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Ghost of a Chance: Arcane Casebook, Book 2 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Dan Willis (Author), Alex Knox (Narrator), Runeblade Entertainment (Publisher)
4.7 out of 5 stars 2,857 ratings

When a bizarre string of locked-room murders terrorize New York, the police have no leads, no suspects, and only one place to turn. Now private detective Alex Lockerby will need every magical trick in his book to catch a killer who can walk through walls and leaves no trace.

Unfortunately Alex's magic hasn't been working very well. He can't even manage to track down several truckloads of stolen goods, including one belonging to New York's preeminent sorcerer, Andrew Barton. To make matters worse, Alex and his clients are being stalked by a shadowy cabal with strange powers that Alex has never seen before.

With the Ghost killer seemingly able to murder at will and the tabloids, the public, and Alex’s clients demanding results, Alex will need a miracle to keep himself, his clients, and his reputation alive.

Download Ghost of a Chance today.

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  1. Listening Length
    9 hours and 42 minutes
  2. Author
    Dan Willis
  3. Narrator
    Alex Knox
  4. Audible release date
    April 27, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Runeblade Entertainment
  7. ASIN
    B093CNTL4Q
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 42 minutes
Author Dan Willis
Narrator Alex Knox
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 27, 2021
Publisher Runeblade Entertainment
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B093CNTL4Q
Best Sellers Rank #48,082 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#20 in Steampunk Fiction
#51 in Steampunk Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#558 in Urban Fantasy (Books)

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
2,857 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this urban fantasy series, praising its unique magic twists and three intertwined mysteries to solve. The book features well-developed characters that come to life, and customers appreciate its perfect pacing with old school sleuthing. They value the writing quality, with one customer noting it can be read in one sitting, while another highlights its original take on the genre. Customers find the series informative, with one review noting it provides just enough detail for context.

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190 customers mention "Enjoyment"190 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this series and find it entertaining, with one customer noting it reads like a great detective story.

"...The storyline is clever, and the characters are likable. It's a fun read." Read more

"I enjoy this series. The way they weave magic into 1930's New York is clever. The mysteries are entertaining and I have not yet so..." Read more

"...with many intriguing links into magic and history and just a rollicking fun read. Tempted to buy a pack of smokes just to be even more involved...." Read more

"...I loved them both and will continue to read the series. Rune wielding 1930's detective with Conan Doyle as his mentor...." Read more

153 customers mention "Intrigue"150 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the intrigue of the book, praising its well-thought-out plot with three intertwined mysteries to solve and unique magic twists.

"...The storyline is clever, and the characters are likable. It's a fun read." Read more

"...The way they weave magic into 1930's New York is clever. The mysteries are entertaining and I have not yet so..." Read more

"Really engaging noir with many intriguing links into magic and history and just a rollicking fun read...." Read more

"...Great characters and clever plots with well crafted mysteries. Very well written and worth your time." Read more

93 customers mention "Character development"93 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters come to life and are fun to read about, with one customer mentioning how the film noir setting adds depth to the story.

"...The storyline is clever, and the characters are likable. It's a fun read." Read more

"...Plus the character development is getting better ask get deeper into the world. All in all a pleasant read and a good way to spends few hours" Read more

"...Rune wielding 1930's detective with Conan Doyle as his mentor. Great characters and clever plots with well crafted mysteries...." Read more

"...Lots of fun and quirky characters. Looks like I’m going to have to buy the next book." Read more

55 customers mention "Pacing"55 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, noting its perfect blend of old-school sleuthing and well-thought-out magic elements, with one customer describing it as a delightful fast-moving mystery.

"I enjoy this series. The way they weave magic into 1930's New York is clever. The mysteries are entertaining and I have not yet so..." Read more

"...are decent, the MC is likeable, and the mysteries are complex and well thought out...." Read more

"...a huge mystery fan, but the alternate history and magic elements are well thought out enough and interesting enough to keep me riveted...." Read more

"...it that's never boring with a hero who's vulnerable, altruistic and quick witted. A fun read." Read more

37 customers mention "Writing quality"31 positive6 negative

Customers find the book well written with a good pace, describing it as an easy read.

