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Limelight (Arcane Casebook) Paperback – May 27, 2020

4.8 out of 5 stars 2,527 ratings

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When a madman starts robbing banks the really old fashioned way, by blowing holes in them with magical explosives, the police want Alex to catch him before he kills and robs again. There are two problems with that, however, first as far as Alex knows there’s no such thing as a blasting rune, and second his friend Danny Pak is up for a promotion and that’s not Danny’s case.

Alex splits his time between chasing the homicidal bomber and helping Danny figure out what happened to a dead writer who was basing her book on Broadway’s most famous murder. While the bomber continues to elude Alex, he becomes convinced that the writer was killed by someone who wanted the old murder to remain unsolved. Before he can pursue either case further, however, the feds show up, wanting Alex’s take on a series of bizarre magic related deaths.

Now Alex must solve the fifteen year old Broadway murder, catch a blast-happy bank robber, and figure out how average people are being killed by a mysterious, untraceable magic. All the while he has scant leads, even fewer suspects, and the inescapable feeling that he’s being played.

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08977FLZ2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 340 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8648666023
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.85 x 9 inches
  • Book 5 of 12 ‏ : ‎ Arcane Casebook
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 2,527 ratings

About the author

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Dan Willis
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Dan Willis has worked as a programmer, a web designer, and has written for the game industry. He is an award-winning author who has written for the long-running DragonLance series of fantasy novels. He is currently working on the Arcane Casebook series, stories of a down and out detective making a living in a magical, 1930’s New York. The Dragons of the Confederacy series follows a Yankee engineer and a spy as they take on the forces of the South in a steampunk twist on the Civil War. Lastly, The Flux Engine, which takes place in a Steampunk wild west where a young man seeks to reclaim his mysterious heritage only to find that people are willing to kill to possess it.

Dan lives in Utah with his family.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
2,527 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's fun mysteries to explore and solve, with compelling characters that advance in power throughout the series. Moreover, the pacing is fast, and the writing is well-executed, with good bit of world building that creates an interesting universe. Additionally, customers appreciate the mystery elements, with secrets being revealed throughout the story.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

182 customers mention "Story quality"177 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, finding it inventive with fun mysteries to explore and solve, featuring more twists and turns.

"Love the continued story build and character depth with 1930’s NYC rune dystopia world as the backdrop. A great parallel to the Dresden’." Read more

"...likes a bit of fantasy blended into their other genres, this is a fun series that reads quickly...." Read more

"...go on for ages about how much I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the twists, how well this world is built and how much I need The Arcane Irregulars..." Read more

"...There is a good balance of humour and action. Mr. Willis does a good job developing relationships between the characters." Read more

140 customers mention "Readability"140 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and enjoyable, with several noting it's the best in the series, and one mentioning it's a joy to read.

"...Again. Couple of spelling mistakes in places ;p But the book was fantastic...." Read more

"...Control. This series is Outstanding and Dan Willis deserves to make a gazillion dollars for his talent." Read more

"Limelight (Arcane Case Book 5) is a great addition to the series. You will not want to miss it. Enjoy." Read more

"...idea of drawing an image that can mend almost anything makes for good reading...." Read more

94 customers mention "Character development"94 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that each edition offers growth and that the characters are three-dimensional.

"Love the continued story build and character depth with 1930’s NYC rune dystopia world as the backdrop. A great parallel to the Dresden’." Read more

"...I also appreciate that while the protagonist advances in power, out of the 11 related books - they have not gotten totally out of hand, despite a..." Read more

"...how much I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the twists, how well this world is built and how much I need The Arcane Irregulars to become a follow..." Read more

"Strong characters and strong lore and detail. There is a good balance of humour and action...." Read more

37 customers mention "Pacing"34 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast-paced story that keeps getting better.

