These books, man. They just hit me in the right place.
I hadn't realised that there was a sequel in play and it was an instant buy as soon as I did. Note to algorithms, do better!
The premise here is a fantasy world, goblins and elves entering an equivalent Victorian era but there is some small form of magic around. Ghosts, ghouls etc exist and require dealing with hence a prelacy that has an actual purpose. One of these types of priests can speak to dead people and it is around one of these priests these stories are built. They are basically crime novels but very gentle ones.
I am very much enjoying this trend of more gentle sci-fi and fantasy writing. No long winded action and battle scenes etc. Which is not to say I don't still enjoy a good thumping romp but there is such a thing as light and shade. Sometimes, a gentler tale is what is called for,
Much as these books fit the crime novel template there is a sense in this one that the protagonist is not standing still and I am fascinated to see what comes next.
Highly recommended,