The Imperial Detective

This is an urban fantasy set in a genre that’s currently in vogue—magical detective fiction. The story takes place in an alternative Russian Empire where, alongside people, live orcs and other fantastic beings. The main character is the half-blood Mikhailo, known simply as Mikh. He’s a handyman, works from dawn till dark, life doesn’t pamper Mikh, and people often pick on him because they see him as a ferocious nomadic orc—son of an orc, which he actually is. One day, Mikh witnesses a magical duel between two “noble” men, where the winner absorbs the magic of the loser. By the will of fate, Mikh comes to know one of the duelists and—unexpectedly even for himself—becomes an assistant to an imperial detective investigating a mysterious case with a political edge.

The envoy of Ahovmed is murdered, which threatens conflict with a fierce people whose feet are hooves and whose heads are adorned with ram’s horns. Anyone who could help with the investigation is destroyed by a mysterious, elusive “black” killer. Mikh and his new boss intend to investigate the case, punish the guilty, and at the same time prevent an interstate conflict. Follow the heroes’ adventures in an exciting multi-episode audio drama!