"...fantasy blended into their other genres, this is a fun series that reads quickly...." Read more

"Dan Willis just keeps getting better. Most book series seem to just stretch the storyline with each installment but not the Arcane Case book series...." Read more

"What happened? The timing was good, the plot was interesting, the dialog was reasonable (not great but reasonable) and the characters weren't..." Read more

"...Secrets hidden become known. Secret cabals. Murders solved. Relationships defined, and left in limbo. Wonderful series." Read more

32 customers mention "Writing quality"32 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as a well-crafted fair mystery, with one customer noting its fast-paced style.

"Love the continued story build and character depth with 1930’s NYC rune dystopia world as the backdrop. A great parallel to the Dresden’." Read more

"...They're detective novels. But Dan is an excellent author, one of the best, because he elevates these books to the same level (higher in my opinion)..." Read more

"...It feels right. The book is so descriptive I can imagine what the people and scenes look like...." Read more

"Very well written with surprises throughout!!" Read more

19 customers mention "Mystery content"19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery elements of the book, with secrets being revealed throughout the story.

"...I didn’t have high expectations, but I found that the plots, the revelations, and the characters have developed wonderfully and with every new..." Read more

"...We are Legion". In this book there are murders, mysteries, what we "know" about magic keeps getting changed...." Read more

"...orchestrated the gradual reveal of the rising stakes, the secret antagonists, and the beautiful complexity of the magic system. Damn, Mr. Willis!..." Read more

"The story arc is beginning to come together -- secrets are revealed and new mysteries introduced...." Read more

19 customers mention "World building"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the world-building in the book, finding the world interesting, with one customer noting how it creates a universe of imagination and possibility.

"...narrative for the latter half of the serise - so it's foundational for everything that follows, including the Arcane Irregulars...." Read more

"Good bit of world building throughout these stories with fun mysteries to explore and solve...." Read more

"...and characters lots of action a fusion of alchemy, sorcery and runeship in a world which while it's not exactly steampunk definitely took a..." Read more

"This book takes us in a new Direction that is pleasing to the senses if you're into books about magic" Read more

10 customers mention "Lightness"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's lightness, with one review noting how it maintains its flair without being dull, while another mentions its well-framed noir setting and nods to traditional sleuths.

"...These books are of a humble type yes, they're down to earth and very well contained, they're not like stuff you would expect reading something from..." Read more

"...Never dull or feeling like we’re just marking time in the story...." Read more

"This book takes us in a new Direction that is pleasing to the senses if you're into books about magic" Read more

"...Limelight was stunning. I found myself rereading sections immediately after finishing it. I never do that. The characters have grown on me...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
    Love the continued story build and character depth with 1930’s NYC rune dystopia world as the backdrop. A great parallel to the Dresden’.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
    So, for anyone who likes a bit of fantasy blended into their other genres, this is a fun series that reads quickly. I also appreciate that while the protagonist advances in power, out of the 11 related books - they have not gotten totally out of hand, despite a bit of "chosen one" mixed into the narrative.

    As an additional note - this particular book is going to influence the narrative for the latter half of the serise - so it's foundational for everything that follows, including the Arcane Irregulars.

    There is a spin-off series, the Arcane Irregulars which brings some of the protagonist's supporting characters to the front. This is a relatively recent development, and they are on the same timeline, so the justification for spinning it off into a different series is to highlight which character will be the protagonist.

    The one thing for new readers is that the associated series, The Arcane Irregulars, makes the reading order as follows:

    Arcane Casebook, Books 1 through 8, Arcane Irregulars Book 1, Arcane Case Book 9, Arcane Irregulars Book2.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2020
    If this series does not get adapted into films one day and get it's own board game and or tabletop RPG, I will be incredibly miffed, put out, and upset.

    Dan Willis' series, The Arcane Casebooks, sounds like a humble detective series at first glance (technically correct). What you find upon reading it however, is a very thoroughly built world and setting that pulls you in. Add Dan's ability to blend multiple threads of plot together at once and you suddenly find yourself in a high budget A-list of a movie/rollercoaster and wondering how in the world Dan manages to keep doing this.

