There are demons. There are witches. There is evil. The world needs a cunning man to fight for the good of the poor, the widow, and the orphan.
It’s the depths of the Depression, and a mining town in Utah is shut down. Something has awakened underground, and now a monster roams the tunnels. Along comes Hiram Woolley. Hiram is a man with mystical abilities derived from the commonsense application of Scot-Irish folk wisdom and German Braucher magic. He possesses an arcane Bloodstone that allows him to see a lie the moment it is spoken. Behind the played-out farms and failed businesses are demons, curses, sorcerers, and unatoned wrongs. Bags of groceries and carpentry won’t be enough this time.The job will take a man who has known sorrow. A man who has known war. A man of wisdom. A man of magic. The job will take a Cunning Man.
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EVEN GHOSTS NEED HELP FROM A CUNNING MAN.
The second novel in the Cunning Man series from Dragon Award-nominated author D.J. Butler and Aaron Michael Ritchey.
Hiram and his son Michael are dowsing a well in Eastern Utah when they hear a cry of help from the ghost of a small boy, torn to pieces by wild animals. Before they can even begin to look into that tragedy, however, a prosperous local rancher is murdered right before their eyes.
In an attempt to both help the ghost and find the killer, Hiram and Michael must navigate an eccentric cast of characters that includes failed bank robbers, a seductive fortune-teller, an inept sheriff, a crazy prospector, and a preacher with an apocalyptic grudge against the Roosevelt administration.
The mystery, however, isn’t just in the hearts of men. There’s an astrological puzzle that Michael, now his father’s apprentice, must solve. Meanwhile, the murderer is moving slowly against Hiram and Michael, forcing them into a trap from which there is no escape.
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About The Cunning Man and The Jupiter Knife:
“It’s like Jim Butcher crossed with Grapes of Wrath!”—Larry Correia
“Butler and Ritchey return to Depression-era Utah for a second thrilling tale of murder and folk magic (after The Cunning Man). . . . The play between Hiram’s earnest Mormonism and the more secular Michael’s growing unease with folk magic adds depth to the father-son dynamic, and the false leads and eccentric side characters make for a delightful mystery. This well-crafted historical fantasy is sure to please.”—Publishers Weekly
“An attempt at charity during the Great Depression turns into a protracted fight against supernatural forces in this admirable paranormal mystery. . . . the richly imagined magic system and glimpses of Mormon culture create a fully realized world. Historical fantasy fans will delight in the zigzagging plot of this mystery.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An amazing tale that grabs you by the throat and won’t let go! Butler & Ritchey are a literary force to be reckoned with! Hit that download button and grab your copy now! The Cunning Man will never let you go!”
—Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
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I loved writing these books with DJ Butler! If you’re curious and would like to get a taste of the world, I wrote two short stories you can read on Baen’s website.
The “Weeping Willikers” is about Hiram Woolley helping a family who is being terrorized by a witch. I wrote this story because I got so upset watching the movie, THE VVITCH. That poor family needed a cunning man to help them!
“Latuda’s Lady in White” is a ghost story where the ghost isn’t what it seems.
Both are on Baen’s website.
https://www.baen.com/weepingwillikers
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Dave Butler and I toured the the southwest and went to dozens of Barnes & Nobles to sell our books! We had a great time, talked to some great people, and sold some books. Here is a picture of us being fabulous!
We had so much fun, on the road, driving from book store from book store. One night, I wrote five thousand words as we raced down the dark, desert highway.