"...Great characters and clever plots with well crafted mysteries. Very well written and worth your time." Read more

"Great story, great characters and well-written. I think I'll try book next! Thanks Dan, for such a fun to read series." Read more

"...and then pick it up later to finish it, the book was generally well-written, entertaining and clever. I will read more when they come out." Read more

"Excellent writer! Many twists and turns in the story. Keeps you turning the page to figure out what is going on!" Read more

32 customers mention "Detective novel"32 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this detective novel, appreciating its hard-boiled style and original take on urban fantasy.

"Really engaging noir with many intriguing links into magic and history and just a rollicking fun read...." Read more

"...There is an elixir to steady his nerves; and he is a good detective, even if his bag of tricks is iffy...." Read more

"I am enjoying the Arcane Casebook series with their wonderful PI Alex Lockerby, and company...." Read more

"A great detective novel that doesn’t forget it’s a detective novel. Magic is supplemental not key to the story. Two books, two thumbs up...." Read more

29 customers mention "Series"29 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this book as a sequel to the series, with one customer noting it's a perfect follow-up to the first installment.

"...Long story short, it's a good series if you don't mind the 50's lingo, and the MC's uncanny ability to only bump into beautiful women no matter..." Read more

"Great series. Well thought out magic system where the magic clues never obscure the mystery solution. New York as you've never seen it before." Read more

"An excellent sequel and stand-alone story. The world building is fantastic and continues to expand. Definitely worth the read...." Read more

"...That's my only problem with this exceptional series of books." Read more

18 customers mention "Depth"18 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book, finding it as informative as the first book in the series, with one customer noting it provides just enough detail for context.

"What really stands out about thenfirst 2 books is how complex and intricate the story lines are. They take suprising turns which is a joy to read...." Read more

"...kidnapping, urban tenneling, new inventions, with ancient glyphs and ancient treasure...." Read more

"...Nice enough explaination, except the Rhesus factor wasn't discovered until 1937, and not published until 1940...." Read more

"...Plenty of action with a good pace. The mysteries are good, easy to follow but not too easy...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Richkev
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clever, enjoyable read.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is the second book in the series, and I am looking forward to the next. The storyline is clever, and the characters are likable. It's a fun read.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun mystery and magic tale
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoy this series. The way they weave magic into 1930's New York is clever. The mysteries are entertaining and I have not yet so
    solved one before the story so that's enjoyable. Plus the character development is getting better ask get deeper into the world. All in all a pleasant read and a good way to spends few hours
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  • Charlie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Checks all the boxes
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Really engaging noir with many intriguing links into magic and history and just a rollicking fun read. Tempted to buy a pack of smokes just to be even more involved. Want to compliment even more but that would involve spoilers.
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  • DE Osborn
    5.0 out of 5 stars great original take on urban fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Second of the Arcane casebook series. I loved them both and will continue to read the series. Rune wielding 1930's detective with Conan Doyle as his mentor. Great characters and clever plots with well crafted mysteries. Very well written and worth your time.
    Helpful
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  • Sterling
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ghost of a Chance
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    So I’m following Alex, Iggy and Leslie through another adventure and I couldn’t put it down. Lots of fun and quirky characters. Looks like I’m going to have to buy the next book.
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  • Steve C.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Starting to get into this series
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I don't generally like period shows or books, and this series is set kinda in the 50's i think. But the characters are decent, the MC is likeable, and the mysteries are complex and well thought out.

    I am not Catholic, but i really liked the authors portrayal of the church and the people who are in it. It's a pretty minor part of the story but it's refreshing to have religion not be prortrayed in the hate filled bigoted way that most authors portray it.

