In parts one and two of this retrospective, I talked about the inspirations and origins of Daggers & Steele, but in this third and final segment, I’m going to talk about the future of Daggers & Steele. But first, my thoughts on books seven through ten in the series:
Steele of the Night: In a twist that will surprise absolutely no one who’s read it, this novel was modeled after the movie The Hangover, though I added a fun 1980’s hard rock flair to it as well. Daggers and Steele traipse all over the city as they try to piece together the timeline of a hard rock band’s all-night bender, and the results get predictably wild in more ways than one. This book features the most off-the-wall murder weapon of any in the series (if you could even call it a weapon), but more than the mystery, it features Daggers maturing as he helps Steele through a challenging professional stretch.
Steele Life: All my Daggers and Steele entries have something fun to offer, but of them all, Steele Life is my favorite. It’s hard to explain why exactly. The premise for the novel is fairly straightforward. It’s a classic whodunit with Daggers and Steele trapped in the lavish home of a wealthy family where everyone is a suspect for the missing matriarch’s murder. The setting isn’t unique, either, but some of the supernatural elements are certainly off the beaten path. I think it’s the number of twists and how they weave together, all the way until the final confrontation, that really does it for me. That and the ending that wraps almost everything up, while leaving some lingering what if questions in the air for the reader to ponder. Even as the book’s author, elements of this one kept me up at night. Hopefully it does the same for you.
Liquid Steele: Up until this novel, Daggers and Steele had never left New Welwic, but in Liquid Steele I finally got a chance to place the team in a novel setting. This gave me an opportunity to introduce new villains, long lost friends and family, as well as a rival police jurisdiction that (mostly) plays nice with Daggers and Steele. This one features less elements of the supernatural and more elements of a traditional mystery, but once again, it’s Daggers’ personal growth that is the most important. He finally gets a grip on who he is and what he wants, which perfectly sets up the story in…
Man of Steele: The thrilling conclusion to the entire series! It’s the longest book in the series, which makes sense given all that happens between the covers, but ultimately I couldn’t be happier with how this novel, and the series as a whole, turned out. This final entry features loads of thrills, a few chills, lots of intrigue and suspense, as well as several throwbacks to books past, but in the end, it tests Daggers’ mettle and the strength of Daggers’ relationships, not just with Steele, but also with Rodgers, Quinto, and the rest of the crew. And the ending isn’t too shabby either, if I say so myself.
So what’s left for Daggers & Steele? Well, the series has been complete for four years now, and as much as it pains me given fan feedback I’ve received, I don’t have plans to revisit it beyond releasing a Daggers & Steele omnibus (coming very soon!) and maybe a graphic novel, if I can ever find the right artist and scrape up the cash to make that happen. But there is good news! Because while Daggers and Steele’s story might be over, there is a new story waiting to be told. That of their great-granddaughter, one Penelope Phair, who decides to follow in her Nana’s footsteps and join the NWPD. The first novel in the series is called Fair and Just, and it’ll be available for purchase in just a few weeks. Keep your eyes peeled, or sign up to my newsletter to be the first to know!