Saevus Corax Gets Away with Murder (Saevus Corax #3), by K.J. Parker
The Book
Synopsis:
FROM ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL VOICES IN FANTASY COMES A HEART-WARMING TALE OF PEACE, LOVE, AND BATTLEFIELD SALVAGE.
If you're going to get ahead in the battlefield salvage business, you have to regard death as a means to an end. In other words, when the blood flows, so will the cash. Unfortunately, even though war is on the way, Saevus Corax has had enough.
There are two things he has to do before he can enjoy his retirement: get away with one last score, and get away with murder. For someone who, ironically, tends to make a mess wherever he goes, leaving his affairs in order is going to be Saevus Corax's biggest challenge yet.
The finale in the trilogy that began with Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead.
My Review
Saevus Corax Get Away with Murder is the third and final book in the Saevus Corax trilogy, written by K.J. Parker, and published by Orbit Books. A big war is coming, and that means bad news for the stability of Saevus' business; he hopes to get away before all starts, but as usual in the life of our character, soon he's dragged to adventures, as one of the few people from his past reclaim his help: his sister.
Accused of the murder of her husband, she's on the run, desperate for help; Saevus (well, Florian) is her only hope. At this point, you won't be surprised if I tell you this is only the excuse that will take Saevus into a new journey, and even to take one of the "best" employs in the world: treasure hunter; all under the manipulations of his sister, because even after all what he lived, Saevus is a bit naïve. And we even have the return of a beloved character such as the sister Stauracia.
This sequel is partly a continuation, in all the senses, but also the final in Saevus' journey; we maintain the snarky voice and the irony, sprinkling humour into the narration, making it a fun read when you manage to connect with the character. Personally, I loved the development Stauracia had, and I must recognise that Parker made an excellent job at painting the "lovable" family of Saevus.
In comparison with the previous books, I must remark that this one is a bit less light-hearted, leaning towards some really dark moments.
Personally, I found Saevus Corax Get Away with Murder to be the perfect ending for a character I grew fond of it; if you want a different kind of fantasy, you should try the whole trilogy, as K.J. Parker is a master at writing this kind of weird/rare books.
The Author/s
K.J. Parker
K.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.