Dark All Day (The Walking Shadows, #3)

by Brenden Carlson

In an alternate 1933, a sleuth and his robot partner are caught in the middle of a legal battle that will decide the fate of the world’s machine population.

Carlson does a good job populating his gritty, split-level world with dodgy mobsters, deadly dames, and killer machines. — Publishers Weekly, for Night Call

Two months after an investigation that nearly put Elias Roche behind bars, the former cop turned mob enforcer has endeavoured to separate himself from his past by going straight. Now working as a private investigator, his attempts to build himself a quiet life have so far been promising. However, while Manhattan’s Lower City is in the midst of a reignited mob war, Elias is faced with finding a man who doesn’t want to be found, absolving a machine of a murder charge, and discovering a network of secrets that keeps the world turning, almost literally.

Reuniting with his old Automatic partner, Allen, and reporter-turned-hitman Simone, Elias must search for the truth amid a web of conspiracy and lies. While failure would result in the eradication of all Automatics in America and cripple the megacorporation that hired him to investigate, success could uncover truths no one is ready to face: truths about the city, Allen’s past, and which side they are all truly fighting for.

• ISBN10: 145974585X
• ISBN13: 9781459745858
• Publish Date: 27 April 2023 (first published 14 February 2023)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: CA
• Imprint: Dundurn Group Ltd
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 392
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Dark All Day is the third Walking Shadows SF-noir alternate 1930s timeline PI murder mystery by Brenden Carlson. Released 14th March 2023 by Dundurn, it's 392 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is an engaging book in a much beloved subgenre. There's a clearly and precisely wrought noir vibe. The androids and their often fraught interactions with humans are drawn (mostly) sympathetically and believably. The darkness (often literal) and desperation of the Lower City of NY is a brooding and distinctive presence throughout which adds tension and some dread. There are a lot of Philip K. Dick and Asimov nuances floating around and it's an engaging and immersive read. With that being said, the book is not entirely unproblematic in places. There are several aspects I found myself struggling with. There is -so- much gratuitous violence. The main (human) protagonist Elias Roche murders witnesses, thugs, and various bystanders, willy nilly. He's a super dangerous guy. Frank Castle (the Punisher) would be well served to cross to the other side of the street if he sees him coming. I get that it's part of the gritty noir vibe, but in my opinion the author does a superlative job of calling up the mean streets of New York without the almost comically superfluous body count. There are very few females mentioned in the entire book (the female director of the FBI makes an appearance in the story), there are some mentions of whorehouses, former love interests, and various secretaries but not much substantive. Again, the author is adept enough that the omission is certainly intentional to better call up the 1930s noir vibe, but it seemed unnecessary in context. 

Other reviewers have done a good job of providing a precis of the plot which is well built up with a fairly large cast of characters and a lengthy and complex back story/setting. The language is rough overall (and somewhat anachronistic - I'm pretty sure 1930's cops didn't drop the "f" word nearly as often as occurs in this volume). I enjoyed the characterizations (especially Roche's android partner, Allen). I really really enjoyed the vibe (pitch perfect!). It's not flawless, but it certainly is well written and diverting. 

Four stars. I would recommend it unhesitatingly to fans of unredacted Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and James M. Cain. Readers should keep in mind that this is the third book in an ongoing, relatively complex, series and it doesn't work particularly well as a standalone. Strongly recommended to read the books in order. The first book in the series, Night Call , is available in paperback and ebook formats from the same publisher.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes