When my husband first read Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood, it wasn’t long before he started recommending it to me. His insistence only grew after he finished. I finally succumbed to his not‑so‑subtle pestering and gave it a try.
I want to preface this review by saying that while I enjoy watching mysteries, they haven’t typically been a genre I gravitate toward when reading. I love character‑driven literary fiction, fast‑paced thrillers, nail‑biting suspense, and the occasional cute rom‑com. But mysteries often fall into the procedural category for me. I tend to grow bored trying to piece together clues alongside a detective, and they usually lack that extra spark that makes me care.
But this book? It blew me away.
The story is told from the point of view of Willowjean “Will” Parker, who used to work in the circus. I know, I know! You might be wondering whether that means the book leans into silliness. It’s a valid concern, but one I can assure you is unfounded. Her life eventually crosses paths with Lillian Pentecost, a detective with an impressive résumé who offers her a position.
Aside from Will’s unconventional background, I love that Pentecost isn’t your average detective either. She suffers from M.S., and Spotswood handles the disease in a way that doesn’t ask the reader to pity her but instead admire her. Pentecost is never reduced to her condition, yet the complications of M.S. aren’t sugarcoated. It encourages empathy beyond the page and highlights the bond that has formed between Will and her employer over the years.
The premise of the book is that Will, sometime in the future, is sitting down to recount the great stories and adventures she and Pentecost have shared. That vantage point alone kept me hooked. Its conversational prose made me feel like I was sitting with a new friend eager to share the moments that shaped them.
The story she tells is of the Collins case, which involved the bludgeoning of Abigail Collins with a crystal ball after a Halloween party at her home. I mean, doesn’t that one sentence make you instantly intrigued?
Interspersed with the details of how they acquired, investigated, and ultimately solved the case are glimpses into Will’s life both before and after the circus. The book is exceptionally well written, but not in a stuffy way that might turn off traditional readers of the genre. The dialogue is snappy and often witty, the descriptions are detailed only when necessary, and the character development is the golden thread tying everything together.
It doesn’t have the pace of a thriller, but it has the heart that’s sometimes missing from other mystery novels I’ve read. The way Spotswood scatters elements of plot and character kept me engaged and hungry for more. And the ending left me satisfied and eager to continue the series.
I keep saying this lately, but this is yet another one of my favorites. It’s going to be hard not to immediately start the second book.
Whether you’re a regular reader of mysteries or not, I think this series will capture the heart of many.
Until next time,
Lisa
Because I believe that a TBR pile can never be too big, feel free to share some of your favorite reads with me here or on social media. You can find me on Bluesky and StoryGraph (lisareadsbytrees).
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