Oberon book just to see more of it.The book does have its weaknesses. While the mystery itself is interesting, the villain isn't. We get a reasonable motivation, but I never feel it, I never really feel this villain at all, and it's not really interesting. The power comes from the emotional connections the other characters have to the villain and the real consequences of those actions, even after the villain is put down. Sometimes it also feels like Oberon is not in real danger, but that's only sometimes.All in all it was fast, fun and colorful read.

Being a wisecracking PI in 1930s Chicago ain't a walk in the park. It's worse when you're not exactly human and the damn human *gadgetry* hurts your head and makes you sick. But Mick Oberon ("Yeah, I'm related. Third cousin.") has good reasons for being in the human world rather than Sideways, in the Fae lands he was born in -- ones he'd rather not think about. And despite the problems of the modern world, he still kinda likes the people here better -- and having a touch with luck magic always comes in handy.But even Mick finds himself challenged when he's asked to solve a kidnapping case... one that happened sixteen years ago. Someone -- some *Fae* -- swapped out a mob boss' daughter for one of their own, and the changeling girl is finally starting to show her inhuman nature. Mick knows a cold case when he sees one -- but he also knows his landlord's got a big money problem, and that means Mick Oberon better get to work, or he'll find himself out on the streets full-time.But there's more going on than just a sixteen year old mystery, and the players in the game aren't playing for marbles, if you know what I mean. Mick will need all the luck he can conjure up to crack a case that spans two worlds and more than one and a half decades!An excellent start to a very good series.

I was really interested in reading this one due to the Depression-era Chicago setting, and that aspect of the book certainly didn't disappointment. The world-building was a lot more authentic than I expected, and I appreciated the amount of effort that went into making the setting feel legitimate.That being said, I had a few issues:1) While I understand the author's desire to make the era-appropriate jargon realistic, I think the narration was overwhelmed by Oberon's manner of speaking. To the point where I honestly had trouble understanding what he was saying for the first few chapters. I think the author could have toned it down a little without losing the sense of authenticity.2) The plot was interesting, overall, but I felt it dragged at times -- especially around the middle -- and I think the climax wrapped up too quickly. I would have been more satisfied with a drawn-out sequence, because the way it was written, all the tension drained away pretty quickly, and we were left with a conclusion that wrapped up a little too fast.3) The characters were interesting, too, but besides Oberon himself, they were all pretty flat. We were never given a chance to "get to know" anyone other than Oberon beyond some superficial details, which were largely conveyed by Oberon's own voice and not through the characters' actions. Now, maybe the author develops the cast more in the sequel -- I can't say -- but there simply wasn't enough for my taste in this installment.So, overall, this was an okay read. I did enjoy it, and I do plan to continue the series. But I think several aspects of the book could have been better, so I'm giving this one 3.5/5 stars.

Here's a high concept: Make an exiled Fae a shamus in Prohibition eraChicago. That's Mick Oberon (not O'Brian, thank you very much!)our first person and fairly hard-boiled narrator. Not many peoplerealize Mick is a bit more than what he seems, but you know, those Italiansfrom the Old Country know a bit more than most, and Mick, needing a bigjob quite badly, ends up working for a Mobster, searching for a missingdaughter who was probably the human side of a changeling swap some 18 yearsago. To find her, he'll have to go back to Faery, a place he foreswore longagon, and then face a completely unexpected threat on our side..I'm on the line about Mick after two books. Being in our world *hurts*him and he's always in a bad mood. The period is nice, and there are somegood moments in this book, but I kind of wish Mick would cheer up everynow and then, oh, and stop insulting humans in his constant asides.

This was a surprise. I wasn't sure I was going to like it, especially as I don't much care for the old-time gangster talk. However, any irritation it may have caused was completely balanced out by the narrator's own irritation with the need to use it. He's a likeable character and the story's a good'un too. I would certainly read another by this author.

It's difficult to find something new and engaging in UF these days. Hot Lead, Cold Iron is a refreshing change to the norm. Definitely worth a read.

Really enjoyed the book - non stop action

Very entertaining,fast paced great story, for those who like Harry Dresden you will love this. Highly recommend you try this.

Interesting and Grown-Up Urban Fantasy