ARC Review: Strange Cargo by Patrick Samphire

What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other?

Answer: they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.

As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple ultimatum: help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever.

Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.

This is a short novel, not a full-length novel.

Thank you to the author for providing a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Strange Cargo is the third novel in the Mennik Thorn series. It’s short than the first two but this is a bonus novel! We’re getting one more book. This book is a direct follow-up to the last one, Nectar For The God, and wraps up a few of the subplots left hanging in the last one. This doesn’t mean book two has a terrible ending or that this one only has a partial story. No, it might not be the same length as the other two, but the story follows the same setup as the previous ones.

There are a few things I’ve come to expect in a Mennik Thorn story. Nik stinks, he doesn’t have a clean shirt, gets sacked, and is clubbed in the head. Trouble follows him and of course, things always seem to get worse for him. Strange Cargo includes them all. It’s the little things that make me smile. The humour in the Mennik Thorn novels are subtle and you might like it or not, but I love it.

The story itself is just as complex as the previous two novels. Nik has multiple cases going on to earn his rent and at least one of his clients would rather see him dead. Add dead gods and magic going haywire, and you’ve got a fun little book to keep you entertained for a few hours.

I give Strange Cargo five stars. Mennik Thorn is still one of my favourite characters because of his flaws. I know exactly what I can expect from one of his books but the author knows how to weave everything together in a neat story with plenty of twists and turns.

Strange Cargo just released and is available for purchase now.