Mennik Thorn, a Freelance Mage, is approached by a Husband to investigate his wife's death, which he believes may have had a magical element to it. The case soon draws Nik into more trouble than he was expecting and puts him at odds with the two High Mages, the Wren and the Countess, while also attracting the attention of the Ash Guard, as his investigations uncover more leads. 

As with the first book, this is a highly enjoyable adventure with lots of twists, turns and setbacks for Mennik, who is a well-defined character with a self-deprecating sense of humour and a single-mindedness to do the right thing and be independent, which tends to get him into trouble. There are a fair number of supporting characters, all of which are equally well-written and have distinct and complex personalities that you find yourself warming to.

The plot is well thought out and will keep you engaged and turning pages to see what happens next,  it also avoids taking shortcuts or having something just happen just because it needs to, which is always a bonus.

Overall, this is a wonderful series and one I would recommend you read.