The first in a new series of short stories from Lavie Tidhar, published by Tor.com, Judge Dee and the Limits of the Law is a delightful mix of gothic vampire story and Golden Age mystery. Accompanied by his slightly hesitant human assistant Jonathan, Judge Dee – a wise old vampire prone to long stares and thoughtful pauses – travels to the Castello d’oro to investigate a squabble between two vampire nobles. As the enforcer of vampiric law (the pax lamia) it’s within his power to be judge, jury and executioner, but first he needs to uncover the truth of what really happened.
With a gentle pace and the combination of knowledgeable, ascetic detective and rather bumbling assistant, this has all the hallmarks of a vintage crime story…just with added vampires and a touch of gothic horror. And what’s not to like about that? Tidhar finds an engaging balance of atmosphere and humour with Jonathan’s human viewpoint on Judge Dee and this particular depiction of vampires and vampiric culture, and there’s just enough world building to add interest without overpowering the plot. It’s short and sweet, cleverly introducing these characters in a way that makes them feel familiar without being derivative, and suggests that this will be a series to savour for fans of vampires and detectives alike.
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