    These books are of a humble type yes, they're down to earth and very well contained, they're not like stuff you would expect reading something from marvel or some high fantasy work where multiple dimensions of existence rest on the heroes shoulders.

    They're detective novels. But Dan is an excellent author, one of the best, because he elevates these books to the same level (higher in my opinion) and does so without disappointing, without it being convoluted, and without losing the flair, flavor and charm inherent to detective novels.

    Dan if you're reading this, you did great. Again.
    Couple of spelling mistakes in places ;p
    But the book was fantastic.

    I could go on for ages about how much I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the twists, how well this world is built and how much I need The Arcane Irregulars to become a follow up series or something (minor spoiler, I apologize).

    TL;DR - This series is one of the best currently out there and this new addition does not disappoint it. There is always something new, something old, and something unexpected around the corner or in the next chapter of this series. I sincerely and eagerly look forward to the next one.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    Strong characters and strong lore and detail. There is a good balance of humour and action. Mr. Willis does a good job developing relationships between the characters.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    Tell Dan to keep control of casting rights when someone inevitably wants to buy the movie rights. Butcher had a series that lasted one season and it would have lasted longer if he had kept more creative. Control. This series is Outstanding and Dan Willis deserves to make a gazillion dollars for his talent.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025
    Dan Willis just keeps getting better. Most book series seem to just stretch the storyline with each installment but not the Arcane Case book series. Each is a brand new adventure with fresh twists and at the end he ties everything together for the main plot to continue. His mysteries are well thought out and fun to try to solve. Very entertaining and I recommend his work to both mystery and fantasy fans both. Starting next book now
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025
    "Limelight" pulls all (?) the threads of the first 5 books into a strong cord of adventure, mystery and magic. The characters pasts and futures are continuously developed and deepened as the ready is pulled along fir the mind-blowing ride. Mr. Willis is careful to maintain the noir setting, and I can hear my favorite detective music playing as he does it. Looking forward to the next book..."which I have"... bravo!
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2025
    I found these books randomly and am going through them so fast its disappointing. The author has created a world so like the one we know and yet just different enough to be intriguing. I love that the setting is in the past but it doesn't feel old or strange. It feels right. The book is so descriptive I can imagine what the people and scenes look like. It feels like a classic movie playing in my head as I read each scene. Now that I'm on book 5 I keep trying to figure out how things tie together! I feel like I'm going through the stories too fast, so hope the author has plenty more ideas.. really enjoying this series. Thank you!

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Stuart Duncan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
    Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2023
    Another great installment in the series. I am truly enjoying following along with the adventure and will start the next book now.
    Keep up the great writing! Thank hou!
  • It was fantastic it sucks u in and when u think you understand the mystery and the magic, your only seeing part of the picture. this series I put up there with Jim butchers and it's set in the 30s
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not what you expect
    Reviewed in Australia on November 18, 2023
    Honestly it was a brilliant story and really felt like the MC took a massive step in this one and it was so captivating.
  • Luiz Henrique Nogueira Modesto
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another case, another story arc
    Reviewed in Brazil on September 8, 2021
    The plot was, as usual, both engaging and enticing. The supporting characters that we all know and love make an appearance and at the end, a whole new can of worms is dropped at our laps. I don't care much for cliffhangers, but this one is expertly done. Read it. It's worth it.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2020
    Came across this series quite by accident & now I'm hooked , interesting story , great characters & I'm thoroughly enjoying it , more please .
  • H. Hymmen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spannend
    Reviewed in Germany on July 7, 2020
    Die Geschichte um Alex Lockerbie und seine magische Welt wird spannend weitergeführt. Er lebt in einem New York der 30er Jahre in der es verschiedene Arten von Magie gibt und dunkle Mächte die Welt bedrohen.
    Report