Fated (Alex Verus, #1)

by Benedict Jacka

[wyvernfriend]

Alex Verus reminded me a lot of Jim Butcher's Dresden, in fact there's a nod to Dresden on page 3 "I've even heard of one guy in Chicago who advertises in the phone book under 'Wizard', though that's probably an urban legend." and a recommendation from Jim Butcher on the cover. This is somewhat the UK version of Dresden, only instead of being a, basically, detective, he's a shop owner, owing one of those esoteric shops that I have an uncanny ability to find in foreign cities.

Alex has some precognitive abilities, he can use it to determine what is the best outcome in a situation, which makes doing things like finding secrets and picking locks easier, his past was messy and he still has nightmares but now he's fairly content with his life.

And then, suddenly, everyone wants him, there's a puzzle and he's the last precog who might be able to solve it, and now he has to deal with the murderous intents of several factions, some of whom may just let him live.

I enjoyed it, want to read more.