Stalking the Dragon: A Fable of Tonight

The freshness and imagination on display in 1987’s Stalking the Unicorn and 2008’s Stalking the Vampire are renewed for this noirish mystery that mixes offbeat humor and the supernatural. Hard-boiled PI John Justin Mallory, stuck in a parallel Manhattan occupied by demons and wizards, takes an especially offbeat assignment in homage to Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes story “Silver Blaze.” On the eve of the Eastminster Dragon Show, Fluffy, a toy dragon and the favorite for Best in Show, is kidnapped. Aided by his usual motley assortment of assistants, including catlike Felina and obsequious gremlin Jeeves, Mallory races the clock to get her back to the show before the award goes to another dragon. Resnick’s light touch will leave readers grinning and eager for more. (Aug.)