This is the first Story of Togas, Daggers and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
"Mehr creates a vivid cast and an equally vivid setting in which magic just seems to fit in perfectly."
-- Richard Knaak, NYT best-selling author ofauthor of Legends of Huma
"Mehr's imagined world based on ancient Rome feels at once familiar and dreamlike."
-- Ruth Downie, author of the Medicus series of Roman mysteries
"Hardcore Historical Fantasy - Felix the Fox is Sherlock Holmes in Ancient Times"
-- Jonathan Maas, award-winning author ofFlare
A young man is found dead in his bed, with a look of extreme agony on his face and strange tattoos all over his body. His distraught senator father suspects a cult death, and knows who to call for discreet resolution.
Enter Felix the Fox, a professional investigator. In the business of ferreting out dark information for his clients, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a competent magician -- but something in between. Drawing on his contacts in shady elements of society and on his aborted education in the magical arts, Felix dons his toga and sets out to discover the young man's killers.
Murder In Absentia is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. This is a story of a cynical, hardboiled detective dealing with anything from daily life to the old forces roaming the world.
Virtual Fantasy Con Awards:
1st place: Dark Fantasy / Horror Book & Author
2st place: Urban Fantasy Book & Author
3st place: Favorite Fantasy Series
Voted #1 on Goodreads' Indie Books Worth the Read for 2016!
"Mehr is a master alchemist, blending the real and surreal on a captivating flight of fantasy."
-- Cynthia Celmer
"YESSS! Harry Dresden in a toga. A bit lighter on the magic usage, but every bit as colorful and intriguing!"
-- Leslie Conzatti (author of Princess of Undersea), Erin Michelle Sky (author of The Intuitives) and a surprising number of Dresden Files fans
In Numina provides readers a bit of everything — chills, thrills, mystery, and romance.
Written from the perspective of Felix the Fox, this story is packed full of intrigue interspersed with fascinating details pulled from the underbelly of Rome itself. […] I found myself immersed in the workings of Felix's cunning thought-processes as he unravels the frightening truth behind the chilling murders.
Highly recommend for readers of alternate history, mystery, action-adventure, and similar genres.
-- N.B. Willilams, author of Salt in the Blood
Felix the Fox. Investigator, magician, lover, compulsive payer of debts.
This fascinating tale from ‘not Rome’ mixes whodunnit, with magic, with an elusive love story.
Highly recommended.
-- Jane Jago, author of Dai and Julia alternate Roman history
Do you like ancient Rome? An adventurous Sherlock-Holmes-esque murder-mystery? Complicated relationships that play out both across the city and across the page? Then this is the book for you.
Rich scenery, interesting plot twists, and enough danger to keep turning the pages, the author does a great job of pulling you in. Sometimes a bit verbose, Felix is someone who grows on you as a reader. And it's refreshing to see a flawed character learn and grow.
This story should be enjoyed by candlelight and with a glass of red wine.
-- CC Dowling, author of The Dharkstar Dragon Saga
In Numina is going to be one of those books I read again and again.
-- Anais Chartschenko, author of Bright Needles
‘In Numina’ is an outstanding tale of murder, ghosts and magic, cleverly woven through a story of greed, corruption, and an all-consuming desire for power. Felix is at his cunning best as he attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding several horrific deaths, and rumours that ancient gods are involved.
Mehr has created world of intriguing personalities, some we have met before, most are new, but whose lives and shenanigans suck you in and hold on tight from first page to last word.
In Numina – if you love a great mystery, fascinating characters with enough plot twists and turns to rival any theme park ride – this is the book for you! 5 stars all the way - highly recommended.
-- Rosie Chapel, author of The Hannah's Heirloom Trilogy
“For those who like to cross genres a bit, Murder In Absentia by Aussie writer Assaph Mehr is a skillful blending of historical fantasy with mystery set in a realm very much like ancient Rome. In fact, fans of the Falco mysteries by Lindsey Davis should very much enjoy this novel, first in a series featuring the intriguing Felix the Fox. Mehr creates a vivid cast and an equally vivid setting in which magic just seems to fit in perfectly.”
-- Richard Knaak, NYT best-selling author of author of Dragonlance: Legends of Huma
"Hardcore Historical Fantasy - Felix the Fox is Sherlock Holmes in Ancient Times"
-- Jonathan Maas, award-winning author of Flare
“Mehr’s imagined world based on ancient Rome feels at once familiar and dreamlike. In Egretia, magic is real and potentially deadly. While rival incantatores have been banned from calling up competing winds to speed ferries across the bay – they’ve drowned too many innocent sailors – the powers of magic appear to have fallen into malevolent hands. Failed incantator Felix the Fox is investigating a mysterious death in a growing atmosphere of menace. I can’t help thinking the idea of Death by Magic might be closer to the mindset of some of the ancient world than our modern rationality.”
-- Ruth Downie, Author of the Medicus Roman Mysteries series
