Review - The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison

 

The Grief of Stones is a sequel to The Witness for the Dead, and the third book set in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor.

I don't think you need to read The Goblin Emperor to understand The Witness for the Dead (but you should read it anyway) as it largely stands alone.

Thara Celehar - who was a minor character in The Goblin Emperor - takes centre stage in these novels.

He's a Witness for the Dead in the city of  Amalo, which means basically people come to him when someone has recently died to try and solve particular mysteries.

In some cases, it's how they died, or if they were murdered. In others, it's to find out things like where the money is hidden - or the scone recipe. Celehar takes all the cases on their merits, and gives them the same care and consideration.

When a Marquise is found to have been poisoned, Celehar finds himself entangled with a school for orphaned girls - and a terrible, terrible cover-up. 

In Witness for the Dead, Celehar is largely insular and guarded, having come through the horrific trauma of watching the man he loved be executed for murder. While that still haunts him in The Grief of Stones, he also finds his circle widening with friends, colleagues - and possibly even a new romance. 

The series is called The Cemeteries of Amalo, and somehow they blend fantasy, a little bit of steampunk and mystery in a very compelling and readable way.

Also, there are cats, so I'm naturally biased.