<i>Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword</i>

Billibub Baddings is a dwarf, sucked into Oblivion from his home realm. Oblivion just happens to end up in Chicago, late 1920's Chicago, to be exact. So, how does a displaced dwarf from another realm survive in Chicago? Well, first Billibub has to acquaint himself with the lay of the land, as any good soldier would. He teaches himself the native language through books in the library where he landed, beginning with the children's section. The books featuring Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Peroit were what really caught his interest. Through a series of menial jobs, he works his way up to becoming a P.I. A few bucks down on office space, the luck of the draw in hiring Miranda; the only dame that can take his wisecracks and fling them back harder, and Billibub is in business.

Billibub's newest client walks through the door and offers him a job that could potentially set him straight for a few months. Problem is, the job could also earn him a dirt-nap if he's not careful. Careful is the only way to handle anything concerning 'businessman' Al Capone. Ms. Lesinger (yes, one of the Lesinger's) wants Billibub to find out why Al Capone ordered the hit on her sweetie, 'Pretty Boy' DeMayo.

This is the kind of assignment that can make or break a P. I.'s career (or break his legs, or break his neck). A few discreet pokes into the explosion at Sal's Diner prompted even more questions for Billibub to answer. To add a little spice to Billibub's life, this investigation takes a turn least expected. Something else from Billibub's realm has migrated to Chicago, The Singing Sword. It seems as if everyone wants it, but Billibub is the only one who knows its true potential. He intends to make sure that he's the one who receives the prize this time around, no matter what he has to go through to get it.

Billibub is a dwarf with an attitude. After finding himself in a whole new world, he quickly adapts and carves his own place. Mr. Morris has written an intriguing twist on the average hard-boiled detective story. With plenty of Bogart-esque tropes, Billibub is a very entertaining gumshoe. Mr. Morris' 1920's world through the eyes of the sarcastic Billibub is an absolute pleasure to read. Prohibition, gangsters, gang wars, Babe Ruth, crooked cops and flappers are just few things that are packed into this book. His powerful prose, that would seem awkward if described by anyone other than Billibub, will give you a whole new view of the 'Roaring Twenties.' Miranda, Billibub's secretary, is one tough dame. She can take the comments he dishes, and zing them back, making us laugh and wait for what she'll say next. Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword is a cool drink of water from a genre that has been parched for far too long.

Reviewed by: Joletta