    I see the series is super long so my usual advice to the author is probably wasted, but i'll leave my thoughts none-the-less. The drastic change in how all the characters sounded from the first book was jarring and almost made me return it. I really like the narrator for the audio book of book 1 and his abilty to make all the people sound unique--it added a ton to my enjoyment of the book. The new guy in this book...was mediocre at best. Everyone sounded really similar and i frequently got confused about who was talking (even the women sounded the same to me). Also, and this was probably due to pressure from the left, but the japanese accents were gone from Danny and his dad. I'm a huge anime buff and. I really liked that the story had a few Japanese characters, and i loved that the narrator gave them a slight accent that made them sound like they were Japanese who new english as a second language. If you are going to have a psudeo-secret Japanese crime lord, he should totally have the accent to make him sound dangerous and awesome. BUT in this book the author did an about face and both the characters have no accent at all, the author even put in a blurb that stated the grew up in america and had no accent. Huh? If you are gonna do that you need to change the first book then because they totally had an accent and it was awesome. An accent gave their characters depth, and having a narrator that coukd pull off a reasonable japanese accent was sweet. Book 2, had me confused over and over when the accent was completely removed and written out of the story like it had never been there. Made me bummed because i hate it when they change narrators in a series, and they proably only did it becuase someone whined about it being racist (which is ridiculous, a person having an accent is a normal part of almost everyone who learns a second language.

    Long story short, it's a good series if you don't mind the 50's lingo, and the MC's uncanny ability to only bump into beautiful women no matter where he goes (and they all fall for him). So far nothing too bad, but no real romance to speak of, just a few 1 night stands.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • MP
    5.0 out of 5 stars interesting alternative time line
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The author has created an interesting 1930’s time line. There are recognizable pieces and new pieces. The characters are interesting and story line is good. I read the first one in series and like enough to read the second book. I will continue the series
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  • Jason K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun mix of magic and mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not a huge mystery fan, but the alternate history and magic elements are well thought out enough and interesting enough to keep me riveted. Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Luiz Henrique Nogueira Modesto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gumshoe gold!
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I loved the whole thing. The many moving parts that connect to the overall mystery, the main character and his personal struggles, the rich and peculiar supporting characters, the way the magic and the depression-era atmosphere blend perfectly together... it was all fantastic!! Read it. You won't regret it.
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  • Davros the Laughing A Lot
    5.0 out of 5 stars Harry Potter meets Dick Tracy and Sherlock Holmes
    Reviewed in Australia on June 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A great read for anyone who enjoys a locked room detective mystery. The mysteries pile up and the resolution is well handled. Well worth the time but best fun uf you read the two preceding books first. Enjoy. I certainly did.
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  • TArtito
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun noir book with a magical twist.
    Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Fun noir book with a magical twist. Book two is just as great as the first, on to number 3!
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Great characters to like and others to loathe, novel ideas and intriguing applications of magic in this alternate Sam Spade style New York. Looking forward to the next volume.
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  • kragthang
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great sequel!
    Reviewed in Germany on April 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    All good things come in threes. Again Alex is saddled with three cases. Two are high profile cases and one is a missing person case. Later on, his friend Danny asks him for help with one of his cases and it soon is clear that case is connected to one of Alex's. Turns out the missing person case is also connected.

    This time Alex seems to struggle quite a bit. Money is short, his magic seems to fail him, and he is struggling with the physical consequences from using a lot of his power in the last book. He falls back on his skills as a detective and it works out fine for him.

    I couldn't put the book down. It was quite a ride. I enjoyed the introduction of new characters, the mystery of an unknown runewright school, and the not quite introduction of a character of considerable power who will probably play a role in the future. And though I was suspecting something was off with one particular person, it turned out the person was involved, just not the way I thought. So, Alex was always one step ahead of me and the book stayed suspenseful until the end.

    There were a few odd sentences and the reading felt rough here and there, so I'll go with 4/5 stars.
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