Identity Theft

Though his last case as an arcane defense lawyer broke his heart and his confidence, Hunter Gamble finds himself once again working with Arcanes, though this time he is defending a regular human in order to keep an old college friend from being convicted for murder. His only defense: the shooter was under a spell, compelling him to kill. It is not the first time this has happened – a string of identical killings stretches back to before the Unveiling of the Arcane world, hinting at an ongoing, secret struggle. With the help of a magically-talented friend, a distrustful coworker, and a young lawyer who idolizes him, Hunter takes the case. This time, though, instead of encountering the scorn of zealots and bigots, Hunter’s deepest enemy is self-loathing; he is no longer sure that he is doing the right thing, and the legal tactics that seem to be his only option go against everything he believes in.

Identity Theft continues the story of Hunter Gamble in John Abramowitz’s gritty world where magic is real and the law has trouble keeping up. In this book, the presence and use of magic is a bit more strongly emphasized than in Atticus for the Undead, and at the same time the hints of conspiracy lift Identity Theft a little more into the thriller genre. However, the story still retains the essential focus upon humanity that made the first book so delightfully unique. The world and characters are maintained with a voice and occasional sense of humor that carries them through even the darkest dilemmas, which is good, because here Abramowitz’s focus upon the condition of humanity is turned inward as Hunter questions himself and tries to reconcile his professional ethics with his personal morality. The result: an entertaining and thought-provoking tale.