Rouse a Sleeping Cat

An excellent dark fantasy novel that takes place in the capital of the decadent kingdom of Rossacotta. Full of warped characters, bizarre customs and a murder mystery (actually more than one - people keep getting bumped off during the cover-up and investigation). Two main points of view: Nimnestl is the chief bodyguard to the 9 year old king, and Polijn is an apprentice minstrel. Looks like the author doesn't write anymore (sad) - last published short story according to Locus was in 1998.

I found this the second volume (published first for some reason) in the far corner on the top row of my bookshelf because Dan Crawford seems to have disapeared after the third book These very different and fun story's had been pushed aside by new additions to my libary but since we have been going through this fantasy dry spell (at least good fantasy) I went digging for something to read......They tell the story of the adventures of a exiled warrior woman of noble birth with a very short fuse and a dry sense of humour named Nimnestl. A necromancer who much to his own disgust is apparently on the side of truth "his truth" and justice "his justice" named Kaftus and Polijn a young girl from the streets who uses common sense and basic mistrust of everyone to survive .With Conan the child King they all serve are without a doubt some of the most intresting characters I have ever enjoyed reading about the story's are quick and well writen with alot of strange twists that will keep people guessing Dan Crawford has a way of changing tracks so that the story you thought was a sub-plot becomes the main focus and what you thought was the central story of the book gets finished half way through ,in two of the three books in a fun style that made me laugh outloud as I read it. These three books Rouse a Sleeping Cat, A Wild Dog and Lone , and the The Sure Death of a Mouse are very good and well worth a read. The Pixies should have got more screen time I think... Please write more