The Squirrel on the Train

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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I posted about the text version about a month ago (and reposted last week), but wanted to say a little more about the audiobook – so for the sake of those who just clicked on the Audiobook post, I'll just repeat everything I said before, but tag on something at the end about Luke Daniels' work. Can the magic of The Purloined Poodle be recaptured? Yes – maybe even topped. For many, that should be all I need to write. If that's the case, you're fine – go ahead and close this, no need to finish this.

If you're still here, I'll write a little more – While on a trip to Portland to go sight-seeing, er, sight-smelling, Oberon, Orlaith and Starbuck get away from Atticus (er, I mean, Connor Molloy) while chasing after a suspicious-looking squirrel. That's a tautology, I realize, if you ask the hounds, but this was a really sketchy-looking squirrel. Anyway, this brought the group into the path of Detective Ibarra. She happens to be at the train station investigating the odd murder of a man who looks just like Atticus.

Naturally, that gets him interested and investigating things as best as he can. Thanks in no small part to the noses of the hounds, Atticus and an old friend are able to uncover what's going on to help Atticus' new friend make an arrest.

It's a whole story in Oberon's voice, I don't know what else I can say about the writing/voice/feel of the book. That says pretty much everything. From Oberon's opening comparison of the diabolical natures of Squirrels vs. Clowns to Orlaith's judgment that “death by physics” “sounds like justice” to the harrowing adventure at the end of the novella, this is a fine adventure for “the Hounds of the Willamette and their pet Druid!”

No surprise to anyone who's heard the audiobook for any of Oberon's other appearances in short stories/novellas/novels, but Luke Daniels killed it here. From the overall characterization and narration he does as Oberon on down to the little details, like Oberon's particular pronunciation of “Port-LAND,” I just love it. Frankly, how anyone can listen to his rendition of Starbuck's first steps with words like, “Yes food!” and not giggle like Ron Swanson is beyond me. He gets the serious moments, the anger, the awe, the silliness just right. I just can't say enough good things about this audio presentation.

There's a nice tie-in to some of the darker developments in the Iron Druid Chronicles – that won't matter at all if you haven't read that far, or if you can't remember the connection. This was a good sequel that called back to the previous book, and told the same kind of story in a similar way – but didn't just repeat things. Just like a sequel's supposed to be, for another tautology. I smiled pretty much the whole time I read it (as far as I could tell, it's not like I filmed myself). I don't know if we get a third in this series given the end of the IDC next year. If we do, I'll be happy – if not, this is a great duology.

Atticus, Oberon, and the gang are off to Portland to take in the scents. At the train station, they see an ominous squirrel on the train. When they arrive in Portland, they give chase, and run across a murder victim. The victim looks just like Atticus. They must investigate to see if the doppelganger was the intended victim, or was it supposed to be Atticus? As always, I love all things Oberon. His theory that all squirrels are evil and plotting to take over the world is hilarious. I received a copy from Net Galley.