Granted, I'm only about 1/3 of the way into the first book, but the whole series seems very...silly. I've seen cardboard cutout police figures that neatly fit into a few handy police stereotypes, and mobsters that act like Fat Tony from the Simpsons more than something textured and "realistic" like Tony Soprano. Also, a man is renting an office in downtown Chicago and somehow $500 will cover more than one month's rent, according to him. That would make sense if this were, say, 1950.

What is it that everyone likes about these books? I've so far seen a lot of stock writing and bad cliches. The magic element is sort of fun, but come on. If I just wanted to read formulaic detective books I could go to the source and read Mickey Spillane books.