Constance Verity has died twice, met Dracula and visited the future, where, she reports, there are no flying cars but lots of robots, both good and evil. A self-proclaimed detective with an incredible collection of skills and a dedication to dental hygiene, Constance is known for her unconventional adventures that usually result in disaster and destruction. An entire arm of government is devoted to tracking her, which helps with the inevitable and necessary post-incident cleanups after fighting ninjas, battling robots and saving the world from monsters. Despite possessing skills that are downright otherworldly, Constance wants to step away from her role as heroic rescuer and regain a sense of control over her life--but her childhood wish for an adventurous life, granted by her fairy godmother, keeps this from happening. Discontented, Constance decides to go on one last mission: to kill her fairy godmother and take her life back from the fate she's been dealt.
The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez (Gil's All Fright Diner; A Nameless Witch) has a classic pulp story feel. Fast-paced and funny, the story never flags, though it features a self-aware character who offers readers moments of philosophical reflection alongside cheeky commentary and nonchalant observations. The quick and charmingly campy humor perfectly complements the splashy world Martinez has developed, where even the earth is not what it seems--it's really a sleeping monster that wants to eat people. Moments of horror sneak into the ongoing levity as characters face disturbing situations, leaving readers with chills long after the laughter has passed. --Justus Joseph, bookseller at Elliott Bay Book Company