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The main reason I can’t give it four stars isn’t because of the writing (though never outright bad, it is less than stellar) but because it could have been wonderful. I would have loved to see this story expanded to show more of its world and fully embracing the classic pulp feel. While it wouldn’t have been great literature, it would have been a fun read, and sometimes that’s all you need. I would have been perfectly happy to read and reread this if it had embraced what it was turning into from the start, combining (and possibly poking gentle fun at) the genres of pulp sci-fi and noir detectives into a look back at what those stories once were. However, it does well enough for me to give it three rather than two stars, and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a quick read but not necessarily a great novel.
This story is certainly not for everyone: I was curious about the world this took place in and felt like there could have been a lot more world-building. I understand that this is based on a tabletop RPG and therefore would be more focused on Jake Malone’s actions than the setting, but when translated into writing, more attention should have been paid to details. For people who want to have a deeper understanding about the world of the story or want all their questions to be answered, this isn’t the story for you. If you just want to lose yourself in another world for a while, then I’d recommend this.
Officially, this case appears in the middle of Jake Malone’s story, and the blurb at the end says the next case will be number forty-seven. The next case will likely be in the same style as this one, with Jake solving some case that is more than what it appears by far. However, I hope that as more cases appear (likely out of chronological order, which is not at all a bad thing), we will be able to see more of the world and learn its history.
In short, this particular Case File is enjoyable, though far from the best piece of fiction I’ve read. I’d recommend it for people who like old pulp sci-fi novels or have a taste for noir fiction. Who knows? It might inspire someone to make a tabletop campaign and come full circle.
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