Mortedant's Enigma is the thrilling sequel to Mortedant's Peril, an epic fantasy of murder, mystery and unlikely alliances from RJ Barker, award-winning author of The Bone Ships. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and City of Last Chances.

‘A beautifully crafted world’ – Adrian Tchaikovsky

Some mysteries are better left buried.
But that’s never stopped Irody before.

Irody Hasp is a master Mortedant, who can read the last memories of the dead – and the tiered city of Elbay is indeed rife with murder and mayhem. But can he get paid in coin? No. He’s forced to accept pigs, cabbages and pies, and be grateful for them. Ostracized by his priory and serving the poor, he survives on the fringes with his rebellious apprentice and an intimidating Urcan warrior.

But when a wealthy aristocrat demands that Irody investigate an ‘impossible’ murder – where the victim has been torn apart in a locked room – Irody is thrust into a web of high-society lies and industrial espionage. From the opulent heights of the sixth tier, to the toxic depths where rival weapon manufactories dwell, every clue points to a conspiracy that could spark a bloody gang war.

As ancient family secrets resurface and faceless enemies shadow his every move, Irody must solve the enigma before the city’s delicate balance shatters. In Elbay, the truth doesn't just set you free – it can get you killed.

* * *

Praise for RJ Barker

'Mortedant’s Peril is a fabulous fantasy mystery set in a fresh, imaginative world'
- Sebastien de Castell, author of Traitor's Blade

‘Brilliant’
– Robin Hobb, author of Assassin's Apprentice

‘A gifted storyteller’
– Nicholas Eames, author of King's of the Wild

‘A splendid fantasy work . . . Highly recommended’
– Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time