The Unsolvable Case.
By Courtney Smyth.
By Courtney Smyth.
How do you say goodbye to a group of characters you've loved following when they still have one final mystery to solve?
The Unsolvable Case brings The Undetectables series to an end, and this felt like such a fitting final adventure for Mallory, Cornelia, Diana and Theo.
With only three days until Samhain and the Undetectables apparently destined to die, there isn't exactly much time to relax. The group may have stepped away from magical investigations, but the arrival of a copycat killer soon pulls them into one final case, while Theo is hiding out and keeping a few secrets of his own.
I've really enjoyed following this series, so I loved seeing previous events and connections begin to come together here. The mystery kept me hooked, and there were several revelations that genuinely surprised me. I love it when I think I know where a mystery is heading only to discover I've completely underestimated it.
The characters remain the real highlight for me. Mallory, Cornelia and Diana each bring something completely different to the investigations, while Theo has always added another wonderfully strange dimension to the group. Their friendship and everything they have experienced together gives this final case much more emotional weight.
I also continue to love the combination of paranormal mystery and forensic investigation. There are murders, bodies and some fairly gruesome discoveries, but the forensic elements make them fascinating rather than simply being included for shock value. The darker moments are also balanced brilliantly by the humour, particularly the dry and biting exchanges between the characters.
Another element I've appreciated throughout the series is how naturally different identities, bodies, sexualities and disabilities exist within this world. Mallory's fibromyalgia, for example, is part of her life without being the only thing that defines her, and the wider representation throughout the series makes its characters feel varied and believable.
There is plenty here that feels distinctly Undetectables: magic, murder, weirdness, humour and some wonderfully creepy moments. At the same time, the stakes are considerably higher as Samhain approaches and everything the group has previously faced begins to matter.
I'm definitely going to miss Mallory, Cornelia, Diana and Theo. The Unsolvable Case gave me the mystery and surprises I wanted while also providing the chance to spend one last adventure with characters I've become incredibly fond of.
A brilliant send-off for a paranormal mystery series I've thoroughly enjoyed!
Thank you to the team at Titan Books for organising this book-tour. The book is out now and available to purchase.
Support a local and independent bookshop and purchase the book here.
